Ixxx 
LIFE OF WILSON. 
with disgust on tlie being ■wlio uttered it. This same miscreant pronounced a 
long prayer before supper, and immediately after called out, in a splutter of 
oaths, for the pine splinters to be held to let the gentleman see. Such a far- 
rago of lies, oaths, prayers and politeness, put me in a good humor in spite of 
myself. The whole herd of this filthy kennel were in perpetual motion with 
the itch ; so having procured a large fire to be made, under pretence of habit 
I sought for the softest plank, placed my trunk and great coat at my head, 
and stretched myself there till morning. I set out early and passed several 
arks. A number of turkeys which I observed from time to time on the Indiana 
shore, made me lose half the morning in search of them. On the Kentucky 
shore I was also decoyed by the same temptations, but never could approach 
near enough to shoot one of them. These affairs detained me so, that I was 
dubious whether I should be able to reach Louisville that night. Night came 
on, and I could hear nothing of the Falls ; about eight I first heard the roaring 
of the Rapids, and as it increased I was every moment in hopes of seeing the 
lights of Louisville; but no lights appeared, and the noise seemed now within 
less than half a mile of me. Seriously alarmed, lest I might be drawn into 
the suction of the Falls, I cautiously coasted along shore, which was full of 
snag:i and narri/crs, and at length, with great satisfaction, opened Bear-Grass 
Creek, where T secured my skiff to a Kentucky boat, and loading myself with 
my baggage, I groped my way through a swamp up to the town. The next 
day I sold my skiff for exactly half what it cost me ; and the man who bought 
it wondered why I gave it such a droll Indian name, (the Ornithologist,) 
'some old chief or warrior I suppose,' said he. This day I walked down along 
shore to Shippiugport, to take a view of these celebrated Rapids, 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 something 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 buildings 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 neighborhood. 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 f;ill 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 Shelbyville, both incon- 
siderable places. Nine-tenths of the country is in forest; the surface undu- 
lating 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 immense fields of Indian corn, high excellent fences, 
