Missouri, though recently settled, contains already St Louis, an old French station, now raised to importance by its situation on the Mississippi, at the highest point to which steamers of the first magnitude can ascend. It is also the station whence the fur-traders set out for the westward. The place is agreeably situated on a hill rising from the river. The Roman Catholic cathedral is particularly handsome, with a fine set of bells; and there is a large university under the management of the Jesuits.-Arkansas contains as yet nothing beyond villages.

CHAPTER VII.

Emigration to the United States.

General Remarks-Early Western Settlements-Boone-Henderson-Obstacles during the War-Acquisition of OhioEarly Sales of Land-New Plan in 1804-Embarrassments under it-Change in 1820-Amount since sold-Purchases on Speculation-Impositions practised-Squatters-Settlement on improved Farms-Comparison of different StatesSales in each-Advantages of improved Districts-British America and the States-Timbered Land and PrairieModes of Conveyance Westward-By Waggon-By Canals and Railways-Employment for Operatives-Wages in different Trades.

UNDER no aspect does the Western World appear more interesting to the nations of Europe than in that of Emigration. Their dense population, and the long fixed tenure of property, has produced a numerous class who are exposed to a certain degree of destitution. None but the decidedly opulent can hope to enjoy any landed possession; even the earning of a scanty subsistence by the sweat of the brow is somewhat precarious; and in the case of those temporary stagnations to which the different branches of industry are so liable, the distress becomes very severe. America, on the contrary, large tracts of the finest land can be obtained in full property for a very small price, sometimes even gratuitously; while the remuneration of manual labour is much more liberal. Those therefore who can make the sacrifices, and overcome the difficulties incident to so great a change, will, by a removal thither, improve their own condition, and at the same time mitigate the pressure produced by competition on the market for labour at home.

In

There are two fields in the west open to emigrants from Europe, particularly from this country. These are British America and the United States. In another work belonging to the present series,* the former subject has been treated carefully and in considerable detail. An attempt is there made to estimate the comparative prospects of the emigrant to each region; but there is still room to consider the latter subject in a complete and connected view. The reader who wishes more ample details may find them in the work to which we have just referred.

It is only since 1769 that settlements began to be formed in that region west of the Alleghany, to which emigration now is almost exclusively directed. With the exception of a few posts held by the French, and some parties of their coureurs de bois or hunters, who traversed the territory in search of furs, it was one wild waste of forest and prairie, occupied only by some scattered clusters of Indian wigwams. In that year the ground was broken by Daniel Boone, a choice spirit, who, cultivating a farm on the Yadkin in North Carolina, felt himself impelled to a more adventurous life. He and five companions set out, and passing over very rugged tracts, crossed the mountain-steeps, and on the 7th June reached the banks of the Red River of Kentucky. Mounting a height, they saw stretching before them that wide and beautiful forestplain, traversed by vast droves of buffaloes. The woods exhibited a beautiful variety of foliage, intermingled with fruit-trees in blossom or bearing, and with elegant flowering shrubs. The adventurous band were here completely at home, the gun supplying at once exquisite sport and a luxurious banquet. The Indians, however, ill brooked this first inroad into their hitherto undisturbed domain, and seemed to have a presentiment that it would prove fatal to their name and nation.

**Historical and Descriptive Account of British America (Edinburgh Cabinet Library).

They formed an ambush, into which Boone fell, and had the prospect of becoming a victim to their wonted cruelties. He contrived, however, to escape, was joined by his brother, and continued to rove delighted through this enchanted region. He determined even to make it his permanent abode, and in September 1773, broke up from the Yadkin with his own and five other families, who were joined by forty others. Notwithstanding some loss from an attack by the Indians, they accomplished their settlement.

These proceedings attracted the notice of General Dunmore, governor of Virginia, who appointed a commission to survey the country, engaging Boone to accompany them. This examination was executed in the course of sixty-two days, and extending over a circuit of 800 miles, conveyed a tolerably complete idea of this fine territory. The revolutionary contest, however, quickly ensuing, drew the attention both of the British and native governments to more urgent objects; and private enterprise again took the lead. Nathaniel Henderson, who was born of humble parents, and had not received even the elements of education, supplied the deficiency by his own industry, and having applied to the bar, rose to eminence and became a judge. He threw up, however, these advantages to embark in a bolder and more adventurous career. He loaded ten waggons with coarse woollens, spirits, and toys, the articles best suited for Indian traffic. These he conveyed across the Alleghany, and met with Boone, who readily agreed to second his views. In March 1775, a general meeting of the Cherokees was obtained at Wataga; and for the above valuable considerations they made over to him a territory of 100 square miles on the Kentucky and Ohio, equal for beauty and fertility to any in the world. Then, by liberal grants of land, he invited emigrants from all countries, composed for them a code of laws, and conducted himself rather as a sovereign than a planter. Such proceedings were deemed scarcely consistent with the duties of a subject; and the transaction, though

held good in respect to the Indians, was disallowed as regarded his tenure; but in compensation for his exertions, he received a grant of 200,000 acres. .

During the continuance of the revolutionary war, the settlement went on slowly, in the face of a most formidable opposition from the Indian nations, who were seconded by the British power. Even the passage of the Alleghany was formidable, when there existed no road practicable for a waggon of any description. The emigrants were obliged to travel on foot or on horseback, and wait on the other side till a caravan could assemble sufficient to defend itself from attack. On the termination of the contest, however, the great tide began, which has ever since continued to flow across the Alleghany, producing a growth of states the most rapid ever known in any community. Before 1790, all Kentucky had been occupied, and the Indian nations driven north of the Ohio. They, however, easily crossed the river, and made cruel and desolating inroads, which were as fiercely retaliated, rendering it difficult to say which party were the aggressors. The United States government, after fruitless attempts to negotiate a peace, were involved in that long and severe contest, the events of which have been related (vol. ii. p. 137, &c.). After some serious reverses, the victory of Wayne led to the treaty of Greenville, which included an extensive cession of land on very moderate terms. Since that time successive conquests and purchases have placed the government in possession of immense tracts, exceeding in extent, and likely soon to exceed also in population, the original domain of the Union. There remained a difficulty connected with the powers of the general government. The whole of this new territory had been considered as belonging to the eastern states, each claiming the part which extended from its western frontier to the Mississippi. It appeared desirable, however, that the whole should be placed under one management, and made independent of the old divisions. The states were therefore induced to cede their respective shares to the