a province of North America, belonging at present to the state of Virginia, but proposed soon to be admitted into the union as an independent state. It is situated between 36° 30' and 39° 30' North Latitude, and 8° and 15° West Longitude; being 250 miles in length, and 200 in breadth. It is bounded north-west by the river Ohio; west, by Cumberland river; south, by North Carolina; east, by Sandy river, and a line drawn due south from its source till it strikes the northern boundary of North Carolina. Kentucky was originally divided into two counties, Lincoln and Jefferson. It has since been subdivided into seven, viz. Jefferson, Fayette, Bourbon, Mercer, Nelson, Madison, Lincoln; and Lexington is the chief town.

The river Ohio washes the north-western side of Kentucky, in its whole extent. Its principal branches, which water this fertile tract of country, are Sandy, Licking, Kentucky, Salt, Green, and Cumberland rivers. These again branch into various directions, into rivulets of different magnitudes, fertilizing the country in all its parts.—There are five noted salt springs Kentucky springs or licks in this country, viz. the higher and lower Blue Springs on Licking river, from some of which, it is said, issue streams of brinish water; the Big Bone lick, Drennon's licks, and Bullet's lick at Salzburg. The last of these licks, though in low order, has supplied this country and Cumberland with salt at 20 shillings the bushel, Virginia currency; and some is exported to the Illinois country. The method of procuring water from these licks is by sinking wells from 30 to 40 feet deep. The water drawn from these wells is more strongly impregnated with salt than the water from the sea.

This whole country, as far as has yet been discovered, lies upon a bed of lime-stone, which in general is about six feet below the surface, except in the valleys where the soil is much thinner. A tract of about 20 miles wide along the banks of the Ohio is hilly broken land, interspersed with many fertile spots. The rest of the country is agreeably uneven, gently ascending and descending at no great distances. This country in general is well timbered; and such is the variety and beauty of the flowering shrubs and plants which grow spontaneously in it, that in the proper season the wilderness appears in blossom. The accounts of the fertility of the soil in this country have in some instances exceeded belief, and probably have been exaggerated. That some parts of Kentucky, particularly the high grounds, are remarkably good, all accounts agree. The lands of the first rate are too rich for wheat, and will produce 50 and 60, and in some instances it is affirmed 100 bushels of good corn an acre. In common the land will produce 30 bushels of wheat or rye an acre. Barley, oats, cotton, flax, hemp, and vegetables of all kinds common in this climate, yield abundantly. The old Virginia planters say, that if the climate does not prove too moist, few soils known will yield more and better tobacco.—The climate is healthy and delightful, some few places in the neighbourhood of ponds and low grounds excepted. The inhabitants do not experience the extremes of heat and cold. Snow seldom falls deep or lies long. The winter, which begins about Christmas, is never longer than three months, and is commonly but two, and is so mild as that cattle can subsist without fodder.

It is impossible to ascertain with any degree of accuracy the present number of inhabitants, owing to the numerous accessions which are made almost every month. In 1783, in the county of Lincoln only, there were on the militia rolls 3570 men, chiefly emigrants from the lower parts of Virginia. In 1784 the number of inhabitants were reckoned at upwards of 30,000. From the accounts of their astonishing increase since, we may now safely estimate them at 1,000,000. It is asserted that at least 20,000 migrated here in the year 1787. These people, collected from different states, of different manners, customs, religions, and political sentiments, have not been long enough together to form a uniform and distinguishing character. Among the settlers there are many gentlemen of abilities, and many genteel families from several of the states, who give dignity and respectability to the settlement. They are in general more orderly perhaps than any people who have settled a new country.

As to religion, the Baptists are the most numerous sect in Kentucky. In 1789 they had 16 churches established, besides several congregations where churches were not constituted. These were supplied with upwards of 30 ministers or teachers. There are several large congregations of Presbyterians, and some few of other denominations.

The legislature of Virginia have made provision for a college in Kentucky, and have endowed it with very considerable landed funds. Schools are established in the several towns, and in general regularly and handsomely supported. They have a printing office, and publish a weekly gazette. They have erected a paper-mill, an oil mill, fulling mills, saw mills, and a great number of valuable grist mills. Their salt works are more than sufficient to supply all the inhabitants at a low price. They make considerable quantities of sugar from the sugar trees. Labourers, particularly tradesmen, are exceedingly wanted here.

The first white man who discovered this province was one James McBride, in the year 1754. From this period it remained unexplored till about the year 1767, when one John Finley and some others, trading with the Indians, fortunately travelled over the fertile region now called Kentucky, then but known to the Indians by the name of the Dark and Bloody Grounds, and sometimes the Middle Ground. This country greatly engaged Mr Finley's attention, and he communicated his discovery to Colonel Daniel Boon, and a few more, who conceiving it to be an interesting object, agreed in the year 1769 to undertake a journey in order to explore it. After a long fatiguing march over a mountainous wilderness, in a westerly direction, they at length arrived upon its borders; and from the top of an eminence, with joy and wonder descried the beautiful landscape of Kentucky. Here they encamped, and some went to hunt provisions, which were readily procured, there being plenty of game, while Colonel Boon and John Finley made a tour through the country, which they found far exceeding their expectations; and returning to camp, informed their companions of their discoveries. But in spite of this promising beginning, this company meeting with nothing but hardships and adversity, grew exceedingly disheartened, and was plundered, dispersed, and killed by the Indians, except Colonel Boon, who continued an inhabitant of the wilderness until the year 1771, when he returned home.

Colonel Henderson of North Carolina being informed of this country by Colonel Boon, he and some other gentlemen held a treaty with the Cherokee Indians at Wataga in March 1775, and then purchased from them the lands lying on the south side of Kentucky river for goods at valuable rates, to the amount of 6000 l. specie.

Soon after this purchase, the state of Virginia took the alarm, agreed to pay the money Colonel Donaldson had contracted for, and then disputed Colonel Henderson's right of purchase, as a private gentleman of another state in behalf of himself. However, for his eminent services to this country, and for having been instrumental in making so valuable an acquisition to Virginia, that state was pleased to reward him with a tract of land at the mouth of Green river, to the amount of 200,000 acres; and the state of North Carolina gave him the like quantity in Powell's Valley. This region was formerly claimed by various tribes of Indians; Indians; whose title, if they had any, originated in such a manner as to render it doubtful which ought to possess it. Hence this fertile spot became an object of contention, a theatre of war, from which it was properly denominated the Bloody Grounds. Their contentions not being likely to decide the right to any particular tribe, as soon as Mr Henderson and his friends proposed to purchase, the Indians agreed to sell; and notwithstanding the valuable consideration they received, have continued ever since troublesome neighbours to the new settlers.

The progress in improvements and cultivation which has been made in this country, almost exceeds belief. Eleven years ago Kentucky lay in forest, almost uninhabited but by wild beasts. Now, notwithstanding the united opposition of all the western Indians, she exhibits an extensive settlement, divided into seven large and populous counties, in which are a number of flourishing little towns, containing more inhabitants than are in Georgia, Delaware, or Rhode-Island states; and nearly or quite as many as in New Hampshire.