IOs 
parallel latitudes in Europe, may peflibly . 
ecntribute to it more than is generally 
magincd. We oceafionally difcerned the 
weftiges of fome Indian wigwams, or huts, 
the foreft refidence of the Aborigines. 
We hkewife faw feveral block-houfes, 
rudely built of unhewn timber, in a ruin-; 
@us condition, having been long fince 
abandoned by their owners, the primitive 
white-fettlers, who ereét fuch tenements 
zs temporary habitations, until they have 
Teifure and means to raife others more 
durable and convenient. In the uncleared 
arts of the country, the back-woodmen 
ad the fame at this day, and fortify them 
when neceflary, againft the attacks of fa- 
wages and wild-beails. Happily, neither 
ef thefe dangerous neighbours are known 
in the well-peopled diftriéts, except: from 
tradition: and it is new as fafe to travel 
am the Federal-ftates as in moft European 
countries, and perhaps more fo, becaufe 
there are no robbers: footpads and high- 
waymen they have no idea of, exctpt 
through the English newfpapers. No 
feakes, or poilonous reptiles of any kind, 
appeared in our way, though the peafantry 
-affred us of their prevalence; particu- 
larly in the fandy-bottoms, {wamps, and 
deep recefles of the weeds. “They may, 
perhaps, abound in the fouthern and un- 
eultivated diftriéts of the other ftates; but 
F fufpeét the danger to be magnified, that 
celafs of creatures being naturally timid, 
and cautioufly avoiding man. Being in 
the native country of the rattle-fnake, I 
made particular inquiry reipecting its 
boafted powers of fafcination; which, like 
ather marvellous tales, is palmed upon 
the credulous, and fwallowed by the mul: 
titude. “Fherefult of my inquiries con- 
winced me of its abfurdity, and explained 
the whole wonder briefly thus: in the 
breeding-feafen, when a fnake difcovers a 
bird’s-neft, in devouring the cantents, the 
parent-bird,, urged by its fond anxiety to 
refeue her ycung, will fometimes venture 
foo near the voracicus animal, whofe 
well-known agility and cunning, if fud- 
denly exerted, often proves fatal to the 
unfortunate bird. I was defirous of fee- 
ing this remarkable fake alive, but never 
could be gratified. Along this intereft- 
ing route, even the mof fterile {pots were 
attractive. On them, grew fpontancouily,, 
the American fir and pine, whofe bold 
fpiral heads and dark evergreen foliage 
contrafted finely with the other gay and 
lighter hues. “The varicty of trees grow- 
ing naturally in the American forefts, 
would bafie the knowledge of the profefi- 
~ed botanix, and would be weil-deierving 
Tour in North America. 
[Aug. 
of attentive inveftigation. Confiderable 
advances have lately been made in this, 
and every other ufeful and elegant branch 
of natural-hiftory: but much yet remains: 
to be done, ere the American naturalifts 
can vie with thofe of Europe. What, 
however, may not be expected from the 
acute and enterprifing charatter which 
diftinguifhes the Americans? The fields 
within the compafs of opr obfervation, 
were large and regular in form, and co-° 
vered, for the moit part, with luxuriant 
crops of wheat, barley, Endian-corn, rye, 
and clover. In the midit of each inclo- 
fure a tree of the largeft growth is ufually 
planted, ferving the double purpofe. to 
the cattle, of fhade from the burning rays 
of the fun, and fhelter from the rains, 
which fall there in torrents, and not as 
with us, in foft drizzling fhowers. Thefe 
many dotted trees give a very picturefque 
effect to the cultivated parts of Penn- 
f;lvania, and, in fome degree, make 
amends for the want of hedges: wood 
or ftone fences being the ufual fubftitute 
in this country, for that beautiful feature 
of the Englifh landfeape. After a flow, 
but charming ride, we arrived about noon 
at the place of our c <ination, called 
Pennfbury-farm. It is fituated on the 
Brandywine Creek, a fine fecluded {pot, 
thirty-three miles fouth-weft from Phila- 
delphia, and is the eftate and refidence of 
a refpe&table. member of the fociety of 
friends, related to my companicns, Metirs. 
ABRAHAM FRANKLIN, of New-York, 
and Isaac Morris, of Philadelphia, 
Mr. W. received us with that cordial and 
genuine hofpitality, equally diftant from 
the repullive formality, cr obfequious in- 
fincerity, fo prevalent in certain families 
where wealth and its ufual concomitants, 
avarice, or filly pride and oftentation, 
have overcome every generous feeling of 
the heart. Pennfbury-tarm feemed an epi- 
tome, on a imall {cale, of old patriarchal 
times and primitive fimplicity, united at 
the fame time to modern tafte and neat- 
nefs. The houfe and furniture were new, 
and of the beft materials. At dinner, con- 
formably to the quaker cuftom in the 
country parts of America, the guelts 
were placed at the upper end of the table, 
next to the heads of the family; then, in 
rotation, /at the fons and daughters, and 
below them the fervants, whites and 
blacks, indifcriminately. The contented 
looks, cleanly apparel, and re{peciful or- 
derly behaviour of thefe domeitics, ele- 
quently befpoke their fortunate fituation : 
the benevolence cf thofe whom they ferv- 
ed, and the well-regulated difcipline of 
the 
