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Travels in Some Parts of North America, in the Years 1804, 1805, & 1806, by Robert Sutcliff

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after attending the monthly meeting there, dined at J. B.'s. The next day I set out in the mail stage for Philadelphia, in company with J. L. and J. F. On our way, we dined at Newark, at Archibald Gifford's Tavern, and reached Prince Town to supper. The country we passed through was pleasantly diversified with hill and dale; and the luxuriant appearance of the fields of Indian corn, had a very striking effect upon one who had not been much out of England. The situations and appearances of Newark and Prince Town, are particularly beautiful. But it was quite dark before we reached Trenton, so that our coachman was unable to see his way, in driving into the ferryboat; and the wheels on one side of the carriage passing into the boat whilst those on the other side went into the Delaware, we narrowly escaped a plunge into the water. The passengers usually keep their seats in the carriage while it is ferried over the rivers in this country; and, in general, the horses are so well trained, that they are driven in and out of the boats without any difficulty. On finding ourselves in this perilous situation, we all got out of the carriage into the boat as well as we could; which was no very easy task, as it was quite dark, and we were without lamp or candle. The driver putting back his horses, got clear of the boat, and in his second attempt drove fairly into it, and we crossed the river without further accident.