46 John Bachman. 



LANSINGBURG, July 14th, 1827. 



I have slept very little since I left Charleston. On 

 board of the ship, I felt as though I had only dozed, 

 and the stage driver knocked us up at 3 A. M. We 

 traveled over a rough and mountainous country ; 

 the roads were dusty and disagreeable ; yet I am in 

 excellent health. 



My dear old mother is, perhaps, better than I 

 expected to find her. She has the use of her hands, 

 but is obliged to walk with crutches (the result of 

 a fall.) I fear that she will be compelled to use 

 them for the rest of her days. The old home is 

 shut up. Sister Eva (Mrs. Dale) has taken our 

 mother to her house in Lansingburg. Her girls are 

 charming, and remind me of my own at home. 



J. B. 



FORT PLAIN, July 17th, 1827. 



MY DEAR HARRIET : As I have to-day commenced 

 a journey in a novel conveyance, that of the Tow 

 Boat, on the " Great Western " or Erie Canal, I have 

 concluded to while away a half hour, while we are 

 leisurely moving up Clinton's big Ditch, in writing 

 to -you. 



I haye taken this tour, because the executors of 

 my father's estate, will not be ready for a settlement 

 until after harvest ; and, because I wish to divert 

 my mind from the melancholy scenes to which I 

 should be exposed, were I to remain for the next 

 fortnight in the neighborhood of my former resi- 

 dence. Early this morning, I took another view of 

 Schenectady. At eight o'clock we went on board of 

 the packet-boat "Albany," and commenced our 

 voyage, (if I may use the expression). The boat is 

 of a very singular construction. It is about seventy- 

 five feet long, carrying eighty tons ours, however, 



