quiring money, are stamped with no general character, except that of frugality, attention to business, and an inordinate attachment to money. Absorbed in the great business of adding dollar to dollar, no time is devoted to literature, or the acquirement of those graceful nothings, which, of no value in themselves, still constitute one great charm of polished society.

Such is the character of the inhabitants of this place in general, " ma ogni medaglio ha il suo reverso."* There is a circle, small 'tis true, but within whose magic round abounds every pleasure that wealth, regulated by taste, can produce, or urbanity bestow. There, the "redheel" of Versailles may imagine himself in the emporium of fashion, and, whilst leading beauty through the mazes of the dance, forget that he is in the wilds of America.

The theatre, public and private balls, a sober game of whist, or the more scientific one of billiards, with an occasional re-union of friends around the festive board, constitute the principal amusements; and it is with pleasure I am able to assert, without fear of contradic

Anglice.-There are two sides to the picture.

tion, that gaming forms no part of them. Whatever may have been the case formerly, there is hardly, at the present day, a vestige to be seen, of this ridiculous and disgraceful practice, and, if it exist at all, it is only to be found in the secret dens of midnight swindlers, within whose walls once to enter, is dishonor, infamy, and ruin.

PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

CHAPTER IV.

THE Court House is generally allowed to be the handsomest structure of the kind, in the western country, and was built in 1811, after a plan drawn by John Gwathmey, Esq. It consists of a body and two wings, all of brick, the former of which is ornamented with an Ionic portico supported by four lofty columns, and a cupola terminated by a spire. In the second story of the south wing is deposited the public library, which consists of about five hundred volumes. The remaining apartments in both wings, as well as several in the second story of the main body, serving for the various offices of the county, with the exception of the clerk's, which is held in a small brick building nearly opposite the

GAOL,

A most miserable edifice, in a most filthy and ruinous condition, first cousin to the black hole of Calcutta. A new and spacious one, is however contracted for, which will be commenced in

R

a few weeks, to be built (as is the old one) of stone, with arched fire proof apartments, and cells secure, but so contrived as to afford shelter to the unfortunate victim of the law, who may there "address himself to sleep" without any fear of losing his ears, through the voracity of the rats and other vermin that swarm in the present one. It would be well to surround the new building when finished, with a high stone wall, and to inclose within its limits, that horrid looking engine, now standing opposite the Court House. I allude to the pillory and whipping post. Such things may perhaps be necessary, (and even that is very doubtful) for the punishment of the guilty, but I am sure it never came within the intention of the law, to inflict through it, pain upon the innocent, it's very appearance, combined with a knowledge of its uses, sufficing to blanch the cheek of every man, who is not through custom, or a heart callous to the sufferings of humanity, totally regardless of such

scenes.

BANKS.

Of the great number of these blessed establishments, with which the inhabitants of this

state are favoured, Louisville may boast of three. Previously, however, to the existence of either of them, was an unincorporated one named the Louisville Bank, whose capital of 75,000 dollars, shortly after its creation, was thrown into the Branch of the state bank of Kentucky, located here in 1812, with an additional 25,000 dollars, making a capital in all of 100,000 dollars.

In 1817 a branch of the United States' Bank, after a good deal of trouble, was procured, for the accommodation of the good people of this place, many of whom, to judge from their conversation, already rue the day they invited it hither, neither do they seem much more pleased with the Commercial Bank of Louisville the last established of the three whose capital of 1,000,000, is kept pretty much at home, but few of their notes being in circulation. This howver is the only objection to it, its paper being in as good credit as that of the United States Bank.

Without pretending to any great knowledge of banking mysteries, it is very evident, that the people of this country are ruining themselves by similar institutions, as fast as they cleverly can. It is now but fourteen months since the last