Running eight miles from the Little I arrrived before the Big Sciota, a fine river on the right-hand shore, and dropped under Alexandria, a small town situated on the lower point, formed by the junction of the two rivers. Having secured the boat, I went up to the town, intending to make from it some few excursions. I give you their re sult, without fatiguing you with their detail.

Alexandria contains about forty houses and three hundred inhabitants, Dutch, Germans, Scotch, and Irish. While it was the seat of justice, and only place of deposit for the merchan-dize of the extensive settlements of the upper parts of the Sciota, it rose with great rapidity, and held out such de-monstrations of success, that numbers settled in the town and neighbourhood, and bought town lots at such an extravagant price and rash avidity, that none

remained on the hands of the original proprietors. The building of a courthouse augmented the spirit of speculation and settlement, and all went on to admiration, till the state legislature decreed, that the courts, offices, &c. should be removed across the mouth of the Sciota to a new town called Portsmouth, being a situation more eligible for that purpose, and as a depot for merchandize and produce. In this man- . ner did a stroke of the pen sign the ruin of Alexandria, and all the speculating forestallers of its adjacent lands and lots. A Dutchman, who had purchased a number of excellent building grounds, proposed very seriously to "give me my choice for a strong pair of shoes." So sudden a fall is felt severely by the inhabitants in general; they sunk their means in giving the town a phlethoric rise, and are now without the capacity of removing. They disclaim

sadly against the decree of the State Legislature, and say it was ordained to flatter General Massey, who is a member of the State, and proprietor of the township of Portsmouth. On passing over to Portsmouth in my canoe, I heard a more honest and probable story. Alexandria is insulated every spring, and from lying below the mouth of the river, is not calculated for a place of depot or business.

Portsmouth is in its first infancy. As the citizens of Alexandria must ultimately remove to it or perish, and as it commands numerous advantages, both local and general, it is reasonable to conceive that it must become a place of consequence and resort.

The Sciota is two hundred and fifty yards wide at its mouth, which is in the latitude 38° 22m and at the Salt-lick towns, two hundred miles above the mouth, it is yet one hundred yards wide.

To these towns it is navigable for loaded bateux, and an eastern branch which it possesses, affords navigation almost to its source in the confines of Canada and the great northern lakes.

The lands immediately on the Sciota, are exceedingly rich and fertile, but subject to inundation, and consequently capable of generating both fever and Aux.

Chilicothe, the principal town of the Ohio State, and the seat of Govern-ment, lies about sixty miles up the Sciota. Having heard so much of the town and government, I determined on> passing a day or two there, and judging for myself. I suffered severely for my curiosity. My route lay through a wilderness so thick, deep, dark, and impenetrable, that the light, much less the air of heaven, was nearly denied access. We were, likewise, almost stung to madness by musketoes. So numerous

were these persecutors, that we walked amidst them as in a cloud, and suffered to an excess not possible to describe. On encamping in the evening, I was in hopes the fire would drive them off, but was disappointed; they continued during the night to hover over their prey, and remained buzzing about our ears, preventing the possibility of repose.

Pursuing my route the next morning, I could discover the cause of such miriads of musketoes. The great body of the country to a considerable distance west of the Sciota is a wood-swamp, a a quality of land eminently favorable for the insect tribe, noxious reptiles, and inveterate disease. The evening of my second day's journey I arrived at Chilicothe, where I put up at an excellent inn, and soon lost the impression of all. my sufferings.

Chilicothé is in appearance a flourish