Page:American History Told by Contemporaries, v2.djvu/104

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
76
Middle Colonies
[1710

has better Wages ; a Journeyman Taylor has twelve Shillings a Week, besides his Board ; and every other Trade in Proportion has the same Advantage.

There is a Post-Office lately erected, which goes to Boston in New-England, Charlestown in Carolina, and the other neighbouring Places. The uncultivated Ground, which is not grubb'd, sells for ten times the Value it did at first ; though there is none of that sort within ten Miles round the City : And that within the Neighbourhood that was sold for ten Pound at first, will fetch above three hundred now. All Women's Work is very dear there, and that proceeds from the smallness of the Number, and the Scarcity of Workers ; for even the meanest single Women marry well there, and being above Want are above Work. The Proprietor of this fine Country (as I said before) is William Pen, Esq ; who has a fine Seat call d Pensbury, built on three Islets, if I may so call 'em ; for a Branch of the River Delaware runs thrice round it. . . .

In the Heat of the Day I sometimes took a Walk with some of the Town to Fair Mount, a pleasant Place shaded with Trees on the River Schuylkill. . . .

I continu'd at Philadelphia near four Months, and was very well entertain'd by the Gentlemen of the Place : I am pleas'd I have it in my Power to pay em my publick Acknowledgment of Thanks for all their Favours ; particularly the Reverend Mr. Brooks, whom I met with by Chance at Philadelphia : His Business there was to raise Subscriptions for a new Church near New-York : When he heard of my Misfortunes, he was so generous and charitable as to offer to lend me a Sum of Money he had in his Hands, upon my bare Word only, which I was to return to him from England by the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts. As I was not in want of it, I did not accept his intended Favour, but I shall ever gratefully remember his kind Intentions.

I must not forget the many Obligations I had the Honour to receive from his Excellency Governor Evans, nor Mr. Evans the Commissary, who was particularly civil to me. These Gentlemen, tho of the same Name, are no otherwise related than by marrying the Daughters of Mr. Moor, the Collector of the King s Customs. The Commissary is just gone for Philadelphia again, having been in England near a Twelve month, about an Affair between the present Governor Sir William Keith and him, relating to the King s Customs. Among the rest of my Friends, I must not forget the facetious Mr. Staples, Dancing-Master, who was