CHAPTER I.

FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. PAGE.

The Young Surveyor’s Dream—A Vision of the Future Capital—The United States Government on Wheels—Ambitious Offers—The Rival Rivers—Temporary Lodgings for Eleven Years—Old-Fashioned Simplicity—A Great Man’s Modesty—Conflicting Claims—A Convincing Fact—The Dreadful Quakers—A Condescending Party—A Slight Amendment—An Old Bill Brought to Light Again—The Future Strangely Foreshadowed—A Dinner of Some Consequence—How it was Done—Really a Stranger—A Nice Proposal—Sweetening the Pill—A “Revulsion of Stomach,” 21