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article in the neighbourhood, a considerable quan- tity of which they ship to other parts of the United States. There is also a navigable canal for the conveyance of coal, on which a great deal of busi- ness is done, and the canal appears to be as well managed as those in England. 9th Month, 26th. Having business with C. A. of Gouchland, at a distance of about 30 miles on a cross road, I hired a horse and rode to his house in the course of the day. My road lying, part of the way, through extensive plantations cultivated by negro slaves, many of whom dwell in small clusters of huts at no great distance from their master's house, I had the curiosity to look into some of their little habitations; but all that I exa- mined were wretched in the extreme, and far inferior to many Indian cottages I have seen. In passing along I observed in some places that the land was very productive in tobacco, being a fine rich black mould. 9th Month, 27th. I slept at C. A's, and this morning set out for Fredericksburg, being ac- companied by his young man, our road lying through the woods great part of the way. At the place where we dined, we were waited on by two mullatto girls, whose only clothing appeared to