that falls into the Ohio. This little promontory. stretches out into the middle of the Ohio, which is here very broad: its shelving banks are planted at the bottom with weeping willows. The pendant branches, and pale green of these, form a pleasing contrast with the maples and ash-trees immediately above them; whilst these last are covered, as with a canopy, by the plane, the tuliptree, the beech, and the magnolia, that rise above them in a majestic manner.

We passed several towns: the principal of them are Alexandria, Gallipoli, Marietta, Wheeling, and West Liberty town. Marietta is the chief place in the state of the Ohio. There may be two hundred houses: some of them of brick; and many of them have two stories, and are handsomely built. Most of them face the river: high hills shelter it behind. It is situated at the union of the great Muskingum with the Ohio; near it are the remains of ancient fortifications belonging to the Indians.

.

About fifteen miles above the Muskingum, in a small island, is a plane-tree, said to measure above forty feet in circumference. This, to you, may appear like a traveller's wonder; but we, who have seen several near that size, can easily believe it.

For some time before we reached Pittsburgh, the Ohio runs between two ridges of hills, frequently unbroken for miles; at other times a river passes through the break, or another hill in a dif

ferent

ferent direction. For a great length of way the course of this river lies through a mountainous country, covered with forests, and almost uninhabited.

This noble river takes in a vast circuit, winding, with a prodigious sweep, for near a thousand miles, before it reaches the Mississippi; its breadth varies in different parts. The islands in it are very numerous, and the stream so rapid, that the westcountry boats are made almost square, to stem the current; and having raised sides, and roofs at one end, look like floating houses.

After so long a voyage, you must excuse an account of Pittsburgh till my next, and in the mean time believe, that no variety of place or people can ever make me forgetful of the pleasant hours I have passed in your society at home.

ARTHUR MIDDLETON.

LETTER XXIII.

Mr. Henry Franklin to his Brother.

Lancaster.

DEAR BROTHER,

PITTSBURGH is built on a triangular plain, just at the confluence of the rivers Monongahela and Allegany, which, when united, form the Ohio. Agues are but little known here, though so frequent in many other parts.

It is the great market for the exchange of goods, between Philadelphia and Baltimore, with the western country and the numerous settlements on the Monongahela and Allegany rivers. The greater part of the traders who reside in this town, are partners or agents to the commercial houses at Philadelphia. The merchandize is conveyed from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, in large covered waggons, drawn by four horses, two and two abreast: from thence it is frequently sent in carrying boats, along the Ohio and Mississippi, to New Orleans, a distance of more than two thousand miles. Sometimes the cargoes returned by the merchants of New Orleans, go by sea to Philadelphia. Thus a communication, to their mutual benefit, is maintained between the distant parts of this vast and increasing

increasing empire. Thirty years ago, there were scarcely thirty thousand white inhabitants in the three new western states, Tenessee, Kentucky, and that of the Ohio; now they are estimated at four hundred thousand. Do not suppose that this wonderful augmentation arises from the natural increase of the first settlers, but a continued influx of new emigrants, who flock from all parts to this fertile region.

The river Monongahela rises in Virginia, at the foot of Laurel Mountain, which forms part of the chain of the Allegany, and receives some inferior rivers before it joins the Allegany; this latter river takes its source near Lake Erie, and begins to be navigable two hundred miles from Pittsburgh. The dock-yards for building ships, give employment to many hands in the town, as well as some at Redstone and Lexington, which supply the cordage.

The time that I had appointed for our stay at Pittsburgh being elapsed, we set forward, with design to bend our course, by way of Northumberland, to New York. The excessive heat over a mountainous road, prevented us from proceeding farther than Greensburgh the first day, a town of about a hundred houses, standing on the summit of a hill. The country near it abounds so much with coal, that it is used for fuel in preference to wood, as being less expensive than cutting wood for the fire. Ligonier's Valley is a fertile tract,

producing

producing wheat, rye, and oats, for food; hemp and flax for clothing. Most of the women were at work at the spinning wheel or the loom : their families are supplied with linen by their industry. We observed some wild plants of great beauty; particularly a species of azalea, with large white flowers, that grows to the height of twelve or fifteen feet. At the end of Ligonier's Valley we crossed Laurel Hill, probably so called from the numerous laurels and rhododendrons that cover it.

Some fried ham and deer's flesh, with a cake of maize bread, baked on a board before the fire, at Stanley Town, gave us fresh strength and spirits to ascend the Allegany Ridge, which is extremely steep, and rendered still more inconvenient by enormous stones, that are scattered about the road. We slept at Bedford. Unfortunately for us, it had been a public holiday, and the tavern was filled with people, in such a state of intoxication, as to lie dead drunk about the rooms, on the stairs, and in the yard. From those who were able to speak, nothing was heard but a frightful uproar of riot or abuse. Arthur remarked, that a young man did not need a more striking picture of the hateful consequences of excess.

The people in the interior of the United States are too generally prone to the love of spirituous liquors, as a regale; for their common beverage, in summer, is water or sour milk.

The