82 September 1748. 



whether in twenty-four hours there would not 

 be a piercing cold, Nay, fometimes the weather 

 will change five or fix times a day. 



THE trees in this country have the fame qua- 

 lities as its inhabitants. For the fhips which are 

 built of American wood, are by no means equal 

 in point of ftrength, to thofe which are built in 

 Europe. This is what nobody attempts to con- 

 tradict. When a fhip, which is built here, has 

 ferved eight or twelve years, it is worth little; and 

 if one is to be met with, which has been in ufe 

 longer and is yet ferviceable, it is reckoned very 

 aftonifhing. It is difficult to find out the caufes 

 from whence this happens. Some lay the fault 

 to the badnefs of the wood : others condemn the 

 method of building the (hips, which is to make 

 them of trees which are yet green, and have had 

 no time to dry. I believe both caufes are joined. 

 For I found oak, which at the utmoft had been 

 cut down about twelve years, and was covered 

 by a hard bark : but upon taking off this bark, 

 the wood below it was almoft entirely rotten, 

 and like flour, fo that I could rub it into pow- 

 der between my fingers. How much longer will 

 not our "European oak ftand before it moulders ? 



AT night we returned to Philadelphia. 



Sept. 23d. THERE are no Hares in this coun- 

 try, but fome animals, which are a medium be- 

 tween our Hares and Rabbets, and make a great 

 devaflation whenever they get into fields of cab- 

 bage and turneps. 



MANY people have not been able to find out 

 why the North American plants, which are car- 

 ried to Europe and planted there, for the greateft 



part 



