Between eight and nine o'clock this morning, Mrs. Smith, Mr.
Clifford, and I in the carriage, and Mr. Smith on horseback, set off for Rocky
Point,1 about seventeen miles distant. The morning was as fine as
ever shone in May, and the roads exceeding good. We passed through Frankfort,
but saw nothing worth remarking there, save one or two ill done things, and the
first house built in the place; at present it bears but little the appearance
of antiquity, as they have made the outside entirely new; it is a frame
building and small, and may be said to resemble the man's knife that had been
used for so long a time, only he had had two new blades, & as many new
handles added. The prospect from the hill after crossing the bridge, is really
pleasing; one has a fine view of several elegant houses on the Point side, and
on the other is the country road ; the church stands on the right, and is a
good-looking country church enough! From the Wheat Sheff2 I was an
entire stranger to that part of the world, as here were the bounds of my
travels eastward; from here Mr. Clifford was kind enough to show me the many
pleasant farms and places that we passed, and informed us who were the
possessors of them, which greatly augmented the pleasure of the ride, and will
serve in a manner to rivet the many pleasing ideas I then had : as I dare say
were I to go that way again would be brought fresh to my memory, as by such a
place I thought so and so, &c. The prospects on each side are beautiful,
and you are every now and then agreeably surprized by a sight of the Delaware.
We are now on Penne Pack Bridge; you will say I am but a poor traveller when I
tell you it is the best bridge I ever went over, although it has but three
arches.3 I wish it was in my power to describe the beauties of this
place; stop and look at it! on the left side you see the water tumbling down
the rocks frothing and sparkling as it goes; at the bottom it runs rippling
over stones and then through the bridge where it soon seems to forget its late
rapidity and gently murmurs on. The creek is not very wide, so that the trees
on each side might almost shake hands, and what adds much to the beauty of the
whole, are the shrubs and bushes all in blossom along the banks. But it won't
do to stay here all day, we must leave it to the possession of the sylvan inhabitants
and pursue our journey. I have forgotten to mention before that we passed the
place upon which it was first designed by man, but not by the author of nature,
to have built Philadelphia;4 it is a fine, high, delightful spot,
and much pleasanter than where it now stands ; after some time they discovered
a riff of rocks near the harbour, which was the natural cause of their quitting
that sweet spot; it still goes by the name of "Old Philadelphia," and
there are many good Plantations upon it, the distance from the present city
being about twelve miles. We passed another church exactly like that at
Frankfort, with a well and horse block at the side of it, but whether the
church is this, or the other side of Penne Pack, I cannot recollect.5
The way from this to Poquestion (Poquessink?) Bridge is pleasingly diversified
by hills and agreeable looking farms, and at this season is beautiful indeed ;
the sheep feeding upon the sides of the hills, the birds hopping from bough to
bough, the cattle grazing on the meadows, or lying at their ease under the
shade of a spreading oak or poplar, serves to put one in mind of that age so
celebrated by the Poets. I remember nothing remarkable fro.m here to Shameney;6
we crossed the ferry in a scow rowed by one man. I wonder they don't have ropes
as they have at the Schuylkill, hut I suppose they know best. "We now left
the York road and turned to the right, the way very pleasant, and we soon
entered the confines of Rockey Point, our first salutation was from the sweet
birds perched upon the boughs that we almost touched from the sides of the
fences; the violets were blown in quantities, and the houses began to open to
our view; then such a prospect! but what shall I say of it the most luxuriant
fancy cannot imagine a finer one. It was after twelve that we alighted, much
pleased with our ride, and a most excellent appetite for dinner, which Betsey
soon obliged us with, and we convinced her in a much more expressive manner
than by words how good it was. There are two neat pretty houses here, with two
handsome rooms upon a floor, and kitchens behind them ; the descent is gradual
to the river, and the distance a quarter of a mile, the avenue, which is over
two hundred feet wide is planted with different kinds of cherry-trees. The plan
of this place is really elegant as there is to be a large mansion in the
middle. From the house you have a most extensive view up and down the river and
in the Jerseys for miles, you likewise see Burlington. Between three and four
o'clock Mr. Smith went down to look for a boat, as we intended to lodge in
Burlington. Luckily at that time there happened to pass a negro fellow going
there in a boat very proper for our purpose, and he was good enough to wait
until Mr. Smith came up for us. We bade Mr. Clifford good-bye, stept into the
boat, and Mr. S. performed the same kind offices rendered by Mr. C. in the
morning, telling me of the places as they came in sight. We passed one or two
islands that were agreeably shaded and looked very prettily, likewise a Point
they called "World's End," but with what reason I know not.
Burlington looks very well from the water, the Governor's house and many others
stand delightfully pleasant, as they command a prospect of Bristol and a very
good one of the river, but not so extensive as from Rockey Point, which from
here looks very well. The distance, they say, is two miles. We landed about
tea-time, and were welcomed by three of Mr. Guest's daughters. Mr. and Mrs.
Guest were out fishing. We were too much fatigued to think of going out in the
evening, went to bed at ten, and slept more soundly, I dare say, than any
crowned head in Europe.
_______________
1 The seat of Mr. T. Clifford on the Delaware nearly opposite Burlington.
2 The " Wheat Sheaf," an inn on the Bristol Turnpike, famous in that day and generation.
3 It was built in 1697-8. A view of it will be found in Atkinson's Casket.
4 On the Delaware below Poquesink Creek in Biberry. The site was abandoned it is said on account of the rocks called "The Hen and Chickens." See Watson's Annals of Philadelphia, vol. i. pp. 42 and 56.
5 All Saints Church, Lower Dublin township, Philadelphia.
6 Neshaminy.
SOURCE: “Extracts from the Journal of Miss Sarah Eve,” The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 5, No. 1 (1881), pp. 30-3
