Genesee Country. 355 
be found both of Scotch and German. The facility with which 
heavy articles could be transported upon the Susquehanna river, 
from the southern pai't of the Genesee country, at an early period, 
presented advantages which were not overlooked. A large por- 
tion of the tract being in the possession of foreign owners, through 
the sale of Mr. Morris, efforts were used by them to induce im- 
migration to those lands from Great Britain upon an extensive 
scale; by a law at this time passed by the Legislature of the 
State of New York, aliens were enabled to purchase and hold 
real estate in this state. It was also stated to them that the 
climate and soil was by no means inferior to England, that there 
■was much similarity in the laws of the two countries, and that 
they would already find many Europeans mingled with the va- 
rious settlements; with such inducements, together with the very 
cheap price of land, and the disturbed state of Europe, it may be 
feadily supposed that many embraced the flattering opportunity 
presented. A Scotch settlement was projected upon the tbllowing 
plan: 10,000 acres were to be purchased and occupied by them 
in the following manner: 
For the minister and schoolmaster a glebe of- - 150 acres. 
For ten gentlemen, 500 acres, 5000 
For ten farmers, 100 acres, 1000 
For forty farmers, 78 acres, 3130 
To be laid off in a village, in 60 12 acre lots- - 720 
10-000 acres. 
It was recommended to Europeans that they should form settle- 
ments in close proximity in order to mutual assistance, and as 
forming a less sudxlen contrast to the change produced by an 
abandonment of their homes and friends. The writer from whom 
these incidents are derived, adds, that the forming of such estab- 
lishments at an early period of the settlement, was attended with 
great expense; money could not at that time obviate the incon- 
veniences the immigrants had to struggle with. He further adds, 
that during the first two years himself and companions spent in 
this country, they scarcely ever slept upon a bed, and seldom 
could obtain the most common necessaries of life. But the 
opening of roads, improving the navigation and building of mills, 
not only brought necessaries from a distance, but conduced to a 
rapid progress of the country in cultivation and every species ol 
improvement, so that within four years, what was impracticable 
became of easy attainment, and the settlers were not only sup- 
plied reasonably with the necessaries, but even luxuries of lifie. 
At this period (1798) the price of lands of course depended much 
on their situation and quality, but generally upon the three yearly 
