LETTER XVIII.

Galliopolis, a French Settlement-Historical account of its rise, progress, and fall-its present miserable state.

Galliopolis, State of Ohio, July, 1806.

THE distance from the mouth of the Great Kenhaway being but three miles, I dropt down to this place in about an hour. That time would not be required if the navigation were not interrupted by an island immediately in the middle channel, and several rocks which make it necessary to keep the Virginia shore till compelled to row hard across the river to gain the town.

Galliopolis being a French town and settlement which has made considerable naise in the world, I feel myself under a

more immediate obligation to give you a correct and historical account of its rise, progress, and fall.

A land speculator who explored this western country a few years ago, took plans of the site of Galliopolis; surveyed two hundred thousand surrounding acres, and submitted his labors on parchment, with all the embellishments of a draftsman, and all the science of a topographer. The site for the town was represented as on a high plane of great extent and beauty, commanding views up, down, and across the river for several miles. Eminences were every where painted out as eligible for the residence of the wealthy, and comfortable secluded spots were marked for the retreat of the more humble and indigent. Long extended and fertile tracts were noted as proper places for the exertion of the most decidedly active and industrious, and waterfalls, cataracts and rapid streams descend

ed and flowed for the benefit of mills, the promotion of commerce, and the diffusion of prosperity and happiness. When these advantages were magnified by the high coloured machinery of hanging woods; ever verdant meads interspersed with clumps of the flowering magnolia and odoriferous catalpa; natural vineyards with purple clusters bending to the ground, and all the other interesting objects incident to sublime landscape, it may well be supposed that the gentleman's paper plans captivated the sanguine French, and formed an irresistible lure to this celestial paradise. His maps surveys had marginal notes illustrative of its natural history, and the buffalo, elk, deer, bear, birds, fish and game of every description were stated to abound in such quantity, that for several years man could subsist without any other labour than the healthy and pleasant occupations of hunting and fishing,

and

Furnished with testimonies of so flattering a nature, and with credentials of the first authority to the most respectable houses in Paris, he repaired to that capital, and met with all the hospitality and attention to which he was entitled by his manners, intelligence, and introductions. After associating with the great some months, he gave publicity to his views; opened, by permission of Government, a regular land office; exhi bited his plans and charts, and offered the lands they expressed for a French crown per acre.

The troubles then existing in France were favorable to his intentions. Those who were compelled to stifle their resentment against the State, were rejoiced at an opportunity to abandon it, and the Government at length tired with the perpetual work of the guillotine, preferred to get rid of the disaffected by emi

gration, to the labor of compression in dungeons or the effusion of blood.

Numerous emigrants were ready to repair to the extolled territory. Of these a few of the most opulent, liberal and enlightened combined and purchased the speculator's whole right and title, and extinguished all his claim for one hundred thousand crowns, and of course assumed to themselves the disposition of the lands and the charge of settling them, but without any pecuniary advantage. A proceeding so honourable as this in the proprietors had the most auspicious effect in a short time five hundred families previously well situated, embarked with the proprietors for the United States, crossed the mountains and descended the river to their new possessions; to "the promised land, flowing with milk and honey, and abounding with all the necessaries and luxuries of life.”

The lands were distributed among them