NEWS FROM THE MUSKINGUM1
SALEM, September 9. Extract of a letter
from a gentleman at the
new settlement on the Muskingum, to a
person in this town, dated July 20th.
We had a beautiful passage down the Ohio
from Pittsburg, in com-
pany with 3 Kentucke boats. Without
sails or oars, we glided down the
fair* river, and in 48 hours arrived at the enchanting spot.
It is really a
delightful situation. The first thing
which presented itself, when we
ascended the bank by a grand and easy pair
of stairs, was a fine level
spot covered with huts and tents.
Ranging the Muskingum, was a fine
bowery, where our people celebrated the
fourth of July; An oration was
delivered by general VARNUM; and a fine
dinner was provided; among
other things, there were on the table
pearch that weighed 24 pounds--
pickerel of 22 pounds--roast pig,
venison, &c. While dining, there was
a discharge of cannon from the garrison,
which is so near, that, with the
settlement on the Virginia shore, it
makes this point very lively. The
day after we arrived was the time appointed for
governor St. Clair to
make his first public appearance. At 5
o'clock, P.M. there was a general
muster in the bowery. His excellency
came over from the garrison to
this place, escorted by the corps of
officers, the secretary, &c. The secre-
tary then read the ordinance of
congress, the governor's commission, the
judges', and his own. The governor was
then congratulated on his
arrival at the seat of government; and
three cheers closed the ceremony.
The Rev. Mr. BRECK is here, and this day
preached the first sermon
that ever was delivered on the banks of
the Muskingum, from Exodus
xix. 5,6; "Now, therefore, if ye
will obey my voice indeed and keep my
covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar
treasure unto me, above all people;
for all the earth is mine: And ye shall
be unto me a kingdom of priests,
and an holy nation."
Now for the land. There is not a single
person that has ever been
upon the ground, but what is pleased
with its situation and fertility.
Vegetation is equal to any thing you
ever heard of it, except the pigs
tails. Col. B. tells me, it is a fact,
that they drove a stake into a cornhill,
and measured the corn, and that in 24
hours it grew 9 1/2 inches. There
are many very fine gardens here; and the city ground is clearing as fast
as possible: But the situation of affairs is such, at
present, respecting
the Indians, that people cannot with
safety go to their lands.
Concerning the treaty, there is no
probability of a general one at
this time. The place that was designed for the treaty
is about 80 miles
up the Muskingum, and the stores were
deposited there; and a few days
before we arrived, the place was attacked by about a
dozen poltroons, of
the Chippawas; who killed two centinels,
and a mulatto; but they lost 3
or 4 of their own party. Information was
brought of this affair to the
garrison by some friendly Indians, and a
boat was dispatched to bring off
the stores. Captains Tunis and White Eyes,
chiefs of the Delawares, who
are friendly disposed, went up with our
people. By the stratagem of the
chiefs some of the scoundrels were
taken. They came in with the
* Meaning of the word Ohio.
1 Reprinted from Hudson (New York) Weekly
Gazette, September 28, 1788.
(208)