in the manner of the yeomen of the Green Island.  When the gentlemen were placed in line, and attention was commanded, the General turned round to converse with his coadjutors—­no sooner had he done this than about twenty heroes squatted a l’Indien; no doubt deeming it more consistent, the day being warm, to sit than stand.  On the commander observing this movement, which he seemed to think quite unmilitary, he remonstrated—­the warriors arose; but, alas! the just man falls seven times a day, and the militia officers of Hamilton county seemed to think it not derogatory to their characters to squat five or six.  The offence was repeated several times, and as often censured.  They wheeled into battalions, and out of battalions, in most glorious disorder—­their straight lines were zig-zag. In marching abreast, they came to a fence next the road—­the tavern was opposite, and the temptation too great to be resisted—­a number threw down their muskets—­tumbled themselves over the fence, and rushed into the bar-room to refresh!  An American’s heart sickens at restraint, and nothing but necessity will oblige him to observe discipline.

The question naturally arises, how would these forces resist the finely disciplined troops of Europe?  The answer is short:  If the Americans would consent to fight a bataille rangee on one of the prairies of Illinois, undoubtedly the disciplined troops would prevail; but as neither their experience nor inclination is likely to lead them into such circumstances, my opinion is, that send the finest army Europe can produce into this country, in six months, the forests, swamps, and deadly rifle, united, will annihilate it—­and let it be remembered, that at the battle of New Orleans, there were between two and three thousand British slain, and there were only twelve Americans killed, and perhaps double that number wounded.  In patriotism and personal courage, the Americans are certainly not inferior to the people of any nation.

There had been lately throughout the States a good deal of excitement produced by an attempt, made by the Presbyterians, to stop the mails on the sabbath.  This party is headed by a Doctor Ely, of Philadelphia, a would-be “lord spiritual,” and they made this merely as a trial of strength, preparatory to some other measures calculated to lead to a church establishment.  Their designs, however, have been detected, and measures accordingly taken to resist them.  At a meeting at which I was present at Cincinnati, the people were most enthusiastic, and some very strong resolutions were passed, expressive of their abhorrence of this attempt to violate the constitution of America.

Good farms within about three or four miles of Cincinnati, one-third cleared, are sold at from thirty to fifty dollars per acre.  Cows sell at from ten to twenty dollars.  Horses, at from twenty-five to seventy-five and one hundred dollars.  Sheep from two to three dollars.  There are some tolerable flocks of sheep throughout this state, but they are of little value beyond the price of the wool, a most unaccountable antipathy to mutton existing among the inhabitants.