CXViii . LIFE OF WILSON. 



shore to Shippingport, to take a view of these celebrated Ra- 

 pids, but they fell far short of my expectation. I should have 

 no hesitation in going down them in a skiff. The Falls of 

 Oswego, in the state of New York, though on a smaller scale, 

 are far more dangerous and formidable in appearance. Though 

 the river was not high, I observed two arks and a barge run 

 them with great ease and rapidity. The Ohio here is some- 

 thing more than a mile wide, with several islands interspersed; 

 the channel rocky, and the islands heaped with drift wood. 

 The whole fall in two miles is less than twenty-four feet. The 

 town of Louisville stands on a high second bank, and is about 

 as large as Frankford, having a number of good brick build- 

 ings and valuable shops. The situation would be as healthy as 

 any on the river, but for the numerous swamps and ponds that 

 intersect the woods in its neighbourhood. These from their 

 height above the river might all be drained and turned into 

 cultivation; but every man here is so intent on the immediate 

 making of money, that they have neither time nor disposition 

 for improvements, even where the article health is at stake. 

 A man here told me that last fall he had fourteen sick in his 

 own family. On Friday the 24th, I left my baggage with a 

 merchant of the place to be forwarded by the first wagon, and 

 set out on foot for Lexington, seventy-two miles distant. I 

 passed through Middletown and Shelby ville, both inconsidera- 

 ble places. Nine-tenths of the country is in forest; the surface 

 undulating into gentle eminences and declivities, between each 

 of which generally runs a brook, over loose flags of limestone. 

 The soil, by appearance, is of the richest sort. I observed im- 

 mense fields of Indian corn, high excellent fences, few grain 

 fields, many log houses, and those of the meaner sort. I took 

 notice of few apple orchards, but several very thriving peach 

 ones. An appearance of slovenliness is but too general about 

 their houses, barns, and barn-yards. Negroes are numerous; 

 cattle and horses lean, particularly the former, who appear as if 

 struggling with starvation for their existence. The woods are 

 swarming with pigs, pigeons, squirrels and woodpeckers. The 



