{47} CHAP. V
Departure from West Liberty Town to go among the Mountains in search of a Shrub supposed to give good Oil, a new Species of Azalea.—Ligonier Valley.—Coal Mines.—Greensburgh.—Arrival at Pittsburgh.
On my journey to Lancaster Mr. W. Hamilton had
informed me that at a short distance from West Liberty
Town, and near the plantation of Mr. Patrick Archibald,
there grew a shrub, the fruit of which he had been told
produced excellent oil. Several persons at New York
and Philadelphia had heard the same, and entertained a
hope that, cultivated largely, it might turn to general
advantage. In fact, it would have been a treasure to
find a shrub which, to the valuable qualities of the olive-tree,
united that of enduring the cold of the most northern
countries. Induced by these motives, I left my {48}
travelling companion to go amongst the mountains in
quest of the shrub. About two miles from West Liberty
Town I passed by Probes's Furnace, a foundry established
by a Frenchman from Alsace, who manufactures
all kinds of vessels in brass and copper; the largest contain
about two hundred pints, which are sent into Kentucky
and Tennessea, where they use them for the preparation
of salt by evaporation; the smaller ones are destined
for domestic uses. They directed me at the foundry
which road I was to take, notwithstanding I frequently
missed my way on account of the roads being more or
less cut, which lead to different plantations scattered
about the woods; still I met with the greatest civility
from the inhabitants, who very obligingly put me in my
road, and on the same evening I reached Patrick Archibald's,
where I was kindly received after having imparted
the subject of my visit. One would think that this man,
