most ancient of these, is Abraham's Lodge, who received its charter from the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, in 1801, the period when all the existing lodges of the State gave up their charters, which had been taken from the Grand Lodge of Virginia, in order to receive them from that of this State, whose jurisdiction they acknowledged. Clark's Lodge, named in honor of General G. R. Clark, was chartered only in 1817, although it had worked some time before, by virtue of a dispensation. The chapter received its warrant and commenced its operations in 1818. All these institutions are in a highly flourishing state, and the rigid attention paid by them to the conduct of their members, ensures a continuance of it, and tends to rescue from unmerited obloquy, the character of these "sons of light."

PRINTING OFFICES.

There are three of these invaluable establishments in this place; two of which issue weekly democratic papers, called the Courier and Herald, and the third, federal, published semi-weekly, termed the Louisville Public Advertiser, edited by S. Penn, jun.

POST OFFICE.

Nine mails arrive weekly at and are distributed from this office, the amount of revenue annually derived by the government from which source, is equal to $4,000. There is no better datum, by which we can form an estimate of the rapid incrcase and rising importance of Louisville, than by the augmentation of business at this establishment, which in 1808 yielded but $529 per annum, whereas for several years past it has averaged four thousand!!

PORT WARDENS AND SURVEYORS.

By an Act of Congress, in 1799, Louisville was declared to be a port of entry, and a collector established there, in order to prevent the clandestine importation of foreign goods, to which, previous to this epoch, there existed no impediment whatever, New Orleans being in possession of another nation. After that city and the valuable State in which it is situated, was ceded to the American government, the district of Louisville was incorporated with that of the Mississippi, by an Act of the 13th of Fe

bruary, 1807, and the general Custom House located at New Orleans, which precluding the necessity of collectors in those towns situated on the waters of the Mississippi and Ohio, the office was consequently abolished, and that of surveyors established in lieu thereof, by the said Act, which declares their functions to consist in the survey of boats constructed in their district, and the power of granting temporary licences, which are to be surrendered to the Custom House at New Orleans, on the arrival of such boat. Whether the surveyors' authority extends any further, is a matter that I have not been able to ascertain, but which it is requisite should be clearly and explicitly understood, in order that merchants and others may govern themselves accordingly.

Agreeably to an Act of the legislature of Kentucky, in 1818, two officers, termed Port Wardens, were appointed for the town of Louisville, and two for Shippingport, whose duty it is, when called upon, to visit and examine any boat or cargo, to see whether the one be sound and river-worthy, and whether the latter be stowed properly, so that no heavy articles be

placed over light and brittle ones, &c. and to grant a certificate of the same to the captain or owner of such boat, which, in case of any dispute arising between him and the consignee, or owner of such goods, relative to damage by breakage, &c. is ordered by the said Act, to be received as evidence in favor of the former, prima facie. This is a highly useful law, and will serve to settle and prevent many disputes between the shippers of goods and the owners of boats.

SHIPPINGPORT.

CHAPTER VI.

THIS important place is situated two miles below Louisville, immediately at the foot of the rapids, being built upon the beautiful plain or bottom which commences at the mouth of Bear Grass Creek, through which, under the brow of the second bank, the contemplated canal will, in all probability, be cut.

The site of this town was sold to Mr. Berthoud, by Colonel Campbell, in 1803; shortly after, the land was surveyed by Mr. Woodrough, a plan drawn by Valcour, and the lots advertised for sale. A few cabins, however, were erected previously to this, in 1785, but owing to many local circumstances, no settlement, worth mentioning, was effected until the arrival of the Messrs. Tarascons, in 1806, to whom the greatest part of the town was conveyed, by the said Mr. Berthoud. It is from this epoch that Shippingport may date its rise, for which