An Abstract or abbreviation of some few of the many (later and former) testimonys from the inhabitants of New-Jersey and other eminent persons who have wrote particularly concerning that place

AN ABSTRACT, OR ABBREVIATION Of ſome Few of the Many (Later and Former) TESTIMONYS FROM THE Inhabitants OF NEW-JERSEY, And Other Eminent Perſons. Who have Wrote particularly concerning That PLACE.

London, Printed by Thomas Milbourn, in the Year, 1681.

THE PREFACE. Ingenuous Reader,

IT's not intended, by Publiſhing the Truth contained in theſe following Sheets, thereby to diſparage any other Colony already Settled, or to be Settled in thoſe Parts of America; but to contradict the Diſingenuous, and Falſe Reports of ſome Men, who have made it their Buſineſs to ſpeak unjuſtly of New-Jerſey, and Our Proceedings therein: As though the Methods of Settlement were Confuſed and Ʋncertain, no Man knowing his Own Land, and ſeveral ſuch idle Lying Stories. Therefore, to ſatisfye the Reaſonable and Ʋnprejudiced, who deſire to be rightly inform'd, the Manner or Method of Our Settlements are thus: The Country from the Mouth (that is, from the Sea) to the Head of Delaware-River, is about Two Hundred and Fifty Miles in Length, and is divided into One Hundred Shares, or Proprieties; as may be ſeen by the Deeds made to every Purchaſer thereof; every Proprietor naturally having a Conſiderable Quantity of his Land lying by the River-ſide: I ſay, every Proprietor having a great Part of his Propriety contigious to that Noble and Navigable River of Delaware, is an Accomodation of no ſmall Value.

Then, as to the Government; one out of each of theſe Hundred Proprieties, is to be freely choſen by the Inhabitants thereof, to meet and ſit as a General-Aſſembly, to make and alter Laws, to hear and redreſs all manner of Grievances whatſoever: And not any, the leaſt Tax, either in Money or Goods, or any other Services, upon any Pretence whatſoever, to be impoſed on the People, but by the Conſent of theſe their Repreſentatives in the General-Aſſembly: And this Aſſembly is to meet Annually upon a Day certain, as is Irrevocably ordained in one of the Chapters of Our General Conceſſions, as a Fundamen ••• , never to Alter or Change.

The Number of Aeres in one of theſe Proprieties, is about Twenty Thouſand; though ſome (and thoſe no ordinary Surveyors neither) have judged it to be almoſt as much more: But whether the Number be more or leſs, I ſhall not exactly affirm; But this I may aſſert, (and it ought to be conſidered by every Conſidering Purchaſer) That a large Share of their Land being certain to lye upon ſo Brave and Navigable a River as Delaware is known to be, is in it ſelf very Conſiderable, and may be vaſtly Advantagious to ſuch Purchaſers, who at preſent, do, or hereafter ſhall Incline to Trade. And upon which River are ſeveral Good Towns and Settlements already, (viz.) Burlington, Northampton, Monmouth, Wellingbrough, Mansfield, Springton, Nottingham, Salem, and Others: In ſome whereof, are Conſiderable Manufacturies and Trade Eſtabliſhed and Eſtabliſhing: So that, New-Jerſey in Reality is another thing, than what it was within theſe Seven Years, before it was Peopled and Settled in that Order and Freedom as now it is; as ſome of theſe following LETTERS (according to Reaſon) do teſtify, That thoſe that go to New-Jerſey now, need not undergoe any of the Difficulties that They did, who went over at firſt, when they had neither Houſe nor Corn of their Own: But now they have Good of Both, and not only ſufficient for Themſelves, but conſiderably to ſpare, for the Accommodating of ſuch that ſhall come to Inhabit among them, until they can provide of Their Own.

AN Abſtract or Abbreviation OF Some Few of the Many (Later and Former) Teſtimonies, &c.

A Letter to a Merchant in London. SIR,

HAving from the Diſcourſe we had formerly, about the South-Weſt-Part of New-Jerſey, lying upon the Bay and River of Delaware, perceived a great Deſire in you, to be particularly informed thereof, from the Obſervations I had either made My Self, in my ſeveral Voyages into thoſe Parts, or from the Collections I took from the Engliſh, Swedes, or Hollanders; and perceiving ſeveral of your Ingenious, Publick-ſpirited Friends were ingaged therein with Your Self, and that it was to be looked upon no longer for your own particular Curioſity, but as a National Concern, from the Thriving Genius of ſuch Worthy Undertakers: Which, together with the Kindneſs I bear to Your Self, and the Perſon that made our Acquaintance, obliged Me, as ſoon as I could, to comply with your Commands.

Then be pleaſed to know, that the Lord Delaware, Governor of Virginia, Anno 1611. during his Stay in thoſe Parts, ſpent one whole Summer in making a particular Search of all that Part of America; lying, and being Situate betwixt Cape-Auguſtine on the South-Weſt, to Cape-Porpus on the North-Eaſt, which is from 28. to 44. Degrees of North-Latitude, and 430. Leagues by that Shoar; and having viſited and viewed all the Remarkable Bays and Rivers, as alſo, particularly Inſpected the Clime and Soyl of all thoſe Parts, pitched upon this Place, which is now called New-Jerſey; which River the Lord Delaware called after his own Name, and by which the Engliſh have known it ever ſince. And it is not to be queſtioned, had not Death prevented his Purpoſes, but that he had prevailed with the then Lords-Commiſſioners, (called the Virginia-Company) to have removed that Colony to this Place: Which, without doubt, had prevented the Death of very many Thouſands of the Engliſh Nation; who have, ſince that time, found their Graves in Virginia, by reaſon of the many Boggs, Swamps, and Standing-Waters, which corrupt the Air of the Country. And to ſhew you, that the Lord Delaware was not ſingular in this Point, ſee the Character given of it by Jeronama Beeckman of Stetin, in a Tract of his Printed Anno 1636. This Beeckman was ſent thither with a Great Cargoe from Amſterdam by John Luſſingen, and Peter Coyman, Eminent Merchants of that City; who truſted him with all their Concern, Laden on Two Ships, the Orania, and the Ickeabome; who Return'd in about Fourteen Months, bringing them Back in all ſorts of Furs, Skins, and Poltry, clear Profit One Hundred and Thirty Pounds, per Cent.

Sir, Thus much in General; but to come to Particulars:

Firſt, This Province (I mean the South-Weſt-Part of it, bordering upon the River of Delaware) is Situate parallel to the moſt Happy of the East and Weſtern Parts of the World; and is naturally ſtored with all Sorts of Timber, and other Materials for the Building and Equipping of Ships, Structure of Houſes, making of Cabinets, and all other Curious Joyner's Work.

Secondly, There is Sumach, and ſeveral other Drugs for the Uſe of Dyers; beſides, ſome Trees there are, that produce both Gums, and Medicinal Oyls, as is obſerved by Doctor Adrian Vander-dunke, who ſearched that Country at his own proper Charge.

Thirdly, That there is all Sorts of Engliſh-Corn, and may be Two Harveſts of ſeveral Sorts of Grain, in one Year: As alſo, that a Poor Man by his Reaſonable Labour, can in the ſame Space of Time make Fifteen Thouſand Pipe-Staves, which are worth on the Place Sixty Pounds; but at the Canaries, Three Hundred Pounds; which, according to an ordinary Calculation, is but Three Weeks Sail, and the Tranſportation is accounted but half at moſt.

Fourthly, That in this Province there is not only as good Iron-Mines as are in any Parts of the World; but alſo, great Conveniency from the Multitude of Brooks for Iron-Mills; which in the making thereof, would alſo clear the Ground of Wood, and fit it for Planting.

Fifthly, That Vines grow naturally all over this Province; of which, Wild as they are, Wines, and very Good Brandy have been made: And, I am well aſſured, if thoſe Vines were Tranſplanted and Cultivated accordingly, there might be Rich and Generous Wines made in the Weſt-Part of New-Jerſey: But if Vine-Stocks of the Greek, Calabrian, and Cyprian, with the Candian-Grapes, were Tranſplanted into this Province, (thoſe Countries where theſe Grapes are in Perfection, lying parallel to This) there would certainly be a Staple, which may enrich both England, and all thoſe Countries, to the Envy of France and Spain.

Sixthly, That the Art, Uſe, and Excellency of the Silk-Worm might be had in this Province, with great Conveniency; the Mulberry-Trees growing there Wild, very numerous, and the Leaves to be had for gathering; whereas the French Nobility and Gentry make a Great Revenue of Mulberry-Trees; beſides their Fruits, the Leaves of every Tree being Farmed in Languedoc and Provence, as in Goodneſs, from Five Shillings to Twenty Shillings, and upwards, per Annum. The Duke of Tuſcany raiſed Anno 1671. Sixty Thouſand Ducats on the Leaves of Mulberry-Trees alone, as he doth Yearly about the ſame Sum.

Monſieur Le Telliere, Great Uncle to the Marqueſs of Lovoy, Secretary of State to the preſent French King, writ Obſervations on this Subject, Anno 1636. affirming, That Silk-Worms were Tranſported out of Aſia into Italy, in the Year 1540. and that they had not been in Languedoc and Provence in France above Sixty Years; & yet the Revenue of Silk in thoſe Provinces, was more worth both to the King and Nobility, than the Product of Wine, Oyl, Woad, and all other Fruits whatſoever.

Monſieur Agume, in his Obſervations on that Subject Printed at Lyons, Anno 1654. ſayes, That in Forty Years, the making of Silk in the South of France, had brought into the Exchecquer or Financy of that Crown, Fifty Seven Millions of Livers, which is about One Hundred and Twenty Thouſand Pounds, per Annum, Cuſtom for the Raw Silk only. It is admirable to behold, how theſe Silk-Worms ſtore up the Diſpoſing-Matter, from whence the Silk comes; the which, by an Incomprehenſible Myſtery of Nature, they Vomit forth 〈◊〉 their Mouths, and ſpin out of their Bowels: And whatever is done of this kind in France, may much more, and to greater Advantage be accompliſhed in the South-Weſt-Part of New-Jerſey, whoſe Poſition of Latitude is nearer the Sun, than any Part of France. The Air of this Province is very Serene, Sweet, and Wholſome, which renders the Clime much more agreeable to European Bodies, than the ſevere Colds of New-England, or the ſulphurous Heat in Virginia; where, I ſay, the Bogs, Marſhes, and corrupt Standing-Waters, have ever been very Noxious to the Planter.

The Soyl of this Province is very Rich and Fruitful; and, for the moſt part, upon a Riſing Level; and where it is interlaced with Hills, they are rather Gradual Proſpects, than troubleſom Aſcents for above an Hundred Miles from the Sea. And where it is any whit Mountainous or Rocky, there are alſo Valleys extream Rich and Fertile: Beſides, thoſe Mountains have ſtore of Black-Lead, Allom, Sulphur, Copper, &c. the which is confirmed by the Writings of Tararapha, and Monſieur Gallane, Son to the preſent Preſident of Nants, a Perſon of great Quality, who ſpent the Years 1668, 69, and 70. in the Diſcovery of moſt of the Lakes, Mountains, and Countries, West, from Quebeck to the Bay of Florida, which is beyond Carolina.

This Gentleman gave me leave to read his Journal; wherein he affirms, That betwixt the Head of Delaware, and the Lake Ontaria, there are Mines of Sulphur, Allom, Lead, Copper, &c.

Sir, I mention This as well for your own Curioſity, as that ſuch a Trade may be worth looking after, when it ſhall pleaſe God, to put thoſe that ſettle your Colony, in a condition to manage it; which, I do aſſure you, in due time may be done, to Immenſe Advantage.

And now, Sir, I ſhall come to ſome other Obſervations of my own, having formerly drawn a particular Map of your Colony with my own Hand, by the Sea, from Sandy-point, and up the River, to the Iſle of Matinicocks; and, for my own Satisfaction, did (as of other Parts of America) ever make it my Buſineſs to diſcover not only the Scituation of Places; but alſo, the Original Diſcoverers, the ſeveral Governors, and their reſpective Fortunes; the moſt Remarkable Diſtempers, or Diſeaſes; the Commodities, both Natural and Accidental; what Advantage might be made by Trade; what Places were more or leſs Tenable by Nature, and what made Strong by Fortification; in what Manner, and to what Degree. Moreover, how thoſe Colonies have Proſpered or Declined in Trade, Increaſed or Decreaſed in Number of Inhabitants from Europe, and the proper Cauſes thereof; together, with the Governments, Cuſtoms, and Commodities of the ſeveral Indian-Natives; and what Advantage might be made of thoſe Innocent, Good-natur'd Creatures, in point of Trade, &c.

And this South-Weſt-Part of New-Weſt-Jerſey, came not only under this my General Survey; but having had a Concern in thoſe Parts with the Dutch, it fell more particularly under my Conſideration. The Longitude of this Place is Calculated to be from Three Hundred and Eleven, to Three Hundred and Eight Degrees; and bounded betwixt Thirty-Nine and Forty-Three Degrees of Latitude North, from the Aequator.

Sir, Having before ſpoken of the Agreeableneſs of the Air; I ſhall only ſay in general, that the Weſt-Part of New-Jerſey, is by Nature ſliced into a bundance of Rivers and Riv'leis, which every way glide in Deep and Navigable Channels, either for Shipping or Boats, betwixt the Breaſt of this Your plentiful Country; which highly contributes to its Conveniency, Beauty, and Fertility. Theſe Rivers are alſo abundantly ſtored with all the ſpecies of the Fiſh of Europe, and both larger and better taſted; being great Quantities of Sturgeon in the River of Delaware, with divers other Fiſh peculiar only to that Clime; as Quictars, Dramps, Porgies or Sheep-Heads, Cony-Fiſh-Miſyqua's, & many others not ſeen in any Part of Europe, whoſe names (at preſent) I remember not; but theſe in particular are delicate Fiſh.

As alſo, Land and Sea-Foul in abundance of all the ſorts in Europe, and ſome peculiar to that Country (as of Fiſh) not any where in the Europaean World that ever I ſaw. The Fruits of your Province are all ſorts of Delicate Melons, Apples, Pears, Damſons; and all other ſorts of Plumbs, Apricocks, Peaches, and Malagotoons, Cherries of ſeveral kinds, Quinces, Marucas, Grapes of Six ſorts I have ſeen, Puchamines, Walnuts, Cheſnuts, Strawberries, Rasberries, Currans Red and White, Gooſeberries, and a great many other Wild-Fruits: As alſo, vaſt plenty of Mulberries, all ſorts of Roots of England, and Potato's very good, with all ſorts of Herbs both for Phyſick, and the Kitchin, in great Perfection, and no leſs Plenty. There is alſo Saxafras, Sarſaparilla, and ſeveral other Plants of great vertue, grow Naturally in this Province.

Sir, The Weſtern-Part of New-Jerſey, ſituate upon the River of Delaware, (to the Head whereof I underſtand Mr. Billing's Grant reaches) ſo far as I know, is not Second to any Part of America; and, in due time, by ſuch Induſtrious Undertakers as Your Self, and Friends are, may not be Inferior to many Parts of the World: And this I further know, that with Common and Reaſonable Care, there may not (in a few Years) only be to ſpare Horſes, Beef, Pork, Flower, Bisket, Peaſe, &c. but this Country will alſo produce Honey, Wax, Silk, Hemp, Flax, Hops, Woad, and Rape-ſeed, Madder, Pot-Aſhes, Anniſeed, and Salt; Hides Raw or Tanned, and there is a vaſt large Creature call'd a Mooſe, of whoſe Skins are made Excellent Buff. and other Deer-Skins, and all ſorts of Peltry in great Plenty; beſides the Natural Product of Pitch, Tarr, Roſin, Turpentine, &c.

And, as for Furrs; there is Beaver, Black Fox, Otter, and divers other ſorts: As alſo, the Tobacco is very Good upon the River of Delaware. Beſides what I have mentioned, there may be good Fiſhing for Cod and Cusk, which are to be found on a Fiſhing-ground, from the South-Part of the Shoald, that lyes of Barnagate, beginning at Seven Fathom Water, and trending South and by Weſt, Nine Leagues in Length; there being great Plenty of well grown Fiſh, as I my ſelf, and ſeveral others have found by Experience.

Upon the whole Matter, this Province affords all that is either for Neceſſity, Convenience, Profit, or for the Pleaſure of Humane Life.

Sir, I have herewith ſent you a Prophecy of Pious Mr. Herbert's, a Man as Learned as Great in his Quality, being the Earl of Cherbury's Brother, and Oratour to the Univerſity of Cambridge, written many Years ſince.

Religion ſtands on Tip-toe in Our Land, Ready to paſs to the American-Strand. When height of Malice, and prodigious Luſts, Impudent Sinning, Witchcrafts, and Diſtruſts, (The Mark of Future Bane) ſhall fill our Cup Ʋnto the Brim, and make our Meaſure up: When Sin ſhall ſwallow Tyber, and the Thames By Letting in them Both, Pollutes her Streams: When Italy of Ʋs ſhall have her Will, And all her Kalender of Sins fulfill; Whereby one may fore-tell, what Sins next Year Shall both in France and England Domineer: Then ſhall Religion into America flee; They have their Times of Goſpel, ev'n as We. I am, Sir, with all Sincerity your Affectionate Friend, & Humble Servant, I. Scott.

From Burlington in Delaware-River, the 26th. of 8. Mon. 1667. An Abſtract of a Letter wrote to Henry Stacy. Dear Friend!

THrough the Mercy of God, we are ſafely Arrived at New-Jerſey. My Wife, and all Mine are very well; and we have our Healths rather better Here, than we had in England: Indeed, the Country is ſo likely, that I do not ſee, how it can reaſonably be found fault with. As far as I perceive, all of the Things we heard of it in England, are very true; and I wiſh, that many People (that are in Straits) in England, were Here: Here is Good Land enough lyes void, would ſerve many Thouſands of Families; and we think, if they cannot Live Here, they can hardly Live in any Place in the World. But we do not deſire to perſwade any to come, but ſuch as are well ſatisfied in their own Minds. A Town-Lot is laid out for us in Burlington, which is a Convenient Place for a Trade: It is about One Hundred and Fifty Miles up the River of Delaware. The Country, and Air, ſeems • o be very agreeable to our Bodies; and we have very Good Stomachs to our Victuals: And Here is plenty of Proviſion in the Country, plenty of Fiſh and Fowl, and Good Veniſon very plentiful, and much better than Ours in England; for it eats not ſo dry, but is full of Gravy, like Fat Young Beef. You that come after us, need not fear the Trouble that We have had: For now here is Land ready divided againſt You come. The Indians are very Loving to Us, except here and there one, when they have gotten Strong Liquors in their Heads, which they now greatly love. But for the Country, in ſhort, I like it very well: And I do believe, that this River of Delaware, is as good a River as moſt is in the World; it exceeds the River of Thames by many Degrees.

Here is a Town laid out for Twenty Proprieties, and a ſtrait Line drawn from the River-ſide up the Land; which is to be the main Street, and a Market-place about the Middle; and the York-ſhire Ten Proprietors are to build one Side, and the London Ten the other Side: And they have ordered one Street to be made along the River-ſide, which is not divided with the Reſt, but in ſmall Lots by it ſelf; and every one that hath any Part in a Propriety, is to have his Share in it. The Town-Lots for every Propriety, will be about Ten or Eleven Acres, which is only for a Houſe, Orchard, and Gardens; and the Corn and Paſture-Ground is to be laid out in great Quantities

I am thy Loving Friend, Iohn Crips. Directed for Henry Stacy, in Grace-Church-Street.

Thomas Hooton to his wife, 29th. 8th. Month, 1677. My Dear!

I Am, at this preſent, at the Town call'd Burlington, where our Land is; and it is ordered to be a Town for the Ten York-ſhire, and Ten London Proprietors. I like the Place well; our Lot is the Second next the Water-ſide: It's like to be a Healthful Place, and very pleaſant to Live in. I came hither Yeſter-day, being the Twenty-Seventh of October, with ſome Friends that were going to New-York. I am to be at Thomas Olive's Houſe, till ſuch time I can provide better for my Self. I do intend to build a Houſe, and get ſome Corn into the Ground. And now, my Dear, I know not how to write to thee, concerning thy Coming, or not coming Hither. The Place I like very well; and I do believe, that we may live Here very well. But if the Place be not made Free, (I mean, as as to the Cuſtoms, and Since when the Cuſtoms are taken off, and the Government ſettled. Government) then it will not be ſo well, and may hinder many that have Deſires to come. But if thou underſtand that thoſe Two Things be clear'd, then thou may take thy Opportunity of coming this Summer. I reſt

Thy truly Loving Husband, Thomas Hooton.

Boſton, August the 14th. 1677. [Verbatim.] Dear Father and Mother!

I Can now give you a farther Account concerning this Country; for I have Travelled Three or Four Hundred Miles an End, the beſt Part of it by Land. I have been in New-Jerſey, and like that Place very well; and I am ſure, it is the Fruitfulleſt Place in theſe Parts, and the Pleaſanteſt to dwell in: For there is all ſorts of Proviſion as plentiful as it is in England; There wants nothing but good Honeſt People to Inhabit it. The Ship that was bound for New-Jerſey, arrived about the Second or Third Day of this Month; I was in New-Jerſey, when She came in; I was the Firſt, that ſaw Her: So the next Day, I went Aboard of Her; and the People told me, They were Eight Weeks at Sea; and the firſt Land they made, was Cape-Codd in New-England, which was an Hundred Leagues out of their way: And they were at a great Loſs for want of a Pilot to carry them along the Shore; but while they were at Sea, they wanted for nothing. Now I have ſeen moſt of theſe Parts hereabout; and, to my thinking, New-Jerſey exceeds them All for good Land, good Timber, good Meadow, and other good Conveniences that are Here: For One Acre in this Place, is worth half a dozen in other Places that lye Hereabouts; and I could be very glad, that You and Your Family were ſafe arrived Here. But, I hope, I ſhall ſee you all in London within theſe Three Months; and then I ſhall give you a better Account concerning our Affairs. So, having no more at preſent to trouble you with, I reſt, and remain

Your Dutiful Son, Ephraim Warren. Theſe for Mr. Henry Warren, in Fenchurch-Street, this deliver with Care, I pray.

New-Jerſey, 20th. 2d. Month, 1678. [This is Extractim.] Dear Friends!

I Doubt not, but it will be great Satisfaction to You, to hear of Mine, and the reſt of Friends Paſſage to, and ſafe Arrival in New-Jerſey. We took Ship the Sixteenth of November, and made the Land of New-Jerſey in Thirty-Four Dayes. [And many other Things he writes of, needleſs here to be mentioned: But of the Country thus.]

Now Friends, as to this Country, there has been much ſaid by ſeveral Perſons in Commendation thereof, both as to the Increaſe of all ſorts of Grains and Fruits; as alſo, to the Plenty of Fiſh, Fowl, Deer, Swine, &c. that I ſhall not need to add any thing to it: But, in ſhort, this I have to ſay; That I do not know any one thing to fall ſhort of what has been Reported of this Province; but that more might truly have been ſaid of its pleaſant Situation, wholſome Air, and general and great Increaſe of all things planted; and eſpecially, of Indian-Corn, which is a very good and ſerviceable Grain many wayes. The Engliſh Wheat and Barley primely Good; but Rye and Peaſe, much better than any I ever ſaw in England or Ireland. I doubt not, but you have had an Account of all other Matters, before this (by thoſe who came to Jerſey before Me) comes to your Hands: And I have no other end in this, than keeping you from the raſh Cenſures of People that know it not; as alſo, for the Good and Proſperity of this Good Country, &c.

Subſcribed, Your Friend, William Clark. Directed for William Penn, Gawen Lawry, & Edward Billinge.

Weymouth, 28th. 6th. Month, 1678. [Verbatim.] A Letter from Thomas Budd, who had then been at New-Jerſey, and is gone thither again with his Wife and Family. Dear Friend, Gawen Lawry!

I Am ſafely come from New-Jerſey, where I left Friends in Health, who like the Country very well. We have ſet down both Trades and Husbandmen together in the Iſland call'd Chygoe's-Iſland; where we have built, and are building many Houſes; but it's too ſtrait, to contain ſo many People, as are already upon it. I ſuppoſe, I have Travelled, more in New-Jerſey, than any other Perſon that came lately; which I did at my own proper Charge, that I might be able to ſatisfie my Self, and Acquaintance, concerning the Country. I intend to be ſhortly in London, and then may give a fuller Account of all Proceedings. And I doubt not, but New-Jerſey will be as thriving a Place, as any is in America. I deſire Information what Ships are going, or to go thither this Year; which is the Needful, at preſent, from

Thy Dear Friend, Thomas Budd. Superſcrib'd for Gawen Lawry, in George-Yard, in Lombard-Street, Merchant.

Burlington in New-Jerſey, upon the River Delaware, the 19th. of the 4th. Moneth call'd June, 1678. An Extract of a Letter written by John Crips, to his Brother and Siſter. Dear & Loving Brother & Siſter!

I Have received both your Letters, wherein I underſtand your Faith concerning this Country is much ſhaken through ſeveral falſe Reports given thereof; which may be proved falſe under the hands of ſeveral good Friends, I hope as worthy to be believed as that Reporter; and ſuch as have had more Experience of this Place, than he had or could have in ſo ſhort a time. Beſides, he came amongſt us ſhortly after our coming hither, when things were not ſettl'd in that Order amongſt us as now they are. Neither indeed did he find ſuch Entertainment from ſome, as he expected; which I ſuppoſe makes him ſpeak the worſt he can deviſe of this Place. But I queſtion not, but his Reports will in a ſhort time be wip'd away: Some of which, in my Knowledge, are groſs Lyes, as well as Contradictions to his own VVords. For I remember, when I Travelled with him through Part of New-Jerſey, he confeſſed, That much of this Land was as good or better, than the Land in Road-Iſland.

And it's really my judgment that thoſe people that cannot be contented with ſuch a Country, and ſuch Land as this is, they are not worthy to come here. And this I can truly tell you if I were now in England with you my Friends, (and which I ſhould be very glad to ſee) yet if all I had in the World would but bring me hither, I ſhould freely leave You, and my Native-Country, and come to New-Jerſey again; which I have ſaid many a time heretofore; but now I write it under my Hand; and it's really the Truth, whether you will believe it or not. And farther, I can truly tell you, That I deſire not, nor dare not to write the leaſt Untruth to draw you, or any others to this Place: But an reſolved, if I never ſee your Face more, to leave you to your own Freedom in the Lord. But I hope, you are not inſenſible of my Love, and Deſires for You; though I am (I ſay) conſtrain'd to Forbear perſwading. You, or any one elſe, againſt their own Freedoms: yet I think it my Duty to let You, and all Men know the Truth of things as near as I can.

Your Letter ſaith, it's reported, the water is not ſo good as in England. I do not remember, that ever I taſted better water in any part of England, than the ſprings of this Place do yeild; of which is made very good bear, and Ale; And here is alſo Wine and Sider. And whereas your Letter to me ſaith, ſeveral have come back from this Country to England; Two or Three, I ſuppoſe, there are Lazy idle perſons, that have done ſo. But on the other hand here are ſeveral perſons, Men of Eſtates, that have been here, and have gone back to England, and ſold their Eſtates, and return'd with their whole families hither again; which methinks, ſhould take many of theſe Scruples out of the way, if nothing elſe were ſaid or done in praiſe of this Country. But, I ſuppoſe, there are many in England, that deſire to hear ill of this Place, becauſe they would keep their Friends there with them, and they think, we never write enough of the bad Properties of the Country and Vermin in it. Now, this I may ſay in ſhort, That here are Bears, Wolves, Foxes Rattle-ſnakes, and ſeveral other Creatures, (I do believe) becauſe I ſee the Indians have ſuch Skins to ſell. But I have Travelled ſeveral hundreds of Miles to and fro, and I never (to my knowledge) ſaw one of thoſe Creatures, except two Rattle-ſnakes, and I kill'd them both. I ſuppoſe, the Fear of thoſe Creatures in England, is far worſe to ſome there, than the Hurt of them is here. And as for the Musketto-Fly, we are not troubled with them in this Place; our Land for the moſt part Lying high and healthy, and they for the moſt part are in Law Boggy ground. Thomas Budd, and his Family are arrived, the ſhip Lieth before this Town that brought them: I wiſh, you have not cauſe to repent, that you came not along with them. They had a very good Paſſage, and ſo had the London Ship; they are both in the River at this time. I underſtand by Thomas Budd, that he did ſatisfie you as near as he could, of the Truth of things here; and you had as much reaſon to believe him, as that other perſon, and more too; for Thomas had far more Experience of this Place, than he (I ſay) could have in the ſhort time he was among us. So of theſe things, I ſhall forbear to write any farther at preſent; and with my true love to you all, my Friends, with my hearts Deſire for your Wellfare every way, &c. I reſt

Your True & Loving Brother, Iohn Crips. To the Truth of the Contents of theſe Things, we ſubſcribe, our Names, Daniel Wills, Thomas Olive, Thomas Harding, Thomas Budd, William Peachey.

An Abſtract of a Letter from Daniel Wills to William Biddle; (Then Living in Biſhops-gate-Street in London; who with his Wife and Family, is this preſent 5th. Moneth, 1681. with ſeveral Servants, gone for New-Jerſey. Dear Friend!

I Received thine by Henry Salter, but it came too late to my hand; ſo that I could not write any thing in anſwer untill this time. I underſtand thou would'ſt know ſomething from me concerning New-Jerſey, which indeed I had given thee a large account of, without thy deſiring only Joſeph Hempſley ſatisfied me, that he had done it. Let every Man write according to his Judgment; and this is Mine, concerning this Country: I do really believe it to be as good a Country, as any Man need to dwell in; and it is much better than I expected every way. For Land I will aſſure thee, here is as good by the Judgment of Men, as any is in England. And for my part, I like the Country ſo well, and it is ſo Pleaſant to me, that if I had a good Eſtate in Land in England, I ſhould not come to live upon it: For through Induſtry, here will be all Things produced, that are neceſſary for a Family, as is in England; and far more eaſier, I am ſatisfyed. When I am walking alone, and the Lord is with me, and the Senſe of His good Dealings is brought before me, I cannot but admire Him for His Mercies; and often in ſecret bleſs His Name, that ever He turn'd my Face hitherward; and gave me Confidence in Himſelf, and Boldneſs by Faith to oppoſe all Gain-ſayers, though never • o ſtrong. Al • hough then I could not ſay, I had a Call or Command to leave the Land of my Nativity: Yet now of a Truth I can ſay, the Lord removed me there-from; and in what I did, I had Peace in Him. And in all my Exerciſes by Sea and Land, I never felt the leaſt Matter in me, as to deſire I had not come forward; but rather rejoyced in the Lord, in the midſt of all. Though my Removal was not ordinary, becauſe of the Largeneſs of my Family; yet, bleſſed be the Name of the Lord, all is well to our Content. So if thou heedeſt every ones Sayings, thou wilt have work enough: I heeded none, but the Lord. My Reſolution was, and my Sayings to ſeveral O • poſers, That I would come; if God hindered me not, no Man ſhould▪ I have writ about the 26th. of the 9th. Month, to John Mulliner, and Edward Cooper, largely, concerning the Country; thou maiſt write to them to have a Copy of it, if it comes to hand before This, which I ſomething queſtion.

And now, my Dear Friends, and Antient Acquaintance (William, and Sarah Biddle) My Love you may feel beyond Expreſſion. And if you have Clearneſs to come to New-Jerſey, let nothing hinder; but if you have a Stop upon your Spirits, let not any thing farther you, until the Lord clears your Way. In this my Writing, I do aſſure you, I deny my ſelf; for, if I might, I ſhould write to forward you; but I dare not. Though you may underſtand by my Letters, how it is with Me and Mine, and many Others; I know, if a Man cannot Live here, I do believe he can hardly live in any Place in the World. This being the Place ſet before Me of the Lord, and if He gives Length of Dayes, I will ſee what He will afford me in it. The laſt Ship that came to New-York, brought ſeveral Paſſengers; ſome of which came to ſee this Country, and liked it well. So, Dear Friends, you may ſtand againſt all Oppoſers concerning the Land; for it is Good.

Subscribed, Daniel Wills. Burlington, the 16th. of the 11th. Moneth, 1679.

An Extract of a Letter written by William, and Ruth Embly, to Samuel Racles of Nottingham, from Burlington, in New-Jerſey. Loving Friend,

AFter dear Love to thy Self, and Wife, and reſt of Friends: This may acquaint you, we all croſſed the Seas very ſhortly and pleaſantly. My Wife was pretty well Aboard, in reſpect of her Condition, and was Delivered of a Girl in Delaware-River, did very well, and is very well content and ſatisfyed with the Country, &c. We are now going to ſettle a Town at the Falls, a Place reported (and credited) to be without Compare to any other yet known: None equal for pleaſant Healthful Air, Lovely Scituation; ſecond to none for Fertility. The Next, I hope, ſhall inform you more: Our Love to Friends, &c.

Subſcribed, William, & Ruth Embly.

From the Falls of Delaware in New-Jerſey, the 12th. of the 6th. Month, 1680. Mahlon Stacy's Letter to George Hutcheſon. Dearly Beloved Friend, & Brother!

IN the Bleſſed Truth of Jeſus do I dearly Salute Thee, thy dear Wife, and all tender Friends, with whom I have been Converſant, and amongſt whom my Spirit hath been Refreſhed; my dear Love in the Lord ſalutes them all, deſiring as one travelling for the Good and Proſperity of all that love the Lord Jeſus; that Grace, Mercy, and Peace from God the Father; and our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, may be multiplyed amongſt them abundantly, that they all may be compleatly furniſhed, wanting nothing, being made able to ſtand in the Stormy Day, which is haſting on to try the Foundation of all Profeſſions: In which it ſhall be ſaid, Woe to the Wicked; for it ſhall go all with them in that Day, when they ſhall come to receive the Reward of their Doings. But to the Righteous, it may be well ſaid; It ſhall go well with you, even all of you, that have born the Name of Jeſus; for the Reward of my Love is given you, ſaith the Lord; and great ſhall be your Peace and Portion for ever. Amen.

Dear Friend, Thine of the 23d. 11th. Moneth, 1679. I h • ve Received with great Gladneſs and Acceptation, as a Token of thy endeared Love and Care, with thy tender Deſires for us, and grave Counſel to us: all which I dearly accept of, knowing it was the Flowings-forth of a Soul fi • l'd with Love to the Heritage of God in theſe Parts. For the watering of whom, God has fil • 'd the Hearts of His Servants with His pure Love, precious Life, and Streams of Living Refreſhment, for the Comforting of Jacob in his Travels and Tryals, and for the gladding of Iſrael in the Day of Exerciſe. So, although we are ſeparated as to the Outward, (a little Scattering as I may ſay) yet the God of Life abounds in His Love to His little Flock, dayly extending His Peace (as a River) to His Remnant; And is determined of a ſmall Number, to make a Great and Strong Nation: And this I plainly ſaw before I left my Native Country; and the Lord is mightily bringing it to paſs, in His Removing the Heathen that know Him not, and making Room for a better People, that fears His Name. 'Tis hardly credible to believe, how the Indians are waſted in Two Years Time; and eſpeciall the laſt Summer: and how the Engliſh are increaſed both in Cattle and Corn, in a little time. Things go exceeding well with Friends, ſince they were ſettled, and our Meetings are duely Kept. The Lord our God is with us, and the Shout of a King is amongſt us, Glory, Glory to the Lord our God for ever! I perceive you have ſtrange Reports concerning Us, and our Country; yet our Condition is far otherwiſe than is repreſented unto you: for our Land yields its Strength to us in a plentiful manner, and we enjoy Fulneſs of Good Things: The greateſt Want is that of our Friends; yet the Lord is adding to our Number greatly; and in a ſhort Time, this Place will be Populated. Friends are generally Healthful and Well. Mine, and my Wifes dear and tender Love ſalutes Thee and Thine, with all the Faithful in the Lord; and that the Fountain of the Love of God, may be your dayly Refreſhment and Conſolation, prayeth

Thy Endeared, & Loving aſſured Friend, Mahlon Stacy.

An Abſtract of a Letter from Thomas Harriſon to his Brother; wherein he writes of many Private Things: But of the Country, in ſhort, thus. Dear Brother!

THis is a Pleaſant Country, the Woods are like a Garden; for all ſorts of Flowers and Herbs grow in them, and Strawberries, and other Fruits in abundance; and our Land far exceeds England for one Thing; For Three Pecks of Wheat will ſow an Acre of this Land, which in England, Two Buſhels will hardly do it. I cannot expreſs all Things, that we have in this Country.

Dear Brother, Pray ſend me a Braſs-Compaſs, with a Dyal for this Latitude; whereby the more eaſie to find the marked Trees of my own Land, from other Men's. Few in this Country have done more than I have. I ſhall have ſenc'd and clear'd a Quarter of a Mile this Summer. I have ſet Four Acres of Indian-Corn; and in the Fall, I ſhall Plow Twelve Acres of Wheat, and Six of Peaſe. I, and my Family are very well; and, for my own part, never better in all my Life; for I never Who was greatly troubled with a Cough heretofore. Coughed ſince I came into this Country.

Subſcribed, Thomas Harriſon. Burlington, 27th. of March, 1681. [Who has not been There above a Year, and an half; & being a poor Man, had not any Servants.]

An Abſtract of Mahlon Stacy's Letter to his Brother Revill, and ſome Others; Dated the 26th. of the 4th. Moneth, 1680.

BUt now a word, or two of thoſe ſtrange Reports you have of Us, and our Country; I affirm, they are Lyes in the very Ground of them, and ſpoken from a Spirit of Envy: It is a Country, that produceth all things for the Support, and Suſtenance of Man, in a plentiful manner. If it were not ſo, I ſhould be aſhamed of what I have before written: But I can ſtand, having Truth on my Side, againſt and before the Face of all Gain-ſayers, and evil Spies. I have Travelled through moſt of the Places that are ſettled, and ſome that are not; and in every Place, I find the Country very apt to anſwer the Expectation of the Diligent. I have ſeen Orchards ſo loaden with Fruit, I have wondered to ſee it, their very Limbs torn in pieces with the weight of their Fruit; and moſt Delicious to the Taſte, and Lovely to behold. I have ſeen an Apple-Tree from a Pippin-Kernel, yield a Barrel of curious Syder; and Peaches in ſuch plenty, that ſome People took their Carts a Peach-gathering: I could not but ſmile at the Conceit of it. They are a very delicate Fruit, and hang almoſt like our Onions that are tyed on Ropes. I have ſeen and known this Summer Forty Buſhels of good Bold-Wheat, of One Buſhel ſown: And many more ſuch Inſtances I could bring, which would be too tedious here to mention. We have from the Times call'd May until Michaelmals, great ſtore of very good Wild-Fruit; as Strawberries, Cramberries, & Huckle-berries, which are like our Bilberries in England; but far ſweeter: They are very wholſome Fruits; the Cramberries much like Cherries for Colour and Bigneſs, which may be kept till Fruit come in again; an Excellent Sauce is made of them for Veniſon, Turkies, and other great Fowles; and they are better to make Tarts, than either Gooſeberries, or Cherries: We have them brought to our Houſes, by the Indians, in great plenty. My Brother Robert had as many Cherries this Year, as would have loaded ſeveral Carts. It is my Judgment, by what I have obſerved, That Fruit-Trees in this Country deſtroy themſelves, by the very Weight of their Fruit. As for Veniſon, and Fowles, here are great plenty: We have brought Home to our Houſes by the Indians, Seven or Eight Fat Bucks of a day; and ſometimes put by as many, having no Occaſion for them. And Fiſh in their Seaſon very plenteous: My Couſin Revill, and I, with ſome of my Men, went laſt Third Moneth called May, into the River to catch Herrings; for at that time they come in great Shoals into the Shallow's; we had neither Rod, nor Net; but after the Indian Faſhion, made a round Pinfold about Two Yards over, and a Foot high; but left a Gap for the Fiſh to go in at, and made a Buſh to lay in the Gap to keep the Fiſh in▪ and when that was done, we took Two long Birches & tyed their Tops together; & went about a Stones-caſt above our ſaid Pinfold: Then hauling theſe Birche's Boughs down the Stream, where we drove Thouſands before us: But ſo many got into our Trap as it would hold; and then we began to haul them to Shoar, as faſt as Three or Four of us could, by Two or Three at a time: And after this manner, in half an Hour, we could have filled a Three-Buſhel Sack of as good and large Herrings, as over I ſaw. And as to Beef and Pork, here is great plenty of it, and good cheap; and alſo, good Sheep: The common Graſs of this Country feeds Beef very Fat; I have Kill'd Two this Year; and therefore, I have reaſon to know: Beſides, I have ſeen this Fall, in Burlington, Kill'd Eight or Nine Fat Oxen and Cowes on a Market-Day, and all very fat. And though I ſpeak of Herrings only, and leſt any ſhould think we have little other ſorts, we have great plenty of moſt ſorts of Fiſh, that ever I ſaw in England; beſides ſeveral other ſorts that are not known There; as Rocks, Cat-Fiſh, Shoads, Sheep-Heads, Sturgeons: And Fowles plenty; as Ducks, Geeſe, Turkies, Swans, Pheaſants, Partridges; and many other ſorts that I cannot remember, and would be too tedious to mention▪ Indeed the Country, take it as a Wilderneſs, is a brave Country; Though no Place will pleaſe all; but ſome will be ready to ſay, He writes of Conveniences, but not of Inconveniences: In anſwer to thoſe, I honeſtly declare, Here is alſo ſome Barren Land; as (I ſuppoſe) there is in moſt Places of the World; and more Wood, than ſome would have upon their Lands. Neither will the Country produce Corn without Labour, nor Cattle be got without ſomething to buy them, nor Bread with Idleneſs; elſe it would be a brave Country indeed: And I queſtion not, but that all then would give it a good Word. For my part, I like it ſo well, that I never had the leaſt Thought of returning to England, except on the Account of Trade.

Subſcribed, Mahlon Stacy.

In another Letter to William Cook of Sheffield, and ſome Others, he writes thus.

THis is a moſt brave Place, what ever Envy or Evil Spies may ſpeak of it. I could wiſh you all here. Burlington will be a Place of Trade quickly; for here is way for Trade. I, with Eight more, laſt Winter, bought a good Ketch of Fifty Tun, freight her out at our own Charge, and ſent Her to Barbadoes, and ſo to ſail to Saltitudo, to take in part of Her Loading in Salt, and the Reſt in Barbadoes Goods as She came back: Which ſaid Voyage She hath accompliſhed very well; and now Rides before Burlington, diſcharging Her Loading; and ſo to go to the Weſt-Indies again: And we intend to Freight Her out with our own Corn. We have wanted nothing ſince we came hither, but the Company of our Good Friends and Acquaintance. All our People are very well, and in a Hopeful way to Live much better, than ever they did; and not only ſo, but to provide well for their Poſterities. They improve their Land, and have Good Crops: And if our Friends and Country-Men come, they will find better Reception, than We had by far at firſt, before the Country was ſettled as now it is. I know not one amongſt the People, that deſires to be in England again; I mean, ſince ſettled. I wonder at our York-ſhire People, that they had rather Live in Servitude, and work hard all the Year, and not be Three Pence the better at the Years End, than ſtir out of the Chimney Corner, and tranſport themſelves to a Place; where, with the like pains in Two or Three Years, they might know better things.

Well, my Friend, I never repented my Coming hither, nor yet remembred thy Arguments, and Out-cry againſt New-Jerſey with regret. I live as well to my Content, and in as great Plenty, as ever I did, and in a far more likely way to get an Eſtate; though I hear, ſome have thought I was too large in my Former; I affirm it to be true; having ſeen more with mine Eyes in this time ſince, than ever yet I wrote of.

To George Hutcheſon he writes,] That he hath Built a Water-Mill, that is judged to be the Beſt in America; and that, though moſt of his Servant's Time had been ſpent in Building; yet laſt Spring he had got a great quantity of Land cleared, and Fallowed, which he intended to Sow this Fall with Wheat and Rye: That his Brother Robert had this Year as good a Crop of Corn, as ever he had in his Life.

From the Falls of Delaware, in Weſt-New-Jerſey, the 26th. of the 4th. Moneth, 1680. Mahlon Stacy.

The Extract of a Letter from Samuel Jennings, One of the Commiſſioners in New-Jerſey, ſince the Cuſtoms were taken off, and Government Settled: Directed to William Pen, Edward Billinge, or Gawen Lawry. Dear Friends!

THis may give you an Account of Mine, and my Families ſafe Arrival in New-Jerſey, with all the Reſt that came forth with us: I might ſay ſomething concerning our Paſſage at Sea; but I wave it for want of Time: and, in fine, can ſay all was well; for which, I bleſs God, and the Lord keep us all ſenſible of it, with the reſt of His Mercies for ever.

Dear Friends!

About Six Weeks ſince, we arrived in Delaware-River; where I expected to have met with a Combat in the Denyal of Cuſtoms. In our Paſſage at Sea, I had communicated to all, that had any conſiderable Cargoe on Board, the Opinion of Council concerning the illegal Demand thereof, with what elſe I thought might be for their Information; which thus far prevailed, that moſt, if not all concerned, ſeemed reſolved to deny the Paying of Cuſtom here, having paid all the King's Duties in England. In good time we came to Anchor in Delaware; where one Peter Alrick came Aboard to us, and brought a Handſome Preſent to our Commander, and ſent for me into the Round-Houſe, where They both were; and Peter told me, He had nothing to ſay to Us, relating to This Peter Alrick was the Perſon that formerly uſed to Collect the Cuſtoms. Cuſtoms; he had no Commiſſion for it, nor did he know of any Body that had. So we had all our Goods ſafely Landed, after this unexpected eaſie manner.

[But a Letter was writ by Sir John Werden; declaring, That the Cuſtomes were taken off, and the Port for ever made Free, and the Government ſettled.]

Friends, In purſuance of the Truſt committed to me, after my Arrival, I acquainted thoſe nominated in the Commiſſion with me of it: But, in a ſhort time after, I received Your Letters, giving an Account of a New Grant obtained, wherein the Cuſtoms are taken off, a Free Port confirmed, and the Government ſettled on Edward Billinge; the which, I doubt not, will be very acceptable to every Honeſt Man. But, as yet, I have not had time to let the People, in general, know it. And now, ſeeing the Ports are made legally Free, and the Govornment ſettled, I would not have any thing to remain, as a Diſcouragement to Planters. Here are ſeveral good and convenient Settlements already; and here is Land enough, and Good enough, for many more. I ſhall give a farther Account of all Things as Opportunity preſents; I cannot do it now, the Meſſenger being in ſuch haſte, which forceth me to a Concluſion.

Subſcribed, Samuel Iennings. New-Jerſey, the 17th. of Octob. 1680.

A Letter wrote to Mr. Edward Billinge, Governor of Weſt-New-Jerſey. Sir,

NOw, that illegal Impoſition of Cuſtoms is taken off, the Port and Country made free, and the Government thereof ſettled on Your Self; I may honeſtly affirm. That the South and South Weſtern-Parts of New- • erſey, lying on the Sea & Delaware-River, maybe made one of the Beſt Colonies in America, for the Situation, Air, and Soyl, Ports and Creeks, for good Harbors and Havens, are not inferior to any; but as Good and Better, than moſt in theſe Parts of the World; having not ſewer than Thirty Navigable Creeks, ranging themſelves at convenient Diſtance upon the Sea, and that moſt ſtately River of Delaware; ſome flowing Five, ſome Eight, ſome Ten, ſome Fifteen or Twenty Miles up into the Country: And not one of theſe Creeks, but is a good Situation for a Town both for Trade & Delight. Neither wants the Inland-Country great Plenty of Delightful Freſh Rivers, and moſt delicate Springs in abundance. And yet it is not theſe Springs and Rivers, Creeks and Ports alone, that makes New-Jerſey exceed moſt of her Neighbours for Situation, and Healthyneſs of Air; but the general Boldneſs of her Shoars, with the Natural Aſcent, or Gradual Riſing of the Land from the South Sea to the utmoſt, or extream Points of its moſt Northerly Extent; which from South to North, (that is to ſay, from the Mouth to the Head of that never-too-often to be mentioned goodly River of Delaware) is about Two Hundred and Fifty Miles; at whoſe large expanded Mouth, begins the Separation betwixt New-Jerſey, and Mary-Land; and about Eighty Miles farther up, in a more contracted manner gently divide betwixt You, & a very good Tract of Land; the which, if ſettled with good Neighbours, and under a right Authority, would be vaſtly Advantageous to Yours both in Commerce and Defence: For that there being already a pretty conſiderable quantity of Swedes, Finlanders, and Dutch, ſeated on that Tract of Land along by the River-ſide; and who, through a good Government over them, in time may become very good Neighbours; at leaſt, much better than at preſent they are.

But, Sir, I think it was highly your Advantage, that you found few or no Inhabitants ſettled in New-Jerſey; ſo that you had none to new-mold, diſplace, or remove, contend or quarrel with: None being ſeated, or to ſettle there, but by mutual Conceſſions, and a Grant for their Land, firſt had and obtained under Hand and Seal. And likewiſe, before you ſat down in any Part of the Country, your giving Order to buy the Lands of the Natives, and give them real Satisfaction for the ſame, was a moſt Chriſtian and Prudent Act; and by which means you are aſſured of their Love, and Friendſhip for ever: And the Poor Creatures are never the Worſe, but much the Better, as Themſelves do confeſs; being now ſupplyed by the Engliſh, in the way of Truck and Trade, with whatſoever they want or ſtand need of. And they Hunt and Fiſh, as here-to-fore, except in Encloſed or Planted Ground.

But it may be demanded, Why theſe Dutch and Swedes, eſpecially ſome of the Engliſh that came lately, ſhould ſeat on the Other Side of the River, rather than in New-Jerſey? The only Reaſon, as a Reaſon, that I can give, was becauſe of the Cuſtome impoſed at New-Jerſey heretofore, and the Government not being ſettled, as now it is.

And moreover, the Land on the other ſide next the River (upon which theſe People are ſet down) for the moſt part is a deeper Soyl, and leſs Wood upon it, than upon ſome of the Land on your ſide over againſt it; for that much of the richeſt Soil and beſt Land in New-Jerſey, lyeth not upon the very Brink of the River, but ſomewhat backward into the Country; which is a conveniency of no ſmall value to ſuch Planters, who truly underſtand the erecting, and ſettling of Colony's next the Water-ſide in theſe Parts. For it is the heighth of the Land and Shoar's, and not the miry depth of the Soil, that makes Burlington, and the many Miles above and below it (where are many good Settlements beſides) ſo wholſome an Air, and free from the Muſuetto's, Agnes, Feavors, &c. And although I ſay the Soyl be not ſo deep on Jerſey ſide next the River, yet I am ſure there are as good Corns, and Fruits of all ſorts, as ever I ſaw, or heard of in any of theſe parts of America. Likewiſe, Sir, I ſuppoſe you want not to know, by information, that the Rivers and Riv'lets I mentioned are abundantly pleniſh't with all the Kinds of the Fiſh and Fowl of England, and ſeveral that you have not, and much better. Alſo the Land breeds good Horſes, good Sheep, and good Deer, and Swine in abundance, and as large Oxen, and Cowes as in any parts of England, and the Fleſh eats much better, eſpecially the Pork and Veniſon. Sir, I make no queſtion, but you have heard as much as all this, and a great deal more concerning the Situation, growth, and product of New Jerſey (and which may truly be ſaid.) But it is poſſible I may inform you of one particular, that you may not have minded, which is that this Country, being bounded on the Weſt with Delaware, on the South with the main Ocean, and on the Eaſt with Hudſon's River; ſome of whoſe North-Weſt Branches do almoſt ſhake hands with the moſt North-Eaſterly branches of Delaware, and in a manner claſp the whole Province about, until they reduce it ſomewhat into the form of a blunt wedge, ſo that with a ſmall charge (conſidering the advantage,) New Jerſey from a Peninſula may be made an entire Iſland. But however as it is, with the Methods you have taken for the ſetting thereof: for inſtance; that incomparable way of dividing the whole Country into a hundred propriety's (whereby every individual Purchaſer hath a ſhare of the good, and the bad) is away ſo juſt and equal, that not any plantation in theſe parts at preſent doth, or for the future in that point, can ever come near it, becauſe of their promiſcuous or confuſed ſettling at their firſt fitting down. And then as to Your Government (a free holder being Annually to be choſen out of each of theſe hundred proprieties, and as the Repreſentatives thereof to fit, and freely Act in the Parliament, or general Aſſembly, where all grievances are to be heard and redreſſed, and where all Laws (agreeable to thoſe immutable fundamentals agreed on in your general conceſſions) for the inviolable preſervation of liberty and property are to be made. All which, are ſuch priſtine and certain methods for maintaining the juſt right and equal utility of the whole Community, that I do not ſee the moſt Capricious can aſſign, wherein it is either faulty in exceeding, or deficient in falling ſhort of the moſt Ancient true Engliſh, and beſt Chriſtian Government in the World. Wherefore I am ſatisfied it will not now be long before New-Jerſey be peopled.

And, Sir, ſince the Government thereof is ſettled in ſo Generous and Worthy a Hand as your own, at which I can aſſure you, very many Honeſt and Sober People in theſe Parts, as well as thoſe more direct of your Own Way, greatly rejoyce, and fervently deſire to ſee you in America; but for ought I know, none more than doth,

SIR, Your Faithful Friend to Serve You, Robert Smythe. 20th. Arill, 1681.

AN EXSTRACT Out of a Small Treatiſe, Wrote By BEAƲCHAMP PLANTAGENET, Concerning The Province of New-Albion, in the Year, 1648. Since Granted by the King to the Duke of York; Of which New-Jerſey is a Part.

IN his Epiſtle, (pag. 4.) he adviſeth to follow Old Cato's Rule, To ſeat in a pure Healthy Air; elſe, after all Charges of Settling and Building, the People Dye, and their Poſterity Extinguiſh. Secondly, To ſit down upon a Navigable-River for Trade and Supply. For this Reaſon, I (on my View) diſliked Virginia; moſt of it being ſeated ſcatteringly, and among Salt-Marſhes and Creeks, worſe than Eſſex-Thanet and Kent, for Agues and Diſeaſes; Brackiſh-Waters to Drink and Uſe, and a Flat Standing-Water in Woods breed a double Corrupt Aire; ſo the Elements are Corrupted.

Chapter the 2d. Page the 18th. & 19th.

WHereas that Part of America lying about Thirty-Nine Degrees, at Delaware-Bay, is Situate in the beſt and ſame Temper; and as Italy, between too Cold Germany, and too Hot Barbary; ſo This lying mid-way between New England Two Hundred Miles North, and Virginia a Hundred and Fifty Miles South, is freed from the Extream Cold and Barrenn • ſs of the One, and Heat and Anguiſh-Marſhes of the Other; and is like Lombardy, a Rich Fat Soyl and Plain; and having Thirty-Four Rivers on the main Land, and partaketh of the Healthieſt Air, and moſt Excellent Commodities of Europe; and repleniſhed with the Goodlieſt Woods of Oaks, and all Timber for Ships and Maſts. Mulberries for Silk, ſweet Cypres, Cedars, Pines, and Furs; Four ſorts of Grapes for Wine and Raiſings: and great variety of choice Fruits, Fiſ • ▪ and Fowl; ſtored with all ſorts of Corn; yielding Five, Seven, and Ten Quarters on an Acre; Silk-Graſs, Salt, Good Mines, and Dyers-Ware; Five ſorts of Deer, Buffs, and Huge Elkes to Plow and Work, bringing Three Young at once. The Ʋplands covered many Months with Berries, Roots, Cheſ-nuts, Wall-nuts, Beech, and Oak Maſt for them. Hogs, & Turkies, Five hundred in a Flock. Many Thouſands of Acres of plain Mead-Land, fit for Corn, Rice, Flax, Hemp, &c. And that this is the True State of the Country lying on the Bay and River of Delaware, he affirms, is teſtifyed under the ſeveral Hands of thoſe who had been, and Traded there: And is farther witneſſed by Capt. Smith, New-England's Proſpect, Capt. Powell's Map, and other Deſcriptions of New-England and Virginia.

Subſcribed by Capt. Brown. Capt. Clayborne. Robert Evelin. Stafford. Conſtantine. Stratton. Thomas White. Richard Buckham. Chriſtopher Thomas. Edward Monmouth. Tenis, Paley. Edward Rhodes.

Page the 20, 21. of the ſame Treatiſe. An Extract of Robert Evelin's Diſcription of the Land lying between the Rivers of Delaware, and Hudſons River; The which is Now called New-Jerſey.

THat Ocean Sea I take to be about one hundred & ſixty miles, and I find ſome broken Land, Iſles and In-ters, and many ſmall Iſles, at Eg-Harbor, but going to Delaware-bay by Cape May (which I underſtand is very well ſet out in Captain (Powels Map) on that North-ſide, about five miles up within, is a Port or Road for any Ships called the Nook. And Twelve Leagues higher a little above the Bay and Bar, is the River of Manteſes, which hath Twenty miles on Charles River, and Thirty Miles running up a fair Navigable deep River; all a flat level of rich, fat, black Mold, which I think to be about 300000 Acres.

Next above, about Six Leagues, is a Fair deep River, Twelve Miles Navigable, where is Free ſtone. The next Aſomoeches River. The next is Eriwomick a King of Forty men. And five miles above the King of Ramock; and four miles higher the King of Axion, And next to him Ten Leagues over Land and Inland King of Calcefar. And Six Leagues higher is a Creek call'd Moſilian; and then we come to the Falls, made by a Rock of Lime-ſtone; & I ſuppoſe it is about Sixty five Leagues from the Sea, near to which is an Iſle fit for a City, all Materials there on to Ʋpon which Iſle, Burlington is now built. build. And above the Falls the River-Fair and Navigable; as the Indians inform'd me, for I went but Ten Miles higher. I do account all the Indians to be about eight hundred. I ſaw there an infinite Quantity of Buſtands, Swans, Geeſe and Fowl, covering the ſhoars. As within Land, the like multitude of Pigeons, and ſtore of Turkeys; of which I tryed one to weigh Forty Six pounds. There is much variety and plenty of delicate Freſh and Sea Fiſh, And Elks, and Dear that bring three young ones at a time And the woods are ſtrewed many Months with Cheſnuts, Wall-Nuts, and Maſt of ſeveral ſorts to feed them. The Barren grounds have four kinds of Grapes, and Mulberrys, with Aſh, Elme, and the Taleſt and greateſt Pines, and Pich-Trees that I have ſeen. There are ſeveral Wild Fruits; as the pine Aple, the dainty Parſemenas, &c. I ſhall entreat you to believe me as a Gentleman and a Chriſtian, I write nothing but the truth.

Subſcribed, Robert Evelin.

POST-SCRIPT.

THere might have been Publiſh'd at leaſt a Hundred Letters or Teſtimonies more very lately written from the Inhabitants of New-Jerſey, in Praiſe of that Country, AND NOW Settlement thereof; Which are forborn to be emitted, leſt therby any ſhould be induced or perſwaded without due Conſideration, to incline for New-Jerſey in their own Wills. Therefore, before any determine a Removal to New-Jerſey, let them weigh and conſider the Matter well. And that all may ſee their Way clear before they ſtir therein; Is the Ʋnfeigned Deſire of the Publiſher hereof.