TO JOHN BARTRAM. 47 



ing at me, said, "My name is Bertram dost thee want me?" 

 " Sir, I am come on purpose to converse with you, if you can be 

 spared from your labour." " Very easily," he answered ; "I direct 

 and advise more than I work." We walked toward the house, 

 where he made me take a chair while he went to put on clean 

 clothes ; after which he returned and sat down by me. " The fame 

 of your knowledge," said I, "in American botany and your well- 

 known hospitality have induced me to pay you a visit, which I 

 hope you will not think troublesome. I should be glad to spend a 

 few hours in your garden." " The greatest advantage," replied he, 

 " which I receive from what thee callest my botanical fame, is the 

 pleasure which it often procureth me in receiving the visits of friends 

 and foreigners. But our jaunt into the garden must be postponed 

 for the present, as the bell is ringing for dinner." We entered 

 into a large hall, where there was a long table full of victuals ; at 

 the lowest part sat his negroes, his hired men were next, then the 

 family and myself ; and at the head, the venerable father and his 

 wife presided. Each reclined his head and said his prayers, divested 

 of the tedious cant of some, and of the ostentatious style of others. 

 "After the luxuries of our cities," observed he, "this plain fare 

 must appear to thee a severe fast." " By no means, Mr. Bertram ; 

 this honest country dinner convinces me that you receive me as a 

 friend and an old acquaintance." "I am glad of it, for thee art 

 heartily welcome. I never knew how to use ceremonies ; they are 

 insufficient proofs of sincerity ; our Society, besides, are utterly 

 strangers to what the world calleth polite expressions. We treat 

 others as we treat ourselves. I received yesterday a letter from 

 Philadelphia, by which I understand thee art a Russian : what 

 motives can possibly have induced thee to quit thy native country, 

 and to come so far in quest of knowledge or pleasure ? Verily it 

 is a great compliment thee payest to this our young province, to 

 think that anything it exhibiteth may be worthy thy attention." "I 

 have been most amply repaid for the trouble of the passage. I 

 view the present Americans as the seed of future nations, which 

 will replenish this boundless continent. The Russians may be in 

 some respects compared to you ; we, likewise, are a new people, 

 new, I mean, in knowledge, arts, and improvements. Who knows 

 what revolutions Russia and America may one day bring about ! 

 We are, perhaps, nearer neighbours than we imagine. I view with 

 peculiar attention, all your towns, I examine their situation, and 



