EPISODES 



207 



to exist; when I reflect that all this grand portion of our 

 Union, instead of being in a state of nature, is now more 

 or less covered with villages, farms, and towns, where the 

 din of hammers and machinery is constantly heard; that 

 the woods are fast disappearing under the axe by day, and 

 the fire by night; that hundreds of steamboats are gliding 

 to and fro, over the whole length of the majestic river, 

 forcing commerce to take root and to prosper at every 

 spot ; when I see the surplus population of Europe com- 

 ing to assist in the destruction of the forest, and trans- 

 planting civilization into its darkest recesses; when I 

 remember that these extraordinary changes have all taken 

 place in the short period of twenty years, I pause, won- 

 der, and although I know all to be fact, can scarcely be- 

 lieve its reality. 



Whether these changes are for the better or for the 

 worse, I shall not pretend to say; but in whatever way my 

 conclusions may incline, I feel with regret that there are 

 on record no satisfactory accounts of the state of that por- 

 tion of the country, from the time when our people first 

 settled in it. This has not been because no one in 

 America is able to accomplish such an undertaking. 

 Our Irvings and our Coopers have proved themselves 

 fully competent for the task. It has more probably been 

 because the changes have succeeded each other with such 

 rapidity as almost to rival the movements of their pens. 

 However, it is not too late yet ; and I sincerely hope that 

 either or both of them will ere long furnish the genera- 

 tions to come with those delightful descriptions which 

 they are so well qualified to give, of the original state of 

 a country that has been so rapidly forced to change her 

 form and attire under the influence of increasing popula- 

 tion. Yes, I hope to read, ere I close my earthly career, 

 accounts from those delightful writers of the progress of 

 civilization in our Western Country. They will speak of 

 the Clarks, the Croghans, the Boones, and many other men 



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