Thro' all these western states such mounds appearSome in dimensions far exceeding this;
But for what purpose formed, sure none can tell;
Historic page is all a dreary blank;
And from tradition not one glimm'ring ray.
Not all the various savage tribes, we find,-
In all our forests wild, from east to west,
From north to south, from great Lake Erie's shore
To Alabama's gently gliding stream,-
Can shed one ray of light to cheer the mind;
But all is darkness and conjecture all.
Some say the warring nations reared those piles,
As towers on which their sentinels to place;
Whilst others say, and facts which do appear
Make their opinions lean on reason's side,
That for depositories of their dead,
The aborigines these huge mounds did form.
That for such purpose they were reared, we judge
From relics which are often in them found
Of human skeletons deep buried there—
Buried perhaps some ages long before,
Columbus did descry this western world:
So Egypt's pyramids do still appear,
Bidding defiance to the waste of time.
These monuments of folly, great indeed,
But not so great as Egypt's sons have shown.
But what's this mound, and others that appear
Thro'out this western land? they 're small indeed,
When once compared with works which have been
reared
For self-defence, against a hostile foe:
Some fortresses are found on scale so vast,
And formed with so much military skill
And mathematical exactitude,
As almost to excite an exclamation
'By savage hands such works could ne'er be formed!'
They form, indeed, a fruitful, pleasing source
Of contemplation to ingenious minds;
And are a wonder in this western world;
Which late was covered o'er with savage bands,
Wielding the tom'hawk and the scalping knife
With fiend-like fury and terrific form:
But now, thank heaven! the murderous scene is changed,
And where a savage foe was lately seen,
There hymns of praise from grateful hearts arise,
And temples dedicated to our God
Are seen throughout this thriving, happy land;
Which now is cleared of cruel, savage foes,
And buds and blossoms as the beauteous rose.
Then with united voices let us sing
Loud hallelujahs to our God and King.
See thousands flocking to this favoured land,
Teeming with blessings for fair freedom's band,
A round where late the savage yell was heard,
Tom'hawk and scalping knife have disappeared,
E'en savage foes are now no longer feared.
On every hand now thriving towns are seen,
Famed Cincinnati 'mong them sits as queen.
O'er all this land which does such beauties shew,
Heaven's choicest blessings rise up to our view;
In this blest land, far from old ocean's shore,
O! may the opprest e'er find an open door.
See with old England's sons what bitter strife-
Their virtuous George must have another wife;
Caroline, his Queen, is odious in his eyes,*
Therefore must fall a cruel sacrifice;
Her innocence can yield her no protection-
She's in his way, that's the great objection.
On viewing the Falls of Ohio.
These rocks, though prized by sons of Louisville,
A bane has proved to all the towns above,
Which are seen bordering on Ohio's shores,
Or on its numerous tributary streams:
And to a country, vast in its extent,
Have proved as shackles to its growing trade.t
Now let us rouse from our lethargic state,
And quickly form a canal round these falls;
As band of brothers let us all unite
In this great work, which promises much gain.
But some weak minds, with vision small indeed,
Do vainly strive to paralyze this plan;
They say resources cannot now be had,
*The above piece was written at the time the Queen was attending her trial in London.
It is judged that the aggregate loss which the merchants and traders sustain yearly, in consequence of this obstruction, is not less than 100 000 dollars, which will appear evident when we take into view the vast amount of property which is shipped from above the falls, the great delay they frequently occasion in getting it to market, and also the return cargoes, the large sums of money which are paid for extra freightage to and from Louisville, and also for storage and cartage at that place.
And would postpone it to some distant day.
Such pigmy politicians, let them but view
A noble lord, a son of Britain's Isle,*
With his own private purse perform a work,
In magnitude by far exceeding this;
And view a single state, nobly engaged
In a gigantic work which all admire ;†
And which, we fondly trust, will ere long cause
Lake Erie, queen of all the western lakes,
To stretch a friendly arm to embrace
Hudson, old Hudson, in his rocky bed:
Then view five states, whose interests all impel
Them to remove this barrier to their wealth,
By forming a canal, two miles in length,
Where not a hill or rock is to be seen.
Reflecting thus, all doubts must vanish soon,
As early dew before the rising sun.
Such bright examples sure will animate
Our western sons, so prone to enterprise:
No longer let us tributary be
To the fast thriving sons of Louisville.
We trust, ere long, among our western sons,
Some enterprising Clintons will be found;
*The Duke of Bridgewater. The Canal which he formed is forty miles in length, fifty-two feet in width, and its depth is five feet-it is carried over two rivers and through several high hills.
The Western Canal, which the citizens of New-York are now forming, will be, when completed, 300 miles in length. The Northern Canal, which unites the waters of Lake Champlain with the Hudson river, was finished in October last, and is 61 1-2 miles in length. It is expected that these canals will, at no very distant day, yield a revenue to the state nearly sufficient to defray the expenses of the government.
The Legislature of Kentucky has agreed to appropriate 100,000 dollars, for the purpose of aiding in forming a canal round the Falls at Louisville, and whenever the Legislatures of the other states that are interested in promoting that great object, shall have provided in a similar manner, then all the obstacles which have hitherto existed to prévent its accomplishment, will be obviated.
Who, with an ardent, patriotic zeal,
Will open quickly, on Kentucky's shore,
A spacious canal, through which our gallant barks
May pass securely, with their pond'rous freights.*
Down to New-Orleans, or the ocean wide.
O! may such scenes soon realized be,
And we be set from rocky fetters free.
Friendship, blest medicine of life,
Quenches the coals of growing strife;
In love and peace it takes delight,
Makes enemies as friends unite.
When with grief we are bent down,
And we experience fortune's frown,
We fly in haste to find a friend,
Who soothing makes our troubles end.
Dear Friendship, I revere thy name,
Thou art a pure, a heaven-born flame;
Thy magic power can sooth to rest,
When sore afflictions rack the breast.
And when kind Providence speaks peace,
And kindly bids our sorrows cease;
When light around our path is shed,
And rose-buds of delight are spread;
Friendship then crowns the bliss that's given
To us by an indulgent heaven;
To our enjoyments adds a zest,
And serves to make us truly blest.
The whole amount of exports from above the Falls, which passes yearly down the Ohio, has been valued at 3,205,500 dollars.
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