I found the favourable impression I had of Susquehanna county, corroborated by the information which several who attended this meeting had received of it; and it was resolved unanimously, that a letter should be written to Mr. Rose, to ascertain the terms on which he would sell his lands to a society of British emigrants. The time that elapsed before the receipt of his answer, was spent by me in endeavouring to add to the information I had acquired of the United States generally, and particularly, in reading the journals of different persons who had travelled over the western parts of them, on the waters of the Ohio and Mississippi, to which my attention had been directed previous to my leaving England. I found these, generally, to represent those portions of the country in terms very different from the language of Mr. Birkbeck, whose "Notes" had been in some degree, the occasion of my voyage across the ocean. On receiving an answer from Mr. Rose to our communications, a meeting of the British emigrants was again convened, and it was determined that a committee of five, (of whom I was one,) should immediately proceed to Susquehanna county, and examine the lands carefully, ascertain the quantity which could be procured, and on their return, make a report of the situation, soil, water, &c. and of the various advantages or disadvantages, which it would offer to the contemplated settlement. In pursuance of this resolution, we came here, and diligently and carefully investigated

the different objects to which our attention had been directed, and which, as you will have perceived, were precisely the same as those on which my instructions had been founded, before I left my native land. The result of the investigation by the committee was, an unanimous opinion in favour of this place, as affording all the essential requisites for a British settlement.

We were treated with much kindness by Mr. Rose, who was pleased with our objects, which he thought would be very useful to the county, and even to the state; and with this view he gave us a contract for his lands, at a price much below what he had sold for some time past, and lower than any other land is selling in the county. Since his settlement in this county, he has made it a rule to sell to none but actual settlers, and in his contract with us, he has enjoined a perseverance in the same rule, and the obligation, that for twelve months from the date of cur contract, we shall keep the land open, on the same terms we received it, for any of our own countrymen who may be desirous of joining us, and who shall bring good moral characters with them. These were precisely the intentions of the meeting in Philadelphia, which in seeking a place of settlement for British emigrants, disclaimed all objects of speculation, and sought only to procure an eligible situation, in all the benefits of which their countrymen might participate. The committee were, therefore, much pleased that Mr. Rose had taken

the same view of the subject, and advised the measures on which they had previously resolved.

The following are the terms of our contract, made 15th, Nov. 1818, in distinct propositions, with a view either to the whole or a part of the lands, about forty thousand acres, as shall be found most convenient to the society.

For the whole

1st. Four dollars per acre, [18 shil. stg.] one tenth part paid, and the remainder with interest, in nine equal annual instalments: or, 2d. Three dollars fifty cents per acre, one fifth part paid, and the remainder in four equal annual instalments; or 3d. Three dollars per acre, to be paid within one year. Or, in parts to suit individual settlers

The lots on the turnpikes, five dollars per acre: the lots back from the turnpikes, four dollars per acre. Interest to commence at this date, one eighth part of the principal to be paid within twelve months, and an eighth part annually afterwards. If the whole of the price of any lot be paid for within the first year, an abatement of one dollar per acre to be made. The society to proceed to settle their members on the latter terms; but to have the privilege of closing the contract for the whole, should they be desirous of doing so, according to either of the three first propositions; provided their desire be expressed to that effect within twelve months.

It should be particularly noticed in this negotiation, that we sought the proprietor, and that he

neither laid in wait for us, nor did he allure us by captivating accounts of Elysian fields. We found in him a gentleman of elegant manners and known integrity; who offered the best recommendation of his lands in the simple fact that he had built an elegant mansion in the midst of them, and had resided there for several years.

I shall now proceed to lay before you all the information that I have acquired respecting the soil, climate, manners, &c. of this interesting section of the United States.

LETTER II.

Selection of Settlement, &c.

In the selection of a place of residence in a new country, it is very important to take into view the ultimate market for the farmer's produce. While the country is settling, there will be no difficulty on this score; for the encreasing population will demand all the supplies that can be raised. But the prudent settler will look beyond that period, and consider what he is to do, when every one shall raise more grain than he will be able to consume. In that case, vicinity to market, and facility of transportation, are all important. The immense distance which grain has to be sent from the western states, occasions the expense to be so great, as

to reduce extremely the profits of the farmer. This is particularly the case in all articles of much weight, and all the farmer's produce comes within that description ; so much so, indeed, that one bushel of wheat here, is worth one and an half in the western part of this state, and two, or more, in the states of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois; the only important market for those states is New Orleans, the distance to which is upwards of one thousand miles from the nearest part of Illinois, and still further from Indiana and Ohio. The value of the different articles in Susquehanna and in the Illinois, will be more easily seen by the following statement of the prices. Those of the Illinois I collect from Mr. Birkbeck's "Notes" on that country.

The same cause which tends to lessen the value of the articles, which the farmer raises in the western states, and which he has for sale, operates equally to increase the dearness of those which are imported, and which he has to purchase. 'The