Spent the afternoon at Colonel Harrison's. Find him a very intelligent man and seems to take a pleasure in communicating the customs and manners of his countrymen. Captn. Knox returned to Nanjemoy this evening and gave me an invitation to go with him to Annapolis, which I intend to accept.
SOURCE: Nicholas Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas Cresswell 1774—1777, p. 19
Annapolis, Maryland. Left Marlbro early this morning. Crossed Potuxen River at Mount Pleasant Ferry. Some good Land after this River. Breakfasted at Rollin's, a Public House, but in this Country called Ordinaries, and indeed they have not their name for nothing, for they are ordinary enough. Have had either Bacon or Chickens every meal since I came into the Country. If I still continue in this way shall be grown over with Bristles or Feathers. From Rollin's to London town on South River. This is a small, pleasant place at the head of the Bay, but no great trade. Crossed the South River and on to Annapolis to Dinner, 22 Miles from Marlbro. Land very indifferent from London town to Annapolis.
SOURCE: Nicholas Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas Cresswell 1774—1777, p. 20
This is the Capital town or rather City in the Province and
the seat of the Governor, situated at the Head of Chesapeake Bay. It is not
very large or populous, but regularly built and some of them good buildings.
They are now building an elegant State House of Brick, which is to be covered
with Copper. A place of very little trade, chiefly supported by the meeting of
the Provincial Assembly. There is a great number of people collected together
to get Bills of Credit out to the Provincial Loan Office. A considerable sum in
Four, Three, Two, One, Two-thirds, One-third and One-Ninth of a Dollar Bills,
is struck in these Bills of Credit by an Act of the Provincial Assembly. An
office is opened and the money divided into Lots of 1000 Dollars each. Any
person a resident in the Province may take up a Thousand Dollars, if he has an
Estate in the Province of twice the Value and clear of Entail or Mortgage,
which Estate he Mortgages into the Office as security for the money, which he
has at 4 per cent for Ten years, and then the Bills are called into the office
again. It is Death to Sell or Mortgage an Estate that is Mortgaged to this
Office till the expiration of the time, and in default of paying the interest
the Treasurer of the Loan Office has a right to sell the whole estate and
appropriate the whole of the money to the Province's use. These Bills are a
lawful tender and the greatest part of the business is done with this sort of
money. Not only this Province, but every Province, and Colony on the Continent
has large sums of this kind of money issued by their different Houses of
Assembly. I suppose the Credit of these Bills must be indisputable, if one may
be allowed to judge from the number of people that apply for them. It appears
to me that there is a scarcity of Cash amongst the people of all ranks here.
They Game high, Spend freely, and Dress exceedingly gay, but I observe they
seldom show any money, it is all Tobacco Notes. Great number of Scotch
tradesmen here, but very few English. Provisions are as dear here as in
England. Mutton and Beef at 6d. per lb. A Violent pain in my Head this evening.
SOURCE: Nicholas Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas Cresswell 1774—1777, p. 20-2
