90 
there was nothing attractive. The landlord was not at home, and 
the whole domestic management rested on the poor pale wife, 
who had five children to take care of, and expected a sixth soon. 
She had for an assistant a single little negro wench, who was soon 
sent away, so the poor woman had every thing to provide; yet 
she set before us an excellent supper. 
Towards morning, I was roused out of my uneasy slumbers 
by a powerful uproar. It was caused by cranes that flew over 
the house. At eight o’clock in the morning we left Belle Fon¬ 
taine and travelled back to Blakely, where we arrived before five 
o’clock in the evening, and took possession of our former quar¬ 
ters. Through the whole passage back, not the least thing oc¬ 
curred worthy of remark. A good road could be made at little 
expense between Blakely and Pensacola, at least the numerous 
large trees, which after violent storms have fallen transversely 
over the road and shut it up, might be cleared away. One is 
obliged often to make a considerable circuit on account of these 
trees. 
On the following morning at ten o’clock, we embarked once 
more on board the steam-boat Emeline, and in very fine, though 
cold weather, reached Mobile at twelve o’clock. We found Mr. 
Bowdoin confined to his bed, with the gout in both legs. We im¬ 
mediately betook ourselves to the harbour. During our absence, 
the packet schooner Emblem, Captain Vincent, from New Or¬ 
leans, had arrived here, and designed returning to that city. The 
captain had heard of us, and remained some time to take us along. 
His vessel stood in very high repute, as well for her sailing, as 
on account of accommodation and cleanliness. We agreed for the 
passage at fifteen dollars for each person. The vessel would 
have sailed exactly on this day, but as the captain had understood 
that we were desirous of seeing the new fort on Mobile point, 
which was built thirty miles from Mobile, he was so polite as 
to postpone his voyage till the next morning, to allow us to see 
the fort by daylight. 
Of course, we had some time on our hands. We took a walk 
in the woods situated behind the town, which is composed of 
pines, and some evergreen bushes. It is also the great burial- 
ground, which is thickly filled up by the agency of the yellow 
fever, and the sickly climate. Several Choctaw Indians bivouacked 
here, like gypsies; the men lay drunk upon the earth, and their 
miserable women were obliged to carry the bundles of wood to 
town for sale. 
To my great astonishment, I learned that there were gambling- 
houses even here, kept by Frenchmen, and that each in the city 
paid a yearly tax of one thousand dollars for a license. I was 
told that respectable merchants were in the habit of going there 
