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and were fixed in another quarter: fo that, in the space of three years, Georgia received above four hundred British fubjects, and about an hundred and feventy foreigners. Afterwards several adventurers, both from Scotland and Germany, followed their countrymen, and added further ftrength to the province, and the trustees flattered themselves with the hopes of foon feeing it in a promifing condition.

Their hopes, however, were vain. Their injudicious regulations and reftrictions-the wars in which they were involved with the Spaniards and Indians—and the frequent infurrections among themselves, threw the colony into a state of confufion and wretchedness too great for human nature long to endure. Their oppreffed fituation was reprefented to the trustees by repeated complaints; till at length, finding that the province languished under their care, and weary with the complaints of the people, they, in the year 1752, furrendered their charter to the king, and it was made a royal government. In confequence of which, his majesty appointed John Reynolds, an officer of the navy, governor of the province, and a legiflator, fimilar to that of the other royal governments in America, was ef tablished in it. Great had been the expence which the mother country had already incurred, befides private benefactions, for fupporting this colony; and fmall have been the returns yet made by it. The veftiges of cultivation was fcarcely perceptible in the forefts, and in England all commerce with it was neglected and defpifed. At this time the whole annual exports of Georgia did not amount to £10,000 fterling. Though the people were now favoured with the fame liberties and privileges enjoyed by their neighbours under the royal care, yet feveral years more elapfed be fore the value of the lands in Georgia was known; and that spirit of industry broke out in it, which afterwards diffufed its happy influence over the country.

In the year 1740, the Rev. George Whitefield founded an orphan-house academy in Georgia, about 12 miles from Savannah.--For the fupport of this, in his itinerations, he collected large fums of money of all denominations of chriftians, both in England and America. A part of this money was expended in erecting proper buildings to accommodate the ftudents, and a part in fupporting them. In 1768, it was propofed that the orphan-house fhould be erected into a college. Whereupon Mr. Whitefield applied to the crown for a charter, which would have been readily granted, on condition that the prefident fhould, in all fucceffions, be an Epifcopalian, of the Church of England. Several letters paffed between the archbishop of Canterbury and Mr. Whitefield, on this fubject, in which the archbishop infifted on this condition. But Mr. Whitefield, though himfelf an Epifcopalian, declined it, alledging to his grace, that it would be unjust to limit that office to any particular fect, when the donations for the foundation of the inftitution had been made and intrufted to him by the various religious denominations both in England and America. In confequence of this difpute, the affair of a charter was given up, and Mr. Whitefield made his affignment of the orphan-houfe in truft to the countefs of Huntingdon. Mr. Whitefield died at Newbury Port, in New-England, in October, 1770, in the 56th year of his age, and was buried under the Prefbyterian church in that place.

Soon

Soon after his death a charter was granted to his inftitution in Geor gia, and the Rev. Mr. Percy was appointed prefident of the college. Mr. Percy accordingly came over to execute his office, but, unfortunately, on the 30th of May, 1775, the orphan-houfe building caught fire, and was entirely confumed, except the two wings, which are still remaining. The American war foon after came on, and put every thing into confufion, and the funds have ever fince lay in an unproductive state. It is probable, that the college estate may hereafter be fo incorporated with the univerfity of Georgia, as to fubferve the original and pious purposes of its founder.

From the time Georgia became a royal government, in 1752, till the peace of Paris, in 1763, she struggled under many difficulties, arifing from the want of credit, from friends, and the moleftations of enemies. The good effects of the peace were fenfibly felt in the province of Georgia. From this time it began to flourish, under the fatherly care of Governor Wright. To form a judgment of the rapid growth of the colo, ny, we need only attend to its exports.

In the year 1763, the exports of Georgia confifted of 7,500 barrels of rice, 9,633 pounds of indigo, 1,250 bushels of Indian corn, which, together with deer and beaver skins, naval ftores, provifions, timber, &c. amounted to no more than £.27,021 fterling. Ten years afterwards, in 1773, it exported commodities to the value of £121,677 fterling.

During the late war, Georgia was over-run by the British troops, and the inhabitants were obliged to flee into the neighbouring states for safety. The fufferings and loffes of her citizens were as great, in propor tion to their numbers and wealth, as in any of the ftates. Since the peace, the progrefs of the population of this state, has been astonishingly rapid. Its growth in improvement and population has been checked by the hoftile irruptions of the Creek Indians, which have been frequent, and very diftreffing to the frontier inhabitants for these two years past. This formidable nation of Indians, headed by one Mac Gilvery, an inhabitant of Georgia, who fided with the British in the late war, ftill continue to harrafs the frontiers of this ftate. Treaties have been held, and a ceffation of hoftilities agreed to between the parties; but all have hitherto proved ineffectual to the accomplishment of a peace. It is expected that, under the new government, conciliatory measures will be adopted, and tranquillity restored to the state.

THE WESTERN TERRITORY.

NDER this name is comprehended all that part of the United

U States which lies north-weft of the Ohio. Bounded weft, by the

Miffifippi river; north by the Lakes; eaft, by Pennfylvania; fouth-eaft and fouth, by the Ohio river. Containing, according to Mr. Hutchins, 411,000 fquare miles, equal to 263,040,000 acres-from which, if we

deduct

deduct 43,040.000 acres for water, there will remain 220,000,000 of acres, belonging to the federal government, to be fold for the discharge of the national debt; except a narrow strip of land, bordering on the fouth of Lake Erie, and ftretching 120 miles west of the western limit of Penfylvania, which belongs to Connecticut.

But a fmall proportion of thefe lands is yet purchased of the natives, and to be difpofed of by Congrefs. Beginning on the meridian line, which forms the western boundary of Pennfylvania, feven ranges of townships have been furveyed and laid off by order of Congrefs. As a north and fouth line ftrikes the Ohio in an oblique direction, the termination of the 7th range falls upon that river, 9 miles above the Mufkingum, which is the first large river that falls into the Ohio. It forms this junction 172 miles below Fort Pitt, including the windings of the Ohio, though in a direct line it is but Ja miles.

The lands in which the Indian title is extinguished, and which are now purchafing under the United States, are bounded by Pennfylvania on the east, by the Great Miami on the weft, by the Ohio on the fouth, and extend nearly to the head waters of the Muskingum and Sioto on the north. On thefe lands two fettlements are commencing, one of Marietta *, at the mouth of Muskingum, under the direction of the Ohio company. This fettlement confifts, at prefent, of about 2zo fouls, and is almost daily increafing The other between the Miami rivers, under the direction of Colonel Symmes, which, though very fmall at prefent, is in profpect of a rapid enlargement. There are feveral other tracts, delineated on the map, which have been granted by Congress to particular companies, and other tracts for particular ufes, which remain without any English fettlements.

Rivers.] The Mykingum is a gentle river, confined by banks fo high as to prevent its overflowing. It is 250 yards wide at its confluence with the Ohio, and navigable by large batteaux and barges to the Three Legs; and, by fmall ones, to the lake at its head. From thence by a portage of about one mile, a communication is opened to Lake Erie, through the Cayaloga, which is a ftream of great utility, navigable the whole length, without any obftruction from falls. From Lake Erie, the avenue is well known to the Hudfon in the ftate of New York,

The Hockhocking refembles the Mufkingum, though fomewhat inferior in fize. It is navigable for large boats about 70 miles, and for fmall ones much farther. On the banks of this very useful stream are found inexhaustible quarries of free-ftone, large beds of iron ore, and fome rich mines of lead. Coal mines and falt fprings are frequent ia the neighbourhood of this ftream, as they are in every part of the western territory. The falt that may be obtained from thofe fprings will afford an inexhaustible store of that neceffary article. Beds. of white and blue clay, of an excellent quality, are likewife found here, fuitable for the manufacture of glass, crockery, and other earthern wares. Red bele and many other ufeful foffils have been observed on the branches of this river.

The Sioto is a larger river than either of the preceding, and opens a more extenfive navigation. It is paffable for large barges for 200 miles,

*This place was firft called Adelphi, and is fo called in the map

with a portage of only 4 miles to the Sandusky, a good navigable ftream that falls into the Lake Erie- Through the Sandusky and Sioto lies the most common pafs from Canada to the Ohio and Miffifippi; one of the most extenfive and useful communications that are to be found in any country. Prodigious extenfions of territory are here connected; and, from the rapidity with which the weftern parts of Canada, Lake Erie and the Kentucky countries are fettling, we may anticipate an immenfe intercourfe between them. The lands on the borders of thefe middle ftreams, from this circumftance alone, afide from their natural fertility, muft be rendered vaftly valuable. There is no doubt but flour, corn, flax, hemp, &c. raifed for exportation in that great country between the lakes Huron and Ontario, will find an eafier outlet through Lake Erie and these rivers, than in any other direction. The Ohio merchant can give a higher price than thofe of Quebec, for thefe commodities; as they may be tranfported from the former to Florida and the Weft India iflands, with lefs expence, risk and infurance, than from the latter; while the expence from the place of growth to the Ohio will not be one fourth of what it would be to Quebec, and much less than even to the Oneyda lake. The ftream of Sioto is gentle, no where broken by falls At fome places, in the fpring of the year, it overflows its banks, providing for large natural rice plantations. Salt fprings, coal mines, white and blue clay, and free-ftone, abound in the country adjoining this

river.

The Little Miami is too fmall for batteaux navigation. Its banks are good land, and fo high as to prevent, in common, the overflowing of the

water

The Great Miami has a very ftoney channel, and a swift ftream, but no falls. It is formed of feveral large branches, which are paffable for boats a great distance. One branch comes from the weft, and rifes in the Wabash country: Another rifes near the head waters of Miami river which runs into Lake Erie; and a fhort portage divides another branch, from the weft branch of Sandusky river.

The Wabafb is a beautiful river, with high and fertile banks. It empties into the Ohio, by a mouth 270 yards wide, 1020 miles below Fort Pitt. In the fpring, fummer and autumn, it is paffable with batteaux, drawing three feet water, 412 miles, to Ouitanon, a fmall French fettlement, on the weft fide of the river; and for large canoes 197 miles farther, to the Miami carrying place, 9 miles from Miami village. This village stands on Miami river, which empties into the south-weft part of Lake Erie. The communication between Detroit, and the Illinois, and Ohio countries is, down Miami river to Miami village; thence, by land 9 miles when the rivers are high-and from 18 to 30 when they are low, through a level country, to the Wabash, and through the various branches of the Wabash to the places of deftination.

A filver mine has been discovered about 28 miles above Ouitanon, on the northern fide of the Wabash. Salt fprings, lime, free-stone, blue, yellow and white clay are found in plenty upon this river.

The rivers Avafe and Kafkafkias empty into the Miffifippi from the. north-eaft; the former is navigable for boats 60, and the latter about 130 miles. They both run through a rich country, which has extenfive meadows.

Between

Between the Kaskaskias and Illinois rivers, which are 84 miles apart. is in an extenfive tract of level, rich land, which terminates in a high ridge, about 15 miles before you reach the Illinois river. In this delightful vale are number of French villages, which, together with thofe of St. Genevieve and St. Louis, on the western fide of the Miffilippi, contained in 1771, 1,273 fencible men.

One hundred and seventy-fix miles above the Ohio, and 18 miles above the Miffouri, the Illinios empties into the Miffifippi from the north-east by a mouth about 400 yards wide. This river is bordered with fine meadows, which in fome places extend as far as the eye can reach: This river furnishes a communication with Lake Michigan, by the Chicago river, between which and theIllinois,are two portages,the longest of which does not exceed 4 miles. It receives a number of rivers which are from 20 to 100 yards wide, and navigable for boats from 15 to 180 miles. On the northwestern fide of this river is a coal mine, which extends for half a mile along the middle of the bank of the river. On the eastern fide, about half a mile from the river, and about the fame distance below the coal mine, are two falt ponds, 100 yards in circumference, and feveral feet in depth. The water is ftagnant, and of a yellowith colour; but the French and natives make good falt from it. The foil of the Illinois country is, in general, of a fuperior quality-its natural growth are oak, hiccory, cedar, mulberry, &c. hops, dying drugs, medicinal plants of feveral kinds, and excellent wild grapes. In the year of 1769, the French fettlers made 100 hogsheads of ftrong wine from thefe grapes.

There are many other rivers of equal fize and importance with those we have been defcribing, which are not fufficiently known for accurate defcriptions.

Population.] It is impoffible to tell the exact population of this country. Mr. Hutchins, the geographer of the United States, who is the best acquainted with the country, eftimates them at about 6000 fouls, exclusive of Indians. This number is made up of French, English emigrants from the original ftates, and negroes.

Face of the country, foil and productions.] To the remarks on these heads, interperfed in the defcription of the rivers, we will add some observations from an anonymous pamphlet, lately published, which we presume are the most authentic, refpecting that part of the country which has been purchased of Indians, of any that has been given.

The undiftinguished term of admiration, that are commonly used in fpeaking of the natural fertility of the country on the western waters of the United States, would render it difficult, without accurate attention in the furveys to afcribe a preference to any particular part; or to give a juft defcription of the territory under confideration, withont the hazard of being fufpected of exaggeration: But in this we have the united opinion of the geographer, the furveyors, and every traveller that has been intimately acquainted with the country, and marked every natural object with the most scrupulous exactness-That no part of the federal territory unites fo many advantages, in point of health, fertility, variety of production and foreign entercourfe, as that tract which ftretches from the Mufkingum to the Sioto and the Great Miami rivers.

Colonel Gordon, in his journal, fpeaking of a much large range of country, in which this is included, and makes unquestionably the finest

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