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364 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS
to very good lodgings which had been provided for the occasion and
partook of a public dinner given by the Citizens at the Coffee Room.
"Friday 13th. Dined with the members of the Cincinnati at a public
dinner given at the same place—and in the evening went to a dancing
assembly at which there was about 100 well dressed & handsome ladies.
"Saturday 14th. A little after 6 o'clock, in company with Genl.
Mclntosh, Genl. Wayne, the Mayor and many others (principal Gentle
men of the city) I visited the city and the attack & defence of it in
the year 1779, under the combined forces of France and the United
States, commanded by the Count de Estaing & Genl. Lincoln—To form
an opinion of the attack at this distance of time, and the change which
has taken place in the appearance of the ground by the cutting away
of the woods, &c, is hardly to be done with justice to the subject; espe
cially as there is remaining scarcely any of the defences—Dined today
with a number of Citizens (not less than 200) in an elegant Bower
erected for the occasion on the bank of the River below the Town—
In the evening there was a tolerable good display of fire-works.
'' Sunday 15. After morning service and receiving a number of visits
from the most respectable ladies of the place (as was the case yester
day) I set out for Augusta, Escorted beyd the limits of the city by most
of the Gentlemen in it, and dining at Mulberry Grove the gest of Mrs.
Green—lodged at one Spencer's—distant 15 miles.
'' Savanna stands on what may be called high ground" for this Coun
try—It is extremely sandy, wch makes the walking very disagreeable;
& the houses uncomfortable in warm and windy weather, as they are
' filled with dust whenever these happen—The town on 3 sides is sur
rounded with cultivated Rice fields which have a rich and luxuriant
appearance. On the 4th or backslide it is a fine sand—The harbour
is said to be very good & often filled with square rigged vessels, but
there is a bar below over which not more than 12 water can be brot
except at sprg tides—The tide does not flow above 12 or 14 miles above
the City though the River is swelled by it more than double that dis
tance—Rice and Tobacco (the last of wch is greatly increasing) are the
principal exports—Lumber & Indigo are also exported but the latter is
on the decline, and it is supposed by Hemp & Cotton—Ship timber, viz.
live Oak & Cedar is (and may be more so) valuable in the exptn.
"Monday 16th. Breakfasted at Russells—15 miles from Spancer's—
dined at Garnet's 19 miles further & lodged at Pierces 8 miles more;
in all—42 miles today.
"Tuesday 17th. Breakfasted at Spinners 17 miles—dined at Lam
berts 13—and lodged at Waynesborough (wch was coming 6 miles out
of our way) 14, in all 43 miles—Waynesborough is a small place but
the Seat of Burkes County—6 or 8 dwelling houses is all it contains;—
an attempt is making (without nmch apparent effect) to establish an
academy at it, as is the case also in all the Counties.
"Wednesday 18th. Breakfasted at Tulcher's, 15 miles from Waynes
borough; and within 4 miles of Augusta; met the Governor (Telfair),
Judge Walton, the Attorney Genl. and most of the principal Gentlemen
of the place; by whom I was escorted into the Town & reed under a
discharge of Artillery—the distance I came today was about 32 miles—