212 Climate, &c. of Washington County, Ohio. 
Muskingum river, on the 7th day of April, 1788 ; at that 
time the trees were putting forth their leaves, and the bottoms 
were covered with a growth of herbs and grass nearly knee 
high ; seeming almost like the work of enchantment to these 
weary travellers, who had descended the Ohio in boats, and 
left but a few days before the country at the “ head waters,” 
near the mountains, as destitute of vegetation as in the midst 
of winter. This day was for many years celebrated as “ an 
‘anniversary” by the inhabitants, on which they feasted and 
made merry, as they recounted the dangers and privations of 
the “ first settlers.” Their numbers then amounted only to 
a few individuals, now to at least eight hundred thousand, 
_ enjoying civil and religious privileges, equal, if not superior, 
to any other state in the Union. 
In proof of the mildness of the climate, beyond what would 
be inferred from latitudinal position, there is now growing om 
the waters of Fish Creek, in Virginia, ten or twelve miles 
_ from the Ohio river, and fifty-two east of Marietta, a grove 
of the towering magnolia, of several acres in extent. Some 
of the trees are 2 or 3 feet in diameter, and lofty in propor- 
tion. They are situated on the upland, a little distance from 
the creek, and in the season of flowering, fill the wilderness 
with delicions fragrance for several miles round ; thoug 
pro y not quite so far as the flowers of the magnolia were 
‘us some of the young trees next spring, when an at- 
tempt will be made to domesticate them as ornamental trees 
The melia azedarach, or Pride of China, stands the winter 
when not very severe ; several trees, the produce of s 
from the Mississippi, are now growing in this town. 
_ As we | westward, the climate is still more mild ; 
and in the southernmost bend of the Ohio river, near the 
mouth of Big Sandy, I should judge the temperature to 
about equal to that of Italy, in the days of Pliny and Tacitus, 
Marietta, Ohio, Jan, 12th; 1827. : 
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