J 38 PROGRESS TO THE MINES. 



something scarce, notwithstanding it is supplied by two streams, one of 

 which is conveyed one thousand and nine hundred feet through wooden 

 pipes, and the other sixty. The name of the founder employed at present 

 is one Godfrey, of the kingdom of Ireland, whose wages is three shillings 

 and sixpence per ton for all the iron he runs, and his provisions. This man 

 told me that the best wood for coaling is red oak. He complained that the 

 colonel starves his M^orks out of whimsicalness and frugality, endeavouring 

 to do every thing with his own people, and at the same time taking them 

 off upon every vagary that comes into his head. Here the coal carts dis- 

 charge their load at folding doors, made at the bottom, which is sooner done, 

 and shatters the coal less. They carry no inore than one hundred and ten 

 bushels. The colonel advised me by all means to have the coal made on the 

 same side the river with the furnace, not only to avoid the charge of boat- 

 ing and bags, but likewise to avoid breaking of the coals, and making them 

 less fit for use. Having picked the bones of a sirloin of beef, we took 

 leave of the ladies, and rode together about five miles, where the roads part- 

 ed. The colonel took that to Massaponux, which is fifteen miles from his 

 furnace, and very level, and I that to Fredericksburg, which cannot be less 

 than twenty. I was a little benighted, and should not have seen my way, 

 if the lightning, which flashed continually in my face, had not befriended me. 

 I got about seven o'clock to Col. Harry Willis's, a little moistened with the 

 rain ; but a glass of good wine kept my pores open, and prevented all rheums 

 and defluxions for that time. 



3d. I was obliged to rise early here, that I might not starve my landlord, 

 whose constitution requires him to swallow a beefsteak before the sun 

 blesses the world with its genial rays. However, he was so complaisant 

 as to bear the gnawing of his stomach, till eight o'clock for my sake. Col. 

 Wallei', after a score of loud hems to clear his throat, broke his fast along 

 with us. When this necessary affair was despatched, Col. Willis walked me 

 about his town of Fredericksburg. It is pleasantly situated on the south 

 shore of Rappahannock river, about a mile below the falls. Sloops may 

 come up and lie close to the wharf, within thirty yards of the public ware- 

 houses, which are built in the figure of a cross. Just by the wharf is a 

 quarry of white stone that is very soft in the ground, and hardens in the air, 

 appearing to be as fair and fine grained as that of Portland. Besides that, 

 there are several other quarries in the river bank, within the limits of the 

 town, sufficient to build a large city. The only edifice of -stone yet built is 

 the prison ; the walls of which are strong enough to hold Jack Sheppard, 

 if he had been transported thither. Though this be a commodious and 

 beautiful situation for a town, with the advantages of a navigable river, and 

 wholesome air, yet the inhabitants are very few. Besides Col. Willis, who is 

 the top man of the place, there are only one merchant, a tailor, a smith and 

 an ordinary keeper ; though I must not forget Mrs. Levistone, who acts here 

 in the double capacity of a doctress and coffee woman. And were this a 

 populous city, she is qualified to exercise two other callings. It, is said the 

 Gourt-house and the church are going to be built here, and then both religion 

 and justice will help to enlarge the place. Two miles from this place is a 

 spring strongly impregnated with alum, and so is the earth all about it. 

 This water does wonders for those that are affiicted with a dropsy. And on 

 the other side the river, in King George county, twelve miles from hence, is 

 another spring of strong steel water, as good as that at Tunbridge Wells. Not 

 far from this last spring are England's iron mines, called so from the chief ma- 

 nager of them, though the land belongs to Mr. Washington. These mines are 

 two miles from the furnace, and Mr. Washington raises the ore, and carts it 

 thither for twenty shillings the ton of iron that it yields. The furnace is built 



