Excerpt from A Ride to Niagara in 1809

Finding myself at Williamsport, in Lycoming county, about the beginning of May, 1809, and having a month to spare, I determined to take a ride to the Falls of Niagara. I had visited the Genesee country and the Falls of Genesee in the year 1796, but notwithstanding the four years exertions of captain Williamson, the Genesee was at that time almost a wilderness, and I was not tempted to go further westward than the mouth of the river. It is now a very populous and well cultivated country, considering the short period of its settlement, and every year lessens the inconveniences attending so interesting a jaunt. Travellers, who, like myself, ride post through a country, have seldom much accurate information to give: but as I think the tour will yearly become more fashionable, because it deserves to become so, I send you the observations that occurred to me on the route. Even the designation of stages and the names of taverns, will not be without their use to persons in this state, who have leisure and curiosity to visit an object so remarkable as Niagara Falls. At any rate, the following notes will form a tolerable register of the present state of the country. I wish we had such, imperfect as it is, of every part of the United States.

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