These Efforts Were
Alternate; Victory Seemed Doubtful, Inclining Sometimes To The One
Side And Sometimes To The Other; Until At Last The Stalk To Which
The Black Snake Fastened, Suddenly Gave Way, And In Consequence Of
This Accident They Both Plunged Into The Ditch.
The water did not
extinguish their vindictive rage; for by their agitations I could
trace, though not distinguish, their mutual attacks.
They soon re-
appeared on the surface twisted together, as in their first onset;
but the black snake seemed to retain its wonted superiority, for its
head was exactly fixed above that of the other, which it incessantly
pressed down under the water, until it was stifled, and sunk. The
victor no sooner perceived its enemy incapable of farther
resistance, than abandoning it to the current, it returned on shore
and disappeared.
LETTER XI
FROM MR. IW - N AL - Z, A RUSSIAN GENTLEMAN; DESCRIBING THE VISIT HE
PAID AT MY REQUEST TO MR. JOHN BERTRAM, THE CELEBRATED PENNSYLVANIAN
BOTANIST
Examine this flourishing province, in whatever light you will, the
eyes as well as the mind of an European traveller are equally
delighted; because a diffusive happiness appears in every part:
happiness which is established on the broadest basis. The wisdom of
Lycurgus and Solon never conferred on man one half of the blessings
and uninterrupted prosperity which the Pennsylvanians now possess:
the name of Penn, that simple but illustrious citizen, does more
honour to the English nation than those of many of their kings.
In order to convince you that I have not bestowed undeserved praises
in my former letters on this celebrated government; and that either
nature or the climate seems to be more favourable here to the arts
and sciences, than to any other American province; let us together,
agreeable to your desire, pay a visit to Mr. John Bertram, the first
botanist, in this new hemisphere:
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