clx 
LIFE OF WILSON. 
The sweet courtesies of life, the innumerable civilities in 
deeds and conversation, which cost one so little, are seldom found 
here. Every man you meet with has either some land to buy or 
sell, some law-suit, some coarse hemp or corn to dispose of, and if 
the conversation do not lead to any of these he will force it. Stran- 
gers here receive less civilities than in any place I have ever been 
in. The respect due to the fatigues and privations of travellers is no 
where given, because every one has met with as much, and thinks 
he has seen more than any other. No one listens to the adven- 
tures of another without interrupting the narrative with his own; 
so that, instead of an auditor, he becomes a competitor in adven- 
ture-telling. So many adventurers, also, continually wandering 
about here, injure the manners of the people, for avarice and kna- 
very prey most freely and safely upon passengers whom they may 
never meet again. 
These few observations are \vritten in Salter White’s garret, 
with little or no fire, wood being a scarce article here — the forests 
being a full /la//' mile distant. 
“April 9.— Court held to-day, large concourse of people; not 
less than one thousand horses in town, hitched to the side-posts— 
no food for them all day. Horses selling by auction. Negro wo- 
man sold same way: my reflections while standing by and hearing 
her cried: Uhree hundred and twenty-five dollars for this woman 
and boy ! going ! going !’ AVoman and boy afterwards weep. Damn- 
ed damned slavery ! this is one infernal custom which the Virginians 
have brought into this country. Rude and barbarous appearance 
of the crowd. Hopkins’s double cutters much wanted here. 
“April 10. ---Was introduced to several young ladies this af- 
ternoon, whose agreeable society formed a most welcome contrast 
to that of the lower orders of the other sex. Mrs. ^ an amia- 
ble, excellent lady; think that savage ignorance, rudeness and boor- 
ishness, was never so contrasted by female sweetness, affability 
and intelligence. 
