Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (1907 Volume 11).djvu/176

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on wood-land, all in wood, 40 miles in the state of Ohio. One son is to be planted there, and the rest, with himself, in better Missouri; but he is very undecided, and finds that America is not Newport, in England. He lost all his horses, {169} cows, dogs, and men and maids brought over as hired servants. The animals were stolen, or they strayed and died, while his servants snuffed up free air and fled, except one female who fell in love, while on board, with the black steward, and who, on landing, went to a magistrate, at Baltimore, for marriage; but his worship said that it was contrary to custom and the law of the land, for a white woman to marry a negro, and he could not and should not allow it.

Sunday, 10th.—By free and frequent conversations with intelligent residents and travellers here, I find that public opinion is favourable to location in the western country, which they say has never yet lacked a market for surplus produce; and as men of capital only can raise produce, and as their number is comparatively few, it is unlikely that the surplus produce will ever greatly exceed the demand. Much of what is raised will necessarily be consumed by those who raise none; and some will always be wanted at New Orleans and other river towns, cities, and new settlements. This, in part, is true. Society, say they, in the west is almost as cheaply attainable to farmers as in the east, for in both he must seek it in towns and distant cities, save what his own family affords. Mellish,[44] in a recent publication, says, "the flower of the east is seen moving west." I think so too, for what finer men can I expect to meet than those whom I have seen moving from {170} thence westward? I called on Mr.