manufactures. It has, somehow, been badly treated: it has no bank, and the travel was taken from it, by locating the United States road, a few miles south of it. However, justice must be done to it soon, by the state, and by itself, as the people here want neither industry, capital nor energy. In this state we have no better citizens than are here, and the iron ore and coal, not far off, will not be overlooked by the people. The county is well watered, the land is excellent, and the farmers wealthy.

MOUNT VERNON is a delightful town, on Vernon river, and it is the shire town of Knox county. Here the land is excellent, the farmers are rich, and their farms are well cultivated. Mount Vernon is in the exact centre of the state. Kenyon college is at Gambier, five miles from Mount Vernon. This town will one day become a very important one, when a canal shall be made along Vernon river to the Ohio canal. That very improvement, alone, would make this town, a place of considerable business, with a population of seven thousand people.

STEUBENVILLE.-The shire town of Jefferson county, stands on the Ohio river, some thirty eight miles in a direct line, from Pittsburgh. Its population is only about three thousand, but they are increasing. It has always been a manufacturing town, and always will be one. The people here have been badly represented, quite too often, in the legislature. They have often opposed the policy of the state, like Belmont county, and they now feel the direful effects of such representation.

The same may be said of NEW LISBON, but that town is now, rapidly rising, beside its canal, now progressing to a completion.

WARREN has always voted wisely, for internal improvements, but some how, has not been well treated by the state; but that time is past, a canal is now making past Warren, which will rise up into considerable importance, in the old county of Trumbull, so well settled and improved, by as good a population, as we have in the state.

PORTAGE County contains three or four towns, along the Cuya

hoga river, which we have noticed under head of rivers. This county, eventually, will be one of the most populous in the state.

All along the Erie and Ohio canal, towns are springing into life, and no description, can be correct, one month, which was so, one month before.. And a volume could not describe them and our work forbids even the attempt to do so.

PORTSMOUTH was laid out in 1805, on the northern elevated bank of the Ohio, at the mouth of the Scioto river, in latitude 38° 43′ north, by Henry Massie, Esquire. The Ohio and Erie canal terminates here, three hundred and nine miles in length. The bottom on which it stands, is sufficiently spacious for a population of fifty, or even of one hundred thousand inhabitants, though at present it contains only about three thousand. The surface of the town is four hundred and seventy feet above the ocean, and ninety-four, below the surface of lake Erie. To persons passing along on the Ohio river, the aspect of the town, with its factories, large, substantial and handsome stores, dwelling houses and churches, produces a pleasing effect. A splendid new court house and jail, four churches, a market house, thirty stores, two large taverns, and several boarding houses, a printing office, and a banking house, are among the buildings of Portsmouth. Within twenty five miles of this place on the southeast, and east of it, are twenty-five blast furnaces for the manufacture of iron. Besides these, there are six water forges. There is also a rolling mill in the town 'itself, owned by Thomas Gaylord and company.

The iron thus manufactured, near Portsmouth, is worth now, two millions of dollars annually, and is increasing rapidly, in amount and value. Goods are sold here, annually to the amount of four hundred thousand dollars, besides a large amount of commission business. The total value of the productions of Scioto county, annually, is about one million of dollars. These productions have been constantly and rapidly increasing, especially during the last four years. This town must soon be among our largest manufacturing and mercantile cities of the western states, and so continue to be forever. It is now im

proving rapidly, like Circleville, while from the depression of business, other towns improve slowly, or are not improving at the present time.

XENIA, in Green county, is among our older towns. Its location is on elevated ground, and the country around it is well watered, high, dry and healthful. Xenia is the seat of justice for the county. It contains some fifteen hundred inhabitants, who live well, work hard, and are healthy, moral, prosperous and happy. Located on no large river, nor near any canal, this town, almost as old as the state, is not as large as it otherwise would be. But a rail road will pass through it, and a turnpike road likewise, when Xenia will become a larger town. The county of Greene is one of the best watered ones for farmers, in the state. Its soil is excellent. Fruit trees do well, and cattle, sheep and horses, are easily raised by the farmers, in great numbers. The wheat is excellent, which this county produces, so of the grass and corn. On the whole, we know of no portion of this state, more desirable to live in, than this. For pure springs, clear pellucid streams, and healthfulness of climate, this county vies with our very best ones in the state. The people who live in it, are a friendly, industrious and intelligent population. Major James Galloway, whose name is honorably mentioned in our history of the late war, belonged to Xenia, and his troops went from here, and in this county. For love of country, and devotion to our institutions, the people of this region have none more ardent to contend with in the race of patriotism. The exertions now making to improve their condition will effect their object. When the rail road is made, the owner of produce can take it to Cincinnati, sell it, get his pay for it and be at home again to supper. Now it takes him six days, at no small expense for carriage in wagons.

But we are aware that this article is devoted rather more to topography than is consistent with our work, and that this subject is better treated in the Ohio Gazetteer, just published by Warren Jenkins, Esquire. To that volume we respectful ly refer all our readers. Our principal reason for touching

this subject is the connection which exists between these towns, their citizens and the events, described in our history. From in and about these towns went our soldiers to war with England. And the people of these towns have governed the state, and still have a great influence on its destiny.

In our older towns where there are not so many new buildings erecting in them, and so many improvements making, a stranger might believe them to be much older than they are. In each city or town, there are a court house and jail, and buildings for the county offices-for the clerk of the courts, for the auditor, sheriff, treasurer, recorder and sometimes for the county commissioners and state's attorney. All these are commodious and handsome structures. The streets are paved and there is a handsome market house in many, and indeed, all the cites and towns mentioned by us. The churches are numerous, and sometimes spacious and even handsome buildings. The side walks are well paved and there are many other marks of older towns than they are. The stores are ornamented with goods, tastefully displayed, to attract attention.

These towns have two or more market days in the week, when the crowd of citizens and market people, present a busy, bustling aspect. The long row of wagons, carts and dravs, reminds one of an eastern city, on a market morning. This is Ohio now, happily contrasting with the past, only a few years since. Our towns have grown up rather too rapidly. for the country around them, and marketing of all sorts is rather dear, for so new a country, whose soil is so fertile. Our farmers, obtain such high prices for all they produce, that their wives and daughters, neither spin nor weave much cloth, so they go to the store for their clothes. Cows are not kept in very large numbers, and but little cheese is made in most of the counties. Butter, too, is rather scarce and dear. Fowls are becoming dear-one dollar a dozen! Eggs once but four cents a dozen, are now six and even eight cents a dozen. Other articles are equally dear. In one particular our towns are doing well in cultivating our own native trees, shrubs, plants and flowers. The soil and climate suit them,

and they are handsomer, more thrifty and in all respects preferable to any exotics. Our three species of sumac are handsome shrubs which never grow too large for a shade near the house.

Among the flowers, natives of this state, the Phlox family of many species, of every color almost, coming one after another, in the season, from spring to autumn, are becoming favorites. Among the most singular ones, the black flower claims attention. But, the time would fail us, as well as the reader's patience, to tell of all the trees and plants now being naturalized and transplanted into our gardens, court yards, side walks and pleasure grounds. Under the head of Botany, the reader can see what Cincinnati has done in this way, Since this taste for cultivating our own native plants has begun to prevail among us, our towns have assumed a better appearance. Our prairie flowers will soon be gone, and lost to the world, unless they are domesticated. Many of them are among the most beautiful and curious in the world. Let us hope that they may be saved from destruction.

Most of the towns have reading rooms, where a traveler can read all the principal newspapers and periodicals. Libraries are increasing in number as well as in size, every where in the state, and useful knowledge is spreading. "The school master is" not "abroad" in this state, but at home, at his daily task, teaching the youth of our towns, at their homes, or in our schools.

THE NUMBER OF OUR POPULATION AT DIFFERENT PERIODS AND REMARKS ON ITS PROBABLE INCREASE IN FUTURE.

1

By the same ratio of increase, we shall have 2,000,000 in

1840.