[62] The remains of the mound-building Indians on Paint Creek, near Bainbridge, are among “the largest works in the Scioto valley.” See Fowke, _Archæological History of Ohio_ (Columbus, 1902), p. 206; see also Cuming’s _Tour_, volume iv of our series, note 76.--ED. [63] For notes on the following places, see A. Michaux’s _Travels_, volume iii of our series: Limestone, note 23; Paris, note 29. F. A. Michaux’s _Travels_, volume iii of our series: Washington, note 37; May’s Lick, note 38; Millersburg, note 38. Cuming’s _Tour_, volume iv of our series: Blue Licks, note 117.--ED. [64] The supply of specie in the Western country had always been inadequate. Until the numerous state banks began to flood the country with paper money, about the second decade of the century, barter was regularly employed. Flint was in the West when the financial stringency that followed the War of 1812-15 was beginning to be felt in that region, and the reaction against the worthless state banks had set in. See _post_; also McMaster, _History of the United States_, iv, pp. 484-487.--ED. LETTER IX Lexington--Depreciated Paper Currency, and Fraudulent Bankers--Excess of Paper Money destructive to American Manufactures--Aversion to Menial Service--Atheneum--Dirking, Gouging, Kicking, and Biting--Prices of Live-stock--Provisions, &c.--Slavery--Effects of Slave-keeping on the White Population--Illiberal Reflections of British Tories against the Americans and against Free Government--Leave Lexington--Descend the Ohio to Cincinnati--Occurrences and Reflections intermixed. _Cincinnati, Ohio, 30th Dec. 1818._ Lexington, the county town of Fayette, was the capital of the state of Kentucky, before the government was transferred to Frankfort.[65] It is situated in north latitude, 38° 8′, and in west longitude 80° 8′. The town is surrounded by a fertile and pleasant neighbourhood, and is regularly built of brick and frame houses. It has a university, seven places of worship, (three Presbyterian, one Episcopalian, one Baptist, one Methodist, and one Roman Catholic.) Three printing offices, where three weekly newspapers are published; a branch of the United States Bank, and two other banking houses; {108} seven small cotton factories; two paper-mills, two woollen factories, five rope-walks, three grist-mills, many mercantile houses, and some good taverns. The population is supposed to be about seven thousand; but the increase has been slow for several years past.