They have here already the convenience of hackney coaches, but
their regulations differ from those of any other town ; they take as
many persons in as they have seats, like the stage coaches, and
drive them according to the order of the passengers, that is,-each in
turn, so that a person who takes a seat is sometimes carried a good
way about before he arrives at his own place of destination. From
the few inhabitants, and the great distance froth place to place, the
hackney coaches ,could not get a subsistence, except by charging
too high for a single fare, which has occasioned this, regulation.
From this city I went in the stage to Alexandria. These coaches
are not like those of Boston, with springs fand though it is true there
are seats for twelve pern»ns in them, no regard is paid* tp the legs
óf the passengers, as the luggage is put under the seats,* and^the
rest between the benches, so that it is often very difficult to obtain
)a tolerable resting place; to this incumbrance add, in yopr imagination,
roads as bad as those in Poland, and a drivéras expeditious
as an English postilion, and you will have a complete idea of this
comfortable manner of travelling; however, the horses are better
than might be expected, and thé distance to Alexandria is only
six miles.
Alexandria is regular and well built, on the Potomack river. The
distance from the sea is reckoned about two hundred and eighty-
nine miles, notwithstanding which its commerce is very considerable.
This town lies on an elevated ground, from which a fine
prospect is enjoyéd over the Potomack, to the-opposite shore of
Maryland.
I had been travelling through the different states without discovering
a distinguishing character of the inhabitants of one province
from another, but here at Alexandria it was very remarkable, for the
people are of a frolicksome disposition, have a great deal of vivacity
in their actions, and are very rapid in their manner of speaking.
At the table of the hotel the discourse is not confined to two or three
persons as they sit together, but is quite social in general conversation.
I had thp pleasure to find Gaph Lewis here, who?is known
b j his travels in Louisiana, and is at present nominated governor of
Upper Louisiana. He^hss an high?expectation of the benefit which
the United States may reap from a commerce over that country to
the Pacific Ocean, and several .gentlemen at table were of the same
opinion wilhahim; but when one considers thplagge tract of land
which must he trayelfed through, and the nmny chains of mountains1
that are tp - be passed to gain the Pacific • Ocean^ the profits to be
gained in this traffic cannot be great, and will on ly become,eonsi-
decable by another chaniieb when Spain shall find it convenient to
adopt the plan of making 'a canal from the Lake of Nicaragua, or
some .other favourable parts of Mexico, far; a direct commerce
between the Atlantic and the East Indies. A town then built them
will become-:, pf much greater importance than ever the Egyptian
Alexandria was in ancient times.§
At Alexandria 1 hired a horse for Mount Vernon-; but when I
wanted,another for a guide, they told me,, that they could not get
me one^as ah the rest of the horses were engaged ; to this 1 pplied,
M But if I do* not return again with your horse?”—-“ Oh, we are not
afraid But-X may lose my will« d iree t you
And, indeed, though it is nine miles from Alexandria, and passes
through-different forests, in which are many cross-ways, they gave
me so good information, that assisted by the directions which I also
received at several houses where I stopped on the road,. I got to
Mount Vernon without committing the least mistake-..
Mount Vernon is in a- most beautiful situation on- the river Poto^
mack, which is here esteemed neartwo* miles wide,.and the moun-
tain is considered about two hundred yards above the level of the
river, which gives it a very extensive view. The house of the late
General Washington is of wood, two stories high,, with a lofty portico,
shading both stories, and supported by eight pillars ; a wihg