Books were very scarce,(320) and no newspapers had been published in Illinois before its separate territorial organization. Between 1809 and 1818 there were founded the _Illinois Herald_ and the _Western Intelligencer_, at Kaskaskia, the latter becoming the _Illinois Intelligencer_ on May 27, 1818; and the _Shawnee Chief_, at Shawneetown.(321) In 1816 the citizens of Shawneetown gave notice through the papers of Kaskaskia, Frankfort, Kentucky, and Nashville, Tennessee, that they would apply to the Legislature of Illinois for the establishment of a bank.(322) This may indicate that the papers of the places named had a considerable circulation in Illinois. The character of the immigrants left much to be desired. A good observer wrote: “After residing awhile in White County, Tennessee, I migrated in May, 1817, to the southern part of the then Territory of Illinois, and settled in Madison County, twenty-five miles east of St. Louis, which town then contained about five thousand inhabitants. The surrounding country, however, was quite sparsely settled, and destitute of any energy or enterprise among the people; their labors and attention being chiefly confined to the hunting of game, which then abounded, and tilling a small patch of corn for bread, relying on game for the remaining supplies of the table. The inhabitants were of the most generous and hospitable character, and were principally from the southern states; harmony and the utmost good feeling prevailed throughout the country.”(323) Naturally this description was not of universal application, but the source of the population and the reasons for removing from the old homes make it probable that it was widely appropriate.