1813 October 2, Chambersburg, to brother

              Chambersburg October 2nd 1813
 
My dear brother

 Although I neither gave thee nor any one else a [----] of writing, yet having an idle hour on hand I do not know how to employ it better.  We kept the stage from Philad'a to Harrisburg stayed half a day in Reading & a day & a half in Harrisburg.  As we were informed that it would be impossible to procure a place in the stage without waiting at Harrisburg a week & probably 2 weeks, we in company with two others engaged a hack to bring us to this place.  The expense was no greater than the stage hire & the travelling much more agreeable.  We lodged in Carlisle which from the last we had of it appeared to me the neatest place we have passed through upon leaving home.  We arrived here the next day afternoon.  It commenced raining just as we entered the town & continued with little intermission during the next [---].  On fifth day morning the clouds were broken & promised fine weather.  We accordingly determined to cross the mountain to McConnell [-] if it were possible to procure a chair.  Our landlord discouraged us so much from attempting it in that manner that we determined to try it on horse back.  What dost thou think of Henry's riding in the saddle to the distance of 21 miles & returning the next day over one of the highest mountains in N. America.  It was his own determination for I really was afraid to encourage it.  The experiment however succeeded to admiration & we are here again without hurt or damage.  We had a noble prospect from the top of the mountain.  We both kept journals which will serve to give you some account of our proceedings.  Tomorrow morning at 6 o'clock we are to leave this for Hagerstown.  We travel more like express riders than pleasure hunters.  We had intended to have procured a gig in Harrisburg and visited the cove on the [S-----} but this we found impossible.  In these things I am not disappointed.  They are what I expected and are incident to our mode of travelling.
My love the family
I remain thy affectionate brother
  Francis Cope