Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-04-01

ming Tor Canandalgua, journey oil forty miles.
This was the first trial had had of an Amsri-
can s,age.coach; sincerely hope i. may be
the last, until the means OF conducting them
with the lnfictlon OF less, torture on passengers
DO devised, as certainly a more abominable
conveyance than this vehicle, or roads more a.
bomlnable than those i. was dragged over, can
hardly be imagined.
The American siage.coach is most uugain-
ly vehicle, carrying nine insides, three on a
font seat, three on back seat. and three on a
bench hung in the middle instead OF panels,
II has oil-skln curtains 10 shut down at night;
lis body Is something in the form OF boat,
resing,on strong leather sings instead of steel
springs which would mol stand a mile 10 their
roads; IL constantly dances in The air like bal.
loon, giving certain kind of variety 10 The
monoiony OF journey. The coachman Sis
on bench, considerable lower than the top OF
the coach, and lower even than the horses. and
there being no pad-terels the reins bangle
loose and afford no command of the horses;
but then they are so admirably broken that,
although fine spirited animals, they regulate
their pace instantly at has call. Each man
drives twelve or fifteen mile Stage, and what
much surprised me pulls up every four or five
miles and gives his horses an I'D, kbitum dose
of water. Including the long delays in chan
ging horses, dining, breaktasling, &c. the av.
erage speed does notexceed four miles an hour.
The coaches are paid by the proprletors a, The
tate OF twelve dollars a month and receive no
Tee from passengers, and this latter is the rule
also with all public servants in the States as
IN hotels, steamboats,, and railways.
My aniicipalions, 1t may be supposed, were
uone OF the most peasufable, when IN one Of
the vehicles l have endeayored 10 describe,
found myself placed beside eight large men
and child. For time submitted 10 threat
eped suifocalion added 10 the risk of disloca.
ted joints, but soon finding my position no lon
ger endurable, l tried what effect the offer Of
fee would have upon the American coachee TO
favor me with aseal beside himself; for outri-
ders, no doubt for regard for peoples bones,
DIE not here encouraged. A lee had the same
virtue with him as II has in such quarters in
other parts Of the world, and accordingly
mounted the bench beside The driver, whom i
found of an injocose and taciiurn class, thank
full enough for information as TO foreign modes
but not themselves OF communicative turn.
| still however underwent a course of ex-
crociurng Joi'ing, aud wac esPosod con,ia.
ual danger OF dislocaton OF my joints, or of be-
ing pi,ched oil; but l enjoyed the free air OF
Heaven. and what TO me was Tor the time of
more Importance, full view of the country,
than which nothing can be imagined more
beautiful. Composed Of alternating hill and
dale II strongly reminded me Of the most ad-
mired paris OF Northamptonshre; but although
all cleared and inclosed, The land evidently is
mismanaged and much VI its intrinsic val
ue thereby lost.
We changed horses at Geneva, twenty
three miles from Auburn and delightfully."- SIT
ua,ed on the lake Of that name, forty miles
10 length and three in breadth. II is sufroun-
ded by country possessing thar indescriba.
BILE beauty and richness which characterize the
fines, districts OF this part OF America.
Continuing our progress through the same
description of county arrived about six o.
clock at Canandaigua.
Forty or fifty years ago Mr. Greig, Scotsman
came over TO manage the great Puliney es-
tate in this beautiful Deighborhood. He is
now himself man Of large fortune and an ex-
iensive land .owner, living al Canandaigua IN
mansion truly magnificent, as well in exter-
nal appearance as in what relates TO interior
furnishing and decoration; and what is better,
the owner is universally respect as one in whom
great beneyolence, the most generous seuii.
menis, and perfect integrity are combined with
an excellent judgment.
To this gentleman had letter of introduce
ton from ny friend George Barclay Of New
York. which having sent up, Mr.. Greig in
short time came himself in his pbeaton to
take me 10 his house. saw at once that he
was all that had been represented TO me, his
counieBance beamng with kindness and in
lelipence, and which TO me was not a little
Interesting he retains to this day his native
acccn. 10 all lis pority, which. ! confess,
sounds swee,ly 10 my ear IN this land Of
strangers.
Unfortunately for me, Mr.. Greg, who has
this year been elected member 10 Congress
for his own district has fixed tomorrow for
his departure for Washington; SO that his
time was greatly occupied, and was deprived
Of an opportunity Of acquiring much iniorma-
ton which I expected TO receive from him.
Sill had some Interesting conversation with
him regarding his locality, in the course Of
which learnt that forty years ago the whole
of the surrounding country Cor hundreds Vt
miles, was one impeneirable forest, and that
then no, stone existed Of the town Of Canaan.
dsipus now containing several thousand veal
Thy inhabitants.
Several Of Nr. Greig's neighbors were as
semblea a: his house, whoa ! had the pleas
ure Of meeting, and among them Mr.. RenIon,
an AYRSHIRE man who had settled near this
se7en years ago. Upon the whole ] passed
most agreeable evening al Mr.. Creig's where
everything bore the marks Of afiuence, ele-
ganec and comfort
Next morning breskfssied at Mr.. Renioh's
and there experienced the frank hospitality Of
the country. Being as il seemed no farmer,
nc makes The most Of his land By selling small
aIloimenis for building.
Having felt bad quite enough ofan Ameri'