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up said creek to Cumberland mountain; thence with the said mountain, to the line of Lincoln county; thence with that line, and the Kentucky river, to the beginning"-was on the first day of May, 1786, erected into the county of Bourbon.

So much of Lincoln county, as was included "within a line beginning at the confluence of Sugar creek, and Kentucky river; thence a direct line to the mouth of Clark's run; thence a straight line to Wilson's station, in the fork of Clark's run; then the same course continued to the line of Nelson county; thence with the said line to the line of Jefferson county; thence with that line to the Kentucky river; thence up the said river, to the beginning"--was on the first day of August in this year, set apart as a new county, by the name of MERCER.

And such other part of Lincoln county, as lay within lines, "beginning at the confluence of Kentucky, and Sugar creek; thence up said creek to the fork that James Thompson lives on; thence up said fork to the head thereof; thence a straight line to where an east course from John Ellis's, will intersect the ridge that divides the waters of Paint lick, from the waters of Dick's river; thence along the top of said ridge southwardly opposite to Hickman's lick; thence south forty-five degrees east to the main Rockcastle river; thence up the said river to the head thereof; thence with the ridge that divides the waters of Kentucky river, from the waters of Cumberland river, to the line of Washington county; thence along said line to the main fork of Kentucky river, that divides the county of Fayette, from the county of Lincoln; thence down the said river to the beginning"-was, on the same first day of August, established the county of MADISON.-For such was the tenor, and effect, of the laws, which created these counties; and which it has been seen, were each, to have an equal representation, in the grand convention, that was to decide on the contemplated separation.

In the mean time, there is an interval, not destitute of occurrences, and which claims its share of attention, to be filled up, with their details.

A subject, however unpleasant, and often as it may occur which never fails to challenge attention; again presents itself'tis Indian depredation. The occurrence now to be noticed, can but be considered as one of the most unpleasant, that took place, this year.

In the month of April, the Indians, as they had done before, stole horses on Bear Grass, with which they crossed the Ohio as usual; thereby expecting to escape pursuit-according to former experience. But Colonel William Christian, having raised a party of men, crossed the river, determined that these robbers should no longer evade his pursuit, by flying to their own forests; although northwest of the great stream. About twenty miles within the Indian territory, he came up with these freebooters, attacked, and totally destroyed them, but fell in the conflict; with one of his men.

In the death of Colonel Christian, Kentucky sustained, a most sensible, and important loss.

He had migrated from Virginia, the preceding year; and settled on Bear Grass-where he was distinguished, for his intelligence, activity, and enterprise. From the death of Col. John Floyd, which took place in 1783, in consequence of a wound from the gun of an Indian, that part of Kentucky, had wanted such a man as Colonel Christian. He had been used to the Indians from an early period of his life; had distinguished himself as an officer-acquired much practical informationand possessed the manners, and accomplishments of a man of cultivated mind. He was a Virginian by birth; had been educated in Staunton; and served, when a young man, as a captain, in Colonel Bird's regiment; which had been ordered in the time of Braddock's war, to the southwestern frontier of his native state. In this service he obtained the reputation, of a brave, active, and skilful, partisan. After peace, he married the sister, of Patrick Henry; settled in the county of Bottetourt, and was made a colonel, in the militia. His natural bias, was strong towards military affairs. In 1774, the Indians were hostile on the Ohio, and Colonel Christian raised about three. hundred volunteers, with whom he joined the army of Colonel

Andrew Lewis, at the mouth of the great Kenhawa, on the night after the battle, already noticed, at the Point; having performed an extraordinary march of near two hundred miles, to arrive in time for the expected battle; which he missed by half a day.

With Colonel Lewis, he crossed the Ohio; and was with Dunmore, at the treaty, which ensued.

This period, has been considered, rather, as the morn, than as the eve of the contest with Great Britain. Connected, as Colonel Christian was, he could but feel its impulse-governed as he was, by the correct feelings of his own heart, he had no hesitation in the choice of sides--he valued his allegiance-but his liberty, was without price.

He was a member of the general state convention, in 1775. In the next year, he was appointed a lieutenant colonel, in the first Virginia regiment; and upon the resignation of the colonel, in the same year, he was promoted to fill the vacancy.

The Cherokee Indians, having commenced hostilities, in 1776, Colonel Christian, was ordered by the executive, to that frontier, to take the command of an expedition against them. His army consisted of about twelve hundred men; this he conducted with singular propriety, and address. In consequence of the enemy who had assembled in considerable numbers, finding themselves baffled; they sent him a flag of truce, and peace was made without fighting. Colonel Christian, after this occurrence, returned home; and in no long time, the tories in the mountains, an ignorant, and infatuated set of people, under the influence of bad men, almost as ignorant, gave disturbance, by manifesting an adherence to the crown, in opposition to the measures recommended by the states; these he found it necessary to suppress: and for that purpose, resigned his commission in the regular service; in order to head the patriotic militia, of his county. He continued a vigilant, and enterprising citizen, during the war. By whose influence and example, an extensive section of the kept in subordination to the proper tion almost banished from Virginia.

state on New river, was authorities, and disaffecSometimes, he was com

pelled to resort to harsh means, to bring real culprits, to justice, or a sense of their crimes. This once done, there was no more use for martial law-and although there were some instances of actual insurrection; but few deaths, or imprisonments, ensued; he, ever preferring to conquer by address, rather than, by force. If popularity is to be taken as a test of merit, and surely it is though not infallible, Colonel Christian often exhibited the evidence of possessing it, in the character of a representative from his county.

During this time, and these occurrences, Colonel Christian had attained a high reputation for his acquirements, and knowledge, both civil, and military. In 1785, he removed his family to Kentucky, and his own land, in Jefferson county. Being about forty-two years of age, he felt all his former activity of disposition, all his former attention to the safety of bis country and participated in the active means of repelling the predatory parties of savages, who infested his neighbourhood.

The ideas of separation, and of independent government, having been familiarized in Kentucky, although Colonel Christian had kept himself pretty much out of the debate, he was frequently spoken of, by his acquaintances, as the first governor of the new commonwealth. The event of his death, as mentioned, terminated these anticipations, so agreeable to the public-so honourable to him. Mingling with his memory, both sympathy, and regret. The first, with his living relatives; the latter, for the deceased.

Inasmuch, as it was in this year, that congress brought their pacific system, of treating the Indians, into full operation; an account of the proceedings of that venerable body, as they seem to affect Kentucky, will be next given.

CHAP. XI.

Proceedings of Congress on Indian affairs-Incidents in relation to elections, conventions, &c.-Clark's, and Logan's, expeditionsIndian hostilities-Proceedings as to separation, &c.

[1786] IT has been deemed proper, on account of the interest which Kentucky had in the proceedings of congress relative to Indian affairs; consequent upon the peace with Great Britain, to introduce a succinct view of them, into this history. They necessarily fall into two parts—the one having peace for its object-the other war. The first, occu pying a term from 1783, to 1786, inclusive, will exclusively, be drawn into this sketch; which is introduced at this place, for a reason already suggested; and will be given in a connected series, as best calculated to make a correct impression.

On the first of May, 1783, congress resolved, that the secre tary at war take the most effectual measures, to inform the several Indian tribes on the frontiers of the United States, that preliminary articles of peace have been agreed on; that hostilities have ceased with Great Britain; that the British forts within the United States are soon to be given up; that the United States are disposed to enter into friendly treaties with them; and that unless they cease hostilities, and accede to these friendly offers of peace, congress will take the most decided measures to compel a compliance.

But what was congress?-Dependent on the states, for power, for efficiency, for existence. Prolific in resolves, but barren, in execution.

What if congress, was composed of the most wise, and vir tuous men in the United States, or in the world; they could do little more than resolve, order, or recommend. The members were dependent on the state assemblies for their seatsthe body itself, had to solicit the powers of the states, to effec tuate its measures. War, a sense of common, and pressing

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