A CRITICAL VISITOR AT MOUNT VERNON About thirty miles down the river Potomac, a gentleman, of the name of Grimes, came up to us in his own boat[8].

He had some little time before shot a man who was going across his plantation; and had been tried for so doing, but not punished.

He came aboard, and behaved very politely to me: and it being near dinner time, he would have me go ashore and dine with him: which I did.

He gave me some grape-juice to drink, which he called Port wine, and entertained me with saying he made it himself: it was not to my taste equal to our Port in England, nor even strong beer; but a hearty welcome makes everything pleasant, and this he most cheerfully gave me.

He showed me his garden; the produce of which, he told me, he sold at Alexandria, a distance of thirty miles.
His garden was in disorder: and so was everything else I saw about the place; except a favourite stallion, which was in very good condition--a pretty figure of a horse, and of proper size for the road, about fifteen hands high.