and a part of the chief branch of the Illinois, all wind through the north-western section of the state; and all, except the last, are entirely within its boundaries; the three first run from south to north; the latter, south and south-west. Besides the country is chequered by numerous creeks.

The northern half of the state is a country of lakes, thirtyeight of which are from two to ten miles in length; but the actual number probably exceeds 100; many of these, however, are mere ponds, less than one mile in length. Some have two distinct outlets, one running into the northern lakes, the other into the Mississippi. The greater part of these lakes are situated between the head waters of the two St. Joseph's, Black river, Raisin, Tippacanoe, and Eel rivers.

Aspect of the country.-A range of hills called the Knobs, extends from the falls of the Ohio, to the Wabash, nearly in a south-western direction, which, in many places, produces a broken and uneven surface. North of these hills, lie the Flat woods, seventy miles wide, and reaching nearly to the Quitanan country. Bordering all the principal streams, except the Ohio, there are strips of bottom and prairie land; both together are from three to six miles in width. Between the Wabash and lake Michigan, the country is mostly champaign, abounding alternately with woodlands, prairies, lakes, and swamps.

A range of hills run parallel with the Ohio, from the mouth of the Great Miami to Blue river, alternately approaching to within a few rods, and receding to the distance of two miles; but broken at short intervals by numerous creeks. Immediately below Blue river, the hills disappear, and the horizon presents nothing to view but an immense tract of level land, covered with a heavy growth of timber.

That part of the state lying west of the Ohio boundary line, north of the head branches of White river, east and south of the Wabash, has been described by the conductors of expeditions against the Indians, as a "country containing much good land; but intersected at the distance of four or six miles, with long, narrow swamps, boggy and mirey, the soil of which is a stiff blue clay."

North of the Wabash, between Tippacanoe and Ouitanan, the banks of the streams are high, abrupt, and broken, and the land well timbered, except on the prairies.

Between the Plein and Theakaki, the country is flat,

wet, and swampy, interspersed with prairies of an inferior quality of soil.

In going from the Ohio to the Wabash, say from Clark'sville or Madison to Vincennes, the ascent is from two to 300 feet to the top of the last bank of the Ohio. There is then a strip of country, twenty miles wide, tolerably level, except where gullied by the actions of streams. This brings the traveller to the foot of the Knobs, which are at least 500 feet higher than the land in the rear; after this there are no very tedious hills, until within three miles of Vincennes. From this place to the Ohio, the traveller is not sensible of ascending to the height he finds himself, on the summit of the Knobs, from which the eye can distincly trace, at the distance of twenty miles, the deep, serpentine vale of the Ohio, and the positions of New-Lexington, Corydon, and Louisville, in Kentucky.

The prairies bordering the Wabash, are particularly rich; wells have been sunk in them, where the vegetable soil was twenty-two feet deep, under which was a stratum of fine white sand, containing horizontal lines, plainly indicating to the geologist, the gradual subsidence of water. Yet the ordinary depth is from two to five feet.

The country between fort Wayne and the St. Joseph's of lake Michigan, in every direction, is beautiful, presenting a fine prospect. There are no hills to be seen; a champaign country, the greater part prairie, affording inexhaustible grazing, and presenting the most delightful natural meadows, and the grass cured would be almost equal to our hay; there are also vast forests of valuable timber, and the soil exceedingly rich. The rivers have their sources in swamps, and sometimes from delightful inland lakes. It is not unfrequent to see two opposite streams supplied by the same water or lake, one running into the waters of the Mississippi, and the other into the northern lakes. Neither China nor Holland ever had suck natural advantages for inland water communications.

The country between the Wabash and lake Michigan, is admirably calculated for the convenience of inland navigation. A trifling expense would open a navigable communication between Eel river, and a branch of the Little St. Joseph's; the two St. Joseph's; the Raisin of lake Erie, and the Lenoir [Black river] of lake Michigan. Small lakes are discovered in every part of this extensive and romantic country; and many of them are covered with ducks and other water-fowl.

The country around the head branches of Eel river, Panther's creek, and St. Joseph's-of-the-Miami, is gene

rally low and swampy; and too wet for cultivation. But even in that quarter, there are many beautiful situations. The timber is oak, hickory, black walnut, beech, sugar maple, elm, and honey locust. The woodlands line the water course; but branch out frequently into the prairies. The immense prairies on the south bank of the St. Joseph's of lake Michigan, afford many rich, beautiful, and picturesque views. They are from one to ten miles wide; of unequal lengths; and as level as lakes. In point of fertility, not inferior to the lands around Lexington, Ken. or the bottoms of the Ohio. These natural meadows are covered with a tall grass; and are separated by strips of woods, containing oak, maple, locust, lyn, poplar, plum, ash, and crab apple. In these woodlands, there are generally creeks, runs, or springs; but never in the open prairies, unless in wet and rainy seasons, when the waters form temporary sluggish brooks, wherever there is sufficient descent for the purpose. Yet water may be obtained by digging to the depth of twenty or thirty feet.

All the rivers in the interior of Indiana have spacious bottoms, and they uniformly wander from the line of their courses, so that in making fifty miles progress, in a direct line, they water 100 miles of territory by their sinuosities. By these frequent bends, the length of river coast, and the quantity of bottom land is nearly doubled, which amply compensates for extra toil and expense of navigation.

The prairies on the Wabash, in the vicinity of fort Harrison are from one to five miles wide, bordering on the river, and from one to twelve in length; the streams that run into the Wabash, divide one prairie from another; on which there are strips of woods from half a mile to a mile wide, the timber is excellent; the soil of the prairies is a black vegetable mould, intermixed with fine sand, and sometimes gravel. In choosing a situation for a farm, it is important so to locate a tract, as to have half prairie and half woodland; by which means the settler will have a plantation cleared to his hand.

The new purchase contains 120 townships, or 6,800,000 acres. The lands sell very high in the neighbourhood of fort Harrison, for it is the most delightful situation for a town on the Wabash, and the soil is the richest of any in the state. This will undoubtedly become the seat of a new county, at no remote period. The fort is garrisoned by 150 riflemen, of the regular army. There are six families living in log cabins, near the fort, who improve congress Jands; they have been here five years. Wherever they

have cultivated the ground, it produces abundantly. The woods abound with deer, bears, wolves, and wild turkies. Reptiles and venomous serpents are not numerous. A few rattle-snakes and some copperheads comprise all that are dangerous.

The lands on White river are well watered with springs and brooks. There is hardly a quarter section without water; the country in this quarter is, in many places, hilly and broken, and in some parts stony. Limestone is most predominant; but there are quarries of freestone. Although the country is well watered, good mill-seats are scarce. There can be a sufficiency of small mills for the accommodation of the inhabitants. Steam mills, without doubt, will be in operation as soon as the country is sufficiently settled, for the purpose of grinding flour for exportation.

There are some excellent tracts of land in Indiana; corn is raised pretty easy; and stock with little attention, and in some places with little or no fodder. This country is full of prairies, some of them are excellent land. The timber around them consists principally of oak, of which the inhabitants make most of their rails, and sometimes draw them three miles. Wheat grows stout; but the grain is not so plump as it is in the state of New York.

The two branches of Whiteriver are navigable with boats in high water, for the distance of 130 miles. Iron ore is found on its banks.

The wheat yields the inhabitants, who are neat farmers, 68lbs, a bushel, and never gets winter-killed or smutty; the only difficulty they experience in its culture is, that the land in many places is too rich, until it has been impoverished. Apple trees bear every year. Peaches sume years do exceedingly well; so do cherries, currants, and most kinds of fruit. Wheat is 3s. 44d. a bushel; flour 13s. 6d. a hundred; delivered at fort Harrison, 188. ; corn, 18. 1d. a bushel; pork, 188.; beef, 18s. a cwt.; butter and cheese from 61d. to ls. id. per lb.; honey 28. 3d. per gallon; maple sugar 18. 1d. per lb. European goods exorbitantly high.

Coal mines are numerous near the Wabash, the banks of which are in many places, subject to be overflowed in high water, When the Ohio is at full height, its waters set back and inundate the bottoms of the Wabash to the distance of four or five miles.

The winters are mild, compared with those of the northern states. The autumnal frosts are earlier here than in the western counties of New York; but the weather is

very fine till Christmas; then changeable until about the middle of February, when winter breaks up, and spring soon commences. Peaches are in blossom by the first of March, and by the 10th of April, the forests are clad in green. The flowering shrubs and trees are in full blossom some days before the leaves get their growth, which gives the woods a very beautiful appearance.

Salt, at and above Vincennes, is two dollars a bushel, though considerable quantities are made at the United States' saline, thirty miles below the mouth of the Wabash, in the Illinois territory, where it is sold for one dollar a bushel. The chief supply comes from the salt-works on the Great Kenhaway. There have been salt-works sunk by boring, near the Ohio, to the depth of 500 feet, where the water is said to be very strong. There are likewise salt springs on the Indian lands not far from the northern boundary of the new purchase.

Civil divisions, towns, population, &c.-Indiana is divided into nineteen counties, six of which have been laid out since the census was taken in 1815. At that time the population amounted to 68,780, at present it exceeds 100,000 souls.

DEARBORN COUNTY is bounded east by the state of Ohio, south by the Ohio river, west by Switzerland county, and north by Franklin county. It is well watered by Tanner's, Houglane's and Loughery's creeks, Whitewater, and the head branches of Indian Kentucky. The south part of the county is broken; the north end level, being in the Flat Woods. The Ohio bottoms are low but fertile. The timber in the middle and northern parts is oak, hickory, poplar, and sugar maple.

Lawrenceburgh stands on the bank of the Ohio, two miles below the mouth of the Great Miami. It has not flourished for several years past, owing, principally to its being subject to inundation, when the Ohio is high. A new town called Edinburgh, half a mile from the river, on a more elevated situation, promises to eclipse it.

Rising-sun is delightfully situated on the second bank of the Ohio, with a gradual descent to the river. It contains thirty or forty houses, and is half way between Vevay and Lawrenceburgh. It has a post-office, and a floating mill anchored abreast the town. It has had a very rapid growth, and will probably become a place of considerable trade.

FRANKLIN COUNTY has the state of Ohio on the east,