Early Western Travels, 1748-1846, Volume XII Part 21

[49] It was in the beginning of November when I crossed the Ohio near Louisville; at that time a fine new steam vessel, of I believe two hundred and fifty tons burthen, was waiting the rise of the water. What a daily loss this detainer must have been to the proprietors! Many people were staying at Louisville in order to go pa.s.sengers by her to New Orleans, a journey of between fifteen hundred and two thousand miles, which was to be performed in six days independent of wind: to get back it would require three or four weeks. This vessel was to convey the western mail to New Orleans--the accommodations in every respect were excellent and the whole interior was fitted up in the most complete manner; the price to New Orleans for each pa.s.senger was, I understood, forty dollars.--WELBY.

_Comment by Ed._ The first steamboat mail to New Orleans was carried in this year by Captain Shreve upon his boat, named in honor of the occasion, "Post-Boy."

[50] Plans for a ca.n.a.l around the Falls of the Ohio (Louisville), were projected early in the nineteenth century. The Ohio Ca.n.a.l Company was incorporated in 1809-10, Congress and the Kentucky legislature conditionally subscribing for shares of its stock, but nothing was accomplished. About ten years later the Jeffersonville Ohio Ca.n.a.l Company was organized to build the ca.n.a.l around the Indiana side of the falls. Construction was begun, but again the project fell through.

Finally the Louisville-Portland ca.n.a.l was commenced in 1825 and completed in 1830, Congress having a.s.sisted to the extent of 2,335 shares of stock. This ca.n.a.l soon proved inadequate, and in 1872 it was surrendered to the national government. An enlargement was immediately undertaken, being completed in 1881.--ED.

[51] Another intention by raising the waters of the Schuylkill is, I understood, to supply Philadelphia with its water.--WELBY.

[52] This year fine new cyder was plentiful in Ohio State, at a dollar a barrel of thirty gallons.--WELBY.

[53] For the early history of Was.h.i.+ngton and Brownsville, see our volume iii; F. A. Michaux's _Travels_, note 23; Harris's _Journal_, note 32.--ED.

[54] A short sketch of Uniontown and Fort c.u.mberland may be found in Harris's _Journal_, volume iii of our series, notes 47, 49.--ED.

[55] For a brief account of Fredericktown, see A. Michaux's _Travels_, in our volume iii, note 70.--ED.

[56] The British forces under Major-General Ross landed at North Point, at the mouth of the Patapsco, twelve miles from the city. Proceeding along the North Point Road to Baltimore (September 12, 1814), they had marched about four miles when their advance was checked by the American forces under General Stricker. A sharp engagement followed, in which Ross was killed, but the American troops were forced to fall back towards Baltimore.

The battle monument, situated on Monument Square, was begun in 1815 and completed ten years later. It is not a national memorial, but was erected by the citizens of Baltimore. In 1839 Baltimore dedicated a second monument on the North Point battle-ground.--ED.

[57] Some farmers, on this account, feed their cattle with corn, and thus putting it upon legs send them to the Eastern markets; we met many large droves of these cattle.--WELBY.

[58] In the Middle and Southern states the ruffed grouse (_Bonasa umbella_) is called a pheasant. The English pheasant (_Phasia.n.u.s colchicus_) does not exist in the United States. Similarly, the American partridge is entirely different from the English, being the bob white or quail (_Ortyx virginiana_).--ED.

[59] George Louis Buffon (1707-1788) was a noted French naturalist, and for many years was intendant to the royal gardens. Abbe Raynal (1713-1793) published (1770) _Histoire philosophique et politique des etabliss.e.m.e.nts et du commerce des Europeens dans les deux Indes_.--ED.

[60] I believe the Quakers are ent.i.tled to the chief merit of promoting these charitable inst.i.tutions, and I have before been silent where I should have given them the meed of praise.--WELBY.

[61] The Philadelphia _Aurora_ was established in 1790 by Benjamin Franklin Bache. After his death (1798) it was edited by William Duane.

It was strongly anti-federal, and exerted its greatest influence between the years 1800-1820.--ED.

[62] Reflections upon the Nature and tendency of the present Spirit of the Times. By Rev. George Burges, B.A. 1820.--WELBY.

[63] The execution of the above sentence took place accordingly.--WELBY.

[64] This was Admiral Decatur. See Faux's _Journal_, _ante_, note 140.--ED.

[65] The University of Pennsylvania dates its history from the establishment of Franklin's academy in 1740. See Montgomery, _History of the University of Pennsylvania from its Foundation to A.D. 1770_ (Philadelphia, 1902).--ED.

[66] Not long ago signs were very generally used by other trades than those of Publicans, and even now there are a few who hang them out,--Tavern signs are many of them executed in a superior manner; it is the chief encouragement given to the Arts.--WELBY.

[67] Thomas Holcroft (1744-1809) a well-known British dramatist and translator.--ED.

[68] Their other national air "Hail Columbia," is int.i.tled to more respect.--WELBY.

[69] I am informed that it is not an uncommon practice to sell the negroes at auction, by the lb. weight.--WELBY.

[70] The skins of the goats by some speedy process had been converted into morocco leather and were exhibited.--WELBY.

[71] The Library is lately renewed; the former one was burnt by us in the late war, for which deed we have obtained perhaps justly the appellation of "Modern Goths."--WELBY.

[72] Mr. Sheed of the United States Navy.--WELBY.

FINISH.