LIFE OF WILSON. 
CXI 
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 passed 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 
