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pride. If men behave themselves as men, I care not from what quarter of the United States they come. Never would

I draw lines among the stars of our banner, to divide them into separate constellations. But the same feeling which would hinder me from depreciating any portion of our countrymen, would impel me to vindicate them, if unjustly aspersed. And is not this the fact with regard to the people of New England? Because, in Europe, all Americans are sneered at as Yankees, until the term has become one of reproach; and because, from some reason, which I am not antiquary enough to understand, Americans have chosen to restrict this appellation to the people of New England, its foreign obloquy has become native only there; and thus, through an unpatriotic imitation of foreign slang, they have been proverbially damned by a cant expression. I know no other reason for this unfounded prejudice, unless it be, that the whole race have been judged of by a few strolling specimens, in the shape of pedlers and swindlers, who early roamed abroad, because they could not stay at home; and, like the subtraction of negative quantities, increased the value of what they left behind. But all states contain such characters; and it would seem to be to the honor of any people to spurn them from their bosom. If, therefore, New England has suffered in the opinion of her sister States, because they may have been molested by some of her recreant sons, for whom her own atmosphere was uncongenial, she must solace herself with this consideration. But the truth is, that the world has never seen a more honest, industrious, frugal, intelligent, orderly, and generous people, than the aggregate population of New England. Stigmatize them by what name you please, this, all who have been among them, know; and strangers would know it too, if they would but weigh the evidence; for without the possession of all these qualities in the highest degree, how could that enterprising people have flourished as they have, and accomplished what they have, on their comparatively bleak and barren soil? But why attempt to eulogize a people, whose whole history is one continued strain of eulogy? I count it, therefore, among the eminently favorable circumstances attending the first settlement of Ohio, that so large a proportion of the early inhabitants were of the substantial yeomanry of New England. With their energies, and this soil, they could not but thrive rapidly; and the customs, opinions, and tastes, in which they had been reared, have been proved to constitute the choicest elements of social organization."-Transactions, pp. 192-197.

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The accounts heretofore published concerning the New England "Ohio Company" are fraught with inaccuracies. The Transactions under review" are not free from them. Mr. Walker (p. 184) says, "On the 7th of April, 1788, Cutler and his fellow pioneers from New England arrived at (the place afterwards named) Marietta, and there began the settlement of Ohio." Dr. Cutler, of Hamilton, was doubtless here referred to, but he was not in that expedition. Even Mr. Nye, a native of Marietta, a grandson of General Tupper, and well versed in Ohio history, in his Address (p. 321) states, that Winthrop Sargent had been appointed with Dr. Cutler to negotiate a purchase of lands for the Company. This is an error, though not a very material one; it is easy to be accounted for, since Cutler and Sargent actually signed the contract. We have now the materials, and shall endeavour to give a true history of the New England, Ohio Company.

Much has been said about the selection of the "Ohio Company's purchase" by General Parsons, who, as we shall show, visited the Ohio before the inception of the business by General Putnam and General Tupper, and was at the mouth of the Great Miami at the very time when that interesting conference took place at Rutland. By whom and on whose advice the selection for the purchase was made, we shall presently show.

General Samuel Holden Parsons was a commissioner appointed by the Old Congress to hold a council, and treat, with the Western Indians, particularly the Shawanoes, at the mouth of the Great Miami. The council assembled in the autumn of 1785. A treaty with the Shawanoes was concluded January 31st, 1786. We have before us an interesting original letter from General Parsons, which he wrote while on this mission from what he calls Fort Finney at the mouth of the Great Miami, and which we shall lay before our readers. It will show, indeed, that he was looking intently for a "place" for settlement. But he had no authority to "select." The New England Ohio Company was formed March 1st, 1786; the selection was made by Dr. Cutler at New York in July, 1787, under the advice of Thomas Hutchins, United States' Geographer. The letter is as follows;

"SIR,
VOL. LIII.

"Fort Finney, 20th December, 1785. Since I left the Muskingum, I have been as far as

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the falls of the Ohio, one hundred and fifty miles below this post. That place is in latitude 38° 8'; this is in about 39° 30'. From the Muskingum to the falls the lands preserve a great uniformity in appearance and quality. The first place that drew my attention for a settlement, after I passed your post, was the great Konahway, in latitude 39° about one hundred and twelve miles below you. This is a fine river navigable eighty miles, which will bring us within one hundred miles of the Virginia settlements. The lands on the Indian shore are preferable to those on the Konahway. The next place for settlement is this spot. The Miami is a large fine river on which the Shawanese and other nations live. The portage from the head waters to the waters falling into the Lake and to the heads of the Wabash is very trifling; of course this must be a place of considerable Indian commerce. The lands are very fine. Its situation on the Ohio and Miami forms a peninsula, which, including a town of six miles square, cannot be more than nine miles at the head. As we came down the river, we were fired upon by the Indians, at a place called the Three Islands, about twenty miles above Limestone (Maysville), but suffered no damage. We returned the fire, I believe with no better success, though we were not fifty yards asunder.

"Since we have been here, every measure has been taken to bring in the Indians. The Wyandots and Delawares are here; the other nations were coming, and were turned back by the Shawanese. These at last sent two of their tribe to examine our situation and satisfy themselves of our designs. With these men we were very open and explicit. We told them we were fully convinced of their designs in coming; that we were fully satisfied with it; that they were at liberty to take their own way and time to answer the purposes they came for; that we were desirous of living in peace with them; and for that purpose had come with offers of peace to them, which they would judge of, and whether peace or war was most for their interest; that we very well knew the measures the British agents had taken to deceive them. That if they came to the treaty, any man who had filled their ears with those stories was at liberty to come with them and return in safety. But if they refused to treat with us, we should consider it as a declaration of war on their part, &c. &c. These men stayed about us eight days, and then told us they were fully convinced our designs were good; that they had been deceived; that they would return home, and use their influence to bring in their nation, and send out to the other nations. Last night we received a belt of Wampum and a twist of tobacco, with a message that they would be in when we had smoked the tobacco. From our information we are led to believe these people will

very generally come in and heartily concur with us in peace. I think it not probable the treaty will begin sooner than Jan

uary.

"The British agents, our own traders, and the inhabitants of Kentucky, I am convinced are all opposed to a treaty, and are using every measure to prevent it. Strange as this may seem, I have very convincing proofs of its reality. The causes I can assign, but they are too many for the compass of a letter. Notwithstanding all treaties we can make, I am convinced we shall not be in safety until we have posts established in the upper country. Some parties of Cherokees are now out to war, therefore mind the first word of command. These Cherokees are but a name for all rascals of every tribe. We are informed by the Shawanese that they have driven these people from among them, and that they have settled on Paint Creek, up the Scioto, and are about one hundred in number.

"I have seen no place since I left you, that pleases me so well for settlement as Muskingum. What observations you make I will thank you to communicate, much more frequent opportunities occurring to you than to me for writing with safe conveyance. Please to present my compliments to Major Doughty, Mr. Frothingham, and other gentlemen of your post, and believe me, dear Sir, your friend and brother,

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"S. H. Parsons. Captain Jonathan Hart, at Fort Harmer, Muskingum.'

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The meeting which convened at the "Bunch of Grapes Tavern in Boston, March 1st, 1786, in answer to the call of Putnam and Tupper, was a convention of delegates from different counties in Massachusetts.

Winthrop Sargent, John Mills,

John Brooks, Thomas Cushing,

Manasseh Cutler,

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Their names were, From Suffolk ; Essex; "Middlesex; "Hampshire; "Plymouth; ፡፡ Worcester;

John Patterson, Jahlahiel Woodbridge,
Abraham Williams,

Berkshire;

(( Barnstable.

A committee to draft a plan of Association was appointed, consisting of Messrs. Putnam, Cutler, Brooks, Sargent, and Cushing. Their report was made March 2d, and adopted March 3d. We quote the characteristic points of the plan.

"Preamble. The design of this Association is to raise a fund in Continental certificates, for the sole purpose, and to be ap

propriated to the entire use of purchasing lands in the Western Territory, for the benefit of the Company, and to promote a settlement in that country."

One

The fund was not to exceed a million of dollars. year's interest was to be applied to the purpose of making a settlement, and "assisting those who may be otherwise unable to remove themselves." The funds were to be paid by subscribers into the hands of such agents as the subscribers should elect.

There were to be one thousand shares of one thousand dollars each, making a million; each share-holder to pay ten dollars in gold and silver to defray the expenses of purchasing and other contingent charges in the prosecution of the business.

That the prosecution of the Company's designs may be the least expensive;

"The proprietors of twenty shares shall constitute one grand division, appoint their agent," &c.

"The agent shall make himself accountable to each subscriber that the whole shall be appropriated according to these articles of Association, and that the subscriber shall receive his just dividend as to quantity and quality of lands purchased, as near as possibly may be, by lot drawn in person, or through proxy, and that deeds of conveyance shall be executed to individual subscribers, by the agents, similar to that he shall receive from the Directors."

"Article 8th. That the agents, being accountable to subscribers for their respective divisions, shall appoint the Directors, treasurer, and fill up all vacancies which may happen in these offices."

"Article 11th. The agents of divisions of twenty shares each, shall, after the seventeenth day of October next, proceed in the same manner as if the whole fund had been raised."

In about a year, the subscription had gone so far that a meeting of agents was held, March 8th, at Bracket's Tavern, Boston, and Samuel H. Parsons, Rufus Putnam, and Manasseh Cutler were chosen Directors to make application to Congress "for a private purchase of lands, and under such descriptions as they shall deem adequate to the purposes of the Company."

This Board of Directors authorized Dr. Cutler to make a contract with the "Continental Congress" for a portion of

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