LIFE OF NILSON



these invaders of the sanctuary. Just about the town the pas-
ture fields and corn look well, but a few miles off, the country
is poor and ill cultivated.
   "s The literati of New Haven received me with politeness
and respect; and after making my usual rounds, which occupi-
ed a day and a half, I set off for Middletown, twenty-two
miles distant. The country through which I passed was gene-
rally flat and sandy-in some places whole fields were entirely
covered with sand, not a blade of vegetation to be seen, like
some parts. of New Jersey. Round Middletown, however,
the country is really beautiful-the soil rich; and here I first
saw the river Connedticut, stretching along the east side of the
town, which consists of one very broad street, with rows of
elms on each side. On entering I found the street filled with
troops, it being muster day; and I counted two hundred and
fifty horse, and six hundred foot, all in uniform. The sides of
the street were choaked up with wagons, carts and wheel-bar-
rows, filled with bread, roast beef, fowls, cheese, liquors, bar-
rels of cider, and rum bottles. Some were singing out "4 Here's
the best brandy you ever put into your head!" others in do-
zens shouting, " Here's the round and sound gingerbread!
most capital gingerbread!" In one place I observed a row of
twenty or thirty country girls, drawn up with their backs to a
fence, and two young -fellows supplying them with rolls of
bread from a neighbouring stall, which they ate with a hearty
appetite, keeping nearly as good time with their grinders, as
the militia did with their muskets. In another pla2e the crowd
had formed a ring, within which they danced to the catgut
scrapings of an old negro. The spectators looked on with as
much gravity as if they were listening to a sermon; and the
dancers laboured with such seriousness, that it seemed more
like a penance imposed on the poor devils, for past sins, than
mere amusement.
  s" I waited on a Mr. A. of this town; and by him I was in-
troduced to several others. He also furnished me with a good
deal of information respecting the birds of New Engiland. He



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