Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (1907 Volume 11).djvu/177

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Yandal, a gentleman whose ancestors accompanied William Penn to this country. He seemed proud of his English origin; and introduced me to an English brewer, who (the people here say) is to gain 100 per cent. on his capital employed. He has bought a brewery from a Wheeling gentleman, who is fitting up another brewhouse in opposition, contrary to stipulations. Mr. Edney yesterday bought two horses at 50 dollars, his own price, but not worth above 25 dollars each. All in the neighbourhood know that my green and liberal friend has English money, and all conspire against it.

11th.—Waggons (not many) are daily arriving with goods and emigrants for the river, down which, when the waters rise, they are to float in flat boats called arks, two and two of many living creeping things, occasionally anchoring on the banks and surveying the promised land. A gentleman recently called at the Cincinnati bank for specie, or good negotiable paper. "No," was the answer, "we, sir, have neither." The paper of that city, the pride of the west, is negotiable only in the city for necessaries, and there only at 30 and 40 per centum below par, or United States' paper. The best mode of dealing here is, on your arrival, to go to the Cincinnati broker and sell just so much of the United States' paper as will get you enough of their paper for expenses at the tavern or elsewhere; all must be spent here, {171} none taken away, for out of the city it is mere waste paper. Such are banks, banking, and bankers; let therefore the traveller hereafter not depend on them, but take with him either hard dollars or notes of the United States' bank or its branches.

12th.—I left Wheeling at eight this morning; the tavern bill three and a half dollars per week for board merely. I crossed the Ohio into the state so called, and passed