Travels Through North America 



Pennsylvanians. They live altogether upon their 

 estates, and are literally gentlemen farmers. The 

 country in its present state can scarcely be called 

 flourishing; for although it is extremely well culti- 

 vated, thickly seated, and the garden of North 

 America, yet, having no foreign trade, it is deprived 

 of those riches and advantages, which it would other- 

 wise soon acquire. There have been some attempts 

 to remedy this defect; but whether from the diffi- 

 culty of diverting a thing out of a channel in which 

 it has long flowed; or from want of propriety or per- 

 severance, in the measures, I am unable to say; but 

 the truth is, they have not succeeded. Upon the 

 whole, however, this province may be called a rich 

 one: during the present war it has raised considerable 

 supplies, having seldom had less than 1,000 men in 

 pay, with a leader (Colonel Schuyler) at their head, 

 who has done honour to his country by his patriotic 

 and public spirit. The paper currency of this colony 

 is at about 70 per cent, discount, but in very good 

 repute; and preferred by the Pennsylvanians and 

 New Yorkers to that of their own provinces. 



On Wednesday the 9th of July, I crossed over to 

 Staten Island, in the province of New York; and 

 travelled upon it about nine miles to the point which 

 is opposite New York City. 



In my way I had an opportunity of seeing the 

 method of making wampum. This, the reader 

 probably knows is the current money amongst the 



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