63 



which is in my opinion superior to the 

 woodcock in England. These ducks are 

 to be found only in two rivers in America, 

 the Potowmac and the Susquehanna, which 

 seems a very odd circumstance ; and in 

 these rivers there are thousands of them. 

 I returned, next morning, to Alexandria ; 

 and in a day or two afterward went to 

 see General Washington. ' I dined with 

 him ; and he showed me several presents 

 that had been sent him, viz. swords, china, 

 and among the rest the key of the Bastille, 

 I spent a very pleasant day in the house, 

 as the weather was so severe that there 

 were no farming objects to see, the ground 

 being covered with snow. The General 

 wished me to stay all night ; but having 

 some other engagements, I declined his 

 kind offer. He sent Colonel Lear out after 

 I had parted with him, to ask me if I want- 

 ed any money ; which I gladly accepted, 



A few days afterward I set off to Balti- 

 more, to see Mr. Thompson, with an inten- 

 tion to view his estate, I had previously 



