y at their doors, quite as significant
in the annals of civilization as that which induces pilgrimages to
Ticonderoga and Bunker Hill.

Four miles below, Pilgrim was beached for a time at Gallipolis, O.
(267 miles), which has a story all its own. The district belonged,
a century ago, to the Scioto Company, an offshoot of the Marietta
enterprise. Joel Barlow, the "poet of the Revolution," was sent to
Paris (May, 1788) as agent for the sale of lands. As the result of his
personal popularity there, and his flaming immigration circulars and
maps, he disposed of a hundred thousand acres; to settle on which, six
hundred French emigrants sailed for America, in February, 1790.
They were peculiarly unsuited for colonization, even under the most
favorable conditions--being in the main physicians, jewelers and other
artisans, a few mechanics, and noblemen's servants, while many were
without trade or profession.

Upon arrival in Alexandria, Va., they found that their deeds
were valueless, the land never having been paid for by the Scioto
speculators; moreover, the tract was filled with hostile Indians.
However, five hundred of them pushed on to the region, by way of
Redstone, and reached here by flatboat, in a destitute condition.
The Marietta neighbors were as kind as circumstances would allow,
and cabins were built for them on what is now the Public Square of
Gallipolis. But they were ignorant of the first principles of forestry
or gardening; the initial winter was exceptionally severe, Indian
forays sapped the life of the colony, yellow fever decimated the
survivors; and, altogether, the little settlement suffered a series of
disasters almost unparalleled in the story of American colonization.

Although finally reimbursed by Congress with a special land grant, the
emigrants gradually died off, until now, so at least we were assured,
but three families of descendants of the original Gauls are now living
here. It was the American element, aided by sturdy Germans, who in
time took hold of the decayed French settlement, and built up the
prosperous little town of six thousand inhabitants which we find
to-day. It is a conservative town, with little perceptible increase
in population; but there are many fine brick blocks, the stores
have large stocks attractively displayed, and there is in general a
comfortable tone about the place, which pleases a stranger. The Public
Square, where the first Gauls had their little forted town, appe