3 In some places scarce.

SETTLEMENT OF KENTUCKY.-Without paying any attention to the hunters and explorers who visited the territory now known as Kentucky, from about the year 1750, and afterwards, I may briefly remark that, in 1775, the first families arrived in Kentucky, viz: those of Boone, Denton, M'Gary, and Hogan. In 1776, Dec. 6, the Legislature of Virginia established the County of Kentucky, and in the next year courts of justice were first organized. In 1780, the County of Kentucky was divided into three, Lincoln, Fayette, and Jefferson counties. In 1792, a State Government was organized.

When the white man first visited Kentucky, there were no inhabitants in the land; neither does tradition point to the time when there were inhabitants. And yet, there are traces in a few places which seem to declare that at a period not very remote-say from ninety to one hundred and fifty years-particular spots had been permanently occupied. Near Strodes Creek, in Bourbon County, there were vestiges of a large Indian town, consisting of the remains of double rows of lodges, or huts, inclosing three small mounds in a line. At the distance of about one hundred rods was a regular burial ground. Many bones of the animals of the country were found on an elevation near by; and on another, was what seemed to have been a place where the bodies of the dead were burned; or that where prisoners were tortured, as there coals, ashes, and calcined human bones were found. Trees growing upon this spot were of the same kind as in the immediate vicinity; but all had the peculiarity of growing two or three very close together, as if they had sprung from the stumps of former trees, yet having vitality in them. A number of these trees, having been cut down by the owner, gave the uniform age of ninety years as marked by the annulations. This would seem to show that the occupancy of the spot had not continued long. The position of the bones gave sure indication that the fate of the inhabitants had been both sudden and tragical.

But it is certain that, at a period very long anterior to this, the country was permanently held by a race who had made considerable advances in civilization and arts, as evinced by very many traces of fortifications and mounds. Amid the fortifications, some of which were constructed of regular masonry, were found copper tools, which indicated that some progress had been made in work. ing the copper mines, probably of the northwest. When, or how long those people occupied the land; what became of them, are utterly unknown, and perhaps will ever be veiled in obscurity. It

would seem clear that they had not existed within the last eight hundred or thousand years-that they were considerably advanced in the arts; and that they had enemies of a corresponding grade.

I have said that the white man found no inhabitants living in this vast region. The country was well stocked with game of various kinds, buffalo, elk, bear, deer, &c. &c.; and here the various Indian tribes of the adjacent regions-the Cherokees, Creeks, and Catawbas of the south, and the Shawnees, Delawares, and Wyandots of the north-hunted their game, and frequently engaged in those deadly hostile encounters which are so common in the Indian history.

It will be remembered that the settlement of Kentucky commenced, and was mainly effected during the Revolutionary war; that all the Indian tribes were under the influenee of Great Britain, and in direct hostility to the American people; and that the infant settlement in Kentucky was separated by an immense, almost impassable wilderness from the older settlements. It is little wonder, then, that all the neighboring Indian tribes, with one consent, turned their hostile arms against the feeble band of adventurers, with a determined resolution to extirpate them. From 1775 to 1794, when Gen. Wayne finally defeated the Indians, there was an incessant warfare, carried on in every conceivable manner, and with a loss of human life which is scarcely credible. War parties of every size, from a single individual to fifteen hundred men, but perhaps most commonly from ten to fifty, were continually in requisition, either to avenge an incursion of the Indians, or for an invasion of their villages.

To give some idea of the sanguinary character of the conflicts. which were continually occurring, I may remark, that when the Indians surprised a "station" the most of the inhabitants were tomahawked. If they took any prisoners and found themselves pursued by the whites, the first thing was to tomahawk the prisoners. In the battles, the loss was always heavy. In the battle of the Blue Licks, out of one hundred and sixty-six, or as some accounts state, one hundred and eighty-two whites, sixty were killed. In many battles, when the number engaged was small, one-half were killed. At Estill's defeat much more than half were killed.

To show the obstinacy and coolness which characterized these encounters, as well as to exhibit a favorable specimen of courage and tactics among the Indians, I will give a brief account of this battle.

In May, 1782, a party of Wyandots, twenty-five in number, invested Estill Station, killed a white man, took a negro prisoner, destroyed the cattle and retreated. Capt. Estill raised a company of twenty-five men to pursue and chastise them. He overtook them just as they had crossed Hinkston Creek. His men immediately opened a fire upon the retreating Indians, who at first manifested a disposition to run; but their chief being severely wounded, ordered them, in a loud voice, to stand and fight. They promptly took trees and returned the fire. Estill's men immediately did the same. The numbers were equal, and no shot was fired but at a direct object. The exposure of any part of the body was almost sure to be greeted by a rifle ball; the firing was deliberate, and life generally the forfeit. Thus, on both sides, they firmly stood, or bravely fell. The battle had lasted more than an hour, and more than a fourth had fallen on both sides, without any appreciable advantage to either; when Capt. Estill, being unwilling to lose so many men with no advantage, except killing an equal number of the enemy, sent six of his remaining men by a circuit. to reach the rear of the Indians. From some unknown cause the movement was not executed with as much celerity as was expected, and necessary to success. In the mean time, the Indian chief had noted the slackening of the fire in front, and perhaps attributed it to the right cause. He immediately made a rapid charge across the creek with his whole force, drove the whites from their covert, and compelled them to retreat with great slaughter. In this charge Capt. Estill and eight of his men were killed, and four badly wounded, who, however, made their escape. The Indians lost half their number, and the whites much more. The battle lasted two hours, and for cool personal intrepidity has, perhaps, never been exceeded. (Collins' History of Kentucky.)

Will I be borne with, for introducing another narrative illustrating the "perilous times" which then existed in Kentucky? It seems to me conducive to the proper understanding of the subject in hand. The hero, for he well earned the title, lived many years, and died within half a mile of the spot where I am now writing.

Capt. William Hubbell was a native of Vermont, and was returning to Kentucky in 1791, in a flat boat, in which there were nine men, three women, and eight children. Unmistakable evidences of the vicinity of Indians having been observed, they anticipated an attack. Capt. Hubbell was made commander, and every