JOURNAL
Marietta
I soon found that the genial influences of a mild and
salubrious climate, aided by habitual exercise, daily improved
my bodily strength; while my mind, relieved of
its cares, was constantly occupied and amused with the
new and interesting scenery and the wonderful antiquities
in this neighbourhood; and my spirits were soothed and
cheered by the kind attentions of hospitality and friendship.
Thus led to indulge some encouraging prospects of restoration to health, my thoughts turned towards my distant home, which I had never expected to revisit. Taking an affectionate leave of my brother, who inclined to settle in the State of Ohio, and of my much esteemed friends at Marietta, accompanied by Mr. Adams, I set out homewards on Monday morning, June 6th.
{58} I quitted with regret a place where I had passed a few weeks so pleasantly. I shall ever retain a grateful sense of the hospitality with which I was received, and of the respect and attention with which I was honored by the inhabitants of Marietta and Belle Pré.
As we preferred traversing the woods to ascending the river in a boat, we returned to Wheeling on horseback.
The industrious habits and neat improvements of the people on the west side of the river, are strikingly contrasted with those on the east. Here, in Ohio, they are intelligent, industrious, and thriving; there, on the back skirts of Virginia, ignorant, lazy, and poor. Here the
