SW_IC1799_Page_15

Will and _____ Carpenter joining with us to go to the States. Four of us lodged at Joseph Elicot's who was very kind, and gave us a good supper and breakfast. 8th. Set off from Elicot's, it having been a very wet night and dull morning. Rode eighteen and one-half miles to where there is a large new house building for a house of entertainment. Fed our horses and dined on our own provisions. The land the most of this stage an open plain full of lime-stone which doth not appear to me to be very valuable, the grass and herbage of an inferior kind; some of the way pretty good land covered with beech and sugar maple. From thence to Tonawanda, a large stream running into Lake On-tario, 11 1/2 miles. Between those places there is some excellent land covered with beech, sugar maple, bass, black walnut, shell-bark, hickory, poplar, and divers other sorts of timber. Just after we crossed the Tonawanda I rode a few rods to the left hand to see the memorable and celebrated rock under which Captain Lindley and his men, about two years ago, en- camped and lodged a very cold, wet night without fire; and just after I got into the road again, had the mortification to lose a great part of my horse-feed by means of the bag's coming untied and scattering on the ground, which my mare may have cause to lament in this wilderness country. Then rode eleven miles further to a small stream, struck up a fire and lodged in the woods at the east end of the White Oak Plains, having passed over some very poor land, some good, and a large plain pretty much without timber or luxu-riant herbage. On our way this day we met many people moving from Bucks county and the Jerseys to Canada. It is amazing what numbers of people emi-grate from those two places over the Niagara river. Where we have pitched our tent there are several other fires, at some of which are several Indians out hunting. They have large bundles of skins. This day's ride, forty-one miles. 9th. Set off early and rode to Elicot's store-house, thirteen miles, having an order from him to get any-thing ourselves or horses stood in need of. This stage almost all the way excellent limestone land covered with ash, beech, bass, sugar maple, etc., in abun-dance; a deep soil and not so broken with the rock nor yet so dead a level as in some places, and is tol-erably well watered with lively streams. Soon after I set off this morning, my mind became serene, which led me into an humble state, and thankful-ness and gratitude to Him who hath hitherto pre-served me and showered down many blessings and favors upon me, ascended from my soul, accompanied with strong desires that the rest of my time may be spent in a measure worthy of such favors. From thence to two new taverns just by a large spring; seven miles of this distance the land much as before, when we came to a creek running to the left called Kittle Creek, just at a great fall over a large flat rock, called the Buttermilk Falls, then immediately en-tered land of an inferior quality, into a large road I suppose opened by the State of New York, on which there are many new improvements. From thence to Parsons's on said road, being a new tavern; pretty good accomodations; eleven miles. On the way we crossed the Genesee river, four miles form our lodging, it being a large stream running into the lake. On the west siade of said river there is a small Indian village on an extense of flat or plain of very rich land covered with high grass, I suppose some thousands of acres. This day's ride, thirty-six miles, in which space we met fifteen or sixteen wagons with families and many other people moving to Upper Canada. So great is the emigration to that government. 10th. Rode ten miles along the aforesaid road which is at least 100 feet wide. I was very much surprised to see the improvement which is made in this new settled country, particularly along this road. I am informed it is but ten years since it first began to be settled; and now there is not half a mile with-out a house, and many of them very good ones--what may be called elegant--many capital barns; a great deal of land is cleared and there are very good cattle in the fields. The people principally emigrated from the New England states, and this is a specimen of their industry. When we had ridden ten miles from our lodging we parted, Joshua Sharples, Nathan Smith, James Cooper and myself turning off the main road to the north in order to pay a visit to some Friends who are settled at a place called Mud Creek. The other friends all propose to go directly home. We then rode eight miles to Jacob Smith's; dined and rested the afternoon; here we propose to lodge. The most of the way from the great road here, appears to be a light, sandy land, thinly tim-bered and I think may be called poor. About one mile before we came to Smith's, we again came into rich beech and sugar maple land. Our landlord doth not appear to be much polished, but I believe is hearty in entertaining us in his way. 11th. Rode from Jacob Smith's seven miles to his brother Jeremiah Smith's. When I came in sight of the house, although the barn and farm looked well, yet the house appeared so miserable I was ready towish I had not come into those parts; but in a little while after I entered my mind was saluted with some-thing like "Peace be to this house," and I felt myself very happy in company with the family, and believe that divers of them live near the fountains of good. We stayed till evening and then rode two miles to Abraham Lapham' and lodged. [To be Continued.]