one of the states of North America, situated on the west side of the Alleghany mountains, and formerly attached to Virginia. It is situated between 36° 30' and 39° 10' north latitude, and 82° and 89° west longitude; being 330 miles in length, and 180 in breadth. It is bounded north-west by the river Ohio; west, by the Mississippi river; south, by Tennessee; east, by Virginia. 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, in various directions, into rivulets of different magnitudes, fertilizing the country in all its parts.—There are five noted salt 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 brineish water; the Big Bone lick, Drennon's licks, and Bullet's lick at Saltsburg. The last of these licks, though in low order, has supplied this county and Cumberland with salt at twenty 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 limestone, 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.

As to religion, the prevailing sects are Baptists, Presbyterians, and Methodists. The Baptists are the most numerous. In 1817 they had 421 churches established, besides several congregations where churches were not constituted.

The legislature 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. In 1810 they had 17 newspapers. They have erected many paper-mills, oil-mills, 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.

The population of Kentucky has increased with great rapidity, as appears from the following statement.

| Year | Population | |------|------------| | 1784 | 39,000 | | 1790 | 73,677 | | 1800 | 220,959 | | 1810 | 406,511 |

This last enumeration includes 80,561 slaves, and 1713 free blacks.

The state government of Kentucky consists of a senate and house of representatives. The latter are chosen annually by the free male inhabitants of 21 years of age, who have been two years resident in the state. The number of representatives is not to exceed 100 or fall below 58. The number of senators may vary from 24 to 38; they are chosen for four years, and renewed by fourths yearly. The governor is elected for four years, and is ineligible the next seven.

The Kentuckians, chiefly emigrants from Virginia, are as remarkable for acuteness of intellect, as they are distinguished for their frank, high spirited, honourable nature. They are brave and patriotic in a high degree, and in times of public danger have come forward with a most honourable zeal to serve and defend their country. Slavery, however, has taught the rich to despise labour, and planted the seeds of other vices in their character. The women are frugal and industrious, though fond of dancing and innocent amusements. The men have acquired a dangerous attachment to gaming. The Kentuckians are distinguished for expertness in the use of the rifle. They live in a very substantial style, and have a pride in being liberal and open handed.

Some manufactures have been established in this state. In 1815 there were six steam mills in operation at the small town of Washington, two for grain, one for cotton, one for wool, and one for other purposes. At Lexington there is a woollen and cotton manufacture on an extensive scale, employing 150 hands each; and several others of smaller size. The whole amount of manufactures in 1810 was estimated at $6,181,024.

The first white man who discovered this province was one James Macbride, 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 Boone, 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 westward 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 Boone and John Finley made a tour through the country, Kentucky, which they found far exceeding their expectations; Kepler, 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 6000l. 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 the 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, 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, long continued troublesome neighbours to the new settlers.