li v 
LIFE OF 
place, the crowd had formed a ring, within which they danced to 
the catgut scrapings of an old negro. The spectators looked on 
with as much gravity as if they were listening to a sermon, and 
the dancers laboured with such seriousness, that it seemed more 
like a penance imposed on the poor devils for past sins, than mere 
amusement. 
44 1 waited on a Mr A. of this town, and by him was introduced 
to several others. He also furnished me with a good deal of 
information respecting the birds of New England. He is a great 
sportsman, a man of fortune and education, and has a considerable 
number of stuffed birds, some of which he gave me, besides letters 
to several gentlemen of influence in Boston. I endeavoured to 
recompense him in the best manner I could, and again pursued 
my route to the northeast. The country between this and 
Hartford is extremely beautiful, much resembling that between 
Philadelphia and Frankfort. The road is a hard sandy soil ; and, 
in one place, I had an immense prospect of the surrounding 
country, nearly equal to that which we saw returning from Easton, 
but less covered with woods. On reaching Hartford, I waited on 
Mr G., a member of Congress, who recommended me to several 
others, particularly a Mr W., a gentleman of taste and fortune, 
who was extremely obliging. The publisher of a newspaper here 
expressed the highest admiration of the work, and has since paid 
many handsome compliments to it in his publication, as three other 
editors did in New York. This is a species of currency that will 
neither purchase plates, nor pay the printer ; but, nevertheless, it is 
gratifying to the vanity of an author, when nothing heller can be got. 
My journey from Hartford to Boston, through Springfield, Worcester, 
&c., one hundred and twenty-eight miles, it is impossible for me 
to detail at this time. From the time I entered Massachussets, 
until within ten miles of Boston, which distance is nearly two- 
thirds the length of the whole state, I took notice that the 
principal features of the country were stony mountains, rocky 
pasture fields, and hills and swamps, adorned with pines. The 
fences, in every direction, are composed of strong stones ; and, 
unless a few straggling, self-planted, stunted apple trees, overgrown 
with moss, deserve the name, there is hardly an orchard to be 
