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CAPE GIRARDEAU PLANTATIONS.

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 headway in a dark night, between the 22d and the 23d of 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. The deer were swimming in the river here at no great distance from the boat.

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 re

ST. GENEVIEVE ISLAND.

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duced 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, 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 manufacture 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 in a rather 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, is 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.

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CHAPTER XXIX.

St. Louis-City Hotel-Bed-Rooms meagrely furnished-Situation of the Town-Rich Land-Prairie-French and American Population-Lead Mines-Minerals-Population-Presbyterian Church— Funeral Sermon-Meeting-house of People of Colour-Coal FiresCross the Mississippi in Steam Ferry-boat to Illinois-Team-boat former Conveyance-Captain Williams commands the Steam-boatAllowance 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 CharacterExtent-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 HotelMr. Mack gave me a Horse to the Prairie and the Mamelles-Mr.

Flint's Account of his First Visit to the Prairie and the Mamelles -Excursion to the United States' Barracks on the MississippiBeauty of the Terrace-Village of Carondelet.

April, 1830.

WE arrived at St. Louis on Sunday the 25th of April, on so cold a morning that the first request I made on reaching the City hotel, in the upper part of the town, was for a fire, which was immediately granted. The hotel turned out a very comfortable one. It contains a great deal of accommodation. The only inconvenience I felt arose from the people not being accustomed, as seems generally the case in the western country, to place water-basins and a towel in every bed-room. The system of washing at some place near the well is general, but the waiters or chambermaids never refuse to bring everything to the bed-room that is desired. It is, however, so little the practice to bring a washing apparatus to the bed-rooms, that they are very apt to forget a general direction regularly to do so. We had a great quantity of fine poultry at this house; and the table, upon the whole, was extremely well managed.

There is much rich land, and a great deal of prairie on both sides of the river in the neighbourhood of St. Louis. It was essentially a French place until within the last fifteen years; but the American population is now great, and the town in a very thriving state. St. Louis is more nearly in the centre of the great territories, of which the United States consist, than any