Shippen, who travelled from Boston to Philadelphia on horseback, carrying Or baby on her lap} We get here, also, an insight into the primitive postal system : " Tuesday, October y" third, about 8 in the morning, I with the Post proceeded forward . . and about 2, afternoon, arrived at the Post's second stage, where the western Post met him and exchanged letters. Having here discharged the Ordinary for self and guide, as I understood was the custom, about 3, afternoon, went on with my third guide, who rode very

fitch's steamboat.

hard : and having crossed Providence ferry, we come to a River which they generally ride through. But I dare not venture, so the Post got a lad and canoe to carry me to the other side, and he rid through and. led my horse. . . Rewarding my sculler, again mounted and made the best of my way forward. The road here was very even and y= day pleasant, it being now near sunset. But the Post told me we had near 14 miles to ride to the next Stage, where we were to lodge. I asked him of the rest of the road, foreseeing we must travel in the night. He told me there was a bad river to ride through, which was so very fierce a horse could sometimes hardly stem it : but it was narrow, and we should soon be over."

The post-oflSce scheme for British America was first devised in the year 1700, by Colonel J. Hamilton, of New Jersey, and son of Governor Andrew Hamilton. He obtained a patent and the profits accruing. He-