20 TRAVELS IN THE CONFEDERATION 



most unmannerly people to be found far and wide. + 

 Here, as everywhere, there is much and loud complaint 

 over the scarcity of hard money and the publick im- 

 posts. Shopkeepers and craftsmen, who must pay cash 

 for their wares at Baltimore, give 15-20 per centum in- 

 terest on loans ; for specie circulates and is accumulated 

 chieflv in the coast-cities, whence it is taken out in 

 quantity by the ships bringing in imported goods. Be- 

 fore the war 6 per centum was a high interest ; it is no 

 wonder, therefore, if the people complain at the con- 

 tinually increasing price of foreign goods, when they 

 are burdened with these high rates of interest and at 

 the same time do not find so far a good market for their 

 produce, trade with the West Indies being prohibited. 

 The taxes in Maryland come to one and a half per 

 centum of all personalty and realty, and at this time 

 even household furniture is assessed. Many people 

 absolutely cannot pay taxes, and still more have no de- 

 sire to, until they are rigorously compelled, which re- 

 sort is not neglected. Husbandry and farm-products 

 are the same here as in the back parts of the neighbor- 

 ing Pensylvania and Virginia, that is to say, wheat, 

 corn, and cattle mainly. At one time hemp was raised 

 considerably ; for the purpose old, well-dunged land 

 was chosen in preference to quite new land, on which, 

 elsewhere, it is sown. But this year Russian ships have 

 brought hemp and cordage to Baltimore cheaper than it 

 is to be had here. 



Besides those occasions for suits at law everywhere 

 common, Maryland is blessed in addition with a very 

 particular ground of process, and this is the variation 

 of the magnetick needle, if it is not perhaps partly the 

 fault of the instrument or the unskilfulness of those 



