24 FACE OF THE COUNTRY. 



were white or coloured. The cattle grazing on the scanty 

 herbage appeared mere starvelings, and smaller than some of 

 the Highland cattle of Scotland. The sheep were even more 

 miserable-looking than the cattle, and many of them retained 

 their winter fleece. Pigs corresponded with the sheep and cattle; 

 the horse alone forming an exception to the general wretched 

 ness, some noble animals of this species being met with. Many 

 orchards, consisting chiefly of peach-trees, the fruit of which is 

 distilled into brandy, had been lately formed, and seemed the 

 only thriving thing on the surface of the earth. The men seen 

 at the militia muster, already noticed, are inhabitants of this 

 district, and appeared to partake of its character. 



When passing along the railway, I was much struck with 

 the beauty of a plant, bearing a profusion of pink-coloured 

 flowers, which the rapidity of motion prevented me seeing dis 

 tinctly ; and on asking its name, one passenger guessed it to 

 be lauristinus and another hawthorn, but which I soon disco 

 vered to be rhododendron. This plant grows in great profu 

 sion along the road, and more especially around the seat of 

 Joseph Bonaparte, near Bordentown. 



The country around Philadelphia through which we passed, 

 forms a striking contrast to that of New Jersey ; its general 

 aspect resembling, in all respects, the finest parts of the south 

 of England. Many of the fences consist of well-kept thorn- 

 hedges, studded with wide spreading trees ; and many of the 

 crops were excellent, although the soil is not generally in a 

 high state of cultivation. The trees were covered with massy 

 rich foliage, superior to any thing I had ever witnessed be 

 fore the effects of which were heightened by the season of 

 the year and prevailing weather, which was warm and moist. 

 Here and there a few pollard trees were seen raising their thin 

 tops and branchless trunks amidst the glorious exuberance of 

 nature ; and when viewed in the landscape with the weeping 1 

 willow, queen of American vegetation, the tendrils of which, 

 clothed with shining leaves, hang in graceful festoons thirty 

 feet in length, show how destitute of beauty are the works of 

 man when compared with those of nature. 



Men assisting at farm-work, in the neighbourhood of Phi 

 ladelphia, get from ten to twelve dollars, with maintenance, 



