JSl6.] Account of the Miami Countri/. 



discovered in a low prairie. It is not 

 improbable tli.it those singular tracts 

 will be found rich in this jnetal, and also 

 iu peat, both of wliich are desirable to a 

 countrj' so distant from naviffable waters, 

 and so partially covered with trees. 



In this formation the gravel and peb- 

 bles are frequently cemented into large 

 masses denominated breccia or pudding- 

 stone. About 20 miles above this town, 

 in the valley of the Ohio, are several of 

 these alluvial rocks, of great size, and 

 without any regular form. There are 

 indeed a number of small hills at that 

 place, each of which has a nucleus of 

 this kind, and reposes on the limestone 

 strata, along with the other alluvion of 

 the valley. In the interior of the Miami 

 country, masses of consolidated siliceous 

 gravel are not uncommon; and have 

 been frequently employed by the inha- 

 bitants of that quarter for millstones, 

 which purpose they are found to answer 

 very well. 



III. The stratum of loam, which is 

 ■pread over the whole of this country, 

 from three to twelve feet thick, is gene- 

 rally of a reddish yellow colour. It is 

 not laminated, nor docs it contain the 

 vestiges of land, river, or sea animals. It 

 is equally destitute of ores, and has few 

 stony combinations, except a soft argil- 

 laceous sandstone, which in some places 

 is found disposed in horizontal strata. 

 On the surface there is a layer of vege- 

 table mould, of various depths. 



IV. It is familiar to all persons, in any 

 degree versed in geological science, that 

 granite, gneiss, mica-slate, and other 

 rocks termed primitive are tuiturully in- 

 ferior in .situation to all the strata that 

 have been described. In the western 

 part of Ohio, these stones are found on 

 the surface of tiie ground, or partly iiit- 

 hedded m the layers of soil and loam. 

 They are sometimes solitary; at other 

 times a great number of masses may be 

 seen collected together and piled up on 

 each other; as in the township north- 

 west of the village of Eaton, Preble 

 county. They are of all irregular 

 shapes, and of various sizes. The larg- 

 est I have ever mot with, is in the town 

 just mentioned. It is composed of quartz 

 and mica, and was estimated by Mr. 

 Jesse Embree, who ascertained the di- 

 mensions of that part which rises above 

 the ground, to contain at least 300 cu- 

 bic feet. The strata underueatli are .se- 

 condary siliceous limestone. These fr;ig- 

 uents of primitive rocks arc said to be 

 scattered c.xteusivclv over th» state of 



i 



14 J 



Ohio, the Indian Territory, and Ken- 

 tucky. 



STATE OF SOCIETY. 



The people of the Miami country maj 

 in part be ciiaraclerised, as industrious, 

 frugal ; temperate, patriotic and religious ; 

 with as much intelligence, and more en- 

 terprise, than the tamilies from which 

 they were detached. 



In Cinciiniati the population is mors 

 compounded, and the constant addition 

 of emigrants from nimierons countries, 

 in varying proportions, must, for many 

 years, render nugatory all attempts at a 

 faithful portraiture. There is no state in 

 the Uni((n which has not enriched -our 

 town w ith some of its more cnterprisinj 

 or restless citizens; nor a kingdom in th» 

 west of Europe whose adventurous or 

 desperate exiles are not commingled 

 with us. To Kentucky, and the states 

 north of Virginia — to England, Ireland, 

 Germany, Scotland, France, and Hol- 

 land, we are most indebted. 



Among such a variety, but few points 

 of coincidence are to be expected. Tho^e 

 which at present can be perceived, are 

 industry, temperance, morality, and lov« 

 of gain. With a jiopulatiou governed 

 by such habits and principles, the town 

 must necessarily advance in improve- 

 ments at a rapid rate. This, in turn, 

 excites emulation, and precludes the 

 idleness which generates prodigality anil 

 vice. AVealth is moreover pretty equal- 

 ly distributed, and the prohibition of sla^ 

 very diffuses labour — while the dispro- 

 portionate emigration of young men, 

 with the facility of obtaining sustenance, 

 leads to frequent and hasty marriages, 

 and places many females in the situa- 

 tion of matrons, who would of necessity 

 be servants in older countries. The rich 

 being thus eonipellcd to labour, find but 

 little time for indulgence in luxury and 

 extravagance ; their ostentation is re- 

 stricted, and industry is made to becora* 

 a characteristic \ irtue. 



It need scarcely be added, that we 

 have as yet no epidemic amusements 

 among us. Cards were fashionable in 

 town for several years after the Indian 

 war succeeded its settlement; but it 

 seems they have been since banished 

 from the gentceler circles, and are har- 

 bored only in the vulgar grog-shop, or 

 the nocturnal gaming-room. Dancing is 

 not unfrequent among the wealthier 

 classes; but is never carried to excess. 

 'J'heatrical exhibitions, both by amateiirs 

 and itinerants, have occurred at intervals 

 for a dozeu years; and a society of 

 youny 



