We arrived here about 11 o'clock [and] found the house shut up. I was obliged to go in search of a key while my family waited in the carriage in the street, surrounded by the idlers and blackguards of the neighborhood ... The furniture of both parlors was covered with white mould, the beds wet. One of the matrasses and almost all of the carpets rotten.

There are half a dozen good natured men besides in this place. Physicians, storekeepers, lawyers and a divine or two. None of them were ever suspected of giving away anything in charity, or acquiring any thing by their genius. But to do no wrong in Newcastle is praise worthy.

It is no wonder indeed that talents and worth should be rare here. Newcastle cannot be a commercial town while Philadelphia exists. As soon as a merchant acquires capital, the field of Newcastle is too small for him and he removes to Philadelphia. Two exceptions exist however in the houses, of Riddle and Bird, and of Bond, who are supposed to have grown rich by supplying ships with Stock for their Voyages, a business in which they still continue and on a large Scale.

The County court which is held here attracts two Judges and some Lawyers. But Wilmington is only six miles off and is a more healthy and agreeable residence, so that some of the lawyers of the most business and greatest eminence reside there. Judge Booth [Jr] is, excepting always my friend Bennet, the best and more accomplished man in the place, but not openhearted, and devoted to his farm, his tanyard, and his money concerns. He has as judge only $1,000 per Annum, and a large family to maintain. But he is reputed rich.

Newcastle is the Gravesend of Philadelphia. Of course the usual conveniences for the accomodation of seafaring men are found here in plenty and of the coarsest sort. And as a little country town it has all the petty scandal, curiosity, envy and hatred which distinguishes little towns all over the world.

I will not stay a moment longer in the place than I can help. And besides I will have no drawing of it, altho' I presented it with my professional labors in regulating it...

Newcastle Packet, Aug. 3D, 1806...
Arrived at Newcastle at 2 o'clock. The Law of the Land says: "Thou shalt not travel on Sunday." Therefore we must remain here 14 hours uselessly, while a useless packet lies at the Wharf at French town, the crew of which as well as half the passengers of our Philadelphia Packet are getting drunk. This is at least not the Gospel, tho' it may be the law.

I have taken two sketches in coming down the [Delaware] river... The wind failed near Newcastle. I wanted a view of the town merely as a geographical elevation of a place, in which all the evils of a Gravesend, and of County town are united. [Gravesend was the last river port for ships leaving the metropolis of London. New Castle played a similar role on the Delaware River for ships leaving Philadelphia.]

I have several acquaintances in this place. The first of them is a tavernkeeper, and he is also the worthiest. [Caleb Bennett ...

Another of my very good friends is a lawyer. [George Read Jr.] ...

Another is a judge. [Kensey Johns Sr.] ...