RETURN FROM PITTSBURG 361 



for such a situation has this inconvenience, that often 

 they must go miles for fresh water. On the contrary 

 the Pensylvanians and others build their dwellings as 

 near to springs as possible, and for a fresh drink 

 forego the pleasure of freer air and a finer outlook. 



Returning from Alexandria, by Georgetown to 

 Bladensburgh, we found the road vastly more lively, 

 since a crowd of horsemen and their attendants were 

 hastening from all sides to Alexandria for the races 

 which were shortly to be held. At Georgetown we saw 

 en passant a case at law being decided on the tavern- 

 porch. Judges, spectators, plaintiffs, defendants, and 

 witnesses sat on the bench before the door, disputing 

 and drinking. The matter appeared to be of no par- 

 ticular consequence, and was being adjusted more in a 

 friendly way than by legal process; the costs, to the 

 satisfaction of everybody, were placed with the host for 

 punch. 



We were by chance made acquainted with the pecu- 

 liar manner in which the laws of Maryland and other 

 provinces protect the citizen under charge of debt. To 

 be sure, the creditor on his complaint has from the civil 

 authorities an order for the arrest of the debtor, but 

 at the same time the debtor, as far as he can, is allowed 

 to make sport of the order and the creditor. The arrest 

 of a bad debtor must be made by the Sheriff ; but the 

 Sheriff, even if he has the warrant in his pocket, may 

 not open the door of the house or of the room in which 

 the debtor is; may not raise the latch, although the 

 door is not otherwise barred or closed. He must seek 

 to enter the house by an open door and execute his 

 order, or to take the debtor into custody in the street, 

 if he lets himself be found there. But since it is a 



