fence of the late Duke of York, when arraigned before the House of Commons in the year 1809. Mr Keyte was one of the people at St Louis to whom Captain Hall had introductions. It so happened, also, that one of our fellow passengers in the boat was Captain Rice, captain of a steam-boat, who carried Captain Hall to the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri.

Among the deck passengers, there was a German who had 2300 gallons of Monangahela whisky on board. He had already carried it 1300 miles, and expected to carry it 700 miles further before he could get a market, even at the too cheap price of about one shilling Sterling per gallon,-it was of very tolerable quality.

One of our stopping-places for wood, not far above the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio, was at Mr Brox's farm, on the west side of the river. He has 700 acres of fine land, about 100 head of cattle, and an innumerable quantity of pigs. He says he has no difficulty in selling all the produce of his farm,-he disposes of his stock to the New Orleans butchers, who go all over this country to make their purchases;-and there are merchants who have great depots of grain, salted pork, and other agricultural produce, which they scour the country to collect, and afterwards carry to New Orleans. The prices are variable,—and Mr Brox thinks, as every farmer or planter does, are too low; but there is no want of a ready market in any part of the western states hitherto settled. Navigable rivers,

generally fit for steam-boats, are within reach. Mr Brox claims descent from Bishop Brox of England.

Above the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi, the appearance of the Mississippi changes a good deal for the better; the high grounds approach nearer the river, and a greater number of old French plantations are in view. About fifty miles from the confluence on the west side of the river, there is a considerable collection of settlers at a place called Cape Girardeau, situated on a height. The plantations in this neighbourhood extend forty or fifty miles into the interior. About ten or twelve miles further on, the current, close to the Hanging-Dog Island, and to the Devil's Tower, is so violent, that we made very little head-way in a dark night, between the 22d and the 23d April; but the scenery, when day light allowed us to enjoy it, was interesting. The heights reach very nearly to the river, and there are fine single trees on its banks. deer were swimming in the river here at no great distance from the boat.

The

About ninety miles from the junction, we passed the mouth of Kaskaskia river, in the state of Illinois, on the east side of the Mississippi. A few miles from the mouth of this river, the French, in former times, had one of their greatest establishments, even of a date prior to the foundation of the great city of Philadelphia. At one period it contained 7000 inhabitants, now reduced to about 1000. The situation is beautiful, in the centre of a fine piece of land, and in a fertile district. It is still, however, the seat of justice for a county,—

ST GENEVIEVE ISLAND.

339

has a bank, a printing-office, a Catholic church, and a land office.

St Genevieve Island is about seventy miles from St Louis, near the mouth of a creek, about a mile wide, within which is the town of St Genevieve, occupied chiefly by a French population. A good deal of business is done here, and there are about 2000 inhabitants. Twenty miles further on is the flourishing town of Herculaneum in Missouri, a great mart for lead, and for the manufactory of shot. Captain Wight's house, near the shot tower, is a good specimen of a stone house in this remote country. In the neighbourhood of Herculaneum are the singularly beautiful cliffs of Selma, limestone rocks of the most diversified heights and figures.

There are great rafts of wood in this part of the Mississippi, and the most unremitting attention is necessary, in order to avoid accidents.

Carondelet is another of the old French villages which we passed, and is rather in a handsome situation. This place has also got the name of Vide Pouche, from the inhabitants not being in a thriving condition. They are French people,-settled upon the land without getting a title to it, and who, being unable to pay for the improvements, are constantly in fear of being turned out of possession.

The approach by water to St Louis, which may be properly called the metropolis of the country on the west side of the Mississippi, is very handsome. The bank rises rapidly for about twenty feet above the

river, and then more gradually for forty or fifty feet further. The side of the river, as well as part of the plain above it, are covered with the houses which extend along the river in three parallel streets, rising above each other. The principal street is above a mile long. St Louis was first settled by the French about the year 1765. There are several hotels. There is a Catholic cathedral, two Presbyterian churches, one Baptist, and several other meeting-houses.

St Louis--City Hotel-Bed-Rooms meagrely furnished-Situation of the Town-Rich Land-Prairie-French and American PopulationLead Mines-Minerals-Population-Presbyterian Church-Funeral Sermon-Meeting-House of people of Colour-Coal Fires-Cross the Mississippi in Steam Ferry-Boat to Illinois-Team-Boat former Conveyance-Captain Williams commands the Steam-Boat-Allowance to Engineer-Drive over the Prairie-Its beauty-Full of Game-No restriction as to shooting, nor as to putting cattle upon the Prairies-Mounds in the Prairie containing Human Bones, Pottery, &c.-Details respecting these Mounds-French village of Cahokia-Mr Flint's Account of a French village, of what it was, and what it is-The late changes have made the country not so agreeable to the French, and many have emigrated to the south-Mr Abrams recommends Illinois, and especially Jacksonville-Mr Kenney, a Baptist Minister, Candidate to be Governor of Illinois-His Address

Notice of Mr Kenney from the Illinois Intelligencer-Mr Lebarge's Carriage-Excursion to St Charles-Drive to St Charles-The Missouri-Its character-Extent-Council Bluffs-Whether has the name of the Mississippi been properly retained after its junction with the Missouri-Team Ferry-Boat across the Missouri-St Charles— Situation Population-Churches-The French people here-Mr Mack's Hotel-Mr Mack gave me a horse to the Prairie and the Mamelles-Mr Flint's Account of his First Visit to the Prairie and.