Rose soon after six as the stage to proceed in does not come in till
eight. Slept pretty well till about twelve, when a negro came to put
down the window as he said a storm was coming; presently I heard thunder
which became louder and was followed by heavy rain. At the hotel here,
three fans were made to move overhead to cool and drive away the flies.
It was pulled by a nice black girl. Paid for dinner, supper, bed and
breakfast one dollar. The ferryboat moved across by means of six horses
revolving round. No cyder to be had here, everyone drinking spirits or
ale, the julep is called a hailstorm. Passed over some of the best and
worst roads in the U.S. some limestone, and macadam and limestone. Came
to the blue or sulphur springs resembling Harrogate; took some lemon
juice in the water. Arrived at Hillsburgh at half past seven, having had
nothing to eat since breakfast at seven. At Paris I parted with Mr. and
Mrs. Marshall, and Mr. Hart the young midshipman, with considerable
regret. Mr. M. had to explain on the way to his constituents. Mr.
McLatcher continued with me to Lexington where we arrived at ten
o'clock. After getting some coffee I hastened to bed, found three beds
in the room, only one occupied. On the way yesterday we found a good
deal of hemp grown, and much of it manufactured into bagging, etc. The
land rolling or undulated is generally well cultivated.
FRIDAY, JULY 4TH.
Rose soon after six in expectation of finding out my old friend R. M.;
rather disappointed to find from the innkeeper who is an Irishman, that
the Monks were dispersed, only one remaining in the neighbourhood. He
offered to walk with me to make further enquiry. At daybreak the drums
announced the Day of Independence, which I find is to be celebrated in
an extraordinary manner at Frankford. A half-brother of Richard Monks
was sent for by the innkeeper; by him I learned the melancholy news of
his brother's death which happened in Sept. 1832. He had left Lexington
and settled at Louisville 3 or 4 months, then bought the half of a
brother's estate opposite Troy on the Ohio; there his daughter married
and settled at ----. Another son at Louisville keeping a coffee house.
Walked with Mr. Monks to the College and heard two orations, vehement
and abusive of the old country, lauding France and even Spain, the
latter on account of Isabella who patronized Columbus, eulogised
Bonaparte and declaimed against Russia for the treatment of the Poles;
several negroes were peeping at the three doorways, but not allowed to
enter or even to listen to an oration in favour of liberty.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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