of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, laid the foundation of the prosperity of Berlin and of most of the manufactures of Prussia.' The same is true in a greater or less degree of all the Protestant refugees, and it would be difficult to overestimate the industrial value to our own country of the successive immigration of whole communities from the different German states."

Nor did those in authority hesitate to give the Germans credit for what they were doing. As early as 1745, Daniel Dulany writing to Governor Samuel Ogle, says: "You would be surprised to see how much the country is improved beyond the mountains, especially by the Germans, who are the best people that can be to settle a wilderness; and the fertility of the soil makes them ample amends for their industry.' In 1773 Governor Eden, in a letter to Lord Dartmouth, says of the Germans who had settled in the western part of the state:50 "They are generally an industrious laborious people. Many of them have acquired a considerable share of property. Their improvement of a Wilderness into well-stocked plantations, the example and beneficent Effects of their extraordinary industry have raised in no small degree a spirit of emulation among the other inhabitants. That they are a most useful people and merit the public regard is acknowledged by all who are acquainted with them." Even the narrow-minded Eddis whose British prejudice could find but little to praise in the colony, had a good word to say of the Germans. In one of his letters he says:51 "These people who, from their earliest days, had been disciplined in habits of industry, sobriety, frugality, and patience, were peculiarly fitted 50 Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Fourth Series, Vol. X., p. 694

51 "Letters from America," p. 99.

for the laborious occupations of felling timber, clearing land, and forming the first improvements; and the success which attended their efforts induced multitudes of their enterprising countrymen to abandon their native homes, to enjoy the plenteous harvest which appeared to await their labors in the wild, uncultivated wastes of America.”

Washington in his numerous journeys through western Maryland had a good opportunity to note the manner in which the Germans had developed that section, and he was so favorably impressed with the evidences of their desirability as colonists that when he was planning to develop the lands presented to him by the British government at the close of the French and Indian War, he seriously considered the advisability of bringing over a number of Germans to settle on his property. With this idea in view he wrote the following letter to James Tilghman, of Philadelphia:52

Interested as well as political motives render it necessary for me to seat the lands, which I have patented on the Ohio, in the cheapest, most expeditious, and effectual manner. Many expedients have been proposed to accomplish this, but none, in my judgment, so likely to succeed as the importing of Palatines. But how to do this upon the best terms, is a question I wish to have answered. Few of this kind of people ever come to Virginia, whether because it is out of the common course of its trade, or because they object to it, I am unable to determine. I shall take it very kind in you, therefore, to resolve the following questions, which I am persuaded you can do with precision, by inquiring of such gentlemen, as have been engaged in this business. Whether there is any difficulty in procuring these people in Holland? If so, from whence does it proceed? Whether they are to be had at all times, or at particular seasons only, and when? Whether they are engaged 52 Sparks' "Washington," Vol. II., p. 382.

previously to sending for them, and in what manner? Or do ships take their chance after getting there? Upon what terms are they generally engaged? And how much for each person do they commonly stand the importer landed at Philadelphia? Is it customary to send an intelligent German in the ship, that is to bring them? Do vessels ever go immediately to Holland for them, and, if they do, what cargoes do they carry? Or are they to go round, and where? In short, what plan would be recommended to me, by the knowing ones, as best for importing a full freight, say two or three hundred or more, to Alexandria? In case of full freight, how are the numbers generally proportioned to the tonnage of a vessel?

At the same time he wrote a letter to Henry Riddell, a ship-owner, in which he offered to pay the traveling expenses of the German emigrants to the Ohio river and to provide the settlers with victuals until a first crop had been gathered, and to exempt them from the payment of any rent for a period of four years, if there was no house on the property at the time of taking possession of it.

CANDLE-STICK, SNUFFERS AND HOUR-GLASS.

HOME-MAKING IN THE WILDERNESS.

T this day it is difficult to realize the task accomplished by the hardy pioneers who, nearly two centuries ago, left behind them all the advantages of a civilized community and went into the wilderness to build themselves homes; into a wilderness inhabited by wild animals of every description and, still more to be feared, the savage Indians. It required a courageous and indomitable spirit, for every settler literally took his life in his hands and as well the lives of his loved ones. We have heard many tales of the bravery and daring performances of these men, and, now and then, some woman is mentioned as having performed some act which made her memorable; but the silent woman, those unknown thousands of whom we do not hear, are worthy of as much commendation and their memory is as much to be revered as is that of the men. Their part in the building was as important and as strenuous as that of the men, although, perhaps, not so plainly