Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (1907 Volume 11).djvu/107

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of the settlers, whom they threaten with destruction. This is intended to scare away all new comers, and has, in some instances, had the desired effect. To remedy this, it was proclaimed that the first Indian seen, mock or real, should be shot without ceremony. Hence no more sham Indians were seen.

21st.—I sailed over to the city with his Excellency Governor Geddiss, who seems friendly, and generally known, shaking hands with nearly all in the boat. It is a pleasing feature of this people that all are outwardly social, bordering on something like equality. This feature, though delusive, strikes, and is highly interesting to strangers from old countries, and is beneficial to America, to which it particularly attaches them; and, perhaps, both natives and adopted citizens are thereby fraternised.

In the Washington City Gazette, I saw the good speeches of Mr. ——-, while chairman of the {86} forum. My prophecies respecting this distinguished friend and excellent man are, I see, fast fulfilling. With fair play, such men as he and Mr. Pittiss, late of the isle of Wight, must succeed any where, and therefore furnish no fair criterion of success in emigration generally.

22nd.—My countryman, Mr. Beaumont of Huntingdonshire, called, and introducing himself to breakfast with me this morning, continued two hours in conversation. He states that he came an unrecommended stranger to this town, only two years since. He advertised his wishes, and had immediate offers of first-rate situations on plantations. He engaged at 500 dollars the first year; half the profits of the dairy, all the poultry: and advances every year, either by an increased salary, or by a per centage on the produce. He saves money, and doubts not of being able to realize a competency as an overseer;