27th.—I went one mile and a half, to borrow, from Mrs. Delight Williams, six tumblers, for the use of our coming Christmas party. This step was necessary, or our friends, the Dons of the settlement, must drink out of tin cups or pots. Mrs. Williams is the widow of the whipped Yankee, whose story I have related; she lives in a house without a chimney, having only a hole in the roof to let out the smoke, the fire being made in any part. She was rather unwilling to lend these tumblers, because they came from England, and money could not replace them if broken. She should expect five dollars, though, in England, one dollar bought six.
Mr. Hornbrook observed, this evening, that he did not intend to cultivate much; he did not care much about business.
28th.—A young man, from the state of New York, near White's town, reports that the farmers are nearly all farming their own land, which is, however, deeply mortgaged. They keep no house-servants, and would think it ruin to do so; all work, and the women milk. They give no money in marriage with daughters, but sometimes a little land, or stock, or a bed. They hire but little, and only in harvest. People are comfortable, but have no money to employ him and other mechanics. Gentlemen, one or two, here and there, {327} have a negro or two in the house. Wheat is one dollar a bushel.
Mr. Ingle spent 200l., out of 550l., in getting here. He bought a house at Princeton for 300 dollars, to let. He has seventeen acres the first year, and will have forty acres the second year, in cultivation; his stock consists of three horses, one cow, eight buds, and many hogs, or small pigs. He bought four hogs, half fat, 600lbs. weight, for twenty dollars. If he had money, he could buy bacon
