CHAPTER XV

Trade wind—Vienna—Belle-prè—Little Kenhawa river—Browning’s tavern—Blennerhasset’s island, handsome seat and fine farm.

At half past two we proceeded from Marietta, accompanied by a Mr. Fry, a genteel and well informed young lawyer, from the vicinity of Boston, in search of an establishment in some part of this new country. We had also as a passenger, a countryman, by trade a house carpenter, who resided in Virginia, {108} about fifty miles lower down the river, and was returning home after a trip up and down the Muskingum as one of the crew of a keel boat.

There was a fresh S. W. wind, which is a trade wind on the Ohio every day during summer, generally commencing about eight o’clock in the morning, and ceasing about five in the afternoon, during which a boat with a sail could ascend against the stream, from two to five miles an hour, in proportion to the force of the wind; on which account I would recommend it to navigators ascending the Mississippi and the Ohio in the summer season, to be provided with a sail, as it will accelerate their voyage very much, besides saving them a great deal of labour.

It blew so fresh this afternoon, that even with the aid of our passengers, and a strong favourable current, we could scarcely make any progress against the wind, which also occasioned a considerable roughness of the water. Bydint however of perseverance we advanced a little, passing, three miles below Marietta, Muskingum island, two miles long, and uncultivated, and a mile beyond that, Second island, a fine little uncultivated island, three quarters of a mile long.

Two miles from hence, we passed on the left, a small settlement of six or eight cabins, called Vienna, which does not appear to be flourishing; and half a mile lower on the right, Coles’s tavern, a very good square roofed house; a little beyond which is Third island, a mile long, and the beginning of the fine settlement of Belle-prè on the right, and a mile lower down, Little Kenhawa river on the left.[87]This is a handsome little river, about eighty yards wide, with a placid stream. It has Wood county court-house, and a tavern, on the right bank of its embouchure.

We landed on the right at Browning’s tavern,[88]a good house and pleasant situation, almost opposite {109} the Little Kenhawa. Several travellers sat down with us to an excellent supper, amongst whom were a merchant from Lexington, a travelling speculator and well digger from French Grant, and a Mr. Smith from Cincinnati, who was deputed by the marshal of Virginia to collect evidence for the trial of Col. Burr, and his associates at Richmond.

Leaving Browning’s tavern on Friday, 24th July, at sixo’clock, without our passengers, in twenty minutes after, we had advanced a mile and three quarters, and landed on the north side of Blennerhasset’s island, a quarter of a mile below the eastern end.

On ascending the bank from the landing, we entered at a handsome double gate, with hewn stone square pilasters, a gravel walk, which led us about a hundred and fifty paces, to Mr. Blennerhasset’s house, with a meadow on the left, and a shrubbery on the right, separated from the avenue by a low hedge of privy-sally, through which innumerable columbines, and various other hardy flowers were displaying themselves to the sun, at present almost their only observer.

We were received with politeness by Mrs. Cushing, whose husband, Col. Cushing, has a lease of this extensive and well cultivated farm, where he and his family now reside in preference to his own farm at Belle-prè.

The house occupies a square of about fifty-four feet each side, is two stories high, and in just proportion. On the ground floor is a dining room of twenty-seven feet by twenty, with a door at each end communicating with two small parlours, in the rear of each of which is another room, one of which was appropriated by Mr. B. for holding a chymical apparatus, and as a dispensary for drugs and medicines.

The stair case is spacious and easy, and leads to a very handsome drawing room over the dining room, of the same dimensions. It is half arched round the {110} cornices and the ceiling is finished in stucco. The hangings above the chair rail are green with gilt border, and below a reddish grey. The other four rooms on the same floor correspond exactly with those below, and are intended either for bed chambers, or to form a suit with the drawing room.

The body of the house is connected with two wings, by a semicircular portico or corridor running from each front corner. In one wing is the kitchen and scullery, and in the other was the library, now used as a lumber room.

It is to be regretted that so tasty and so handsome a house had not been constructed of more lasting materials than wood.

The shrubbery was well stocked with flowery shrubs and all the variety of evergreens natural to this climate, as well as several exoticks, surrounds the garden, and has gravel walks, labyrinth fashion, winding through it.

The garden is not large, but seems to have had every delicacy of fruit, vegetable, and flower, which this fine climate and luxurious soil produces. In short, Blennerhasset’s island is a most charming retreat for any man of fortune fond of retirement, and it is a situation perhaps not exceeded for beauty in the western world. It wants however the variety of mountain—precipice—cateract—distant prospect, &c. which constitute the grand and sublime.

The house was finished in a suitable style, but all the furniture and moveables were attached by the creditors to whom Mr. B. had made himself liable by endorsing Col. Burr’s bills, and they were lately sold at publick auction at Wood county court-house, for perhaps less than one twentieth of their first cost.[89]

Mrs. Cushing described Mrs. B. as beautiful and highly accomplished, about thirty years of age, and mother of two infant sons now with her at Natchez.

{111} After passing an hour in this delightful spot, we left it with regret that such a terrestrial paradise should be deserted by an owner who had taste to blend judiciously the improvements of art with the beauties of nature. Its fertility will always ensure its cultivation, but without a Horace it must cease to be a Tivoli.

FOOTNOTES:[87]The island at the point is still called Cole’s, or Vienna, Island. For sketch of the Little Kanawha, see Croghan’sJournals, vol. i of this series, p. 130, note 98.Belpré (contraction of Belle Prairie) was the site chosen for the second separate community of the Ohio Company of Associates, being laid out 1789-90. The first town meeting was held in 1802. Belpré’s chief title to fame is the fact that there was established (about 1795) the first circulating library in the Northwest Territory. The son of Israel Putnam brought out a portion of his father’s library, and formed a stock company in which shares were sold at ten dollars each. The company was dissolved (1815 or 1816), and among the stockholders were distributed the books, some of which are still to be found in the neighboring farmhouses.—Ed.[88]William Browning came to Marietta from Massachusetts in 1789, and shortly after married a daughter of General Rufus Putnam, settling at Belpré, where he died in 1823.—Ed.[89]This description of the Blennerhassett place so soon after the family were forced to abandon the island, is of especial interest. The story of Harman Blennerhassett is one of the best-known in Western annals. He was an Irish gentleman of fortune and culture, who because of his republican principles emigrated to America. In 1798 he bought this beautiful island in the Ohio, and prepared it for a home for his family. Charming and accomplished, he and his wife occupied themselves in beautifying the place, in generous and lavish hospitality, and in scientific investigation. Unfortunately Blennerhassett was tempted to embrace the schemes of Aaron Burr, and involved his entire estate in that enterprise. Late in 1806 rumors of treason grew so strong that Blennerhassett was obliged to escape from his island, which was shortly overrun with local militia, who wantonly destroyed much property and insulted Mrs. Blennerhassett. The place had been left to the care of Colonel Nathaniel Cushing, who, after distinguished service in the Revolution, had removed to the Ohio, and having settled near Belpré, was a neighbor and warm friend of the Blennerhassetts. The fine mansion was burned in 1811 by the carelessness of negroes, and but little is now left of the estate which had been laid out with so much care and taste. For description of the present condition of the island, see Thwaites,On the Storied Ohio.—Ed.

[87]The island at the point is still called Cole’s, or Vienna, Island. For sketch of the Little Kanawha, see Croghan’sJournals, vol. i of this series, p. 130, note 98.Belpré (contraction of Belle Prairie) was the site chosen for the second separate community of the Ohio Company of Associates, being laid out 1789-90. The first town meeting was held in 1802. Belpré’s chief title to fame is the fact that there was established (about 1795) the first circulating library in the Northwest Territory. The son of Israel Putnam brought out a portion of his father’s library, and formed a stock company in which shares were sold at ten dollars each. The company was dissolved (1815 or 1816), and among the stockholders were distributed the books, some of which are still to be found in the neighboring farmhouses.—Ed.

[87]The island at the point is still called Cole’s, or Vienna, Island. For sketch of the Little Kanawha, see Croghan’sJournals, vol. i of this series, p. 130, note 98.

Belpré (contraction of Belle Prairie) was the site chosen for the second separate community of the Ohio Company of Associates, being laid out 1789-90. The first town meeting was held in 1802. Belpré’s chief title to fame is the fact that there was established (about 1795) the first circulating library in the Northwest Territory. The son of Israel Putnam brought out a portion of his father’s library, and formed a stock company in which shares were sold at ten dollars each. The company was dissolved (1815 or 1816), and among the stockholders were distributed the books, some of which are still to be found in the neighboring farmhouses.—Ed.

[88]William Browning came to Marietta from Massachusetts in 1789, and shortly after married a daughter of General Rufus Putnam, settling at Belpré, where he died in 1823.—Ed.

[89]This description of the Blennerhassett place so soon after the family were forced to abandon the island, is of especial interest. The story of Harman Blennerhassett is one of the best-known in Western annals. He was an Irish gentleman of fortune and culture, who because of his republican principles emigrated to America. In 1798 he bought this beautiful island in the Ohio, and prepared it for a home for his family. Charming and accomplished, he and his wife occupied themselves in beautifying the place, in generous and lavish hospitality, and in scientific investigation. Unfortunately Blennerhassett was tempted to embrace the schemes of Aaron Burr, and involved his entire estate in that enterprise. Late in 1806 rumors of treason grew so strong that Blennerhassett was obliged to escape from his island, which was shortly overrun with local militia, who wantonly destroyed much property and insulted Mrs. Blennerhassett. The place had been left to the care of Colonel Nathaniel Cushing, who, after distinguished service in the Revolution, had removed to the Ohio, and having settled near Belpré, was a neighbor and warm friend of the Blennerhassetts. The fine mansion was burned in 1811 by the carelessness of negroes, and but little is now left of the estate which had been laid out with so much care and taste. For description of the present condition of the island, see Thwaites,On the Storied Ohio.—Ed.

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