Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (1907 Volume 11).djvu/168

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no money can be had for it, but goods only, which he must receive at the vendor's own price, and in like manner his produce. All is done by barter. I know several whom I advised not to go westward, now repenting and unable to raise ten dollars. They have lost much by lending, and by the reduction of their lands, which are now, though much improved, unsaleable, or if saleable, at immense loss. My partner's father (an Englishman) had 17,000 dollars, when a few years since he went into the wilderness, but now is he indeed a repenting man, unable to raise or borrow ten dollars on or from his estate."

22nd.—"Young men in trade," says Mr. Wardour, "and clerks from England, had better stay at home, or if here, return home immediately." Fifty passengers returned last week from this city to England and Ireland. He conceives that no accurate calculations have yet been made to prove what are the profits in agriculture. He knows that the rent of his purchase does not net above three per cent. on the capital employed, though situated so near to Philadelphia and with a mansion upon it. Both Wardour and Wilson have great numbers of emigrants passing through their hands, and establish many well. They send labourers to masters, and advise them to begin a job without a bargain; for, if good for any thing and {160} steady, they are sure to be remunerated in the east, and treated with more respect and equality than people coming from old countries can form an idea of. It is true that many men labour during the winter for their food, lodging, washing, &c.

I met a Pennsylvanian farmer in the steam-boat, who states that plenty of labourers were to be had, all the harvest, at half a dollar per day and board. There were many more than could be employed. Much distress is