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L E T T E 
 
 FROM 
 
 WITH 
 
 Paffages out of feyeral Jjeitexs 
 from Perfojas of gooci Credit, 
 
 Relatiiog to the State and Iiupro vemeiit of 
 ike Province of 
 
 PENNSILVANIA- 
 
 TuUtJhedto preveni falfcT{jport^, 
 
 Pnnicd intlic "^^ar [68/. 
 
[An original of the pamphlet which we here print is in the library of the 
 late John Carter Brown, of Providence, Rhode Island. We are indebted 
 to the Hon. John Russell Bartlett for his attention in comparing the trans- 
 script used in printing with the original, and for a tracing of the title page, 
 which we have endeavored to copy. In regard to the " fac-simile," Mr. 
 Bartlett writes, "The only difference between it and the original is in the 
 6th line, beginning with the word Passages. This line in the original is in 
 a type a trifle larger and heavier. . . . The date also varies a little, 
 the figures 6 and 8 in the original extending above the 1 and 7."] 
 
A LETTER FROM DOCTOR MORE WITH PASSAGES 
 
 OUT OF SEVERAL LETTERS FROM 
 
 PERSONS OF GOOD CREDIT. 
 
 Relating to the State .and Improvement of the Province op 
 Pennsilvania. 
 
 Published to prevent false Reports. Printed in the year 1687. 
 
 THE PREFACE. 
 
 Divers false Reports going about Town and Country, to 
 the Injury of the Province of Pennsilvania, I was prevailed 
 with hy some concerned in that Province, and others that 
 desire the truth of things, to Publish such of the last Letters 
 as made mention of the State of the Country ; to serve for 
 answer to the Idle and Unjust Stories that the Malice of some 
 invent, and the Credulity of others prepare them to receive 
 against it; which is all the part I take in this present Pub- 
 lication. 
 
 "William Penn. 
 
 A Letter from Dr. More. 
 
 Honored Governour. 
 
 I have seen a Letter from your hand, directed to me, among 
 many in this Province^ which came by Captain Richard Di- 
 mond: It was in all respect welcome to me, and more particu- 
 larly, for that you make mention of your coming to us again, 
 with your Family; a thing so much desired b}'' all in these 
 parts, and more particularly by my self. But I fear that 
 Madam Penn should give too much credit to the evil Reports 
 that I do understand are given out by many Enemies to this 
 new Colony, as if ice were ready to Famish^ and that the Land 
 is so barren, the Climet so hot, that English Grain, Roots and 
 Herbs do not come to Maturity; and lohat grows, to be little worth. 
 How untrue all these things are you well know ; but we that 
 have seen our handy Work, accompanied with God's blessing 
 
A Letter from Doctor More. 
 
 upon it, since your departure from us, are able to say some- 
 thing more to encourage you to return to us again. You 
 know, that when you went for England, there was an indif- 
 ferent plenty of most things, and that many hundred Families 
 were clearing of Land to Sow and Plant, as I was also doing ; 
 since that, our Lands have been grateful to us, and have be- 
 gun to reward our Labours by abounding Crops of Corn this 
 Year. But to give you to understand the full of our Condi- 
 tion, with respect to Provision in this Province; we had last 
 Fall, and the Winter, abundance of good fresh Pork in our 
 Market at two Pence half-penny jper pound, of this Country 
 Money, which is an English two Pence; Beef at the same 
 rate; the like is this Year; and Butler for six Pence per 
 Pound; Wheat for four Shillings per Bushel; Rye three Shill- 
 ings ; and now all this Summer Wheat is at three Shillings, 
 & three Shillings 6 Pence; Rye at eight Groats, and half a 
 Crown; Indian-Corn seven Groats, and two Shillings this 
 Country Money still ; so that there is now some Corn Trans- 
 ported from this River. Doctor Butler has bought two hun- 
 dred Bushels of Wheat at three Shillings six Pence, to Trans- 
 port, & several others, so that some Thousands of Bushels are 
 Transported this Season, and when this Crop that now is 
 gathered is Threshed, it is supposed that it will be abun- 
 dantly cheaper than now it is, for there has been abundance 
 of Corn this Year in every Plantation. 
 
 The last year I did plant about twelve Acres of Indian 
 Corn, and when it came ott the Ground, I did only cause the 
 Ground to be Harrowed, and upon that I did sow both Wheat 
 and Rye, at which many Laughed, saying. That I coidd not 
 expect any Corn from what I had sowed, the Land icanting more 
 Labour; yet I had this Year as good Wheat und Rye upon 
 it, as was to be found in any other place, and that very bright 
 Corn. I have had a good Crop of Barley and Oats and whereas 
 my People did not use my Barley well, so that much was 
 shed upon the Ground, I caused it immediately to be Plowed 
 in, and is now growing, keeping a good Colour, and I am in 
 hope of another Crop of Barley, having good Ears tho the 
 Straw be shorter. I did plant an Hopp-Garden this Spring, 
 
A Letter from Doctor 31ore. 
 
 which is now exceeding full of Hopps^ at which all English 
 People admire. Richard Collet and Samuel Carpenter, &c., 
 having had some Fiolds of Rye the last Summer, and plowed 
 the Stable in order to sow other Corn, by some Casualty could 
 not sow their Fields; yet have they had considerable Crops of 
 Rye, in the said Fields, by what had been shed on the Ground 
 in Harvest time. I have had seventy Ears of Rye upon one 
 single Root, proceeding from one single Corn ; forty five of 
 Wheat: eighty of Oats; ten, twelve and fourteen of Barley out 
 of one Corn: I took the Curiosity to tell one of the twelve 
 Ears from one Grain, and there was in it forty five Grains on 
 that Ear; above three Thousand of Oats from one single Corn, 
 and some I had, that had much more, but it would seem a 
 Romance rather than a Truth, if I should speak what I have 
 seen in these things. 
 
 Arnoldus de la Grange hath above a Thousand Bushels of 
 English Grain this year, there is indeed a great increase 
 every where. I had the last year as good Turnops, Carrots 
 and Parsnops as could be expected, and in no wise inferior to 
 those in London, the Parsnops better, and of a great bigness; 
 my Children have found out a way of Rosting them in the 
 Embers, and are as good as Parbadoes- Potatoes, insomuch that 
 it is now become a dish with us. "We have had admirable 
 English Pease this Summer ; every one here is now persuaded 
 of the fertility of the ground, and goodness of the climate, here 
 being nothing wanting, with industry, that grows in England, 
 and many delicious things, not attainable there; and we 
 have tliis common advantage above England, that all things 
 grow better, and with less labour. I have planted this Spring 
 a Quickset, of Sixsoore Foot long, which grows to admira- 
 tion; we find as good Thorns as any in tlie World. 
 
 We have had so great abundance of Pigeons this Summer, 
 that we have fed all our Servants with them. A Gentlewoman 
 near the City, which is come into this Province since you 
 went for England (Mrs. Jeffs from Ireland) Cured Sturgion the 
 last year, and I have eaten some this Summer at her House, 
 as good as you can get in London ; Some Barbadoes Merchants 
 are treatinsr with her for several Barrels for the Barbadoes, 
 
A Letter from Doctor More. 
 
 and will give her anything for them. We are wanting of 
 some more good Neighbours to fill up the Country. There 
 is a French Gentleman who made the last Year some Wine 
 of the wild Grapes^ which proved admirable good, and far above 
 the best Mader as that you ever tasted, a little higher colour'd. 
 And one thing I must take notice of that we strove to make 
 Vinegar of it, but it is so full of Spirit that it will not easily 
 turn to Vinegar; a certain evidence of its long keeping. Your 
 Vigeron had made a Barrel of the same Wine, resolving to 
 keep it for your Entertainment; I being one day therfe, and 
 speaking of what I had tasted at Monsieur Pelison's, he 
 shewed me a Barrel, which he said was of the same sort that 
 he had taken a great deal of care to secure from being med- 
 dled with, he tauhing the head, it sounded empty, at which 
 the man was so amased, that he was ready to Faint; after- 
 wards looking about, it had leaked underneath, to about two 
 Quarts ; I tasted it, and it was yet very good Wine, so I left 
 the poor man much afilicted for his loss. But I must acquaint 
 you with one thing, that he having planted some French 
 Vines, the twenty fourth of Marchy the last year, the same 
 Vines have brought forth some Grapes this year, and some 
 of them were presented to President Lloyd the 28th of July, 
 fully Black and Mipe, which is a thing unheard of, or very 
 extraordinary. I thought that this short account of our 
 present State and Condition, and Improvement would not be 
 ill news to you, considering that you know me not forward 
 to put my hand to Paper slightly; wherefore I hope that 
 your Lady will not despise what I do here report, as being 
 the very truth of things ; and if I could contribute thereby 
 to her full Satisfaction, I should have my end, as being will- 
 ing to see you and her in this place, where I shall not fear 
 being rebuked for mis-representing things, I shall conclude, 
 
 Governor, 
 Green-Spring the 13th ) 
 of September, 1686. f 
 
 Your truly affectionate Friend and Servant, 
 
 Nicholas More. 
 
A Letter from Doctor More. 
 
 Madame Fm-mer has found out as good Lime-Stone, on the 
 School-kill, as any in the World, and is building with it; she 
 offers to sell ten Thousand Bushels at six Pence the Bushel, 
 upon her Plantation, where there is several considerable Hills, 
 and near to your manner of Springfield. N. M. 
 
 In a Letter from the Governors Steward, Octob. 3, 1686. 
 
 The Gardiner is brisk at Work. The Peach-Trees are 
 much broken down with the weight of Fruit this Year. All 
 or most of the Plants that came from England grow, (being 
 abont four Thousand.) Cherries are sprung four and five 
 Foot. Pears, Codlings and Plumbs three or four Foot. Pears 
 and Apple Grafts, in Country Stocks, and in Thorns, are sprung 
 three and four Foot. Rasherries, Goosberries, Currans, Quinces, 
 liases, Walnuts and Figs grow well. Apricocks from the Stone 
 fourteen or sixteen Inches sprung, since the Month called 
 April. Our Parn, Porch and Shed, are full of Corn this year. 
 
 In a Letter from the Governers Gardiner, dated the \Uh of the 
 Month, calVd May, 1686. 
 
 As for those things I brought with me, it is much for 
 People in England to believe me of the growth of them ; some 
 of the Trees and Bulbes are shot in five weeks time, some one 
 Inch, some two, three, four, five, six, seven, yea some a eleven 
 Inches ; some of them not ten days set in the Ground before 
 they put out Buds. And seeds do come on apace; for those 
 Seeds that in England take fourteen days to rise, are up here 
 in six or seven days. Pray make agreement with the Bishop 
 of London's Gardiner or any other that will furnish us with 
 Trees, Shrubs, Flowers and Seeds, and we will furnish them 
 from these places ; for we have excellent Trees, Shrubs and 
 Flowers, & Herbs here, which I do not know I ever saw in 
 any Gardens in England. 
 
 In a Letter from Robert Turner a Merchant in Philadelphia 
 and one of the Councel, the Ibth of October, 1686. 
 
 I also advise, that, blessed be God, Corn is very cheap this 
 Season ; English Wheat sold here, to carry for New-England 
 at three Shillings six Pence per Bushel, and much Wheat- 
 
A Letter from Doctor More, 
 
 Flower and Bisket for Barbadoes, Things prosper very well, 
 and the Earth brings forth its encrease ; God grant we may 
 walk worthy of his Mercies. Of other Grains, plenty. As 
 to the Town, Building goeth on. John Readman is building 
 one Brick House for Richard Whitpain^ of sixty Foot long, 
 and fifty six Foot wide. For the Widow Farmer, another 
 Brick House. For Thomas Barker and Samuel Jobson two 
 Brick Cellars, and Chimnies for back Kitchings. Thomas 
 Bucket is Building a Brick House at the Skulkil, forty eight 
 Foot long and three Stories high; there are t\vo other Brick 
 Houses to be built this Summer. 
 
 In a Letter, of the 2d of October, /rom David Lloyd, Clerk 
 of the Peace, of the County of Philadelphia. 
 
 I shall only add, that five Ships are come in since our 
 arrival, one from Bristol, with 100 Passengers; one from Hull 
 with 160 Passengers; one from New-England for Corn, and 
 two from Barbadoes ; all of them, and ours (of above 300 Tun) 
 had their loading here, ours for New-England, and the rest 
 for Barbadoes ; and for all this, Wheat (as good, I think, as 
 any in England) is sold at three Shillings six pence per 
 Bushel, this Country Money, and for three Shillings ready 
 Money (which makes two Shillings five pence English Star- 
 ling) and if God continues his blessing to us, this Province 
 will certainly be the Grainary of America. The Governours 
 Vineyard goes on very well, the Grapes I have tasted of; 
 which in fifteen Months are come to maturity. 
 
 In a Letter, of October last, from Thomas Holmes Surveyor 
 
 General. 
 
 We have made three Purchases of the Indians, which, 
 added unto the six former Sales they made us, will, I believe, 
 be Land enough for Planters for this Age ; they were at first 
 High, and upon their Distances; but when we told them of 
 the Kindness our Governour had always shown them; that 
 the Price we ofier'd far exceeded former Rates, and that they 
 ofifered 118 the Land before we fought* them, they agreed to 
 
 * [Sought?] 
 
A Letter from Doctor More. 
 
 our last Offer, which is something under three hundred 
 Pounds sterling. The Kings salute our Governour; they 
 hardly ever see any of us, but they ask, with much affection 
 when he will come to them again; we are upon very good 
 terms with them. I intend to send the Draughts for a Map 
 by the first — 
 
 In a Letter from James Claypole Merchant in Philadelphia 
 and one of the Councel. 
 I have never seen brighter and better Corn then in these- 
 parts, especially in the County of Chester. Provisions very 
 cheap ; Pork at two Pence, and good fat fresh Beef at three 
 half-pence the Pound, in our Market. Fish is plentiful; 
 Corn cheap; Wheat three and six pence a Bushel ; Bye half a 
 Crown; Indian Corn two Shillings, of this Money: And it 
 is without doubt that we shall have as good Wine as France 
 produces. Here is great appearance of a Trade, and if we 
 had small Money for Exchange, we should not want Returns. 
 The Whale-Fishery is considerable ; several Companies out to 
 ketch them: There is one caught that its thought will make 
 several hundred Barrels of Gyle. This besides Tobacco and 
 Skins, and Furs, we have for Commerce. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
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 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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