Part III.] Journal.' 283 



as we chose to drink, and good feed for our horses, in 

 the afternoon we have the pleasure to be overtaken by 

 tM'o ladies on horseback, and have their agreeable com- 

 pany for a mile or tAvo. On their turning off from our 

 road we were very reluctantly obliged to refuse an 

 obliging invitation to drink tea at their house, and myself 

 the more so, as one of the ladies informed me she had 

 married a Mr. Constantine, a gentleman from my own 

 native town of Bolton, in Lancasinre. But, Ave had yet 

 so far to go, and it was getting dark. This most health- 

 ful mode of travelling is universal in the Western States, 

 and it gives me great pleasure to see it ; though, per- 

 haps, I have to thank the badness of the roads as the 

 cause. Arrive at Frankfort, apparently a thriving 

 town, on the side of tlie rough Kentucky river. The 

 houses are built chieily of biick, and the streets, I un- 

 derstand, paved Avith limestone. Limestone abounds in 

 this state, and yet the roads are not good, though better 

 than in Indiana and Ohio, for, there there are none. I 

 wonder the government of these States do not set about 

 making good roads and bridges, and even canals. I 

 pledge myself to be able to sheAv them hoAv the money 

 might be raised, and, moreover, to prove that the ex- 

 pense Avould be paid over and OA^er again in almost no 

 time. Such improvements Avould be income to the go- 

 rernments instead of expense, besides being such an 

 incalculable benefit lo the states. But, at any rate, 

 why not roads, and in this state, too, Avhich is so re- 

 markable for its qualitA of having good road materials 

 and rich land together, generally all over it ? 



531. Jiihf lOth. — Leave Frankfort, and come through 

 a district of fine land, very Avell Avatered, to Lexington ; 

 stop at Mr. Keen's tavern. Had the good fortune to 

 meet Mr. Clay, Avho carried us to his house, about a 

 mile in the country. It is a beautiful residence, situated 

 near the centre of a very fine farm, Avhich is just cleared 

 and is coming into excellent cultivation. I approve of 

 Mr. Clay's method very much, especially in laying 

 down pasture. He clears aAvay all the brush or under- 

 wood, leaving timber enough to afford a sufficiency of 

 shade to the grass, which does not thriA'e here exposed 

 to the sun as in England and other such climates. By 



