Travels Through North America 



over Occoquan river to Colchester, about twenty- 

 one miles. 



These are two small towns lately built for the sake 

 of the back trade; the former* on the Quantico, the 

 other upon Occoquan river, both of which fall into 

 the Potomac. About two miles above Colchester 

 there is an iron furnace, a forge, two saw-mills, and 

 a bolting-mill: at our return we had an opportunity 

 of visiting them: they have every convenience of 

 wood and water, that can be wished for. The ore 

 wrought here is brought from Maryland; not that 

 there is any doubt of there being plenty enough in 

 the adjacent hills; but the inhabitants are discouraged 

 from trying for it by the proprietor's (viz. Lord Fair- 

 fax) having reserved to himself a third of all ore that 

 may be discovered in the Northern Neck.f 



* In the preceding editions of this book, Dumfries is mentioned 

 as situated upon Acquia Creek: but this is certainly erroneous; for 

 all the maps describe it as situated upon the Quantico. The error 

 probably arose from the author's having passed the Acquia, the 

 Quantico, and the Occoquan rivers in the same day; and his want 

 of perfect and correct recollection, when he wrote his journal in 

 the evening. 



fAn occurrence happened to me in the course of this day's 

 travelling, which, though it made a considerable impression upon 

 me at the time, I should not have thought of sufficient moment to 

 be recorded, had not the intellectual powers of the African negroes 

 been frequently, of late, made the subject of conversation, both by 

 the friends and the opposers of the emancipation of that unhappy 

 race. In passing either Acquia, Quantico, or Occoquan rivers, 

 I do not recollect which, I was rowed by an old gray-headed negro 

 who seemed quite exhausted and worn down by age and infirmity. 

 I inquired into his situation, and received for answer, that he had 



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