3foitrneg Cftrougft 



1783 



CRANQUILLITY was now in some sort re-es- 

 tablished in America. Ratification of the Peace 

 had not yet come over from Europe, but under 

 the guarantees of the provisional truce, there was al- 

 ready a certain intercourse opened between New York 

 and the United States. Business and curiosity tempted 

 a number of travellers from the one side and from the 

 other. For near seven years I had been confined to 

 the narrow compass of sundry British garrisons along 

 the coast, unable until now to carry out my desire of 

 seeing somewhat of the interior of the country. The 

 German troops were embarking gradually for the re- 

 turn voyage ; and having received permission, July 22 

 I took leave of my countrymen at New York, in order 

 to visit the united American states, now beginning to 

 be of consequence. 



In the evening at five o'clock, with Mr. Hairs, an 

 Englishman who accompanied me for a part of the 

 journey, I went on board a Petty- Auger,* from and 



* Petty-Augers are a sort of craft, used to any extent only 

 in New York waters, where they were introduced by the Hol- 

 landers. They are half-decked boats, of five to ten tons 

 burthen, flat-bottomed, so as to be navigable in shallow water. 

 Flat-built, they would in the open bay, with wind, waves, and 

 currents, make too much leeway unless counter-equipped on 

 each side a large board, oval-shaped, which may be let down 



