1800 Journal to: lower-Canada

Montrial 5h Sept. On tuesday the 19h of August, at 6 in the morning,
we left Philadelphia, to perform this last & long projected
journey. As our time was limited to the latter end of
Sept., it was necessary to do it expeditiously; – & there is
but one mode of accomplishing this point in America.
We took a Stage Coach entirely to ourselves, – & reached
New york early on Wednesday forenoon; there we
were obliged to remain all day. no Stage returning,
at this time to Albany; – the next thing was to
engage an Extra-Stage without relay of Horses;
The Proprietor & Driver agreeing to make out fifty
miles a day. – but we had not proceeded fifty yards
when we perceived one of the Horses to be lame.
The Son of the Proprietor, (who was the driver,) said
he had been long lame but would be cured by
hard driving; & he actually, contrary to Mr. Liston’s repeated
expostulations, made out the fifty miles: – next day
however the cure failed. & the Horse was knocked-up:
The Boy, with all the Spirit & activity of his decent,
(He was a Frenchman,) – procured another Horse
from a Stage-driver in the vicinity, & sets us down
on Sunday evening at our old quarters – Plat’s Hotêl
in Albany. a hundred & sixty miles – part of the
road being that execrable one, through the Highlands.
At Albany we were, next day, furnished with
another Extra-Stage, which carried us to Sandyhill,
where we had dined last Summer, on our way
to the Lake George &c. Instead of turning, as then,
to the left, (Sandy-Hill Inn is situated on a rising
ground facing the high road,) we went to the right,
& pursued our way to the Skeensborough – now called
white-Hall. Mr. Skeen, the original proprietor having