LIFE OF WILSON. cx i 



gentlemen are about establishing works by steam, for carding 

 and spinning wool, and intend to carry on the manufacture of 

 broadcloth extensively. Mr. Gillman is a gentleman of taste 

 and wealth, and has no doubts of succeeding. Something is ne- 

 cessary to give animation to this place, for since the building of 

 ships has been abandoned here, the place seems on the decline. 

 " The current of the Muskingum is very rapid, and the ferry 

 boat is navigated across in the following manner. A strong ca- 

 ble is extended from bank to bank, forty or fifty feet above the 

 surface of the river, and fastened tight at each end. On this ca- 

 ble are two loose running blocks; one rope from the bow of the 

 boat is fastened to the first of these blocks, and another from 

 the after part of the boat to the second block, and by lengthen- 

 ing this last a diagonal direction is given to the boat's head, a 

 little up stream, and the current striking forcibly and obliquely 

 on her aft, she is hurried forward with amazing velocity with- 

 out any manual labour whatever. I passetl Blannerhasset's 

 island after night, but the people were burning brush, and by 

 the light I had a distinct view of the mansion house, which is 

 but a plain frame of no great dimensions. It is now the pro- 

 perty of a Mr. Miller from Lexington, who intends laying it 

 chiefly in hemp. It is nearly three miles long, and contains 

 about three hundred acres, half of which is in cultivation; but 

 like all the rest of the numerous islands of the Ohio, is subject 

 to inundations. At Galliopolis, which stands upon a high plain, 

 and contains forty or fifty scattered houses, I found the fields 

 well fenced and well cultivated, peach and apple orchards nu- 

 merous, and a considerable appearance of industry. One half 

 of the original French settlers have removed to a tract of land 

 opposite to the mouth of Sandy River. This town has one shop 

 and two taverns; the mountains press in to within a short dis- 

 tance of the town. I found here another Indian mound planted 

 with peach trees. On Monday, March 5th, about ten miles 

 below the mouth of the great Sciota, where I saw the first flock 

 of paroquets, I encountered a violent storm of wind and rain, 

 which changed to hail and snow, blowing down trees and limbs 



