Part 7 (1/2)

”Whereas it is represented, that of those engaged in navigating the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, many persons, owing to the fatigue and exposure incident to long voyages, become sick and languish at the town of Louisville, where the commerce in which they are engaged sustains a pause, occasioned by the falls of the Ohio river; that the charity of the citizens of that town and county is no longer able to minister to those poor unfortunate persons, the support and attention which the necessities of the latter, and the humanity of the former would seem to demand and prescribe; that the growing character of Louisville, as a place as well of import as of export, and the growing commerce of this State and of the western country connected with that place threatens to throw an increased ma.s.s of sick upon the citizens of that town and country, to the comfort and support of whom the resources subject to the exactions of charity would be unequal, and applied as individual sympathy might dictate, unavailing; and that it would be wise and humane to incorporate an inst.i.tution at that place, for the relief, sustenance, comfort and restoration of the poor and the afflicted of the description aforesaid: Wherefore, &c.” In 1811, the Legislature made a donation of $10,000, and in 1822 a similar gift of $7,500 to this hospital. It is now in the hands of the city, and is used as a clinique by the medical schools here. The original building yet stands, but has been remodeled and improved.

In this year the small-pox made fearful ravages in the town, and, ”owing,”

as Dr. McMurtrie says, ”to the slothful negligence of the civil authorities, it was impossible to prevent its innoculating the place for several years.”

The last incident which will be mentioned in connection with this year was a dinner given on the 27th of April, 1817, to Capt. H. M. Shreve, as a testimony of the consideration in which he was held as a steamboat navigator, and particularly with a view to congratulate him on the very expeditious voyage he had performed from Louisville to New Orleans and back. This voyage was made by the steamer Was.h.i.+ngton, and, as will be seen by reference to the list of steamboats published in the earlier part of this volume, was performed in the very brief period of _forty-five days_!

Capt. De Hart was also invited to partake of this dinner, the committee a.s.suring him of their highest respect, and that they would have been early to make him public testimonials of this respect but for fear that it would be construed into a countenance of the course the concern to which he was attached, has been, and is pursuing. Reference is here had to the Fulton and Livingston Company, who were still seeking to monopolize the navigation of the western rivers. Mr. Norborn B. Beale was President, and Maj. C. P. Luckett Vice President, on this occasion. The Committee of Invitation consisted of J. Headington, Levi Tyler and Jas. A. Pearce.

Toasts were drunk to several of the Presidents, to the 19 United States, to the Ohio and Mississippi, to the State of Louisiana, to New York, to Fulton, Shreve, De Hart and others. The following toast shows that Louisville had yet some fears of the rivalry of her neighbors: 12th. ”_Our Sister-towns of Lexington and Frankfort_--let us have equal privileges in a fair compet.i.tion, that local advantages and individual enterprise may insure pre-eminence.” It is said that at this dinner, Mr. Shreve predicted that a trip from New Orleans to Louisville would be effected in ten or twelve days, but this was looked upon rather as the dream of an enthusiast than as the sober calculations of a sagacious man. Mr. Shreve, however, and many of his hosts lived to see the prediction more than fulfilled.

The earliest event in the next year which deserves notice here, was the death of General George Rogers Clarke. The remains of this distinguished man, who was so intimately connected with the earlier history of Louisville, were interred at his residence at Locust Grove on the 15th February, 1818. The members of the bar and a large a.s.semblage of persons attended. Rev. Mr. Banks officiated on the occasion, and John Rowan, Esq., delivered the funeral oration. Minute guns were fired during the ceremony under the direction of Capt. Minor Sturgus, and the whole procession was conducted in a very solemn manner. The members of the bar of the Circuit Court, and the few remaining officers of the revolution in the neighborhood, resolved to wear c.r.a.pe on the left arm for thirty days, as a testimony of respect to the deceased hero. The spot where his remains now rest is yet unmarked by a stone.

We are enabled to present the reader with a price current published during this year. No doc.u.ment could be offered which would give a more definite idea of the state of commerce at this period. It is as follows:

BAGGING--30c.

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[email protected] No demand--scarce.

TEAS--$2 [email protected] 50.

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GLa.s.s--8x10, [email protected]

WHITE LEAD--$6.

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MOLa.s.sES--$1 50.

TOBACCO--$4 [email protected]

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FREIGHTS.

Tobacco, 1c per lb.

Flour, $1 50 per bbl.

Pork and Whisky, $2 per bbl.

Light Freight, 6c per lb.

Heavy Freight, 4-1/2c per lb.

By the a.s.sessment of this year the value of lots in the town is computed at $3,131,463.

About the 24th of November, Louisville boasted another Bank. This was the Commercial Bank of Louisville. Its officers were: Levi Tyler, President; Abijah Bayless, Cas.h.i.+er; J. C. Blair, Clerk. Its paper is said by Dr.

McMurtrie, to have been in as good credit as that of the United States Bank. Its capital is computed by him at $1,000,000. More recent accounts however, do not speak so favorably of its affairs.