JOURNAL 



873. Very good accommodations for travellers the whole of the 

 way. The stage stops to breakfast and to dine, and sleeps where 

 it sups. They literally feasted us every where, at every meal, 

 with venison and good meat of all sorts : every thing in profusion. 

 In one point, however, I must make an exception, with regard to 

 some houses : at night I was surprized, in taverns so well kept 

 in other respects, to find bugs in the beds 1 I am sorry to say I 

 observed (or, rather, felt) this too often. Always good eating 

 and drinking, but not always good sleeping. 



874. June 4th and $th. Took a view of Pittsburgh. It is 

 situated between the mouths of the rivers Allegany and Monon- 

 gahela, at the point where they meet and begin the Ohio, and is 

 laid out in a triangular form, so that two sides of it lie contiguous 

 to the water. Called upon Mr. Bakewell, to whom we were 

 introduced by letter, and who very obligingly satisfied our 

 curiosity to see every thing of importance. After showing us 

 through his extensive and well conducted glass works, he rowed 

 us across the Monongahela to see the mines from which the fine 

 coals we had seen burning were brought. These coals are taken 

 out from the side of a steep hill, very near to the river, and brought 

 from thence and laid down in any part of the town for 7 cents the 

 bushel, weighing, perhaps, 80 Ibs. Better coals I never saw. A 

 bridge is now building over the river, by which they will most 

 probably be brought still cheaper. 



875. This place surpasses even my expectations, both in natural 

 resources and in extent of manufactures. Here are the materials 

 for every species of manufacture, nearly, and of excellent quality 

 and in profusion ; and these means have been talcen advantage 

 of by skilful and industrious artisans and mechanics from all parts 

 of the world. There is scarcely a denomination of manufacture 

 or manual profession that is not carried on to a great extent, and, 

 as far as I have been able to examine, in the best manner. The 

 manufacture of iron in all the different branches, and the mills of 

 all ?orts, which I examined with the most attention, are admirable. 



876. Price of flour, from 4 to 5 dollars a barrel ; butter 14 cents 

 per Ib. ; other provisions in proportion, and mechanic s and good 

 labourer s wages i dollar, and ship-builder s i dollar and a half, 

 a day. 



8J7. June 6th. Leave Pittsburgh, and set out in a thing called 

 an ark which we buy for the purpose, down the Ohio. We have, 

 besides, a small skiff, to tow the ark and go ashore occasionally. 

 This ark, which would stow away eight persons, close packed, is a 

 thing by no means pleasant to travel in, especially at night. It is 

 strong at bottom, but may be compared to an orange-box, bowed 

 over at top, and so badly made as to admit a boy s hand to steal 

 the oranges : it is proof against the river, but not against the rain. 



878. Just on going to push off the wharf, an English officer 

 stepped on board of us, with all the curiosity imaginable. I at 

 once took him. for a spy hired to way-lay travellers. He began 



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