to be fed; but they never invite themselves, nor express thanks if invited; and if requested to reach this or that to the host, they do it ungraciously, saying, "Why, I can, I guess." If the female of the family is in bed, they stand and see her get out and dress. They will not be affronted with impunity, and it is necessary to shew or threaten them with a pistol. When the English first came to Evansville settlement, these Rowdey labourers had nearly scared them out. Time is not property to these men; they are eternal triflers.
Visited Evansville on the bluffs of Ohio. Behind it is an almost impassable road through a sickly swamp, none of which near the road is yet cultivated. It seems too wet. Here I met a few English mechanics regretting they had left England, where they think they could do better. J. Pedley, though he does well, says he would not have come could he have known what he must {317} have suffered. Apples are here selling in boats from Cincinnati at eight dollars per barrel, and flour at eight dollars. A barrel of apples is two bushels and a half, and the barrel of flour contains five bushels of wheat which, to the consumer here, costs eight shillings sterling per bushel, though wheat is only 75 cents, or 3s. 6d. a bushel.
Cook, yesterday, shot another bear. He was camping out, and in the dead of the night saw Bruin, and with the first fire broke his neck. He weighed 400lbs. I bought the skin at four dollars; worth four pounds in England.
The wolves last night howled horribly and prowled into town.
The case of first settlers here, particularly English, is hard, and their characteristic selfishness by no means tends to soften it. Nothing is to be had in the shape of necessaries but with great trouble, not even butter, cheese,
