Mr Coxe is still ill, and a slow journey north

Tuesday, November 4th & 5th, 1823 – In the morning went to Mr Dick’s [Janitor of the University] and got up and packed and sent to the wharf. Mr Dick has several species of Cactus from the Rocky Mountains but they are too small to bear a voyage across the Atlantic.

Left Philadelphia at 12 o’clock and reached Burlington at 4 in the afternoon [of the 4th Nov]. Went to William Coxe, Esq., whom I found still very ill – but considerably better since I saw him before…..[and yet, Douglas goes on to say..] he was not able to leave his room, indeed he was so ill before I left that to appearance he could not live long. [So I guess he must have deteriorated sharply while Douglas was there?] 

I obtained all that was in the house [of varieties of apple seeds], consisting of about eight or nine varieties and only two or three of each, with two bottles of cider seven years old – one made from Wine-sop, one from Virginian crab-apple: this is a present from Thos A. Knight and Jos Sabine Esqs., from Will. Coxe. I also got a few seeds of ornamental plants. I received from him and family all the attention they could give under the present circumstances. 

I had not time to call on Mr Smith, and as I saw all the trees sent off before going to Philadelphia, left Burlington at 2 o’clock in the afternoon [of the 5th Nov] by steamboat for Bordentown, and then by stage to South Amboy. The night was exceedingly dark and rainy; the coach broke down at 11 o’clock at night, and having to stop two hours in repairing, got to South Amboy at 4 o’clock on Wednesday morning. This is a specimen of great speed – twenty-nine miles in thirteen hours.

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One can only assume Douglas is being sarcastic about the speed of travel as, at an average of only 2.2mph, he could literally have walked it faster!

Back to New York

Wednesday, August 27th, 1823 - We set off by steamboat at 11 o'clock from Philadelphia to Bordentown. Here stands the house of Joseph Bonaparte, a most splendid mansion, fields well cultivated, pleasure grounds laid out in the English style; there are many fine views. We then took stage and came to Amboy during the night, where we slept all night. 

Joseph-Napoléon Bonaparte (7 January 1768 – 28 July 1844) was the elder brother of Napoleon Bonaparte. In 1806, Joseph was given military command of Naples, and shortly afterward was made king by Napoleon, to be replaced two years later by his sister's husband, Joachim Murat. Joseph was then made King of Spain in August 1808, soon after the French invasion.
 

Joseph somewhat reluctantly left Naples, where he was popular, and arrived in Spain where he was very unpopular indeed. Joseph lived primarily in the United States (where he sold the jewels he had taken from Spain) in the period 1817–1832, initially in New York City and Philadelphia, where his house became the centre of activity for French expatriates, but later moved to an estate called Point Breeze in Bordentown, New Jersey. Joseph's home was located near the confluence of Crosswicks Creek and the Delaware River.

August 28th-31st, 1823 - [Last days in New York, for the moment].

Thursday 28th - took steamboat at half-past 4 o'clock and landed at New York at half-past 10pm. As soon as possible I had the plants from the office where they had been left, took them to the son of Mr Hogg and had them planted and secured. [Bear in mind that he hasn't arrived in NYC until 10.30pm, so he must be doing all this, including planting, in darkness!]  I cannot but consider myself happy at meeting with Mr Hogg; he careful attends to the little treasures during my absence. [Mr Hogg has indeed been a great help to Douglas as well as, I suspect, a congenial companion.  They will have further adventures together before Douglas leaves the USA.]

Friday, 29th - This morning I put the Osage apple in spirits; afterwards I waited on Mr Floy for the purpose of selecting specimen trees from his grounds.

Saturday 30th - I made in the morning a visit to the market and during the forenoon went round to a Mr Wilson, a market gardener, where I saw good vegetables, particularly celery, and a good stock of trees; he is building a large elegant greenhouse.

Sunday, 31st - I went to Flushing this morning; talked to Mr Prince of the plants. I found only the son at home, who is a great pedant. [Douglas really, REALLY, doesn't like the Princes, father or son]. I returned about 2pm [and] the remaining part of the day I was employed with my lists and catalogues [no doubt listing all the interesting specimens he has seen and considering, from the seed and plant catalogues, where he can get hold of seed to bring back to Britain]