Settlers in Connecticut

This account is by a woman named Sarah Kemble Knight and is about her travels to New York City, she describes the colony of Connecticut. Knight clearly shows amazement of the diversity of the people and landscape in Connecticut.

One particular quotation I found interesting was 'many of them good, Sociable people, and I hope Religious too: but a little too much Independent in their principles,'  Knight shows that she is in amazement at the diversity of the people in Connecticut compared to the people she knows. Knight appears to show concern and some fear about their different believes and principles, especially in terms of punishment. This particularly indicates the difference between the settlers and creates a sort of divide. However, Knight does not disregard them, but respects their different views and is still open minded as she says 'about which as other Crimes, the Judges were absolute in their Sentences.' This sentence suggests that Knight is almost reassured by the convictions as they aren't as alien to her nature, these punishments are familiar to her, making her judgement more secure and less apprehensive.

Knights opinions vary across different parts of Connecticut, an example;
'I lay very uncomfortably, insomuch that I was so very cold and sick I was forced to call them up to give me something to warm me.'  Knight is shocked by the poverty, also indicating the diversity between each place within Connecticut, and the poor living standards. The use of the word 'forced' emphasises Knights discomfort and shock to this very different standard of living that she is used to. I think Knight makes a point about emphasising diversity within Connecticut because of the difference in wealth and standards of living with different people.

 However another key factor within this account which indicates a difference in culture is the surroundings and land, as Knight describes her travelling extensively; 'having crept over a timber of a Broken Bridge about thirty foot long, and perhaps fifty to the water.' 'I was exceeding tired and cold when we come to our Inn,'. Knights in depth description indicates her amazement at the amount of effort needed to travel across from place to place within Connecticut, suggesting size of landscape and place in comparison to England is a key factor in difference in culture and place for Knight. 
Knight indicates that she did not make 'particular observations' because she was restricted, however only noticed the setting around her and really took note of the wealth (or lack of) depending on each town she visited. I think there is a clear indication of the difference between the British culture and the culture within Connecticut, which I think Knight indicates through her difference between fluctuation in wealth between towns in Connecticut and the size in landscape (travel).

http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/becomingamer/growth/text1/connecticutknight.pdf