hela, and Randolph. As it may be considered as at the head of the Monongahela navigation, I shall here give you a sketch of that river.

It

The Monongahela takes its rise from the foot of the Laurel-mountain, in Virginia: thence meandering in a direction west-by-east, it passes into Pennsylvania; receiving in its course Cheat and Yougheogheny rivers from the south-southeast, and many other small streams. unites with the Alleghany at Pittsburg; and the two rivers, as I have before remarked, form the Ohio. The settlements on each side of it are extensive, and much of the land is good and well cultivated. The appearance of the rising towns and the regularly-disposed farms on its banks, is truly delightful to passengers. In autumn and spring it is generally covered with what are here called trading and family boats: the former loaded with flour, whiskey, cyder,

apples, peach-brandy, bacon, iron, glass, earthen ware, cabinet-work, &c. all being the produce and manufacture of the country, and destined for Kentuckey and New Orleans; and the latter carrying furniture, utensils, and tools for the cultivation of the soil. No scene can be more pleasing to a philosophic mind than this: which presents to view a floating town, as it were, on the face of a river whose gentle rapidity and flowered banks add sublimity to cheerfulness; and the sweet harmony of the songsters of the woods, to the hoarseness of the falling cataract or the murmur of the quiet stream.

Eight miles below this town is Cheat river, the mouth of which is obstructed by a long and difficult shoal: a pilot should always be taken to guide a stranger through this. Twelve miles from this shoal, and on the east side, is George's-creek: below the mouth of

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which is situated New Geneva thriving town, and distinguished for extensive manufactories in its vicinity which make and export large quantities of good glass. Kentuckey and other boats are built here. A little below, and on the opposite side of the river, lies Greensburg; a small village, of which nothing favourable can be said.

Thirty-one miles from this last place is Brownsville, formerly called Redstone. This town is well known to those who migrate down the rivers. It is handsomely situated, but somewhat divided: a part lying on the first bank, but more on a second and higher one; both the banks being formed by the gradual subsidence of the water. It is a place of much business, and contains about a hundred houses and six hundred souls. The settlement round it is excellent: having some of the best mills to be found in the country; and among them

an extensive paper-mill, which is the only one at this side of the mountains except that lately crected in Kentuckey. A variety of boats are built here; and an extensive rope-walk is carried on, with various other valuable manufactories. The inhabitants are principally German and Dutch; and this accounts at once for the wealth, morals, and industry, of the place.

William's-port lies nineteen miles below Brownsville. The town is small, but well situated and is increasing in business; as it has a fine settlement, and lies on the direct road from Philadelphia to Whulan on the Ohio, and other places of conveyance.

Beautifully situated, eleven miles further down the stream, stands Elizabeth-town; where considerable business is done in the boat and ship-building way. A ship called the Monongahela Farmer, and several other vessels of

considerable burthen, were built here; and, loaded with the produce of the adjacent country, passed from the midst of the mountains to the bosom of the sea, through circuitous fresh-water streams that enrich provinces for an extent of nearly 2,400 miles.

Mackee's-port, also pleasantly situated, lies eight miles still lower, and just beyond the junction of the Yougheogheny and the Monongahela. Many boats are built here; and on that account, migrators to the lower country generally choose this place for embarking. It is increasing in business, and indicates a likelihood to rise to some importance. A spot on the east side of the river, and eight miles from Mackee's-port, is called Braddock's-defeat, in commemoration of the melancholy destruction of that British general and his force by the Indians in the American war. Nine