[ 1 8 6 ]
On my return tb Providence, I set off the next day for New
York' in a packet,'which was-as* handsome as any in Europe*
It had adoeble row o f births on each side made of mahogany*
and three separate cabins, and the furniture very neat and (dean :
we had plen ty of good -provisions and a pleasant company. Before
we got down the bay the boat grounded, and some of the passen«
gers suspected that the captain had done this-on-purpuse, to delay
time for the coming o f another mail which he was expecting; however
we reached Newport before dark. This town is more ancient
than Providence,' and the principal one in Rhode Island ; the harbour
is spacious, and secure, and vessels have a much easier access
to it than to Providence; but as the latter town has more wealthy
inhabitants, the commerce carried on there is more extensive and
important. The winter is said to be at Newport exceedingly unpleasant,
and the air very keen, so that many young persons die
here of consumption; this, perhaps, and the eonsideration that the
town is more exposed to the attack of an enemy by sea than Provi-
dence, has contributed* to the greater population óf the latter
place. Newport on the whole has but a mean appearance*
The land round Newport is very destitute of trees, though 1 it is
said that many fruit trees were consumed-by fire, during; the -last
war; but considering the length of time since that event, the inhabitants
might have planted others ; it is said however that agriculture
is here greatly neglected, the people of Rhode Island in general
preferring a seafaring life.
The packet passed through the Sound of Long Islan d, wh ieb for m s
a channel of near one hundred miles; but no remarkable fine prospect
appeared, and I was very sorry that it grew dark before we
made the latter part of our passage, as, according to every description,
it is there the most cultivated part of the island- lies.
A soon as I had taken a lodging at the largest hotel at New
York, I asked for the directory book, to look for the lodging of
[ M7 ]
H. Th-r,Esq. but no such name was to, be found: I next went to
Mr. Wheaton, tpwhom I had a letter, of introduction from Mr. Tif-
linghast; he• received-me very politely,, but when I enquired of him
fpr. Mr. H. Th—, he.tcdd me* he did nQt.knQw any such person, but
would enquire after , him* JÜotMithstanding all the.* trouble which
Mr. Wkrwas so good, as to ^v%htraself a b ^ t my eoneera, his enquiries
were without any »effect,: ilfWf pt; to the post-office, and to
several ©therspubliQ • places,$b ut» all my ,*0 §a^ch«& wore in vain, and
I founds myself in the most unpleasant sikuatifi|fe I ever had been
in the who!® course: of my travels.:. this tooina country where I was
entirely unknown, and. at atime when, the affairs of my own country
made it suspected, that many adventurers would flock to. this
country ; besides this, the misunderstanding-which .prevails amongst
the principal maritime powers and the UnitediStates, makes it:every
moment: expected that the correspondence with this. country will
be entirely interruptedi; all these considerations added, muck to, the
gloomy thoughts with which I have been so nauch >affected of late.
Mr. Witold me that this létter, of credit was a* moat unfortunate
circumstance,itbat it would kavebeen much better; fotiinehad it
been lost before it came to the country; but how a mistake could
have happened in a matter of such importance's a letter.'of credit,
created many unfavourable observatious in- those to whom he had
spoken about it. I answered that I was aware of afi this,, hut ;tihat
as it was no fault of mine, I bad nothing to. reproach myaelf with;
and shouldithereforeprepare for any critical situation® which, now
for a while anight happen to me, being iperfmtly^ersuadedj that a t
'Iast.it couldinot. end in ray, disgrace. uMr, rW^said he wiould.not
suffer it to come to , any extreme,.having the utmost confidence, in
me, and that he hoped at last we should find oubthiSiMr. ill.iThjTt-*
for whicbul employed every day a ,part of my time,and the other
part in the inspection of the. town.
iMemr York is ,w y pleasantly situated totweens Hudson's river and