between the waters of Cumberland and Green rivers, and with the same to the wagon road leading from Colonel William Casey's to Burksville, at the head of Renneck's creek; thence eastwardly, so as to leave the settlement of William Butler, jr. in Green county; thence to continue such a course as will just leave the settlement of Greasy creek in Green also; then east to the Lincoln line; then south, to the state line, and with it, to the Warren line; thence with the Warren line to the beginning."

GALLATIN, furnished a name for a sixth new county at this period. That was to have operation from the second Monday in May, 1799. "Beginning six miles above the mouth of Corn creek, on a straight line, and to run up the Ohio to the Campbell county line; thence along said line sixteen miles; thence to strike the Kentucky at the Rock spring near the Clay lick; thence down the Kentucky, within two and a half miles of the mouth of Eagle creek; thence a direct line, till it strikes the road from Shelbyville to the mouth of Kentucky, two miles north of Henry Dougherty's; thence a direct line to the beginning."

MUHLENBERG, was then also made the name of a new county, established to take effect from the 15th day of May, 1799.

Beginning at the mouth of Muddy river, running up said river with its meanders, within three miles of the mouth of Wolf-lick fork, on a straight line; from thence with a straight line to the Christian county line, six miles below Benjamin Hardin's; from thence on a straight line, so as to strike Pond river, two miles below Joel Downing's; from thence down Pond river with the meanders, to the mouth; from thence up Green river to the beginning."

It was now enacted, that the repeal of a law, which had repealed a former, should not be construed to revive the law formerly repealed, without express words to that effect.

And further, that every act passed at any stated annual session, should have force at the expiration of three months from its passage, and not sooner, unless the time be named therein.

The county of OHIO, was created, to take effect from the 1st day of July, 1799. "Beginning on the Ohio river at the mouth

of Blackford's creek; thence up the same to the head of the southeast fork that heads opposite the head of Harress's fork of Rock Lick creek; thence down the same to Rough creek; thence down the same to the Flat Clay lick on Bear creek; and down the same to Green river; and down Green river to the Ohio, and up the same to the beginning."

Fayette county was divided, and JESSAMINE, made; to take effect from the 1st day of February, 1799. "Beginning on the Woodford line where it strikes the Kentucky river, near Todd's ferry, thence along said line half a mile north of John Allen's military survey; thence to the seven mile tree on Curd's road; thence to the eight mile tree on Tate's creek road; thence along said last mentioned road to the Kentucky river; then down the river to the beginning."

The Winchester academy was established at this session. BARREN County was erected, to have effect from the 10th day of May, 1799. "Beginning at the junction of Skegg's Bea*er creek and Big Barren river, to run north to Green river; thence up the same to the mouth of Little Barren river; thence up the same to the Elk lick; thence with the Green county line four miles; thence a straight line to the Pilot knob; thence a straight line to the mouth of the east fork of Little Barren river; thence up the same till on a reduced line there shall be six miles taken from Green, by running a parallel or south line so far that a due west line from the Marrow-Bone spring, will intersect the Green line; thence with the Green line to the Tennessee state line; thence with the same a due west course so far that a due north course will strike the beginning."

The county of HENDERSON, was enacted into existence at this session, so prolific in the production of counties. This was to take effect from the 15th of May, 1799. "Beginning on Trade water opposite the mouth of Montgomery's fork, thence to the head of Drake's creek; thence down Drake's creek to Pond river, and down the same to Green river, and down the same to the Ohio, and down the same to the mouth of Trade water, and up the same to the beginning."

Thus were eleven new counties made; the greater number of which, were in that section of the state called the Green River country, whose population had been rapidly increased, by means of the head right laws; which settled, the south of Green river.

In compliance with the joint request of a majority of the trustees of the Transylvania seminary-and of the Kentucky academy--the two institutions, were united on the terms agreed, by the parties.

Twenty trustees were named-and the establishment was henceforth to take the name of, the Transylvania University; and to be administered in Lexington, at the seat of the seminary, until removed by a board of the trustees; two-thirds of whom were required to concur in the measure.

The trustees were incorporated, with power over the funds; and the right, by the concurrence of a majority of the whole number, to elect poor boys, or youths, of promising genius, into the institution, to be assisted in their education by the public, or common funds.

Former laws of the two united institutions, to be the laws of the university, until altered by the legislature-except as to certain modifications, which were made in the act.

The Bourbon academy, was established by an act of this session.

And by another act, more than twenty other similar seats of education, were also established, and corporate powers, vested in trustees; with a faculty of superintendence, and also to hold and control such funds as should be bestowed upon their several institutions, for the purposes of education. Indeed, the le gislature have been at no time backward in granting such charters. While the idea seems well established, that one in each county is a matter of course; and as many more as may be petitioned for.

This act, like that passed at the preceding session on the subject of academies, granted six thousand acres of land to each academy by it established; to be located under the

direction of the trustees. And the like quantity of six thousand acres, for an academy in each county where none had been established; to be located under the direction of the county

courts.

An act allowing the settlers south of Green river to pay the money due the state, in equal annual portions, also became a law at this session. Four instalments, with interest, were allowed.

It seems that every history should exhibit statements, from time to time, of the public revenues; and if this is deficient in precision occasionally, it is to be ascribed to the loss of official journals, for some of the years, or defects in reports. In this part of the work, the most important consideration is to shew the progressive increase of both the receipt and expenditure of public money: and this may be done with sufficient accuracy, by taking a medium between those years in which the aggregates have been given with certainty. And that must. suffice for this year.

CHAP. VII.

Assemblage at Bryant's, &c.-President announces a new mission to France-Other measures which lead to accommodation, &c.— Convention assembled in Frankfort, and Constitution formed--The new Constitution-Legislative proceedings--Proposals to im prove the navigation of Kentucky river--Vineyard Society incorpo rated--Several new counties made, and other acts done.

[1799] Early in February, 1799, a numerous assemblage of the people of Fayette took place at Bryant's station, in order to interchange opinions, and come to resolutions about the qualifications and sentiments of persons to be elected as members to the convention for revising the constitution. Equality of representation; a divided legislature; the independence of courts, and judges; the compact with Virginia; and the continuation of slavery, exempt from legislative emancipation were severally resolved, affirmatively. The latter subject produced a considerable opposition, and some warmth. The resolution was qualified with various ameliorative provisos; such as are seen in the constitution. Committees of two members from each religious society, and from each militia company, were recommended, to meet at the same place on the third Saturday of the same month for the purpose of agreeing on a list of names, of persons to be elected as representatives, to the convention. It is not believed that this recommendation was generally attended to. There was another meeting, at Colonel Patterson's, which entered into a resolution in favour of gradual emancipation; and who also formed a ticket, and recommended a fuller meeting at the seminary, on the April court day: but, with little effect.-Neither were the Bryant's Station measures generally imitated.

On the 18th of February, the president of the United States announced to the senate, that he nominated William Vans Murray, our minister resident at the Hague, to be minister plenipotentiary to the French republic. With this nomination