New Richmond is a thriving town, on the north bank of the river.[70] It consists of about a hundred houses. Four years ago there was not a house. We have seen some farming on the sides of the hills, near the river, that is performed in a most slovenly manner. Indian corn is the only crop, and is repeated continually. No part of the manure {124} is returned to the fields. The houses are rude log cabins, built as near the river as is consistent with security from the floods. Their children are dirty and ragged in the extreme. The comforts of these people must consist chiefly in having enough to eat and drink, and in having no fear of the exactions of the landholder, the tytheholder, or the collector of taxes. FOOTNOTES: [65] For a brief account of the origin of Lexington, see A. Michaux’s _Travels_, volume iii of our series, note 28.--ED. [66] The date of this law was December 5, 1705.--ED. [67] Flint here refers to the Northwest Ordinance, passed by the Congress of the Confederation, July 13, 1787.--ED. [68] For a brief sketch of Transylvania University, see Cuming’s _Tour_, volume iv of our series, note 126.--ED. [69] Augusta, at that time the seat of Bracken County, is eighteen and a half miles below Maysville.--ED. [70] New Richmond, twenty miles above Cincinnati, was platted in 1814 by a former resident of Richmond, Virginia, hence its name. It was incorporated in 1828.--ED. LETTER X Cincinnati--Situation--Manufactures--Settlement and Progress--Weather--Credulity and Want of Education--Descend the Ohio--Islands--Jeffersonville--Louisville--Falls of the Ohio--Taverns and Accommodations--Expedition for Exploring the Missouri Country and Forming a Military Post there--Miscellaneous Observations interspersed. _Jeffersonville, (Indiana,) May 19, 1819._ I concluded my last letter, dated Cincinnati, 30th December last, without taking any notice of the town; I shall therefore begin the present one with some particulars respecting that place. Cincinnati is no sooner seen than the importance of the town is perceived. A large steam grist mill, three large steam boats on the stocks, and two more on the Kentucky side of the river, and a large ferry boat, wrought by horses, were the first objects which attracted my attention. The {125} beach is lined with keel boats, large arks for carrying produce, family boats, and rafts of timber. On shore the utmost bustle prevails, with drays carrying imported goods, salt, iron, and timber, up to the town, and in bringing down pork, flour, &c. to be put aboard of boats for New Orleans.