An irish family often arrives, and purchases a plantation; which for some years brings them good crops, but for want of manure will in time be worn out (a very common case in America.) When in this situation they offer it for sale, the adjacent german families club a sum of money, purchase the land, plough it well, and let it remain in this state for three or four years:  they then place an emigrant family from their own country upon the farm, who, by indefatigable industry and manure, soon bring the land round, pay for the estate by installments, and live very comfortably.  Some of the best plantations in Pennsylvania were originally left in this manner.  The irish family go two or three hundred miles up the country, where they can purchase as much land as they please, from sixpence to a dollar per acre:  here they literally break fresh ground, and begin the world again.  To some timorous people, their new situation would be thought dangerous, as they are liable to a visit from the Indians, and perishing by the scalping knife and tomahawk.—­See a former letter on back settlers.

Aug. 6th.—­We returned to Philadelphia, not overloaded with cash, but with more than was sufficient for our expenses, which, owing to several excursions from Lancaster, were not trifling.—­Farewel.—­Believe me

Yours very sincerely.

* * * * *

Philadelphia, 14th August, 1794.

DEAR SIR,

By captain H——­, of the Betsy, who will deliver this letter, I have sent you specimens of the federal coinage.

When that government was formed, a mint was established, and a coinage issued on a new plan.  This was much wanted, as scarcely three of the states agreed as to the value currency of a dollar.  Here it was seven shillings and sixpence, in South Carolina four shillings and eight pence, at New York eight shillings, and in the New England states six shillings.  According to the new regulations, all nominal coins are exploded, and the silver dollar, weighing 17 dwts. 6 grs.[Footnote:  This is the exact weight of the spanish milled dollar, which, as well as the divisions, are allowed to pass current; they consist of the half, quarter, eighth, and sixteenth, also the pistreen, or fifth, and the half pistreen, or tenth.], is fixed as the standard, divided into one hundred decimal parts; these are of copper, and called cents.  All taxes, duties and imposts, that extend to the whole Union, are levied in these coins only.  The other federal coins, like the english guineas and crowns, never appear on the public accounts.