teen wide. The four pieces forming this frame are gene rally from fourteen to eighteen inches square, mortised so as to receive a number of bars across, on which are fastened thick planks with wooden pins-this forming the flat bottom of the boat. From the solid beams of the frame, rise several uprights, six feet high, to which boards are at tached to form the ends and sides; after which the boat is roofed over except a small space through which the hands can drop or enter. The whole represents an oblong apartment--both ends perfectly square, and nothing indicates the bow but the small open space in the roof, and holes in the "sides, through which the oars work. Boats of this sort are steered by a large oar, balanced on a pivot, issuing from the middle uprights of the stern. This is prefered to a tiller, which, by sinking too deep in the water, would risk being earried off by logs and shoals. I divided my boat into two apartments; that next the stern for my own accommodation; that next the ead for my servants to cook, row, and keep a look out in: the roof served for the helmsman and as a quarter-deck, on which to parade. When I add to this, that l had a good chimney built in my boat; four windows made; that a I laid in two coops-full of chickens, other kinds of stores, spirits, coffee, sugar, &c. I need not tell you how comfortable. I set off, and how able I was to endure the vicissitudes of my intended voyages. My servants were Mindeth, my old follower, and Cuff, a mustee, of the Bandan nation; the former a strong laborious creature, the latter a fellow. without any other character than that he knew something of the waters, was a good shot, and well acquainted with haunts of wild turkies, game, and wild beasts. I could have got another hand, for fifteen dollars a month, but as I was determined to steer myself and be active in other re-i, spects, I departed but with two men. I cannot recommend this temerity to others: four hands are always necessary, and sometimes more.

In turning into the stream from Pittsburg I found the sceno instantaneously changed, and become peculiarly, grand. In ten minutes I got into the confluence of the Monongahela and Allegany waters. For half an hour I steered my boat in this confluence, being able to dip up whitish water on one side, and perfectly green on the other. The hills on the right hand were near 1200 feet highthose on the left something less lofty-each cloathed with

sümptuous and unceasing timber, from the base to the summit, the garb of many thousand years, each tree perishing in an imperceptible progression, and each às imperceptibly renewed! The whole and the individual, stilk appearing the same, always conveying a grand idea of the munificence of Nature and the immutability of all her works. This view was sufficient to lead the mind into a serious contemplation which assumed a character of melancholy, when I reflected on the endless scenes of the same nature, only more pregnant with danger, vicissitude, and death, through which I had to pass. The river, for nine hundred miles; with the exception of a few intervals, chosen in general for the seats of towns, villages, and farms, is bounded by lofty banks and high mountains," which shed a gloom on its surface, and convey less of pleasurable sensation than that of sublimity and surprise. I reflected, too, that I was lengthening the chain of all my former friendships; that 1 was to pass through countries where death attacked man in a variety of new and alarming shapes; that I was proceeding to New Orleans, a city two thousand two hundred miles off, where fate uniformly demands nine out of ten of every visitant, and that, should I escape this destiny, I should still be six thousand miles from home, and have in that distance, to meet with other numerous dangers, presenting themselves under every form that could manifest a terrific appearance. A small imme→ diate difficulty put a quick conclusion to these gloomy meditations. We had dropt down near three miles when an island appeared a head-the channel was on the right side, and the wind, from that quarter, had set me too much to' the left. I instantly put the boat's head across the river and with infinite exertion of oars gained the true cur rent but not till the water changed colour, indicating soundings of three feet on the bar, which stretched out of the head of the island. I had to learn from this the necessity of moralizing less, and of keeping a better look out. It was Hamilton's island which I was passing at the rate of seven miles an hour. The island, by contracting the breadth of the channel, gives more impetuosity to the current, and forces a boat along with double its rapidity than in the ordinary and open parts of the river.

Four miles from Hamilton's island and seven from Pittsburg, is Irwin's island. The channel is about one-third

from the right hand shore. The first ripple is just below the head of the island, where I had to leave a large breaker, or rock close to my right hand. The second, or Horsetail ripple, is a small distance below the first, and the channel which is not twice the length of the boat, lies between a bar and some large breakers. The third ripple is within half a mile of the lower end of Irwin's island; the channel is about one-third of the width of the river from the right side, and close to the upper end of the bar. From this to a little town called Macintosh; I met with a series of these ripples, which required the most exact look out, and two islands called Hog's and Crow's island, the former on account of its acorns inviting the periodical visits of hogs, and the latter from being perceived to be the favourite resort of rooks and crows. I cannot think that you would conceive it of any profit or pleasure to receive from me my exact notes of the causes, &c. of the river and channel, I shall therefore, content myself with transmitting you such remarks as may have something of interest above the contents of communications meant as a mere pilot to the river. I neglect this detail the more willingly, as I understand "a Pilot for the rivers" is now in the press, and will shortly be published at Pittsburg. Thus are we relieved from the necessity of much dull detail.

Macintosh is situated on the right side of the Ohio, about a quarter of a mile below Big Beaver creek; the situation is beautiful and commanding, as there is at present a considerable, and in some time must be a very great trade up and down this creek, the sources of which nearly reach the borders of lake Erie. The town is encreasing rapidly, and contains many stores, where the merchants exchange their goods for the produce of the back country, whose market is New Orleans or the Isles. Fifty miles in the interior of this place, and on the bank of Mahoneny creek, the town of Warren is pleasantly situated. Fourteen miles below, on the same creek, is Young's town, a small place, but said to be progressing rapidly.

On

Just below Macintosh, which is twenty eight miles from Pittsburg, is an island called after the same name, a second island not named, and a third called Grape island. this last I landed, and soon discovered the propriety of the name the passage through it in every direction was rendered intricate, by the multitudes of vines, which extended

from tree to tree, rising to the tops of some, and closely embracing the bodies of others. Having passed through a great deal of toil during the day, in avoiding a variety of danger, I was very well pleased to make the pretence of curiosity, a motive to myself, for stopping the remainder of the day and night in this little tranquil insulated world.`. I no sooner made this intention known, than all was bustle among us. The men with joy took to their oars: we soon gained the bank, and made fast to a tree, which bade defiance to the impotent though constant efforts of the current. The next step was to make "an encampinent." Takecare that you are not misled by this high sounding term. Formerly, indeed, the making an encampment, in this country, bore affinity to the notions you attach to that act at home: it was for the purpose of protection against the Indians and wild beasts: but now it consists of nothing more than clearing a spot on which to make a large fire; stretch a blanket or piece of cloth on two bent poles to windward, and there make a shew of comfort, satisfaction, and repose. This done, we each had a separate employment. Mindeth commenced preparations for dressing dinner; Cuff patiently sat on the side of the boat catching fish, and I took my gun and dog into the woods. I pierced to the left side of the island, a beautiful portion of which I found cleared, planted with Indian corn, and very promising wheat. A neat log-house soon appeared in view; I knocked, the door was opened by an old woman, about whom hung three children, the whole ematiated with sickness, and stained by the languid colours of death. They betrayed more fear than surprize, on beholding me. I banished this impression as soon as possible, by persuading the mother that I did not come to rob the house, or do her any manner of injury; that I was not a Kentucky man, and that mere chance, not a disposition to plunder, brought me her way. On this she assumed some serenity, and told me that the Kentucky men so often landed on her island to steal her fruit, fowls, hogs, &c. that she was alarmed at the sight of others, from an apprehension of their coming with the same design. The husband who soon after came in, I found to be a German, who had lived long enough in Virginia to pick up some Negro-English. He. informed me that, coming down the river four years past in bis family boat, for want of keeping a good look out, or

of knowing the river, he took the wrong channel, and stove his boat within two hundred yards of the spot where his house now stands. The water being shallow he got his goods ashore, and thinking the island possessed as good land as any he could procure elsewhere, he determined to proceed no farther, but to pitch his tent where providence had cast him, and set with a good heart about building a log-house, and clearing ground for maize, in the first instance, and then for wheat and other objects of agriculture. He effected this laborious purpose to admiration. His house was comfortable; his garden neat; and he had six acres of land under a crop which appeared perfectly thriving. He had bought a male and female pig, which had multiplied in the woods prodigiously, and nothing appeared to interrupt his happiness but the people of Kentuck, as he called all those who occasionally made a descent on his island, either to pursue game or to injure him. Robinson Crusoe never stood in so much dread of an Indian invasion as this German did of his own fellow citizens and inhabitants of a neighbouring State. It was this apprehension it seems which hindered him from making his settlement on the channel side of the island, which, under any other impression would be infinitely superior; more eligible for market; and more interesting and convenient to the pleas- · ures and comforts of life. In fact, he explained to me his motives in fewer words; they were precisely these :-" If the people of Kentuck, find me out sometimes in this silent part, how should I be able to live, when the sight of smoke, the crowing of cocks, and the barking of dogs would call them all upon me ?”`

Having no manner of reply to make to this argument,' I invited the Philosopher to my boat, and by the way con-' versed with him on the subject of the vines, on which I wanted, information. I learned that they bore a small sour fruit, growing in clusters, of from two ounces to three pounds. The fruit was not eatable, nor calculated to have good wine expressed from it. He imagined that this evil was owing to the vines growing under large trees, which entirely deprived them of the heat of the sun. Under this influence he transplanted more roots into his garden field; on the second year they produced a fruit not quite so small' as that in an uncultivated state; on the third year the grapes looked much better, but before they could ripen they were withered and exhausted by the heat of the sun.