19 
in three places. These groups placed themselves in a very pic¬ 
turesque manner; but their way of acting is very dangerous. 
The night before we saw the woods on fire in three different di¬ 
rections, and the fire was without doubt occasioned by such emi¬ 
grants as these. The lofty pine trees look very handsome while 
burning, when they are insulated, but the owner of the forest has 
all the trouble attending it to himself. 
The country which we passed through towards morning was 
hilly, the bottom constantly sandy, towards the last, mixed with 
clay and rock. The trees were nothing but long-leafed pines. 
Close by Milledgeville, we crossed the Oconee river on abridge 
that had been finished but a few days, and which rested on wooden 
piles. Until now the river was passed by a ferry-boat. Both 
shores are very high and steep, so that going in and coming out 
were attended with great difficulty. 
Milledgeville lies upon elevated ground, the town is very re¬ 
gularly built, its broad streets are right-angled, they are, how¬ 
ever, unpaved. It numbers about three thousand inhabitants of 
both complexions. It was established about twenty years ago, 
and increased very rapidly from its commencement, as it is the 
capital of the state of Georgia, and the seat of the legislature. Its 
increase is now calculated to be checked, since the story goes that 
the seat of government will be changed to the newly-founded 
town of Macon, or when the state has conquered congress in the 
cause yet depending before that body, and part of the Creek In¬ 
dians territory is obtained, then it will be placed at Athens, where 
the university of the state is situated. We took up our residence 
at La Fayette Hall, a large tavern. 
Soon after our arrival, I took a walk through the town. It 
contains mostly wooden houses, but they were good and even 
elegantly built, good stores, also a booksellers shop, and several 
printing presses. There are published here four gazettes, which 
a little while since were exceedingly active on the sides of the 
two parties who oppose each other in the state. One party is 
that of Governor Troup, who, from his discussions with the 
United States concerning the Creek territory, and on account of 
his warmth in his official correspondence, has become noted; the 
other is the party of the former governor, General Clark, who is, 
in all appearance, a very mild man, and very much respected by 
sensible and well-disposed persons. At the last election of the 
governor, it was believed and hoped that General Clark would be 
chosen. He had the majority of the legislature in his favour, yet, 
as the governor in this state is chosen for two years by the people, 
and every man that pays half a dollar tax has a vote, it so happen¬ 
ed that Governor Troup succeeded, by his popularity, in bearing 
off the palm. 
