48 



most barren appearance. There were none 

 but snake-fences ; which are rails laid with 

 the ends of one upon another, from eight to 

 sixteen in number in one length. The 

 surface of the earth looked like a yellow- 

 washed wall; for it had been a very dry 

 summer ; and there was not any thing 

 that I could see green, except the pine trees 

 in the woods, and the cedars, which made a 

 truly picturesque view as we sailed up the 

 Potowmac. It is indeed a most beautiful 

 river. 



When we arrived at Mount- Vernon, I 

 found that General Washington was at Phi- 

 ladelphia ; but his steward had orders from 

 the General to receive me and my family, 

 with all the horses, cattle, &c. which I had 

 on board. A boat was, therefore, got ready 

 for landing them ; but that could not be 

 done, as the ship must be cleared out at 

 some port before any thing was moved : 

 so, after looking about a few minutes at 

 Mount- Vernon, I returned to the ship, and 

 we began to make way for Alexandria. 



