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 TOPOGB.APHICAL DESCRIPTION >• 
 
 ^^^ lip 
 WESTERN TERRITORY 1 / V 
 
 ^ X" 
 
 O V 
 
 •JVM 4 
 
 NORTH A M E R I C Al 
 
 C O N T A I N I N O ■ 
 
 A SUCCINCT ACCOUNT 
 
 OF I T$ 
 
 CLIMATE, NATURAL HISTORY, POPULATION, 
 AGRICULTURE, MANNERS AND CUSTOMS, 
 
 AND 
 
 AVt AMPLE DESCRIPTION OF THE SETBRAL DIVISIOMI INTO 
 WHICH THAT COUNTRY IS PARTITIONED, 
 
 With an accurate Statement of the various Tribes of Indians 
 that inhabit the Frontier CQuntry, 
 
 TOGETHER WITH 
 
 A DELINEATION OF THE LAWS AND GOVERNMENT 
 
 o r T H E 
 
 STATE OF KENTUCKY. 
 
 TENDING TO SHEW THE PROBABLE RISE AND GRANDEUR 
 OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE. 
 
 IN A SERIES OF LETTERS TO A FRIEND IN ENGLAND. 
 
 «^% * 
 
 By G. I M L A Y, 
 
 A Captain In the American Army during the late War, and a Commiifioner 
 tor laying out Land in the Back Settlements. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR J. DEBRETT, OPPOSITE BURLINGTON-HOUSE, 
 
 PICCADILLY. 
 
 1792. 
 
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 TOPOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION 
 
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 or TUB 
 
 WESTERN TERRITORY 
 
 or 
 
 ^ 
 i 
 
 NORTH AMERICA, ^c. 
 
 1 *^,. , 
 
 
 
 «^'.V, 
 
 88166 
 
 Pacific N. W. Hlstopy Dept. 
 PROVINCIAL. Library y 
 
 VICTORIA, B. C. 
 
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 introduction; ' 
 
 X^HE Author of the following Letters hav- 
 ing beeit an early witnefs to the fettlement 
 of Kentuicky» had frequently fuggefled to me 
 
 the importance of that rifing country* But 
 
 - - • ^ • • 
 
 I confefs that, with every deference to his 
 judgment, t was not aware how defervedly 
 it had been eftimated as of the utmofl confe- 
 quence. A momentous sera, during feveral 
 years of which the eyes of the whole world 
 were attentively fixed upon Europe, bad fo 
 entirely occupied my mind, that, regardle|9 
 of occurrences in the remote parts of Ame« 
 rica, I felt no inconiiderable aftoni(h« 
 ment at finding that Kentucky was to be ad- 
 mitted as a feparate State into the federal 
 governmiMit. 
 
 4 ■ a 
 
 V'rf^fi;^^^:^; 
 
y: : 
 
 ( "• ) 
 
 It ilruck me as a natural objed of enquiiy 
 to what a future increafe and elevation of 
 magnitiide and grandeur the fpreading em- 
 pire of America might attain, when a coun-» 
 try had thus fuddenly rifen from an unin- 
 habited wild, to the quantum of population 
 neceffary to govern and regulate its own ad« 
 miniftration. 
 
 It was under this idea that I requeued my 
 friend to fend me, at his leifurc, a complete 
 defcription of the weilern country of Ame- 
 rica ; an enumeration of the laws and go- 
 
 w 
 
 vemment of Kentucky ; and an account of 
 that diflrid of country which appeared the 
 mod likely to become a new State. 
 
 All this he has done in fo ample a man- 
 ner, that when the news of the defeat of 
 General St. Clair was received, I thought 
 that the Ictteri in queftion would prove ac- 
 ceptable to the Public, as imparting to them 
 Z more particular knowledge of that country, 
 fo apparently the bone of contention between 
 the Indians and the Americans. 
 
 ^^ Con- 
 
 P' 
 a 
 

 (r »M > 
 
 Conceiving & ncwfpaper to be the moft 
 proper channel of communication, I oflGnred 
 a copy of fuch of the letteis as I had then 
 received, to the Editor of the Monufig 
 Chronicle, But the important crifis of the 
 time, with refpedt to parliamentary buiinefs 
 and European politics, did not admit of hi$ 
 devoting fo large a (hare of that excelknt 
 papef to their iniertioB, at the length of the 
 letters would have required; and to h^w^ 
 mutilated them, would have been doing i»* 
 juftice tp th^ Author, and leaving the in- 
 formation ii^complete, Put as feveral other 
 of his letters hftve ^t^c^ come to my hand«« L 
 have determined to publiih them in a book«.- 
 pot doubting bu| that the world 'will receive 
 fis much information and amufernent from> 
 them as I myfelf have experienced. 
 
 It is very certain that no work of the kind 
 
 has hitherto been publiih^ in tbif country i 
 
 and when original matter is brought before 
 
 the Public, furely it cannot ftul to prove ac- 
 
 ( ^2, ceptable 
 
 4 
 
eeptable to the philofopher, and entertaining 
 to the curious. 
 
 The occaiional remarks, which he has in« 
 terfperfed, refpedting the laws, religion, and 
 cuftoms of Europe, arc entitled to the great- 
 eft indulgence, as I believe them to be made 
 with the greateft candour. 
 
 A man who had lived until he was mor^ 
 than five-and- twenty years old, in the back 
 parts of America (which was the cafe with 
 our Author, except during the period he 
 ferved in the army), accuftomed to that Sim- 
 plicity of manners natural to a people in 4' 
 ftate of innocence, fuddenly arriving in Eu- 
 rope, mud have been powerfully flricken 
 with the very great difiference between the 
 iimplicity of the one, and what is called 
 etiquette and good breeding in thp other. ' ' 
 
 Perhaps fuch a perfon is better calculated 
 than ourfelves to judge of pur manners ; and 
 doubtlefs habit very materially ads upon the 
 Jiuman mind j and fince it has been top much 
 • . the 
 
 Oi 
 
 J 
 
 tmmi 
 
■ i 
 
 ( V ) 
 
 ftit pniAice in Europe to confer favours in: 
 proportion to the fervility of courtiers, I tm 
 apprehenfive that we have imperceptibly 
 loft muoh of our energy and manlinefs. 
 
 The calculated rife of the American em« 
 pire, which thcfe lettei^ contain, will not. 
 I think, appear extravagant, when we recol* 
 le€t the rapid flrides which have advanced it 
 to its prefent flourifliing (late of wealth and 
 population. 
 
 In the life of Edward Drinker, which was 
 publilhed in Philadelphia, April 1783, are 
 contained thefe remarkable particulars s 
 
 f Edward Drinker was bom in a cottage 
 in 1688, on the fpot where the city of Phila- 
 delphia now flands, which was inhabited, 
 at the time of his birth, by Indians, and a 
 few Swedes and Hollanders. '' 
 
 ** He often talked of picking blackberrte^^ 
 and catching wild rabbits, where this popu- 
 lous city is now feated. He remembered 
 the arrival of AVilliana Penn, and ufed to 
 s point 
 
r 
 
 I - 
 
 c '» ) 
 
 poiat put the fpot where the cabin ftood 15 
 which that adventuirer zod hie friends wei>«^ 
 ^commpdated on ^heir arrival. e 
 
 '* Pie faw the fame fnot of earth, in the 
 (courfe of his own life, covered with woods 
 and bjufhes,, th(6 irec«ptacles of wild beaAs 
 and birds of prey, afterwards become th^ 
 feat of a great and flourilhing city, not only 
 ^he firft in weahh and a^rts in An^eric^, bm 
 equalled but by few in Europe, 
 
 '* He iaw fplendjd churches rife upon 
 inQraf)(e&, where heivfed to hear npthiug bu^ 
 the croaking of ffOgSj great whs^rfs and 
 and warohouifss^ whece he had often ^^^ f^- 
 vage^ draw their fiih from the river j he faw 
 ihat river afterwards receiving (hips and 
 tnerchandize ffoin every part of the globe, 
 which, in his ypudi, had nothing bigger 
 than an Indian caooef 
 
 .j« He had been the fubjcd of many 
 crowned heads i but when he heard of the 
 K^prefliye and unconftitutional a^s pafTcd in 
 
 a. 
 
 H • 
 
 Britain^ 
 
 ih- 
 
 
 -i- 
 
r 
 
 n the 
 
 iroods 
 beaA» 
 e tli<s 
 ; only 
 
 upon 
 i^ bu| 
 
 and 
 ;nfa- 
 efaw 
 
 aiui 
 ;lobe, 
 
 nany 
 f the 
 ediit 
 itain^ 
 
 \ 
 
 w 
 
 ( vii ) 
 
 Britain, he bought them all, and gave them 
 to his grandfons to make kites of; and em* 
 bracing the liberty and independence of his 
 countr}% after feeing the beginning and end 
 of the Britifh empire in Pennfylvania, and 
 after triumphing in the eflabliihment of fiee« 
 dom, he died in November 1782." ''^ 
 
 I repeat, that when we recoiled the won- 
 derful changes which have taken place dur- 
 ing the life of one man, in Pennfylvania» 
 under all the difadvantages with which the 
 population of that country was attended, as 
 well as the reft of America, pofterity will 
 not deem it extraordinary, ihould they find 
 the country fettled quite acrofs to the Pacific 
 Ocean, in lefs than another century. 
 
 I will fuppofc that the inhabitants of Ame* 
 Hca amount at prefcnt to four millions of 
 fouls at leaft, and that their population 
 doubles once in twenty or twenty-five years ; 
 at the end of a hundred years their number 
 will be fixty-four millions. * •^' - -* 
 
 '* This 
 
 ?- V- 
 
 ■ft 
 
 ./■ 
 
/ 
 
 
 to mark tht flags, rtf ;,. ^ . „ ' °"v 
 
 J "«e. as It does not appear likelv th,* 
 
 'Y-'-a,a,te«eio„.intJ«re/'S^« 
 
 -keplacei„theco.reofrofl,o/aler 
 a centuiy ; as the expanfion of it. H 
 
 Will fecure the fin, j dommion 
 
 tion, ""' '•'^'"'^Ses eo popuL.. 
 
 ". ^'•''■"""•"'•^exfent of the Amerfcan em 
 Pire abounds with all climate, ''" 
 tin,! «f r •. "imates, with evenr 
 
 t° r°'r°'"'''"^'"^--°-anT 
 e«enfive that it fee„s calculated to becom, 
 -ml to half the ,lobei„t„deand riches' 
 ^Wobftruaionshaveinterferedwithth. 
 -v.gat,onoftheMiffiffippi,,hj,Hwe,e« 
 -pugnant to found polic, on the pa« rf 
 
 ^am.asitwasdiftrein„gtothepe;pleof 
 the weftern country. r i- w 
 
 ( i • • " 
 
 I* 
 
 ,5 
 
( ix ) 
 
 It was under that coercion that the people 
 of Kentucky in convention, in the year 1788, 
 petitioned the United States, upon the fub- 
 je6t of their grievances; who, in confequence, 
 remonftrated with the Court of Spain upon 
 that fubje(%, when fome indulgence was 
 
 » 
 
 granted, though that navigation was not en- 
 tirely liberated. 
 
 This petition contains fentiments fo pure» 
 and fo manly, that I think there cannot be 
 a better idea conveyed of their difpofi- 
 tions and manners, than by inferting it at 
 full length. 
 
 " Fathers, felhtJb'CitizettSt and 
 Guardian^ of our rights, 
 
 ** As we addrefs you hy the appellation 
 of fathers, we rely on your paternal afle€tion 
 to hear us ; we rely on your juflice, as men 
 and citizens, to attend to the wrong done to 
 men and citizens ; and as a people recog- 
 nifcd by the folemn ads of the union, we 
 look for protedion to the federal head. 
 ■ *» When the peace had fccured to Ame- 
 
 Ip rica 
 
 
 yiH 
 
mm 
 
 fi^'^e 
 
 ( X ) 
 
 rica that fovercignty and independence, for 
 which (he had fo nobly contended, we could 
 not retire with our Atlantic friends, to en- 
 joy, in eafe, the bleflings of freedom. 
 Many of us had expended, in the ilruggle 
 for our country's rights, that property which 
 would have enabled us to pofTefs a compe- 
 tence with our liberty. On the weftern 
 waters, the commonwealth of Virginia pof- 
 feffed a fertile, but uninhabited wild. In 
 this wildernefs we fought, after having pro* 
 cured liberty for our pofterity, to provide foj 
 their fypport. ^^/ 
 
 ^^^<^ 
 
 t V 
 
 f i 
 
 :^ 
 
 5^./'%'^ -^ y *""- 
 
 ^^nured to hardfliips by a long warfare, 
 we ventured into almofl impenetrable forefts 
 •—without bread or domeflic cattle, We de- 
 pended on the cafual fupplies afforded by 
 the chafe — hunger was our familiar atten- 
 dant, and even our unfavoury meals were 
 made upon the wet furface of the earth, 
 with the cloud- deformed canopy for our co- 
 vering. Though forced to pierce the thick- 
 
 «i 
 
ce, for 
 t could 
 to en- 
 sedorn. 
 Iruggle 
 which 
 :ompe- 
 weftern 
 da pof- 
 [d. In 
 ig pro^ 
 ^ide for 
 
 
 arfare, 
 forefls 
 c de- 
 led by 
 atten- 
 were 
 earth, 
 (ur 00- 
 Ithicko 
 
 / 
 
 ( xi ) 
 ct— it was not in fafety we trod — t he vile ^y^O * 
 favage thirfled for blood, lurked in our ^/-/^y '^' 
 paths, and feized the unfufpe<5ling hunter." 
 
 ** Whilft w& lamented the loft friend, a 
 brother, a father, a wife, a child became 
 the vidim to the barbarian tomahawk— In- 
 (lead of confolation, a new and greater mis- 
 fortune deadened the fenfe of former afflic- 
 tions. From the union we receive no fup- 
 port ; but we impeach not their juftice. In- 
 effedlual treaties, often renewed, and as of- 
 ten broken by the favage nations, fervedonly 
 to fupply them with the means of our de- 
 ftrudion. 
 
 ** But no human caufe could controul 
 that Providence which had deftined this 
 weftem country to be the feat of a civilized 
 and happy people. The period of its ac- 
 complifhment was diftant, but it advanced 
 with rapid and incredible ftrides. We de- 
 rived flrength from our falls, and numbers 
 from our lofTes — the unparalleled fertility of 
 
 ^ 
 
 ba 
 
 our 
 
( x« ) 
 
 our foil made grateful returrw, far diipro- 
 portioned to the flight labour which our fafe-^ 
 ty would permit us to beftow — *our fields 
 and herds afford us not only fufficient fup- 
 port for ourfelves, but alfo for the emi- 
 grants, who annually double our numbers,- 
 and even a furplus flill remains for exporta* 
 tion — this furplus would be far greater, did 
 not a narrow policy fhut lip our navigation, 
 and difcourage our induftry. 
 
 ** In this fituation we call for youi* at- 
 tention — we beg you to trace the Miffiflippi 
 from the ocean-^furvey the innumerable 
 rivers which water your weflem territory, 
 and pay their tribute to k^ greattiefs— exa- 
 mine the luxuriant foil which thofe rivers 
 traverfe. Then we affc, can the God of 
 Wisdom and Nature have created that 
 vafl country in vain? Was it for nothing that 
 he blefTed it with a fertility fo aflonifhii^g ^ 
 Did he not provide thofe great flreams which 
 enter into the MifTiHippi^ and by it coan- 
 
 municate 
 
') 
 
 t 
 
 
 ( xiii ) 
 
 munkate with the Atlantic, that other na- 
 tions might enjoy with us the blefSngs of 
 our prolific foil ? View the country, and you 
 will anfwer for yourfelves. 3\it can the 
 prefumptuous madnefs of man imagine a 
 policy inconiiflent with the immenfe defigns 
 of the Deity ? Americans cannot. 
 
 ^' As it is the natural right to the inhabi<^ 
 tants of this country to navigate the Miflif- 
 fippi, fo they have alfo a right derived from 
 treaties and national compacts. 
 
 ** By the treaty of peace, concluded in 
 fhe year 1763, between the crowns of Great 
 Britain, France, and Spain, the free navi- 
 gation of the river Miffiflippi was afcer- 
 liained to Great Britain. 
 
 *• The right thus afcertained was exer- 
 cifed by the fubjedls of that crown, until 
 the peace of 1783, and conjointly with them 
 by the citizens of the United States. By the 
 treaty, in which Great Britain acknowledg- 
 ed the independency of the United States, 
 
 fhe 
 
 ■,.-«<; 
 
 . ^ If %^' V 
 
( xiv ) 
 
 fhe alfo conceded to them the free naviga- 
 tion of the Miffiffippi. 
 
 '* It was a right naturally and cflentially 
 annexed to the poiTeflion of the weflem 
 country. As fuch it was claimed by Ameri- 
 ca, and it was upon that principle fhe ob- 
 tained it. Yet the court of Spain, who pof- 
 fefs the country at the mouth of the Miffif- 
 fippiy have obflrudted your citizens in the 
 enjoyment of that right. 
 
 •* If policy is the motive which a<5tuates 
 political condud, will you fupport this 
 right, and thereby enable us to aflift in the 
 fupport of government ? 
 
 ** If you will be really our fathers, ftretch 
 forth your hands to fave us — if you would 
 be worthy guardians, defend our rights. 
 We are a member, that would exert every 
 mufcle for your fervice. Do not cut us off 
 from your body. By every tie of confangui- 
 nity and affedtion, by the remembrance of 
 the blood which we have mingled in the 
 
 common 
 
 H 
 
 ■k.^!. 
 
 >'lttt.u~^ 4 
 
>^ 
 
 ( XV ) 
 
 common caufe, by a regard to jiiflice* and to 
 policy, wc conjure you to procure * our 
 rights. 
 
 ** May your councils be guided by wif- 
 dom and jufticc, and may your determina- 
 tion be marked with decifion and efFedt ! 
 Let not your beneficence be circumfcribed by 
 the mountains which divide us; but let us 
 feel that you are really the guardians and af- 
 ferters of our rights. Then you would fe- 
 cure the prayers of the people, whofe grati- 
 tude would be as warm as their vindications 
 of their rights will be eternal— Then our con- 
 nexion fhall be perpetuated to the lateft 
 times, a monument of yoyr juflice, and a 
 terror to your enemies.** 
 
V) 
 
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 •TOPOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION, 
 
 
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 m 
 
 cDJf./^ f^^ft ,^.. L E T T E R I. 
 
 
 j,>^in. 
 
 ■t-iili* \ 
 
 MV BEAR FRIEND, '>ntin&|^: . KSNTI|CKY. 
 
 •: b B9h;:visa ThE talk you have givch 
 
 me, however difficult, I undertake with the 
 greateft pleafure, as it will afford me an oppor* 
 tunity of contralling the'fimple manners, and 
 rational life of the Americans, in thefe back fet- 
 tleitients, with the diflorted and unnatural habits 
 of the Europeans : which have flowed no doubt 
 from the univerfally bad laws which exill oil 
 your continent, and from that pernicious fyftem 
 of blending religion with politics, which ha^ 
 been produdive of univerfal depravity. ' 
 
 t 
 
 While 
 
 %■ 
 
( a ) 
 
 While ignorance continued to darken the hoiri-* 
 zon of Europe, pricftcraft Teems to have forged 
 fetters for the human mind, and, in the fecurity 
 of its own omnipotence,, to have given a (lamp 
 tQ the MTxitings, and opiAieRs of men, that ^vet- 
 ted the tyranny of thofc ingenious fophifts— 
 The confequence iias been lamentable in the ex- 
 treme. 
 
 There are aeras favourable to the rife of new 
 governments, and though nature is governed by 
 invariable laws,, the fortune of men and dates 
 appear frequently under the dominion of chances : 
 but happily for mankind, when the American 
 <exnpire was forming, philpfophy pervaded the. 
 geniuftof Eufppe, wl fhcra^iancp of herle^t^re8 
 moui^ed the fn^fl^s ,pf pf^n |t>to ^more ^atiipnal 
 grder, i 
 
 It was tl^e ^ei>|ith jof ypur power, and the lifted 
 grandeiirpf yiiionary plans for dpfpiixion^ whifllsi 
 the ren>ain^pf ^thic tyranny produce^, ti|a|iggye 
 pccafion inojtfi^rife of pjir indepcn<|cnci?, iW.P 
 jclain) no merit pr Superior wifdom in avo^dinig the 
 complication pf laws M^hich difgraces th^iipuiit^ 
 of Great j^lii^ a^ mil as th$ jeft pf J&MWpe. 
 
 #, 
 
 « 
 
Dfgcd 
 zurity 
 (lamp 
 rivet- 
 lifts— 
 hccx- 
 
 >f new 
 led by ^ 
 I ftatcs ■ 
 lances: 
 crican 
 cd the 
 tpres 
 iipnal 
 
 igtjie 
 
 ;QuJ(t^ 
 iwpc. 
 
 ( 3 ) 
 Wt hivtf 6iAy appropriated the advantages of 
 tfew lights, as they have (hone upon u$ ; which 
 you have an equal chance of doing ; and your not 
 doing it, muft remain a monument of your folly, 
 calculated to excite the aftonifhment and indig- 
 nation of a more manly progeny. However, I 
 fhall leave this fubje(?l for the prefent, and pro- 
 ceed in order in the hiftory, &c. &c. which you 
 requeft ; hoping that you will be content to re- 
 ceive my remarks by letter, from time to time, 
 as I may find an opportunity offending them. 
 ^' The vcftiges of civilization dcfcribcd by Car- 
 ver and others, on this tide of the Allegany 
 mountains, are intirely imaginary. « Kvcty mark 
 that is human has the feature of bai^arifm> and 
 every comparifon of the natives and animals, 
 with thofe of the old world, tends to conBrm the 
 opinion of thofe fenfible men (fome of whom 
 wrote more than a century ago) who thought 
 that America was peopled from Scythia, by the 
 ftreights bf Kamtfchatka: which opinion has 
 been followed by ydur judicious natural hifto- 
 rian Pennanti in his preface to his Artie Zoology. 
 They fay, lirft, "America has always been better 
 
 B 2 peopled 
 
i! 
 
 ( 4 ^ 
 
 , A „n the fide towards Afia. *.» or. that 
 ^'^s e"*^- secondly. The geniu. of ch, 
 
 •""■^rrra greater conformity to that of 
 rxLLho never applied themfeWe, to , 
 
 *' ThSly. The colour of both i. pretty 
 arts : Tmraiy. difference is 
 
 , 11 - if is certain tnat tnc umv 
 
 ^.uch^Uke; it is cer ^^.ffeaofthe 
 
 „o.co„fide.hle 3^-^^^;,,,^^^^^^ 
 
 ^"■"'"^•^ fthe2el"v. Fourthly. The^ild 
 Americans rub themfelyp^^ _ ^^^^ 
 
 cannotrealpnably^fi'PP^'^^^^^.^^eby 
 
 the way of Tartary. ^ ^^^ ^^^^t 
 
 •« tViat the bifon ot bcyw» i 
 gumcnt. .s that th ^^^.^^^ ^^^ p^^^,fciy 
 
 is called the ^uff* "J ^^fide,. the animal, 
 
 of both countries P"' , o.. ■ 
 
 "■"''?. tends to convince us. that the 
 
 E,ery *«g '^';^^, xfitisfubjefttochange 
 ^orldisinanmfantft t. ^^^^^^„, 
 
 only from the gra^u^w-„,,«,Us 
 
 of the elements neceffalyP^ ^contemplate the 
 
 foinfenfibleastorecimre^". 
 
 ipjmenfity of time and fpace to ^^^^ 
 
 i 
 
 i^^it|:^-i 
 
 ■> # 
 
 / 
 
 /; 
 
. f J ) 
 
 caufe for the alterationg we difcover, ilill the va^ 
 rious phaenomena, which are every where to be 
 found, both on the furface and in the bowels of 
 the earth, afford fufHcient proof that there has 
 been a recent alteration upon the face of the 
 globe. Whether or not mankind came, origi- 
 nally from the Eafl: iignifies little. It is, bow- 
 ever, certain, that Europe was in its infancy: 
 three thoufand years agoj and that America was 
 ftill lefs advanced to maturity, I believe alfo 
 will be acknowledged ; though the barbarifm of 
 the one, and the comparative civilization of the 
 other, is no argument : for, let our hemilphere 
 have been peopled as it would, it h^ the diiad-' 
 vantage of having no polifhed country in the 
 neighbourhood of its vail extent of dominion; 
 and if it received emigrants . from Tartary» 
 they were equally favage with themfelves j or if 
 from the wreck of a Chincfe, or Japanefe veflel, 
 they feem to have been too rare (if ever) to have 
 been productive of much good to the Americans. 
 The idea of the Incas of Peru being of Chinefe 
 
 » * 
 
 origin merits no coniideration. 
 
 That man polTefTes from nature the talents he^ 
 
 ceflary 
 
I 
 
 ( « ) 
 
 ceflsry td his own civil izjidon, and that pe!rfe<flioif 
 of phtlofbphy and reafoh At'Hich digtilfies his na4 
 turc, admits^ I Should cdnteive, of no dispute. ^^ 
 In all Co\intries whith "wear the msfrks of age^ 
 men feem always to have beeii advancing their 
 knprovements for the confifort and order of fo* 
 cietjr^ Adventitious circumftances have rapidly 
 Hicreafed them in modern times in the old world;, 
 while they have retarded them in the n6w, among 
 th^ natives. The improvements in navigation 
 led td the overthrdw of two empires in America 
 which had attained conliderable iiiiprovements ; 
 and if the natives which Aill remain are barba- 
 rdutt we mufl^ in juilice to human nature, allow 
 diit the contempt with which the Whites have 
 always treated them, and the nefarious policy of 
 encouraging their fury for intoxication, have 
 proved the only caufe of it. This produced fuch 
 ah effcd, that the population of the Indian na- 
 tions, had dcGreafed more than a twentieth nearly 
 
 a century aj50, according to the account of Char- 
 levoix. , 
 
 While Spain was pra<fi;ifing the moll odious 
 tyranny, iiiul facrilegious inhumanity under the 
 
 x: 
 
 Xii^jj. 
 
 cloak 
 
[)erfe<^ioi| 
 ta his na4 
 
 li^pute.' 
 as of age^ 
 ring their 
 fer of fo-. 
 i^e rapidly: 
 >ld world, 
 w, among 
 lavigation 
 1 America 
 »vemcnts ^ 
 ire barba- 
 pre, allow 
 litcs have 
 policy of 
 on, have 
 iced fuch 
 idian na. 
 th nearly 
 of Char- 
 odious 
 Inder the 
 cloak 
 
 ( 7 ) 
 
 cloak of A 4<^eftible rieligioHi over millions of 
 the mifcrablc Americaosu gorging an infatiabjc 
 avarice in £SkKt glitterit^ mines of the new world. 
 England and< France, .with more humanity, open»- 
 ed fetdements ^n North America. Other £vtx:o* 
 pean powers had fame part in thefe rettlemsiiies{ 
 but, after feme changes previous tothe begin- 
 ning of the prcfent century, England feems to 
 Jiave been left in quiet pofTeillon of the country, 
 lying upon the Atiantic coaft friom Euft Florida 
 to the Bay of ^undy. The Fri^neh, in the mean 
 time, were rearing a polony in the unhofpitftble 
 and froz^ent forefts of <>J^i\*i3a^. The apibitipfi of 
 Lewis XIV. ind the dazzling fcenery whiich th/e 
 'grandeur pf ^i^ pi;^e<5);s difplaiy^tjl* alone cfuld 
 have proovp^^ th^t pec^e to havie perfevered in 
 fo ruinous an ui^dert^ldng. 3pt in purfuing thf 
 great objed of that voracious tyrant^ the rivjB|r 
 St. Lawrence was afcended, I^ke Ontario waf 
 traver(ed, the falls of Niagara ^ve^e paiTed, aiicji 
 following the waters whiph lead to the Mi$iljipp^ 
 fiver, the delectable country of l^^ouifiana opiene^ 
 in all the ({^endour and variety pf its charms. 
 
 After the treaty of Utrecht, bofh nsitipns |Ck^ 
 .iiH tinucd 
 
(*) 
 
 (( :« ) 
 
 tinued quietly the objedb of aggrandizement. 
 'The plarv of France ftvUB infldious. In poifef- 
 .iibn of the nioiith of the river MiflilRppi, which 
 •empties into the Guif of Mexico in about lat. 
 ajfl/'and. the river St, Lawrence, which empties 
 4naio the':fea between Cape North and the coaft 
 ^f • Lihrador, to the northward of lat. 48% 
 «ihe feems to have contemplated the confolida- 
 ;tion of this vaft empire^ Miffionarics were every 
 jwhere employed to convert the natives ; and Co 
 fucceftfill were they, that a perfon, even in times 
 'of hoftiIity,fpeaking French, will find fecurity 
 from the attachment of the people to everything 
 which is French. '^^^^ sii:i bna.VXX wvna 
 f ItThfe mifcarriage. of the celebrated fchemc of 
 ^Law''^ for fettling Louifiana, for a time retarded 
 the progrefs of that cololTian plan. But the 
 comihuhication between Canada and Louifiana 
 being-fixed and fecured by fortrefTes at Niagara 
 and Detroit, and the Indians being univerfally 
 friendly to the French, the features of the Titan 
 was difcovered in their ereding Fort Du Quefneat 
 the' jundtion of the Mononahala and Allegany 
 rivcirs, which form the Ohio. This led to the 
 
 bjiiiii 
 
 war 
 
andixcmcnt. 
 '•vin poffef- 
 Rppi, which 
 in about lat. 
 hich empties 
 md the coaft 
 of lat. 4»°» 
 he confolida- 
 Lcs were every 
 itives ; and fo 
 even in times 
 find fecurity 
 to every thing 
 
 [ted fcheme of 
 time retarded 
 ,n. But the 
 tnd Louifiana 
 res at Niagara 
 univerfally 
 of the Titan 
 DuQuefneat 
 md Allegany 
 is led to the 
 -wac 
 
 < 9 ) 
 w«r between England and France in the year 
 175,5, ^* y°" "™*y ^^^^ recolledl. But though 
 that war terminated fo glorioufly for Great Bri- 
 tain, and fecurely for the then colonies, ftill we re- 
 mained ignorant of the whole of the fine coun- 
 try lying between the high hills, which rife from 
 Great Sandy river, approximate the Allegany 
 mountain, and extending down the Ohio to its 
 confluence with the Miflifllppi, and back to thofc 
 ridges of mountains which traverfe America in a 
 S. W. b. W. diredion, until they are loft in the 
 I flat lands of Weft Florida. However, certain 
 |imen, called Long Hunters, from Virginia and 
 [North Carolina, by penetrating thefe mountains 
 (which ramify into a country 200 miles over 
 Ifrom eaft to weft, called the wildernefs), were 
 fafcinated with the beauty and luxuriance of the 
 [country on the weftern fide, which their enrap- 
 tured imaginations could not find words fiiffi- 
 [cient to depidl. 
 
 A grant had been fold by the Six Nations of 
 [Indians to fome Britifli commidioners at Fort 
 [Stanwix in 1768, which comprehended this coun- 
 try, and which afforded the Americans a pretext 
 
 C for 
 
 ::m 
 
 
{ to ) 
 
 for a right to fettle it ; but it was not yet fuffi- 
 cicntly known, and thofe Indian natives who 
 
 4 
 
 were not concerned in the grant, became diflatif- 
 ficd with the profpeA of a fettlement which might 
 become Co dangerous a thorn in their fide, and 
 committed fome maflacres upon the firft explore 
 crs of the country. However, after the expedi- 
 tion of Lord Dunmore in 1774, and the battle at 
 the mouth of the Great Kanhaway, between the 
 army of Col. Lewis and the confederated tribe^ 
 of Indians (in which thefe intrepid people futocd 
 feverdy), they were in fome meafure ^uiet. The 
 aflembly of Virginia began now to encourage 
 
 w 
 
 the peopling that diftrid of country called Ken- 
 tucky, from the name of a river which runs 
 nearly through the middle of it. This encou- 
 ragement confifted in offering 400 acres of land 
 to every perfon, who engaged to build a cabin, 
 clear a piece of land, and produce a crop of In- 
 dian corn. This was called a fettlement right. 
 Some hundreds of thefe fettlcments were made ; 
 but, in the mean time, Mr. Richard Hendcrfon 
 of North Carolina, a man of no inconfiderable 
 abilities, and more cnterprife, had obtain^ti a 
 ' - '-" ' grant 
 
:t fuffi- 
 ts wKo 
 diffatif- 
 
 ide, and 
 lexplor- 
 c cxpcdi- 
 : battle at 
 tNvccn the 
 ited tribe^ 
 jlefuflfered 
 
 ^uiet. The 
 encourage 
 railed Kcn- 
 Bvhich runs 
 his encou- 
 ;res of land 
 lild a cabin, 
 crop of Iti- 
 ment right. 
 Ivrcre made ; 
 Hendcrfon 
 iconfiderablc 
 
 obtainqfci * 
 grant 
 
 grant from the Cherokee tribe of Indjans for 
 this fame tradt of country ; and though it was 
 contrary to the laws of the land for any private 
 citizen to make purchafes of the Indians, dill 
 Mr. Henderfon perfevered in his intention of ef- 
 tabliihing a colony of his own. To the inhabitants 
 he intended to grant the power of making their 
 own laws, while he retained the executive autho- 
 rity in his own hands. He adually took pofTeflion 
 of the country, with many of his followers, where 
 he remained pretty quiet, making very little im- 
 provement, Virginia being at that time entirely 
 occupied with the war which had commenced be- 
 tween Great Britain and the confederated flates. 
 Moft of the young men from the back fettlements 
 of Virginia and Pennfylvania, whp would have 
 migrated to this country, having engaged in the 
 war, formed that body of men called Rifle-men 5 
 which not only checked the growth of the fettle- 
 ment, but fo dried up the fources of emigration, 
 that it was near being annihilated by the fury of 
 the favages, who were hurried on by the emif- 
 faries of the government of Canada. 
 Though a confiderable number of inhabitants 
 
 i^2r:j 
 
 C2 
 
 had 
 
 V 
 
1^' 
 
 ( 12 ) 
 
 had fled from the different ftates to this country^ 
 in fearch.of an afylum againll the calamities of 
 the war on the other fide of the mountains in 
 1778, 1779, and 1780, yet fo diflrefTed was 
 the fettlement during this Jafl year, after a ri- 
 gorous winter (which had been more than 
 ufually fevere upon the continent), that the fettlers 
 judged right, when they determined to abandon 
 the country for ever; but they were diverted 
 from this ftep by a feafonabk reinforcement of 
 emigrants, after having experienced every horror 
 which a fanguinary war can produce. 
 
 w 
 
 The legality of Mr. Henderfon*s claim was in- 
 vefligated by the Hate of Virginia in 1781 ; and 
 though there could be no fort of equity in it, he 
 having aded in contempt of the ftate, the legif- 
 lature, to avoid feuds or diflurbances (for Hen- 
 derfon Hill had influence), agreed, as an indem- 
 nification for the expence and trouble he had 
 been at, that he fhould be allowed a tradi: of 
 country twelve miles fquare, lying in the frrks 
 
 1 
 
 of the Ohio and Green rivers : a tradt of his 
 own chufing. • * , 
 
 Virginia gave farther rewards and encourage- 
 
 ' ' ments 
 
L 
 
 
 
 ( 13 ) 
 
 ments at this time to the firfl fcttlers, for the 
 perils thex had undergone in the eftablilhmcnt 
 of their fettlement, of a trad of a icx)0 acres, 
 called a pre-emption right, to be laid off adjoin- 
 ing to the fettlement of 400 acres, the grantee 
 only paying office fees for the fame. After this 
 period (i. e. 1781), a land office was opened by 
 the ftate, granting warrants for any quantity of 
 unlocated land, upon condition of certain fums 
 of the depreciated continental currency being 
 paid into the treafury, at fo much for an hun- 
 dred acres. The great plenty and little value of 
 this money foon caufed the whole country to be * 
 located, which was one of the material caufes of 
 its rapid population. 
 
 It was neceffary, in the management of this 
 bufinefs, that care fhould be taken to prevent that 
 perplexity and litigation, which the vague man- . 
 ner in which that bufinefs was executed in many 
 inftances, would necelTarily produce. For this 
 purpofe, three principal furveyors were appoint- 
 ed, who were to lay, or caufe to be laid off, by 
 their deputies, the different locations within 
 the limits of their diflrids : this being done, 
 
 and 
 
( H ) 
 
 and recorded in the office, the original furvey 
 was fcnt to the deputy regiftcr's office, there to 
 be recorded ; from which it was fent to the prin- 
 cipal regifter's office at Richmond, the feat of 
 government, there to remain twelve months, in 
 order that any perfon having a claim, by virtue 
 of a prior location, might have an opportunity 
 to enter a caveat, and prevent a furreptitious 
 grant from ilTuing. Commiffioners were alfo 
 fent to adjuft the claims of fettlement and pre- 
 emption rights ; by which means order was pre- 
 ferved, and the government of a diflridl of coun- 
 try, detached, and feparated at that time more 
 than 200 miles from any other fettled country— » 
 a country which had grown up under the dcvaf- 
 tation of a moil barbarous Indian and civil war, 
 and under the miferies of famine and diflrefs, 
 fettled by all orders of men in the United States, 
 men of different interefts, and different politics, 
 was preferved j and the order and quiet, which 
 prevailed in 1784, was fufficient to have induced 
 a ftranger to have believed that he was living 
 under an old fettled government. Such is the 
 fcience of jurifprudence, when it works upon 
 
 fimple * 
 
 1 ■ 
 
 f 
 
( IS ) 
 
 (imple, but fubftantial fprings. Hence arifcs 
 harmony without cxpence, and equity without 
 litigation. Here arc no mufty formi, lo lead 
 you into labyrinths of doubt and perplexity, 
 no contradidtory cafes and reports to diftra^ft your 
 opinions : — our decifions arc governed by ads 
 of the legiflature, decreed upon the elementary 
 principles of truth and juftice. 
 
 After the peace between Great Britain and 
 the United States in 1783, the fettlement of 
 Kentucky was confidered as formed ; but it 
 was not yet determined, whether it was to be an 
 appendage of Virginia or not. The United States 
 claimed the back country as the property of the 
 whole union, which (hould be appropriated to 
 the ufe of the federal government ; but Virginia 
 urged the right of the charter granted by James I. 
 which defcribed its boundaries in this ftrange 
 way. — To commence at a point fouthward of 
 the capes of Chefapeak Bay, in lat. 361** 
 running due weft from thence, then fetting off 
 from the faid beginning, and running to lat. 37 • 
 57' upon the coaft, which is a little to the 
 
 northward 
 
 «■ 
 
( i6 ) 
 
 northward of the faid capes, and then running a 
 north-weft courfe. This indefinite grant, having 
 no a(5lual boundaries fecms to have originated i 
 in the belief of the times of its birth, /'. e. that 
 the Atlantic and Pacific oceans were only 
 divided by a narrow trad: of country. This 
 grant forming a kind of obtufe angle, expand* 
 mg as it advanced wedward, comprehended the 
 whole of the fine country on both fides of the 
 Ohio. But, in order to adjud all difputes, the 
 ftate of Virginia offered to concede the country 
 weftward of the Ohio, provided that other in- 
 dividual fi;ates, holding back lands, would give 
 up theirs, and the whole of the country com- 
 prehended within the prefent limits of the 
 ftate, on the eaftern fide of the river Ohio, 
 ftiould be guaranteed to them by Congrefs. 
 This was done ; and thus the federal govern- 
 ment became pofTcfiTed of all the back lands in 
 America. # 
 
 Thusftood matters refpeding Kentucky the 
 latter end of 1783. As it is neceflary for me 
 to take a retrofpedivc glance of the progrefs 
 v^,- V -.^ , / ; of 
 
 \ 
 
f «7 ) 
 of peopling fevertl other parts of the 'wedern 
 country I muft bcy'ryour indulgence and time 
 for another letter. In the mean time, believe me 
 to be devoted to your wiflies. 
 
 I am, mofl iincerely, 
 .f. > > Your's, &c. 
 
 
 
 
 ( »r 4! 
 
 ^». ..< i. 
 
 , J. 
 
 
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 l.i .'/ 
 
 ,«.,,.,■.• 
 
 
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 6«,". 
 
 L£T^ 
 
* < 
 
 ( 18 ) 
 
 
 
 LETTER II. '• 
 
 KENTUCKY. 
 
 mV dear friend, 
 
 1 H E memorable defeat of General Braddock 
 retarded for fome little time, our opportunities 
 of acquiring a further knowledge of the coun- 
 try on the fources of the Ohio. But the taking 
 Fort du Qucfne by General Forbes, in 1760, 
 opened to the view of the colonies of that day a 
 new world. Lands were granted by govern- 
 ment to the army, for fervices done during the 
 war, which in a great meafure, with the gar- 
 rifoning Fort du Quefne (now called Fort Pitt), 
 contributed to form the firft Englifh fettlement 
 upon the weflern waters. 
 
 After the treaty of Paris in 176^, by which 
 Great Britain obtained a ceflion of Eaft and 
 Weft Florida, and all the country lying eaft of 
 the Milllflippi, with a right to navigate that 
 river, frequent incurftons had been made from 
 that time down the Ohio and Milliflippi to New 
 Orleans. But in thefc excurfions, which were 
 by water, very little knowledge of the Kentucky 
 r^ v, .. country 
 
( 19 ) 
 country had been obtained, except at the Rapids 
 and fome few other places upon the banks of the 
 
 river. 
 
 and 
 
 fettle- 
 
 Louifiana was well known, 
 ments were forming, previous to the late war, 
 on the eaftern fide of the Mifliflippi, above and 
 below the Natchez : fome troops had been fla- 
 tion-d in the Illinois, and at Poll St. Vincent 
 on the Wabafli river, where the French inha- 
 bitants lived and cultivated their little planta- 
 tioiis, in the ftyle of the Patriarchs of old ; en- 
 joying the charms of nature, decked in all the 
 foft fimplicity -which the genial current of the 
 human foulj unfophifticated by the alloy of 
 European artifice, produces in fuch elegant and 
 fafcinating variety. They poflefled all the fecial 
 talents in an eminent degree : j^nd their hofpi- 
 tality was ever enlivened with the charms of wit, 
 and the exhilerating juice of the vine ; which 
 grew and flouriftied to fuch a degree as to pro- 
 duce wine for exportation, Thefe fettlements 
 ftill exift; but the fettlements upon the Miflif- 
 fippi that were made previous to the war^ 
 were broken up by Indians, who inhabit the 
 f -ji^.v-^- ^ * country 
 
I 
 
 
 ( ao ) 
 
 country between Georgia and Weft Florida, 
 called the Cherokee, Creeks, Chacktaw, and 
 Chichafaws nations. Befides, by the treaty of 
 1783 between Great Britain and the United 
 States, we acquired, the country on the eaftern 
 iide of the Miffilfippi river, only as low as the 
 commencement of the 32 c?eg. or to the Natchez ; 
 fo that thofe fettlement« could not be renewed 
 by the Americans, as both Eaft and Weft Flo- 
 rida fell into the hands of Spain by the fame 
 peace. * 
 
 1 The fouthern limits of Virginia, being lat. 
 361 deg. are divided from North Carolina by 
 a line of demarkation in a direA weft line, until 
 it ftrikes the Midlflippi a little below its junAion 
 with the Ohio. The fame ridge of mountains 
 which feparates Virginia from the weftern coun- 
 try, feparates the Carolinas alfo; and on this 
 Iide of the mountain, within the limits of North 
 Carolina, the luxuriance of the foil, in fome 
 parts, is equally aftonifhing as that of Kentucky. 
 When Lord Comwallis penetrated into the back 
 parts of that ftate, many of its inhabitants began 
 to fly over the mountains for fecurity ; and thus 
 > . . . -^ commenced 
 
 \ 
 
( 21 ) 
 
 commenced the fettlemcnt called Cumberlandl 
 from the name of its river, which is a con- 
 fidcrable branch of the Ohio, and joins it not a 
 great way from its mouth. This fettlcment 
 began to form in 1780, and was encouraged by 
 the fame means as the fettlement of Kentucky, 
 f, e. by fettlements and pre-emption rights; 
 and now promifes to become fecond in mag- 
 nitude to Kentucky, of all the fettlements upon 
 the weflern waters, and in a few years, from its 
 rapid growth, doubtlefs will become a diftind 
 ftate. Such is the rapidity with which this part 
 of the world is peopling. 
 
 There are fettlements dill to the fouthward 
 of this, in what is called the Great Bend of 
 the Tenafee, or the Mufc.e Shoals, which 
 have been made without the permiffion of 
 the federal Government. This 'is a fine tradl 
 of country, and in time mufl become very^ 
 valuable from its particular lituation, and the 
 peculiar manner in which the navigation pf 
 this country muft be conduced, concerning 
 which I Ihall expatiate in its proper place. 
 Its proximity to the fouthern Indians render^ 
 
C 2a ) . 
 
 it rather dangerous at prcfent ; but the growing 
 ftrength of Frenchbroad and Nolachulky above, 
 upon the waters of the fame rivers will foon 
 afford fecurity to every part of the Tenafee 
 country. 
 
 The country of Holfton is ftill above thefe ' 
 fettlements upon the head waters of the fame 
 river, on the borders of Virginia and North 
 Carolina ; and that you may form fome idea of 
 the prowefs of thofe people, 1 will relate a cir- 
 cumftance, which, perhaps, is not generally 
 Jcnown on your lide of the water. When Lord 
 vCornwallis had advanced, in 1780, into the back 
 parts of North Carolina, he detached Col. Fer- 
 gufon with about joo B ritifh tro ops, to a place 
 called King's Mountain, in order to give fecu- 
 rity to the fat ihful and /(^y^/fubjedls of his Ma- 
 jefty, who were confiderably opprefled by their 
 unfaithful countrymen the rek!s. Col. Campbell, 
 a Virginian, who lived in thofe back fettle- ' 
 ments, hearing of the rendezvous of the loyal- 
 ifts, under the banner of Col. Fergufon's de^ ' 
 tachment, at King's Mountain, aflembled what ^ 
 fiiijitia h? could, and began his march on horfe, 
 
 back 
 
 V 
 
 
 \S^ 
 
 i\ %. V- 
 
 V ■•<:^ >..>••,« "- 
 
( 23 ) 
 
 back in the evening, without mentioning their 
 deftination, and by continuing their march^ 
 without interceflion for upwards of one hundred 
 miles, came up with them the fecond morning, 
 about the break of day, when their horfes were 
 left at the foot of the mountain with a fmall 
 guard ; his little army, divided into three detach- 
 ments, were led to feparate attacks, and in 
 lefs than half an hour the hill was carried. Col. 
 Fergufon killed, and the greater part of his de- 
 tachment made prifoners. Col. Campbell's army 
 amounted to about 500: he took more prifoners. y; 
 From fuch fpecimens, I think thofe people can 
 have nothing to fear from M*Gilvery. 
 t I have not related this ftory from vunitj, or from 
 the moft diftant idea that the Americans are in 
 any refped fuperior to Englilhmen ; fo far from 
 it, that no iran can more warmly admire the 
 true Englifh than I do : but I have told it as a 
 circumftance tending to prove, that men feel- 
 ing the fpirit of liberty are always fuperior to 
 flaves ; and that a well regulated . militia are 
 equal to the defence of a country without the ex- 
 pence of fupporting a ftanding army, which is 
 
 
 f r - .^ < Z^' 
 
 not 
 
 •>•• *-'■ 
 
 -T*^ 
 
V [ 
 
 { 24 ) 
 
 not the only inconvenience flowing from fuch ^ 
 fyflem. How much of the labour and inge- 
 nuity of a ftate is facrificcd by fuch a policy ! 
 In how many inftances have the laws and civil 
 authority been trampled upon by the contumely 
 and ignorance of men educated with none but 
 military ideas and habits, and thereby the re- 
 fpect due to laws contaminated, and an indig- 
 nant people awed by a martial phalanx! While 
 a good citizen feels his own infignificance, the 
 patriotic heart mourns for the facrilege commit- 
 ted upon their privileges with that impunity, 
 which the patronage of a Handing army affords 
 to the executive power of a ftate. 
 
 We will now return to Kentucky which is the 
 key-ftone of the fettlemcnts upon the waters 
 of the Mifliflippi. The years 1783 and 1784 
 brought out vaft numbers of emigrants from all 
 parts of America i particularly the latter year, 
 ■when it was fuppofed that in Kentucky alone, 
 not lefs than 12,000 fouls became fettlers : feve- 
 ral Europeans from France, England and Ire- 
 land were among the number. The Indians gave 
 us a refpite, and there feemed to be nothing 
 
 wanting 
 
i< )' 
 
 ( 25 ) 
 
 wantihg to make us the happied people upon 
 earth. 
 
 In 1782 the State of Virginia had given us a 
 General Court, with Judges and an Attorney- 
 General, to manage all legal affairs refpedbing the 
 diilrid, without the trouble and expence of tra- 
 velling to Richmond, which is diflant between 
 five and fix hundred miles, two hundred of 
 which were through an uninhabited wildernefs. 
 I^ 1783, 1784 and 1785, great part of the coun- 
 try was furveyed and patented, and the people 
 in the interior fettlements purfued their bufi- 
 nefs'in as much quiet and fafety as they could 
 have done in any part of Europe. Court-houfes 
 were built in the different counties, and roads 
 were opened for carriages, which feven years be- 
 fore had not been feen in the country. The 
 only roads hitherto were for lingle horfes. 
 
 In 1785 the diftridt had grown fo conlidcrablc 
 from the great number of emigrants which had 
 arrived, and that refpedability which it had ac- 
 quired produced a difpoiition in the inhabitants 
 to become an independent State, and to be 
 admitted as another link in the great federal 
 
 E chain; 
 
( 26 ) 
 
 chain. A convention was immediately formed 
 by fending deputies from the different coun- 
 ties, who met at our metropolis, Danville, for 
 the purpofe of taking the matter into coniidera- 
 tion J when it was determined, after fome debat- 
 . ing, to petition Virginia for that purpofe. An 
 AQ: had already palTed that State, authoriiing 
 any diftridl of country over the mountains to fe- 
 parate whenever a majority of the inhabitants 
 fhould wifh it : but in this indance it was urged, 
 by thofe who were not friendly to the reparation, 
 that it was not the wilh of the majority of the 
 inhabitants of Kentucky to become independent. 
 In fad, many Gentlemen holding confiderable 
 tradls of land in the diftrid, who were not re- 
 lidents, thought our feparation would be prema* 
 ture, particularly as we had courts of juftice, 
 whofe jurifdidion was diftind from that of 
 Virginia, and the only folid complaint (which, 
 indeed, was a ferious one) was the diftance 
 to which we muft fend our reprefentatives, 
 and our local fituation requiring in fome in- 
 fiances a legiflation, which the majority of the 
 AfTcinbly of the State would not be competent 
 
 . '^ ■ . ■ , to 
 
 ! I 
 
 fi 
 
( »7 ) 
 
 to judge of. However, this bufinefs was pro. 
 craftinated ; for finding, though we might fepa- 
 rate whenever we chofe, yet that it was optional 
 with the legiflature of Virginia to recommend u& 
 to be taken into the federal government (which 
 they were not likely to do, and which it was cer- 
 tain could not be done without), we were contend 
 to remain as we were for that time. 
 
 The federal government in the. qourfe of this 
 year undertook to lay off the country weft of the 
 Ohio, in (jiich manner as would anfwer the pur- 
 pofe of felling the land., 9n4 fettling the coun- 
 try. Peace had been made the ppeceding yeao 
 at Fort M'Intofli, between the Uijiped States and 
 the Indians, in which the country upon tho 
 Muikt^ngum, Scioto, and the Great and Littlo 
 Miami rivers, had been given up by the Indian? 
 as a confideration for fiDfmcr mai&cres, and as 
 neceffary to produce permanent tranquillity; 
 they finding the United States, by ceflion from 
 Great Britai^r, had a right to- all the country* 
 within the limits defcribed in the treaty of 
 i783> and that it would be in vain for them to 
 remonftrate againft their peopling it, particu- 
 ..u E2 larly 
 
HI 
 
 I 
 
 ( 28 ) 
 
 larly as it was to Great Britain they were to 
 look to for reftitution, who had abandoned them 
 when allies J and fold their country without even 
 confutting them. But when the furvcyors began 
 to acftj the Indians difcovered immediate and 
 hollile iigns of diiapprobation, fome maflacres 
 were committed, and the buiinefs was put ofF 
 until the following Spring. 
 
 Congrefs as yet had taken no decided mea- 
 sures as to the organization of this country, or 
 the mode of parcelling it out and difpofing of 
 it ; the difcontinuance of the late war was ilill 
 recent, and the multifarious objeds which pr^^ 
 fented themfelves to an infant Govesnment, not 
 recovered from the ihocks of a doubtful cre- 
 dit, together with the habitual idlenefs whicl^ 
 the profeflion of arms produces, threw an em- 
 barraffment over all their proceedings. It was 
 in this dilemma that they recoftimended the 
 meeting of a convention, to be compofed of de- 
 puties from the different States, to afTemble in 
 Philadelphia in May, 1787, to take into their 
 coniideration the nature and defeats of the fe- 
 deral government as it then exifted. In this ex- 
 
 ' K - ' amination 
 
( 29 ) 
 
 amination they found that the old government 
 wanted efficiency, and the total abfence of unifbn 
 between the different States, from local laws and 
 CiuHioms, was productive of delay, and a variety 
 of obftrudions, tending to counteradl: the con- 
 cord of confederation. 
 ' It was under thefe confiderations that the pre-<' 
 fent federal government arofe. It has ellabliihed 
 one great and important principle for the bene- 
 ^t of mankind, and th6 exteniion of civiliza- 
 ^ tloQ, which is, that a power may fo exiil in a go- 
 vernment, as to admit of alteration or change, 
 without danger to the tranquillity of the State; 
 by gpvernmenit recommending to the conftituent 
 powers of that State, the deputing men to in- 
 quire into the radical defedls of their conftitu- 
 tion, and making fuch alterations as the im- 
 proved wif()om of experience may find necef- 
 fary. It is thus i^ the progreflion of things 
 ^hat govcmmpnt? will arrive at perfedlion. •♦ 
 I mud beg that you will excufe this digrelTion, 
 as it was necelTary to account for the delay in 
 proceeding to the fettleipent of the country weft 
 -../■■ of 
 

 II 
 
 niiM 
 
 , ( 30 > 
 
 of the Ohia ThU buiinef^ took up the greater 
 part of 1797* fo that it was a year or more be- 
 fore inM<;h wa$ doae. In the meantime the In^ 
 dians continued to ihcreate their depredations, 
 yndcr a belief that, if once the Whites were fuf- 
 fered to edablifh themfelvea on their fide of the 
 Okifix thcftf would be tuy end to fiheir ineroach- 
 mettJtiid until they became extirpated. In this 
 opinioi^ ithey were not ai tittle encouraged by 
 tlM Engliib tradersat Detroit »ndl N'kigat^, who, 
 Ci-Qcn. afi'^varice in hunNiD^atujre bard to^ be ac- 
 couf^J^edi ^ (hkt aA it' degener^ues under bad 
 hv/^ and M'«>rfe inQral3.)| feek, in, i«vurder and 
 "^ bloodib.ed« for the fiile of a few extra pounds of 
 gun-^powder and lead. However fome land had 
 heeo ftHveyed in 17&6 and' 17 87-, and m thelat* 
 ter year a lettlement was' formed upon the Muf- 
 klnguaon^ which may be looked upon as tfie eom- 
 menccment of the American iHjttkmenti upon 
 the weftern fide of the Ohia. In 17^8^ and 
 1,789 fo^e further ftirveying' wa» done'; but Kt- 
 tle fince hat been cranftt<5bed in thofe parts, ex- 
 cept M^ars between the I>ndi<^n» and the fcttlers.' 
 
 Yet 
 
I 3« ) 
 
 Yet It is to be hoped that the decided meafures 
 taken by the United States will fecure peace, 
 which cannot fail to promote profperity. 
 
 Nature in her pride has given to the regions 
 of this fair river a fertility fo a(loni(hing, that 
 to believe it^ occular demonftration becomes 
 neceflary. During thefe times of barbarous war 
 and maflacre, the people of Kentucky and Cum'* 
 berland, fecured by their numbers and (Irength, 
 except in their outermofl: plantations, enjoyed 
 perfedl fecurity. The former continued to keep 
 in view the object of her independence, and 
 from the refpe(flable figure (he has made in the 
 adminidration of her affairs, it is at length 
 agreed) that (he is to be admitted into the fe- 
 deral union in June 1792. 
 
 Having furnifhed you with only an imperfe<fl 
 hiftory of the manner in which this back coun- 
 try has been fettled, I will endeavour, in com- 
 pliance with your requeft, to give you a defcrip- 
 tion of its natural and artificial produ(5tions. 
 Believe me to be, linccrely, 
 
 ^ ., Yours, &c* 
 
 f-l-^" ? . 
 
 L E T- 
 
( 3« ) 
 
 L E t T E R in. 
 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND^ 
 
 KENTUCKY. 
 
 IN calling your tyehovci the map of America, 
 you will difcover that itd wcftern (or middle) 
 country is divided fronii the Atlantic country by 
 a chain of mountains which rife iii the remote 
 pans of the States of New- York and New Jer- 
 fey, and run a fouth-weftcrly coiirfe, until they 
 are loft (as I obferved before) in the flat lands of 
 Weft Florida. Th6 weftern country is thofe 
 parts which are watered by the ftreams running 
 into the Mifliffippi< 
 
 It is about fifty miks ovct the Allegany Moun- 
 tain« crofling by the rout which General Braddock 
 took from Fort Cumberland near the Potowmac, 
 at the defcent into the country of Redftone on 
 the Monongahala, the fouthern branch of the 
 Ohioi This river rifes in the fame mountaiir 
 confidcrably to the fouthward, runs nearly pa- 
 rallel with it, the oppoiite way, upwards of 
 one hundred miles, and is navigable for boats 
 nearly to its fource ; the whole of this country 
 
 beyond 
 
i 33 ) ' 
 beyond the m'ountain is extremely fertile, well 
 watered, and abounding with all kinds of tim- 
 ber calculated for building houfes, boats, cabi- 
 net work, &c. &c. The fugar maple-tree is 
 intermixed in great quantities. From the foot of 
 the mountain it is about fourteen miles to Red- 
 ftone Old Fort, which is on the banks of the 
 Monorigahala, and the ufual place of embarka- 
 tion of people coming down the Ohio, who tra- 
 vel Braddock's road ; from thence to Pittfburg 
 is about fifty miles by water. Large trads of flat 
 land lay all along upon the banks of this river 
 from the Old Fort to Pittlburg, which are capa- 
 ble of being made into extenfive and luxuriant 
 meadow ground. 
 
 This country is populous, it being the oldell 
 fettlemenr, and made immediately after taking 
 Fort du Quefne. The Yohogania empties 
 itfelf into the Monongahala about twenty- 
 five miles above its jundlion with the Allegany 
 river : the country on this river is more uneven, 
 but in the vallies the foil is extremely rich. Near 
 to Pittlburg the country is well-peopled, and 
 there, as well as in Redftone, all the comforts of 
 
 . E life 
 
( 34 ) 
 life are in the greateft abundance.' Flour is fna- 
 nufadlured in as go&d a ftyle as in any part of 
 America ; and butter, checfe, bacon, and every 
 kind of provifions can be had in the greateft 
 quantity. This whole country abounds in coal, 
 which lies almoft upon the furface of the ground i 
 the hills oppofite Pittfburg upon the banks of 
 the Monongahala, which are at lead three hun- 
 dred feet high, appear to be one folid body of 
 this mineral. | 
 
 This muft become in time the mod Valuable 
 grazing country in all America from the fertility 
 of its foil, its capability of beings formed into 
 extenfive meadows, and its proximity to the 
 mountains which attradt the clouds, and produce 
 that moidure fo peccihry to grafs; — belidcs 
 which, its fituation is about three hundred miles 
 from Philadelphia, about two hundred and forty 
 from Baltimore, and about two hundred and 
 twenty from the federal city on the Potowmac, 
 a diftancc which is too great to carry by land 
 the bulky articles of hulbandry; but to which 
 cattle may be driven with the greateft eafe. 
 
 This country has derived no inconliderable ad- 
 ' .. 4 -t vantage 
 
( 35 ) 
 vantage from the fettlement of Kentucky, and 
 the other fettlements which are making on the 
 Ohio and MiflilTippi, the great road of migrat- 
 ing from the northern dates lying through it : 
 and indeed it is moft convenient, both from 
 Maryland and Virginia, at all feafons of the year, 
 provided that there be any thing bulky to carry, 
 the paflage being for the greateft part, by 
 water, and the Potowmac navigable, a few 
 places excepted, to fort Cumberland j all of 
 which obftruftions will be removed in a few 
 years by cavih' which are cutting. From Fort 
 Cumberlana ':, about fixty miles land carriage 
 to Redllone Old Fort ; but fo friendly has na- 
 ture been to this country, that though it is with- 
 out feas, yet the rivers run in fuch diredlions, 
 that there is fcarce any place in all the back 
 parts of America, where art may not reduce the 
 land carriage to a very fmall diftance. I cannot 
 fpeak upon (o general a fubje(fl definitively, but 
 I mean to be underftood within fifteen leagues. 
 It is affertcd from the beft authorities, that the 
 land carriage between the Potowmac and Ohio 
 may be reduced to lefs than twenty miles. 
 ; - /- ' F 2 Such 
 
( 36 ) 
 
 Such is the progreffion of things in this 
 country, that while there was apparently no 
 market for its fuperfluous produdions, every ar- 
 ticle has fold extremely well, in confequence 
 of the number of emigrants who have been con- 
 tinually paffing down the Ohi^. • 
 
 Down from Pittfburg the country is flat on 
 the banks of the river j buc a little diftance from 
 them it is confiderably broken, particularly on 
 the north-weftern fide. Much good land, how- 
 ever, is interfperfed on the fouth fide as far as 
 the approach to the little Kanhavvay, where the 
 nature of the foil feems reverfed, and the good 
 land is then found on the wefiern fide upon 
 the Mufkingum. There are fome ftrips of rich 
 land upon the little Kanhaway ; but, farther up 
 the river, the country is broken and fieril, pro- 
 ducing fcarce any other timber than the fir tree, 
 or pine and knotty black oaks, which are gene- 
 rally deemed fymptoms of a bad foil. This trad 
 of bad land extends quite into the mountains in a 
 fouth diredlion, and runs fouth^wefterly as far as 
 Great Sandy river, with little or no variation, 
 except on the bottoms of the Great Kanhaway, 
 
 : ^ which 
 
 // 
 
( 37 ) 
 "vihich are extenfive and rich. The bottoms on 
 the Ohio are every where extenfive and luxu- 
 riant. On the weftern (idc of the river, the coun- 
 try beyond the rich vein of land on the Muf- 
 kingum, is only tolerable on this fide of the 
 head waters of the Sciota, which are fucceeded 
 by as fine a body of land as the imagination can 
 paint. This extends confiderably near to the 
 Ohio, and running weft ward quite to the Miami, 
 now approximates its banks, and difplays, in its 
 verdure and variety of majeftic forefts, all that 
 beauty and richnefs, which have been fo much 
 celebrated by travellers who have paflTcd through 
 them. The country on the eaftcrn fide, except 
 on the banks of the rivers, is indifferent. There 
 IS a body of gcod land on Great Sandy ; but 
 leaving that in a fouth-wcfterly courfe, high, 
 rugged, and broken hills arife, which will 
 hardly ever be capable of cultivation : thefe 
 hills extend between thirty and forty miles and 
 open into the fine lands of Kentucky. 
 
 We have travelled now about five hundred 
 miles down the Ohio in its meandering courfe, 
 and wc will fuppofe ourlelves at Limeftone, 
 
 where 
 
 » < 
 
 ^' 
 
( 38 ) 
 
 tfhere the champaign country on the caftern fide 
 of the river begins. This is the ufual landing 
 place for people coming down in boats, who 
 mean to fettle in the upper part of the State, as 
 I ftiall in future call it. It is now neceffary to 
 look back to that country, which we have travel- 
 led through with fuch rapidity. Pittfburg lies in 
 about lat. 40"* 40', the general courfe of the Ohio 
 is about W. S. W. and the diftance by land from 
 Pittlburg to Limeftone is nearly 300 miles. But 
 as the northern limits of the ftate, are Great 
 Sandy, which is fome diftance above Limeftone, 
 we may fix them as nearly as can be, in lat. 39** 
 30', I am forry I cannot fpeak with more pre- 
 cilion, but thefe things have not yet been afcer- 
 tained from obfervation. 
 
 The eafl lide of the Ohio for about ten or 
 twenty miles below Whealing, which is about 
 one hundred below Pittlburg, is generally well 
 fettled. There are few fettlements on the oppo- 
 lite (bore until you come to the Muikingum, and 
 the country now wears the face of a wildernefs 
 on both fides of the river, there being no habi- 
 tations 
 
( 39 ) 
 rations worth notice, except at the mouth of the 
 Great Kanhaway, until we arrive at Limeftone. 
 
 Every thing here afllimes a dignity and fplen- 
 dour I have never feen in any other part of the 
 world. You afcend a confiderable diftance from 
 the (horc of the Ohio, and when you would fup- 
 pofe you had arrived at the fummit of a moun- 
 tain, you find yourfelf upon an extenfive level. 
 Here an eternal verdure reigns, and the brilliant 
 fun of lat. 39", piercing through the azure hea- 
 vens, produces, in this prolific foil, an early ma- 
 turity which is truly aftonilhing. Flowers full 
 and perfeft, as if they had been cultivated by 
 the hand of a florift, with all their captivating 
 odours, and with all the variegated charms 
 which colour and nature can produce, here, in 
 the lap of elegance and beauty, decorate the fmil- 
 ing groves. Soft zephers gently breathe on 
 fweets, and the inhaled air gives a voluptuous 
 glow of health and vigour, that feems to ravifti 
 the intoxicated fenfes. The fweet fongfters of 
 the forefts appear to feel the influence of this 
 genial clime> and, in more foft and modulated 
 tones, Marble their tender notes in unifon with 
 
 love 
 
( 40 ) 
 
 love and nature. Every thing here gives delight? 
 and, in that mild effulgence which beams around 
 us, v^e feel a glow of gratitude for the elevation 
 which our ail bountiful Creator has beftowed 
 upon us. Far from being difgufted with man 
 for his turpitude or depi*avity, we feel that dig- 
 nity which nature bellowed upon us at the crea- 
 tion ; but which has been cpntaminated by the 
 bafe alloy of meannefs, the concomitant of Eu- 
 ropean education, and what is more lamentable 
 is, that it is the confcquence of your very laws 
 and governments. 
 
 You mull forgive what I know you will call 
 a rhapfody, but what I really experienced after 
 travelling acrofs the Allegany mountain in March, 
 when it was covered with fnow, and after find- 
 ing the country about Pittfburg bare, and not 
 recovered from the ravages of winter : there was 
 fcarcely a blade of grafs to be feen, every thing 
 looked dreary, and bore thofe marks of melan- 
 choly which the rude hand of frofl produces. 
 I embarked immediately for Kentucky, and in 
 lefs than five days landed at Limeftone, where 
 I found nature robed in all her charms. 
 
 It 
 
( ♦• ' 
 
 It naturally flruck me that there was fomething 
 in climate that debafed or elevated the human 
 foul. That chill penury which a lleril country 
 and damp cold climate produces, in accumulat- 
 ing the wants of men, had increafed their depend- 
 ance, which at once faps the firft principles of 
 man. I conceived that in the infancy of the 
 world men in temperate clitnates had retained 
 their freedom longeft. Thus in England you 
 have enjtoyed a coniiderable (hare of liberty, 
 wrhile almofl all Europe have fuffered under 
 the fetters of an odious defpotifm. The perfec- 
 tion of arts will meliorate the condition of man 
 in every part of the world j but the amelioration 
 af government and education mud take place, 
 before he will be able to rcfumc Tiis priftine 
 dignity. • , > 
 
 From Limeftone to Licking creek the coun- 
 try is immenfely rich, and covered with cane, 
 rye grafs, and the native clover. The cane is a 
 reed which grows to the height frequently of fif- 
 teen or lixteen feet, but more generally about 
 ten or twelve feet, and is in thicknefs from the 
 lizc of a goofe quill, to that of two inches dia- 
 
 G meter; 
 
( 42 ) 
 
 meter; romctimcs, yet feldom, it is larger. 
 When it is flendcr, it never grows higher than 
 from four to feven feet ; it fhoots up in one 
 fummer, but produces no leaves until the follow- 
 ing year. It is an ever-green, and is, perhaps, 
 the mod nourifhing food for cattle upon earth. 
 No other milk or butter has fuch flavopr and 
 richnefs as that which is produced from cows 
 which feed upon cane. Horfes which feed upon 
 it work nearly as well as if they were fed upon 
 corn, provided care is taken to give them once 
 in three or four days a handful of fait, other- 
 wife this food is liable to heat, and bind their 
 bowels. The rye-grafs, when it atrives to ma- 
 turity, is from two feet and a half high to three 
 and a half, and the head and beard refembles 
 the real rye, and fometimes produces a fmall 
 grain long and flender not unlike rye. Whe- 
 ther cultivation would bring it to the fame per- 
 fedion, I can form no idea ; it is however cer- 
 tain that it is a very good and valuable grafs. 
 The clover is in no refpedt different from the 
 clover in Europe, but as it is more coarfe and 
 luxuriant. There is a variety of other kinds of 
 
 grafs 
 
 n 
 
larger. 
 ;r than 
 in one 
 follow- 
 )erhaps, 
 n earth. 
 3ur and 
 
 » 
 
 im cows 
 ed upon 
 ed upon 
 em once 
 c, other- 
 nd their 
 J to ma- 
 to three 
 fembles 
 a fmall 
 Whe- 
 ,me per- 
 er cer- 
 :e grafs. 
 Tom the 
 rfe and 
 kinds of 
 grafs 
 
 ( 43 ) 
 grafs, which are found in different places ; but I 
 have only mentioned the two former, they being 
 cfteemed the moft valuable. 
 
 In order to travel into the interior parts of 
 the State the rout lies acrofs the branches of 
 Licking creek. There are feveral of them which 
 take their rife in the high hills of Great Sandy 
 rivers, and the fpurs of the Allegany mountain ; 
 they traverfe a moft delightful country, and form 
 a jundlion a fmall diftance below the Lower 
 Blue Lick. A fait fpring is called a Lick, from 
 the earth about them being furrowed out, in a 
 moft curious manner, by the buffalo and deer, 
 •which lick the earth on account of the faline 
 particles with which it is impregnated. The 
 country from the Fork to the Ohio is confiderably 
 broken, but generally rich, and continues un- 
 even, except on the banks of the river, quite to 
 the mouth of the Kentucky, which is about one 
 hundred and ten miles below the mouth of Lick- 
 ing creek by water, and feventy above the Rapids 
 of the Ohio. Between the mouths of Licking 
 and Kentucky lies the Great Bone Lick, which 
 is juftly celebrated for the remarkable bon^s 
 
 i>. 
 
 ^ . .> - 
 
 G2 
 
 which 
 
( 44 ) 
 which arc found there, and which gave name to 
 the place. Several of thofe bones have been fent 
 to Europe ; but I believe no natural hiftorian has 
 been able to give any decided opinion to what 
 clafs of animals they belonged. Buffbn has called 
 them the Mammouth ; but I am at a lofs to 
 know from what authority, as we have no tradi- 
 tion either oral or written, that gives an account 
 of any fpccies of animals which were as large as 
 thofe muft have been, judging by the magni- 
 tude of the bones. Buffon fays, that iimilar 
 bones have been found both in Ireland (if I am 
 not midaken) and in fome part of Alia. It ap- 
 pears fonicwhat extraordinary, at the firfl: view, 
 that we Aiould difcover manifeft prpofs of there 
 having cxidcd animals of which we can form no 
 adequate idea, and which in lize mull have far 
 exceeded any thing now known upon earth ; and 
 thofe ligns too, in climates where the elephant 
 (the largeli animal now in exigence) is never 
 found. Every phenomenon upon the earth tends 
 to confirm the idea, that it ever has been fub- 
 jed to revolutions, befides its diurnal and an- 
 nual motion from eaft to weft. ^ 
 After pafling the Blue Lick, the foil, ifpof- 
 
 fible. 
 
( 4S ) 
 iible, increafcs in richnefs. From thence to 
 Danville is about fifty miles. Lexington lies 
 about midway, and is nearly central of the 
 fined and moft luxuriant country, perhaps, on 
 earth. From Lexington to Leclburg is about 
 twenty miles ; to Boonlbury it is about twenty ; 
 the Upper Blue Lick nearly thirty. This fquarc 
 which is nearly fifty miles, comprehends entirely 
 what is called firft rate land. Leelburg lies on 
 the Kentucky, about twenty miles from its mouth 
 by land, and nearly forty by water. The coun- 
 try between that and the Ohio is broken, but 
 rich, though it is not deemed a valuable ho(}y of* 
 land. The Kentucky is bound every when: by 
 high rocky precipices, which are generally two 
 hundred feet and upwards perpendicular, and 
 which makes its pafles difficult. Few places on 
 it have any bottom land, as the rock rifes 
 modly contiguous to the bed of the river ; which 
 confinement, after heavy rains, renders it very 
 formidable from the impetuofity of its current. 
 On afccnding the banks of this river, the land ovi 
 either fide is equally good for a confiderabie dif- 
 tance above Boonfburg; but ar^jc.ent to the 
 - ^ mountains 
 
( 46 ) 
 
 mountains from whence the river rifcs, the coun- 
 try becomes broken, fteril, and of little or no 
 value. Boonlburg lies on the Kentucky, about 
 fixty miles above its mouth by land, and about 
 one hundred and thirty by water. From Leef- 
 burg down the river on the fouth lide, for about 
 ten or twelve miles, the hills are confiderably 
 high and deep ; but when you pafs the waters of 
 Drinnon*s Lick creek, you fall into a body of 
 good champaign land, which extends with little 
 variation to the Rapids of the Ohio. From Lccf- 
 burg to Danville, the country for the firft 
 twenty miles, is of an inferior rate of land for 
 this country; but fanner on, you get into the 
 rich country I have mentioned, comprehended 
 within the fquare of fifty miles. 
 
 Large bodies of good land lie on every fide of 
 Danville for twenty miles and upwards ; but in 
 the courfe from thence to the Rapids of the 
 Ohio, on the waters of Salt river (which takes 
 its name from a fait fpring, called BuUit's Lick, 
 that is on its banks, about twenty miles from 
 the mouth of the river) the country is, in fomc 
 places, broken into ridges of hills, which are in 
 j general 
 
 k ( 
 
( 47 ) 
 general good land, but not well watered. As 
 you approach the Rapids the country becomes 
 more level, better watered, and the foil more 
 fertile. The country of Beargrafs is beautiful and 
 rich ; as indeed, is the land on Goofe and Har- 
 rod's creeks. In the fork of the Ohio and Salt 
 river, which form a jun(5lion about twenty miles 
 below the Rapids, the country is flat, and inter- 
 fperfed with fmall lakes or ponds, occafioned by 
 the extreme lownefs of the banks of the Ohio in 
 this fork, which, when flooded, overflows the 
 country, and the water fills thefe ponds periodi- 
 cally, or as often as thofe inundations happen, 
 which are frequent from December until April, 
 The Rapids of the Ohio lie ► bout feven hun- 
 dred miles below PittflDurg, and about four hun- 
 dred above its confluence with the Miffifltppi, 
 They are occafioned by a ledge of rocks which 
 ftretch acrofs the bed of the river from one fide 
 to the other, in fome places projecting fo much, 
 that they are vifible when the water is not high, 
 and in moft places when the. river is extremely 
 low. The fall is not more than between four and 
 five feet in the diftance of a mile ; fo that boats; 
 
 of 
 
( 48 ) 
 
 of any burthen may pafs with fafcty when there 
 is a flood ; but boats coming up the river muft 
 unload ; which inconvenience may very eafily be 
 removed by cutting a canal from the mouth of 
 Beargrafs, the upper fide of the Rapids, to be- 
 low the lower reef of rocks, which is not quite 
 two miles, and the country a gentle declivity the 
 whole way* 
 
 The lituation of the Rapids is truly delightful. 
 The river is full a mile wide, and the fall of wa- 
 ter, which is an eternal cafcade, appears as if na- 
 ture had defigned it to fhew how inimitable and 
 llupendous are her works. Its breadth contri- 
 butes to its fubliraity j and the continually rum- 
 bling noife tends to exhilerate the fpirits, and 
 gives a cheerfulnefs even to fluggards. The view 
 up the river is terminated, at the diftance of four 
 leagues, by an idand in its centre,- which is con^ 
 trailed by the plain on the oppolite ftiore, that 
 extends a long way into the country ; but the eye 
 receding, finds new beauties, and ample fubjec^ 
 for admiration, in the riling hills of Silver creek^ 
 which, ftretching obliquely to the north-weft^ 
 proudly rife higher and higher as they extendj 
 
 until 
 
 
( 49 ) 
 
 until their fummits are loft in air. Clarkville 
 on the oppofite fliore completes the profpedt, 
 and from its neighbourhood, and from tie 
 fettlement forming upon the Officers land, a few 
 years muft afford us a cultivated country, to 
 blend appropriate beauty with the charms of 
 the imagination. There lies a fmall ifland in 
 the river about two hundred yards from the 
 eaftern fhore; between which and the main is 
 a quarry of excellent ftone for building, and 
 which in great part is dry the latter part of 
 fummer. The banks of the river are never over- 
 flowed here, they being fixty feet higher than 
 the bed of the river. There is no doubt but 
 it will foon become a flourifhing town : there 
 are already upwards of two hundred good 
 houfes built. This town is called Louifville. 
 
 I omitted to mention, that when the State of 
 Virginia conceded the country weft of the Ohio to 
 the United States, flie referved a tradt of country 
 lyings oppofite to the Rapids, for thofe officers 
 and foldiers which were called State troops, and 
 who had been immediately employed in the 
 weftern country. 
 
 H Having 
 
 *^ 
 
J' 
 
 ■«*. 
 
 
 ( SO ) 
 
 Haiving left the country on the weftcrn fide of 
 the Ohio at the Miami, 1 (hall continue my de- 
 fcription of the country on this lide, as far as 
 my knowledge extends, and will then proceed 
 upwards. '"i'j^.- '■ "^fc r^-'^^'-tv :;'Mr .-riry 
 
 In leaving the Rapids in a fouth-wcfterly di- 
 rection the country is fiat, it bordering upon the 
 country I have defcribed in the fork of the Ohio 
 and Salt rivers. After pafling the main branch 
 of the Salt river near Bullitt's Lick, ten miles 
 diflant, in the fork of the north and fouth 
 branches, the country becomes broken and hilly; 
 but between which and the Cumberland road, 
 that leads from the upper parts of ^ Kentucky, 
 there is a conliderable extent of fine land } but 
 travelling a few leagues farther fouthward, you 
 arrive at extenfivc plains, which extend upwards . 
 of one hundred and fifty miles in a fouth-well 
 courfe, and end only when they join the moun- 
 tainous country. Some few clumps of trees» 
 and a grove here and there, are the only obflruc- 
 tions to a boundiefs horizon. It is pleafant to 
 behold the deer bounding over the fcraggy (hrubs 
 which cover the earth. While the fetting fun 
 .>...^.- ..* . gilds 
 
( 51 ) 
 
 gilds thofe extenfive plains, the mild breezes of 
 a fummer's eve, playing upon the enraptured 
 fenfes, foftens the heart to love and friendfhip. 
 Unperceivcd, upon fome eminence, you may enjoy 
 the fports of wild animals, which here rove un- 
 concerned lords of the field. Heavens! what 
 charms are there in liberty ! Man, born to en- 
 flave the fubordinate animals, has long iince en- 
 (laved himfelf. But reafon at length, in radiant 
 fmiles, and with graceful pride, illumines both 
 hemifpheres ; and the bright Goddefs in golden 
 plumes, and in her triumphal car, muft now re- 
 fume her long loft empire. 
 ^ , We now have arrived upon the waters of Green 
 river : at the mouth of which, and between that 
 and the Ohio, lies Henderfon's grant of twelve 
 miles fquare, as I mentioned. The plains ex- 
 tend beyond the head waters of this river quite 
 into the limits of North Carolina; but at the 
 mouth, and for forty miles above, there is a 
 large proportion of good land, particularly upon 
 Panther creek. From the mouth c; Green river 
 up the Ohio to Salt river, the land upon the 
 banks of the Ohio is generally fertile and rich; 
 fij " H 2 but 
 
 
 ;!^- 
 
 
 y 
 
 :*■:■-' 
 
 ,y 
 
( 52 ) 
 but leaving its banks you foon fall into the plain 
 country, which is confidered as little better than 
 barren land. However, it is moft likely that 
 they will prove excellent for flieep to feed 
 upon, the climate being nearly the fame as that 
 of Spain, where the finefl: wool in Europe is 
 produced. And though the land is not reckoned 
 valuable in this country, on account of its com- 
 parative fterility, yet it is of a fuperior quality 
 to great part of the foil in the lower parts of 
 Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia. It abounds 
 with hazel, which, it is well knoAn, never grows 
 kindly in a poor foil. 
 
 The native ftrawberry is found in thefe plains 
 in the greateft abundance, as are likewife plumbs 
 of different forts ; and, if we can form any idea 
 of the native grape that grows fpontaneoufly 
 here, what the fame foil is capable of producing 
 when they are cultivated, it would appear that 
 no climate or foil in the world is more congenial 
 to the vine ; for I have never tailed more deli- 
 cious grapes, and it is the opinion of fome ju- 
 dicious foreigners, who have vifited thefe Arca- 
 dian regions, that as good wine as can be made 
 
 ^ - in 
 
( 53 ) 
 
 in any part of the globe, might be produced 
 from the native grape properly cultivated. There 
 is nothing more common than to meet with a 
 pleafant wine made here by the fettlers, who 
 know nothing of the ufe of vats, or the degree 
 of fermentation neceflary to the perfedlion of the 
 art of wine making. But, I flatter myfelf fomc 
 progrefs will be made in this buiinefs, as fcveral 
 foreigners have long had it in agitation to under- 
 take it. ' ^>., ■ > . < . ...... ..,-■ 
 
 The country between Green and Cumberland 
 rivers is general rich, and finely watered. There 
 is in it a mod valuable lead mine, and feveral 
 fait fprings, and two of a bitumen, which, when 
 annalyzed, is found to be amber. But, fo much 
 do we (land in need of chymifts, and mineralifts, 
 that we remain ignorant of the properties and 
 value of many foflils which have been difcovered; 
 and many continue unknown, I apprehend, from 
 the want of curiofity of men whofe only obje<ft 
 feems to be cultivation and the fcience of go- 
 vernment. Perhaps thefe are the moft effential 
 to the happinefs of men in the wild ftate which 
 this country is in. Arts appear to follow popu- 
 .■■Mn: .xja , ••'••''>;/:- ''i »^;---- ■. lation 
 
r 54 ) 
 
 lation. Neceflity has been the mother of inven« 
 tioiij it is true ; but from the attainment of that 
 perfection to which we have arrived in arts and 
 philofophy, wifdom and fciencc muft go forward. 
 It is phyfically impoflible for man to degenerate 
 to barbarifm. ..^v,. 
 
 When the greatcft merit coniids in the exercife 
 of the moft ufeful and appropriate talents, I 
 think that it is likely that the ingenuity of men 
 will feel a more lively ftimulus to the exercife of 
 invention from the love of fame, the love of 
 mankind, and regard to their own dignity, than 
 it ever yet experienced from necefilty. While 
 odious diflindlions exifl, and men are rewarded 
 in proportion to their fervility, human ^nature 
 mull be robbed of half its manlinefs, and confe- 
 quently men will be (lothful. How many 
 drones do we obferve in every part of Europe, 
 who feed upon the induilry of the necellitous, 
 who work only as it is neceflary to their exifl- 
 ence! Such have been the eifeds of the fadi- 
 tious duties of man in your hemifphere, that 
 every thing has become perverted; and govern- 
 ments, indead of fecuring happinefs to men, 
 have only tended to aggrandize individuals, and 
 
 thus 
 
( SJ ) 
 
 thus has flowed in that debafement of charadler 
 which has marked half the inhabitants of Eu- 
 rope with little more dignity than brute crea* 
 
 tUrCS* .'.' r}:,'i . ■ ',1. ,■■»♦■ .1 :, 
 
 Cumberland river rifes among the mountains, 
 confiderably to the north-eafl, and, after its 
 feveral branches have joined it, runs a long way 
 fouth, and enters the limits of North Carolina. 
 After a courfe of half a degree within thofe li« 
 mits, it turns to the north-wed, and empties it- 
 felf into the Ohio, at fome diftance above its 
 jundlion with the MilTiflippi. The Tenafee runs 
 into the Ohio, not a long way below the mouth 
 of Cumberland. The Tenafee is the mod: im- 
 portant of the fouthern branches of the Ohio. 
 Its northern fork, called Holilon, rifes in the 
 country of the fame name (which I have before 
 mentioned), and after palling through Nola-. 
 chucky, is joined by the main or fouth branch. 
 This branch rifes in the remote parts of the 
 State of Georgia, and, after traverfing the borders 
 of the Cherokee country, is joined by the HoU 
 Hon branch when it is called the Tenafee : froin 
 fhence it runs fouth-wefterly, quite through the 
 •3Hi limitg 
 
( 5« ) 
 limits of North Carolina, and approaches the 
 head waters of the Mobile, which empties itfelf 
 into the gulf of Mexico. In its courfe, which 
 is very rapid thus far, from the material declivity 
 of the high countryj which from mountains gra- 
 dually link into a flat, there is a number of falls, 
 but none of them conliderable. It now turns 
 again to the northward, and from its lazy motion 
 it is obvious that there is very little fall of water 
 from this to the Ohio. This turn conftitutes 
 what is called the Great Bend of the Tenafce, or 
 Muicle Shoal, from the number of fhoals in this 
 part of the river, which arc covered with thefe 
 ihell-filh. The river is here from two to- three 
 and a half miles wide. Its importance will con- 
 fill in its being the moll convenient inlet from 
 the upper parts of Virginia and the Carolinas to 
 the MilRlfippi, it being navigable for boats of 
 forty tons burthen from Holllon, the falls ex- 
 cepted, where carrying places will anfwcr until 
 there are canals made, which can be done with 
 very 'little expence. ^ ., • 
 
 Holllon is a narrow llrip of country furround- 
 
 cd or> every lide by mountains; but there is a 
 
 K-'Oii* paflage 
 
( 57 ) 
 
 paiTage which winds through them, fo as to ad- 
 mit of a paflagc this way» and down the river, 
 without any difficulty of bad roads whatever. 
 Should you continue your route by land in the 
 road to Kentucky (which I fhall defcribe in 
 another place), you would have feveral mountains 
 to pafs, and at lead two hundred miles of bad 
 
 V i; After you leave the plains which extend into 
 the Cumberland country, in your courfe to the 
 Tenafee, the country is fomewhat broken, but 
 moftly rich. Great part of the land lying be- 
 tween thefe rivers and the Ohio, and between 
 Cumberland and Green rivers, was in military 
 grants, made by Virginia to their officers and fol- 
 diers, and is edeemed a valuable fituation for its 
 proximity to the jundlion of the Ohio and Mif- 
 filTippi. Their grants extend as Idw on the 
 MifTiffippi as the partition line between Virgi- 
 nia and North Carolina: all of which is a beau- 
 tiful country: and the banks of the river, which 
 are very high, prevents it from overflowing, 
 w hich is not the cafe a great way loXver down. 
 The land in the great bend of the Tenafee is 
 , , I very 
 

 ( si ) 
 
 very ifine ; but when you approach the country 
 of the Chickafaws, it becomes broken, light, and 
 Tandy : and, as you extend to the fouthward, I 
 have been informed (I never travelled farther 
 than this by land) the foil grows dill lighter, 
 and except a large body of good land on the 
 MidiiTippi and the bottoms of the feveral dreams 
 which run into the Gulf and the Mifllflippi, it 
 is little better than Well Florida ; which has 
 been celebrated in Europe for its fertility j but 
 fo fine a country have I been endeavouring to 
 defcribe to you, that, judging by comparifon, the 
 people in Kentucky and Cumberland look upon 
 that as an indifferent foil. «■ irrij^ 
 
 This letter has imperceptibly grown to a con-^ 
 (iderable length. I was anxious to comprehend 
 within this ikctch, all the country denominated 
 the weftcrn country on both fides of the Ohio to 
 the Miami, and then the whole of the Kentucky 
 and Cumberland countries, and the country upon 
 the Tenafee, in order that I might proceed up 
 the Ohio on the weflern fide, comprehending the 
 whole of the country between that and the Mif- 
 iiflippi, back to the Miami, and continuing north- 
 ward 
 
 ft 
 
( 59 ) 
 ward to the lakes: afterwards to (hew the 
 probable rife and grandeur of the American em- 
 pire, before I proceeded to an account of the ar- 
 tificial produftions, &c. of Kentucky and Cum- 
 berland. Farewell. 
 
 l);fj.', 
 
 Believe, my Friend, 
 
 li--) ♦-•jHc'il/J 
 
 IV. 
 
 *• 1 'r'-fv! fci--'» 
 
 I am yours flncerely. 
 
 li U../l':>Hs 
 
 li] 
 
 ?♦ P 
 
 '■« ".{, 
 
 f '*!*•; 
 
 ■.!<^-) 
 
 ;)■ I - 
 
 \U-rV. 
 
 >vtr. 
 
 .■[■re Vf;.'! 
 
 u ,f\;n. 
 
 , • . / ^ • f ^.. / 
 
 iS 
 
 -iMivj^j n 
 
 * *~ H 
 
 in I 
 
 i.-n.-i 
 
 ifH-rr 
 
 1 ru;ilj 
 
 h> 
 
 T I'l 't 
 
 I t- 
 
 jCii: ,11 
 
 ■■■i.-. i. 
 
 ■! , , >J 
 
 -s,H 
 
 'f "ill . I I 
 
 JtVu ;.f}j {jfff: \n<y^. 
 
 nt 
 
 
 I L,, 
 
 irih 
 
 I •]. 
 
 iiTwi; .!•« 
 
 .iO'U''(i < 
 
 ift-i-i'. 
 
 !;•: <! 
 
 -It 
 
 H % 
 
 ^: udf 
 
 7s^'^^^' 
 
 :ll 
 
 l2 
 
 LET- 
 
( 6o ) 
 
 .^tQ'Tr'n'lJ-!^ 
 
 li^.l 
 
 rfr^io 3P LETTER IV. 
 
 . s 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 ■ yi) > 
 
 
 • M.iU KENTUCKY. ;' 
 
 1 N contemplating the vaft field of the Ameri- 
 can empire, what a ilupenduous fubjed does it 
 afford for fpeculation ! government, ethics, and 
 commerce, ad:ing upon principles different in 
 many refpeds from thofe of the old world, and 
 entirely in others ! A government which, with its 
 fpreading branches, feems in its mighty grafp to 
 promife liberty and protecflion to one hemifphcre! 
 A government which, from its fimple co»nlruc- 
 tion, and the unity and efficiency of its adlion, 
 is not lefs remarkable in the political, than its 
 natural hiflory is to the phyfica! world ? 
 
 In ten years more, perhaps, a fettlement will 
 be formed fufficiently populous, to become a fe- 
 deral Itate in the country into which I am now 
 going to advance j the limits of which, from the 
 confluence of the MilTtflippi and Ohio to Detroit, 
 is between five and fix hundred milei ; and tak- 
 ing the medium diftance between Pittlburg and 
 
 the 
 
 -!r. 
 
( 6i ) 
 
 the mouth of the Ohio, acrofs to the Mifliflippi 
 from the Ohio is very little lefs. The inhabitants of 
 which immenfe diftridt do not, including French, 
 amount to five thoufand. The country in this fork 
 (if I may fo call it) is v?rious. Great part of it has 
 been defcribed by Charlevoix, Hutchins, and 
 Carver. Charlevoix feems to have gone rapidly 
 from Detroit by water the greateft part of the 
 way to New Orleans. Hutchins to have done 
 nearly the fame from Pittlburg, down the Ohio 
 to the Mifliflippi, and up that river to the Illinois; 
 fo up that, and from thence to Detroit. He has 
 given a tolerably good account of the Illinois 
 country. Carver confined his travels and re- 
 marks to the lakes, the upper part of the Miflif- 
 fippi, particularly the river St. Pierre, and the 
 north-wefl:ern branch of that river, and to the cuf- 
 toms and manners of the Indian nations. Thefe 
 authors have all confidcrable merit. They have 
 written fo agreeably, that their books have been 
 generally read j which has tended to diflTominate 
 a knowledge of this country in a favage ftate. 
 This part of it is little better ; but you mud view 
 it as a creation burfting from a chaos of hetero- 
 geneous 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 ■I*' is 
 
 m 
 
( 62 ) 
 
 geneous matter, and exhibiting the Ihining iiffut 
 "with which it abounds. , r,^ jrfm'j- 
 
 Immediately in the fork the land is flat and 
 liable to overflow ; but as you advance on either 
 river the banks rife, and the country expanding, 
 difplays a luxuriant foil for a long diftance above 
 the Wabafli on the Ohio fide, and quite to the 
 Illinois on the Mifllfllppi fide, which is about 
 two hundred and thirty miles above its juncflion 
 with the Ohio, and twenty above the mouth of 
 MilTouri. This country lies nearly in the fame 
 parallel of latitude of Kentucky. From the 
 mouth of the Wabafh the bottoms on the Ohio 
 are extenfive aud extremely fertile, as is the coun- 
 try from thence to Poft St. Vincent; but to- 
 wards the rapids of the Ohio, and beyond ^ the 
 bottoms of this river, the country is confideia- 
 bly broken, and the foil in fome places light and 
 indifferent. After leaving Poll: St. Vincent, in 
 the route to the Illinois countrjr, you foon fall in- 
 to thofe extenfive plains which have been de- 
 fcribcd in fuch glowing colours by Hutchins. 
 This is certainly a beautiful country, and the 
 immenfe number of deer, elk, and buflfalo, 
 
 / y . , which 
 
 / 
 
Vn 
 
 ( 63 ) 
 
 which are feen grazing in thofe natural meadows, 
 renders even wildnefs enchanting. The air in 
 this climate is pure, and the almoft continual 
 unclouded (ky tends not a little to charm the >., ,/ 
 fenfes. The country between Poll: St.* Vincent/'^ '* ' 
 and Kalkafkies is flat and plain, with little va- 
 riation. As you afcend the Illinois river the foil 
 grows more fertile, and on cither fide you Ijnd 
 immenfe fbrefts. > f >! v ^ i < - • d 
 I muft now beg you will travel with Hutchins 
 from hence to Detroit. He will condud you up 
 the head branches of this river, and, after a fliort 
 paiTage, you will embark ?gain on the waters of 
 lake Erie; difcovering how the operations of this 
 great country will be facilitated by the peculiar 
 courfes of its immenfe and numerous rivers. His 
 obfervations I have been told are confiderably ac- 
 curate, and as I have not had the advantage of 
 travelling this route, I recommend you to read 
 his book, which was originally publiftied in Eng- 
 land, and no doubt is ftill to be had. • 
 • Detroit lies between lat. 42° and 43" upon the 
 lake Erie, confiderably to the weftward of Pittf- 
 burg. The country lying between them is not 
 
 remark- 
 
 it 
 
f 64 ) 
 
 remarkable for any thing but being a wildcrnefs. 
 The foil and climate is fuch as would entitle it 
 to the reputation of a fine country in any part 
 of Europe, except in winter, when the froft is 
 extremely fevere, but lefs intenfe than that of 
 Canada. Quebec lies nearly in the fame lati- 
 tude of Pads, and from the defcript'jn which 
 the Emperor Julian has given of the winters 
 he quartered there, during his command in Gaul, 
 there feems to be little difference between the 
 winters of France at that period, in refpe<ft to 
 cold, and the prefent winters of Canada. Per- 
 haps the extent of continent lying to the north- 
 wefl^, and the immenfe lakes of frelh water 
 which cover it, will not admit of the climate 
 of that part of America being fo rapidly melio- 
 rated as the climate of Europe has been by cul- 
 tivation. However, it is certain, that as the 
 country has been more opened in America, and 
 thereby the rays of the fun have aded more 
 powerfully upon the earth, thefe benefits have 
 tended greatly already to foften the winter feafon : 
 fo that peopling Canada (for which we are much 
 obliged to you) is a double advantage to us, Firfl, 
 .,_-.. il 
 
^ ( 65 ) 
 
 it is fettling and populating a country, which 
 muft, fooner or later, from the natural order of 
 things, become part of our empire, and imme- 
 diately meliorating the climate of the northern 
 States. But, to return to Detroit. Our courfe 
 from thence to the head waters of the Miamis is 
 fouth-wcfterly. Ihe country for fome diHance 
 is flat, and the foil heavy and damp ; but, upon 
 the waters of thofe rivers, it is beautiful, and 
 rich in the gifts of nature. 
 
 The communication between Lake Erie and 
 the Ohio by water this way, will be up the 
 fouthern branches of the lake, and by a fliort 
 paffage you arrive upon the waters of the great 
 Miami, which is navigable when it is flooded. 
 It muft be obfcrved that the rivers I have been 
 mentioning are not navigable, throughout the 
 year, for boats of above ten or fifteen tons. Great 
 part of the country between this and the Wabalh 
 is champaign ; but in travelling towards the Ra- 
 pids of the Ohio you pafs confiderable plains, 
 and then fall into a broken and hilly tradl of poor 
 land, which continues with little" variation until 
 you approach the Rapids, when all the variety 
 
 K and 
 
 4il 
 
'f«.. 
 
 ( 66 ) 
 
 and charms, which this river produces, prefent 
 themfelves again. From Detroit to the Rapids 
 is nearly four hundred miles. ...v-nv,,- ■ :r ,:i 
 I have gone curforily over the weftern coun- 
 try which is peopled, and about to be peopled; 
 but have purpofely avoided taking any notice of 
 thofe parts which are fo little known, and of 
 which I could fay nothing but from the infor- 
 mation of hunters and favages, which has been 
 induftrioufly colleded and publiftied by Carver, 
 Jefterfon, and others. Belides, as it is your wifii 
 only to be informed of the advantages of fettle- 
 ment, it would have been idle to have troubled 
 you with accounts of countries which vvill not 
 be fettled, or at leaft formed into States, in our 
 time. : 
 
 : The rapid population of the vveftcrn country 
 has not only aftonilhcd iVmerica itfelf, but it 
 mull amaze Europe, when they enter into the 
 views and increafe of this growing empire. 
 The firfl: fettlement on the weftern waters 
 by the Englifli was in 176?, and, under the 
 influence of almoft continual Indian wars, 
 that fettlement (I am now fpeaking of the 
 ■ : . '. upper 
 
the 
 ■upper 
 
 ( *7 ) 
 upper fettlement on the Ohio) now contains 
 not lefs than an hundred thoufand fouls. The 
 State of Kentucky did not make a perma- 
 nent fettlement before 1 7 80, which now contains 
 not lefs han an hundred thoufand. The Cum- 
 berland fettlement began about this time, but 
 it wao at leaft three years afterwards before there 
 was fecurity given to that fettlement, and there 
 are fettled about fifty thoufand fouls more. Be- 
 fides the fettlement in the great bend of the Te- 
 nafee, which will join them in their feparation 
 from North Carolina, the fettlement of Nola 
 Chucky and French-broad, made on the branches 
 of the Tenafee in the year 1782, 1783, 1784, 
 and 1785, contain between thirty and forty thou- 
 fand fouls; feveral other fettlements are form- 
 ing at the Iron Banks on the MiiTifTippi, befides 
 thofe upon the weflern fide of the Ohio, which, 1*"^ ' ^ 
 including ihe inhabitants at Poft St. Vincent ^'-^^'^ 
 and the Kafkafkies (I judge from the beft in- ^ ■//;:, >3//v/ 
 formation) do not fall fhort of fifty thoufand, 
 I have not mentioned the number in the fettle- 
 ment of the great bend of the Tenafee, as I 
 have not been able to colle(fl any fatisfadtory in- 
 
 K 2 formation 
 
 V 
 
 /./♦ 
 
 \ • 
 
 
 cv-'y/r^^n*^-"^ 
 
 /;;<?■) 
 
 ? II 
 
 m 
 
) 
 
 i. 
 
 ( 68 ) 
 
 formation rcfpecfling them : but I fuppofe the 
 aggregate number of fouls in the weftern coun- 
 try is very little, if at all (hort of four hundred 
 thoufand, including the fettlements of Holfton, 
 Chinck river, and Powel's valley, which taken to- 
 gether may amount to fcventy thoufand fouls, and 
 which are properly on the weftern waters 
 , The fettlements on the weftern fide of the 
 Ohio have been greatly harafled and retarded 
 by the Indian war, which has continued with 
 little variation fince 1785} but the vigorous 
 meafures which their depredations have obliged 
 Congrefs to adopt, muft end with a permanent 
 pe^ce, or in a few years their provocations will 
 lead to the extirpation of the whole of the Miami 
 II and Illinois tribes. Their prowefs and determin- 
 ed refolution vvill, no doubt, confiderably annoy 
 our army, which, having been moftly recruited 
 from the Atlantic country, are not acquaint- 
 ed with fuch dexterity and courage, or indeed 
 habituated to their manner of fighting j but cur 
 numbers have grown too confiderable ; for, de- 
 feats only invigorate our meafures, while the lofs 
 of CYQjy man, to natious whofc populatipns is 
 
 .'.0',«ui~-'i 
 
 fo 
 
( «9 ) 
 
 fo extremely tardy as that of the favages of 
 America, is a lamentable confideration. 
 
 In the peopling this country new States will « 
 naturally arife, and thus, in contemplating the \ 
 
 continent of America, we may form an adequate , 
 
 I 
 
 idea of what will be the magnitude of its fede- ' 
 ral empire. The upper fettlement on the Ohio, 
 though more populous than the fettlement of 
 Cumberland, is not likely to become a feparate 
 State fo foon. The greateft-part of it is within 
 the limits of Pennfylvania, and not fo remote 
 from the capital of that State, as the Cumberland 
 fettlement is from the capital of North Carolina. 
 The intercourfe is continual, and the produc- 
 tions of the country, or at lead their cattle may 
 be driven to Philadelphia, &c. &c. as I have ob- 
 ferved before ; and their influence is not fufficient 
 to procure them an adt of feparation, fhould they 
 defire it. In the cafe of North Carolina and 
 Cumberland there is little or no communication 
 between them, nor is it to be expeded that it ever 
 can be the intereft of either to continue the con- 
 nc<aion ; therefore, it is mod likely, that diftrid 
 
 will 
 
 ifjii 
 
( 70 ) 
 
 will follow Kentucky in the links of the great 
 federal chain. ' i .. 
 
 I muft now proceed upon conjedlure, as there 
 are no definite limits prefcribed by the federal 
 government for the lines of demarkation, which 
 are to be the different boundaries or limits of 
 new States which will arife. However it is eafy, 
 by confulting natural boundaries, to form a pret- 
 ty jufl idea where will be their different divi- 
 fions. I have already remarked that Kentucky 
 and Cumberland are divided by a line in lat. 
 36 ^"f which will be the boundary of Cum- 
 berland to the northward. The mountains will 
 mod likely be its caftcrn limits : its fouthern li- 
 mits will be, either the partition line continued 
 between North Carolina and Georgia (South 
 Carolina never poffeffed any wcftern land), or it 
 will run foutherly, until it ilrikes that ridge of 
 hills which divides the Tcnafee country from 
 the country of the Chacktawsj thence a due 
 weft courfc to the Miffiflippi, or following fome 
 one of thofe branches which rife in thofe hills, 
 and purfuing its courfe to that river. This will 
 comprehend a diflrici of country of nearly two 
 
 hundred 
 
 I 
 
* 
 
 ( 71 ) 
 hundred miles in length from eaft to weft, 
 and nearly an hundred and fifty from north to 
 fouth. I cannot fpeak here with accuracy, as it 
 is that part of all the wcftcrn country which is 
 leaft known. . i 
 
 The country upon the head waters of the Te- 
 nafee Hands next in the lift of advancement. 
 This country includes the fettlcment of Holfton, 
 the fettlement of Clinch, and the fettlements of 
 Powel's Valley, which are part in Virginia and 
 part in North Carolina ; befides the fettlements 
 of Nola Chucka and French-broad. This laft 
 fettlement will be extended to the borders of the 
 Cherokee country, which will bind this State to 
 the fouthward. Its weftern boundary will be 
 Cumberland mountain, which will divide it from 
 the States of Kentucky and Cumberland. Its nor- 
 thern limits will be the ridges of hills which di- 
 vides the waters of the Tenafee and the Great 
 Kanaway, and its eaftern boundary will be the high 
 hills which divides the eaftern from the weftern 
 waters in this part of America, which are called 
 in Virginia the north mountains; and which con- 
 tinue their courfe through the Carolinas. This 
 
 State 
 

 ^ \*^ ^ 
 
 > 
 
 IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 1.0 ^^ tSi 
 
 I.I 
 
 m 
 
 12.2 
 
 •f ISA M^H 
 
 m 
 
 1 2.0 
 
 1.8 
 
 III 
 
 
 IPll|i4»i4 
 
 
 
 f," 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 ^. 
 
 Hiotographic 
 
 Sdences 
 
 Corporation 
 
 ^ 
 
 V 
 
 SN' 
 
 
 .^\ 
 
 (N^^ 
 
 23 WIST MAIN STRUT 
 
 WiBSTN.N.Y. 145S0 
 
 (716)S72-4S03 
 
 
 v\ 
 

 
( 7i ) 
 State vrill be in «xtent upwardsl of two hundfed 
 ftiiks from «6rtb to'fouth, and the average >Vedth 
 ftotti c"aft t6 weft, nearfy an hundred and fifty. 
 
 "this cotirttry has hiountains on tfvery fide but 
 the fouth-weft, and is interfperfed with high 
 hills in ittoft p*rts of if.- The valleys arc ex- 
 tfeinely fertile, and *Very whef% finely watered. 
 The climaCc in the lippe'r part of the cotiritry is 
 lldt fo ttmp&ztt as that of kentucky^ though it 
 iie^ iii the- fanid latitude, which i^ owing to the 
 li<^ighboiifing ihourttains^ Many parts of this 
 diflfrid: are well ftttled, and cultivatfdh wad 
 brought to fuch confiderable pcrfedion, that the 
 inhabitants had it in Contemplation to ^come 
 indepettdeilt fevCn ytarS fincc, under thd difiiilc- 
 tion of the State of Franklin, which very probar- 
 bly you, may have read of. Its population is not 
 only confiderable, but its refpedability in every 
 ifefped will very foon intitle it to the rank of a 
 diftin<ft State ; though it may require fome time 
 loeffcdt a unity of fcrttiments, and a confolida- 
 tioii of its various arid detached fettlemefrtts 
 into that order which the organs of government 
 require. 
 
 Before 
 
( 73 ) 
 Before t leive this fide of the MifHifippi, I 
 mud beg leave to digrefd, and (hew what will 
 be the probable deftination of the Indian na- 
 tions, who live between the fouthern limits of 
 the country I have been mentioning, and the 
 Floridas, and which may amount to thirteen 
 thoufandi, inctuUveSf men, women, and children. 
 The Gherokees are about two thoufand five hun^ 
 dred ; the Creeks three thoufand five hundred $ 
 the Chacktaws are about fix thoufand ; and the 
 different vagrant nations may amount to a thou« 
 fand more. The fettlements making in the up* 
 per parts of Georgia, upon the fine lands of the 
 Oconee and Okemulgee rivers, will in a very 
 few years bid defiance to them in that quarter. 
 The Georgian troops have already defeated them^ 
 and forced them to be quiet. The Settlement of 
 Frei)ch-broad, aided by Holflon, have nothing to 
 fear from them ; and the Cumberland is too puif- 
 fant to apprehend any danger. The Spaniards 
 are in pofleflion of the Floridas (how long they 
 will remain fo muft depend upon their modera- 
 tion and good manners), and the fettlements at 
 the Natchez and above, which will foon extend 
 
( 74 ) 
 to the fbutherti boundaries of Cumberland; Co 
 that they will be completely enveloped in a few 
 years. Our people will continue to encroach 
 upon them on three fides, which will compel 
 them to live more domeftic lives, and aflimilate 
 them to our mode of living, or crofs to the 
 weftern fide of the Miffilfippi. - 
 
 . I Jn the fettlement of Long Ifland, in the State 
 pf New York, fome of the tribes of Indians re- 
 mained* and lived in continual intercourfe with 
 the whites. Whether it was from any cruelty 
 pradtifed upon them, or from their predominant 
 pafllon for ardent fpirits, I will not pretend to 
 fay ; but it is certain that very few of them re«. 
 main, and they are a flothful, degenerate order 
 of beings, compared with the aborigines of that 
 country. In the fettlement of South Carolina 
 the Catawbas were allotted a trad of country, 
 iind though they have retained their courage, 
 their numbers have greatly declined. The caufe 
 of civilization proving repugnant to their popu- 
 lation, I think, may be fufficiently accounted for 
 in the whites encouraging their thirft for intoxi- 
 
 cation, iQ/;^ ., 
 
 i 
 
 I will 
 
 .»l^ 
 
 '•» Ci 
 
^Xl- 
 
 ( 75 ) 
 
 I will next take notice of the Gcnafcc coun- 
 try, which lies upon the waters that run into 
 lake Ontario, and which it is expected will be 
 peopled as foon as the Six Nations of Indians 
 are peaceable. This is a very rich and fertile 
 trad of country, lying in the remote parts of 
 New York, bounded by Pennfylvania to the 
 fouth-eaft, by the lakes to the north-weft, and 
 high hills and a wildernefs from the Ohio coun- 
 try. I have hitherto omitted takiifg notice of it; 
 as not properly belonging to the weftern coun- 
 try ; but as I am going to proceed to partition 
 the country weft of the Ohio into feparate States, 
 I thought it mbft confiftent to keep up the chain 
 o6f conn^dion ; atid without mentioning this dif- 
 tridl, there would have been a chafm between 
 New York and the uppermoft State upon the 
 •waters of the Ohio. ' 
 
 t I will now return to the Ohio. That rid^e 
 of hills which divides the waters of this riv^ 
 from that of the lakes running fouth-wefteily, 
 until they run north-wefterly and divide the 
 fources of the Wabafh and Illinois rivers from 
 the fouthern branches of the lakes, will ivoPk 
 
 . ;. - La likely 
 
( 7^ ) 
 likely mark the limits to the well of the Upper 
 State upon the wcftern fide of the Ohio* The 
 ridge of hills which divides the waters of the 
 Alegany river from thofe of the Genafee, will 
 bound it to the north i the Allegany river and 
 the Ohio to the eail, and the Muikingum to the 
 fouth. The next State I ihould form between 
 the Muikingum and Sciota« the Ohio and that 
 ridge of hills between the fources of thefe rU 
 vers and thofi^of lake Erie, The third, between 
 the Scipta, the Great Miami, the Ohio, and 
 the fame ridge of hills. The country lying ht- 
 tween the Miami, Wabaih, the Ohio, and the 
 fame hills, I would put into another State $ imd 
 the country lying between the Waba(h» Ohie^ 
 MilTilIippi, and Illinois rivers, I would eftabliih 
 into a lifth State, 
 
 Between the mouth of the Illinois river and wa^ 
 ters of lake Michegan, lies a diftrid of country 
 equally fertile with any part of the wellem coua^ 
 try ; but, in the progrefiion of our fettlementi, 
 it will be feme years before any fettlements can 
 be formed there, except in die fork of the Mif- 
 fiflippi and Illinois ; which may be ereded into 
 • i tl '■ _ a State, 
 
( 77 ) 1 ^ 
 
 » State, by running si line from St. Anthony'i.v; ^' 
 
 V.., 
 
 -s 
 
 ^ 
 
 I. 
 
 
 
 fitlls, in fuch a direiftion as to ilrike the head 
 branche* of the Illinois. But it is mod likely / 
 that the country on the Miililfippi and Mifouri'' v v^ k 
 will be fettled before this diftricS:, though it in \Wt \i 
 confidered as the empire of Spain. However* ^ ^ ^ 
 I "wilJ not be fo indecorous as to parcel out the ^ ^ 
 territories of other nations j it is fufficiently pre* ^ 
 fumptuous to have gone fo far as I have. n;; 
 
 X have now marked out the imaginary bound* V 
 aries of iix nev States exduiive of thofe on the 
 eaftern fide of the Ohio, the Genafee fettle- 
 mentj and without including the country between 
 the northern limits of Kentucky and Pittfburg» 
 or the country between Niagara, Detroit, and the 
 iources of thofe rivers which run into the Ohio* 
 
 The upper fettlemcnt on the caftem fide of the 
 Ohio, will mod likely follow the Cumberland 
 
 I 
 
 and Holllon in its independence. In peopling 
 the new States I conclude the lowermoft will be 
 £rft fettled, and confequently the firfi: to be ad- 
 mitted into the federal government. The difiriifl: 
 of country that will be lafi; fettled in all probabi- 
 lity, between the Ohio, the lakes, and the Mif- 
 
 ^f)^:^il 
 
 fidippi. 
 
( 78 > 
 iiflippi, to the fouth of St. Anthony's Falls, is 
 perhaps^ that which lies between Niagara and 
 Detroit, and extending to the ridge of hills which 
 divides the waters of lake Erie and Ohio, by 
 reafon of its damp and cold foil. The furrender 
 of the forts of Niagara and Detroit (which I un« 
 derfland is about to be done), may increafe the 
 fettlements upon the borders of lake £rie ; but I 
 think it is not likely that unhofpitable clime will 
 find inhabitants, while the genial regions of the 
 MiiTiflippi are in a great meafure uninhabited. 
 
 It is next neceilary to take notice how, and in 
 what probable time, thefe States will be inhabit- 
 ed. The firft fettlement upon the Ohio and the 
 progrefs made in agriculture was extremely 
 tardy. But it is heceifary to recoiled^ that Ame- 
 rica was not only in an infant Hate at the con- 
 clufion of the war in 1763, but that the continual 
 wars with the Indians greatly retarded the pro- 
 grefs of that fettlement ; and if the fame obftruc- 
 tions have been given to the fettlements on the 
 weftern fide of the Ohio, it is equally certain 
 that the exhaulled condition of the finances of 
 -the United States, until within a year and a half 
 
 paft. 
 
( 79 ) 
 
 did not permit them to take thofe vigorous mea- 
 fures necelTary to their tranquillity, and that per- 
 manent fettlements on that fide of the river, and 
 the increafe of the neceflaries of life (which are 
 now in greater abundance in the weftern country 
 than in any other part of America) will enable 
 them to fupport their iituation with infinitely more 
 eafe, than when we were obliged to bring almofi: 
 every thing for ufe over the mountain. 
 
 I have eftimated the number of fouls on the 
 weftern , waters at 400,000. I fhould fuppofe, 
 from the difpofition to early marriages, which 
 is general, and the extraordinary fecundity which 
 is every where obferved, with the addition of the 
 emigrants who may be expected from the eaftern 
 , States, that the inhabitants will double once in 
 15 years for the next 60 years to come at leaft,— 
 which in the firft 1 5 years will be equal to 
 peopling four or five of thefe States ; and I think 
 we may exped to fee at the end of 30 years the 
 whole country I have been dcfcribing inhabited. 
 The ratio of increafe after the firft 30 years ap- 
 pears almoft too aftonilhing for belief: 6,400,000 
 fouls increafe in the courfe of 60 years, when it 
 N is 
 
f «o ) 
 
 ii notorious chat all America added to her po« 
 pulation little more than 2,000,000 in the courfe 
 of a century, no doubt will appear a calcula- 
 tion too extravagant ; for which reafon it will 
 be necelfary for me to ftate the rife of the one, 
 and the probable growth of the other. 
 
 Mr. Jefferfon, in his notes on Virginia (to 
 which i Ihall have frequent occaflon to advert 
 in my fubfequent letters), allows a duplication 
 only once in 17 1 years. He takes the fpace of 
 11$ years incluilve from 1654, until the year 
 1702, when the rythes of Virginia had increafed 
 from 7209, to 153,000; which eftimate he fays 
 is corroborated by the particular uniformity of 
 the intermediate enumerations taken in 1700, 
 174S, and 1759. According to this increafe, 
 he fuppofes the inhabitants of Virginia alone 
 will amount to between 6 and 7,000,000 within 
 iiinety-lix years. 
 
 It appears, by a ftatement which he has made 
 of the emigrants in different years to that coun- 
 tiy, that the greateft number in any one year 
 was 3000, which was the year 1628. From the 
 year 1654 the diflblution of the Virginia Com- 
 pany 
 
( 8i •) 
 
 pany took place, and importations almoft 
 ceafed until it became the pradlice of your go- 
 vernment to tranfport conviif^s to the Colonies ; 
 fo that it does not appear that the peopling of 
 Virginia was materially owing to the migrations 
 from Europe : 'whereas I have known upwards 
 of 10,000 emigrants to arrive in the fingle State 
 of Kentucky within one year, and from 4 to 
 10,000 in feveral other years. 
 
 Great part of the country from the Bay of 
 Fundy to Cape Florida upon the fea coaft is un- 
 favourable to agriculture. New England has 
 never yet produced corn fufficient to fupply 
 its inhabitants with bread ; which mud pro- 
 ceed either from the ignorance of the arts of 
 hufbandry in that country, or from the poverty 
 of the foil : I believe both have helped to retard 
 the progrefs of agriculture. Long Ifland is 
 chiefly a fand heap, where the inhabitants feem 
 for a great length of time to have been content 
 to live upon filh. The State of New- York for 
 a confiderable diftance back is a con^tinuation of 
 hills and (tones. The country from Polouf- 
 hook to the capes of the Delaware is a flat of 
 
 M nothing 
 
( 82 ) 
 
 nothing but fak marfhes and pine barrans, 
 ivhich extend for twenty miles up the country ; 
 and the whole country from thofe capes fouth- 
 ward to the Gulf of Florida is no better, fpr a 
 confiderable diftance from the fea, thp bottoms 
 of the rivers excepted ; fo that the iirft fettlers 
 of America had not only the native^ to con- 
 tend againd, but alfo extreme poverty. 
 
 The exteniion of the Dutch fettlement from 
 New York up Hudfon's river to the fine lands 
 about Albany, and to the fertile bs^nks of the 
 Rariton, in Jerfey, and the fettlement of Penn- 
 fylvania by the celebrated Penit, firft produced 
 that plenty which is not only n^pcelTary -to com- 
 fort, but is elTential to occaiipn tjut fecundity 
 which diilinguiihes thf rapid populatipn of 
 mod. infant countries, after they have overcome 
 the firft, difficulties of eftablifhing a fettlement. 
 
 As the natives were driven back, the fettlers. 
 began to penetrate into the fertile regions of the 
 middle parts of the States ; which lie at fome 
 diftance from the fea coaft. But, feyeral caqfes 
 now combined to retard the population of the 
 country. The unfavourable appearance of 
 
 the 
 
( 83 ) 
 the foil of New England induced mod of its 
 inhabitants to lead fca-faring lives^ which not 
 only tend to check the natural increafe of men 
 by the lofTes incidental to fuch an employment, 
 but, hinder, ir a material degree, the propaga- 
 tion of the fpecics, by the feparation of the 
 fexes. 
 
 This buiinefs was in fome meafure common 
 to the whole colonies, fiefides which, the wars 
 in which England was often engaged againll 
 France and Spain, and in which we were alfo 
 concerned, with the frequent Indian wars, and 
 the late American war, helped not a little to ob- 
 ilrudb the natural proportion of the increafe of 
 inhabitants. America had only crolTed the line 
 between poverty and affluence when the late un- 
 fortunate war commenced. However, there was 
 a dill more nefarious and deteftable caufe for 
 this flownefs of population arifing from the in- 
 trodu(flion of African flavery. Men began then 
 to look upon it as infamous to labour — amufe- 
 ments were invented to fill up their time — dif- 
 iipation followed in all the ex^efs of idlenefs 
 
 M 2 and 
 
( 84 ) 
 
 and folly. The fair fex were negledled : mar- 
 riages were lefs early, and lefs frequent. And 
 thus it happened that the inhabitants of Virgi- 
 nia were found to double only once in 27-^ 
 years, and which has been adopted by fome per- 
 fons as a criterion to eflimate the increafe of 
 the inhabitants of all the other States ; but it 
 is nor a fair criterion, for it is notorious that 
 Pennfylvania is much better peopled than Vir- 
 ginia, though its fird fettlement was at a later 
 date. But, now, for the reverfe. Though we 
 enjoy an extenlive inland navigation, we are not 
 liable to the fame lofs of men which the perils 
 of the fea produces; nor any of that lofs which 
 maritime countries fuffer by their citizens en- 
 tering into foreign fervice, or fettling in foreign 
 countries : our voyages will be regulated by the 
 periodical floods, and the seras of abfence will 
 be more determinate and cert&in ; fo that ab- 
 fence here cannot fo materially interrupt do- 
 meftic happinefs, and cannot in the leaft retard 
 the increafe of inhabitants. It is impoflible that 
 we can experience any thing like poverty, for no 
 
 country 
 
country, perhaps, upon the globe is fo -rich in 
 the comforts and necefTaries of life. As to wars, 
 we can Iwve none after a few years more are 
 pad. The Spaniards may put us to fome ill- 
 convenience for a few years to come ; but, in 
 doing this, they will not only rifk the lofs of 
 New Orleans, but the whole of Louifiand, 
 which they conlider as the key to M'exico^ 
 Thus fecured from wars, and the inland naviga- 
 tion of the country not fubjeding us to material 
 lofTes in that buiinefs ; with the propenlity to 
 early marriages, produced by the fimplicity and 
 innocence of youth, tutored under the pure max- 
 ims of virtue and reafon; it cannot be conii- 
 dered as a fanguine calculation, when we add 
 the additional confederation of the probable 
 number of emigrants we may receive, that our 
 population will double once in fifteen years. 
 
 Having endeavoured to give you an idea of 
 the country north-weft of the Ohio, omitted in 
 my laft ; and what will be the probable parti- 
 tions of the New States to be laid off on that 
 iide of the river, the population, and expeded 
 
 increafe 
 
 ■>■ f /" 
 
 ■i 
 
t «6 ) 
 
 increife of the inhabitants of the weftera coun- 
 try; I ihall take leave of you for the prefent, 
 and in my next you ihall have an account of its 
 produdtionsj navigations, &c. 
 
 I remain, afi^edionately. 
 
 Yours, &c. 
 
 L E T- 
 
 
 ■'■■•^•^ii^V _ .„i,v^^ 
 
( ^ )' 
 
 cs 
 
 LETTER V. 
 
 MY D^AR FEIIND, 
 
 KENTUCKY^ 
 
 / 
 
 
 X N the advancement of civilization, agricuL- 
 ture feems to have been in every country the 
 prifnaiy objed of mankind — Art« and fciences 
 have followed* and, ultimately, they have beea 
 relevant to each other. Fortunately for man- 
 kind, the prefent aera of reafon, not only admits, 
 but mak,es it necefTary ,that they fhould go hand 
 in, hand. The decency of life is not the fmalleft 
 of fublunary blandifhments. Purity is to the 
 body what virtue is to the foul ; — an eternal in- 
 vigorating germ, whofe blolToms diffufe the mod 
 fragrant odours, 4nd give a vivacity to the min4 
 equally manly and delightful. , • 
 
 The wellern limits of the federal empire are 
 bounded on the north by the lakes, Ontario* 
 Eric, St. Clair, Michegan, Superior, and the 
 lake of the wood j to the weft by the Miflifllppi ; 
 and extending as far ibuth as the Natchez, or lat. 
 32 deg. then is bound by the Floridas to the 
 \ . fouth. 
 
 
 ^^ir.^^ 
 
 
 V tf •« / 
 
 "^/\ 
 
 
 V... 
 
v» 
 
 ( 88 ) 
 
 fouth. What is called the weflern territory lies 
 on this fide of the Allegany mountain, within 
 thefe limits. 
 
 Here is found all the variety of foil and cli-. 
 mate neceifary to the culture of every kindvof 
 grain, fibrous plants, cotton, fruits, vegetables, 
 and all forts of provifions. The upper fettlements 
 on the Ohio produce chiefly wheat, oats, barley, 
 rye, Indian corn or maze, hemp and flax. The 
 fruits, are apples, pears, cherries, peaches, 
 plumbs, llrawberriesi rafberries, currants, goofe- 
 berries and grapes ; of culinary plants and vege- 
 tables, there are turnips, potatoes, carrots, parf- 
 nips, cymbiline or fquafli, cucumbers, peafe, 
 beans, afparagus, cabbages, brocali, celely 
 and fallads; befides which there are melons 
 and herbs of every fort. The provifion confift 
 of be^f, pork} mutton, veal, and a variety of 
 poultry, fuch as ducks, Mufcovy ducks, turkeys, 
 geefe, dunghill fowls and pidgeons. The fu- 
 perfluous proviflons are fold to the emigrants 
 who are continually pafling through thofe fettle, 
 ments, in their route to the diflerent dillrids of 
 country^ and which I have enumerated. Some 
 
 coniiderable 
 
( »9 ) .. 
 
 conliderable quantity of fpirits diftilled from 
 rye, and likewife cyder, are fent down the river 
 to a market, in thofe infant fettlemcnts where 
 the inhabitants have not had time to bring or- 
 chards to any perfeftion, or have not a fuper- 
 fluity of grain to diftil into fpirits. The beef, 
 pork, and flour are difpofed of in the fame way. 
 The flax and hemp are packed on horfes and 
 fent acrofs the mountain to the inland towns of 
 Pcnnfylvania and Maryland, and (as I hinted in 
 a Tormer letter) in a few years when grazing 
 forms the principal objedl of thofe fettlers, 
 they will always find a market for their cattle 
 at Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Alexandria. 
 
 Thcfe fettlements might produce a confider- 
 able quantity of fugar, but hitherto what they 
 have made has ferved for little more^han home 
 confumption, as every part of the back coun- 
 try from lat. 44 to 36® produces an abundance of 
 the fugar maple-tree as would be equal to furnifh 
 fugar for the inhabitants of the whole earth: and 
 to fend it to any of the market towns on the At-- 
 lantic, is too far to be profitable until the canals ' 
 of the Potowmac fhall have been flnifhed. That 
 
 N country 
 
( 90 ) 
 
 c^Quntry produces alfo all the pot-herhs which 
 arc common in Europe : feveral kinds of nuts 
 grow in the forefts, fuch as chefnuts, hickory, 
 and black walnuts. The mountains^ hills^ and 
 uninhabited parts abound in deer, wild turkeys, 
 and a fpecies of groufe which are called by the 
 Americans promifcuoufly partridge or pheafant. 
 There is an abundance of wild fowl, as is indeed 
 the cafe in every part of the weftern country : 
 to enumerate thefe could prove neither amufe> 
 ment or inflrudion. 
 
 Linen and woollen cloths, leather, and hats, 
 for home confumption, arc manufadtured with 
 confiderable fuccefs. The two firft articles are 
 only made in families for their own ufe; but 
 the latter are made by men of profeflion in that 
 bufinefs, and are of a quality that would not 
 difgr,ace the mechanics of Europe. Blackfmiths 
 work of all forts, even to making fire arms, is 
 done there; as is alfo cabinet work, wheel- 
 wright, mill Wright, houfe carpentry, joinery, 
 ihoe-making, 8cc. &c. in (hort, all the trades im- 
 mediately neceflary to the promotion of the 
 cqmforts of new fcttlements, are to be found here. 
 
 After 
 
( 91 ) 
 After pafllng to the fouthward of lat. 40 deg. 
 the climate becomes favourable to the culture 
 of tobacco. It will, no doubt, grow farther to 
 the north ; but neither its flavour is fo aromatic, 
 or the crop fo certain or produrtive. Indeed 
 the farther fouth tobacco grows, generally the 
 finer its quality : hence it is, that the faegars of 
 Cuba are fo much admired for their peculiar 
 fcent, and the Oroonookoo for its mildnefs. How- 
 ever, this is of little confequence to any country, 
 as it is certain no cultivation is fo pernicious to 
 the foil, and of fo little real advantage to the 
 cultivator. It continually impoveriflles the land ; 
 and every additional feafon, iniflead of producing 
 riches to an eftate, tends to beggar it : every vef- 
 tigc of its growth is mifery and devaftation, 
 and no foil^ but one as prolific as that of the 
 Nile, would be capable of producing it for any 
 length of time, accordirig to the fyflrem which has 
 ')een purfued in Virginia and Maryland. How- 
 ever the whole of the Ohio and Mifliffippi coun* 
 try below lat. 40 deg. is perhaps better adapted to 
 produce tobacco in quantity than any other 
 country upon the face of the globe, 
 
 _ N 2 Kentucky 
 
( 9i ) 
 
 Kentucky produces, betides tobacco, all the 
 different kinds of grain, which I have defcribed, 
 in the upper fettlement ; all the fruits^ with the 
 addition of apricots and nedarines ; thefe and 
 peaches grow here to very great perfedion, 
 particularly when planted upon a light foil, 
 which fhould always be the cafe when it can be 
 found; but however extraordinary it may ap- 
 pear, it is not often the cafe in this diflri(5l of 
 country. 
 
 Thofe culinary plants, vegetables, &c. I have 
 enumerated above, are produced in the whole 
 weftern country. In fome parts they grow to 
 greater perfecHiion than in others, as in this the cu- 
 cumber, turnips, peas, and many others are much 
 finer than I ever faw them any where befide. 
 The cantilope melon is only to be equalled by 
 thofe in Perfia. We are not at the trouble and 
 expencc of forcing. Every thing put into the 
 ground of the vegetable kind, grows in a moft 
 wonderful manner. 
 
 The foil is uncommonly favourable to hemp 
 and Indian corn. I have known 12 cwt. of the 
 former produced from an acre of ground, and as 
 
 ^ »- much 
 
the 
 cd, 
 the 
 md 
 on, 
 oil, 
 be 
 
 { 93 ) 
 
 much as lOO bufhels of the latter. This has not 
 only been done from an uncommon fertile fpot; 
 but there are large bodies of land adjoining^ 
 which are equally prolific. I believe, that, 
 were I to mention upon an average the produce 
 of the whole country, it would be found to be 
 nearly as follows : 
 
 Hemp per acre 
 
 Indian corn, or maze, ditto - 
 
 Wheat, ditto - - 
 
 Barley, ditto 
 
 Oats, ditto - - 
 
 Clover and timothy grafs, ditto 
 
 fielides hemp and flax for manufacturing, 
 cotton is cultivated with conliderable fuccefs, 
 particularly in the fouthern parts of the State 
 and Cumberland ; and, no doubt, in a few years, 
 when ourfettlements extend to the Natchez, cot- 
 ton will be produced in as great perfedion as 
 
 # 
 
 in the Eaft or Wefl Indies. No foil or climate 
 can be more congenial to this plant than the re- 
 gions on the lowermoft parts of the Mifliflippi. 
 We have it in our power to promote the cul- 
 ture of iilk alfo. The mildnefs of the climate 
 
 800 cwt. 
 60 bufhels. 
 30 ditto. 
 40 ditto. 
 50 ditto. 
 - 25 cwt. 
 
 and 
 
t 94 ) 
 
 and the great quantity o( the nnulberrf trees, 
 which are every where interfperfcd in our fbrefbf 
 renders this matter extremely eafy ; ibyt how J^r 
 this will be politic, when the ufe of nlkJs g(^ng 
 out of fafhion, is a matter that reouH^ilrfome 
 confideration. Cotton has fupplietl f^t 'place, 
 and its fuperior excellence, I apprenehd, will 
 always make it a more profitable maiiufadory. 
 
 The growth of wool will form an important 
 confideration with us. The plains I have de- 
 fcribed, extend quite to the mountains^ To that 
 Iheep here may have every advantage which the 
 flocks of Spain enjoy. If we can form any idea 
 from the famples of wool produced an many 
 parts of the country, we may conclude that our 
 mofl fanguine expedations will be fully an- 
 fwered. - '^'- ■-'^'■^^■f ,y*^t*^f../4:'^fr^^^:'^'' 
 
 The buffalo are moftly driven out of Ken- 
 tucky. Some are flill found upon the headwaters 
 of Licking creek, Great Sandy, and the head 
 waters of Green river. Deer abound in the 
 exteniive foreils ; but the elk confines iifelf 
 moflly to the hilly and uninhabited places. 
 
 The rapidity of the fettlement has driven the 
 
 wild 
 
( 95 ) 
 wild turkey quite out of the middle countries ; 
 but they are found in large flocks in all our ex* 
 tenfive woods. 
 
 Amidil tlie mountains and broken countries 
 are great numbers of the groufe I have defcribedj 
 and fince the fettlement has been eftablifhed, the 
 quail, by following the trail of grain which is 
 neceflarily fcattered through the wildernefs, has 
 migrated from the old fcttlements on the other 
 fide the mountain, and has become a conftant 
 rcfident with us. This bird was unknown here 
 on the firft peopling of the country. 
 
 There is a variety of wild-fowl in every part 
 of this State, particularly teal, and the fummer 
 duck. The latter breeds with us. Its incuba- 
 tion is always in temperate climates, which is 
 the reafon of its being called the fuinmer duck. 
 
 The produdions of Cumberland are nearly 
 the fame as thofe of Kentucky. The quality of 
 tobacco is perhaps fomething better; but the 
 climate being confiderably warmer, it is not fo 
 favourable to wheat and barley, nor does grafs 
 grow there fo luxuriantly as with us. 
 
 The country below Cumberland foon becomes 
 
 warm 
 
/>' 
 
 ( 9C ) 
 
 warm enough for indigo and rice ; and perhaps 
 thcfe articles, in a few years, will be cultivated 
 on the MiiTiflippi with as much fuccefs, if not 
 more, than they ever were in South Carolina or 
 Georgia ; particularly tHb former, as the foil on 
 the M idifiippi is infinitely more luxuriant than 
 any in the Carolinas. Some elTay^ were made in 
 this bufinefs, previous to the late war ; but the 
 objedl was abandoned in the dedrudion of tKc 
 fettlement I mentioned in a former letter, made 
 below the Natchez. 
 
 Oranges, and other tropical fruits, grow at the 
 Natchez, and fome diflance above, to confiderable 
 perfedlion. There are a variety of nuts which 
 grow both in Kentucky and Cumberland, fome 
 of which are common to both ; the mod re- 
 markable of which is the Pacane ; but as they 
 have all been noticed, both by Carver and Jeflfer- 
 fon, 1 fhall refer you to them for their parti- 
 cular defcriptions and properties. Grapes, 
 plumbs, gooiberries, and ftrawberries, grow alfo 
 Ipontaneoufly in the fouthern parts of Kentucky, 
 aud in moft parts of Cumberland. ^ - 
 
 The produce of the weftern country will be 
 
 V*-*,-^ /V / i 
 
 y* y^ 
 
 A^y. Mif^^^ y^'t 
 
 ^.^.^ / / / 
 
 
 nearly 
 
( 97 ) • 
 nearly tht fame in the fame parallels of latitude 
 throughout ; Co that comparing my imaginary 
 States, with the fettled country fouth-eafl of the 
 Ohio, you will be able to form a juft idea of 
 what they will be capable of producing. But 
 to comprehend the obje(fl of the commer^ce of 
 thi^ country^ ic is iirft neceflary to contemplate 
 it, abounding in all the comforts of life, limited 
 in its variety of climate only by what is not 
 delireable ; with a foil fo prolific, a navigation fo 
 extennve,and a fecurity fo permanent from being 
 inland, that it feems this vail extent of empire 
 is only to be equalled for its fublimity but by 
 the objed of its aggrandizement. 
 
 Proyiiions, tobacco, and raw materials will 
 conilitute the firfl articles of our trade. Such a 
 quantity of beef, pork, bacon, butter, checfe, &c. 
 &c. might be furnilhed from this country as 
 will, one day, no doubt, furnifh the Weft India 
 iflands, and afford relief to the miferable Chi* 
 liefe, whofe fcanty portion of rice is only fuffi- 
 cient to keep foul and body together. Our 
 mountainous countries muft always prove ex- 
 cellent ranges for herds of cattle; thegrafs, in the 
 
 Q fummer. 
 
 
 
 
 .^"-^ .<- t Y ' .->"■•*■'■ 
 
 *f •' \^-^^^ 9. p- f .^ 
 
 ^. ei » 
 
 / 
 
 ■ ■ii^. ^ » 
 
 .^^/5..-..^ ^ 
 
 
/ 
 
 f V. 
 
 . ( 98 ; 
 
 fummer, affording fufficient food to fatten rhem, 
 without the expence of cultivated meadows, and 
 the winters are fcldom fo fevere as to require 
 any other food than the cane and pea-vine. >*"^ 
 » The navigation of this country has been much 
 talked of. The diftance from one place to ano- 
 ther has been computed with fomc degree of ac- 
 curacy, and the various experiments which have 
 been made confirm the opinion that its difficulty 
 is merely imaginary. - •■-■■ 
 
 The common mode of defccnding the ftream is 
 in flat-bottomed boats, which may be built from 
 15 to 500 tons burthen. But, as far as I have 
 been able to judge, I fhould fuppofe, t^at about 
 50 or 60 tons burthen would be the moft conve- 
 nient, wieldy, and confequently fafe, particularly 
 when the waters are very high, for in fuch cafes 
 the rapidity of the current makes it difficult to 
 manage an unwieldy mafs with facility. Thefe 
 boats arc built of oak plank, with a certain pro- 
 portion of breadth to their length, /. e, nearly 
 as 1 2 feet to 40 ; which will be a boat of nearly 
 40 tons. They are covered or not as occafion 
 ' may require. The objecT: is to build them as 
 
 
 V2s 
 
 V^^VX --""V 5^,:--, V 
 
 ^:::-^^-^- 
 
 \. 
 
 ^-^SlT'a.^^ 
 

 r 99 ) 
 
 cheap as pofTiblc, for their Unwieldincfs prevents 
 the poffibility of their returning, and they can 
 only be fold as plank. 
 
 Several of thcfe boats fetting out together, let 
 us fuppofe 5, lO, 15, or 20, of 60 tons burthen 
 each, which would require each 6 hands to navi- 
 gate them. Ten boats then of 60 tons each will 
 employ 60 hands, which will be equal to navi- 
 gate up the ftream 3 boats of 5 tons each, and 
 which would be more t3n.3in fufficient to bring 
 back the cargo which the produce of the ten 
 boats would purchafe; as the articles we ex- 
 port are grofs and bulky, while we want only in 
 return fuperfine goods : the coarfer goods of 
 every fort will always be manufadured in the 
 country. We alfo make our own fait, fugar, 
 fpirits, malt liquor, and (hall foon make our 
 pwn wine. Thefe boats muft be worked up 
 with fteam and fails. ' ' ^ 
 
 The invention of carrying a boat againft the 
 ilream by the influence of fleam, is a late im- 
 provement in philofophy by a Mr. Rumfey of 
 Virginia, whofe ingenuity has been rewarded by 
 that State with the exclufive privilege of navi- 
 
 O i 
 
 /?9^ 
 
 ^ gating 
 
 ,SS, i..-^fy~fjtr-^ 
 
 
 / J- 
 
 ■^""^^'-■wrfp.'. 
 
 ■j^-r-'\*fw. 
 
 
 *-'$ 
 
 /^Uy 
 
 
 V / a^"' 
 
( 100 ) 
 
 gating thofe boats in her rivers for lo years; 
 and as this grant was given previous to the inde- 
 pendence of Kentucky, the adt of feparation 
 guarantees his right. Some circumftance or 
 other has prevented his bringing them into ufc. 
 However there can be no doubt of the fuccefs of 
 his fcheme, for the Aflembly of Virginia had the; 
 mod unequivocal afllirances before they gave the 
 privilege, in a certificate ligned by General 
 Waftiington and Man Page Efquire; fetting 
 forth that they had feen a boat which they be- 
 lieved to be conftrudied by Mr. Rumfey, afcend 
 a ftream without the aid of manual Iz^bour, but 
 without mentioning the operating caufe, which 
 has lince appeared to be fteam. If th\^s prin-^ 
 ciple Ihould fail (and from fuch authority I do 
 not conceive how it is to be prcfumed), I flatter 
 myfelf that philofophy is capable of fupplying 
 the place in the appropriation of fome one of the 
 fecrets with which mechanics abound. 
 
 In taking a retrofpedive view of the world, 
 
 we are for a moment furprifed when we recollect 
 
 that fome thoufands of years had elapfed before 
 
 printing w^is invented, and that the only way of 
 
 '6<- " ._. ' ' accumu- 
 
( lOI ) 
 
 accumulating the copies of art and genius was by 
 the tardy method of tranfcribing ; and that the 
 art of navigation was for nearly as long a time 
 devious, and regulated by no certain laws, the 
 ftars and head lands of different countries being 
 the only guides to the adventurous mariner, who 
 often peri (bed when the heavens were obfcured. 
 
 Liberty ! how many bleflings haft thou 
 brought us! Man, in promulgating his opini- 
 ons, naw finds fecurity under the wings of an 
 edablifhed freedom; and the difmal dungeon 
 which eclipfed the luminous mind of the cele- 
 brated Italian, would now be ereded into a 
 fchool for him to leclure in, inftead of a prifori 
 to bewail the miferable ignorance and depravity 
 of his fellow-creatures. Truth and reafon have 
 led to this melioration of manners, it will lead to 
 more benefits to mankind. — But Ihould we ftill 
 be obliged to row our boats againft the ftream, 
 it is not only pradlicable but eafy. 
 
 The frequent turnings in the Mifllflippi pro- 
 duce in every bend eddy water, which with the 
 advantage the wind affords (which blowing the 
 greater part of the year from the fouth-weft, and 
 
 1 • r diredly 
 
 t 
 
( IQ2 } 
 
 diredly up the windings of the river, which, by 
 reafon pf the vacancy between the banks and 
 rifing forefts on either lidc, afford a channel for 
 the current of the air) is fufficient with fails, 
 keeping as much as pofllble in the eddy water, 
 to carry a boat 50 miles a day up the the ftream, 
 ,^/ To account for thofe winds philofophically 
 would be extremely eafy ; but, as it is a circum-. 
 ftance notorious from the teftimoi^y of voyagers 
 in the MifTiHippi and Ohio, I prefume the teft of 
 experience will be preferred to any philofophic^l 
 difquiiition upon ;he fubje(5t, 
 
 Should this navigation prove too tedious» and 
 no improvements appear likely to be made in it, 
 the importing into the country may be facilitated 
 by another channel, froni the Gulf pf Mexico 
 up the Mobile^ which is a lazy current; 
 from the principal branch pf which there is but 
 a fhort paflage to a branch of the Tenafee, when 
 you will have the advantage of the ftream quite 
 into the Ohio. I have enumerated this circum- 
 ftance merely for the fake of information, for 
 I have not the fmalleft doubt of the eligibility 
 of the navigation of the Mifliflippi, which is 
 
 , , proved 
 
 rj 
 
( »03 ) 
 
 proved from the experiments which are daily 
 making. 
 
 The diftance from Pittfburg to the Mulkin- 
 gum is 173 miles; to the Little Kenhaway 178; 
 to the Great Kenhaway 285 ; to Great Sandy 
 342 ; to the Sciota 390 ; to Limeftone 500 ; to 
 the Little Miami 510; to Licking creek 524; 
 to the Great Miami 550 ; to the Great-bone 
 creek 582 ; to the Kentucky 626 j to the Ra- 
 piers 703 ; to Salt river 723 ; to Green river 
 922 ; to the Wabalh 1019 ; to Cumberland river 
 1 1 13; to the Tenafecii26; to the Miififlippi 
 1183; from thence to New Orleans is about 
 
 1200. ' ': 
 
 I have mentioned that it is about 230 from the 
 mouth of the Ohio up the Miffiflippi to the 
 mouth of the Mifouri, and about 20 from thence 
 
 I 
 
 to Illinois, which is navigable for batteaux to its 
 fource. From thence there is a portage only of 
 2 miles to Chickago, which is alfo navigable for 
 batteaux to its entrance into lake Michegan, 
 which is a diftance of 16 miles. This lake af- 
 fords communication with the river St. Law- 
 rence through lake Erie, pafling Niagara by a 
 
 portage 
 
 
( 1C4 ) 
 
 pbrtagc of i miles. The lakes Erie and Michi- 
 gan are navigable for veflels drawing 6 and 7 
 feet water. This is one of the routes by which 
 the exchange of commodities between the 
 northern and fouthern parts of this empire will 
 be facilitated. 
 
 In continuing the plan of ihtcrcourle, it will 
 be found extremely cafy to pafs through lake 
 Ontario to Wood creek, up Wood creek, and 
 by a portage of alpout 3 miles you arrive at a 
 creek, which in 3 miles more brings you to Fort 
 Edward upon the Mohawk river, which is a 
 branch of Hudfon's river. There are feveral 
 carrying places between that and itsjundion with 
 Hudfonj but very little labour would remove 
 them, and I have no doubt but the State of New 
 York will be judicious enough to fet early about 
 
 • 
 
 it. It is certain that they have ordered furveys 
 to be made, and plans are forming for the re- 
 moval of thofe obftrudions. It has been long in 
 embryo with them. It was impofTible a plan of 
 fo much utility could efcape that fage and pene- '; 
 trating politician General Schuyler, whofe vaft 
 eftate lies moftly in that part of America,. 2 ; 
 ?^u- There 
 
 \c 
 
( 1^5 ) 
 
 There are alfo portages into the waters of lake 
 Erie from the Wabafh, Great Miami, Mulkin- 
 gum, and Allegany, from 2 to i6 miles. The 
 portage between the Ohio and Potowmac will be 
 about 20 miles when the obftriidions in the Mo- 
 nongahala and Cheat rivers arc removed, which 
 will form the firft objecH: of the gentlemen of 
 Virginia when they have completed the canals 
 on the Potowmac. 
 
 The obftrudions to the navigation of the Great 
 Kanhaway are of fuch magnitude, that it will 
 require a work of ages to remove them ; but if 
 ever that fhould be done, there will be an eafy 
 communication between that and James river, 
 and likewife with the Oroonooko, which runs 
 through North Carolina. But this is an event 
 too remote to deferve any conlideration at pre- 
 fent. 
 
 All the rivers in this country of 60 yards wide 
 and upwards, are navigable almoft to their 
 fources for flat-bottomed boats during their 
 floods, and for batteaux the greater part of the 
 year, the great Kanhaway and little Miami ex- 
 cepted. The Tenafce has a confiderable fall 
 
 P where 
 
( xo6 ) 
 
 where it pafTes through Cumberland Mountain, 
 where there muft be a portage alfo. From thence 
 it is navigable quite to Holfton. 
 
 The rapids of the Ohio I have defcribed in a 
 former letter. They are no obftrucStion in high 
 water to boats going down the river, and indeed 
 batteaux may pafs almou at any time. There 
 are two fmall rapids in the Wabalh between its 
 mouth and St, Vincent's, but they are no impe- 
 diment to navigation, except at times of low 
 water. The Kafkalkia is a fmall river which 
 runs into the MilTidippi below the Illinois, and is 
 navigable a confiderable way above the plains. 
 The Mifliflippi isnavigableto St. Anthony's Falls, 
 without any obftrudlion. Carver defcribes it as 
 navigable above them as far as he travelled. 
 We have too little knowledge of the Mifouri to 
 ' form any decided opinion of the extent of its na- 
 vigation. It is however certain, that it is a more 
 powerful flream than the Mifliflippi, and in en- 
 tering that river, it triumphantly rufhes acrofs, 
 and its turbid waters, unmixed, feem to difdain a 
 connection fo inferior. From the befl informa- 
 tion that we have been able to collccH:, it is navi- 
 gable 
 
.in. 
 
 ( 107 ) ' 
 
 gable for 1 2 or 1 500 miles above its mouth with- 
 out obflru(5tion ; and I think it is not unlikely 
 that in fettling the country towards its fource, 
 we Ihall find it is not remote from the fources of 
 the ftreams running into the Pacific Ocean, and 
 that a communication may be opened between 
 them with as much eafe as between the Ohio 
 and Potowmac, and alfo between the fettlements 
 on the Mifliflippi and California. This circum- 
 fiance is the more likely to happen, as it does 
 not appear that the ridges of hills which divide 
 the waters of the Pacific Ocean from the waters 
 of the Mifliflippi, are either fo high or fo rugged 
 as the Allegany mountain. 
 
 You will obferve, that as far as this immenfe 
 continent is known, the courfes and extent of 
 its rivers are extremely favourable to communi- 
 cation by water ; a circumftance which is highly 
 important, whether we regard it in a focial or 
 commercial point of view. The intercourfe of 
 men has added no inconfiderable luftre to the 
 polifli of manners, and, perhaps, commerce has 
 tended more to civilize and embelliih the human 
 
 P 2 ' mind. 
 
 \% 
 
\. 
 
 ( io8 ) 
 
 mind, in two centuries, than war and chivalry 
 would have done in five. 
 
 The federal government regulating every thing 
 commercial, mud be produdive of the grcateft 
 harmony, fo that while we are likely to live in 
 the regions of perpetual peace, our felicity will 
 receive a zeft from the adivity and variety of our 
 trade. Wc fliall pafs through the Mifliflippi to 
 the fca— up the Ohio, Monongahala and Cheat 
 rivers, by a fmall portage, into the Potowmac, 
 which will bring us to the federal city on the 
 line of Virginia and Maryland — through the fe- 
 veral rivers I have mentioned, and the lakes to 
 New York and Quebec — from the northern 
 lakes to the head branches of the rivers which 
 run into Hudfon*s-bay into the Ardlic regions— 
 and from the fources of the Mifouri into the 
 Great South Sea. Thus in the centre of the 
 earth, governing by the laws of reafon and hu- 
 manity, wc feem calculated to become at once 
 the emporium and protedlors of the world. 
 
 Before I finifli this letter, I (hall juft enter 
 into fome of the minutiae of the diflancc and 
 
 time 
 
( 109 ) 
 time of defccnding down the Ohio, which will 
 ferve for an account of all the other rivers. Mr. 
 JefFerfon has dated that " the inundations of 
 the Ohio begin about the laft of March, and 
 fubfide in July. He has written his notes on 
 Virginia like a man of erudition, and conlider- 
 ing that he never was in this country, he has 
 given fuch an account of it as cannot be dif- 
 pleafing to an European. But, as in every thing 
 which has charadlerized his political life, his 
 judgment in this appears fuperficial, and his 
 rrind attached to the theory of its own fabrica- 
 tion. Frequent rains in the latter end of the 
 autumn produce floods in the Ohio, and it is an 
 uncommon fcafon when one of thofe floods 
 ^oes not happen before Chrillmas. If there is 
 much frofty weather in the upper parts of the 
 country, its waters generally remain low until 
 they begin to thaw. But, if the river is not 
 frozen over (which is not very common), there 
 is always water fufficient for boats of any lize 
 irom November until May; when the waters 
 •generally begin to fubfide ; and by the middle 
 of June in moft feafons they are too low for 
 " •. boats 
 
( no ) 
 
 boats above forty tons, and thefe muft be flat- 
 bottomed. The froft feldom continues fo 
 long as the middle of February, and immediate- 
 ly upon its breaking the river is flooded ; this 
 flood may in a degree fubfide, but for no length 
 of time ; and it is from that period until May 
 that the boats generally come down the river* 
 The didance of defcending is in proportion to the 
 height of the water; but the average diftancc 
 is about eighty miles in twenty-four hours, and 
 from fixty to one hundred are the extremes : fo 
 that the mean time of going in a flat-bottomed 
 boat from Pittfl^urg to the Rapids, is between 
 eight and nine days, and about twenty days 
 more to New Orleans : which will make 'a paf- 
 fage from Pittfburg to that place nearly a month. 
 The inundations of the MiflifTippi commence 
 fomething later than thofe of the Ohio ; but it 
 is very certain they begin in March, and fubfide 
 in July. This is the mod proper time to af- 
 cend the river, as you avoid the jfhoals, have 
 finer weather, but above all, when the water is 
 high, you have fi:ronger eddies ; and with taking 
 thefe advantages, and with dexterous watermen, 
 riirod you 
 
 '/ 
 

 ( III ) 
 
 you may proceed fifty miles a day M^hich will 
 bring you back to the Rapids of the Ohio in 
 forty days, making a large allowance for contin* 
 gencics. -f * * a/.^,*^ .r>-v^^^* //.^^ <r <' .-g *^*i 
 
 I (hall take leave of you for the prefent, with 
 obferving, that the fmaller rivers have no dated 
 periods to govern their inundations ; but are 
 fubjedl to be flooded by all heavy rains, which 
 is a great advantage to the country, as it af- 
 fords the inhabitants frequent opportunities of 
 fending their produce to the feveral xparket9 
 upon the large rivers. 
 
 Jam, 
 
 Yours, &c. 
 
 4 . t 
 
 LET. 
 
( I" ) 
 
 LETTER VI. 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 KENTUCKY. ' 
 
 1 N the cEConomy of the creation how won- 
 derfully is the wifdom of Providence difplayed ? 
 Some animals are formed with particular fto- 
 machs, as in the inftajice of the camel which 
 has one adapted to contain water. It is abori- 
 ginal in the torrid zone, where the rarefadion of 
 the air is fo great, and confequently more fub- 
 jed to drought. In the Artie regions we find the 
 mulk buffalo, or goat, clad with long wool which 
 fecures it againft inclement cold. Man the 
 mod defencelefs, naked, and helplefs of all in 
 an infant ftate, in his maturity is fuperior in 
 reafon j and thus the faculties of his mind and 
 body, unite in making him fovereign of the 
 world. " Born to dcftroy the inferior race of 
 animals, he would f^xhauft all nature, if, by a fe- 
 cundity fuperior to his depredations, fhe did not 
 
 repair 
 
 .'■' ''I T 
 
. C 1^3 ) 
 repair the perpetual havock he makes. But 
 death is only the minifter of life, and deftrudlion 
 is the parent of reprodudlion." 
 
 The articles of fugar and fait, though not ab- 
 folutely nereflaries of life, have become, from 
 habit, fo eflcntial, that I doubt if any civilized 
 people would be content to live without them. 
 The extenlive climate of this country I believe 
 is no where warm enough for the cultivation of 
 the fugar cane v ith fuccefs j and to import it 
 would be too expenfive by reafon of its great 
 weight : but nature has fuperfeded that neceflity 
 in the fupply of the fugar maple-tree. It has 
 been long known that fugar could be made from 
 the juice of ihis tree ; but from the imperfeA 
 knowledge of the bufinefs of fugar-making, the 
 famples from this liquid were fuch as Jjromifed 
 no ^reat expectations in future experiments: 
 however the neceflity which the people were 
 under of making them or doing without fugar, 
 proved, that with care and proper management, 
 it could be made equal to the fined fi^gars of the 
 Weft Indies or Brazil. Some famples (hewn to 
 
 Q a fugar 
 
( "4 ) 
 
 afugar refiner in Philadelphia (which aftonifhed 
 him) produced feverai inftruAions in the art, 
 which occafioned immediate fuccefs. The peo- 
 ple began to treat the fugar-trecs more tenderly ; 
 and inftead of chopping a large gap in their 
 trunk, which had always been the practice, and 
 which was fufficient to deftroy a lefs tender tree, 
 the juice was found to ooze as effedtually from 
 an inciiion made with a fcrew auger of J of an 
 inch diameter. But this was the fmallefl of the 
 improvements. All the means made ufe of in 
 the Weft Indies for the perfedion of the art 
 were foon afcertained and pradlifed : fo that 
 the country is not only equal to fupply itfelf 
 with fugar, but might with increafe of hands, 
 fupply the inhabitants of the globe. 
 
 The fugar maple-tree not only grows in the 
 grcateft abundance throughout this country, 
 within the limits I have mentioned ; but it is 
 known to be the hardieft, and the moft difficult 
 to deftroy of all the trees in our forefts (the 
 beech not excepted) by the planters, who have a 
 method of chopping or girdling the trunks of 
 
 ;. trees 
 
( "5 ) 
 
 trees about one foot and a half above the ground, 
 in order to kill them, and thereby they prevent 
 their crops from being ihaded. 
 
 It is known that old trees produce the moft 
 and the richefl juice ; and it is alfo known that 
 trees which have been ufed for years are better 
 than frelh trees. It is a common remark that 
 whenever you fee a black tree of this fort, it is 
 a fure lign it is a rich one. The blacknefs pro- 
 ceeds from the incifions made in the bark by 
 the pecking of the parroquet, and other birds, in , 
 the feafon of the juice rifing, which oozing out, \ 
 dribbles down its fides and flains the bark, which 
 in the progreflion of time becomes black. 
 
 I have mentioned thefe particulars with a 
 view to prevent your falling into the general 
 error, that the refource of making fugar from 
 the maple will foon be deftroyed from the very 
 nature of producing it ; believing, as many do, 
 that it is impollible for the tree to be able to 
 bear the annual wounds which are neceflary to 
 be made in its trunk in order to draw off the 
 juice J and that a few years mull neceflarily ex- 
 tirpate them ; now, fo far from there being any 
 ■ " " " -^ • . ■ ■»■ 
 
 Q 2 danger 
 
( ii6 } 
 
 danger of that, experience has fliewn that the 
 longer they are ufed in a proper manner, the 
 more plentiful and rich will be their juice to a 
 certain age, which will be in proportion to the 
 life of thofe trees. No exad eftimate can be 
 made of that ; but I conclude their decay is not 
 earlier than other trees. • " - 
 
 Both in the animal and vegetable world it has 
 been obferved that the exiftence of life, accord- 
 ing to the natural order of things, is in propor- 
 tion to the period of time required to produce 
 maturity. There are exceptions to this princi- 
 ple to be fure ; as the crane for inftance, which 
 feems to acquire maturity as early as moft other 
 birds, is known to live a century and upwards. 
 However, it is very certain that the life of a fu- 
 gar maple, is as long as an oak, or any other 
 tree. " '^ • 
 
 If there is any analogy between animal and 
 vegetable fubftances (and which there moft cer- 
 tainly is), the increafing plenty and richnefs of 
 the juice from the ufe and age of the fugar tree, 
 will it not be thought more extraordinary, than 
 that the quantity of milk is greater and more 
 
 rich 
 
( 117 ) 
 
 rich produced from a cow which has been ufed 
 for years, than from one which has been neg- 
 ledled or prevented from breeding annually. 
 
 The feafon of tapping is moftly about the 
 middle of February, in Kentucky ; but not until 
 the latter end of the month, about Pittlburg, in 
 the remote parts of Pennfylvania, on the head 
 branches of the Sufquahana, and Delaware, 
 and in the State of New York. Frofty morn- 
 ings and bright funlhine are neceflary to pro- 
 duce copious exudations. The l^aCDn continues 
 in tl>is climate about fix weeks, when the juice is 
 found to be too thin and poor to make fugar ; but 
 it is ftill capable of making molafles, fpirits by 
 diftillation, vinegar, and an agreeable table beer. 
 
 The bufipefs of fugar making is moftly ma- 
 naged by women and boys ; the men' generally 
 having nothing more to do with it than to tap 
 the trees, prepare the fheds, and different appa- 
 ratus. So that our agricultural employments 
 are very little obftrudled by this bufinefs, which 
 produces fo important an article for domeftic 
 ufes. The perfedion to which we have, brought 
 our fugars has induced many people in the up- 
 
 
 per 
 
( ii8 ) 
 
 per parts of the States of New York and Penn- 
 fylvania to make a buHnefs of it during the fea- 
 fon of the juice running ; and confiderable quan- 
 tities haye been fent to the markets of Philadel- 
 phia and York, not inferior to the beft clayed, 
 French, and Spanifli fugars. 
 
 The fait fprings which have been found in the 
 iingle State of Kentucky, under proper manage- 
 ment, would be fufficient to produce fait for all 
 the inhabitants which the weftern country could 
 fupport. There are at leaft twelve of thofe 
 fprings between Great Sandy and Cumberland ; 
 the principal of which are the upper and lower 
 blue licks, on Licking creek ; one on the Great- 
 bone creek ; one on Drimnon's lick creek, ^bout 
 a mile and a half from the mouth of the 
 Kentucky j and Bullit's lick, on Salt river, 20 
 miles from the rapids of the Ohio. This fpring 
 is the firft that was worked in the country. 
 The firft effiys in this bulinefs were alfo im- 
 perfe«5t, which, however, proceeded more from 
 poverty than ignorance. The great principle 
 by which the faline particles are chryftalized, 
 is univerfally known to be by the evaporation of 
 ^^l ' the 
 
( no ) 
 
 the humid ; and the greater the fuperficial fur- 
 face of that evaporation, the more rapidly the 
 chryftals will form. But the firft fettlcrs could 
 not procure fait pans, and were obliged to ufe as 
 a fubftitute the pots and kettles which they had 
 brought out for domeftic purpofes. 
 
 Sucli was the commencement of making fait 
 in this country; which, from its fcarcity and 
 high price, in fome meafure difcouraged the fet- 
 tlement of the country. However, the great im- 
 provements fince that aera have done away all 
 thofe fears, and fait is now manufadtured in 
 plenty, and fold cheap. 
 
 The water is by no means fo ftrong as fea 
 water. It requires nearly four hundred gallons 
 to make one bufliel of fait, which is more by 
 one half than would be wanted of fea water to 
 produce that quantity. 
 
 The water is not colledled immediately from 
 the fpring. An area of from five to ten acres 
 round thofe fprings is found to be impregnated 
 with this mineral, fo that by digging wells in 
 any part of that fpace fait water is difcovered. 
 From this circumftance 1 am of opinion, that by 
 
 digging 
 
 III 
 
f I20 ) 
 
 digging pits a body of earth would be found 
 ftrongly impregnated with fait, from which the 
 faline particles might be more eafily feparatcd 
 than from water ; and it is certain, that if the 
 water receives its particles of fait from the earth 
 which it pafles through, fuch earth muft contain 
 a large proportion of fait, otherwife the ftrength 
 of the water would not be fo confiderable. 
 However it will require fome time to determine 
 this matter, as the infancy qf our country will 
 not permit us to fpeculate too largely in experi- 
 ments which would be attended with heavy ex- 
 penccs, were they not to prove fuccefsful. 
 
 Salt fprings have been found in every part of 
 the weftern country which has been well ex- 
 plored, and I have no doubt that time will prove 
 that every part of it is well fupplied with them. 
 The manner by which they are mollly found in 
 uninhabited places is, by the large buffalo roads 
 which lead to them. Whenever the ramification 
 of thofe roads begins to concentre, it is almoft 
 an infallible fign that a fait lick is near. Thofe 
 animals reforting to them throughout the tempe- 
 rate part of the year for the benefit of the fait, 
 
 make 
 
( lai ) 
 
 make large roads, which leading from the lick^ 
 ]branch different ways into the country. 
 
 We have various other minerals, fuch as iroa 
 (which is the moft ufeful), copper, lead, fui- 
 phur, nitre, &c, &c. Iron ore is found in great 
 plenty upon the northern branches of Licking 
 creek, and likewife upon the waters of Green 
 river. A lead mine has been worked many 
 years with confiderable profit, which lies in the 
 county of Montgomery, upon the waters of the 
 Great Kanhaway. There is another between thQ 
 Cumberland and Tenafee rivers which is faid to 
 be very valuable, and its ore is more pure than 
 any other which has been difcovered in America* 
 3ut the lead mine pn the MifTilTippi mud prove 
 inexhauftibl^. It extends from the mouth of 
 Rock river more than lOO miles upwards. Be- 
 fides thefe there are feveral others, fome of which 
 lie on the Spanifh ijde of the Mifliflippi, and 
 )iave been ufed for years paft. Copper mines 
 have been difcovered in feveral places, but the 
 inine on the Wabafh is, perhaps, the richeft 
 vein of native copper in ^he bowels of the whole 
 '..t::i R ' earth I 
 
( 122 ) 
 
 earth j and no doubt will render all the others of 
 little or no value. Sulphur is found in fcveral 
 places in abundance; and nitre is made from 
 earth which is colleded from caves and other 
 places to which the wet has not penetrated. The 
 making this fait, in this country, is fo common, 
 that many of the (ettlers manufacture their own 
 gunpowder. This earth is difcovered in greater 
 plenty on the waters of Green river, than it is in 
 any other part of Kentucky. But, perhaps dill 
 ^rther fouthward, it will be found in greater 
 plenty. However, it is fo common in every part 
 of the country that it might be made a confider- 
 able article for exportation. I have heard of 
 black lead mines upon the head waters of the 
 Kentucky, but I have not been able to procure 
 any certain information refpeding them. But I 
 fhould conceive that there can be little doubt that, 
 when the country, and particularly the moun- 
 tainous parts of it, are well explored, all i^e uib* 
 ful minerals will be found in abundance. - • -« 
 I have already mentioned the coal mines in the 
 upper parts of the Ohio country j bcfidcs which 
 V -- there 
 
if 
 
 ( "*3 ) 
 there are great quantities of coal upon the upper 
 branches of the MiflifTippi. It is particularly fa- 
 vourable that this mineral lies at the heads of our 
 larger rivers, as it can be fent down with the 
 greateft facility ; and it is very certain that the 
 grbat body of it which the Ohio country alone 
 contains, is equal to anfwer all the purpofes for 
 which it may be wanted throughout this exten-^ 
 five empire^ ,..^., 
 
 Though the champaign part of this country 
 has no ftone on its furface, yet every where 
 limellone is found from 6 to 15 feet below it* 
 Moft of the bottoms of our rivulets and ftreams 
 are paved with this ftone. It is very eafily cal- 
 cined, when it becomes excellent lime. It is 
 alfo convenient for buildings by reafon of its pe- 
 culiar fitioothnefs, and the cafe with which it 
 may be worked into any form* Befides this 
 ftone, which is the moft common, every other 
 kind of ftone is found which is either ufeful or 
 ornamental^ fuch as flint, grindftone^ and mill- 
 ftones, of a very good quality^ which have been 
 reckoned equal to French burrs. Thete is the 
 
 R 2 greateft 
 
 
 * i. 
 
( 124 ) 
 grcatcft plenty of marble upon the the banks of 
 the Kentucky, particularly at Lcefburg. I have 
 not feen any which haft been polifhed; but 
 judges in that bufinefs give us the moll flatter* 
 ing ideas of its quality. 
 
 Clay is very common in every part of this 
 country which is proper for bricks ; and there 
 is a fuperior kind on the Beech fork of Salt ri- 
 ver, which no doubt might be manufacflured into 
 good porcelain. Carver has mentioned a clay of 
 this fort which he faw above St. Anthony's falls. 
 Marie, chalk, gypfum, and ochres, are found 
 in various parts. 
 
 Mr. Jefferfon has defcribed the medicinal, in- 
 :; flammable, bituminous, and other fprings, very 
 accurately ; and as there have been no difcoverie^ 
 or light thrown upon the fubjedl lince he wrote, 
 I fhall refer you to his book for a particular ac- 
 count of them. Indeed, his account of the natural 
 hiftory of this country is generally to be depended 
 Upon, fo that it is fcarcely poflible to make any 
 improvement upon it, until farther difcovcries 
 Hiall have arifen: I therefore confine myfelf to 
 '-■••'' ^ i fuch 
 
^ ^ ( 125 ) 
 
 fiich objeifls as he has not taken notice of« and to 
 fuch as have prcfcntcd themfclvcs fincc he wrote, 
 occafionally making feme flri(5lures and animad- 
 verfions upon his opinions and information. 
 
 I have obfervcd that the climate of this coun- 
 try is various. But, as climate is frequently 
 different in the fame parallels of latitude, I will 
 endeavour to give you fome idea of the differ- 
 ence between the climate on the upper parts of 
 the Ohio, Pennfylvania, and Maryland, of Ken- 
 tucky and Virginia, and of Cumberland and 
 North Carolina, which lie in nearly the fame 
 parallels one with another. 
 
 It is well known that the climate upon the 
 Atlantic coafl ^f America is in the extreme of 
 heat and cold, and that it is more variable than 
 when it was firfl fettled by Europeans ; but the 
 winters are milder. The extremes proceed no 
 doubt from the immenfe continent, which lies 
 to the north-weft, and which is interfperfed with 
 frefh water lakes. The rarified air of the torrid 
 zone ruftiing in currents through the upper re- 
 gions to the Ardiic circle, leaves a vacancy for 
 
 the 
 
( 126 ) 
 
 the cold air, which, in fupplying its place, caufe^^ 
 thofe frequent chills or variations in the fpring 
 and autumn, and alternate froft, rain, and mild 
 weather in winter, which are {o common in th6 
 middle parts of that country. The cold is more 
 
 ' Heady to the north of Hudfon*s river ; but the 
 power of the fun to the fouth of 41*, by counter- 
 adling the influence of the northern winds, occA- 
 lions thofe fudden changes from heat' to cold. 
 Opening the country has greatly tehded already 
 to leflcn the cold, by confequcncc of the greater 
 power of the fun upon the earth ; and a general 
 cultivation, by producing a warmer atmofphere, 
 through which the north wind paffes, muft tend 
 to moderate the climate generally upon the At* 
 lantic fea. 
 
 The greateft part of Pennfylvania wh^ch lies 
 between latitude 41* and 39° 40' (hould, from its 
 lituation upoi. the globe, be a very excellent 
 climate ; and no doubt in time it will. At 
 
 .^ prefent it is too fubjed to extremes; and by the 
 too frequent and violent bracing, and fudden re- 
 laxation of the animal fyllem, the elafticity of the 
 *••• ' nerves 
 
 / . 
 
 /■■\ 
 
 .^.^/f/f / p^r-f^'^^ /--^ 
 
 
, ( "7 ) 
 
 nerves is injured, land thus the marks of age are 
 vilible srt an earlier period in fome parts of Ame- 
 rica than in others. 
 
 Farther fouthward the cold is lefs ; but as the 
 heat is proportionally greater, the extremes arc 
 much the fame quite to South Carolina. As 
 you approach the ridge of mountains which run 
 through America from north to fouth, the inha- 
 bitants look more healthy, which is the confe- 
 quence of the climate being more temperate and 
 fteady. ■ - - - - — - •• ' 
 
 The country on the upper parts of the Ohio, 
 and between Pittlburg and lake Erie, is confider- 
 ably colder than Pennfylvania and Maryland, 
 which no doubt i» occafioned, in a great degree, 
 in the former, from its proximity to the moun- 
 tains ; but in a greater degree, in both, from the 
 country around them being a continual forefl. 
 
 When you arrive in Kentucky you experience 
 a greater temperature of air than in any country 
 I have ever travelled in, Fahrenheit's thermo- 
 meter feldom falling below 35 deg.in winter, nor 
 jrifing above 80 in fummer. The approach of the 
 
 feafons 
 
 '"i^ 
 
 •^■>A-'^/:^;^ 
 
 .'!V''^ -i 
 
 •>,•.' '^ 
 
 hL%. ■». 
 
 -'•V 
 
 
( 128 ) 
 
 feafons Is gradual. The fummer continues moftl/' 
 to the middle of pd:ober. The autumn, or mild 
 weather, generally continues until Chriftmas^; 
 when we have fome cold and froft until Feb- 
 ruary J when fpring approaches, and by the be- 
 ginning of March feveral fhrubs and trees begin 
 to (hoot forth their buds ; by the middle of the 
 month, the buck-eye or horfe chefnut is clad ir^ 
 its fummer's livery ; and by the middle of April 
 the foliage qf the foreft§ is completely expanded ; 
 which is a fortnight earlier than the leaver * 
 are (hot in Virginia and Maryland. Cumberland 
 is proportionally more temperate than North Ca- 
 rolina, as Kcntpcky is to Virginia. 
 
 The rarefied air from the fouthern regions muft 
 be more confiderable from that tracH: or fpace of 
 the globe covered by fait water than from the 
 countries covered with forefts. Now, as almoft 
 all America may be confidered as one foreft, it 
 appears to me that the vacancy oceafioned by 
 rarefication in fouthern latitudes muft be greater 
 in the regions of air, both over the Pacific anc| 
 Atlantic oceans, than upon the continent ; and 
 c"-:':'i that 
 
' ( "9 ) 
 
 tliajC the cold air from the polar circle rufhesboth 
 to the fouth^ead and fouth-wed, and confe* 
 quently the middle parts of our continent mud 
 be lefs fubjed to cold and variation, by being 
 more out of the courfe of the cold winds, than 
 the countries either upon the Atlantic or Pacific 
 fea-coafls. ; •: ^ 
 
 How far this theory may prove fatisfadtory, I 
 can form no idea. If it is unphilofophical I hope 
 you will treat it accordingly ; it is the only way 
 thjlt I can account for the very great difference 
 between the climate of v. ' country, and that of 
 Virginia. 
 
 Another caufe for our greater temperature in 
 fummer is, doubtlefs, owing to our lying fo much 
 higher. It is one continual but gradual rife 
 from Richmond for 200 miles back. , There are 
 feveral riiings and fallings afterwards, and feve- 
 ral mountains in the wildernefs ; but I have al- 
 ways obferved that the rife from the eaft to their 
 fummits, was greater than the defcent wed, to 
 their bafe, which makes the elevation of Ken- 
 tucky coniiderably above that of Virginia. Be-^ 
 fides Kentucky has no marfhes or bogs, which 
 
 S are 
 
( 130 ) 
 are very conliderable in the lower parts of Vir- 
 ginia, and the exhaled vapours from them pro- 
 duce deleterious, air which appears hotter than it 
 really is. 
 
 Mr. Jefferfon*s Table of averacre heat and 
 cold for the different months, made from 
 the obfervations of five fucceffive years, though 
 it furnifhed him with a data to eftimate 
 theoretically the climate of Virginia, can af- 
 ford you no idea of its temperature. Perhaps, 
 in fome of thofe years, the mercury was be- 
 low o during the winter. But when he has 
 (Vated the leail and greateft daily heat by Faren- 
 heit's thermometer for January to be from 38!** 
 to 44*> you. can have no conception that there 
 can be any froft in Virginia. I do not mean to 
 fay that it is common for the mercury to fall be- 
 low o in that country, but I mean to be under- 
 flood that frofl is very frequent there, and that by 
 taking the average of the greatefl heat and the 
 greatefl cold, when the extremes are fo great as 
 they are in Virginia, it is impolTible for a flranger 
 to form a jufl idea of its climate. Mr. Jelferfon 
 allows that the extremes are very confiderable, 
 
 ** and 
 
( '31 ) 
 
 and that the mercuVy has been known to defcend 
 from 92 deg. tp 47 in thirteen hours. 
 
 A journey to the Illinois will prevent me from 
 writing you again as foon as I could wiHi ; but 
 I fhall ever remain 
 
 Yours, 8^. 
 
 ..icm 
 
 
 9 « » 
 
 ■'«%i-c 
 
 i %:* 4 -» \ ■ .\ *t 
 
 .13 :jr- 
 
 
 1 n^ 
 
 J -vn 
 
 
 S ft 
 
 LET- 
 
( I3» ) 
 
 LETTER VII. 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 KENTUCKY. 
 
 It is natural, I think, that you fhould cxpedt 
 by this time fome account of the inhabitants, 
 their manner of living, the mode of fettling the 
 country, the routes, diflance, and mode of tra- 
 velling to it, vi^ith fome information refpedling 
 religion ai^d political fentiments, and the focial 
 pleafures of the people ; all of which, I am afraid, 
 will require too much time for a letter, and there- 
 fore I beg that you will be content to receive the 
 information in the defultory manner in which I 
 ihall be enabled to fend it. 
 
 In fome of my firft letters I gayc you an ac- 
 count of the firft fettlement of this country. 
 The perturbed ftate of that period, and the fa- 
 vage ftate of the country, which was one entire^ 
 wildernefs, made the objed of the firft emigrants 
 that of fecurity and fuftenance, wtiich produced 
 * . .. the 
 
( 133 y 
 
 the (chcme of feveral families living together in 
 what were called Stations. Thcfe (lations were 
 a kind of quadrangular, or fometimes oblong 
 forts, formed by building log-houfes connedled- 
 ly, only leaving openings for gate-ways to pafs as 
 they might have occafion. They were generally 
 fixed in a favourable fituation for water, and in a 
 body of good land. Frequently the head of fome 
 party of conne(flions who had a fettlement and 
 pre-etription right, feized upon thefe opportuni- 
 ties to have his land cleared, which was neceflary 
 for the fupport of the Aation ; for, it was not 
 only prudent to keep clofe in their forts at times, 
 but it was alfo heceffary to keep their horfes and 
 cows up, otherwife the Indians would carry off 
 the horfes, and ihoot and dedroy the cattle. 
 '"Under fuch circumftances, the firft fettlement 
 of Kentucky was foritied, which fobn opened a 
 confiderable quantity of land in the county of 
 Lincoln^ which lies in the upper part of the ftate, 
 and contiguous to the wildernefs, which ends in 
 this defecflable region, . 
 
 As the country gained ftrength, the ftatiolls 
 
 began to break up in that part of the country, 
 
 - and 
 
( m ) 
 
 and their inhabitants to fpread themfclves, and 
 fettle upon their refpedive eftates. But the em- 
 barralTment they were in for moft of the conve- 
 niences of life^ did not admit of their building 
 any other houfes but of logs, and of opening 
 fields in the mod expeditious way for planting 
 the Indian corn ; the only grain which was culti- 
 vated at that time. 
 
 A log-houfe is very foon eredled, and in con- 
 fequence of the friendly difpofition which exifts 
 among thofe hofpi table people, every neighbour 
 flew to the afUftance of each other upon occaiions 
 
 * 
 
 of emergency. Sometimes they were built of 
 round logs entirely, covered with rived alh 
 fhingles, and the interftices flopped with clay^ 
 or lime and fand, to keep out the weather. The 
 next objed was to open the land for cultivation. 
 There is very little under-wood in any part of 
 this country, fo that by cutting up the cane, and 
 girdling the trees, you are fure of a crop of corn. 
 The fertility of the foil amply repays the labourer 
 for his toil ; for if the large trees are not very 
 numerous, and a large proportion of them the 
 fugar maple, it is very likely from this imperfedt 
 
 cultivation 
 
 \^ 
 
( m ) 
 
 cultivation, that the ground will yield from 50 
 to 60 bufliels of corn to the acre. The fecond 
 crop will be more ample; and as the (hade is 
 removed by cutting the timber away, great part 
 of our land will produce from 70 to 100 bufhels 
 of corn from an acre. This extraordinary ferti- 
 lity enables the farmer who has but a fmall capi- 
 tal to incrcafe his wealth in a moft rapid manner 
 (I mean by wealth the comforts of life). His 
 cattle and hogs will find fufficient food in the 
 woods, not only for them to fubfifl upon, but to 
 fatten them. His horfes want no provender the 
 greateft part of the year except cane and wild 
 clover ; but he may afford to feed them with corn 
 the fecond year. His garden, with little atten- 
 tion, produces him all the culina^'y roots and 
 vegetables neceflary for his table; and the prolific 
 increafe of his hogs and poultry, will furnilh 
 him the fecond year, without fearing to injure 
 his (lock, with a plenty of animal food; and in 
 three or four years his ftock of cattle and (beep 
 will prove fufficient to fupply him with both beef 
 and mutton ; and he may continue his plan at 
 the fame time of increafing his ftock of thofe ufe- 
 
 * fill 
 
"^^.-^ 
 
 ( >36 ) 
 
 ful animals. By the fourth year, provided he it 
 indudrious, he may have his plantation in fuffi- 
 cient good order to build a better houfe, ^hich 
 he can do either of Hone, brick, or a framed 
 wooden building, the principal articles of which 
 ivill cod him little more than the labour of him- 
 felf and domellics; and he may readily barter or 
 fell feme part of the fuperfluous produdions of 
 his farm, which it will by this time afford, and 
 procure fuch things as he may (land in need of 
 for the completion of his building. Apples, 
 peaches, pears, &c. &c. he ought to plant when 
 he finds a foil or eligible fituation to place them 
 in, as that will not hinder, or in any degree di- 
 vert, him from the objedt of his aggrandize- 
 ment. I have taken no notice of the game he 
 might kill, as it is more a facrifice of time to an 
 Induflrious man than any real advantage. 
 
 Such has been the progrcfs of the fettlement 
 of this country, from dirty ftations or forts, and 
 fmoaky huts, that it has expanded into fertile 
 |ields,'blufhing orchards, pleafant gardens, luxu- 
 riantfugar groVes, neat and commodious houfes, 
 rifing villages, |nd trading towns. Ten years have 
 produced 
 
 produi 
 forts 
 
 juft CO 
 
 implic 
 happer 
 been) 
 Emi 
 from t 
 Pennf}/ 
 in whi( 
 the Ai 
 out wi 
 alfo fn 
 York, 
 countn 
 that 
 both u| 
 woods 
 grants, 
 of the 
 of gar^ 
 ful but 
 comfoi 
 fenfe 
 
( 137 ) 
 produced a difference in the population and com- 
 forts of this country, which to be pourtrayed in 
 juft colours would appear marvellous. To have 
 implicit* faith or belief that fuch things have 
 happened, it is firll neceflary to be (as I have 
 been) a fpedtator of fuch events. 
 
 Emigrations to this country were moflly 
 from the back parts of Virginia, Maryland, 
 Pennfylvania, and North Carolina, until 1784: 
 in which year many officers who had ferved in 
 the American army during the late war came 
 out with their families ; feveral families came 
 alfo from England, Philadelphia, New Jerfey, 
 York, and the New England States. The 
 country foon began to be chequered after 
 that aera with genteel men, which operated 
 both upon the minds and adions of the back 
 woods people, who conftituted the firll emi- 
 grants. A tafte for the decorum and elegance 
 of the table was foon cultivated ; the pleafures 
 of gardening were confidered not only as ufe- 
 ful but amufing. Thefe improvements in the 
 comforts of living and manners, awakened a 
 fenfe of ambition to inftrud their youth in ufe- 
 
 T . fiil 
 
( >3* ) 
 
 fui and accomplifhcd arts. Social pleafurcf 
 vere regarded as the mod inedimable of human 
 poiTelTioils — the genius of friendihip appeared to 
 fofter the emanations of virtue, while the cor- 
 dial regard, •and fmcere defire of pleafing pro- 
 duced the mod harmonizing cfFeds. Sympathy 
 was regarded as the elTence of the human foul, 
 participating of celeflial matter, and as a fpark 
 engendered to warm our benevolence and lead to 
 the raptures of la\c and rational felicity. 
 
 With fuch feii^timents our amufements flow 
 from the interchange of civilities, and a recipro-* 
 cal deiirc of pleafing. That famenefs may not 
 cloy, and make us dull, we vary the fcene as the 
 nature of circumftances will permit. The open- 
 ing fpring brings with it. the profpcd of our 
 Aimmer's labour, and the brilliant fun adlively 
 warms into life the vegetable world, which 
 blooms and yields a profulion of aromatic odours. 
 A creation of beauty is now a feall of joy, and 
 to look for amufements beyond this genial tor- 
 rent of fweets, would be a perverfion of nature, 
 and a facrilege againft heaven. . ■ 
 
 The feafon of fugar making occupies the wo- 
 ■ •• ■ ' "l\- '■ ■ men. 
 
( »39 ) 
 
 men, whofe mornings are cheered by the mo. 
 dulated buffoonery of the mocking bird, . the 
 tuneful fong of the thrufli, and the gaudy 
 plumage of the parroquct. — Feftive mirth crowns 
 the evening. — The bufinefs of the day being 
 over, the men join the women in the fugar 
 groves where inchantment fcems to dwell. — The 
 lofty trees wave their fprcading branches over 
 a green turf, on whofe foft down the mildnefs 
 of the evening invites the neighbouring youth to 
 fportive play ; while our rural Ncftors, with cal- 
 culating minds, contemplate the boyifh gambols 
 of a growing progeny, they recount the exploits 
 of their early age, and in their enthufiafm forget 
 there are fuch things as decrepitude and mifery. 
 Perhaps a convivial fong or a pleafant narration 
 clofes the fccne. 
 
 Rational pleafures mejiorate the foul j.and it is 
 by familiarizing man with uncontaminatcd fe- 
 licity, that fordid avarice and. vicious habits are 
 to be deftroyed, ,..'.. 
 
 Gardening and fifhing Conftitutc fome part of 
 
 fhe amufements of both fexes. Flowers an4 
 
 fheir genera form one of the lludies of our h- 
 
 b' ' T ? dies, 
 
( HO ) 
 
 dies; and the cmbellilhment of their houfes 
 with thofe which are known to be falutary, con- 
 ftitute a part of their employment. — Domef- 
 tic cares and mufic fill up the remainder of th*2 
 day, and focial vifits without ceremony or form, 
 leave them without ennui or difguft. Our 
 young men are too gallant to permit the wo- 
 men to have feparate amufements, and thus it 
 is that we find that fuavity and politencfs of 
 manners univerful, which can only be effected by 
 feminine polilh. -'^ '^'''^ 
 
 The autumn and v/inter produces not lefs 
 pleafure. Evening vifits moftly end with danc- 
 ing by the young people, while the more aged 
 indulge their hilarity, or diireminate*" informa- 
 tion in the difquilition of politics or fome ufeful 
 art or fcience. " ^^^ ^ - ,| v:».vr. ^ 
 
 Such are the amufements of this country, 
 which have for their balii> hofpitality, and all 
 the variety of good things which a luxuriant foil 
 is citpiible of producing, without the alloy of 
 that difirefs or mifery which is produced from 
 penury or want. Malt liquor, and fpirits dif- 
 tiiled from corn and the juice of the fugar tree 
 t' --■» ' t J' mixed 
 
 J .■■^.>^ :*■■%. 
 
 
( »4I ) 
 
 mixed with water, conftitute the ordinary be- 
 verage of the country. Wine is too dear to be 
 drank prodigally j but that is a fortunate cir- 
 cumflance, as it will be an additional fpur to 
 us to cultivate the vine. 'p^' 
 
 The routes from the different Atlantic States 
 to this country are various, as may be fuppofed. 
 , From the northern States it is through the upper 
 parts of Pennfylvania to Pittfburg, and then 
 down the river Ohio. The diftance from Phi- 
 ladelphia to Pittfburg is nearly three hundred 
 miles. From Lancafter about two hundred and 
 thirty. The route through Redftone and by 
 Pittlburg, both from Maryland and Virginia, is 
 the mod eligible, provided you have much bag- 
 gage ; except you go from the fouth^ 'n and 
 back counties of Virginia ; then your bell and 
 mod expeditious way is through the Wildernefs. 
 From Baltimore palling Old Town upon the 
 Potowmac,and by Cumberland Fort,Braddock's 
 road to Redftone Old Fort on the Monongahala, 
 is about two hundred and forty miles ; and from 
 Alexandria to the fame place by Winchefter Old 
 Town, and then the fame route acrofs the 
 
 mountain 
 
 »^^> • •* 
 
f 
 
 C U2 ) , ^ 
 
 -mountain is about two hundred and twenty^^ 
 miles. This laft muft be the mofl: eligible for all 
 Europeans who may wiih to travel to this coun- 
 try, as the diftance by land is {hoiter, the roads 
 better, and the accommodations good ; i, e. 
 they are very good to Old Town which is one 
 bundred and forty miles from Alexandria, and 
 from thence to Redftone comfortable, and 
 plentifully fupplied with provilions of nil forts : 
 the road over the mountain is rather rough, but 
 no where in the ieafl dangerous, ^i r- d* ' / rf 
 Travelers or emigrants take different methods 
 of tranfporting their baggage, goods, or furni- 
 ture, from the places they may be at to the 
 Ohio, according to circurnftances, or their objedt 
 in coming to thp country. For inftance, if a 
 man is travelling only for curiofity, or has no fa- 
 mily or goods to remove, his bed way would be 
 to purchafe horfes, and take his route through 
 the Wildernefs ; but provided he has a family or 
 goods of any fort to remove, his bed way, then, 
 vould be to purchafe ^ waggon and team of 
 horlcs to carry his property to Redftone Old 
 Fort, or to Pittiburg, according as he may coniQ 
 m^KiiXntt fronx 
 
 \v 
 
( '43 y 
 
 from the northern or fouthern States/ A good 
 waggon will coll at Philadelphia about lol. (I; 
 fhall reckon every thing in flrcrling money for 
 your greater convenience) and the horfes about 
 1 2 1, each J they would coll fomcthing more both 
 at Baltimore and Alexandria. The waggon may 
 be covered with canvas, and, if it is the choice 
 of the people, they mayjfleep in it at nights with 
 the greateft fafety. But if they fhould diflikc 
 that, there are inns of accommodation the whole 
 diltance on the different roads. To allow the 
 horfes a plenty of hay and corn wo"ld coft about 
 IS. per diem, each horfe; fuppofing you pur- 
 chafe your forage in the moll oeconomical man>* 
 ner, /. e, of the farii^^ers, as you pafs along, fron* 
 time to time as you may want it, and carry it in 
 your waggon ; and not of inn-keepers, who muft 
 have their profits. The prbvilions for the family 
 I would purchafc in the fame manner ; and by 
 having two or three camp kettles, and Hopping 
 every evening when the weather is fine upon the 
 brink of fome rivulet, and by kindling a fire 
 they may foon drefs their food. There is no im- 
 pediment to thefe kind of things, it is common 
 ... .'* and 
 
( 144 ) 
 and may be done with the grcatefl fecurity\j 
 and I would recommend all perfons who wi(h 
 to avoid expence as much as poflible to adopt 
 this plan. True, the charges at inns on thofe 
 roads are remarkably reafonable, but I have 
 mentioned thofe particulars as there are many 
 unfortunate people in the world, to whom the 
 faving of every Ihilling is an objcd, and as this 
 manner of journeying is fo far from being dif- 
 agreeable, that in a fine feafon it is extremely 
 pleafant. fj r^ -? 
 
 Provifions in thofe countries are very cheap, 
 beef, mutton, and pork, are fomething lefs 
 than 2 d. per lb. ; dunghill fowls are from 4d. 
 to 6d. each; duck, 8d. ; ge^fe and turkeys, is. 
 3d. ; butter, 5 d. ; cheefe, I will fay nothing about, 
 as there is very little good until you arrive in 
 Kentucky. Flour is about 12 s. 6 d. per cwt. 
 - The beft way is to carry their tea and coffee 
 from the place they may fct out at; good green 
 tea will be from 4s, 6d. to 6s. per lb.; fou- 
 chong from 3 s. to 5 s. ; coffee will coil from i s, 
 3d. to I s. 6 d. per lb. ; loaf fugar from yid. to 
 jofd. But I would not recommend their car- 
 
 In^ 
 
 rying 
 
( HS ) 
 
 rying much fugar, for as the back country is 
 approached, the maple fu.,ar is in abundance, 
 and may be bought from 4 d. to 6 d. per lb. 
 Such are the expen es to be incurred travelling 
 to thijs country by Redftone and Pittlburg. 
 
 The didance which one of tnofe wag,ti;ons may . 
 travel one day with another is little Ihort of 
 twenty miles. So that it will be a journey from 
 Alexandria to Redftone Old Fort of eleven or 
 twelve days, from Baltimore a day or two 
 longer, and from Philadelphia to Pittlburg I 
 Ihould fuppofe it would require nearly twenty 
 dj^ys ; as the roads are not fo good as from the 
 two former places. 
 
 From thefe prices the cxpence of removing a 
 family, from either of the fea ports I have men- 
 
 1 
 
 tipned to the Ohio, may be computed with to- 
 lerable exadlitude. - - 
 
 The beft time for fetting out for this country 
 from any of the Atlantic ports, is the latter enJ 
 of either September or April. The autumn is '**;^: 
 perhaps the moft eligible of the tWo ; as it is 
 moft likely that the roads acrofs the mountain 
 will be drier, and provifions and forage are 
 
 y . , then 
 
 t-^ 
 
( 146 ) 
 
 then both more plentiful and cheap than in the 
 ipring. if! ' --'< i' i-lr K ; 
 
 If this mode fhould not fuit the convenience 
 of the party, by reafon of their not wanting a 
 waggon or horfes when they arrive in this coun- 
 try, they may have their goods brought out to 
 Rcdftone Old Fort from Alexandria for 15 s, 
 per cwt. and in like proportion from Baltimore 
 and Philadelphia. 's'^ 
 
 At Redftone Old Fort, or Pittfburg, they can 
 either buy a boat, which will coft them about 
 5 s. per ton, or freight their goods to Kentucky 
 for about i s. per cwt. There is no regular 
 bulinefs of this fort ; but as there are always 
 boats coming down the river, is. per cwt. is the 
 common charge for freight. But more frequent- 
 ly when there is boat room to fpare, it is given 
 to fuch as are not able to purchafe a boat, or 
 hav€ not a knowledge of the navigation. How- 
 ever, that is a bufinefs which requires no Ikill, 
 and there are always numbers of people com- 
 ing down, who will readily condud a boat for 
 the fake of a paflage. -: ^ 
 07 The diflance from Philadelphia by land to 
 
 . , V. Kentucky 
 
( ■47 ) . 
 
 Kentucky is between feven and eight hundred 
 miles } from Baltimore nearly feven hundred ; 
 nearly fix hundred from Alexandria ; and up- 
 wards of five hundred from Richmond. The roads 
 and accommodations are tolerably good to the 
 borders of the Wildernefs ; through which it is 
 hardly poflible for a carriage to pafs, great part 
 of the way being over high and deep hills, upon 
 the banks of the rivers and along defiles, which in 
 fome places feem to threaten you at every ftep with 
 danger. This is the only route the people com- 
 ing from the upper parts of Virginia and North 
 Carolina can take at prefent to get into the coun- 
 try; the gap of Cumberland mountain being the 
 only place it can be pa (Ted without the greateft 
 difficulty. The opening the Tenafee will afford 
 a convenient communication with the Mifliffippi. 
 The Wildernefs, which was formerly two hun- , 
 dred miles through, without a fingle habitation, 
 is reduced from the fettlement of Powel's Val- 
 ley, to nearly one half of that diftance ; and it 
 is to be expelled that in a few years more that 
 the remainder of the diflance will afford fettle- 
 ments for the accommodation of people travel- 
 
 il:y.m/ 
 
 U 2 
 
 ling 
 
 -^i-baliNiiu*.' 
 
( 148 ) 
 
 ling thit route ; when a good road may be made 
 quite to Kentucky. The canals I have fpoken 
 of which are cutting on the Potowmac, and the 
 removal of the obftru(5lions in Cheat river, will 
 render the pafTage from Alexandria, or the fe- 
 deral city to the Ohio, both cheap and eafy. 
 
 Upon the arrival of emigrants in the country 
 they generally take a view of that part which it 
 is their objed to fettle in, and according to their 
 circumflanccs or calling, fix upon fuch a fitua- 
 tion as may appear eligible for their buflnefs. 
 But as the greater proportion of the emigrants 
 who come to this country are hufbandmen, I 
 Ihall only take notite of their manner of pro- 
 ceeding and fettling a farm. Land is to be 
 purchafed in every part of the country : the 
 prices are various according to the improve- 
 ments there may be upon it, its quality, and 
 local lituation ; the general price of land with 
 fome improvements is from 12 s. to 15 s. per 
 
 • 
 
 acre. Plantations with orchrrrds and other im- 
 provements, may be purchafed from 1 1. to il. 
 5s. per acre ; good land without improvements 
 may be purchafed from i s. to 8 s. per ditto, 
 ^.,4 . Tj , which 
 
( 149 ) 
 
 which price will be according to its rate or qua- 
 lity and iituation. 
 
 Remennber, I take notice only of the fettled 
 country, as I apprehend no European would be 
 hardy enough to form a fettlement in a wilder- 
 defs, which will be left for the Americans, who, 
 no doubt, from habit, are beft qualified for that 
 fort of bufinefs. Indeed there is a number of 
 people who have fo long been in the cuftom of 
 removing, farther and farther back as the coun- 
 try becomes fettled, for the fake of hunting, and 
 what they call range for their cattle, which is 
 that of their feeding upon the natural grafs, 
 fo that they feem unqualified for any other 
 kind of life. This is favourable to the fet- 
 tling a wild and infant country ; and no 
 doubt this difpofition will lafl (with fome) as 
 long as there is left a wildernefs in America. 
 It is however certain, that is advantageous to 
 fociety which will be bettered, and not injured 
 by thefe peculiar habits, fo long as they have 
 new countries to people : for, this adventurous 
 fpirit tends to accelerate the propagation of do- 
 meftic animals of every fort. 
 
 Perfons 
 
 ,f. 
 
( »5o ) 
 Pcrfons of moderate fortune, upon taking pkjf- 
 feflion of the land they intend to form into a 
 plantation, procure fuch ftock as their circum- 
 ftances and the extent of their objeA will admit 
 of. Let us fuppofc an induftrious man already 
 provided with the neceflary tools for his agricul- 
 tural employment, and a little money to buy 
 (lock. In fuch a fituation (after building his 
 houfe in the manner I have mentioned, which 
 will coll him little more than his labour) he 
 fhould procure fome dunghill fowls, a cow and 
 a breeding fow. The fowls will produce eggs 
 for his family, the cow milk and butter, if fhe 
 is well taken care of; and the fow will produce 
 two, if not three, litters of pigs within the year. 
 Thcfe animals are very prolific in this climate 
 and foil; and it is not a fanguine calculation to 
 fuppofc the fow will have eight or ten pigs at 
 each litter; by which means the family will 
 have pork fufficient for the next year ; and the 
 year after they may barter bacon for beef and 
 mutton, which I will conclude their circum- 
 ftances have not permitted them, as yet, to pur- 
 chafe. His labour will have provided him with 
 
 corn 
 
 .^Si*:: 
 
 4 =r jr 
 
, ' ( Ii« ) 
 
 corn before this time, and in the extenfion of his 
 plantation, and the increafe of his cow and hogs 
 his difficulties will be over, and a few years of 
 induftry and perfeverance will make him a man 
 pf property. The increafing ratio of ftock is 
 prodigious, where provilion for them cofts fo 
 little as it does here, and where the fertility of 
 the foil is fo wonderful. His fowls will coft 
 about three-pence each, his breeding fow about 
 five (hillings, and his cow, if a very good one, 
 of 4 cvvt. and upwards, will coft him from thirty 
 to forty fliillings. 
 
 - I have hitherto fuppofed this induftrious man 
 not in circumftances to enable him to ufe horfes 
 and plough, but Dhllged to hoe his corn; the 
 pnly difficulty of which will be the preparing the 
 ground for the feed. According to this imper- 
 fed: cultivation I will conclude that his crop of 
 corn will not be more than 30 bufhels to the 
 acre. Now an induftrious man making a fettle- 
 ment in the autumn would be able to open three 
 acres of land (in the manner I have related) be- 
 fore the time of planting, which will be in April 
 or May; indeed, as late as June will anfwer; fo 
 
 that 
 
.( t52 ) 
 
 that he may take advantage of this favourable 
 circumftance, and, by planting at different pe- 
 riods, he will be better enabled to cultivate his 
 
 * 
 
 crop, as it will not all require his attendance at 
 the fame time. Allowing half an acre for vege- 
 tables and pulfe, and the yield of his labour will 
 be 75 bufliels of corn. Admitting then that he 
 has a wife and two children, I will allow 6ne 
 half of this corn for their year's fupport, which, 
 with the animal food his ffock will afford him, 
 and vegetables, will conftitute a comfortable 
 living. The other half he may fell, and pur- 
 chafc thofc artificial neccffarics his family may 
 want. The fccond* autumn and winter he may 
 open two acres more, and put the other three 
 into better condition; one of which ihould be 
 fown with flax or hemp feed, in order to give 
 employment to his wife, and to provide linen 
 for domeftic ufes. His crop of corn, the fecond 
 year, with the extended and improved cultiva- 
 tion, will not be (hort of 125 bufliels. The 
 furplus quantity of this year's crop will go a 
 great way towards purchafing a horfe and plough; 
 and as the third crop will be more ample, he 
 
 "j^ *- will 
 
( «53 ; 
 
 will then find himfclf comfortable and inde- 
 pendent. I have all along fuppofed this farmer 
 to have made prompt payment for every thing 
 ^vhich he has wanted, which is feldom afked 
 from an indudrious man who is anxious to pro- 
 vide for his family. Such a man may not only 
 have credit for horfes and cattle, but even for 
 the land ; and, in a very little time, with in- 
 duftry, he may pay the whole off, I have taken 
 no notice of the taxes which he will have to pay, 
 as it is mod likely they would not, all together, 
 amount to five (hillings. ' 
 
 Provifions of every fort are both plenty and 
 cheap in this country. Flour is from 6 s. to 9 s. 
 per cwt. according to its quality. Indian corn 
 is from 9d. to i s. per bufhel. Beef is from i|d. 
 to 2d. per lb. Veal, aid. per ditto. ''Mutton, 
 3 d. ditto ; which high price is owing to the ge- 
 neral deiire the fermers have to increafe their 
 flocks. Pork is from 2 d. to li d. per lb. Ba- 
 con, from 3ld. to 4d. Bacon hams, from 4d. 
 to si d. Salt beef, 2 d. Hung or dried beef, 
 3d. Neats tongues, 6d. each. Buffalo ditto, 
 Vrhich are a mod delicious morfel, '9 d. Dung- 
 «*•'*"'" % hill 
 
 IRT .f 
 
( 154 ) 
 hill fowls, ducks, Mufcovy ditto, gcefc, turkeys, 
 Guinea fowls, and pigeons, are proportionally 
 cheap. Butter is from 2fd, to 3id. per lb, 
 Ghecfe from 2d. to 3d. per ditto. 
 
 We have a variety of fi(h in our rivers j the 
 moft eftecmed of which are the perch, trout^ 
 buffalo fifh, and foft turtle. The perch is in 
 iize from 5 to 1 2 lb. is firm and fat in its feafon, 
 which is from February until July, and is equal 
 to any fait water fifh I ever tailed. The trout 
 is caught from 8 to 30 lb. weight. This fifh is 
 too univerfally known and admired to require 
 any account of its excellence, particularly as (he 
 trout in England is faid to be the exa<fl miniature 
 of ours. The buffalo fifh is in fize from'4 to 8 lb, 
 , is a very fine fifh, but inferior to the two former. 
 But the foft turtle is, perhaps, the moft delicious 
 fifh in the world, and amply compenfates for our 
 having no other teftaceous fifh. This turtle is 
 gelatinous, except a fmall fhell upon its back, 
 about the bigncfa of the palm of the hand. The 
 weight is from 6 to 10 lb, ,. v^„^r « .;. f - , ^^ 
 Moft people make their own fugar j but when 
 it is fold, the price is from 3 d. to 4|d. per lb, 
 i . i according 
 
( 155 ) 
 
 according to its finenefs. The buiinefs of fu- 
 
 gar refining is only commencing, which makes 
 
 it impofnble to fay exadly what wi!l be the 
 
 general price of loaf or refined fugar; but I 
 
 conclude it will be proportionally low with 
 
 raw fugar, as the buiinefs can be carried on in 
 
 this country at lefs expence than in Philadelphia 
 
 and York, where the price of the necelTaries of 
 
 life is fo much higher. Tea, coffee^ chocolate, 
 
 and fpices, are fomething higher here than in 
 
 Philadelphia. Good green tea is from 5 to 8 s. 
 
 per lb. Imperial or gunpowder, 10 s. 6[d. 
 
 Pearl and fchoulong from 12 to i6s. Good fou- 
 
 chong from 4s. 6 d. to 7s. per ditto, fiohea, 
 
 from 2s. to 3s. 6d. Coffee, from is. 9d. to 
 
 2 s. Chocolate, from i s. 6d. to i s. 8 d. Spices 
 
 are moftly 25 per cent, higher than they are at 
 
 Philadelphia or Baltimore. 
 
 I have entered into feveral minutiae, in order 
 that you may have a more clear idea of the 
 people and lituation of this country. I have not 
 aimed fo much at being agreeable, as to convey 
 information. 
 
 In a country in the zenith of the perfe(^on of. 
 
 X 2 
 
 arts. 
 
 i 
 
( '56 ) 
 
 arts, and one juft removing the Ihadc of favage 
 wildnefs, the contrail appears, I know, greater 
 to an European than it really is. We have more 
 of iimplicity, and you more of art. — We have 
 more of nature, and you more of the world. 
 Nature formed our features and intelleds very 
 much alike; but while you have metamor- 
 phofed the one, and contaminated the other, we 
 prefcrve the natural fymbols of both. You have 
 more hypocrify — we are fincere. You are more 
 cunning and adroit, which your laws and habits 
 have rendered part of your natures. We are not 
 fo ftupid as not to fee through the veil ; but 
 when an European does us the honour to vifit us, f I 
 we have both too much hofpitality and fuavity of 
 manners to inform them they have neither fen- i- 
 ments nor religion. A few years refidencc with 
 us teaches them that important truth, and felf- 
 conviclion is always the moft lading. .^.. 
 
 However, a delineation of the laws, and Cub' 
 ilance of the opinions, which our new code will 
 contain, will give you a better conception of our 
 moral and political fentiments, and their pro- 
 bable duration ; and with hopes that an early op- 
 
 . . portunity 
 
( 157 ) 
 portunity will prcfent itfelf to forward my letter 
 upon that fubjedt, I (hall take my leave of you 
 for the prefent, my dear friend, with wifhing 
 you every pollibic felicity. Farewell. 
 
 
 •n 
 
 
 I am, . . 
 With th? utmoft regard and efteem, 
 V !Your*s, &c. 
 
 ifit us, '^i 
 vity of 
 fenti- 
 
 e with 
 dfeJf. 
 
 Ifub- 
 c will 
 )f our 
 r pro- 
 lyop- 
 tunity 
 
 
 :.*, 
 
 
 LET- 
 
 >]) it 
 
{ »J« I 
 
 .' 
 
 
 • 
 
 ..■■ - M. 
 
 .- ; r.t/lioq 
 
 iO '-V ■' 
 
 T.'(^: 
 
 » " . 
 
 < ■ 
 
 . ' .;."'3 ilO'r[U 
 
 n?7 fh.-^ ,1 
 
 ' *■ 
 
 s ' 
 
 •- _ • . . • ,■ f ' 
 
 '.■.■■ •^.'l- -K^ 
 
 LETTER VIIL '* ' "^- ^ 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 KENTUCKVo 
 
 Oxifi- laws Hid government have for their bafis 
 the natural and imprefcriptible rights . of man. 
 Ijijbwerty.^ fecurity of perfon and property, relift- 
 ance againft oppreflion, doing whatever does not 
 injure another, a right to concur, either per- 
 fonally or by our reprefentatives in the formation 
 of laws, and an equal chance of arriving to 
 places of honour, reward, or employment, ac- 
 cording to our virtues or talents, conflitute thofc 
 rights. Thefe are the principles of our confti- 
 tution J and laws grafted upon rhefe limple but 
 fubftantial principles, and a fyflem of legal ju- 
 rifjirudcnce organized, and ading accordingly, 
 forms the elTcnce of our governments When- 
 ever the government fwerves materially from 
 thefe fundamental principles, the compadt is dif- 
 folved, and things revert to a co-equal ftate. 
 
 Thus, 
 
• ( 159 ) 
 
 Thus, by this plain definition of the nature of 
 laws and government, every capacity, and every 
 individual of the community, can judge with 
 precifion of the purity of legiflation ; which pro- 
 duces the moft entire convidion in the minds of 
 all men, of the neceflity there is ofadingin every 
 inftance according to the code of reafon and 
 truth. Every man is equally concerned in the 
 welfare and profperity of his country ; his own 
 felicity can only be co-exiflent with it ; and to 
 fuffer his ambition to run counter to the general 
 weal would be madnefs in an enlightened com- 
 monwealth, as it could only tend to produce his 
 own eternal difgrace or ruin, where the genius of 
 freedom is enthroned in the heart of every citizen. 
 Europe has long been enflaved by forms and 
 authorities ; and, while its multifarious laws and. 
 cuftoms have fervcd only to perplex pjofeflionaL 
 men, the fophiftry employed in expounding them 
 has completely bewildered the imaginations of 
 it$ citizens, and produced an obfcurity of ideas 
 ypon the fubjed of jurifprudence and govern- 
 ment, which is truly deplorable. There is an 
 dd c^dage which fays^ *' That too much learning- 
 
 " makes; 
 
 i; !'>'^ 
 
 {' ■,^mBmmr*'»,'^j% 
 
( i6o ) 
 
 ** makes a man a fool.^* The pandeds, and 
 civil law, added to the barbarous codes of the 
 anceftors of men in your hemifpherc, have tended 
 not a little to embarrafs the minds of men ; for 
 after a life devoted to the ftudy and inveftigation 
 of abfurdity, the miferable (ludent has generally 
 found one foot in the grave before he has been 
 able to difcover the impoiTibility of obtaining the 
 objedt of his purfuit. 
 
 ^ Religion, or what you call an eftablifliment, 
 has had its (hare in rivetting the fetters of ignor- 
 ance. The elucidation of truth has been retarded 
 by the tyranny of the church ; for while priejls 
 have been the pedagogues of religiorty morals, fpiti- 
 ments and politics ^ their intcrefted views have 
 been the caufe of their flattering that govern- 
 ment, whofe intcreft it was to keep the people 
 ignorant, as it fecured to them the undifturbed 
 divifion of the fpoils of the induftry of the great 
 hulk of your citizens, while they were offering 
 an indignity as grofs to the Deity as their fyftem 
 was unnatural and unjud. What can be a greater 
 fupererogation, than prefuming to arraign or 
 judge of the fcntiments of men, the propriety of 
 
 which 
 
 
( i6i ) 
 
 Mvhich are to be determined before a tribunal in 
 heaven ? It is an infult too grofa to merit a com- 
 ment. It has been fubverfive of all good 
 morals, by affording a veil to cover the hypo-, 
 crify of th** moft defigning knaves. 
 
 You muft excufe this digreflion ; I have made 
 it for a fubjedt of refledlion for you, that your 
 mind may be prepared to judge impartially of a 
 fyftem fo very fimple,asthat upon which the fa- 
 bric of our government adls. It was firft necef- 
 fary to (hew the caufe which has produced that 
 myftery which you reverence as wifdom, but 
 which is abfolutely founded in perplexity of opi- 
 nion and ignorance ;, or to give you a clue ta 
 refledions which wouiil develcpe its fallacy. • 
 
 Every man who is taxed or rated, has a vote 
 in the appointment of the reprefentatives of the 
 State; which confift of two houfes, /. e, the houfe 
 of delegates and the fenate, who ehufe a Pre- 
 lident, or Governor, for one year, which Governor 
 chufes his own council to advife with him in all 
 public matters. It is not immediately necefTary 
 that the legiflature (hould approve of his ap- 
 pointments J but to prevent the poffibility of the 
 
 y exercife 
 
 f mm 
 
 r>i{ 
 
 '; HI— rn-iam^-AY.; 
 
( '62 ) 
 
 cxcrcifc of prodigality and contumely, they have 
 referved to themfelves the privilege of objeding 
 to fuch charafters for his advifcrs who have not 
 the public approbation; which has the good 
 effedl of producing harmony between the go- 
 vernment and the people — of obliging men who 
 afpire to the honours of their country to refpedt 
 the public opinion ; and it prevents the profti- 
 tution of principle, by interdicting the pernicious 
 confequences of favouritifm ; while no ill can 
 flow from this negative, as it is not to be pre- 
 fumed that the colledled fentiments of a whole 
 ftate can ever be prejudiced againft an indivi- 
 dual ; and it is impolTible for the minds of the 
 legiflature to be warped againft their Prefident, 
 without fufficient grounds. The very idea is a 
 folecifm in reafon. 
 
 Mr. JefFerfon, fpeaking of the government of 
 ^ Virginia, complains, that the fenate by its con- 
 ftitution is too homogeneous with the houfe of 
 delegates (our fenate is eletfled and conftituted in 
 the fame manner as the fenate of Virginia), be- 
 caufe they are chofen by the fame eledors, at 
 the fame time, and out of the fame fubjedls; 
 ^ and 
 
( i63 ) 
 and therefore he fays the choice faMs upon the 
 fame defcription of men. It is not exadlly thus, 
 though it is liable to be fo. The manner of no- 
 minating the reprefentatives of every country 
 ihould be as general as pofiible. Government is 
 a compadl entered into by every community for 
 the fecurity of the happinefs and profperity of the 
 State J every member of which is one of the ag- 
 gregate body of that State ; therefore laws ought 
 to emanate from the fentiments of the people. 
 • ^ The wifdom of having two houfes of reprefen- 
 tatives is, that they may be a mutual check upon 
 each other ; and it is expecfled that the experi- 
 ence and coUeded wifdom of the fenate, who 
 are a lefs adlive body than the houfe of delegates, 
 will more maturely weigh the probable confe- 
 quences of any adt, and prevent, by their fuf- 
 penfion, any pernicious effedls which might re- 
 fult from its palling into a lawj or, by giving 
 time to the houfe of aflembly, they may corred 
 their own errors. ,. * i y^* ^ . 
 
 If the fenate has not always been chofen of 
 men of the greateft experience, it has no doubt 
 originated from the ignorance of its political in- 
 - Y2 ftitution; 
 
 m 
 
 m M 
 
 R m 
 
( 1^4 ) 
 ftitution; but that is no argument againft the 
 policy of the fyftcm. It requires time for every 
 government to acquire its proper tone, and the 
 people muft become familiar with that tone, be- 
 fore they can make a proper ufc of the inllru* 
 ment. At any rate, Mr. JefFerfon's opinion ap- 
 pears to me premature; for if it is neceflary to 
 have two houfes of reprefentatives, clearly they 
 ought to be eleded by the people. As to their 
 being eleded at the fame time, and from the 
 fame defcription of men, this can iignify very 
 little, as it adds to the number of reprefentatives, 
 and confequ€ntly there is a more general confent 
 to the legiflation. However, our fenate will be 
 chofen for thre€ years, and the houfe of delfegates 
 will be eleded annually ; and it appears to me, 
 that the people will not only foon difcover the 
 objedl of its political inftiturion, but will carry 
 it into effedt. They have only to difcover the 
 wifdom of chufing men of experience for the fe- 
 nate, to make it a general pradlice ; and it mofl 
 certainly is better to have the fyftem thus open, 
 than by confining the eligibility of a fenator to 
 the redridion of a particular age^ as that woul4 
 
 rn .<rVf: 
 
 not 
 
( 1^5 y. 
 
 not only be an incroachmcnt upon the liberties of 
 the citizens, but it would frequently deprive us 
 of the exercife of ufeful and fplendid talents, 
 which might have an opportunity of obtain- 
 ing a feat in the fenate, when he could not in 
 the houfe of delegates by confequence of the 
 greater popularity of the delegates of the di(- 
 trid or county to which he might belong. 
 
 The Prefident of the State is chofen annually, 
 and eligible for three fucceflive years ; after 
 which he muft remain out of office three years 
 before he can become again eligible. He has 
 a negative voice upon all adls, in confequence of 
 which every ufurpation is prevented from being 
 furreptitioufly pra6tifed upon the people by the 
 two houfes of aifembly ; and thus a check is 
 given to any inconfiderate ftep or impetuofity of 
 the legiflature, until the fenfe of the people can 
 be made known, and meafures taken according- 
 ly. The Prefident is befides, the guardian of 
 the police of the State, has the power with the 
 advice of his council, to pardon criminals, and 
 by proclamation governs or corredis the influence 
 of all gctraneous cafes. - ,v ^1,::;:,^ 
 
 Such 
 
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 (716) 873-4503 
 
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( i66 ) 
 
 Such is the orgsinization of our legidativtf 
 power, which originated from a convention of 
 the people, and may be altered, improved, or 
 amended, by another convention of the fame 
 kind, whenever its pradice proves its imperfec- 
 tion or deficiency. Thus it is, that in the pro- 
 greflion of philofophy and politics, as well as in 
 arts, and th*^ appropriation of experimental 
 truths, the perfedion of government is to be 
 afcertained. 
 
 All the powers of government revert to the 
 people, and they ought to revert to them. The 
 judiciary having been referved to them through 
 the medium of juries. The legiOative they in- 
 truft to their reprefentatives who are cflTentially 
 the fame ; and the executive emanates from the 
 
 legiflature, fo that the whole are ultimately re- 
 
 * 
 
 fponfible to the people. The executive to the 
 reprefentatives, and the reprefentatives to their 
 condituents. 
 
 Such is the influence of education and habh 
 that Mr. Jefferfon, who has given every poflible 
 proof of his Attachment to liberty, although 
 educated when aridocratical opinions wye com- 
 mons 
 
 inon, fji 
 defpotij 
 can pre 
 cxercif<| 
 fmgle 
 " thofel 
 public ( 
 his not 
 of Mr 
 found i 
 govern! 
 dom." 
 how h 
 upon 1 
 of real 
 upont 
 bolica: 
 of jud 
 they 
 philol 
 then, 
 with 
 paral 
 fervc 
 
( 16; ) 
 
 inon, fays this is " precifely the definition of 
 defpotic government/' and he adds, " that it 
 can prove no alleviation that the powers will be 
 exercifed by a plurality of hands and not by « 
 iingle one," and then he triumphantly begSj 
 " thofe who doubt it, to turn their eyes on the Re- 
 public of Venice.** When he wrote this part of 
 his notes, he feems to have been of the opinion 
 of Mr. Burke (whofe paradoxical book has 
 found its way out here), when he remarked "that 
 government was a contrivance of human wif- 
 dom.** Otherwife I am at a lofs to conceive 
 how he could compare a government adling 
 upon the unalienable privileges, and the light 
 of reafon, to a dark aridocracy which has rivetted 
 upon the minds of their citizens the moil dia. 
 bolical fuperilition, and who have no more chance 
 of judging of the polity of their fenate, than 
 they have capacity: but fpread the rays of 
 philofophy and truth among the Venetians, and 
 theii, if their tyrants pradlife the fame defpotifm 
 with imp^iity, I will allow that Mr. Jefferfon's 
 parallel is juil. Yet fuch arguments would dc- 
 fcrve nothing but contempt, were not their 
 
 author 
 
 •S M 
 
 i 
 
i 
 
 i' 
 
 (, i68 ) 
 
 siuthor refpedlable for his cardinal virtues^ at 
 well as for the career he bore in the glorious 
 firuggles for American independence. How- 
 ever it is a lamentable confideration that men 
 pf talents and genius, who have acquired cele- 
 brity among the friends of freedom, ihould, by 
 vainly circulating their crude fentiments, retard 
 
 the progrefs of reafoa. ^ 
 
 What myftery can there be eithei in politics 
 or religion? Laws founded upon the rights of 
 men, and executed with precifion, of which 
 every capacity. is adequate to judge, conditute 
 the perfedion of the fcience of governnient. It 
 is the creation of a diilindlion of powers, with 
 views to intereft, which infallibly leads to the ob- 
 icurity of the human mind ; a dillindlion to be 
 avoided as much as poflible, for the purpofe of 
 leaving in the hands of the people .or their 
 agents the whole powers of government. What 
 fear of 'a bad adminillration is to be apprehend* 
 cd, when it is the intereft of every individual to 
 continue the guardian of his CGuntr3A proTpe- 
 rity ? It is promoting a diftindlion where there if 
 fione; and by creating a jealoufy of power, a real 
 i^'Uu^ and 
 
( ^H ) 
 
 aftd grot^ittg" Dvll is produced, when the danger 
 ^8s only imaginary^ Whsit intereft, but that of 
 thd pVL^lki can a kgidatufe have in making tht 
 excodtiVtf J»rt of the government refponfibic to 
 them? What pofiible danger <yr inconvenience 
 c^n fldw frorti fuch refponiibility in an enlight* 
 «Med Stsite? The ihaxinis of reafon a^nd igno* 
 liiAce are diflTercnt. - 
 
 The idei #hkh Mr. Jeffdrfon maikes ufe of rn 
 aniother part of his book, that the Aflcmbly may 
 ttiTiitne •* all the powers legiflative, executive,^ 
 sNld jijtdieiary,' and that thefe may come to the 
 fmsllfeft rag of delegation" is perfectly nugatory. 
 The judiciary power the people njver patrted 
 wkh entirely, and the executive by the agents 
 of the repreftntatlvcs, qualified to judge of the 
 kws'aind nature of our particular conftitution, is 
 not dMy s^ cuftbm, but forms a part of the go« 
 terhment^ It is one of the fprings by which 
 1^ harmony of the fyftem is preferved ; and 
 
 * 
 
 fifould itat any time be deftroyed,itis the people 
 who arc to ttdify the abufe. They are the potcn* 
 liai fountain of all power; and it is only necef- 
 
 Z fary 
 
 sf; 
 
f 
 
 (' 170 )' 
 
 %y for them and their agents to knojuf jthb, in-j 
 orAor to preyciit. every danger of the Wheel? ?of- 
 government being clogged and impeded by the ; 
 deftrudion of any one of its eflential fprings, -i 
 , The legiflature is not only unqualified for a: 
 tribunal to judge of its own laws from thcj 
 plurality of its numbers, but it is impoflible> 
 that it could have any objed of tyranny i?i. 
 view,, when men are familiar with their own 
 rights ; and I beg to know what motive, in com-; 
 mon fenfe, could fugged the idea, of embarraf-: 
 ling governnnent by mutilating one of its. 
 branches? Or is it pofTible that Mr. 'jefFerfon,- 
 "wl^en he faid under this fyflem, the Aflembly' 
 might " aflume all the powers of government>" 
 could mean, that as the executive power ema-, 
 nated from the legiflature, it was liable to be. 
 fuborned, or under the controul of the^reprefen-; 
 tatiyes of the State ? This idea appears indeed toct 
 childifh ever to have entered into the head of even 
 an indifferent fl:atefman : the executive.agents of 
 a government being independent in their ap-^ 
 pointments of every power; but. the laws^ arc 
 
 ;•> 
 
 \-n'\ 
 
 -■iX 
 
 no 
 
no more liable to be controulcd by the legrda^ 
 ture, than by any other power which might ap- 
 point them. .1 
 3 Kentucky is divided into counties in like man-* 
 ner as the other States, which are fimilar to the 
 counties in England. It has been the crude* 
 pradtiee hitherto, that each county Ihould have 
 two delegates and one fenator to reprefcnt them,* 
 without any regard to the number of fuffrages 
 they contained. This imperfed fyftem will be; 
 changed by our amended plan as foon as it can: 
 be finiihed, and a cenfus taken of the inhabit- 
 ants; and every county will then have its num- 
 ber of reprefentatives in proportion to its popu- 
 lation—which feems to be the only confiftent dc- 
 kgation. However our old fyftem as yet has 
 not produced any bad eifcds ; and as the fludu- 
 ations of the populations of the counties were 
 very great, perhaps an attempt at a more exad: 
 equality would have been premature. rr^"^ 
 .. It is when the local intereft of a State be-: 
 comes. difFereht or various, that this partial re- 
 prefentation is liable to abufe of privileges ; but,'' 
 
 It 
 
 ,ri^^t^ jflni-^t 2* 2 
 
 fot 
 
 'i'.> 
 
( «7« ) 
 for that reafon it ought to be remedied in ercfff 
 State as early as poflible. 
 
 In every county, magiflrates or juftices of 
 the peace are appointed by the people, but 
 commiflloned by the Governor or Prefident ; 
 they adl without reward. Their number is in 
 proportion to the population of their diftrid* 
 and they are nominated from time to time as 
 the inhabitants increafe, or a vacancy happens 
 from death or any other caufe ; or as their mi* 
 niftry may be required. The moft difcreec 
 and refpedable men for integrity and l^nowledge 
 are promoted to this office. 
 
 If it fhould happen that an ignorant perfon 
 were to acquire popularity fufficient to fecure 
 his nomination to the office of a juflice of the 
 peace, the Governor is not obliged to commif- 
 iion him: thus if the people fhould be ignorant* 
 they are obliged to (land upon their guards ^nd 
 from this vigilance fprings the adfivity of invef- 
 tigation. 
 
 Thefe magiflrates have jurifdidlion both cri- 
 minal and civil. If the queftion be of law only* 
 they decide on it themfelves ; but if it be of fad» 
 
 or 
 
 rr 
 
t <7? ), 
 •r faA OlWi law coml^ined; it mu$ be referred to 
 
 » jury ! the jurors decide the fad, and refer tho 
 Itw ariflng oh it to the deciiion of the judges. 
 However, this divifion of the fubje(n: lies with 
 their difcretion only j and if the queftion relate to 
 a point of public liberty, or if the judges are 
 (ufpec^ed of partiality, the jury undertake to de- 
 cide both law and fadt, which obliges judges to 
 be regular, prompt, and juft. 
 . When laws are fimple and underftood, it is 
 certainly better to leave the decifion of a legal 
 ^u^ftion to twelve Mpright men, than to the arbi« 
 trary iiat of intereiled or prejudiced judges. 
 3ut it is by this poife, or balance of power, be- 
 tween the jurors and judges, that fair and equi- 
 table adminiftration is fecured. 
 
 •yhe judges execute their procefs by the flierifF, 
 or by conilables. If any perfon commit an of- 
 fence againft the State, if it be below the degree 
 ' of felony, he is bound by a magiftrate to appear 
 before their Court to anfwer it on indidment or 
 information. If the offence amount to felony, 
 he is committed toprifon, a court of magiftrates 
 it calledj, and if on examination they find him* 
 
 : I 
 
 n 
 
 
 
 
 
 ,i 
 
 1 
 
 H 
 
 I 
 
 li 
 
 j 
 
guHty, he is fcnt to the general court prffoii, be> 
 lore which court he is to be tried by a jury of 
 twenty-four, thirteen of whom muft concur in 
 t^pinion : if they find him guilty he is then tried 
 by a jury of twelve of his own county where 
 he offended/ and by their verdicft (which muft be 
 unanimous) he is acquitted or condemned with- 
 out appeal. The Governor has the power to 
 pardon, except in cafe of treafon, in which 
 cafe the right relides in the General AfTembly. 
 Such do we conceive to be the value of the life 
 of every citizen, that we afford him every pofli-* 
 ble chance of proving his innocence. ' ""* "•' ■ 
 
 * In civil matters, if the value in difpute be lefs 
 than twenty fhillings, a fingle magiflrace may- 
 try it at any time and place within his county, 
 arid may award execution on the goods of the 
 party caft. If it be of that, or greater value, it' 
 muft be determined before the county court,* 
 when the quorum of magiftrates muft be four at' 
 Icaft ; for which purpofe, county courts muft be- 
 holden fome day in every month, in the courts • 
 houfe of the different counties. From thefe de-* 
 terminations, if the value be more than'ioi;*or* 
 ; 1 w concern 
 
( m I 
 
 concern the boundaries of land, there lies an apJ! 
 peal to one of the fuperior courts. It is optional^ 
 v^ith the party who brings the adlion, if the de--* 
 mand is above lol. to bring it either in the* 
 QOunty or general court. 
 
 i:We have two fuperior courts. The high' 
 court of chancery, and the general court. Both 
 receive appeals from the county courts, and alfo> 
 have original jurifdidlion, where the value is* 
 above lol. or where the difpute is concerning* 
 land. The high court of chancery is composed ^ 
 of three judges ; the general court of five. The; 
 chancery holds its feflions twice a year, at ftated' 
 periods. The general court feflions are quar-' 
 terly; twice a year for civil and criminal, and 
 ^wicc for criminal only. There is alfo a fupreme: 
 ^court called the Court of Appeals, compofed of/ 
 the judges of the two fuperior courts, which af-: 
 j(embles twice a year alfo, at ilated times, at 
 the capital of the State. This court receives 
 !|ppeals in all cafes from each of the fuperior 
 courts, and determines them finally. This court 
 
 has no.original jurifdidlion. ^Thus far we have 
 
 followed thQ modej and pra(^icc of Virginia. We 
 
 >">» aimm < » 
 
176 ) 
 
 hKvt no court of admiralty, iior have we com^ 
 pletedour fy([tm of jurifprudence ; but I witt 
 endcarour to give you the outlines or principki 
 vbich will conilicutc k» bafiir 
 
 The firf\ objctll of every free government it 
 fccurity of person and property y which is called 
 Freedom. Without fuch a prefervation therr 
 can be no pure liberty. Under fuch a govern* 
 mcnc, every citizen haa a right to* do whatever 
 docs not injure another. The hinge of fecurit/ 
 in a. civilized ftate ii the fecurity of property ;' 
 but» in the fecurity given to property. It is ne- 
 ceflary that care (hould be taken not to endanger 
 the liberty of even one of the citizens of a fhite. 
 for the prefervation o^ perfonal liberty fome 
 fafeguavd (hould be kept, provided by law, both^ 
 upon the deflgning and unAifpicious^ in order to"* 
 avoid the great inconvenienecf which have 
 flowed from knavery and cradulicy, as well in 
 mod of the United States as in' Europe. Pri*^ 
 fbns and dungeons have been perverted into^ 
 both afylums fbr rapine and' fraud, and' into cella' 
 of folitary mifery and wrctchedtiefs, which have 
 in no degree checked the career of diflipation and 
 VI , pro- 
 
( '77 ) 
 jprodigality, or produced more induftry or care ; 
 and while the refentment of difappointed avarice 
 has been glutted in the fury of revenge, the 
 world has loH much of the talents and ingenuity 
 of fome of its moll valuable citizens. Laws 
 Ihould be calculated to prevent dillrefs from in- 
 temperance and folly, and the commiflion of 
 crimes, as much as poHible. Creditors ought to 
 be made cautious in their fecurity, and when 
 they have trufted beyond a certain fum, or have 
 not taken proper precautions, they (hould be 
 liable to lofe the debt. This would necefTarily 
 make the parties prudent; and fo far from being 
 injurious to trade, it would prevent many incon- 
 Veniencies which rcfult from hally dealings and 
 infufficient fecurity. Habit and cuHom ad as 
 powerfully in bulinefsas in any thing elfe. * Men 
 would foon acquire this fure way of dealing, and 
 thereby their property would be preferved, and 
 the liberty and talents of every citizen made 
 ufeful to the ftate. Every man who lives within 
 his income, and makes prompt payment for 
 what he purchafes, is known to be a more va- 
 luable member of fociety than a man who is ir-| 
 
 A a regular 
 
( '78 ) 
 
 regular and uncertain in his payments ; and it is 
 the rapid circulation of money in the common 
 affairs of life, which tends to lower the price of 
 its neceflaries as efFccftually, as the frequent re- 
 turns in commerce tend to accumulate the ca- 
 pital employed. Laws may be made of this 
 fort, I am fure, to regulate the tranfadlions of 
 men, without injuring commerce in the leall; 
 on the contrary it would render it more profitable, 
 vigorous, and extenfive. Liberty, and the 
 rights of men have been fliamefully profaned un- 
 der the crude idea of the aggrandifement of 
 commerce. The fallacy of old errors will moul- 
 der away under the radiance of philofophy^ and 
 man muH look back with indignation at the fa- 
 crilege which has fullied his rank and dignity as 
 a human being. Examine the catalogue of the 
 poor and unfortunate debtors who have mifer- 
 ably endured the tortures of cold, hunger, and 
 ficknefs, in a dungeon, loft to their family and 
 friends, prevented from a poflibility of obtaining 
 the neceffary means to cancel their penal obliga- 
 tions, and left to brood over the calamities to 
 which the follies of a fanguine youth^ bad edu- 
 
 .--•, ~ 
 f ^ 
 
 cation, 
 
( 179 ) 
 cation, and pernicious laws, have reduced them^ 
 and which had encouraged them in the career 
 of vice, and punifhed theai in the hour of 
 defpair and mortification ; and you mull be in- 
 fenfible indeed not to deprecate that degradation 
 which indigefted, inhuman, and impolitic in(li« 
 tutions have produced in every part of the 
 world. Thefe are fome of the fentiments of fome 
 our legiflators, and from fuch opinions, I flatter 
 myfelf we (hall afford teftimony fufficient that 
 prifons are unneceffary, except for homicides 
 and traitors, who ought to be tried as immedi- 
 ately as the nature of the cafe would admit. It 
 is the certainty of punifhment, and the terror of \ 
 inftantly fufFering, which deter men from the 
 commiflion of thofe crimes where, the confcience 
 is concerned. It is our nature to look at every 
 thing which is remote with indifference; but 
 proximity excites fome fenfations of joy or fear 
 in the hearts of the mod callous. 
 
 It is a cruel mortification to the progeny or 
 family of any man, who has difgraced his me- 
 mory by murder, treafon, or any. other crime, 
 sigainft either the laws of God or the State; and 
 
 Aaa it 
 
 1 
 
 -ril 
 
( i8o ) 
 
 it is 4 lamentable coniideration in human alfainl« 
 that it fhould be neccffary to make examples 
 Krhich are Co degrading to the dignity of our na- 
 tures. Should we then offer infult to misfortune^ 
 and reduce to beggary the innpcent offspring or 
 connexions of an offending culprit ? Surely not. 
 The State is the tutelary guardian of its citizens, 
 the protedlor of innocence, the promoter of feli- 
 city and profperity, the avenger of wrongs i and 
 hot the fpoiler of comfort, and the tyrant of 
 humanity. For thefe reafons, neither murder, 
 treafon, or any other crime, ought to rob the 
 family of the oroperty of the offender, by for- 
 feiture of lands and goods to the State. ^ 
 
 Malefadors, fuch as have been guilty of petty 
 treafon, manflaughter, fodomy, maiming, dif- 
 figuring, counterfeiting money, robbery, bur- 
 glary, houfe-breaking, horfe-ftealing, grand lar- 
 ceny, petty larceny, &c. &c. fhould be con- 
 demned to labour for the State during fuch a 
 length of time as would be proportionable to the 
 Crimes they had committed, which fhould be dc- • 
 fined by law ; and in cafe it fhould be found from 
 experience that this fyllem did not tend to deter 
 
 ^ ^ from 
 
( I«l ) 
 
 from thecommiflion of crimes, and was ivoduAivc 
 of other bad effedls, it would then be time enough 
 to introduce more rigorous meafures. It is how« 
 ever certain, that as yet the fyflem in queftion 
 has not had fufficient time to be experienced in its 
 full efFefts in thofe States which have introduced^ 
 it in part. But fo far as ? judgment can be 
 formed, it is reafonable to expedb the mof^ faht-^ 
 tary confequences from fuch humane meafures. 
 Our criminal code will be eilabliihed upon the(e 
 lenient principles. Our laws refpeding foreign-^ 
 ers will be f()unded on the broad bafis of hofpi^ 
 |:ality, and the friendly principle that the world 
 ought to be governed as one great family. Re* 
 fpeding marriage and fucceflion, more conform- 
 ably to the laws of nature than the laws of Europe, 
 women are permitted to enjoy all the privileges, 
 and all that protedlion, to which reafon and de- 
 licacy entitle them. It is upon iimilar princi* 
 pies that property is diftributed in an equaf and 
 confident manner ; and that a father is not fuf- 
 fered to difinherit a child, except he can make it 
 appear, to a court of jullice, that he is radically 
 vicious J and even thcn^ fuch a derelidion muff 
 
 II 
 
( i82 ) 
 
 be coerced with confiderations pointed out by 
 the law. 
 
 Such are the colleded fentiments of the people 
 upon the fubjedt of law and government, and we 
 have the fatisfa<5tion to know they are analogous 
 to the opinions of a wife and judicious European' 
 author, whofe virtues and fuperior good fenfe 
 have given them a confequence in your own na- 
 tion which does him the higheft honour; and 
 therefore I will quote from him to conclude this 
 letter, which will fhew that the fentiments of 
 enlightened men, upon the fubjedb of freedom 
 and government, differ in no refpedt from the 
 iimple ideas of men who have no guide but rea- 
 fon and common fenfe. 
 
 " The true intereft of the people, then, is to be 
 fubjedt to a legiflation, which, while it refpedls 
 the enjoyments of the rights of mankind, is folely. 
 intent upon procuring it ; and which, faithful to 
 the principles of an enlightened reafon, feeks 
 only the furell and fimplefl means of obtaining 
 this end. Whatever be the form of govern- 
 ment to which the people are fubjedlcd, a free 
 
 commerce, an unrellrained indullry, civil laws 
 
 dif- 
 
didinguifhed for their iimplicity, criminal laws 
 for their jullice and humanity, foonded upon 
 the nature of man, and of fociety, and deduced 
 from thefe principles by reafon, ought to be every 
 where the fame.*' Farewell. 
 
 ' Yours, &c. 
 
 •i . » , » t . 
 
 J. i 
 
 
 » 
 
 ■ tj.'i =-;.->;i... 
 
 *■' ,t 
 
 a;.''»>;*i:i .;iiii:. i,> ..••■ 
 
 m ^^••' 
 
 ■1 -'-'^ ,,..;>...; It) > 
 
 . ; ,? * 
 
 :l.''» .r: Ji'>;y '*'><-. . / ''^'>;( 
 
 iV: . ".■•"' 
 
 "'•. . 'Ui.v^ 
 
 LET- 
 
( 1^4 J 
 
 JL E t T E R IX. 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 KENTUCKY. 
 
 1 HAD the pleafu re of receiving, within thefe 
 two days, your favour, dated the 24th of Auguft 
 lad, and admire the virtue and humanity of thofc 
 of your citizens you mention to have left off the 
 ufe of Well India produce, in confequence of 
 your parliament not having adopted any mode of 
 efFedling the abolition of the flave trade. \ 
 
 The little pamphlet you did me the favour tb 
 fend with your packet, addrefled to the people 
 of Great Britain on that fubjed, with obferva- 
 tions upon the fituation of the unfortunate Afri> 
 cans enflaved, contains the pureft fentiments of 
 benevolence, and the mofl rational ideas, and it 
 is written with a precilion which does the higheft 
 honour to the author's head, as well as to his 
 heart. 
 
 I We have difgraced the fair face of humanity, 
 
 and 
 
t Jjj ) 
 
 ttld trampled upon thefacred privileges of fflailj 
 at the very moment that we were exclaiming 
 againft the tyranny of your miniftry ; but in con- 
 tending for the birthright of freedom, we have 
 learned fd feel for thfc bondage of others ; and> 
 in the libations we offer to the bright goddefs o^ 
 liberty, we contemplate an emancipation of the 
 flaves of this country^ as honourable to them- 
 felves as it will be glorious to us* 
 
 I have been afhamed, in reading Mr. Jeffer^. 
 fon's book, to fee, from one of the mollenlighti 
 ened and benevolent of my countrymen, the dif- 
 graceful prejudices he entertains againft the un« 
 fortunate negroes. But if he has given Eu- 
 ropeans a flagrant proof of his prejudices, he has 
 afforded common fenfe an opportunity of judg- 
 ing from his paradoxes, that fuch cannot be the 
 ^general fentiments of the people of America. / 
 
 In the revifion of a code of laws propofed for 
 the State of Virginia, it was recommended to 
 (emancipate all flaves born after pafling the ad, 
 who were to be brought up, at the public ex- 
 pence, to different vocations, until females 
 ihould be eighteen, and the males twenty-one 
 i > B b i^earg 
 
I i»6 ) 
 
 years of age j when they (hould be colonized to , 
 fuch place as circumdances (hould render ipoft 
 proper, giving them arms, implements, &c. &c. 
 to declare them a free and independent people^ 
 and extend to them their alliance and prote^on* 
 until they (hould have acquired (Irength and 
 power equal to felf-protedlion. 
 - Concerning which meafure, Mr. JefFerfon 
 fays, " It will probably be a(ked. Why not re- 
 tain and incorporate the blacks?** He then at- 
 tempts to give reafons to prove why it would be 
 impolitic ; by alledging that the deep-rooted pre- 
 judices of the whites, and the recolledlionofpaft 
 injuries by the blacks, would be produdivc of 
 continual feuds, which would probably never end 
 but in the extermination of one or the other race. 
 To fuch objcdions, which he calls political, 
 he fays, " may be added others, which arc moral 
 and phyfical.'* I will obferve upon his political 
 opinions firft. The great charge fuch a bufinefs 
 would be to that State, would necefTarily tend to 
 procraflinate its execution, and perhaps render 
 abortive the whole de(ign, by making it necef- 
 fary to relinquilh an objed which the financef 
 
 . '% ■ 
 
{ »«7 ) 
 
 of the government would not admit of being 
 carried into execution ; and thus a mod odioijs 
 tyranny would be prolonged. Befidcs, what 
 could be fb impolitic, in fuch a country as Vir- 
 ginia, as baniiliing a numerous clafs of men who 
 might be made ufeful citizens, rilking a depopu- 
 lation of one colour, in order to fupply their 
 places with another ; an undertaking which, in- 
 dependent of the great expence it would be at- 
 tended with, would alfo prove furrounded by 
 many other difficulties. From what country is 
 the vacancy to be filled ? Emigrations have been 
 frequent from Europe to America; but it would 
 require a length of time to recruit 250,000 inha- 
 bitants, which, I fuppofe, is nearly the amount , 
 of the flaves of Virginia. 
 
 There are in politics, as well as in phyfic, 
 cafes which require irregular prefcriptions. There 
 is no law in nature which binds one man to ano- 
 ther; and laws which are not founded in the 
 principles of reafon and truth, invalidate them- 
 feives. There is no ftatute which gives power 
 to a white man to exercife defpotifm over a man 
 becaufe he is black. It is contrary to our bill 
 
 B b 2 of 
 
 M 
 
 :| 
 
( i88 ) 
 
 of rights, ais well as repugnant to the code of na*^ 
 ture. But the mifchief lies in the prejudices of 
 the times. A complete emancipation, perhaps, 
 would not be borne in Virginia j for which rea* 
 fon it mud be gradual, as it has been in Penn^ 
 fylvania. It would therefore be wife in that State 
 to attach their flaves to the land of their refpet* 
 tive mafters for a certain term of years ; after 
 which they Ihould be at liberty to change their 
 fltuations, as their circumflances or pleafurc 
 would diredt, the fame as any other tenants. 
 
 Such a fyftem, under falutary regulations, 
 would not only afford the negroe a confiderable 
 proportion of freedom, but would be highly ad- 
 vantageous to the State ; as, by parcelling out 
 their immenfe wafle tracts of land into little 
 farms, the low country, which has been impo- 
 verilhed by the pernicious cultivation of tobacco, 
 would become fertilized, and r^ftored to i^s prif- 
 tine fecundity. . t 
 
 Let us fuppofe the prefent flaves of Virginia 
 placed in fuch a iituation for their lives, and that 
 all blacks, born ^fter pafllng an adb for this pur- 
 pofe, (hpuld b^ free at twenty-fivQ years of age. 
 
of 
 
 ( 189 ) 
 
 This would afford time not only to put thefe 
 little farms in order, but it would reclaim the 
 exhaulted land, leave the proprietors in a better 
 Situation than they otherwife would have been ia 
 from a fyftem which encourages indolence, pro- 
 motes ignorance, tyranny, and every radical 
 vice; but the blacks, by liberal conditions upon 
 fuch a plan, with induAry, might be able to 
 educate their children, and accumulate a fmall 
 property to encourage and fupport their liberty 
 and independence, and the State would have time 
 to acquire white emigrants, if the blacks did not 
 anfwer the purpofes of cultivation, and the end 
 of the civil polity of an enlightened government 1 
 to fuppofe which would be as uncharitable as the 
 remarks of Mr. JefFerfon. ;r,r? io j> 
 
 It will, doubtlefs, require a length of time to 
 generalize marriages between the whites and 
 Jjlacks ; buf that wpul4 not prove a material dif. 
 advantage to the State, There would always be 
 fomp whites wbp wopld jnarry blacks for th? fake 
 Df property; apd, no doubt, when prejudices 
 WIB worn away, they would unite from more tm^ 
 df r and d?lime ienpim^ms* > :;;.u '*'''"■ 
 
f 190 r 
 
 ' A judkloQi author of this country, who htt 
 written on the complexion and figure in the hu« 
 man rpeciei, hai faid : " A nation which mi-* 
 gratei to a different climate will, in time, be 
 imparellbd with the charaiflcrs of its new State: 
 The dark colour of the natives of the Weft India 
 Iflands is well known to approach very near to a 
 dark Copper. The defcendants of the Spaniards 
 Ih South America are already become copper, 
 coloured* The Portuguefc of Mitombo, in 
 Sierra Leoha, on the coaft of Africa, have, by 
 intermarrying with the natives, and by adopting 
 fcheir manners, become, in a few generations* 
 perfectly afTimilated in afped, figure, and ^com. 
 plexlon." And Lord Kaims, who cannot be 
 fufpe^ed of partiality on this fubjedl^ fays of 
 another Portugiiefe fettlement on the coaft of 
 Congo, ** That the defcendants of thofe poliihed 
 Eurbpeani have become, both in their perfons 
 and in their manners, more like beafts than like ^ 
 men. Thefe examples tend to ftrengthen the 
 inference fi'om the changes that have happiened 
 in the Anglo-Americans I and they fhew how 
 eaiily climate would afTimilate foreigners to na. 
 
 tivca 
 
 \,V 
 
 tivesj 
 
 the 
 
 felvej 
 
 ■»Kt 
 
f «9« i 
 
 tives, in the courfe of time, if they would, adopt 
 the fame mi^nners, and equally expofc thexn^ 
 felves to its influence." 
 
 Whether the black of negroes refides in the 
 reticular ipembrane between the (kin and fcarf- 
 
 ll^in, or in the fcarf-lkin itfelf whether ic 
 
 proceeds from the colour of the blood, the co« 
 kiur of the bile, or from that of fome other fe« 
 c^etion, the difference is not fixed in nature, but 
 |S the mere effedt of climate, which is proved by 
 the daily testimony of the moil enlightened phi- 
 lof^phers of the prefent age ; who have for their 
 fupport the obfervations and remarks of travel- 
 lers ,uppn the effeds of climate in every part of 
 the globe. 
 
 Mr. Jefierfon fays, it is fixed in nature; and 
 alks *' if the difference is of no real importance?*' 
 I anfwer, that it is of no real importance, when 
 compared with the objed of refcuing fome mil- 
 lions of miferable human beings from the 
 odious prejudices which have degraded a whole 
 jrace,of mentothe rankofbeafls of burden, be- 
 fcaufe. they had the misfpjrtune. not (Q ]?Ave the 
 •Ikige of nd and white* ^ ^^ i- ^ f , / 
 
 Were 
 
 
 > 'i 
 
( m ) 
 
 Wtre a hiari, who, with all the ardoul* of ik 
 youthful paflion, had juft been gazing upon the 
 fair bofom of a loved and beautiful miftrefs, and 
 afterwards marked the contrail of that paradife 
 of fublunary blift, to the African or Indian hu^, 
 to exclaim in the terms which Mr. Jefferfon has 
 ufed, he might be judged excufable on account 
 of the intoxication of his heated fenfes — But 
 when a grave philofopher, who has pafled the 
 meridian of life^ fits down to melioi'ate, by his 
 writings and opinions, the condition of tht 
 flaves of his country, whofe fetters have fixed an 
 obliquity upon the virtue and humanity of thfc 
 fouthcrn Americans, I confefs it appears to me 
 not a little jejune and inconfiftent. 
 
 As to the whites being more elegantly formed, 
 as afierted by Mr. JefFerfon, I mufi: confefs th^t 
 it has never appeared fo to me. On the contrary, 
 I have often obferved in families which have been 
 remarkable for feeding their blacks well, and 
 treating them in other refpeds with humanity, 
 that their negroes have been as finely formed ds 
 any whites I ever faw. — Indeed my admiration 
 has often been arrefled in examining their 
 
 pro-« 
 
(mi 
 
 jprDportion> mufcular llrengthj iind athletic^ 
 powers. '" ' 
 
 If they fecrete Icfs by the kidneys, and more by 
 the glands of the fkin, which gives them a ftrong~ 
 and difagreeable odour, it is alfo certain that 
 white men, inhabiting fouthern climates, do the 
 fame, more than in northern latitudes : by which 
 means an evaporation takes place from the whole 
 furface of the body, which produces that degree 
 of cold which is requifite to counteradl the heat 
 of the climate. As there is always a flow of bile 
 proportionate to the degree of heat, the perfpir- 
 able matter will be more or lefs faturated with 
 that fluid which, from an antifeptic quality, pro- 
 duces that odour which is fuppofed to indicate 
 an original difference ; but which in teality may 
 be difcovered in a degree in all black haired 
 people in all countries. 
 
 No doubt, too, much of that odour is owing to 
 their difference of living from that of the whites : 
 for it is certain, that thofe negroes who are 
 cleanly, and live in the manner of their mafters, 
 have lefs of it. 
 
 However, there can be no doubt but that the 
 
 C c animal 
 
( 194 ) 
 
 animal fyftem may be (6 materially afTeded by 
 climate, as to require a length of time to rcftorc 
 it to its priftine (late ; and whether man wa« 
 aboriginal to Afia, or whether every continent 
 has had its Adam, is of no confequence to the 
 argument ;*>-it is certain we are eiTentially the 
 fame in ftiape and intelled. 
 
 " Comparing them by their faculties of me- 
 mory, reafbn, and imagination, it appears to 
 me,*' fays Mr. JefFerfon, " that in memory they 
 are equal to tlfe whites, in reafon much inferior, 
 as I think one could fcarcely be found capable 
 of tracing and comprehending the invedigation 
 of Euclid ; and that in imagination theyare dull» 
 tallelefs, and anomalous. It would be unfair to 
 follow them to Africa for this invefVigation i we 
 will confider them here on the fame ftage of the 
 whites, and where the fads are not apocryphal on 
 which a judgment is to be formed." 
 
 Can any pofition be more puerile and incon- 
 fiftent. " We will confider them on the fame 
 ilage of the whites, and then a comparifon ii 
 not apocryphal." Now I beg to know what 
 can be more uncertain and falfe than climating 
 
 or 
 
 I 
 
( 195 ) 
 or comparing the intelled or tafents af two de« 
 fcriptions of men s — one enfiaotd^ degraded, and 
 fettered in all their affs of volition without a viftai 
 through which the rays of light andfcience could be 
 Jhot to illumine their ignorant minds. The other free, 
 independent, and with the advantage of appro- 
 priating the reafon and fcience which have been 
 the refult of the ftudy and labours of the philo- 
 fophers and fenlible men for centuries back. If 
 there have been fome folitary inftances where 
 negroes have had the advantage of education, 
 they have (hewn that they are in no degree infe- 
 I rior to whites, though they have always had in. 
 this country the very great difadvantage of aifo- 
 iciating only with their ignorant countrymen, 
 which not only prevents that poliih fo eiTental to 
 arrell admiration, but which imperceptibly leadft 
 I to fervility from the prevalence of manners, 
 
 Mr. JefFerfon's own arguments invalidate 
 Ithemfelves, " Homer told us, he fays, nearly 
 I3000 years fince," 
 
 « Jove fixed it certain, that whatever day 
 
 « Makes man a flave, takes half his worth away.**^ \ 
 
 |Now it is moll certain that the negroes in Ame« 
 
 C c 3 rica 
 
 f 
 
( >96 ) 
 
 rica have hot only been enflaved, but that thtf 
 have exifted under the moft inhuman and 
 nefarious tyranny, particularly in the fouthern 
 States, ■ ^A Vr:. iA'u ""^A IV-" ;.!^, <a-.'^\.'> Am^ 
 
 Baron de Tott, fpeaking of the ignorance of 
 the Turks, who are alfo, flaves, but whites, faid 
 *• that it was with difficulty that he could make 
 them comprehend how two triangles could be 
 tqual to one right one." But it is only neceflary 
 to prove the nullity of Mr. Jefferfon's iargu- 
 ments to copy his own refledion. He alks, *' if 
 the world has produced more than two poets 
 iicknowledged to be fuch by all nations ? How 
 many mathematicians, how many grfeat inventors, 
 in arts and fciences had Europe, north of the 
 Alps, when the Romans crofled thofc moun- 
 tains?'* and then he fays, " it was (ixteen centu^ 
 ries before a Newton could be formed." An4 
 after alking thefe queftions, he abfurdly expeds 
 that black poets and mathematicians are to 
 Ipring up like mufhrooms. 
 
 However, a black in New England has com- 
 pofed an ephemeris; which I have feen, and 
 which inen conycrfant in the fcience of aftro- 
 
 nomy 
 
and 
 luthern 
 
 iargu- 
 ks, *' if 
 
 poets 
 ? How 
 
 iventors! 
 
 1 of the 
 moun- 
 
 I centu- 
 * Ana 
 expcds 
 are to 
 
 IS com- 
 
 :n, and 
 
 I altro- 
 
 nomy 
 
 ( 197 ) 
 nomy declare exhibits mark$ of acute reafon 
 and genius. 
 
 To contend, however, that the world has pro- 
 duced but two poets, is rather the affertion of 
 a pedant than a philofopher; and to maintain 
 that no perfons read Milton and Shakefpear 
 with delight but Englifhmen is not ftridly juft. 
 For every man of tafte and judgment who un- 
 derftands the Englifti language to perfe(flion, 
 muft read them, and many other Englilh poets 
 with the mod animated pleafure — and if the Je- 
 rufalem delivered, the Henriade, and the Lufiad, 
 have only been generally read by the country., 
 men of their refpedive authors, it is not becaufe 
 they have neither genius nor excellence, but be-J 
 caufe it has been more the fyftem of education 
 in Europe to ftudy the claflics than the modern 
 languages, which has given a predominant pre- 
 ference among the literati in every country to 
 the Greek and Latin poet. 
 
 " Religion has produced a Phillis Whately ; 
 but it could not produce a poet," is another of 
 Mr. JefFerfon's dogmata. Phillis was brought 
 from Africa to America, between feven and 
 
 ci^ht 
 
 « :u 
 
i X9^ ) 
 
 ctgftc years of age, and without any afTiflance 
 from a fchool education, and before (he was fif- 
 teen years oM wrote many of her poems. This 
 information is attefted by her then mailer, John 
 Wheatly, dated Bofton, November 14, 1772. 
 I will tranfcribe part of her Poem on Ima- 
 gination, and leave you to judge whether it is 
 poetical or not. It will afford you an opportu-^ 
 ni*y, if you have never met with it, of eflimat- 
 ing her genius and Mr. Jeflferfon's judgment ; 
 and I think, without any difparagement to him, 
 that, by compariibn^ Phillis appears much the 
 fuperior. Indeed, I ffaould be glad to be in- 
 forHKd what white upon this continent has writ- 
 ten more beautiful lines. 
 
 ■\:r. 
 
 *• Imagination ! who can fing thy force ? 
 Or who dbfbribe the fwiftnefs of thy coarfe ? ) 
 Soating through air to find the bright abode, ^ 
 Tb' imperial palace of the thund'ring God, 
 We on thy pinions can furpafs the wind, , , 
 And leave the rolling univerfe behind : 
 From ftar to ftar the mental optics rove, 
 Nfeafure the ikies and range the realms above ; 
 There in one view we grafp the mighty whole» : 
 Or with new worlds amaze th' unbounded foul; 
 Though winter frowns, to fancy's raptur'd eyes 
 The fields may flouriih, and gay fcenes arife ; 
 
 ?^ ',;* 
 
 \v 
 
 <c 
 
 The 
 
( 199 ) 
 
 The frozen deq>s may boift thdr iron bandsp 
 And bid their waters murmur o'er the fands* 
 Fair Flora may refume her fragrant reign, 
 And with her flow'ry riches deck the plain ; 
 Sylvanus may diiFufe his honours round* 
 : And all the foreft may with leaves be crown'd : 
 Show'rs may defcend, and dews their gems difcloie. 
 And i^Aar fparide on the blooming rofe." 
 
 Mr. JefFerfon has been equally feverc upon 
 Ignatius Sancho. But, as I have not the ho- 
 nour to be acquainted with Mr. Sancho's writ« 
 ings^ I ihall conclude that that criticifm is 
 equally marked with prejudice. His faying, 
 *• that Terence was a (lave, but not black," is 
 in contradiftindlion to the teftimony of every 
 other authority ; who all agree, that he was not 
 only an African, but a Numidian, who are all 
 known to be black. . y , ^ 
 
 But, to compkte his paradoxes, Mr. Jefferfon 
 has remarked, " that the Indian with no advan. 
 tage of education is eloquent and ingenious,** 
 without recollecling that the favage is free while 
 the poor African is enflaved ; though he allows 
 
 . that 
 
 . -' .'*; 
 
( 200 ) 
 
 that fervitude dedroys half the worth of the hu« 
 man foul. 
 
 But to do juftice to his candour and heart, I 
 will give you his conclulion upon this fubjed: : 
 " The whole commerce between mafter and 
 flave is a perpetual excicife of the mod boifter- 
 ous paflions, the moft unremitting defpotifm on 
 one part, and degrading fubmiflions on the other. 
 Our children fee this, and learn to imitate it. 
 The parent ftorms, the child looks on, catches 
 the lineaments of wrath, puts on the fame airs, 
 gives a loofe to his worfl: of pallions ; and thus 
 nurfcd, educated, and daily exercifed in tyranny, 
 cannot but be ftamped with odious peculiari- 
 ties.** 
 
 After making feveral moral refle^^lions upon 
 the fubjed: of flavery, he finifhes with thefe 
 emphatical words. " Indeed, I tremble for my 
 country, when I refledl that God is juft: — that 
 his juftice cannot fleep for ever : that, confider- 
 ing numbers, nature, and natural means only, d. 
 revolution of the wheel of fortune, an exchange 
 of iituation, is among polTible events : that it 
 may become probable by fupernatural interfe- 
 rence \ 
 
( aoi ) 
 
 rcnce ! The Almighty has no attribute vhicli 
 can take fide with us in fuch a conceft." 
 
 You fee, my dear friend, how powerful is the 
 dFedt of habit and prejudice ; that with ideas 
 and principles founded in reafon and truth, fuffi- 
 cient to demonllrate that flavery deilroys tho 
 energy of the human mind, and with a heart 
 which does honour to Mr. JefFerfon as a man, 
 his mind is fo \v:|rped by education and the ha- 
 bit of thinking, that he has attempted ro make 
 it appear that the African is a being between the 
 human fpecies and the oran-outang; and ridicu- 
 loufly fuffered his imagination to be carried 
 away with the idle tales of that animal's embrac- 
 ing the negroe women, in preference to the fe- 
 males of its own fpecies. 
 
 Great God! how long is the world to be 
 tantalized with fuch paltry fophiflryand non- 
 fenfe ! My pity and indignation has been alter- 
 nately excited lince I have been writing this let- 
 ter. But, I hope thofe dazzling rays of phi- 
 lanthrophy which gleam in the flattering account 
 you have given me of the difpofition of your 
 countrymen, will give a ftab to the principles 
 
 *i 
 
 Dd 
 
( aoa ) 
 
 of domeltic tyranny, and fix an odium upon 
 thofe teachers of human bloody as flagrant as 
 they are contepnptible. Farewel. In the liba. 
 tions of this night, and appropriate hours of 
 love and focial pleafure, the objeA of ufing my 
 feeble powers in attempting to alleviate the op- 
 preilions of the miferable in every part of the 
 world, (hall not be forgottem i 
 
 6:;/: fa 
 
 i. iCllldill, llIUJkL (lllCl.UUliaLCljr> 
 
 v^: " *v 
 
 Yours, &c. 
 
 ' i ; ; 
 
 '• ,.,"'''i;r',ii;.7ri^,'^ tv 
 
 • '• 
 
 
 
 ■ ^ ■ .■!' ^■■' ^1) ;.:. .'i{n '.,'t; ■";;t.. ;,...., _„..,„ 
 
 
 •'•■■'■ . ;.* . »:fcn^ 
 
 oj L;: 
 
 ■•'^■' ' - - • ?^,''i wo;. ., ^i..,) 'lA^^iZi 
 
 ■ -> ■' '.(. . 
 
 
 r 
 
 ■f -"• 
 
 /...I. 4 J ■ 
 
 : jJi>l 
 
 »'j i. I 
 
 
 .jril' 
 
 *i ;. 
 
 -i: 
 
 
 "l . . ;■! 
 
 LU 
 
 "' ^i'iiJli;l 
 
 ■' .1 ,:.# 
 
 ■ ;■ -ut^y 
 
 LET. 
 
 .-it*-' 
 
( 203 ) 
 
 r'\ 
 
 .ll.vr^': 
 
 -1. 
 
 LETTER X. 
 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 i. C'fv*' 
 
 Your laft favour gave me the mod lively 
 ;;;lcafure ; but, I fear, you have been too fan- 
 guine in the expedlation, that the degree of lofs 
 to the revenue in confequence of the increafed 
 number Ivho have left off the ufe of fugar, will 
 compel your parliament to abolifh the Have 
 trade upon the principle of policy. 
 
 No doubt but the fyftem is impolitic under 
 every confideration ; but when a government 
 adts more upon principles of patronage, than 
 upon a wife and liberal policy, little is to be ex- 
 peded from opinions fo vitiated and controuled 
 by bad habits of thinking. 
 
 Ignorant minds are always the mofl incorrigi- 
 ble, and the devaftations which folly and con- 
 tumely have produced in its perseverance in 
 error, (hews, in the ftrongeft of all poiFible light, 
 
 Uda . V 
 
 I 
 
 \ 
 
 '\ i 
 
 r 
 
 i; 
 
 1^ > 
 
.i^\ 
 
 1.^ 
 
 ( ao4 ) 
 the advintagc of philofophy. While weak men 
 dread what they call innovation, amendments 
 will be very tardy i and until education with 
 J'ou is ameliorated, I exped your unnatural fyf- 
 tcm of flavery, chartered companies, &c. &c. 
 will be continued. However, anaera will arrive 
 when Statei who are more wife than your nation 
 appeam to be in the appropriation of ufeful 
 truths, will eclipfe the brilliancy of your 
 Commerce, and then the fpirit of- a people 
 i'Cnowned for their magnanimity will tear from 
 ^hc fair face of reafon, the odious mafk which 
 has fo long obfcured her luftre. • * ^ 
 
 It requires no oracular faculties to fee that that 
 {}erlod U rapidly advancing, and it is to be pre- 
 fumed that the mod conceited and ftubborn 
 Heward would take fome precaution againfl the 
 dangers of an irtipending hurricane. - ," , v..„i 
 • Previous to your laft requeft, I had intcrfpcrfed 
 in my diflcrent letters fome account of the 
 natural hiftory of this country, and had referred 
 you to Mr. JelFcrfon for more full information; 
 'nit as it is always with the greateft pleafure I 
 t to you, I ihall give you fuch an account 
 
 
 of 
 
 * t f I ^' , I" 
 
 • -z^. 
 
 e*-'f JnA 
 
 t*v.- i> 
 
 
 
 / y c-f:^,S,^K 
 
 y 
 
 -■■v^ 
 
 
 
I men 
 
 lents 
 
 Iwith 
 
 fyf. 
 
 &c. 
 irrive 
 
 o£ 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 ( »05 ) 
 
 bf it as the length of a letter and my knowledge 
 of the fubje<5t wilt permit. ^ 
 
 I am too proud to ni ike any apology for 
 Veing obliged to give you in many inftances the 
 popular names of our vegetables, &c. &c.; for, I 
 think, it is high time that the Linnaean deligna^ 
 
 { tion was anglicifed. . > 
 
 Linnaeus had great merit as firft nomenclator 
 in the fcience of natural hiftory, and no doubt 
 did the world a great and eifential good by pre* 
 fering the Latin to the Swedifh language for hi^ 
 purpofe. But from the perfedion which botany 
 and natural hillory have attained, I think the 
 obje<3: of fimplifying, or rendering into Englifli, 
 the various terms in that fcience, highly worthy 
 the attention of fome enlightened philofopher. _ 
 True, the Latin has hitherto beeh the moft ge« 
 neral language in Europe among fcientific men^ 
 and thus far the infancy of the fludy has been 
 rapidly matured by the happy adoption. But 
 the Englilh language bids fair to fuperfede it, 
 and when we take a view of the different parts 
 of the- globe which are fettled by people who 
 
 ipeak Engl iih, and compare it with the per- 
 
 fedion 
 
 
 ■^•<, 
 
 
 >^^^.-^'^ 
 
 ^■'"ft- ' *! .^ ,, . 
 
 rv>i[.. 
 
 ■^'■■ 
 
 
 -g'-f-i. 
 
 
 :^>i^^-<i,^ 
 
 % 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 
( 206 ) 
 
 tecSion which that language has arrived at, X 
 think it feems probable th$t in the courfe of 
 time it will become univerfal. 
 
 We have a variety of fpontaneous kinds of 
 grafs, for many of which we have no name. I 
 have fpoken of the cane and its properties in a 
 former letter, which the farmer may confider as 
 a grafs, fince it will anfwer every purpofe of 
 grafs to him. I have alfo mentioned our clover 
 and rye-grafs. Belides which, we have, of the 
 grafs kind, the pea-vine, which in a fmall de- 
 gree refembles your pea-vine. It has the fame 
 kind of tendril, and runs up die cane, ft]rubs, 
 and rye-grafs, which frequently grows inter- 
 fperfed with it. Its bloflbms are of a reddifli 
 hue, and it produces a fmall and imperfed pea. 
 In the very rich foil, it grows from three to five 
 feet high; but in general it does not exceed 
 eighteen inches or two feet, and is not of fo 
 luxuriant a growth as the vine of the cultivated 
 pea, but has a much nearer refemblance to grafs. 
 
 Our other principal forts of natural grafs are, 
 the buffalo, orchard, fpear, blue, and crab 
 graflcs. The buiTalo grafs is rather coarfe, 
 
 grows 
 
grows from nine to eighteen inches high, and is 
 generally found moft plentiful in a middling foil. 
 It has a broad leaf, and fecms unworthy of cul- 
 tivation. The latter kinds generally fpring up 
 after the land has been cultivated, and form ex- 
 cellent pallures ; and are alfo capable of being 
 made into hay, particularly the fpear and blue 
 
 grals. \,;'n;,,,- yj:zmwu^if,..i:.',iiv> i,.i^.H,-r 
 
 Every part of the country abounds in a va- 
 riety of natural flowers. The crocus, and a pro- 
 fuiion of dailies, appear on the approach of 
 fpring, which are fucceeded by the daffodil, 
 jonquil, hyacinth, tulip, and a multitude of 
 other flowers, fuch as heart*s-eafe, lilies, red and 
 white, holly-hocks, pinks, golden -od, cowflips, 
 may-fiowers, jeflamine, columbine, honey -fuckles, 
 rock honey-fuckles, tuberofe, ranunculas, marfh- 
 mallows, violets, rofes of difl^erent forts, &c. &c. 
 Of herbs, &c. we have of the wild fort, mar- 
 joram, fun-dew, fage, thyme, Indian leaf, rofe- 
 mary, angelica, fennel, lovage, mugwort, ox- 
 eye, mother- wort, feverfew, cat's- mint, penny- 
 royal, rue, mint, yarrow, burnet, nettle, fanicle, 
 rupture-A^ort, cudweed, white and black mai- 
 , , den- 
 
 ' ' ^ R 
 
 ( 1 
 
 ^ H 
 
 i 
 
 ;i 
 
( tot ) 
 
 den-hair, colewort, ground-pine, tooth-worQ 
 ground-ivy, lung-wort, mountain-polIy, winters 
 green, hore-hound, ladies mantle, celadine, jcw'i- 
 ear, horfc-mint, liver-wort, water-creiTes, fcur-» 
 vy-grafs, muftard, hyflbp, tanfy, dock, afmart, 
 glafs-wort, hellebore, wolf*«-banc, fpikcnard, 
 &c. &c. &c, 
 
 You will obfervc,that we have adopted names 
 which are common in Europe, and I prcfume 
 that it is the affinity between your plants of the 
 above names, and ours, which have produced 
 thefe denominations. How far they are appli^ 
 cable, requires a better botanlH to determine than 
 I profefs to be ; and to relate their different mi^ 
 nutise, would be both tedious and unfatisfadlory^ 
 as it is impofnble to give a jull idea of theif 
 comparative fimilarity by a defcription. 
 
 Farinaceous, Leguminous Plants, 6cc« 
 
 Indian corn 
 
 Zea mays 
 
 Wild oat 
 
 Zczania aquatica 
 
 Wild rye 
 
 
 Indian millet 
 
 Holcus laxus 
 
 Wild pea 
 
 Dolichus 
 
 Panic 
 
 Panicum 
 
 There are many of this fpecics, 
 
 Lupine 
 
( 209 ) 
 
 Lupine 
 
 Lupinus perennis 
 
 Jerufalem artichoke 
 
 Helianthus tuberofui 
 
 Cymlings 
 
 Cucurbita verrucofa 
 
 Squafties 
 
 Cucurbita melopepo 
 
 Purflain ^^ 
 
 Portulaca oleracea 
 
 Lettuce u -^ 
 
 Laduca virofa. 
 
 Fibrous 
 
 Plants, &c. 
 
 Wild hemp 
 
 Acnida cannabini 
 
 Wild flax '■'■ 
 
 ^ Linum Virginianum] 
 
 Wild hop 
 
 ' Humulus cupulus» 
 
 Roots> &c» 
 
 Sarfaparilla '"^. '-"'■' 
 
 Sarfaparilldfe 
 
 Indian phyfic 
 
 Spiraea trifoliata 
 
 Ipecacuanha 
 
 Phychotria emeticA 
 
 Pleurify root 
 
 Afclepias decumbens 
 
 Virginia fnake root 
 
 Ariftolochia ferpentariA 
 
 Black fnake root 
 
 Adaea racemofa 
 
 Seneca rattlefnake root Polygala fenega 
 
 Valerian 
 
 Valeriana locuHa radiate 
 
 Ginfeng] 
 
 Phanax quinquefolium 
 
 CalTava 
 
 Jatropha uren3 
 
 Oranadillad 
 
 Pafliflora incarnate. 
 
 E 
 
 e Fruits^ 
 
Mulberry 
 Green-river plumb 
 Barren, or red plumb 
 Cherokee plumb 
 
 ( 210 ) 
 
 Fruits, &C« 
 Morus 
 
 '>■ ■- ■ 
 
 Wild cherry- 
 Wild crab-apple 
 Perfimmon 
 
 Prunus fylveftris frudu 
 
 minori 
 Prunus Virginiana 
 Pyrus corortaria 
 Diofpyros Virginiana. 
 
 There are various kinds of grapes. 
 Scarlet ftrawberries Fragaria Virginiana 
 
 Wortleberries 
 
 Wild goofeberries 
 Wild currants 
 Cranberries 
 Black ralberries 
 
 . yj;^ 
 
 Vaccinium uliginofum 
 ' -^. [Jefferfon, 
 
 Ribes groiTularia 
 
 . Vaccinium oxycoccos 
 Rubus occidentaiis. 
 May-apple. This apple is produced from an 
 annual plant which is among the, firft vegetables 
 that come forward in the fpring ; it is about ten 
 or twelve inches high, advancing rapidly to ma- 
 turity, and the apple grows much in the man- 
 ner of the potatoe feed, and is nearly of the fame 
 fize. When ripe, it is of the colour of a pale 
 
 r orange. 
 
( 211 ) 
 
 orange. The pulp is of a fucculcnt nature, 
 without any feed, and its flavour very much like 
 the pine apple. It is ripe early in June. 
 
 Acimene. This fruit grows upon a fhrub, 
 and is from four to five inches in length, and 
 from one to one and a half diameter. The pulp 
 is fweet and tender. It ripens in July. 
 
 Peakimine. A fpecies of plumb, nearly the 
 fize of the mogul plumb, but more delicious. 
 
 Papaw. This fruit grows upon a tree from 
 twelve to twenty-fix feet high. It is in fiiape 
 more like a feed cucumber than any thing elfe. 
 It is ripe about midfummer. Its pulp is yellow, 
 and fomewhat of the confiftence of an indifi^erent 
 melon, and its flavour very much like a cuflard, 
 but it is too lufcious to be agreeable i though, 
 when boiled green, it is good eating. 
 
 NutTrees, &c. 
 Sealy bark hiccory . .^ Juglans albacortiae fqua- 
 ' ^' mofb [Jefferfon, 
 
 Common hiccory ; -^''- Juglans alba frudu mi- 
 
 A norerancido [Clit^ton, 
 There are a variety of other kinds of hiccory 
 which have not been defignated, 
 
 E e :* Black 
 
 / 
 
Black walnut 
 White walnut 
 Chefnut 
 Hazle nut 
 
 ( 312 ; 
 
 Juglans nigra 
 Juglans alba 
 Fagus pumila 
 Corylus avellana. 
 Bcfides the above, the Carolina ground-nut grows 
 low do.wn on the MiflKTippi, and the peccane in 
 the Illinois, in the county of Cumberland, and 
 every where near the mouth of the Ohio. It is 
 about two-thirds of the iize of an Englilh wal- 
 nut, and the Ihell fmooth and tender. Mr. Jef- 
 ferfon has given it a deHgnation which is equal 
 in length to the name of a Spanifli cavalier. He 
 fpecifies it as the juglans alba, foliolis lanceola- 
 tis, acuminatis, ferratis, tomehtofis, frudu mi- 
 ilore, ovato, comprcflb, vix infculpto, dulci, 
 putaminCi tenerrimo, ; ;• 
 
 iU;, 
 
 Poke .: • 
 
 Plane-tree 
 Lime-tree f. 
 Poplar 
 Black poplar '» '* 
 Red flowering maple 
 Umbrella tree ^^ r: 
 3uck-eye ; :- 
 
 Phytolacca decandra 
 Platanus occidentalis 
 Zilia Americana 
 Liriodendron tulipifera 
 Populus nigra 
 Acer rubrum 
 Magnolia tripetala 
 ^fculvis 
 
 Afpen 
 
 L- 'J. 
 
■ 
 
 ( ai3 ) 
 
 1 
 
 Afpen 
 
 Populvis tremuU , 
 
 I 
 
 Reed, or cane 
 
 Arundo phragmitis 
 
 1 
 
 Locuft 
 
 Robinia pfeudo acacisi 
 
 1 
 
 Honey locufl 
 
 Gleditfia 
 
 grows 1 
 
 • 
 
 Barberry 
 
 Berberis vulgaris 
 
 me in I 
 
 Dog-wood 
 
 Cornus florida 
 
 i, and 1 
 
 Snow-drop tree 
 
 Chionanthus Virginia 
 
 It is 1 
 
 Holly 
 
 Ilex aquifolium 
 
 1 waL 1 
 
 Swamp laurel 
 
 Magnolia acuminata 
 
 • Jef- 1 
 
 Portugal bay , 
 
 Laurus indica 
 
 equal 1 
 
 Catalpa ' v, 
 
 Bignonica catalpa 
 
 He 1 
 
 Wild pimento ^ . 
 
 Laurus benzoin 
 
 ceola^ I 
 
 Red bud 
 
 Cercis Canadenfis 
 
 Li mi. 1 
 
 Saflafras 
 
 Laurus faifafras 
 
 dulci^ 
 
 Common laurel of this 
 
 • V 
 
 
 country . i - :,,,.. 
 
 Notdafled 
 
 ra 
 
 Cockfpur ,.^:.,;,, 
 
 Crataegus coccinea 
 
 lis 
 
 Red bay 
 
 Laurus borbonia 
 
 
 Dwarf rofe bay 
 
 Rhododendron maximum 
 
 ifeu 
 
 Spindle tree 
 
 Euonymus Europ^us 
 
 1 
 
 Evergreen fpindle tree 
 
 Euonyrnus Americanus 
 
 1 
 
 j:ider 
 
 Sambucus nigra 
 
 1 
 
 Candleberry myrtle 
 
 Myrica cerifera. 
 
 1 
 
 Sumach ^ ^.,,, 
 
 Rhus. Not clalTed 
 
 fpen 1 
 
 ■ 1 f V-iij*' 
 
 Cotton 
 

 Cotton tree 
 Satin-wood tree 
 Coffee tree 
 Dwarf laurel 
 American aloe 
 Ivy 
 
 Hemlock fir 
 Papaw 
 
 ( 214 ) 
 
 Not clafled 
 Not clafled 
 Not clafled 
 Kalmia latifolias 
 Agave Virginica 
 Hedera quinquefolia 
 Pinus Canadenfls 
 Annona triloba 
 Trumpet honcy-fuckle Lonicera Temper virens 
 Upright honey-fuckle Azalea nudiflora 
 Juniper Juniperus Virginica 
 
 Grows only in the fouthern parts of the weftern 
 country. 
 
 Quercus nigra 
 Quercus alba 
 Quercus rubra 
 ' Quercus phellos 
 Quercus prinus 
 Quercus aquatica[C/tf)'/tf», 
 Quercus pumila [Ditto, 
 Quercus Virginiana 
 
 [Miller. 
 
 The live oak grows only low down on the Miflif- 
 fippi, on this fide of the mountain. 
 
 Sug^r 
 
 Black oak 
 White oak 
 Red oak 
 Willow oak| 
 Chefnut oak 
 Black-jack oak 
 Ground oak 
 Live oak 
 
 r,'\ 
 
 
 tt-no. 
 
 iCUc. 
 
 ^ 
 
( 215 ) 
 
 Sugar tree Acer faccharinurrt 
 
 Which is the common name throughout this 
 country for the fugar maple. 
 
 Beech 
 White afh 
 Black aih 
 Elm 
 
 Slippery elm 
 Sweet elm 
 
 Button-wood tree 
 Black birch 
 White birch z-. 
 Sweet gum 
 Pitch pine 
 
 Fagus fylvatica 
 Fraxinus alba 
 Fraxinus nigra 
 Ulmus Americana 
 Not claffed 
 Ulmus faccharina Amei# 
 
 ricana 
 Not claffed 
 Betula nigra 
 Betula alba 
 Liquidambar flyraciHua 
 
 Pinustseda 
 
 Grows only on the fouthern branches of the 
 Ohio, Weft Florida, and the mountainous 
 parts of the country. ,^ .^ 
 
 White pine ■.. \ Pinusflrobus 
 
 Grows only in the mountainous counti'y. 
 Yellow pine Pinus Virginica 
 
 - . Grows alfo in the mountains. 
 Spruce pine Pinus foliis iingularibus 
 
 [Clayton, 
 Spruce 
 
 *•'-! 
 
 .-.fit i 
 
 ! 
 
 
 I 
 
 \ 
 
 W: I 
 
( !ii6 ) 
 
 SpfucA pine grows moftly upon the precipices of 
 river banks, upon the fides of high hillsj 
 and never in the champaign country. 
 Cyprefs CyprclTus dillicha 
 
 White cedar Cyprefllis thyoides 
 
 The cyprefs and white cedar grow in abun- 
 dance in the country contiguous to the gulf of 
 Mexico, but in the country high up the rivers, 
 Very few of them are to be found. 
 
 The beft foil produces little timber but the lo- 
 cuft, cherry, walnut, buck-eye, fugar-tree, elm, 
 beech, a(h, fatin-wood, and papaw. The mid* 
 die rate land oaks, hiccory, dog-wood, fomc 
 fugar-trees, and beech. "W hat we call indiffer- 
 ent land affords moftly black and red oaks, fome 
 hiccory, gum, &c. and the more broken and 
 hilly country (I mean the worfl land), black- 
 jack oak, fir, &c. 
 
 There is a variety of flirubs in every part of 
 the country, the principal of which are the myrtle 
 and fpice berry ; and a number of different kinds 
 of grafs, &c. that I am unable to defcribe j for, 
 indeed, they have not all obtained popular names, 
 tnd I am too ignorant of botany, as t have con^* 
 
 fcifed 
 
 vv 
 
 u< 
 
( 217 } 
 
 fefTed, to attempt to clafs them ; which, per- 
 haps, is the lined field now open to a man of ge- 
 nius, in the fcience of botany, upon the face of 
 the globe. 
 
 BufFon, Kalm, D'Abenton, Catefby, and Pen- 
 nant, have all touched upon the natural hidory 
 of America. The firft and laft have confined 
 themfelves chiefly to the defcription of animals ; 
 and as they are judly admired for their talents, I 
 fliAll confine myfelf merely to giving you a lift of 
 the wild animals which are common to the weft- 
 ern country, and refer you to their works for the 
 natural hiftory. Such errors as Buffon had been 
 drawn into from prejudice, Mr. JefFerfon has 
 ably confuted. 
 
 Animals. Where common. 
 
 Buffalo. Bifon ' Between lat. 42 and 37 
 Moofe elk. Elan orig- * 
 
 nal, palmated 
 Elk, round horned 
 Caribou. Renne 
 Red deer. Crof 
 Roe. Chevrecul 
 
 To the north of lat. 43 
 Between lat. 40 and 36 
 To the north of lat. 43 
 To the fouth of lat. 40 
 To the north of lat. 40 
 F f Fallow 
 
( = 
 
 Animali* 
 Fallow deer. Daim] 
 Bear. Ours 
 Wild cat. Chat fauvage 
 Wolf. Loup 
 Glutton* Carcajou 
 Lynx. Loup cervier 
 Beaver. Cador 
 Otter. Loutre 
 Red fox. Rcnard 
 Grey fox. Ifatis 
 Hedge-hog. Herrifon 
 Martin. Marte 
 Wcafcl. Bclitte 
 Wafer rat. Rat d'eau 
 Monax. Marmotte 
 
 i8 ) 
 
 Where common. 
 To the north of lat. 43 
 Every part of this country 
 Ditto 
 
 r 
 
 Ditto 
 
 To the north of lat. 42 
 To the fouth oT lat. 40 
 To the north of lat. 37 
 Between lat. 45 and 36 
 To the north of lat. 39 
 To the fouth o( lat. 40 
 To the north of lat. 40 
 Tothenorthof lat. 38 
 To the fouth of the lakes 
 Between lat. 42 and 36 
 
 Flying fquirrel. 
 
 latouche r , 
 Fox fquirrel 
 Black fquirrel ,. 
 Red fquirrel ' 
 Great grey fquirrel 
 Little grey fquirrel 
 Ground fquirrel, ' 
 
 Pa- 
 
 To the fouth of lat. 40 
 Between lat. 39 and ;^6 
 Between lat. 39 and 42 
 To the fouth of lat. 40 
 To the north of lat. 38 
 Between lat. 38 and 32 
 Between lat. 40 and 36 
 
 Mink 
 
( ai9 ) 
 Animals* Wheri common. 
 
 Mink To the fouth of lat. 44 
 
 Shrew moufe. Mufa- 
 
 To the fouth of lat. 43 
 To the fouth of the lakes 
 
 as far as lat. 37 
 To the fouth of lat. 41 
 
 raigne 
 
 Roccoon. Raton 
 
 OpofTum. Sarique 
 Vifon. Fouine 
 Seunk. Mouffette. Co- 
 
 nepate Between lat. 43 and 36 
 
 Congar 
 Rabbit Every partof this country, 
 
 but no where fo numerous as on the other iide 
 
 of the mountain. — ^N. B. There is not a wild 
 
 hare in all America.) 
 
 Mouffette fquafh 
 Mouffette chinche 
 Panther 
 Wood chuck 
 Porcupine 
 Dormoufe . 
 
 Between lat. 43 and 36 
 
 To the north of lat. 23 
 Between lat. 39 and 44 
 • To the north of lat. 42 
 
 To the north of lat. 49, 
 There are befides moles, mice, and bats, fc- 
 veral other animals in the extreme parts of the 
 country. I have omitted faying any thing re. 
 
 F f 2 fpeding 
 
 SI' I 
 
 
( 226 ) 
 
 rpec^ing theiHi as I could not do it with fufti^ 
 cient accuracy ; but you will find, in Mr. Jef- 
 ferfon'slift of the aboriginal animals of America, 
 art account of the whole of them. 
 
 I have already taken notice of the great bones 
 which have been found in this country j but as I 
 wis not minute as to the eftimate of their fize, I 
 fliall juft remark, that it was the opinion of your 
 celebrated anatomift, the late Dr. Hunter, from 
 aft examination of the tuiks, that the mammouth 
 was an animal entirely different from the ele- 
 phant; and Mr. Jefferfon, who feems to have 
 examiried thei Ikeleton with curious attention, 
 fays, " the bones befpeak an animal of five or 
 fix times the cubic volume of the elephant, as 
 Monf. de Buffon has admitted.** And I have 
 been informed by a gentleman who attended the 
 ledures of Dr. Cline, in London, that this in- 
 genious anatomift ufed to produce one of the 
 tulks of the mammouth, when he was leduring, 
 and declared that the animal muft have been 
 carnivorous. 
 
 ^ In my account of the birds of .this country, I 
 fiiall moftly give you the Linnaean defignation. 
 
( 221 ) 
 
 in preference to Catc(by*s, though Catelby's de* 
 fignation is mod general. 
 
 Popular Nam£S. 
 
 Bald eagle 
 Turkey buzzard 
 Sparrow hawk 
 Forked tail hawk 
 Pigeon hawk 
 Filhing hawk . 
 Field martin 
 Little owl 
 Tyrant martin or king 
 
 bird 
 Perroquet 
 Red headed wood 
 
 pecker 
 Large red crefted ditto 
 White bill ditto 
 Gold winged ditto 
 Red bellied ditto 
 Small fpotted ditto 
 Yellow bellied ditto 
 Hairy ditto 
 
 LiMNiE AN Designa- 
 tion. 
 Falco leucocephalus 
 Vultur aura 
 Falco fparverius 
 Falco furcatus ^ 
 
 Falco columbarius , 
 Accipitcr pifcatorius 
 
 Strix aiio ' " 
 
 Laninus tyrannus 
 
 Pfittaccus 
 
 Picus erythrocephalus 
 
 Picus pileatus : . 
 
 Picus principalis 
 Picus auratus 
 Picus Carolinus 
 Picus pubefeens 
 Picus varius 
 Picus villofus 
 
 Popular 
 
t i2i ) 
 PiyfVLAti Names. LiNNiBAi^ Disigna^ 
 
 TION. 
 
 Blue jay Corvus criftalus 
 
 Crow black bird Gracula quifcuU 
 
 Baltimore bird Oriolis Baltimore 
 
 Ballard Baltimore dit<k Oriolis fpurius ^ r 
 
 to > 
 
 Carolina cuckoo Cuculus Americanus 
 Field lark 
 
 Red winged black Sturnus niger alls fuper- 
 
 bird ncrubcntibus [Catejby, 
 
 Robin red breaft Turdus migratorius 
 
 Red thrufli 
 Mocking bird 
 
 Little thrufh 
 Purple f* 'h 
 Lettuce bird 
 Cowpen bird 
 Little fparrow 
 Towhe bird 
 
 Blue linnet 
 
 m* 
 
 Turdus rufus t 
 
 Turdus minor cinerco 
 albus non maculatus 
 {Catejhy, 
 Turdus minimus \CateJhy, 
 Fringilla purpurea 
 Carduelis Americanus 
 Pafer. fufcus. {Catejby, 
 Paferculus [Catejhy, 
 
 Fringilla crythrophthal- 
 
 ma 
 Tanagra cyanca 
 
 PoPULAa 
 
 \ 
 
( 223 ) 
 
 Popular Names. . 
 
 Painted finch : 
 
 Rice bird 
 Snowbird . - 
 Red bird 
 Blue grofs beak 
 Crefted fly catcher 
 Summer red bird 
 Red ftart • 
 Cat bird 
 
 Black cap fly c^'c r 
 Little brown fly catcher 
 Red-eyed fly catcher 
 Blue bird 
 Wren 
 
 Yellow crefted chat- 
 terer 
 Whip poor Will 
 
 Great bat or goat 
 
 fucker 
 Houfe martin 
 American fwallow 
 
 LiNNiEAN DfiSIGNA-* 
 TION. 
 
 Emberiza bin's 
 Emberiza oryzivor^ 
 Emberiza hyemalis 
 Loxia Cardinalif, 
 Loxia Caerulea 
 Mufcicapa erinita 
 Mufcicapa rubra Jv*i 
 Mufcicapa ruticilla 
 Mufcicapa Carolinienfia 
 Mufcicapa nigrefcens 
 Mufcicapa fufca 
 Mufcica^^a oculis rubris 
 Motaciiia (ialis i 
 
 Motacilla regulus * 
 
 Motacilla trochilus 
 Caprimulgus minor A- 
 mericanus [Catefiy, 
 Caprimufgus {Catejby, 
 
 Hirundo purperea 
 Hirundo pelafgia 
 
 Popular 
 
 %- 
 

 ( 224 ) 
 
 Popular Names. Linn^ean Designa** 
 
 TION. 
 
 Yellow titmoufc Parus Carolinenfis 
 
 [Catejkf, 
 Yellow throated creeper Parus Americanus gut- 
 
 ture luteo \Catefby, 
 
 Hooded titmoufe 
 Yellow rump 
 Finch creeper 
 Crefled titmouf^ 
 Nut-thatch 
 
 Small nut-thatch 
 
 Humming bird 
 
 Hanging bird 
 
 Pine creeper 
 
 King fifher 
 
 Kildee 
 
 Soree 
 
 Ground dove r 
 
 Wild pigeon 
 
 Turtle dove 
 
 Lark 
 
 Parus cucullo nigrp 
 Parus Virginianus 
 Parus Americanus 
 Parus bicolar 
 3itta capite nigro • 
 
 [Catejhy^ 
 Sitta capite fufco [Bitto^ 
 Trochilus colubris 
 
 Certhia pinus 1 ^ • 
 
 Alcedo alcyon » '- 
 Charadrius vocifcrus 
 Rallus Virginianus 
 Columba palTerina 
 Columba migratoria 
 Columba Carolinienfis 
 Allauda Alpeftris 
 
 Popular 
 
 ';«■■, 
 
 POPUL 
 
 Night ha| 
 Cat owl 
 Screech 
 Crow 
 Crane 
 Whet ha^ 
 Great grc 
 Feather 
 
 buzzan 
 Large poi 
 Raven 
 Houfe fw; 
 
 Ground £\ 
 Cormorar 
 Squatting 
 Whiftlinj 
 Woodcoc 
 Yellow >^ 
 Red bird 
 wings 
 Wagtail 
 
( 225 ) 
 
 Popular Namis. LiNNiSAN Designa- 
 tion. 
 
 Night hawk 
 Cat owl 
 Screech owl 
 
 Crow :>''J:,iJ 
 
 Crane 
 
 Whet hawk 
 Great grey eagle 
 Feather head turkey 
 
 buzzard 
 Large pouch pelican 
 Raven 
 Houfe fwallow ' Hirundo ruflica 
 
 ' - VJefferfon. 
 
 Ground fwallow ' Hirundo riparira [DrV/tf. 
 Cormorant ' - ,.— . 
 
 Strix Americana (Bodti) 
 
 Corvus 
 
 Ardea Canadenfis ^ 
 
 >■ ■> : t. 
 
 Hi- 
 
 t 'V 
 
 \]\]V. 
 
 vA 
 
 W 
 
 Squatting fnipe - ' - 
 Whiftling plover ^'«^ 
 Woodcock or mud hen 
 Yellow winged fnipe 
 Red bird with black * 
 
 wings 
 Wagtail 
 
 Gg 
 
 
 ;?;;;, '^*'?r' ]}-• 
 
 '■;_ i 
 
 POPULAIi 
 
 ^1 
 
 pi: ■' VK 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 m' 
 
( 
 
 226 ) ■ 
 
 
 PofULAH NaMBS- 
 
 LlNN^AN D£SIGNA«« 1 
 
 
 « 
 
 TION. I 
 
 We 
 
 Wild goofe 
 
 Anas canadenfis 1 
 
 Buffel head duck 
 
 Anas bucephala 1 
 
 gcon, 
 
 Small brown; duck 
 
 Anas niftica 1 
 
 fprig 
 
 White face teal ; r? 
 
 -•r.Anas difcros ycr::'} 1 
 
 ballco 
 
 Blue winged teal i. 
 
 '■■/>nj^n 1 
 
 fwan, 
 
 Green winged teal 
 
 r^r>;m ::d-U 1 
 
 1 men 
 
 Summer duck 
 
 Anas fponfa :<> v'*"-* -'■*■■!. ■ 
 
 key, i 
 
 Blue winged fhovler 
 
 Anas Americanos chrif- 1 
 
 I h 
 
 
 talufelegans. [Qate/ky, 1 
 
 your 1 
 
 Round crefled duck 
 
 Mergua cueuUatus \ 1 
 
 fo ne 
 
 Pied bill dopchick 
 
 Colymbus podiceps /^J^ 1 
 
 more 
 
 Large creAed heron 
 
 Ardea Herodias ?. <ji , I : 
 
 you a 
 
 Crefted bittern 
 
 Ardea violacea 
 
 I flatt 
 
 Blue heron r -i oLn 
 
 ,!•; Ardea caerulca, n\ bni! j.) 
 
 upon 
 
 Small bittern 
 
 Ardia virefcen* - -o ^ 
 
 vers < 
 
 Small white heron 
 
 Ardea aequinodialis ., ,■ 
 
 womb 
 
 Indian hen 
 
 Ardea flellaris America- 
 
 trace 
 
 
 na • {Catejhy, 
 
 whicl 
 
 Wood pelican 
 
 Tantalus loculator 
 
 buttl 
 
 White curlew 
 
 Tantalus alber - \u) ' 
 
 ftrua 
 
 Brown curlew 
 
 Tantalus fufcus it 
 
 Tt 
 
 
 r, We 
 
 accui 
 
 , u 
 
 A 
 
 diffei 
 
 . I 
 
( "7 ) 
 
 We have beiides, the <luck and mallard/ wid« 
 geon, canvafs foack^ wood duck, black dtitk, 
 fprig tail^ white head duck> black head duck> 
 ballcoot, water pheafant, mow bird, blue peter, 
 fwan, loon, mountain pheafant or groufe, which 
 I mentioned in a former letter, quail, wild tur-* 
 
 key, &c. &c. 
 
 I have now, my dear friend, complied with 
 your wifli as far as it is in my power, a country 
 fo new and extenfive requires more time, and 
 more room than a letter will admit of to give 
 you a complete idea of its natural hiflory ; but, 
 I flatter myfelf, it will afford you a general idea 
 upon the fubjedt ; and when the unfolding co« 
 vers of a new creation juft burfling from the 
 womb of nature (hall draw men of fcience, to 
 trace and invefligate the various phsenomena 
 which this country exhibits, I have no doubt 
 but the world will receive much pleafure and in- 
 llrudlion. * , 
 
 The moment 1 have been able to colled an 
 accurate account of the prefent numbers of the 
 different tribes of Indians, which have hitherto 
 
 G g 2 been 
 
( 128 ) 
 
 been coniiderably exaggerated, I will write to 
 you upon the fubjedb. In the mean time I ihall 
 remain 
 
 Your true and affe^ionate friend* 
 
 :/i 
 
 ■j:/> ,Y 
 
 i, in. 
 
 •■•VO-P TW»Tl 
 
 '<f">jilUii'y ii' 
 
 II , ', 1 
 
 I r fe{ ii 
 
 lU 
 
 rlii'^ 3:Vfy' 
 
 I <; 
 
 - '■ 'I, <■ f 
 
 ■Jil 
 
 ii? OJ.'tO 
 
 tt'-J" -JV: 
 
 ■v.uii- fiioQ-i yijii 
 
 Hd\i-,'^ktiSiitl-y,;^u.: 
 
 . -^ •■i" ---i r # . ^ 
 
 i\'j-:~' 
 
 -o': 
 
 ( n 
 
 'J'5«3"'ii- ii iiu 
 
 ij e.-i 
 
 :ofl 
 
 lO (VjaM 
 
 S (• 
 
 u o 
 
 iii Jf-jr 
 
 "il 
 
 1 MI 'IT 
 
 ;, «.i 
 
 > »* < 
 
 ^r; i'l^ 
 
 ' i •'.» » ' 
 
 ♦^ * ■ 
 
 Lt'\_J'il:u.')-k^l'3^J t.:.iUi ■' j 
 
 iti kiUC 
 
 ■V4«' 1 S'ii IJOQi? 
 
 ill C lO 
 
 'ffi'^j^n "ii^ 6;n 
 
 ifii' vri 
 
 ■-'4 
 
 bifjfe 
 
 li'sf 
 
 >D u 
 
 :5vi-?i I 
 
 n:n 
 
 ■'...■■) 
 
 Hv 
 
 ?.R'£: 
 
 ! ':}: 
 
 in-'^'iii^X! 
 
 1 / .^ 
 
 .Jiio;/ r 
 
 .rv^';?'>^; (; 
 
 
 OiU; 
 
 A r ■»- ..♦ J 
 
 '"'> 
 
 Vv 
 
 LET- 
 
( 2i9 ) 
 
 L E t t E R XI* 
 
 .^s'in \w. - 
 
 ' MV DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 KENTUCKY^ 
 
 I OU will, no doubt, have heard of the defeat 
 of our army with the particulars, before this 
 will reach you. It is furprifing, that the expe*. 
 rience of upwards of thirty years warfare with 
 the Indians, Ihould not have taught us before 
 now, that our fuccefs or lofs in thefe rencontres, 
 was to be expeded alone from the abilities or 
 talents of the Commanding Officer. 
 
 From the time of the defeat of General Brad* 
 dock to the prefent period, the Americans have 
 been fuccefsful, or unfuccefsful in thefe expedi'* 
 tions, in the exad proportion to the knowledge 
 which our Generals have had of Indian dexterity 
 and ftratagem. - "l^^f J 
 
 No man is more willing to allow to General 
 St. Clair the merit of being an accomplifhed 
 gentleman, a brave and judicious officer, than 
 
 lam. 
 
 ./ 
 

 
 (•30) 
 
 I am. But I cannot help lamenting, at the fame 
 time, that men are not employed upon thcfe oc- 
 cafions (when there are fo many in the United 
 States) who have from their infancy been accuf- 
 tomed to fuch perils, and pradlifed in the necef- 
 fs(^y vigilance, to ward off the effedls of that lin- 
 gular prowefs of thofe heroic people. 
 
 There is an error fomewhere, I am afraid 
 that our General confided too much in the com- 
 parative flrength and difcipline of his army. Ic 
 would have been better if he had recolleded an 
 exprelFion of the late King of Pruffia. *• However 
 well-founded any good opinion of ourfelves may 
 be, fecurity in war is always dangerous ; and ra- 
 ther than be negligent it is better to take fuper- 
 fluous precaution." Our army certainly was 
 faken by fqrprife. They had not time to form 
 when the enemy commenced their attack, which 
 proves the judnefs of that great foldier's rc- 
 fle<^ion. .,...1 :.*-;■ ~^<'- - 
 
 Every man who engages in the perilous vo- 
 cation of a foldier ought to recolleft before 
 hand, thefacrifices he will be obliged to make of 
 pleafurable indulgence, and in many inflances 
 
 -ixl of 
 
( 231 ) 
 
 of hU conltitution. But when a fcrvice of 
 danger calls him to the defence of his country, 
 or to avenge the infults which tyranny or bar- 
 barifm have offered, it becomes ignominious 
 not cheerfully to forego every gratification 
 which is incompatible with heroifm. It is 
 equally ignominious to put any confideration ia 
 competition with the certainty of fuccefs. 
 
 I know that it has been much the cafe with ua 
 to relax in difcipline for fear of haralTing our 
 men. In Indian wars it is necefTary to obferve 
 this rule, which infallibly leads to vi(flory when 
 the combat otherwife is upon an equal footing— 
 Never be furprifed. To prevent which, it is 
 only necefTary to move with ftrong and adlive 
 flanks, to keep powerful and vigilant guards, and 
 to have your whole army under arms every morn- 
 ing at leafl an hour before break of day ; which 
 will effe(5lually prevent a furprife, as the Indians 
 never attack when their enemy is in force during 
 the night. Move in compaft order, and, though 
 you may be harafTed in a degree, yet with an 
 army of two thoufand men well appointed, it 
 
 would 
 
 ;; 
 
 . J-- 
 
 J\ 
 
 s 
 
 .1 
 
 Mhiib' 
 
( 33a ) 
 
 would be no difficult matter to pafs through the 
 whole wcdcrn country. 
 
 I hope I have not appeared too (Ircnuous in 
 endeavouring to wipe away the ftaini which our 
 recent defeat has brought upon the valour of my 
 countrymen. There has appeared a langour in 
 the execution of our meafures refpcifling Indian 
 affairi, which hai not only brougat an obloqu}^ 
 upon the wifciom of our councils, but has fub« 
 jodcd ui to loflfcs which are as baneful to our po- ' 
 puUtion, as they are affedling to our fympathy. 
 
 Many of ui have caufe to mourn the lofs of 
 feme friend or dear relation. Among the flain 
 was A youth of the moi^ promifmg hopes and ' 
 fplendid talents— talents which might have prov- 
 ed ornamental to his country and ufeful to man^ 
 Jvjnd. ' 
 
 I know you will excufe me for appropriating ; 
 to the death of my young friend, with a flight aU 
 teratlon, thole beautiful lines in the Iliad with i 
 which Homer defcribes the death of Euphorbua, • 
 
 '* A» the young Olivei in fome Silvan fcene, 
 Crovvn'4 by frcfh fount^int with etci;nal ^recn^ 
 
 o 
 
 Vii^ 
 
'!> 
 
 ( 233 ) 
 
 Lifts the gay head, in fnowy flow'rett fait 
 
 And plays and dances to the gentle air. 
 
 When lo ! a whiriwind from high hear'n inradea 
 
 The tender plant, and withers all its (hades } 
 
 It lies uprooted from its genial bed, 
 
 A lovely ruin now defaced and dead. " 
 
 Thus young, thus beautiful, ** brave Marlhal" lay. 
 
 While the fierce *' Indian tore his life away." 
 
 The expedition conduced under the command 
 of General Scott terminated with fuccefs. In- 
 deed from the firft fettlement of Kentucky not 
 one of our expeditions have failed. The watch- 
 ful Indians who are always near us, and fcarcely 
 ever to be difcovered but in force, obferve the 
 motions of our army, and readily determine 
 from our vigilance .whether an attack will prove 
 hazardous to them or not. 
 
 I (hall begin my enumeration with the 
 fouthern Indians, and proceed with thofe of the 
 greateft proximity ; taking care to comprehend in 
 the fchedule the various tribes which we have any 
 diftindt knowledge of to the northward of the 
 chain of lakes which bounds dur eir>piic to the 
 north, and thofe to the weft of the Mifliffippi, 
 and fouth of the Mifouri. 
 
 H h Tribes, 
 
 i \ 
 
 I 
 
 [ 
 
 H 
 
 t 
 
 n 
 
 
 V' 
 
Tribes. 
 Cherokccs 
 
 r,'c'T 
 
 ( 234 ) 
 
 Where they reside. No. 
 In the country between , 
 . the great bend of the jrf?^ 
 Tenafee and the ridges ^*'^^ 
 of hills, (-which arc "' '^ 
 called the Allegany 
 mountains) the weftern - 
 limits of Georgia, and ,,,, 
 the eaftern branches of 
 the Mobile 2500 
 
 Between the faid great 
 bei^d, the MilTiffippi 
 and Natchez 6000 
 
 Upper Creeks Bet ween the head branches 
 
 t 
 
 of the river Apala- 
 
 ■ chies, Eaft Florida, the 
 
 ' Cherokee nation, and 
 
 . '; the Mifliffippi ,\ 2500 
 
 Lower Creeks Between the upper Creeks 
 
 and the gulf of Mex- 
 ico 
 
 Chacktaws 
 
 I :)no 
 
 ..i 
 
 , iLii*--- ',.-v .' 
 
 
 Natchez 
 
 
 ;\no' 
 
 1000 
 
 ..:; i-x 
 
 A little to the eaft of 
 
 the Natchez 
 
 »'-:*;o!iI/ 
 
 >i.- >'=\ I 
 
 100 
 
 Albamous 
 
 <..-.. 
 
 r (> »■ 
 
 t * •■ • ^ • 
 
 /.?./^'^' 
 
 i . 
 
. Tribes. 
 Alibamons 
 
 Chekafaws 
 
 cos 
 
 ff 
 
 400 
 
 ^o')- 
 
 ( 235 ) 
 
 Whers they reside. No. 
 
 Between the Natchez and 
 New Orleans 
 
 Between the fouthern li- 
 mits of Cumberland, 
 
 ' the Chacktaw nation, 
 
 ■If.. 
 
 to fbt.ntd f and the head waters of vi -'^^ 
 . the Mobile 500 
 
 Lezars ' • ^'' '■ ■ • Between the mouth of the 
 
 Ohio and Wabafli 300 
 
 Piankiflias, Ver-Betwecn the Wabaih and •« 
 milionsi and Illinois ' ?6oo 
 
 Mafcoritins >^'-r • ' 
 Illinois Near Cahokia 260 
 
 «•'/■ 
 
 Kafkafkias 
 
 Near Kafkafkia 250 
 
 Pianrias ■'' ^fi- 
 
 Upon the Illinois river 400 
 
 Shakies vi th 
 
 Near fort Oniatonon upon 
 
 U;,i.(J '...'' '/j',i 
 
 - . the Wabafli 170 
 
 Upper Piankif- 
 
 Near fort Oniatonon upon 
 
 has . 
 
 the Wabafli 300 
 
 Ouitatonons 
 
 Near fort Oniatonon upon 
 
 ■ a -• '■•• 
 
 the Wabafli 260 
 
 Miamis . .j- 
 
 Near fort St. Jofeph - 200 
 
 
 H h 2 - 1 Twigr^-cc 
 
 ■ v 
 
 ' 3/4 ■' 
 
 fi 
 
Twigtwccf 
 
 Wyandots, 
 
 Cohunewagas. 
 Mingoea 
 
 Mohiccons 
 
 Shawnees'j . - 
 
 Delawares 
 
 Ar-)i 
 
 »0f 
 
 i" ■ 'l''> il' 
 
 Delawares, or 
 Linneiinopies 
 
 ( aa* ) 
 
 WhIiRS they R£8id&. No. 
 
 Upon the great Miami 1/. 
 river near fort Miami 200 
 
 Between fort St. Jofeph .[jnj 
 and Detroit 200 
 
 Near SanduHcy 200 
 
 Ona finithern branch of 
 the Sciota 50 
 
 Between the Sciota andifAil 
 Muj(kingum 40 
 
 On the head branohef ofian/.i 1 
 the Sciota, ( reduced by 1 i m- 
 the late adlion to lefs 
 than) , 250 
 
 In the country between 
 lake Erie and the head 
 branches of the Muf- 
 fcingum, who have alfo 
 iuflfcred lin the late dif^ "»t|qU 
 ferent adlions, and it is e^H 
 fappofed they arc re- ■ '' 
 duced from 600 to 450 
 
 At different villages upon 
 the north branch of the 
 
 Sufquchanna 400 
 
 Augh- 
 
 K/f 
 
 c. ^ 
 
.». .ai^i'naitttmjiS'Mk'i.. 
 
 Tribes* 
 Aughqpagahs 
 
 Nanticocs 
 Mohiccons 
 
 Where THEY RESIDE. No. 
 
 Upon an eaftern branch of 
 the Sufquehanna 150 
 
 between Owegy and ;he 
 mod eaftern branch of 
 the Sufquehanna 80 
 
 Between Chagnet and O- 
 
 r, "wegy> upon a branch 
 
 Im^ cnbbf of the Sufquehanna,- vr .7®' 
 Conoies Between Utfanango and 
 
 I'.jmyM Chagnet, to the eaft- 
 
 .1 ij/ ward of the mod eaft- 
 
 emoft branch of the 
 
 Sufquehanna ,..„ 40 
 
 Upon a north branch of 
 
 the Sufquehanna 30 
 
 At Diahago, upon the . j 
 
 north branch of the 
 
 Sufquehanna 120 
 
 Upon the waters of the 
 
 Ohio, lake £rie> lake j 
 
 Ontario, and Sufque- 
 
 hanna $50 
 
 Cayugas 
 
 . - V', k -^ w dF ; A 
 
 ^^ 
 
 Saponies 
 Munlies 
 
 « J J 
 
 f^ '* c» 
 
 Senecas 
 
 ajiii 
 
 ;!i;vi: 
 
 
 
 n 
 
 II 
 
 /<?<" f' 
 
 ■'^^m 
 

 ( 2a8 ) 
 
 
 •Tribes, 
 
 Where they reside, ' 
 
 No, 
 
 Cayugas 
 
 Upon the Cayuga, and 
 
 , 
 
 o>^i 
 
 near the north branch 
 
 
 
 of the Sufquchanna 
 
 i8o 
 
 Onondagocs 
 
 Near Onbndago 
 
 200 
 
 Oiieidas 
 
 On the eaft fide of Onei- 
 
 
 .p :.. 
 
 da, and head branches 
 
 
 i; ;.I.,'i>j 
 
 ' ^ of the Sufquehanna 
 
 350 
 
 Tufcaroras 
 
 Betweeh the Oneidas and 
 
 
 •'<M^ ■'i>fifin. 
 
 Onandagoes 
 
 > i(>»i( 
 
 170 
 
 Mohocks 
 
 Upon the weftern branch \ \ 
 
 of Mohock river 140 
 
 (The laft-mentioned fix tribes conftitute what 
 
 are known by the name of the Six Nations.) 
 Orondocs Near the three rivers 100 
 
 Abenakies Near the three rivers 150 
 
 Little Algonkins Near the three rivers lOO 
 
 Pouteotamies Between St. Jofeph's and 
 ' - * Detroit 270 
 
 Near Detroit • 500 ' 
 
 On Saguinam bay of lake 
 Huron 200 
 
 Ottawas (a dif- On Saguinam bay of lake 
 ferent tribe) Huron 150 
 
 Chippawas 
 
 Ottawas 
 Chippawas 
 
 '2 /, / O 
 
.'. j'MWlfti-iii>t.. 
 
 Tribes, 
 Chippawas (fc- 
 veral tribes of) 
 
 Shakies 
 
 Mynomamies 
 
 Ouifconfings 
 Kickapous 
 
 u no 
 
 Otogamies 
 
 Mafcoutens 
 
 Mifcothins 
 Outimacs 
 
 ( 239 ) 
 
 Where they reside. 
 
 Near Michillimackinac, 
 fort St. Mary's, on lake 
 Superior^ and upon the 
 fouthern ihores of that 
 lake 
 
 Fauns bay, on lake Michi- 
 gan 
 
 Near Pauns bay, on lake 
 Michigan 
 
 Ouifconling river 
 
 Upon the fouthern head 
 branches of the MifTif- 
 fippi, and the waters of 
 lake Michigan 
 
 Between the lake of the 
 Wood and Miffiflippi 
 
 On lake Michigan, and 
 between that and the 
 Mifliffippi 
 
 Between lake Michigan 
 and the Miiliflippi 
 
 Between lake Michigan 
 and lake St. Clare 
 
 No. 
 
 5500 
 400 
 
 3co 
 
 300 
 
 200 
 
 300 
 
 400 
 
 340 
 
 200 
 Muf- 
 
 J 
 
 r^ 
 
 -T' / 
 
1 
 
 ( 140 ) 
 
 
 Tribes. 
 
 Wherb they reside. 
 
 No. 
 
 Mufquakies 
 
 Upon r.he fouthem waters 
 
 
 
 of lake Michigan 
 
 200 
 
 Sioux 
 
 On the eaftcrn head 
 branches of the Miffif- 
 iippi, and the iflands of 
 
 
 
 lake Superior 
 
 500 
 
 Ottagaumics 
 
 On the heaH waters of the 
 
 
 
 Miffiffippi 
 
 300 
 
 Winnibagoes 
 
 On the head waters of the 
 
 
 
 Mifflffippi 
 
 200 
 
 Killiilinoeg 
 
 On lake Superior 
 
 250 
 
 Naudowefics 
 
 Between Michigan and 
 
 
 
 'kfce Superior 
 
 500 
 
 Ofevegatchies 
 
 Near Swagatchy, on the 
 
 
 
 river St. Lawrence 
 
 100 
 
 Connafedagoes 
 
 Near Montreal 
 
 90 
 
 Cohunnewagoea 
 
 K«ar Montreal 
 
 150 
 
 Michmacs 
 
 <i)n the river St. Lawrence 
 
 500 
 
 Ameliflis 
 
 On the river St. Lawrence 
 
 400 
 
 Chalas 
 
 On-the river St. Lawrence 
 
 100 
 
 N^iflins 
 
 Near the head waters of 
 
 
 
 the Ottawas rivers 
 
 306 
 
 1 * 
 
 .ici 3-^iil bi).. Algonquins 
 
 
 2^ ^rfo 
 
 
Tribes. 
 Algonquins 
 
 Rourid-headd 
 
 MefTafagues 
 
 KHs 
 Aflinabocs 
 
 ( «4t ) 
 
 Where they reside. No. 
 Towards the head waters 
 
 o( the Ottawas river 250 
 On riviere aux Tctes boules, 
 
 or Round.head river 2000 
 Between lake Superior and 
 
 lake Huron 1500 
 
 Upon lake Chriftiheaux 1200 
 Lake Afliiiaboes 1200 
 
 Barbus^orBlancs Between lake Ailinaboes 
 
 and the lake of the . 
 Wood 1400 
 
 Sibiix of thie On th^ head ^hd ^eflern 
 Meadows branches of the Miflif-^ 
 
 fippi 2500 
 
 Sioiix of the On the heid and wefterrt 
 Woods branches of the Miffif^ 
 
 fippi 4000 
 
 Between iht head waters 
 of the MifTiflippi and 
 Mifouri 3060 
 
 North of the Padoucas 1000 
 Sbuth-eall of the MifouH 1500 
 Speckled Panis South of the Mifouri 1200 
 
 I i Pa* 
 
 SioUx 
 
 Ajoues 
 White Panis 
 
 ? 0- 
 
 ■f> 
 
 \l\ 
 
 / 
 
njo0 
 
 I.J 9 <? 
 
 /.dSO 
 
 Tribe«« 
 Padoucas 
 Grandefeaux 
 Canfes 
 Ofages 
 Mifouris 
 Arkanzas 
 
 No. 
 
 500 
 
 800 
 1000 
 
 400 
 1500 
 1000 
 
 t.tr ^ ^ 
 
 /. '^/fS 
 
 sy,Ayi\ 
 
 / 
 
 t) 
 
 ( 842 ) 
 
 Where they reside. 
 South of the Mifourt 
 South of the Mifouri 
 South of the Mifouri 
 South of the Mifouri 
 Oh the Mifouri 
 On the river Arkanzas 
 There arc feveral other tribes, known by the 
 name of Caouitas, Linways, Webings, Oulafoys, 
 Les Pauns, Folle Avoine, Mineamis, &c. ^c, 
 £ut the different tribes have been io confounded 
 one ivith another, . that it is impoflible to coUeA 
 any d^ftindt iAforitiation refpedbing their Situa- 
 tion or numbers ; which I apprehend has pro- 
 ceeded from the imperfect knowledge travellers 
 have had of the weft of the Miflinippi^ and to 
 the north of lake Michigan and lake Superior; 
 and which has precluded the poflibility of gain- 
 ing any accurate intelligence from them. How- 
 ever the above lift has been correded from the 
 accounts of Croghan, Boquct, Carver, Hutchins, 
 •nd Dodge, and by the comparative teftimony of 
 dhe beft informed men I have been able to meet 
 with; and whofe knowledge upon this fubjed, 
 
 though 
 
 I A 
 
 C2d6 
 
V 
 
 ( 24a > 
 
 though they have not written, I fhould prcfcF 
 to cither of the above authorities, who were 
 obliged to take the greateft part of what they 
 have related, from hearfay, or proceed upon 
 ^onjedlure. 
 
 There are feveral vagrant tribes, called Chia<r 
 kanefibu, Onanakina, Machecous, and Souiki- 
 las, from the Cherokecs, Chacktaws, and Creeks ; 
 but I fhould fuppofe, thefe included, that my 
 account of thofc tribes is tolerably exadt. 
 
 By this lift, which 1 prefume will appear as 
 accurate as the fubjecfl will admit of, the aggre- 
 gate numbers of Indians will be found lefs than 
 60,000 who inhabit the country from the gulf of 
 Mexico, on both fides of the Miififlippi, to the 
 gulf of St. Lawrence, and as far weft as the 
 country has been explored, that is, to the head 
 waters of the Mifliflippi, and from thence to the 
 Mifouri ( I do not mean the head of it), and be- 
 tween that river and Santa Fe. 
 .. I have been able to learn very little informa- 
 tion refpedling the Indians between Santa Fe and 
 the gulf of Mexico, and ftill lefs of thofe who 
 inhabit the country between, the river St. Jo- 
 •^ I i 2 feph*s 
 
V 
 
 C 
 
 ( a44 ) 
 
 ^ fcph's and California. However we are in no 
 \«f\^ ^ay afFedlcd by them at prefcnt ; and it i^ not 
 
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 w 
 
 
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 v 
 
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 .*— - 
 
 very likely that we ever Ihall : for, it is to bp 
 prefumed, that the federal government, in the 
 cxtenfion of its empire, will take fuch precau-r 
 tions as muft prevent the horrors of fuch fan- 
 guinary warfare and maflacre, as have hitherto 
 marked the progrefs of its growth, 
 V Certainly it is time that decided meafures were 
 taken ; if poflible, to civilize them ; and if not, 
 to confine them to particular didridts ; that is, 
 by the vigour of our meafures, to Ihew them 
 that we are not to be trifled with ; and whenevei: / 
 a tradt of country is to be fettled, let the de- / 
 markation be obvious, and the terms of fettle- 
 ment definitive ; and by affording protection tp 
 the pacific, and chaftifing the licentious, it may 
 be expeded in time, that fome amelioration will 
 take place in their favage and fanguinary difpo- 
 iitions. 
 
 You will obferve that the mod numerous tribes 
 are the greatefl diftance from us j and it if ^trf 
 certain, that in proportion to their diftance from 
 the whites, they are unacquainted with the ufe pf 
 
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 y 
 11 
 
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 ( 245 ) 
 fire-arms. All the nations north of lake Supe-? 
 rior, and thofe beyond the MiiTifllppi, as well as 
 thofe on the Milouri, ufe only bows and arrows r 
 (jo that when you take a view of their fcattcrcd 
 fituation, the various cuftoms and fuperllitions 
 which it is necelTary to reconcile, in order to pro- 
 duce perfeverance and unity of adion, and what 
 a fmall proportion of them have the apparatus, 
 or underftand the ufe of mufquetry,. or poiTefs 
 refources fufBcient to enable them to carry on 
 lading hodilities againft the power of our in- 
 crealing numbers, it mull be obvious^ that even 
 our defeats will haden their ruin. 
 
 Though we (or rather the federal troops) have 
 been defeated feveral times, 'yet we Ihall foon 
 (cilabiiih a permanent fecurity againll favage in- 
 .yaiions and maffacre ; for, though we have not 
 afted entirely like Hercules, who deftroyed the 
 fcrpents while an infant in his cradle, ftill, I 
 prefume, we (hall do.it in oik approach to ma- 
 turity. ■ ' ■ : ^ , . : 
 ,- The French, by conciliating the' manners of 
 the ravages, and by their diffuling a more genc- 
 faj knowledge among them of the ufe of fire- 
 if^ij} . ^. arms. 
 
 
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 ,»niif, firil rendered them formidable to the 
 
 whitei. The «nimoficy continued to e^^ift until 
 
 k S^ the commencement of the late war, wben thai 
 
 r^ v§ry ptUty was fraOifid hy the Englijb^ wbitb tb^ 
 
 Mformirlyfifivmly reprihaiid in tbi Frmb. 
 
 In the variou« Ikirmifhes and anions which 
 have been fought between us, they have acquired 
 a moftwonderful dexterity and heroic intrepi- 
 dityi^ut, in thefe acquiiitions, they probably 
 have laid the foundation of their own extinSHon i 
 for our defeats but add to our flrength; and 
 when you recolle(fl their comparative numbers 
 with ours, and the comparative fecundity of our 
 woiheni I think the circun>ltance does^not ao^ 
 pear problematical. k./c ^V> /^V^I* ^y' 
 - However, that is not ourwifh. We Would 
 gladly teach them the bkflings of peace; and (b 
 far did the Affcmbly of Virginia carry this difpo- 
 Tfitioni in the year if^A^ that, the more effec- 
 tually to accelerate fp defirable an end, they 
 took it into confideration to pafs an a(f): offering 
 bounties to fuch men and women as would inter- 
 marry with the Indians. But as the animofities 
 
 ' which then exited between them and the back 
 
 jWt; . fettlcrs 
 
 r 
 
V 
 
 CI 
 
 ii 
 
 i 
 
 ( 347 ) 
 
 fettlers had arifen to (lich a height, it was thought 
 mod advlfeable to pollpone it until there (hould 
 be a liable peace, and till the whites and they 
 were reconciled s but that never will be the cafe 
 until we are in poiTeflTion of Niagara and Detroit. 
 Farewell. 
 
 vv* 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 
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