and in interests, including his native commonwealth.

From journals kept during some of his expeditions we see that he was
a clear observer and an accurate reporter; far from bookish, but a
careful penman, and conscious of the obligation laid upon him to
acquire at least the minimum of polite knowledge which was expected of
a country gentleman such as he aspired to be.

Here is an extract in which he describes the squalid conditions under
which he passed some of his life as a woodsman and surveyor.

We got our suppers and was lighted into a Room and I not being
so good a woodsman as ye rest of my company, striped myself very
orderly and went into ye Bed, as they calld it, when to my
surprize, I found it to be nothing but a little straw matted
together without sheets or any thing else, but only one thread
bare blanket with double its weight of vermin, such as Lice,
Fleas, etc. I was glad to get up (as soon as ye light was carried
from us). I put on my cloths and lay as my companions. Had we not
been very tired, I am sure we should not have slep'd much that
night. I made a Promise not to sleep so from that time forward,
chusing rather to sleep in ye open air before a fire, as will
appear hereafter.

Wednesday 16th. We set out early and finish'd about one o'clock
and then Travelled up to Frederick Town, where our Baggage came to
us. We cleaned ourselves (to get rid of ye game we had catched ye
night before), I took a Review of ye Town and then return'd to our
Lodgings where we had a good Dinner prepared for us. Wine and Rum
Punch in plenty, and a good Feather Bed with clean sheets, which