TRAVELS

IN

NORTH AMERICA.

CHAPTER I.

The author leaves home. Peak in Derbyshire-Manchester-Liverpool-Transactions before the voyage-Sets sail from that port.-Occurrences on the voyage.Arrival at New-York..

22d of the 5th * Month, 1804.

AFTER having taken leave of my relations and

friends in Sheffield, I left home with my wife and children. As our road lay through Castleton, we visited Peak's Hole, which was a great gratification

*To those who may not be accustomed to designate the Months by their numerical names, the following Table may be useful:

The 1st is commonly called January

to the children, who had never before seen a natural curiosity of equal interest. The habitations within the cavern, with the manufactory of pack-thread that was carrying on there, had a very singular and striking effect, which had something in it more like a dream or a vision, than a transaction of real life. Yet I did not perceive on the countenances of those who were employed in this subterraneous abode, less appearance of being happy or cheerful, than we see upon the faces we meet in the crowded streets of towns and cities:-Such is the force of habit.

After taking some refreshment, we set out upon our next stage; and, believing it would be some relief to the horses, I walked up the Winyards, which, though a laborious walk, is far from being an unpleasant one. This is, perhaps, one of the most romantic roads in this country, on account of the steep and lofty mountains through which it winds its way; and, after having ascended the summit, a very different scenery is presented to the view: The most fruitful and populous part of the counties of Lancaster and Chester lying in full prospect before the eye of the traveller, presents something like the appearance of one vast city intermixed with fields and woods.

In the evening, we arrived safe at Manchester. There we were hospitably entertained at the house

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of T. H. jun. and were kindly shown through his bleaching, dying, and printing works. We were also shown a beautiful collection of dryed specimens of herbs, flowers, &c. the production of Botany Bay. These he had received from an ingenious young man who had been transported into that country when but a boy, on a charge of pilfering; of which, I understood, it was generally believed he was innocent. His habits of industry and care did not forsake him, although thrown amongst such a set of companions as Botany Bay and a Transport Ship may be supposed to furnish; and, in a few years, he had acquired property to a considerable amount.

5th Month, 23d. Having concluded to take our passage in one of the packet-boats which go be tween Manchester and Warrington, T. H. kindly accommodated us with his sociable to the waterside. We got into the packet, and had a pleasant sail nearly to Warrington, where we dined, being about 18 miles. This is an easy mode of travelling both as to expense and fatigue; and when upon a canal like that of the Duke of Bridgewater's, and in such a country as that through which we sailed this day, the weather at the same time being fine and clear, it could scarcely be otherwise than very pleasant. In the evening we arrived at Liverpool, and took up our quarters at our cousin T. B.'s. A 2

5th Month, 24th and 25th, were spent at Liverpool, in preparation for my intended voyage to America.

5th Month, 26th. Being the first day of the week, we attended the meetings at Liverpool, and spent the rest of the day at our cousin A. B.'s, at Mileend, near Liverpool; where we had the company of Captain R. B. of the Romulus, an agreeable, consistent friend, from Hudson City, in the State of New-York.

5th Month, 27th. In the morning cousin T. B. kindly conducted me to the Lyceum; a splendid public establishment of the nature of a news-room or coffee-house, and library. Afterwards, accompanied by my wife and children, we paid a visit to the Asylum for the Blind; an institution well worthy the support of the wealthy, where many persons who have lost their sight, are instructed in various branches of business, by which they are enabled to pass their time usefully, and agreeably to themselves. After visiting this institution, we walked to the Botanic Garden. Our relation being a subscriber, had the priviledge of introducing us as strangers; and we spent a pleasant hour or two, having, in the compass of a few acres of land, an opportunity of seeing a vast variety of plants, flowers, shrubs, and trees, natives of every quarter of the world, alive and flourishing as in the countries from which they are brought. Amongst them I noticed the banana and the sugar cane.