ROADS. 
Ill ’ 
is from east to west. This parallelogram is 
crossed diagonally from the north-east to the 
south-west by several different ridges of 
mountains, which are about one hundred miles 
in breadth. The valleys between these ridges 
contain a rich black soil, and in the south¬ 
west and north-east angles also, at the outside 
of the mountains, the soil is very good. The 
northern parts of this state are but very thinly 
inhabited as yet, but towards the south, the 
whole way from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, it 
is well settled. The most populous part of it 
is the south-east corner, which lies between 
the mountains and the river Delaware; through 
this part the turnpike road passes which leads 
to Lancaster. The country on each side of 
the road is pleasingly diversified with hill and 
dale. Cultivation is chiefly confined to the 
lo w lands, which are the richest; the bills are 
all left covered with w ood, and afford a pleas¬ 
ing variety to the eye. The further you go 
from Philadelphia the more fertile is the coun¬ 
try, and the more picturesque at the same 
time. 
On the whole road from Philadelphia to 
Lancaster, there are not any tw r o dwellings 
standing together, excepting at a small place 
called Downing’s Town, which lies about mid¬ 
way ; numbers of farm houses, however, are 
scattered over the country as far as the eye 
i 
