the Great Western Territory of the Union. A better choice could not have been made. Mr. Flint, in his "Indian Wars of the West," has the following remarks relative to early Ohio emigration, and to Dr. Cutler;

"The writer of this distinctly remembers the wagon that carried out a number of adventurers from the Counties of Essex and Middlesex, in Massachusetts, on the second emigration to the woods of Ohio. He remembers the black canvass covering of the wagon; the white and large lettering in capitals, To Marietta on the Ohio.' He remembers the food which even then the thought of such a distant expedition furnished to his imagination. Some twenty emigrants accompanied the wagon. The Rev. Dr. Manasseh Cutler, he thinks, had the direction of this band of emigrants. General Putnam seems to have been the one who preceded him in claims to be the patriarch of the Marietta settlement. Dr. Cutler, at the time of his being engaged in the speculation of the Ohio Company's purchase, had a feud, it is not remembered whether literary, political, or religious, with the late learned and eccentric Dr. Bentley, of Salem, Massachusetts. Dr. Bentley was then chief contributor to a paper [Salem Register] which he afterwards edited. The writer still remembers, and can repeat doggrel verses by Dr. Bentley upon the departure of Dr. Cutler on his first trip to explore his purchase on the Ohio.*

"The first travellers to explore Ohio, availed themselves of the full extent of the travellers' privilege in regard to the wonders of this new land of promise, and the unparalleled fertility of the soil. These extravagant representations of the grandeur of the vegetation, and the fertility of the land, at first excited a great desire to emigrate to this new and wonderful region. But some returned with different accounts, in discouragement; and the hostility of the savages was painted in the most appalling colors. A reaction took place in the public mind. The wags of the day exercised their wit, in circulating caricatured and exaggerated editions of the stories of the first adventurers, that there were springs of brandy, flax that bore little pieces of cloth on the stems, enormous pumpkins and melons, and the like. Accounts the most horrible were added of hoop snakes of such deadly malignity that a sting, which they bore in their tails, when it punctured the bark of a green tree, instantly caused its leaves to become sear, and the tree to die. Stories of Indian massacres and barbarities were related in all their horrors. The country was admitted to be fertile; but was

* A republication of these doggerels would much amuse the men of the West.

pronounced excessively sickly, and poorly balancing, by that advantage, all those counterpoises of sickness, Indians, copperheaded and hoop snakes, bears, wolves, and panthers.

"The tendency of the New England mind to enterprise and emigration thus early began to develope. For all these horrors, portrayed in all their darkness, and with all the dreadful imaginings, connected with the thought of such a remote and boundless wilderness, did not hinder the departure of great numbers of the people, following in the footsteps of General Putnam and Dr. Cutler. They were both men of established character, whose words and opinions wrought confidence. Dr. Cutler was a man of extensive and various learning. He was particularly devoted to the study of natural history, and was among the first who began, scientifically, to explore the botany of our country. He had great efficiency in founding the upper settlement in Ohio; and his descendants are among the most respectable inhabitants of the country at present.

By the favor of Judge Cutler, we have before us a manuscript book of extracts from the private journal of Dr. Cutler, recording the incidents of his journey to New York, and the history of his negotiation. It is a record of great interest, containing many curious and discriminating remarks on men and things. We shall make copious extracts, confining ourselves to passages which have particular relation to the mission.

Dr. Cutler left his home in Hamilton, Massachusetts, for New York, (where the Congress of the old confederation was sitting,) in June, 1787. The Convention, which framed the new federal Constitution, was sitting at the same time in Philadelphia. The Doctor procured letters of introduction from his friends in Massachusetts to distinguished men in both cities. We commence our extracts from the journal.

"June 23, 1787. Waited on Dr. Willard, (President of Harvard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts,) who favored me with a number of letters to gentlemen at the southward. Received several from Dr. Williams, and went with him to Boston. Received letters of introduction from Governor Bowdoin, Mr. Winthrop, Dr. Warren, Dr. Dexter, Mr. Guild, Mr. Belknap, &c. Conversed with General Putnam, received

* Son of Dr. Cutler, and an old and distinguished citizen of Washington County, Ohio.

letters, and settled the plan on which I am to contract with Congress for lands on account of the Ohio Company.'

Middletown, Connecticut, July 2. It was nine o'clock this morning before General Parsons and I had settled all matters with respect to my business with Congress. He favored me with a large number of letters to members of Congress and other gentlemen in New York."

"July 5. I arrived at New York. When I came to examine my letters of introduction, I found them so accumulated that I hardly knew which to deliver first. As this is rather a curiosity to me, I am determined to preserve a catalogue, although only a part are to be delivered at New York."

Here follows a catalogue of upwards of fifty names, among which are the following;

"New York. Rev. Dr. Rogers, Sir John Temple, Lady Temple, General Knox, Hon. Richard H. Lee, M. C., Hon. Melancthon Smith, do., Hon. R. Sherman, do., General St. Clair, President of Congress," &c.

Philadelphia. Dr. Franklin, Dr. Rush, Dr. Shippen, Hon. T. Pickering, David Rittenhouse," &c.

Friday, July 6. This morning, delivered most of my introductory letters to members of Congress. Prepared my papers for making my application to Congress for the purchase of lands in the Western country for the Ohio Company. At eleven o'clock I was introduced to a number of members on the floor of Congress chamber, in the city hall, by Colonel Carrington, member from Virginia. Delivered my petition for purchasing lands for the Ohio Company, and proposed terms and conditions of purchase. A committee was appointed to agree on terms of negotiation, and report to Congress."

The next succeeding extracts will show when, by whom, and by whose advice the final selection was made for the Company's purchase.

"July 7. Paid my respects to Dr. Holton and several other gentlemen. Was introduced, by Dr. Ewings and Mr. Rittenhouse to Mr. Hutchins, Geographer of the United States. sulted with him where to make our location.

Con

"Monday, July 9. Waited this morning, very early, on Mr. Hutchins. He gave me the fullest information of the western country, from Pennsylvania to the Illinois, and advised me by all means to make our location on the Muskingum, which was decidedly, in his opinion, the best part of the whole western country. Attended the committee before Congress opened, and then spent the remainder of the forenoon with Mr. Hutchins."

"Attended the committee at Congress chamber; debated on terms, but were so wide apart, there appears little prospect of closing a contract."

"Called again on Mr. Hutchins. about the place of location."

Consulted him further

Mr. Hutchins, it should be remembered, visited and examined the regions of the Ohio, as geographer to the king of Great Britain, before the revolutionary war.

Mr. Webster supposes the original draft, by Mr. Dane, of the celebrated ordinance of 1787, to have been adopted "without the slightest alteration." But it appears, by Dr. Cutler's journal, that it was submitted to him, and that he proposed divers alterations, which were adopted. The Doctor was by no means ill qualified for such a revision, having been engaged in the study of law before he entered upon that of theology.

July 10. As Congress was now engaged in settling the form of government for the Federal Territory, for which a bill has been prepared, and a copy sent to me, with leave to make remarks and propose amendments, which I had taken the liberty to remark upon and propose several amendments, I thought this the most favorable time to go on to Philadelphia. Accordingly, after I had returned the bill with my observations, I set out at seven o'clock."

On the 17th of July, 1787, Dr. Cutler returned to New York.

"July 19. Called on members of Congress very early this morning; was furnished with the ordinance establishing a government in the Western Federal Territory. It is in a degree new modelled. The amendments I proposed have all been made, except one, and that is better qualified. It was, that we should not be subject to continental taxation, unless we were entitled to a full representation in Congress. This could not be fully obtained; for it was considered in Congress as offering a premium to emigrants."

Few negotiations were ever prosecuted with more assiduity and skill than that of Dr. Cutler, as will be evident from the further extracts we shall make from his journal. It was an arduous business, but was brought to a successful issue in ten days after the Doctor's return to New York.

"July 13. Paid my respects this morning to the President of Congress, General St. Clair."

"July 19. Called on members of Congress very early this morning."

As there are a number in Congress decidedly opposed to my terms of negotiation, and some to any contract, I wish now to ascertain the number for and against, and who they are ; and must then, if possible, bring the opponents over. This I have mentioned to Colonel Duer, who has promised to assist me. Grayson, R. H. Lee, and Carrington are certainly my warm advocates."

"Clarke, Bingham, Yates, Kearney, and Few are troublesome fellows. They must be attacked by my friends at their lodgings. If they can be brought over I shall succeed; if not, my business is at an end.

"Attended the committee this morning. They are determined to make a report to-day, and try the spirit of Congress.

"Spent the evening at Dr. Holton's with Colonel Duer and several members of Congress, who informed me, that an ordinance was passed in consequence of my petition; but, from the account of it, it will answer no purpose.

66

July 20. This morning the Secretary of Congress furnished me with the ordinance of yesterday, which states the conditions of a contract; but on terms to which I shall by no means accede. Informed the Committee of Congress, that I could not contract on the conditions proposed; should prefer purchasing land with some of the States, who would give incomparably better terms; and therefore proposed to leave the city immediately. They appeared to be sorry no better terms. were effected, and insisted on my not thinking of leaving Congress until another attempt was made. I told them I saw no prospect of contracting, and wished to spend no more time and money in a business so unpromising. They assured me I had many friends in Congress, who would make every exertion in my favor; that it was an object of great magnitude, and must not expect to accomplish it in less than two or three months. If I desired it, they would take the matter up this day on different grounds, and did not doubt they should yet obtain terms agreeable to my wishes."

The paragraphs we next quote, not only disclose a part of the latent machinery by which the negotiations were brought to a successful issue, but may throw light on the mysterious subject of the "Sciota Company," by whose professed agents the French emigrants, who finally settled at Gallipolis, were brought into such embarrassing circumstances.