ENPages
page 32
32
with the Patomack, at a short distance 55 [written in the right margin]
an easy hill, the summit for near a mile level good road, the descent rocky, still surrounded with hills in every direction. the patomack now & then in sight, working a traverse between the hills; in 4 miles came to a Creek 20 yards over, the base of the opposite hill a bold rock but of no great heigth, ascended another hill, in a retrograde direction for about a mile. 3 small farms to Barnhaults plantation 6 miles. here crossed the Patomack above the rapids, 110 yards over (the rapids stockaded to catch fish) a small bottom on each side bounded by beautiful hanging woods, a few farms on the skirt of the river, the land rich. from hence the path on the Virginia side so obscure that with difficulty & delay found the way. broken ground & gullies for a mile, then crossed Capers big creek 70 yards wide, then ascended a mountain, still surrounded with others in different directions, exhibiting a wild intricate bold romantick view, passing over hills in 3 miles came to a Creek on which was a saw mill then descending a hill came to the Warm Springs _ _ _ _ _
The warm Baths, as on the otherside, are situated on the lower side of a square on the East Mountain & opposite to the principal Street, the Town consists of three long parallel
page 33
33
[Page contains a color map, features of which are identified with letters and a key. A scale in feet is drawn vertically on the right side of the map. The key is written vertically on the left side of the page]
b - 5 Dressing Rooms with seats round. c - 3 Seats for Company, two up the hill, to each an assent of 5 Steps, shaded by Trees. d - the drinking spring or Fountain. bb - two Piazzas with seats. cc - three alcoves with Ditto. e - The Parade. f - a large Bath for swiming g - a Bath for Poor People h - warm spring flowing from the last mount. i - Islands formed by the warm Spring
page 34
34
Streets & eight at right Angles, there is at present 172 houses, of which 164 have been built within the last four years, a play house well constructed, an assembly & tea room, a house for the poor a Methodist Church building & Mr Wolley of Liverpool having bought a Double large framed house, hath this spring built adjoining thereto a dining room 54 by 24, five Card rooms adjoining & a drawing room 18 by 24 over which an assembly room 72 feet by 24 & 14 feet high, & a tea room 33 feet by 25, with piazzas on both side the house all compleatly framed & well fitted, which is to be called the Bell Inn, there are several other taverns three of them good framed houses of 2 stories, with piazzas & seats round to both stories & on bothsides & the best calculated for America of any I have seen. The town is situated in a vale & partly on the side of the East & west Mountain. the Lots differing in Elevation. at the South end of the town on the west hill there is a range of Rocks & amile above there is a remarkable cold callebiate spring. the warm springs flow in great abundance from the base of the western mountain, forming three romantick Islands & when all accu milated forms a large body of water which runs diagonally through the
page 35
35
the hills on each side with beautiful varying woods, renders the whole truly picturesque romantick and orginal, the climate is temperate provisions cheap & plenty, except greens which are scarce, a charming retreat in hot or unhealthy weather. tho too much used for disipation & gambling. The water is pure & light, without any apparent medical quality, tho found in many cases beneficial: to try their effect I for 3 days drank 3 quarts each day & that only. it cased a swiming in my head, went quickly of an opening quality [illegible] by urine & I thought it created an appetite; it is scarcely so warm as milk from the Cow said to be 57 degrees Farenheit thermomThere were 4 methodist preachers (two for health) service 3 times on Sunday & once or twice on week days, which are well attended by the lower sort to the neglect on week days of their business & families. There was 14 or 15 Stores & shops many well furnished with goods, for which I should think there was little encourage =ment; when I left it there was not above 30 persons of note arrived, but it was early in the Season.
I went through curiosity twice to the methodists, the first was a sensible man of literary ability, the other an illiterate ranting enthusiast. after being heartily tired for an hour & half I thought to withdraw unnoticed his eye caught me, he said I could not hear the word of God & never should enter the Kingdom of Heaven
page 36
36
July 18 [written in the left margin]
____ To Farmer Fabls. _ ascended the Eastern mountain, of no great heigth on the summit for the first mile or two, vines & shumacks, the land then better & good road, but without a spring for 5 miles when came to a small creek, then ascended another hill when had a good road, some part stony. 3 mile further came to a spring on which M. Throgmorton was settling a farm, who told me I had taken the longest road, from thence 4 or 5 miles good road & 2 small farms, a mile further _ crossed a Creek, where was a farm the next 7 miles. several springs. indifferent land. 4 farms & 7 Irish settlements, who only raised provisions for their own families; mountains on each side in all directions ____
______ To Mill Creek. _ to Tester =rora Creek 4 miles on which a saw & grist mill which crossed to Martinborough a Borough town, a Court house goal & 250 houses, a good road, & soil, 14 farms, the next twelve miles good road, level country _ several farms, when came to Capt Slaughters, farm tavern & grist Mill _ side [vide?] NB page 38.
There met Mr Sims late Judge & member of Congress from New Jersey, an inteligent man just returning from Kentucke, who informed me, that 18 miles below the fall of Cannaway River + within two miles of Morriss