Becoming America - An Exploration of American Literature from Precolonial to Post-Revolution, 2018a

BECOMING AMERICA
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY ENGLISH COLONIAL LITERATURE
in the Second Street, called Carters-Alley. There are also besides these Alleys
and Lanes, several ne Squares and Courts Within this Magnicent City, (for so
I may justly call it,) As for the particular Names of the several Streets contained
therein, the Principal areas follows, viz, Walnut-Street, Vine-Street, Mulberry-
Street, Chesnut-Street, Sassafras-Street, taking their Names from the abundance
of those Trees that formerly grew there; High-Street, Broad-Street, Delaware-
Street, Front-Street, with several of less Note, too tedious to insert here.
It hath in it Three Fairs every Year, and Two Markets every Week, They kill
above Twenty Fat Bullocks every Week, in the hottest time in Summer, for their
present spending in that City, besides many Sheep , Calves, and Hogs.
This City is Situated between Schoolkill-River and the great River Delaware,
which derives its Name from Captain Delaware, who came there pretty early:
Ships of Two or Three Hundred Tuns may come up to this City, by either of these
two Rivers. Moreover, in this Province are Four Great Market-Towns, viz, Chester,
the German Town, New-Caslle, and Lewis-Town, which are mightily Enlarged in
this latter Improvement. Between these Towns, the Water-Men constantly Ply
their Wherries; like-wife all those Towns have Fairs kept in them, besides there
are several Country Villages, viz. Dublin, Harford, Merioneth, and Radnor in
Cambry, all which Towns, Villages and Rivers, took their Names from the several
Countries whence the present Inhabitants came.
The Air here is very delicate, pleasant, and wholesom; the Heavens serene,
rarely overcast, bearing mighty resemblance to the better part of France; after
Rain they have commonly a very clear Sky, the Climate is something Colder in the
depth of Winter, and Hotter in the height of Summer; (the cause of which is it.
being a Main Land or Continent; the Days also are two Hours longer in the shortest
Day in Winter, and shorter by two Hours in the longest Day of Summer) than here
in England, which makes the Fruit so good, and the Earth so fertil.
The Corn-Harvest is ended before the middle of July, and most Years they have
commonly between Twenty and Thirty Bushels of Wheat for every one they Sow.
Their Ground is harrowed with Wooden Tyned Harrows, twice over in a, place
is sucient; twice mending of their Plow-Irons in a Years time will serve. Their
Horses commonly go without being shod; two Men may clear between Twenty and
Thirty Acres of Land in one Year, t for the Plough, in which Oxen are chiey
us’d, though Horses are not wanting, and of them Good and well shap’d. A Cart
or a Wain may go through the middle of the Woods, between the Trees without
getting any damage, and of such Land in a convenient place, the Purchase will
cost between Ten and Fifteen Pounds for a Hundred Acres. Here is much Meadow
Ground. Poor People both Men and Women, will get near three times more Wages
for their Labour in this Country, than they can earn either in England or Wales.
What is Inhabited of this Country, is divided into Six Counties, though there
is not the Twentieth Part of it yet Peopled by the Christians. It hath in it several
Navigable Rivers for Shipping to come in, besides the Capital Celaware, wherein
a Ship of Two Hundred Tuns may Sail Two Hundred Miles up. There are also
Page | 277