Record

D3580 - Longsdon family of Little Longstone - [14th-20th Cent]
- C - Correspondence

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Archive Reference / Library Class No.	D3580/C/446
Title	24 January 1816 Enclosed February 5th, Norfolk, Virginia. Wilmington, North Carolina. William Longsdon to Mother. Left Charleston on 16th somewhat suddenly; arrived here on 23rd after passage of 5 days by sea. Only 200 miles - with favourable weather 30 to 40 hours. Travelling with young man named Wilkes, native of New York, has visited most parts of England and France for commercial purposes, now returning from business tour in southern part of the continent, descended from that Wilkes who was so troublesome in to English Parliament in 1745. Wilmington about 30 miles from coast up Cape Fear River, perhaps 4000 inhabitants, principal sea port of North Carolina - place of considerable business. All surrounding country covered with timber except what little cleared for cultivating rice or cotton - small indeed compared with whole. Introduced to 2 or 3 very respectable people. Means to set out tomorrow for Norfolk, has hired man to take them part way in cart or carriage there being no regular conveyance. Two horses will take them 160 miles in 6 days if no accident, allowing 1 day's stop at town called Newborn. Expect them to fall in with stage and use it for remaining 100 miles to Norfolk. 30 January. Newborn. Arrived last night having with difficulty pulled 98 miles in 4 days, incessant rain made roads bad. Man foresaw this and brought 3 horses. 2 knocked up and left behind 3rd day. 3rd now lame too - so he will not have much of a bargain. Driving through uninterrupted forest - generally a cottage or farmer's house every 5 or 6 miles - always stayed at one at night. People mostly miserably off - raise as much provision as keeps them; chief support being Indian corn, bacon and poultry - usually gave them bacon and eggs and coffee without milk. Fresh meat only once. Considerable crowd at one house, 50 or 60 all in liquor, most noisy, riotous, quarrelsome set of fellows writer ever saw together. Civil to passengers, such as come accidentally amongst them and will accommodate them to best of power. Fine blazing fires from inexhaustible quantity of pine timber, almost without trouble and quite without expense. Every family grows small quantity of cotton which they manufacture into clothing, principally coarse ginghams and checks. That for men usually half wool and though not very neat to look at substantial and durable covering. Spinning all by hand on one spindle, both warp and weft and all other operations equally tedious; expensive. What is worth here 2/- or 2/6 would be made in England for 7d or 8d - but does not remember seeing single individual not weaving this produce of domestic industry and was always told they had not money to lay out. At one or two places amused to find few caricatures hanging up - mostly Bonaparte - one Devil tempting him with Crown of Russia - eagerly snatching at while a lion is pulling him back and protects 2 crowns of Spain and Portugal which has removed from him. Indicate friendliness to England but in general feeling so severe did not care to ask questions. Norfolk. 14 February. Arrived that morning by stage - all well. Passed through several small trading towns and found country much better cultivated. At Plymouth dismissed man who had brought him from Wilmington 170 miles. Crossed Albemarle Sound in boat 20 miles to Edington where joined regular line of stages. Norfolk one of largest and most important places in Virginia circa 15000 population, principal trade in tobacco, naval stores and lumber. Writer will stay few days and go to Richmond and thence to Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York resting at each town so long as business or opportunity of getting useful information requires. 5th. Next letter will be from New York, 500 miles still to go - gets colder as they go north. Here much same as in England except mid-day, usually warmer.
Date	1816
Level	file
Repository	Derbyshire Record Office
Archive Creator	Longsdon family of Little Longstone

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