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William Priest - Travels in the United States of America
On the evening of the 7th we slept at Wilmington, a pleasantly situate town on the banks of a creek,
which joins the Delaware, about thirty miles below Philadelphia. There are about thirty square-rigged
vessels, beside sloops, and schooners, belonging to this port, which was originally a danish settlement.
The next morning I walked to Brandywine, to see the grist mills, which are said to be the best in the
United States. About five miles from this village was fought the battle of Brandywine. This was
Washington's last effort to stop general Howe's progress, and save Philadelphia. The royal army being
victorious, they got possession of that city without opposition. General Washington, after rallying his
troops, took a very advantageous situation on a chain of hills, a few miles west of the British army.
We dined at Chester. This little town is situated on the Delaware, and is the same to Philadelphia that
Gravesend is to London. Ships outward bound here receive their passengers, &c. &c.
At four the same day, arrived in this city, distant from Annapolis one hundred and forty one miles, and
from Baltimore one hundred and eleven. Farewell.
Yours, &c.
* * * * *
Philadelphia, March 1st, 1794.
DEAR SIR,
I perfectly agree with you, that the form of government in a great measure affects, or rather
forms the manners, and way of thinking of the people; but must decline answering the queries in
your last, at least for the present. I have not been long enough in these states to draw any fair conclusions
on these subjects; but that you may not be wholly disappointed, I send you two anecdotes, on which you
may depend.
Peter Brown, a blacksmith of this city, having made his fortune, set up his coach; but so far from being
ashamed of the means by which he acquired his riches, he caused a large anvil to be painted on
each pannel of his carriage, with two naked arms in the act of striking. The motto, "By this I got
ye."
Benjamin Whitall, high sheriff for the county of Gloster, West Jersey, being obliged soon after his
appointment to attend an execution, not approving of Jack Ketch's clumsy method of finishing the
law, fairly tucked up the next criminal himself. Such behaviour in Germany would have
branded him with eternal infamy, but is in this country (I think justly) thought a spirited action of a man,
who was above receiving the emoluments of an office, without performing the most essential duty
annexed to it himself.
I have often heard it asserted, that a servant should be born under an absolute monarchy: whether this
observation is just or not, I cannot tell, but I know, that a republic is not the place to find good
servants. If you want to hire a maid servant in this city, she will not allow you the title of master,
or herself to be called a servant; and you may think yourself favoured if she condescends to
inform you when she means to spend an evening abroad; if you grumble at all this, she will leave you at a
moment's warning; after which you will find it very difficult to procure another on any terms. This is one
of the natural consequences of liberty and equality.
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