Sylvanius Jackson Quinn

“ Governor Spotswood, when be undertook the great discovery of the Passage over the Mountains, attended with a sufficient guard, and pioneers and gentlemen, with a sufficient stock of provision, with abundant fatigue passed these mountains and cut his Majesty's name in a rock upon the highest of them, naming It Mount George; and in complaisance the gentlemen from the Governor's name, called the mountain next In height Mount Alexander. For this expedition they were obliged to provide a great quantity of bona shoes (things seldom used in the lower parts of the country, where there are few stones) ”

“ Dr. Robinson's and Mr. Clouder's boys were taken violently ill with fever. Mr. Robinson and Mr. Clouder left us, and the boys remained behind.
13th.—About eight of the clock we mounted our horses, and went to the mine, where we took several pieces of ore; and at nine we set out from the mine, our servants having gone before; and about three we overtook them in the woods, and there the Governor and I dined. We mounted afterwards and continued on our road. I killed a black snake about five feet long. We arrived at Mr. Woodford's on Rappahannoc River, about six, and remained there all night. ”

“ We saw a bear running down a tree, but it being Sunday we did. not endeavor to kill anything. We encamped at five by a small river we called White Oak River, and called our Camp Taylor's Camp. 3rd.—About eight we were on horseback, and about ten we came to a thicket, so tightly laced together, that we had a great deal of trouble to get through; our baggage was injured, our clothes torn all to rags, and the saddles and holsters also torn. About five of the clock we encamped almost at the head of James River, [4] just below the great mountains. ”

“ We made this day fourteen miles. I, being somewhat more curious than the rest, went on a high rock on the top of the mountain, to see fine prospects, and I lost my gun. We saw, when we were over the mountains, the footing of elks and buffaloes, and their beds. We saw a vine which bore a sort of wild cucumber; and a shrub with a fruit like unto a currant. We eat very good wild grapes. We called this place Spotswood Camp, after our Governor.
6th.—We crossed the river, which we called Euphrates. [5] It is very deep; the main course of the water is North ”

“ Governor Spotswood and Others Start on an Expedition over the Blue Ridge Mountains — They Pass Through what is now Fredericksburg — They Join Others at Germanna, where they make Extensive Preparations — The Country Rough and the Woods Dense — Bears, Deer, Turkeys, Squirrels and Snakes Plentyful — The Summit of the Mountain Reached — The Sublime Scene — The Health of the King Drank and the Country Taken Possession of in His Name — The Shenandoah River, &c. ”

“ British Lieut. John Fontaine was the son of Rev. James Fontaine, of France, a Huguenot [French Protestant] who fled to England to avoid religious persecution, and thence settled in Scotland where he ended his days. ”