' their conftituents. 
1802.] 
talk of the fame at Frankfort, the feat of 
government ; and the Old Prefbyterians (a 
kind of Seceders, who will fing nothing 
but the Scotch David’s Pfalms) are doing 
the fame in this town. The confequence 
of this will be, that our feminary will not 
increafe very much till the funds of the 
truftees fhall enable them to provide dif- 
ferent profeffors, in order to make it a 
college. Indeed I mentioned the nature of 
our library. We hope, however, that 
our fituation with regard to books is im- 
proving. We are attempting to eftablifh 
a public library; and have fub{criptions 
to this purpofe to the amount of between 
7 or 800 dollars. 
Anotherpublic obje& in purfuit of which 
we have been engaged, is that of opening a 
new road to Virginia. The ptefent road is 
ju a bridle path, ‘and is wonderfully cir- 
cuitous, running 100 miles fouthward into 
North Carolina, and then turning to the 
North. A motion for a new road was 
brought forward in the affembly’ laft fef-, 
fion, but was rejected, on the pretence 
that the burden would fall too heavily on 
We are now attempt- 
ing it by voluntary fubfcription, have 
obtained fub{criptions to the amount of 
1700 dollars, and have actually contracted 
to have a 100 feet wide waggon-road 
opened from hence to the Virginia {ettle- 
ments, by the firft of September; and have 
agreed to pay for it 2100 dollars. The 
diftance to be cut will probably be about 
roo miles, and it will fhorten the diftance 
to Winchefter, &c. by 150 miles. 
I believe I have told you that my con- 
gregation has been very fmall through the 
winter, the people here being fo wonder- 
fully afraid’ of wet and cold. It begins, 
however, to increafe again a little now;'as 
the weather grows warmer. A few weeks 
fince I was applied to by Colonel 
who lives near the Falls, to preach a fu- 
neral fermon for his wife, a fitter of Gene. 
ral . I complied with his requeft, 
though it is 80 miles; and I was expected 
_ Rot only to preach, but tu perform the bu- 
_ vial fervice, though fhe had been laid ‘in 
the grave three weeks. They made me 
the handfome compliment-of ten guineas. 
- Good land, I find, may be bought within 
‘tion Mr. . 
a fhort diftance of the Balle, on the other 
’ fide of the river, being’a part of General 
_ Clarke’s grant, at 40, 50, or 60 dollars 
a 100 acres, 
T with I knew what kind of informa-’ 
— wants to have. I 
_ fhould moft cheerfully communicate it. 
_ As to my opinion what fituation would be 
Prefent State of Kentucky. 
529 
moft eligible to him, T could not well give 
it, without being imtimately acquainted 
with his tafte and habits. The main point, 
wherever he fettles, will be to have fociety 
fomething fimilar to what he has been ac. 
cuftomed to. I do not fay fociety equally 
good: for our ideas of good and bad alto. , 
gether depend upon our former fitwations, 
and whatis very good fociety to me ma 
be very bad to many others. Should Mr. 
—-- bring a few of his friends with him, 
they will feel themfelves perfectly at liber- _ 
ty to choofe whatever fituation they thal} 
find the moft advantageous: and I know 
of none, which offers greater advantages to 
the generality, than Kentucky; particu- 
larly to manufacturers of wool or cotten, 
or, above all, of hemp, provided they can 
go through with the whole, and have fome 
little capital. Hemp fells here at between 
two and three dollars per hundred, and 
can be raifedin any quantity. In wocllen 
or cotton, the Lancafhire fpinning- wheels 
and fly-fhuttle fhould be ufed. The Coo- 
per’s bufinefs muft be a good one. 
I fhould fuppofe Mr. would ere 
long find a congregation here. There is, 
at leaft, as great a probability of it here a¢ 
in Pennfylvania, or Virginia, or Mary- 
land. The great objection would be his 
being an independent as to church-govern- 
ment ; and, I think, he would hardly like 
to bind himfelf in Prefbyterian fetters, 
However, I fhould conceive, that being in- 
troduced‘ and recommended by orthodox 
minifters; as an ordained brother, and a 
friend of liberty, efpecially being a man 
of abilities, he could not long continue 
without a {phere of ufefulnefs. But he 
ought to come with the idea of improving 
his fortune, how ample foever it may be 
at prefent, becaufe it will be a public be- 
nefit. By engaging in any of the manu. 
fa&tories I have’ mentioned, or in the ma. 
nufactory of foap for exportation, of male 
and beer, of glafs, or earthen (queen’s} 
ware, (and we have the materials), no 
prudent man can fail of increaling his 
own property, and being highly ufetul to 
his country. Bat no workman. thould be 
engaged without being articled for a term, 
teats 
rsd. 
When you forward any thing through © 
Mr. of Philadelphia, it may be as 
well to mention, whether you with to have 
it feat on by pof tome. A fingle letter 
is one-quarter of a dollar, advaiicing ac. 
cording to weight. 
7m ‘ erase eee 
Should the Coopers or others whom you 
mention really comé to America, let them 
. not 
