220 TRAVELS THROUGH NORTH AMERICA: 
nal qualities of all these springs will probably 
be accurately ascertained ; at present they are 
but very little known. As for the relief ob¬ 
tained by those persons that frequent the Sweet 
Springs, in particular, it is strongly conjectur¬ 
ed that they are more indebted for it to the 
change of the climate than to the rare qualities 
of theywater. 
- jg'ilgWaem M—- 
LETTER XVII. 
Description of the celebrated Rockbridge, and of 
cm immense Cavern.—Description of the 
Shenandoah Valley .—Inhabitants mostly Ger¬ 
mans.—Soil and Climate.—Observations on 
American Landscapes.—Mode of cutting clown 
Ti 'ees.—High Road to Kentucky , behind Blue 
Mountains.—Much frequented .— Uncouth , in¬ 
quisitive People. — Lexington. — Staunton .—- 
Military Titles very common in America .— 
Causes thereof.— Winchester. 
MY DEAR SIR, Philadelphia, November. 
AFTER remaining a considerable time in 
Bottetourt- County, I again crossed Fluvan¬ 
na River in the county of Rockbridge, so 
called from the remarkable natural bridge 
of rock that is in it. This bridge stands about 
