For, if for the purpose of saving the payment of a few millions out of an overflowing treasury, the lands along the route should be transferred to speculators whose interest it will be to make them sell for the greatest amount of money, the action of Congress upon this subject will be degraded below the dignity of a national measure, and American legislation, in this as in too many other instances, may be justly denominated a system of shortsighted, incongruous and petty expedients.

ARTICLE II.

The First Settlement of Kentucky.
NARRATIVE OF AN ADVENTURE IN THE YEAR 1778.

Editors of Western Journal.

I send you the following communication taken from the above named journal, as emphatically appropriate to your own. You have shown so hearty a devotion to the feelings, the rights and the interests of the West, that the republication of so curious a "Narrative" will be quite as much a labor of love, as of editorial duty.

The occasion on which the adventure related in the "Narrative" took place was this. In the fall of 1774, Col's. Henderson and Hart (the latter the great grand father of Henry C. Hart, of our own city), entered into an informal treaty at the Sycamore Shoals, on the Wataga river, for the purchase of the western portion of Kentucky, lying between the Kentucky river, the Cumberland mountains, the Ohio and Tennessee. This purchase was consummated on the 17th of March, 1775, by the treaty of Wataga, by giving the Cherokees £10,000 sterling in goods. In this treaty the Kentucky river is mentioned "as called Louisa river by the English ;" it had been so called by Doctor Thomas Walker, in 1747. This was corrupted into Levisa, as it is called in the M'Afee papers, and hence Leowvisay of the "Narrative” by another corruption, I suppose. The colony of Transylvania, and its constitution, the first legislative compact west of the Alleghanies, established by the deputies of the people, and the consent of the proprietors, receives new evidence from this " "Narrative."

The proof of those curious transactions was supposed to be confined to the correspondence of Col. Floyd and the Henderson papers formerly trusted to my care, and published in a History of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, in 1834. The colony of Transylvania was so effectually suppressed by the united action of Virginia and North Ca

rolina, in accordance with the ancient policy of the country forbidding treaties by private persons with the Indians, that scarcely a vestige of its existence remains. The grants of the two States of 200,000 acres of land each, in extinguishment of the illegal but equitable right of the company, are the only surviving public records of the transaction. The Henderson grant embracing the town of Henderson or Red Banks was given by Virginia, and as much by North Carolina in Powel's Valley.

This new confirmation of these ancient events, [if anything can be ancient in this new country,] must be highly gratifying to those whose curiosity is not confined to the heroic events of Greek and Roman story; but who have heart enough to embrace the gallant deeds of our western pioneers. Respectfully, MANN BUTLER. St. Louis, March, 1854.

From De Bow's Review, Feb., 1854.

NARRATIVE OF AN ADVENTURE IN KENTUCKY IN

THE YEAR 1775.

We are indebted to Saml. R. Walker, of New Orleans, for a very interesting manuscript, prepared by his grandfather, the Hon. Felix Walker, of North Carolina, for some time a member of Congress, and one of the earliest pioneers in the Western wilds. Our readers will be pleased with such a memento of the "hunter times" of that great State, rendered illustrious by the achievements of Boone and his compeers. We have published several such sketches in the past.-ED.

In the month of February in that year, Captain William Twetty, Samuel Coburn, James Bridges, Thomas Johnson, John Hart, William Hicks, James Peeke, and myself, set out from Rutherford County, North Carolina, to explore a country by the name of Leowvisay, greatly renowned and highly spoken of as the best quality of land, abounding in game, now the State of Kentucky.

We placed ourselves under the care and direction of Captain Twetty, an active and enterprising woodsman, of good original mind and great benevolence, and although a light habited man, in strength and agility of bodily powers was not surpassed by any of his day and time, well calculated for the enterprise.

We proceeded to Watawgot river, a tributary stream of Holsteen,‡ to the residence of Colonel Charles Robertson, now in the State of Tennessee, where a treaty was held by Colonel Richard Henderson and his associates, with the Cherokee tribe of Indians, for the purchase of that section of country we were going to visit, then called the Bloody Ground, so named from the continual wars and quarrels of the hunting parties of Indians of different tribes who all claimed the ground as their own, and the privilege of hunting the game; who murdered and plundered each other, as opportunity offered. We continued at Watawgo during the treaty, which lasted about twenty days. Among others, there was a distinguished chief called

*Louisa or Levisa.

† Wataga.
Holston.

Atticulaculla, the Indian name, known to the white people by the name of the Little Carpenter in allusion, say the Indians, to his deep, artful, and ingenious diplomatic abilities, ably demonstrated in negotiating treaties with the white people, and influence in their national councils; like as a white carpenter could make every notch and joint fit in wood, so he could bring all his views to fill and fit their places in the political machinery of his nation. He was the most celebrated and influential Indian among all the tribes then known; considered as the Solon of his day. He was said to be about ninety years of age, a very small man, and so lean and light habited, that I scarcely believe he would have exceeded more in weight than a pound for each year of his life. He was marked with two large scores or scars on each cheek, his ears cut and banded with silver, hanging nearly down on each shoulder, the ancient Indian mode of distinc ion in some tribes and fashion in others. In one of his public talks delivered to the whites, he spoke to this effect: he was an old man, had presided as chief in their council, and as president of his nation for more than half a century, had formerly been appointed agent and envoy extraordinary to the king of England on business of the first importance to his nation; he crossed the big water, arrived at his destination, was received with great distinction, had the honor of dining with his majesty and the nobility; had the utmost respect paid him by the great men among the white people; had accomplished his mission with success; and from the long standing in the highest dignities of his nation, he claimed the confidence and good faith in all and every thing he would advance in support of the rightful claims of his people to the Bloody Ground, then in treaty to be sold to the white people. His name is mentioned in the life of General Marion, at a treaty held with the Cherokees at Kewee, in South Carolina, in the year 1762 or '63. The treaty being concluded and the purchase made, we proceeded on our journey to meet Col. Daniel Boon, with other adventurers, bound to the same country: accordingly we met and rendezvoused at the Long Island on Holsteen river, united our small force with Colonel Boon and his associates, his brother, Squire Boon, and Col. Richard Callaway, of Virginia. Our company, when united, amounted to 30 persons. We then, by general consent, put ourselves under the management and control of Col. Boon, who was to be our pilot and conductor through the wilderness, to the promised land; perhaps no adventurers since the days of Don Quixote, or before, ever felt so cheerful and elated in prospect; every heart abounded with joy and excitement in anticipating the new things we would see, and the romantic scenes through which we must pass; and, exclusive of the novelty of the journey, the advantages and accumulations ensuing on the settlement of a new country was a dazzling object with many of our company. Under the influence of these impressions we went our way rejoicing, with transporting views of our success, taking our leave of the civilized world for a season.

About the 10th of March we put off from the Long Island, marked our track with our hatchets, crossed Clinch and Powell's river, over Cumberland mountain, and crossed Cumberland river-came to a watercourse called by Col. Rockcastle river; killed a fine bear on our way, camped all night, and had an excellent supper,

On leaving that river, we had to encounter and cut our way through a country of about twenty miles, entirely covered with dead brush, which we found a difficult and laborious task. At the end of which we arrived at the commencement of a cane country, traveled about 30 miles through thick cane and reed, and as the cane ceased, we began to discover the pleasing and rapturous appearance of the plains of Kentucky. A new sky and strange earth seemed to be presented to our view. So rich a soil we had never seen before; covered with clover in full bloom, the woods were abounding with wild gameturkeys so numerous that it might be said they appeared but one flock, universally scattered in the woods. It appeared that nature, in the profusion of her bounty, had spread a feast for all that lives, both for the animal and rational world. A sight so delightful to our view and grateful to our feelings, almost inclined us, in imitation of Columbus, in transport to kiss the soil of Kentucky, as he hailed and saluted the sand on his first setting his foot on the shores of America. The appearance of the country coming up to the full measure of our expectations, and seemed to exceed the fruitful source of our imaginary prospects.

We felt ourselves as passengers through a wilderness just arrived at the fields of Elysium, or at a garden where was no forbidden fruit. Nothing can furnish the contemplative mind with more sublime reflections, than nature unbroken by art; we can there trace the wisdom of the Great Architect in the construction of his works in nature's simplicity, which, when he had finished, he pronounced all good. But, alas! fond man! the vision of a moment made dream of a dream, and shadow of a shade! Man may appoint, but One greater than man can disappoint. A sad reverse overtook us two days after, on our way to Kentucky river. On the 25th March, 1775, we were fired on by the Indians, in our camp asleep, about an hour before day. Capt. Twetty was shot in both knees, and died the third day after. A black man, his body servant, killed dead; myself badly wounded; our company dispersed. So fatal and tragical an event cast a deep gloom of melancholy over all our prospects, and high calculations of long life and happy days in our newly-discovered country were prostrated; hope vanished from the most of us, and left us suspended in the tumult of uncertainty and conjecture. Col. Boon, and a few others, appeared to possess firmness and fortitude. In our calamitous situation, a circumstance occurred one morning after our misfortunes, that proved the courage and stability of our few remaining men [for some had gone back]. One of our men, who had run off at the fire of the Indians on our camp, was discovered peeping from behind a tree, by a black woman belonging to Colonel Callaway, while gathering small wood. She ran in, and gave the alarm of Indians. Colonel Boon instantly caught his rifle, ordered the few men to form, take trees, and give battle, and not to run till they saw him fall. They formed agreeably to his directions, and I believe they would have fought with equal bravery to any Spartan band ever brought to the field of action, when the man behind the tree announced his name, and came in. My situation was critical and dangerous, being then a youth, three hundred miles from white inhabitants. My friend and guardian, Captain Twetty, taken dead from my side, my wounds pro

nounced by some to be mortal, produced very serious reflections. Yet withal I retained firmness to support me under the pressure of distress, and did not suffer me to languish in depression of mind.

But where shall I begi", or where can I end, in thanks and grateful acknowledgments to that benign and merciful Protector who spared and preserved me in the blaze of danger and in the midst of death! I trust I shall remember that singular and protecting event, with filial sensations of gratitude, while I retain my recollection. We remained at the same place twelve days; I could not be removed sooner without the danger of instant death. At length I was carried in a litter between two horses, twelve miles, to Kentucky river, where we made a station, and called it Boonsborough, situated in a plain on the south side of the river, wherein was a lick with two sulphur springs strongly impregnated. On entering the plain we were permitted to view a very interesting and romantic sight. A number of buffaloes, of all sizes, supposed to be between two and three hundred, made off from the lick in every direction; some running, some walking, others loping slowly and carelessly, with young calves playing, skipping, and bounding through the plain. Such a sight some of us never saw before, nor perhaps never may again. But to proceed, Colonel Richard Henderson, Colonel Luttrell, from North Carolina; Captain William Cock, since the Honorable Judge Cock, of Tennessee, and Colonel Thomas Slaughter, of Virginia, arrived in the month of April with a company of about thirty men. Our military forces, when united, numbered about sixty or sixty-five men, expert riflemen. We lived plentifully on wild meat, buffalo, bear, deer, and turkey, without bread or salt, generally in good health, until the month of July, when I left the country.

Colonel Richard Henderson, being the chief proprietor in the purchase of the bloody ground [indeed so o us], acted as Governor, called an assembly, by election of members, out of our small numbers; organized a government, convened the assembly in May, 1775, consisting of eighteen members, exclusive of the speaker, passed several laws for the regulation of our little community, well adapted to the policy of an infant goverhment*

This assembly was held under two shade trees, in the plains of Boonsborough. This was the first feature of civilization ever attempted in what is now called the Western Country.

This small beginning, that little germ of policy, by a few adventurers from North Carolina, has given birth to the now flourishing State of Kentucky. From that period the population increased with such rapidity, that in less than twenty years it became a State.

In justice to Colonel Henderson, it may be said, that his message or address to the assembly alluded to was considered equal to any of like kind ever delivered to any deliberate body in that day and time.

In the sequel and conclusion of my narrative I must not neglect to give honor to whom honor is due. Colonel Boon conducted the company under his care through the wilderness, with great propriety, intrepidity, and courage; and was I to enter an exception to any part of

* The first legislature in the western country of the United States, and the colony was called Transylvania still retained in the University of that name.