Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (1907 Volume 11).djvu/170

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  • nished the ever tempting table, and sharpened the failing

appetite. At Philadelphia I thought the roasted beef equal to that of Old England, and every thing at Judd's good hotel, fair, sweet, and cleanly, just what an Englishman loves, and deems indispensable to his comfort.

I am forcibly struck every where with the prominent boldness and forwardness of American children, who seem unabashed, manly, and conversable, because they are always, from early life, introduced to all strangers at home or abroad. They fear nothing, care for nothing, and never blush, {162} but think themselves to be all-knowing men and women, never to be slighted or affronted with impunity.

Sunday, October 3rd.—By mutual agreement, a band of philosophers, last evening, met to smoke me off to the western wilderness; and smoke we did till one o'clock this morning, when they escorted me to, and saw me safely packed in Uncle Sam's western mail, and bade me a hearty farewell for three months. Thus, with some regret, left I city, summer, and civilization behind me, as much from a wish to be faithful to my promise, as to see, hear, and know. My eyes and ears, indeed, begin to feel something akin to satiety; but I had engaged, and solemnly vowed, to the faithful patriarch, that I would travel 3,000 miles to visit his well-beloved son in Indiana, if he, the father, would continue my steward at White Hall during my absence. Three thousand miles is nothing of a journey here; and now seated and well shaken together with one of Uncle Sam's high sheriffs, a gentlemanly colonel, and other passengers, all very sociable, I move along gaily. At noon, we passed through Frederick-town,[38] a very long promising place, quite English in its appearance, and well situated