After several attempts to see Mr. van Berkel, he was at length found at home, and declined taking back the horse, though he de-305clared he had never discovered any fault in him. The son said he was sorry his father persisted in refusing. At about 4 afternoon I again mounted the horse, and rode him ten miles as far as Mr. Hall's tavern, which is a very elegant one; and where I found Mr. de Chaumont: who has been waiting for me all day. He had concluded to change his plan, in case I did not return, and go directly to Albany, where his father owns an Estate; but he has now agreed to go on with me to Boston. My horse stumbles considerably, but I hope will not fall again nor throw his rider.

Rose at about 6 o'clock in the morning; and tried my horse in the Chaise before one of Mr. Chaumont's: but we could not make him go at all, so we were obliged to go on as we first set out. Before we got to Kingsbridge, which was 6 miles from Mr. Hall's, we took a wrong road and proceeded more than two miles out of our way: this delay'd us so much that we did not get to East Chester, which is 21 miles from N. York till after 10 o'clock. We were obliged to stay there, till 3 o'clock it was so intensely hot: and we were then obliged to go so slow that we got no further than Rye, before dark: we were so unlucky as to mistake the roads twice. We put up for the night at Rye, which is near the boundaries of the State of N. York, and 32 miles from the City. This has been I think the hottest day I have felt since I arrived.

We were going this morning by 5 o'clock, and proceeded as far as Stamford, 12 miles from Rye; 5 miles from which there is a small river,1 which seperates the States of N. York and Connecticut, at a place called Horseneck. The roads from Rye, are some of the worst I ever saw. The crops of hay and of grain are all very fine this year, except those of indian corn, which have not had hot weather enough. The State of N. York produces Wheat, rye, barley and all sorts of grain as all the Northern States do. Connecticut produces in addition large quantities of flax. We got to Stamford at about 9 o'clock, and found the heat so powerful, that 306we could not proceed any further before dinner. I had a letter from Coll. Humphreys, to Major Davenport2 in Stamford, but he was gone to the Court which is now sitting at Fairfield. At 3 o'clock we again set off, and went till about 8 when we arrived at Norwalk 12 miles from Stamford. Mr. B. Jarvis gave me a letter for his brother in law, Mr. Bowden,3 the minister at Norwalk; but it was so late; when we got there that I did not carry it. Mr. Chaumont and I went and bath'd in the river, and found ourselves greatly refresh'd by it.