RETURN FROM PITTSBURG 373 



and the market not yet over when we reached the 

 place, which contains not more than 40-50 houses. 

 There was a superfluity of the best wares, the finest 

 cloths and linens, and not less than five booths for 

 silver-ware and jewellery to be seen. But the mer- 

 chants who had come from Baltimore and Philadel- 

 phia, complained that they could hardly pay their 

 tavern-scores, to say nothing of their expenses. Of 

 gazers at the fine things, or of people hankering to 

 buy, there was no lack, but the money was wanting. 

 The court-days, which should have been held several 

 weeks before (this is the capital of Charles county) 

 must be still further postponed on account of the un- 

 fortunately general scarcity of money. For where no 

 money is for settling debt-cases won, or paying costs 

 and fines, or for ' instructing ' attorneys, no court can 

 be held. At the house where we put up, the fair 

 damsels of the region waited a long time for music 

 and the dance but in vain ; not a fidler was to be im- 

 pressed, and they would have been easily satisfied ; the 

 company was obliged to get home undiverted and un- 

 fatigued. 



The place has no trade, notwithstanding large ves- 

 sels can lie here ; but tobacco is no more raised, and 

 there is not much else that can be exported. 



A few miles farther lies Head of Elk, on the Elk 

 river. Near this little place General Howe and his 

 army landed in the fall of 1777; the house in which he 

 ate is pointed out as a curiosity, and the English are 

 contemned here merely for the reason that after so 

 many threats they failed to carry out what they prom- 

 ised, which, it appears, would have been preferred 

 here. Shortly after we came into the jurisdiction of 

 the 



