106 
hundred miles. The Wabash forms the boundary between the 
states of Illinois and Indiana, the right bank belongs to the for¬ 
mer, the left to the latter state. About evening, the steam-boat 
landed Mr. Huygens and myself on the right bank at Mount Ver¬ 
non, a place established about two years ago, whence we proposed 
to go by land to New Harmony. Mr. Hottinguer left us, as he 
pursued his voyage in the steam-boat; I parted very reluctantly 
from this esteemed fellow traveller, who possessed many good 
qualities, above all others, one seldom found in his countrymen, 
great modesty. 
Mount Vernon lies upon a high bank, one hundred and twenty- 
six miles from New Orleans, and eight hundred and three from 
Pittsburgh. It is a favourable situation for trade, laid out on an 
extensive plan, but has only frame houses, and at most three hun¬ 
dred inhabitants. It is the new capital of Posey county. A pri¬ 
son was finished for the use of the county; a court-house was 
about to be built. We formed an acquaintance with a physician 
established here, and a travelling merchant. The roots of the 
felled trees remained yet in the streets of the town, the woods 
began close behind the houses; nay, the latest built were encir¬ 
cled by them. 
On the following morning, 15th of April, we hired a two-horse 
wagon, to carry us to the village of New Harmony, which is six¬ 
teen miles distant from Mount Vernon, and lies on the left shore of 
the Wabash. The road passed through a hilly country, thickly 
grown with green-leaved trees. The way was made very bad 
by former rains, and the most miry places were mended with 
logs, forming a grievous causeway;* over a little stream, called 
Big creek, we crossed a tolerable wooden bridge. About half 
way is Springfield, at first made the capital of Posey county, 
which, however, afterwards was changed to Mount Vernon, as I 
have mentioned before. In Springfield the county gaol still re¬ 
mains, also a brick court-house, and about ten wooden houses, two 
of them are taverns. As the road was very bad, and the horses 
went very slow, I walked at least ten miles, and arrived at New 
Harmony, before the carriage. As soon as you clear the woods, 
you have a very handsome view of the place. It lies in a valley, 
not far from the Wabash. The woody and low banks of this 
river, were at present, in the neighbourhood of New Harmony, 
overflowed. From the roots of trees still remaining, it was visi¬ 
ble, that this country had been covered with wood but a short 
time back. 
In fact, it is but eleven years since Mr. Rapp with his society, 
* [These log turnpikes are better known by the name of “corduroy roads.”] 
Thajsts. 
