composed of dwelling houses two stories high, eighteen feet wide, and of different lengths. The block-houses and curtains are so constructed by high roofs, etc., as to form one complete and entire building. The blockhouse intended for the bell, with a part of the adjacent curtains, has a hall appropriated to public use, where three hundred people may assemble. The open space within the square of buildings is one hundred and fortyfour feet, on each side, in the center of which a well is digging (upwards of eighty feet deep). There will be seventy-two rooms in the building exclusive of the lofts and garrets, which at twelve persons to a room (a moderate proportion in case of necessity) will lodge eight hundred and sixtyfour. I expect the whole will be completed by the 1st of December."

The first town meeting in Marietta was held February 4, 1789. Judge Crary was chosen chairman, and the clerk was Colonel E. Battelle, a graduate of Harvard College in 1775. Judge Crary, Robert Oliver, Elijah Backus from Norwich, Connecticut, Winthrop Sargent, and Haffield White were chosen a committee to form a system of police. Two days later the little community was treated to a genuine wedding. Rowena, the pretty daughter of General Tupper, bestowed her heart and hand upon Winthrop Sargent, secretary of the territory and subsequently governor of Ohio from 1798 to 1801. General Rufus Putnam in his judicial robes performed the ceremony. This was the first wedding in Marietta.

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The reports that found their way to the East from the settlement were not altogether cheerful, even during the first year. One writer said: "I find Marietta a poor muddy hole-the mud here is more disagreeable than the snow in Massachusetts." Another wrote: A few log huts are scattered here and there, only a few feet above the tall stumps of the trees that have been cut away to make room for them. Narrow footpaths meander through the mud from cabin to cabin; while an occasional log across the water courses afford the pedestrian a passage without wetting his feet." General Parsons, however, writes in a different strain under date of December 11, 1788, and gives some bright glimpses of social life. He says: "We are constantly putting up buildings, but arrivals are faster than we can provide convenient covering. Between forty and fifty houses are so far done as to receive families, and ten more are in building. We still continue our Sabbath exercises, and last Monday we had the first ball in our country, at which were present fifteen ladies, as well accomplished in the manners of polite circles as any I have seen in the old states. I mention this to show the progress of society in this distant country, and believe we shall vie with, if not excel the old states in every accomplishment necessary to render life happy. My wife agrees to

send one of our daughters next summer, and with the family to remove when I can make it convenient."

Governor St. Clair brought his family to live in Campus Martius in 1790, and occupied the southwest block-house which had been fitted up for his convenience. His household consisted of three daughters, one son, and a housekeeper. Mrs. St. Clair remained in charge of their princely domain in Pennsylvania, known as "Pottsgrove." The governor's eldest daughter, Louise, was a bewitching beauty, refined, intelligent, animated and witty, and soon turned the heads of all the young men in the settlement. She was in perfect health and extravagantly fond of out-of-door life. She rode spirited horses, dashing through the open woodlands at full gallop, leaping over logs and obstructions without fear; she out-skated the best skaters in the garrison with graceful ease, eliciting plaudits from young and old; in hunting she was an expert, and could load her rifle and fire with the accuracy of a backwoodsman-killing a squirrel in the highest tree and cutting off the head of a partridge with. wonderful precision; and she would often walk for miles with the rapidity of a ranger. One of the most unique tableaux in the historic " pageant' at the recent celebration, represented "Louise St. Clair and her admirers." The irresistible belle was seated on a log upon a primitive sled, drawn by a dozen or more young men. She was wrapped in furs, and a furious

snow storm was raging; but she was distributing her words and her smiles all the same between three or four of her more determined suitors who walked by her side.

The historic "pageant " referred to above deserves more than a passing word, but our space is limited. It was a study of the people of a century ago, admirable in conception and charming in execution as delineated under an electric light. Descendants appeared in the actual costumes of historic characters, in many instances representing actual scenes in their lives. "The first civil court, September 2, 1788," was particularly effective. There were so many judges in those days that if a group of men were standing together and some one in passing shouted "Judge," they would all turn to respond. There were also sixty commissioned army officers among the settlers during the earlier years of Marietta. "The Party

at Blennerhassetts in 1805," displayed some rich costumes, and the identical furniture of the Blennerhassetts was shown in the tableaux. Studies of this character are instructive, and we commend the example of Marietta to other towns of Ohio at their approaching centennials.

The Indians were perfectly friendly for a time, and visited the settlement with great frequency. But troubles arose, and there were five years when it was unsafe to travel from place to place; the inhabitants were

VOL. XX.-No. 3.-13

obliged to dwell imprisoned within the forts. In the works of the wildest fiction can be found no parallel to the tales of hardships and heroism, of thrilling adventures and tragic events, that characterized this period. A fortress similar to Campus Martius was constructed in 1789, at Belpre, twelve miles below Marietta, on the high bank of the Ohio, opposite Blennerhassett Island, in which about two hundred people were crowded until Indian hostilities ceased. And here, as in Marietta, refinement and culture were conspicuous. Elijah Backus, one of the pioneers of the country, in 1792 purchased of a Virginia gentleman two islands in the Ohio river, subsequently for half a dozen years known as "Backus's Islands."

In 1798 Harman Blennerhassett paid $4,500, for the upper half of one of these islands, which has ever since borne his name. He was a scion of the nobility of Ireland. The old home of his family was Castle Conway, in the county of Kerry. He was classically educated, sharing the honors. of Trinity College, Dublin, with his celebrated relative, Thomas Addis Emmet. The two read law together, and were admitted to the bar on the same day in 1790. Blennerhassett instead of practicing his profession gave his attention to the sciences, music and literature. He inherited a princely fortune, but becoming involved in political troubles sold his estate and went to England, where he married the accomplished daughter of Lieutenant-Governor Agnew, of the Isle of Man, whose father, General Agnew, was of the British army in America and fell in the Revolution. Blennerhassett and his wife sailed for New York in 1797, and becoming dazzled with the wonderful stories about the Ohio country went to Marietta the same autumn, and spent the winter there. They found the society congenial and the country charmed them. They explored the vicinity for a plantation and finally bought this wild romantic island-property of Mr. Backus. They chose it partly for its beauty, were however influenced by its near proximity to Belpre with its well-educated settlers and protecting fort, but the turning point in the decision was the fact that the island. was under Virginia laws enabling its owner to hold slaves, which he could not do on Ohio soil. Both Blennerhassett and his wife went to the island and occupied a deserted block-house while projecting improvements and preparing to build a permanent home. Fifty thousand dollars were quickly expended, much of which fell like a benefaction among the mechanics and farmers of Marietta and vicinity. It was the first large amount of money that had stirred their ambition within the decade. The grounds and gardens and river landing were fashioned after European models. An English landscape gardener was imported to superintend the planting of ornamental trees, hawthorn hedges, and flowering shrubs. These were grouped

in the most tasteful manner, among which serpentine walks were graveled, bordered with flowers; and arbors and grottos covered with honeysuckles and eglantine roses, were dropped here and there at convenient distances. apart.

The mansion was built on a costly scale. The front with its wings formed the half of an ellipsis, one hundred and four feet in extent, facing the north and overlooking a handsome lawn of many acres, with a view of both sides of the Ohio river as far as the eye could reach. Smooth drives and walks and an imposing gateway with large stone pillars gave to the whole a pleasing effect. A large farm below the house was brought under cultivation, and orchards of the choicest varieties of fruit, in part imported from Europe, were planted and cherished with constant care. The interior of the house was correspondingly elegant in its appointments. The entrance-hall was broad and decorated after the fashion of the old Tudor mansions of England. The drawing-rooms were luxuriant with mirrors, gay colored carpets, rich curtains and light airy furniture of the Marie Antoinette style, and the side-boards in the great dining room were filled with massive silver plate and costly glass. Blennerhassett had before leaving London provided himself with a large and valuable library of classical, scientific and other books, and with a philosophical apparatus. He fitted up one apartment for these, calling it his study, where he passed much of his time in reading and experimenting.

During these months of building and furnishing they were much in Marietta, and were hospitably entertained by the best families. Mrs. Blennerhassett, who was very fond of dancing, was present at most of the balls and assemblies which were frequent in Marietta and Belpre after the Indian war. When the island mansion was completed, Mr. and Mrs. Blennerhassett returned these civilities in the most delightful manner. Parties of young people were invited, who usually came down the river in row-boats, as the country was so new that carriages were little used. Ladies at whose houses the Blennerhassetts had been honored guests, came in response to their hospitable summons, and spent days and even weeks at the "enchanted isle." Dinners were given to many celebrities in military and civil life, the formalities of which had the flavor of courts. Mrs. Blennerhassett was an accomplished scholar, and sparkling in conversation. She fascinated everyone with whom she came in contact. She was tall, dignified and graceful, in fact almost as tall as her husband, who stood six feet in his slippers. Blennerhassett dressed in the English style of the times, wearing scarlet or bluff small-clothes, a coat of velvet or blue broadcloth, and silk stockings and silver shoebuckles. Mrs. Blennerhassett wore a great variety of colors.