Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-12-24
THE TRAVELLER,
For the Green Mountain Freeman,
Notes of Travel.

quite fashionable for travellers to tell the people through
the medium of the papers, what they see, and hear
and feel as they pass along in their journey, though
their tours should be over the great waters; it has
popped into my mind TO give you a few sketches of
my observations and adventures for few days. leaving
your better judgement of course to decide whether
my communication will prove either sufficiently anus
ing edifying to your readers to be admit
ted to place in your paper left Montpelier quar-
ter past O'clock P NJ, Wednesday, rather reluctant
ly, it being so thanksgiving, having had pres
sing invitation from a valuable friend, to postpone my
journey for the purpose ofspcndng that day with his
family. There were but four passengers in a light
open carriage drawn by six good horses over as rough
road as any man could reasonably DESIRE even ifrid-
ing to cure dyspepsia. We faced driving snowstom,
which became exceedingly severe towards evening
But rough and stormy our passage it was a
quick and safe one, for had not only good horses
but man to drive them who perfectly understood and
strictly attended to his business. The wind blew a
gale all night and all the next day. so that the noble
steamer Whitehall was obliged 10 liz by at Rouscs
Point until l o'clock Thursday (what pity that Capt.
Dustan, of the Inflated steamer Atlantic was not equal
ly prudent and did not arrive so as to leave Buring-
ton until o'clock Thursday eve. This delay was not
misfortune to me, for was thereby favored with the
opportunity of sharing good thanksgiving dinner with
your old friend and partner C. C, Briggs, At 70 o.
clock, excellent prudent Capt Lathrop on account
of the storm, lay by. At daylight we again I'M
der way and at A. NJ, the mighty power of steam
had though not without great difficulty forced the boat
through the lake up to the wharf at Whitehall Here
Mr. Frost assured us we could proceed no farther by
water, whether we should apply steam power or horse
power, or both, the canal being closed The number
of passengers who wished to proceed on to Troy was
from forty to fifty. And there being but one regular
stage through, there little strife for the precc-
dence This stage with the mail, was soon off on
wheels; and, dubious as the prospect of advancing
seemed, for the rest of us, at II O'clock the spirit If
accommodation, or the love Of money! had made ample
provision for a sleigh ride for the whole company The
fare through to Troy, from three to ten dollars as
the parties could agree Old lumber sleds and broken
down canal horses were in great demand Our COM
pany consisted of nine besides the driver seated on
narrow strips of board laid across the box on one ofhese
sleds, without bufaloes drawn by three canal horses
driven by man, who believe haG never before at
temq4ed to manage more than two horses at a time
will not attempt description of this sccne from White
aall to Troy But for the benefit of any who may be
disposed to profit by it. will give the particulars of an
incidcat which occurred twelve miles out of Troy.
There were several Of our number who claimed to be
gentlemen, in the common uccepation of the term; one
of whom was halfpay British officer OF the rank of
X a. Al
you may Judge better perhaps, when tell you he drank
brandy very freely, when he could get it, swore very
prolanely, and could always have something very
gsntlemam to say to every lady he saw as we passed
through the villages The other gentlemen were
rious and evidently from the higher walks Of life; and
could not but marvel, that they should treat this gen
tlcman officer with the marked attention and respect
which they did. But to return from my DEPRESSION
AT II O'Clock at night we stopped IL miles out Of
Troy, to change horses. There were two four horse
teams, the other having ten passengers. Our driver
htched his team to a coach, which, when one OF the
gentlemen of on party understood he said before CON
sultng the driver that he should not go in the coach
and the British officer and several Others Immediately
joined him, all declaring that they would 90 through
in the sleigh or not 90 at all. The driver was then
consulted, but insisted on going with the coach assur-
ing them that the coach would 90 much better than the
Sleigh as he had just passed over the ground The
scene now became quite exciting the gentlemen swear
ing that they would not 90 in the COACH and threaten
ing to call upon the proprieors for damages if he did
not take them through with the sleigh: while the driv-
er swore that he would not 90 with the sleigh, affirm
Al l.. -.
road was better adapted 10 wheels than runners Our
driver now lost all patience with the gentlemen, and
settled the question with such an oath in the name of
his Maker seemed to shock even the prolane Capt
profound silence regncd for some time, when the
driver broke it by saying, he could put up his horses
and started his team fer that purpose Up to this time
/ remained silent now spoke mildly to him, and
told him had paid my passage to Troy, and wished to
60 he answered me mildly in return, and asked for
my baggage; and when the company he was 60
ing on with ne three of them followed me INTO the
coach, and off, leaving our five companions to
reflect on their folly, and make arrangements to get
to Troy the next day as best they could. We gained
an hour of the other company in going twelve miles,
they being obliged to proceed with the sleigh for want
OF dhother codchl thriving at Troy ut O'CLOCK a. M
DR.. Franklin would have told these gentlemen that
they 'payed dear for the whistle" or for the will, for
believe they all, with one exception, very anxious
to get to Troy in time to take the morning train of
cars, which they could not accomplish and support the
will said in Troy until MONDAY. Preached Sabbath
P M in the Congregational Westinghouse. Saw our
worthy and eloquent friend Rev. H. II. Garrett think
he will spend the winter in Vermont, making abolition
lists by convincing the people that the spirit of the
Lord is upon him. because he hath anoined him to
preach deliverance to the captives and the opening Of
the prisons to them that are bound" Let him have a
warm reception wherever he goes, and an honorable
reward for his services for 'the aborer is worthy Of
his hire"
On Monday, by request ola friend, visited an ell.
DERBY LADY, mother in Israel who was waninn and