hv_sansomj_letters_1796_013

in the cavern into which the hill had fallen. There was a flock of sheep upon it at the time, who were seen to scatter with the first fright, but finding themselves hemmed in, they huddled together till the earth settled, and then scudded away for terra firma. A large current of muddy water had been long ob served to issue from this hill, into the tide way, which had probably almost worn it thro: but there was no appearance of an earthquake. Our Host told us that when he came here 6 years ago, there were but Nine Houses in the Town, and now there were not less than 20 Stores, this being a principal outlet for the Western Country. After this however our days ride was very uninterresting through broken land, and a tract of Pines extending almost to Albany, rendered doubly tedious by the incess and turns and windings of the road, often forming a semicircle instead of a line, and sometimes turning three sides of a square. I am just not called to dinner and so conclude with our distance from Oneida, (supposed to exceed a hundred miles) which we have to make by the end of the week, and my love and good wishes for you all, as is named, and other enquiring Friends... Your affectionate Kinsman Joseph Samson