The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1786-07-31 00:00:00, page 3

the Kentucky. It meets the Ohio about 200 miles
below the falls.
Salt river is navigable in the wet season about $0
miles, and embraces the Ohio twenty miles below the
falls..
Licking is the lead considerable river in the country,
but is navigable for nearly the fame distance with the
Salt river, and puts into the Ohio about 170 miles
above the falls.
The Cumberland river heads in the mountains of
that name already mentioned, and, taking a circuitous
course fouthweftprly, visits North-Carolina, and thence
running northwesterly, re-enters Virginia, and meets
the Ohio about 50 miles above the junction of the lat
ter with the Miffifippi.:
The Tenefee or Cherokee, is a river nearly as large
as the Ohio, takes its rife from several sources in Vir
ginia and North-Carolina, and sweeping through a
large extent of fertile country, generally a southwester
ly course, passing through Carolina, visits Georgia,
and thence, bending northwesterly, leaves Georgia,
paying a second visit to Carolina and Virginia, is
blended with the Ohio about twelve miles below the
mouth of Cumberland. This river is of a semicircular
figure, and is said to be navigable for at lead nine hun
dred miles.,
Kentucky, at present, consists of seven counties, viz.
Jefferfon, Fayette, Lincoln, Nelson, Mercer, Bourbon
and Maddifon, each of which, agreeably to the con
stitution of Virginia, fends two members to the Ge
neral Assembly at Richmond. The county courts in
Virginia are held monthly ; and, as the magistrates
execute their office without fees, the administration of
justice in this country is exceedingly cheap. In the
year 1782 it was eroded into a separate diftrid, when
a general or supreme court was allo established, verted
with every power which the general court possesses in
the eastern diftrid of Virginia.
The inhabitants being already numerous, and their
numbers daily increasing, an application was made to
the Icgiflature, at their last feffon, to have the Kentuc
ky diftrid erected into a separate independent state, in
consequence of which an ad was puffed for that 'pur
pofe ; but as it lays the diftrid under some reftrigions,
perhaps not altogether consistent with the genius of a
free people, it is rather probable the inhabitants will
decline the proposed reparation for the present.
The Presbyterian and Baptist denominations arc the
molt numerous feds of religion 111 this country : And
our correspondent is happy to fay, that these churches
are generally fuppßed with pious rational pastors.
A college is also eltablifhed in Kentucky by aft of
Assembly, and that on the most liberal principles. It
is called the Traniylvania Seminary, and is already en
dowed with about 10,000 acres of the belt land in that
country.
The Reverend Synod of New-York and Philadel
phia have lately instituted a presbytery in the Kentucky
country.
As this country is extensive, so its foil is various.
The lands through which the Kentucky, the Licking,
and some of the branches of the Salt river, run, gene
rally speaking, exceed description. Its foil is from eigh
teen inches to several feet deep. It partakes of a dark
chocolate colour, but in fertility exceeds the jet black.
Besides the kind just described, there are four or five
classes in the diftrift of inferior qualities ; and the east
ern and southeastern parts of it are little else than a
collection of mountains for near two hundred miles in
length, and one hundred in breadth. The western
and fiuthweftern extremity of the country is greatly
injured by being overflowed in the wet season, and
some parts of it will, for a number of years, be ren
dered in some measure useless for want of timber.
After being reduced with a few crops of Indian
corn, hemp or tobacco, the foil seems very natural to
wheat, which, in a dry season, has been raised to
weigh sixty-three pounds per bushel. Excepting the
parts above described, it is generally a high level coun
try; and, at a moderate distance from the large rivers,
it is very healthy. A circumstance peculiar to this
country is, that the farther from the rivers the better
the land. The intervals are mostly contrasted, and
but of the second quality in point of foil.
The principal kinds of timber are black and white
walnut, wild cherry-tree, locust, of which there are
two kinds, u hite ash, oaks of all forts known in colder
climates, mulberry and poplar in great abundance ;
and the myrtle or sugar-tree is very plenty, and grows
to an uncommon size.—The underwood is generally
scarce ; what there is is chiefly (pice-wood and papaw,
or wild cucumber-tree, so called from its bearing a
fruit not unlike a cucumber in drape and size, but
very luscious to the smell and taftc.
This country abounds in many kinds of excellent
wild graG; and although English grass is not a native,
yet it flourifhes amazingly when introduced. What
is called Foulmeadow-grafs grows spontaneously here ;
and the cane, of which the weavers' reeds are com
posed, is in great abundance in this country. The cat
tle feed very freely on it, and, as it continues green
during the winter, it affords an excellent fubflitute for
fodder.
Iron ore, in fufficient quantities, and of a good
quality, is found in the more broken parts of the
country.
Its exemption from stones on the furface, while it
affords the greatest abundance for all the purposes of
domeftick use, is a peculiarity of this country well
deferring notice. The country, especially the interior
parts of it, lies on a limestone quarry, admirably well
calculated both as to fhapc and lituation for building.
The number of old forts in this country are the
admiration of the curious, and a matter of much spe
culation. They are mostly of a circular form, situ
ated on strong well-chosen ground, and contiguous
to water. When, by whom, and indeed for what
purpose these were thrown up, is uncertain. They
are certainly very ancient, there not being the Icaft
E^traß of a letter from a gentleman in the Western
country, dated on the waters of Sbdnangoc\ June
25, 1786.
'• The heavy rains and high frefhes about the lat
ter end of May, prevented our waggon getting to
Pittfbuigh as soon as 1 expected, by at leatt two
weeks, which retarded our business---however, we
began to extend the line on Monday last, and are
going on with the bufiuefs without interruption.
“ On my arrival at Pittsburgh the reports of the
hostile disposition of the Indians, appeared not only
unfavourable but dangerous for us to proceed to bu
siness. I found a number of Indians of different
nations assembled there; and; after some days en
quiry and deliberation, 1 got an interpreter to inform
them, that I wished to talk with their principal In
dians-- the next day I was informed that two chiefs
and several men of them were then waiting my plea
sure to hold a council. I then explained the buli
nefs I was sent on by the great men of Pennsylvania,
and requested them to tell me candidly whether their
nations had any objections to our running the boun
dary-lines of the state. They informed me that they
had no objections, and that the Indians were disposed
to peace, and the two chiefs and four of the men
would follow us, and assist us with meat, &c. Since
our arrival in the woods we have met with 18 Indi
ans, in different parties, hunting; they also inform
us that we need not be under any apprehensions of
danger from the Indians. You will no doubt be sur
prised to find my account of the disposition of the
Indians, so different from the common report; but
a further confirmation that they have no intentions
of going to war with us at present, is, their induttry
in planting Indian corn on the Shanangoe, French
creek settlements, &c. so convenient to our settle
ments: also, they are dispersed all over this country
in small huting-parties, and discover a sociable, friend
ly disposition to our people, where-ever they meet
them, which would not be the case did they intend
to commit hostilities."
visible difference in the age or size of the timber grow
ing on or within these forts and that which grows with
out, and the oldest natives have loft all tradition refped
ing them. They mutt have been the efforts of a people
much more devoted to labour, than our present race of
Indians, and it is difficult to Conceive how they could
have been conftru&ed without the use of iron tools.
At a convenient distance from these there always stands
a small mount of earth thrown up in the form of a
pyramid, and seems, in some measure, proportioned to
the size of its adjacent fortification. On examination
they have been found to contain a chalky fubitance,
supposed to be bones, and of the human kind.
The salt springs, by the inhabitants called fait licks,
with which this country so largely abounds, are dis
plays of that munificence with which Heaven has dis
tributed its bounties through this lower creation. Had
it not been for the supply of salt these afforded, and
the wild meat with which it was amply fprtiilhed, this
country could not have been fettled during the late
scarcity of the former article.
The most noted of these licks are Ballet's Lick, Dun
nin's Lick, the Upper and Lower Blue Licks, (the
former of which difeharges a quantity of fait-water
nearly fufficient to drive a mill) and the Great Bone
Lick, which takes its name from a number of bones
of an uncommon size, which are found in it, and by
most supposed to be of the elephant kind.
These springs afford water fufficient to supply the
whole western country with salt. It is now common
ly fold in Kentucky from eight to twelve Killings the
bushel, but may be made for about half that sum.
The petrifying quality in the waters of the Ohio,
especially at and near the falls, may be justly ranked
amongst the curiosities of this country. The rock on
which the river runs has once been a foft yielding
clay, as in many parts of it may be seen roots of
trees, nuts, and other kinds of vegetables turned into
solid stone, and which now adhere to, and ate be
come a part of the rock.
The heaithfulnefs and temperature of the Kentucky
climate—the exuberance of its foil—the enchanting
beauties of its furface, especially in the vernal feafon—
are, to the inhabitants of the northern dates, real
curiosities, and would tranfeend the belief of the less
credulous.
From a Norfolk paper, dated July 12, we have tak
en the following account of the seizure of the ship
Cyrus, captain Dawson, at that port:
" Mr. Graves, one of the state searchers, having
received information that captain Dawson, of the (hip
Cyrus, (lately from and belonging to Philadelphia)
had, in order to defraud the state, made a falfe entiy
on his arrival, went over to Portsmouth on Friday
last, where the vessel then lay, and seized her in the
name of the state; but as he was not permitted to
enter the ship, and observing that captain Dawson
meant, in open violation of the law, to get under
way, he thought it his duty to advise captain James,
of the armed state schooner Liberty:"
" About two o'clock, P. M. captain Dawson, tak
ing advantage of a fielh breeze from the S- W. palled
the town, and the schooner being under way at the
fame time, came up with the ship off Lambeth's-
Point, and ordered the captain to bring to, to
which he replied, that, Ihould they attempt to board
him, he would fire into the schooner, being prepared
for the purpose.
" Captain James finding that he would be under
the disagreeable necessity of using hostile meafurcs,
bore away for Hampton, where, speedily collecting a
number of volunteers, he made fail, and about ten
o'clock came up with the fltip between the Clump Hills
and the Capes, when he again ordered the captain
to come to, warning him of the dangerous conse
quences attending a refufal; this request not being
complied with, he endeavoured to grapple the ship,
when captain Dawson immediately fired a fix pounder
loaded with langridge into the schooner, which did
her considerable damage, and slightly wounded one
of the hands. Captain James immediately returned
the fire, boarded her, and, after a feeble resistance,
took possession of the ship, and brought her back into
Hampton Road.•
" She will prove a valuable seizure, having no
less than 680 hogsheads of tobacco on board, which,
with the fllip, it is expected will be condemned at our
next court of admiralty, the Captain having had the
temerity to fail without a clearance from the custom
house. We are sorry to learn, that during the adion
a gentleman on board the Cyrus was dangerously
wounded."
We muff not fret ourselves because we do not ad--
vance fafter towards political perfect on. Children
mutt wait a course of growth and education before
they can be men. What if we are guilty of some fol
lies and blunders, we dial! mend at we gtow older ;
and it is worse to mature faft than slowly. Trees of
a lively and quicker growth, are of lets solidity and
Sorter duration. Perhaps this remark holds, with few
or no exceptions, throughout the vegetable world, and
does it not in the animal too? In states and nations,
uniefs history deceives us, quick and early maturity
is to be regarded as productive of quick and cany
dissolution. If therefore we with to live long, let us
not be in too great a hurry ; or blame those v ho, as
we jog on, are inclined to ihew a few slate-capers,
or try a few ftate-projeds.
Notliing has contributed more to the improvement
of methanick arts in Britain, and to raile them to
the high perfection in which they are at this time in
that country, fays a correspondent, than a prohibiti
on of interlopers, or such as have not served regular
apprenticeships. But in this country any person, al
though he may have been bred a scavenger or a chim
ney-sweep, may set up any trade he pleases, without
giving any previous proofs of his skill, or undergoing
any examination for afeertaining his abilities; and
what is astonishing is, that such often meet with more
encouragement from the unwary publick, especially
if they be foreigners, than better woikmen, to the
great damage of the natives, and those who have,
perhaps, facrificed seven years of their youth in learn
ing some particular art, and expended considerable
sums of money during this time in their support, in
order properly to qualify themfelvcs for business.—
Till lately this was the case in this state with refpe&
to the pra&ice of phyfick and surgery; but, by a ju
dicious ad of the legislature, to prevent impositions,
no person can follow either of those profeffions with
out firlt undergoing a ftri& examination Our cor
respondent adds, that if a like law extended to me
chanicks, he believes the publick would be better
served, especially in point of workmanship, if it would
not have a tendency to reduce the prices to the proper
standard, as it would then be more worth the while
for men of property to educate their sons for, and
bind them to, ufeful callings than it is at present.
Notice is hereby given to the creditors of
John Eatton, John North and Joseph Cofgrove,
insolvent debtors now confined in the common gaol
of the county of Monmouth, to appear before two
of the judges of the inferior court of common pleas,
for said county of Monmouth, on Thurlday the 31st
day of August next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon,
at the house of Mr. John Longstreet, innkeeper, at
Freehold, and (hew cause, if any they have, why an
assignment of the said John Eatton, John North, and
jofeph Cofgrove's estates should not be made, and
they difeharged, agreeably to the ad of the legisla
ture in such case made and provided.
JOHN EATTON,
JOHN NORTH,
JOSEPH COSGROVE.
Monmouth gaol, July 27, 1786. 2w*
W ANTE 57
A good Milk Cow. Enquire of the
Printer.
^THESE are to inform all perfon# that have de-
I mands against the confifcated estates in this state,
who have had them adjudged and depofit:d with the
Auditor agreeably to law, that the notes for their
refpedive claims are now ready, and will be delivered
when applied for. Each applicant will be particular
in observing, that no note can be delivered without
their producing the original mortgages, bonds, notes
or accounts, properly endorsed and certified by the
Judges, provided they have not already been left with
the Auditor.
JAMES MOTT, Treasurer.
Trenton, July 31, 1786. 4 w