22 EMIGRATION, OR 



retaliation for plundering^ and burnings in Canada, they will 

 positively deny it; so prejudiced and ignorant are they kept 

 of the true circumstances of the case by an interested public 

 press. The Baltimoreans pride themselves on the determined 

 and successful defence of their city, when attacked and 

 bombarded by the British, yet acknowledge it was per 

 fect madness in the latter to make the attempt with only 

 7,000 men, while the place was defended by 30,000, and 

 its neighbourhood well fortified. There are two monuments 

 built of marble; the one I have mentioned elegantly adorned 

 with emblems, and the other a large one, nearly finished, to 

 the memory of General Washington. Marble is plentiful ; 

 some of the best houses have steps to their doors and win 

 dow-sills made of it; I am informed it is brought down the 

 Susquahanna river. The evenings are very short ; it is, 

 after sunset, almost immediately dark, and the further 

 south, of course, the more so, as the sun rises and sets 

 more vertical and perpendicular, and consequently, is sooner 

 from the horizon. 



April 28. Thermometer 72. Walked up Federal Hill 

 a high hill opposite the wharfs, on a neck of land (on the 

 point of which Fort M Henry is built) where signals are 

 given of vessels coming up the Bay, which can be seen more 

 than twenty miles. Ilye in the ear ; clover and grass grow 

 ing ; white-thorn in blossom; fields green and scenery de 

 lightful where a few weeks ago the ground was bare, and 

 looked barren and wild, so quick is vegetation here. 1 went 

 on board a new small steam boat, with the paddles placed 

 behind, built on purpose to navigate the rapids of the Sus 

 quahanna river ; it will not draw more than two feet water 

 when loaded. A number of Irish and Scotch clearing the 

 bottoms of the wharfs with horses and machines, and 

 making new ones. Americans here do but little of the 

 laborious work ; what is not done by slaves and free blacks 

 is generally done by Europeans; the slaves grow less in 

 number yearly in this State, as agents are stationed to buy up 

 all they can for the sugar plantations at New Orleans. 



May 1. Fine cool, pleasant, English-like weather: peo 

 ple all flocking into the country on parties of pleasure, 

 called Maying; soldiers out, being reviewed, shooting at 

 targets for silver cups, &c. 



May 1 Very hot day, thermometer 82 in my room ; 

 came on some thunder and rain, which made it cooler. On 



