inued till Dinner, which was both
elegant and plentifull.

The afternoon was devoted to the ladys, who shew'd me one of their
most beautiful Walks. They conducted me thro' a Shady Lane to the
Landing, and by the way made me drink some very fine Water that issued
from a Marble Fountain, and ran incessantly. Just behind it was a
cover'd Bench, where Miss Theky often sat and bewail'd her Virginity.
Then we proceeded to the River, which is the South Branch of
Rappahannock, about 50 Yards wide, and so rapid that the Ferry Boat is
drawn over by a Chain, and therefore called the Rapidan. At night we
drank prosperity to all the Colonel's Projects in a Bowl of Rack
Punch, and then retired to our Devotions.

[Illustration: ~The Chapel, University of Georgia, at Athens. Erected
1832.~]

DISMAL SWAMP.

(_From The Dividing Line._)

_1728, March._--Tis hardly credible how little the Bordering
inhabitants were acquainted with this mighty Swamp, notwithstanding
they had liv'd their whole lives within Smell of it. Yet, as great
Strangers as they were to it, they pretended to be very exact in their
Account of its Demensions, and were positive it could not be above 7
or 8 Miles wide, but knew no more of the Matter than Star-gazers know
of the Distance of the Fixt Stars. At the Same time, they were Simple
enough to amuse our Men with Idle Stories of the Lyons, Panthers,
and Alligators, they were like to encounter in that dreadful Place.

In short, we saw plainly there was no Intelligence of this Terra
Incognita to be got, but from our own Experience. For that Reason it
was resolv'd to make the requisite Disposition to enter it next
Morning. We alloted every one of the Surveyors for this painful
Enterprise, with 12 Men to attend them. . . . . . .

Besides this Luggage at their Backs, they were oblig'd to measure the
distance, mark the Trees, and clear the way for the Surveyors every
step they went. It was really a Pleasure to see with how much
Cheerfulness they undertook, and with how much Spirit they went thro'
all this Drudgery. . . . . . . . . .

Altho' there was no need of Example to inflame Persons already so
cheerful, yet to enter the People with the better grace, the Author
and two more of the Commissioners accompanied them half a Mile into
the Dismal. The Skirts of it were thinly Planted with Dwarf Reeds and
Gall-Bushes, but when we got into the Dismal itself, we found the
Reeds grew there much taller and closer, and, t