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