New York. 225 



the high-roads, from Philadelphia to New 

 Brnnjwick -, but behind that place they be- 

 came more fcarce. On coming to St at en 

 Ifland, in the province of New York, I 

 found them very common again, near the 

 gardens. Here are not fo many varieties of 

 cherries as there are in Penfylvania. I fel- 

 dom faw any of the black fweet cherries * at 

 New York ; but commonly the four red 

 ones. All travellers are allowed to pluck 

 ripe fruit in any garden which they pafs by ; 

 and not even the mod covetous farmer can 

 hinder them from fo doing. Between New 

 Brimfwick and Staten I/land, are a few cher- 

 ry-gardens ; but proportionably more or- 

 chards, with apple-trees. 



June the 6th. Several gentlemen and 

 merchants, between fifty and iixty years of 

 age, afferted, that during their life they had 

 plainly found feveral kinds of fifh decreafe 

 in number every year; and that they could 

 not get near fo many fifli now as they could 

 formerly. 



Rum, a brandy prepared from the fugar- 

 canes, and in great ufe with all the Eng- 

 lijh North American colonies, is reckoned 

 much wholefomer than brandy, made from 

 wine or corn -j-. In confirmation of this 



opinion, 



* Commonly called Black-heart Cherries. 

 f That rum is among the fpirituous liquors lefs noxious 

 thin any one of the reft, is chiefly owing to the balfaraio 

 Vol. II. P quality 



