Library of Congress The emigrant's directory to the western states of North America; including a voyage out from Liverpool; the geography and topography of the whole western country, according to its latest improvemtnes; with instructions for descending the rivers Ohio and Mississippi, also, a brief account of a new British settlement on the headwaters of the Susquehanna, in Philadelphia [_] By William Amphlett. THE EMIGRANT's DIRECTORY TO THE WESTERN STATES OF NORTH AMERICA; INCLUDING A VOYAGE OUT FROM LIVERPOOL; THE GEOGRAPHY AND TOPOGRAPHY OF THE WHOLE Western Country According to its latest Improvements; WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR DESCENDING THE RIVERS OHIO AND MISSISSIPPI; ALSO, A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF A NEW BRITISH SETTLEMENT ON THE HEAD- WATERS OF THE SUSQUEHANNA, IN PHILADELPHIA. BY WILLIAM AMPHLETT, FORMERLY OF LONDON AND LATE OF THE COUNTY OF SALOP, NOW PRESIDENT ON THE BANKS OF THE OHIO RIVER. LONDON: PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN, PATERNOSTER-ROW. 1819. THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 33441 '03 The emigrant's directory to the western states of North America; including a voyage out from Liverpool; the geography and topography of the whole western country, according to its latest improvemtnes; with instructions for descending the rivers Ohio and Mississippi, also, a brief account of a new British settlement on the headwaters of the Susquehanna, in Philadelphia [_] By William Amphlett. http:// www.loc.gov/resource/lhbtn.16092 Library of Congress Printed by Strahan and Spottiswoode, Printers-Stree, London. TO MY FIRST FRIEND, THE FRIEND OF MY YOUTH AND MY HAPPIEST DAYS; TO HENRI BYNNER, Esq. OF TRIESTE, IN THE AUSTRIAN DOMINIONS, I DEDICATE THESE FEW PAGES. DESPAIRING EVER TO SEE HIM MORE, I INSCRIBE THEM TO HIS MEMORY. Banks of the Ohio, Dec. 1818. INTRODUCTION. The Author of the following pages disclaims all intention of offering advice upon the subject of emigration to the American continent. So much has been written on each side of the question, that nothing new could be expected ; and after all, each individual must be guided in a great measure by his own circumstances, and by a thousand private motives, that cannot meet the public eye, but must determine his decision, independently of general advantages or disadvantages. The sea-journal was written to gratify the curiosity and interest of the author's particular friends; as they had also requested some account of the western country, he was induced to draw up the following sketch; and to render it more generally useful, he has added the most authentic accounts of the principal rivers that interest the emigrant. Residing himself upon the banks of the Ohio, and witnessing daily the difficulties of his countrymen in navigating that stream, from their ignorance of its ripples, shallows, and islands, he was induced to supply them vi with the best information he could procure on this subject. He cannot, from his own personal observation, vouch for the accuracy of the description of more than the first hundred miles of the river; but from the information of boatmen and others, who have frequently descended it, he has no doubt of the faithfulness of the description throughout. The respectability of the different publications he has consulted, particularly the “The Ohio Gazetteer,” “The Western Gazetteer,” The emigrant's directory to the western states of North America; including a voyage out from Liverpool; the geography and topography of the whole western country, according to its latest improvemtnes; with instructions for descending the rivers Ohio and Mississippi, also, a brief account of a new British settlement on the headwaters of the Susquehanna, in Philadelphia [_] By William Amphlett. http:// www.loc.gov/resource/lhbtn.16092 Library of Congress “Darby's, Louisiana,” “Orake's Cincinnati,” “The Ohio Navigator,” and “ Stoddart's and Brackenridge's Louisiana,” guarantees the authenticity of the information derived from them. No persons, except emigrants who embark with their families in the frail vessels built at Pittsburg, can appreciate the value of the river directions. Boats often stay for the night at the head of an island, for want of knowing which channel to take, as the flat-bottomed arks in common use cannot be propelled against the stream; and if they get into a channel which they cannot pursue, the delay and hazard incurred are incalculable. Great numbers of emigrants undertake the management of those awkward boats upon a long, tiresome voyage, and often vii in very bad weather, when the river is full of ice and drift-wood, who are utterly ignorant of the first principles of navigation, or of the management of the lightest skiff that floats. They generally load their boat quite to the gunwale, and go wherever the stream carries them, calling out to persons on shore for directions whenever they perceive an island or a ripple. To these people I know that the slightest sketch of the chief dangers and places they may have to pass, will be acceptable ; and it is for their service I have selected the best accounts. Those who intend to navigate the Ohio, should keep in company with other boats if possible; for with all the instructions that can be given them, they will be frequently at a loss which way to steer or where to land. I cannot take leave of my English friends, without assuring them, that as far as my own experience goes, the climate of the western country is pleasant, healthy, and salubrious; and that I prefer it to the foggy atmosphere and drizzling rains of Great Britain. All my family have experienced uninterrupted health, ever since our arrival; and I believe that by far the greater part of the reports that represent the lower countries viii on the Ohio as unhealthy, are altogether untrue ; or so exaggerated as to give a very false picture of the real state of the country. The natives of this country will not thank me for the way in which I have sometimes mentioned their habits or their manners. I do not however study to please any persons The emigrant's directory to the western states of North America; including a voyage out from Liverpool; the geography and topography of the whole western country, according to its latest improvemtnes; with instructions for descending the rivers Ohio and Mississippi, also, a brief account of a new British settlement on the headwaters of the Susquehanna, in Philadelphia [_] By William Amphlett. http:// www.loc.gov/resource/lhbtn.16092 Library of Congress on either side the water : I have here met with men who would do honour to any country; whose talents and. whose characters I most highly respect, and to whose kindness I am much indebted : I have met with others on whose services I had some claims, whom I have found without liberality, hospitality, or kindness. And so it is all the world over— climate does not influence moral character, however it may affectmental intellect. I make no apology for the carelessness of the style and composition of these pages. I have other and more important occupations than writing, in providing for a large family, in cultivating the land, and attending the improvement of both. SEA JOURNAL. Liverpool, May 21. 1818. The eventful hour is arrived;—our vessel is going out of dock—all is hurry, bustle, and confusion! The passengers running to and for some taking an affectionate, an everlasting farewell of their kindred and friends; others without a friend to take leave of, standing with a strange, mixture of joy and grief in their countenances, looking a last adijeu to the land of their fathers! Others arriving too late; are making to the vessel in boats, with their last articles of luggage hastily packed up—a strange medley of clothing and provisions—band- boxes and bags of potatoes, legs of mutton, hampers of porter, salt herrings, and barrels of biscuit. Our deck is covered with children of every age, and their parents of every station in society (except perhaps what is called the NOBLE). Pigs and poultry are squeaking and squalling ; the sailors are vociferating and swearing ; numbers of the softer sex B 2 weeping most bitterly; and the scene altogether exhibits such a picture of confusion as would puzzle a Smollet to describe, or a Hogarth to pourtray. This continued for about an hour, when we cast anchor about a mile below the town ; and it was understood, although the wind was now fair, that we should not proceed farther until the morning. The captain and several of the passengers, therefore, went on shore, and others proceeded to establish themselves, as comfortably as they could, in their several births. The emigrant's directory to the western states of North America; including a voyage out from Liverpool; the geography and topography of the whole western country, according to its latest improvemtnes; with instructions for descending the rivers Ohio and Mississippi, also, a brief account of a new British settlement on the headwaters of the Susquehanna, in Philadelphia [_] By William Amphlett. http:// www.loc.gov/resource/lhbtn.16092 Library of Congress It appears that we had in the cabin and steerages near 70 passengers, on board, including children; that is; 10 in the cabin, 16 in the aft part of the steerage, including my family, and that of Mr. E. ; and@ 44 in the middle steerage,—8 sailors, 2 mates, the captain, cook, and steward. We soon saw reason to congratulate ourselves upon our choice of a birth; for we had much more room and better air, than if we had been stowed in the state-rooms belonging to the cabin, which at night are occupied by the cabin-passengers ; for nothing can be a greater burlesque upon the name, than those hastily fitted up holes where you have but just room to turn yourself round, and 3 barely height to sit up in bed.