Travels Through North America 



picturesque scene. There are boats and fishing 

 tackle of all sorts, and the company divert them- 

 selves vi^ith walking, fishing, going up the water, 

 dancing, singing, conversing, or just as they please. 

 The ladies wear an uniform, and appear with great 

 ease and advantage from the neatness and simplic- 

 ity of it. The first and most distinguished people 

 of the colony are of this society; and it is very ad- 

 vantageous to a stranger to be introduced to it, as 

 he hereby gets acquainted with the best and most 

 respectable company in Philadelphia. In the winter, 

 when there is snow upon the ground, it is usual to 

 make what they call sleighing parties, or to go upon 

 it in sledges; but as this is a practice well known in 

 Europe, it is needless to describe it. 



The present state of Pennsylvania is undoubtedly 

 very flourishing. The country is well cultivated, 

 and there are not less than 9,000 wagons employed 

 in it, in difi^erent services. Till this war, they were 

 exempt from taxes; and it was not without difficulty 

 that the Quakers were prevailed upon to grant any 

 supplies for the defence of the frontiers, though ex- 

 posed to the most horrid cruelties: it was not from 

 principle, say their enemies, that they refused it, 

 but from interest; for as they were the first settlers, 

 they chiefly occupy the interior and lower parts of 

 the province, and are not exposed to incursions. 

 At length, however, compelled by clamour and pub- 

 lic discontent, they were obliged to pass a supply 



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