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 Shelbyville, 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 
