in the cavern into which the hill had fallen. There was a
flock of sheep upon it at the time, who were seen to scatter
with the first fright, but finding themselves hemmed in, they hud
dled together till the earth settled, and then scudded away for
terra firma. A large current of muddy water had been long ob
served to issue from this hill, into the tide way, which had pro
bably almost worn it thro: but there was no appearance of an
earthquake. Our Host told us that when he came here 6 years ago,
there were but Nine Houses in the Town, and now there were
not less than 20 Stores, this being a principal outlet for the Weste
rn Country. After this however our days ride was very uninter
resting through broken land, and a tract of Pines extending almost
to Albany, rendered doubly tedious by the incess and turns and win
dings of the road, often forming a semicircle instead of a line, and
sometimes turning three sides of a square. I am just not called to dinner and
so conclude with our distance from Oneida

, (supposed to exceed a
hundred miles) which we have to make by the end of the week, and
my love and good wishes for you all, as is named, and other en
quiring Friends...

Your affectionate Kinsman
Joseph Samson