148 
On the 18th of October? I travelled in the stage to Beth¬ 
lehem? a place settled in the year 1741? by the evangelical con¬ 
gregation of Moravians. It was impossible to me to leave the 
state of Pennsylvania without first visiting this society? which is 
highly esteemed here on account of their usefulness? morals? &c, 
Mr. Vaux gave me a recommendatory letter. 
Bethlehem is fifty-two miles from Philadelphia; as the inter¬ 
course between both places is not very great? the stage goes but 
twice a week from each place. Day had not dawned when I left 
Philadelphia; the stage was very full? and the weather was un¬ 
commonly cold. As stage companions? I became acquainted with 
two Messrs. Rice? members of the Moravian Society? and in¬ 
habitants of Bethlehem? and found them very amiable? sensible? 
and well-informed men. One of them had travelled in Germany? 
and both spoke very good German. We changed horses twice? 
and also the stage? which unfortunately was worse at each change? 
the first time at Whitemarsh? and the second at Quakertown; the 
road was mostly turnpike? and somewhat resembled our'German 
roads? except that the stones thrown on the road were rather too 
large? and the path was not well filled up. After having changed 
horses the second time? we went on a lately made turnpike? the 
stones not having been travelled on. The latter part of the road 
was not yet turnpiked? and resembled a rocky bye-road? but? on 
account of the dry season? was the most comfortable. The agri¬ 
culture of this region shows that the country has already been 
long under cultivation. The houses are mostly strong? built of 
blue limestone? and covered with shingles. There has been con¬ 
siderable expense bestowed on the barns? most of them have the 
appearance of churches. The fields and meadows were fenced? 
mostly with zigzag, commonly called worm-fences. Corn was 
still standing on the fields? but they had begun to gather it. The 
winter grain had already sprouted? and had a pleasing appearance. 
The trade in wheat flour is carried on very largely in Pennsyl¬ 
vania; this flour has very justly obtained a good reputation? and 
is much sought for in the West Indies; no where? not even ex¬ 
cepting Europe? have I eaten as good bread as in this state. The 
original forests have been eradicated? and you see very few old 
and handsome trees as in the state of New York; the wood? how¬ 
ever? has grown again? and consists mostly of large-leafed oaks? 
chesnut? walnut? and hickory trees; the soil is partly limestone? 
and partly clay. In the neighbourhood of Bethlehem? the soil 
is mostly limestone; there are a great many rocks? and you ob¬ 
serve here the earth often crumbled? as is the case in calcarious 
mountains. The inhabitants are mostly descendants of Germans? 
emigrants from Wirtemberg? who still retain their language? al¬ 
though in an imperfect state. They print here for the country 
