marched them triumphantly round a huge oak that grew in the centre of the parade, animated by the sound of the spirit-stirring drum; and afterwards laid seige to a dinner of venison in the open air, to which I gave my assistance. It was a republican meal. Captain, Lieutenants, and Privates, all sat down together at table, and mingled in familiar converse. But the troop devoured such an enormous quantity of rice, that I was more than once inclined to believe they had emigrated from China.

On the 7th of April, 1799, I accepted the invitation of a Mr. Wilson, who was visiting the family at Ocean, to accompany him to Savannah glad with the opportunity to extend my travels into Georgia, and not less happy to cultivate his acquaintance.

We left Ocean plantation at eight in the morning. Mr. Wilson drove himself in a sulky, and I rode on horseback, followed by a servant on another.

Our journey offered nothing to the view but an uncultivated tract, or one continued pine barren; for Priesburg is a village composed of only three houses, and Barnazoba can boast only the same number of plantations.

Having refreshed ourselves in the house of Mrs. Hayward's Overseer, (the lady was gone to Charleston) we waded from Barnazoba, through mud and mire, to the mouth of a creek, where we embarked with a couple of negroes in a ca

noe, and were paddled into a small river that empties itself into that of Savannah. Again we landed, and walked about amile to another plantation, of which the white people were absent, but the negroes remained. Jee Chri! exclaimed a negrowench, too mush buckra come here to-day, for true! Here we launched a large canoe, and were rowed to my companion's plantation; dining on the water in our passage thither. The negroes of the plantation beheld the coming of Mr. Wilson with joy; old and young of both sexes came to the landing place to welcome his approach. The canoe was in a moment run high and dry upon the beach, and the air resounded with acclamations.

We left the plantation in a four-oared canoe, and were rowed with velocity up the beautiful river of Savannah. Quantities of alligators were basking in the sun on both shores. They brought to my recollection the happy description of Ariosto.

Vive sub lito è dentro a la Riviera,
Ei corpi umani son le sue vivande,
De le persone misere è incaute,

Di Viandanti è d' infelice naute.

This animal (says the poet) lives on the river and its banks; preying on human flesh the bodies of unwary travellers, of passengers, and of sailors. We landed at Yamacraw, the name given by the Indians to the spot on which part of Savannah

is built; and after ploughing through one or two streets of sand, we reached Dillon's boardinghouse, where we were obligingly received, and comfortably accommodated. There was a large party at supper, composed principally of cotton manufacturers from Manchester, whose conversation operated on me like a dose of opium. Cotton! Cotton! Cotton! Cotton! was their neverceasing topic. Oh! how many Travellers would have devoured up their discourse; for my part I fell asleep, and nodded till a negro offered to light me to my room.

Savannah is built on a sandy eminence. Let the English reader picture to himself a town erected on the cliffs of Dover, and he will behold Savannah. But the streets are so insupportably sandy, that every inhabitant wears goggles over his eyes, which give the people an appearance of being in masquerade. When the wind is violent, Savannah is a desart scene.

Having purchased a little edition of Mrs. Smith's sonnets, my delight was to ascend the eminence which commands the view of the river, and read my book undisturbed. With my pencil I wrote on my tablets the following sonnet to the author.

SONNET TO CHARLOTTE SMITH.

BLEST Poetess! who tell'st so soft thy woe,
I love to ponder o'er thy mournful lay,
In climes remote, where wan, forlorn and slow,
To the wash'd strand I bend my listless way.

Now, on Savannah's cliffs, I wayward read,
In joy of grief, thy pity-moving strain,
While smiles afar the variegated mead,

And not a wave disturbs the tranquil main.

Like thee, the Muse has from my infant hours,
With smiles alluring won me to the grove;
Snatch'd, in a playful mood, some scatter'd flow'rs
To deck my head, gay emblems of her love:

But mine of light, deceitful hues are made,
While thine of bloom perennial ne'er will fade.

The 11th of April, I returned' with Mr. Wilson to the woods of Coosohatchie, which, I found Mr. Drayton and family, about to leave to their original tenants of racoons, squirrels, and opossums.

My table was covered with letters that' were truly Ciceronian, from my elegant friend. Mr. George had left the sublime College of Charleston, for a seminary less famous, but more profitable, at George-town, at the confluence of the rivers Winyaw and Waccamaw. There, in concert with his uncle, an Episcopal Minister, he enjoyed an elegant society, and indulged in his favourite studies.

CHAP. IV.

Picture of a Family travelling through the Woods.Terror inspired by two Snakes, and the gallantry of an American boy.-Residence at Ashley River. -Removal to Sullivan's Island.-Literary Projects.-Anecdotes of Goldsmith.-A Journey on Foot from Charleston to George-town.-Elegy over the Grave of a Stranger in the Woods of Owendaw.-Reception at George-town.-Death of General Washington Journey back to Charleston.-Embark for New-York.—Incidents of the Voyage.

It was in the month of May, 1799, that Mr. Drayton and his family exchanged the savage woods of Coosohatchie, for the politer residence of their mansion on Ashley River. In our migration we formed quite a procession. Mr. Drayton occupied the coach with his lady and youngest daughter, and I advanced next with my fair pupil in a chair, followed by William Henry, on a prancing nag, and half a dozen negro fellows, indifferently mounted, but wearing the laced livery of an opulent master. Thus hemmed in by the coach before, a troop of horsemen behind, and impenetrable woods on both sides, I could not refrain from whispering in the ear of my companion, that her friends had put it out of my power to run away with her that day.