[Continuing with the description of Philadelphia.]
"Six miles from there lies a large village, a mile long, named Germantown, where almost all of the inhabitants are Germans. A Frankfort company bought 30,000 acres of land with the object that when war or religious strife threatened that people might have a haven."
[Michel tells of meeting people in Germantown from Switzerland that he knew. For a while he proposed buying property there and making that his home.]
"The reason why I have returned to Maryland is to collect the balance of my debts. But now I am about to embark on a trip to the western regions which the Indians speak of very highly. There are high mountains, warm waters, rich minerals, fruitful lands, large streams, and an abundance of game there. I have associated myself with eight experienced Englishmen and four Indians taking along eight horses, two of which are to carry skins at my own expense. Though we taking provisions for only six days, we do not expect to return before four weeks. Some of the company expect to take up land, including myself, some expect to hunt, some expect to discover mines. I want to seek out unknown things."
[Michel mentions raccoons and opossums at this point.]
"I am altogether of the opinion that the government of Bern as well as private citizens will be interested in this country. How praiseworthy and easy would it be to send out a colony like other nations, which would be a greater glory and praise for our country than to send a large number, for the sake of the money, to slaughter in battle."
"I have already had opportunity to remark sufficiently how willing the English government would consent to this. Who had more reason to look for expansion and places of retreat than our country? I cannot think otherwise than that the government acts culpably in not assisting in this matter with word and deed the many empty hands and hungry mouths."
"It would be easy to present a memorial to the English crown, the answer would soon show whether it is feasible or not. It is a great pity that such a large country, suitable for all kinds of fruits, remains unsettled. Many people come to this country and bring nothing with them. They are bound out for a certain time to serve and in a few years acquire more than be possible than in the best countries."
"There is absolutely no hunger among the people, but the cattle suffered much this spring, especially among the cattle where the owner had too large a number. There was not enough fodder for the long winter."
"I must close but use your sound judgement to decide what to do. Assure Messrs. Gaudard, Ritter, Noblemen von Graviset and the other good friends of my respect and willingness to serve. I intended to write more letters but I did not before the ships sailed."
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.