I now attempt to write you of matters agricultural, and otherwise, from a portion of our country in which the soil, many of its products, the people and their habits, society and its progress, are all to me new and peculiar. And I have delayed writing some time that I might better investigate matters whereof I propose to write.

The Peninsula of Southern Jersey was settled in 1620 by the Swedes, and Fins. Afterwards some Dutch from Manhattan came here, and some Quakers from Pennsylvania. The Quakers have large grants of land which remain in the hands of their descendants to some extent to this day. These large tracts of land are inhabited by a few wood-choppers and coal men who cut the wood for the land owners, drink Jersey lightning, and vote the Democratic ticket. They are an ignorant and friendly sort of people. The settled portion of the country is covered up large and productive farms and inhabited by a class of industrious and good people: but who are totally different from the people of New York, New England, and the West. But a belt of New England settlers now stretch from Camden to Atlantic city and are fast filling the southern portion of Jersey with a most energetic and intelligent population who will soon reverse the vote of the state, and make a most emphatic resistance to any re-construction that leaves New England out in the cold. The climate is healthy away from the Delaware, and seems to be very favorable to pulmonary complaints. The products of the soil and fertility, as indicated by the crops and specimens at the fair, are ahead of us in the production of Wheat, Oats, and stock of all kinds, except Mules. The show of stock of all kinds, at their fair, was large; but most of it second quality. Of Hogs all were decidedly coarse; but of Irish and sweet Potatoes, Melons, Grapes, Pears and Damsons, the sight would make even an Editor's mouth water.

And now Mr. Editor permit me through your columns to reply to numerous inquiries from friends in your vicinity in regard to Vineland. 1st. The soil is fertile, the crops raised this season prove this beyond dispute. The climate is mild and healthy; the water is soft and pure; the place is laid out with the exactitude of our western paper towns, and is being built up at a rate that is astonishing even to a western man. Each buyer is obliged to build and fence his front, and set out a row of shade trees in one year from the date of his purchase. This has been done and the effect in the beauty and growth of the place is very beneficial. The settlers are mostly from New England, New York, and quite a number from Illinois. From its easy accessibility to the best market, the fertility of its soil, the liberal ideas of its founder in regard to schools, churches, and ornamental scenery, and the energetic and intelligent character of its population, I expect to see a model town here . . . [unreadable]

. . . yours J. C. Wheeler