had been alloted. Schuylkill River was obstructed by 
"Falls," and upon a tract near Roxborough looked upon with 
favor, the proprietor had planned to establish a manor for 
his own use. It is evident that during the month after his 
arrival, Pastorius must have been a busy man. William 
Penn was unable to furnish land as he had promised, and he 
was unwilling to make a grant in one tract. He also 
required conditions which, though not at first meeting the 
favor of Pastorius, were after admitted by him to be wise 
and beneficent. Differences at length were satisfactorily 
adjusted, and March 7, 1684, Pastorius wrote his parents 
from Philadelphia, — "After I had laid out German Town, 
on the 24th of October, and when returning the day follow- 
ing, the 25th, with seven others to this place, we saw on the 
way, clinging to a tree, a wild grape vine upon which hung 
about 400 bunches of grapes. To get the grapes, we cut 
down the tree and the eight of us ate as many as satisfied U9, 
after which, each of us brought a hat-full home with us." 
The possibilities of grape culture early received the 
attention of William Penn and his colonists, and Pastorius 
records that "William Penn has planted a vine-yard with 
French grapevines, whose growth is pleasing to observe." 
From Germany, Pastorius also brought a "number of grape 
cuttings which were lost, except two that luckily escaped," 
and upon settling upon his tract in German Town, he planted 
a vineyard wherein he experimented, endeavoring to 
improve the quality of the product. In 1684, he wrote home 
that "they send us over a quantity of grape cuttings, and all 
sorts of field and garden seeds." After this, Gabriel Thomas, 
an observing visitor, wrote, — "Several sorts of wild fruits, 
as excellent grapes, red, black, white, mascadel, and fox, 
which upon frequent experience, have produced choice wine, 
being daily cultivated by skilful vinerons, they will in a 
short space of time, have very good liquor of their own, and 
some to supply their neighbors, to their great advantage, 
as their wines are more pure and so much more wholesome." 
Contrary to a prevalent belief, but few of the first 
