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JOURNAL OF A 
selves to a man, with whom none of iis, but JMr. Melville, hud the 
smallest acquaintance. However, we were in spirit with our con- 
gregations, adoring our risen Lord and Saviour, who, though with- 
drawn from mortal sight, is present with His people, in every corner 
of the earth. The result of our deliberations was, that I should take 
old Paerl, and ride to Dr. Mackrill's house, previously to announce 
the party. After crossing the river, and reaching the top of the 
bank, the country assumed the appearance of a park. The land was 
covered with short grass, and the thorn-bush, dispersed in clumps, 
or standing singly, its greatest ornament. The mountains of the 
Boschberghad a pleasant appearance, illumined by a morning-sun. 
Dr. Mackrill's house lies under one of the highest parts of the range, 
and is a small neat building of unburnt brick, stuccoed. Adjoining 
to it, are several out-houses, and huts for his slaves, The j)remises 
have a much cleaner appearance than those of even the most re- 
spectable farmers in the country, with whom neatness and cleanli- 
ness seldom enter into calculation. One of them once answered an 
observation I made on the subject, thus; " ^Vhat should I be therich- 
" er for it? Plantations, and the other arrangements you propose, 
" would cost me money, and do me no good.^' But Dr. Mackrill 
is an Englishman. The name of Somerset has been given to the 
place, in honour of the present Governor. 
On approaching the house, I was met by Mr. Melville, who had 
arrived last night, expecting that we should soon follow, prepara- 
tions having been made for our accommodation. The Doctor, to 
whom I presented the letter from Colonel Cuyler, received me with 
great politeness, and immediately dispatched a servant to the river, 
to bring in the wliole party. After breakfast, we went out to view 
the garden. It lies at the foot of the mountain, and is stored, not 
only with a great abundance of every kind of garden-produce, but, 
the Doctor, being a good botanist, has transplanted into it a great 
many of the flowering plants from the wilderness and woods, and 
by culture, very much improved their quality and beauty. Here is 
every thing requisite for an excellent garden: great depth of the 
