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 also occasionally for itinerant preachers to display their oratory—and the jury room up stairs is sometimes converted into a very good temporary theatre, where private theatricals are practised in the winter by the young gentlemen of the town.

A respectable society of Methodists meet at each others houses, not having yet any house for that express purpose.

From the number of religious houses and sects, it may be presumed that the sabbath is decently observed in Pittsburgh, and that really appears to be the case in a remarkable degree, considering it is so much of a manufacturing town, so recently become such, and inhabited by such a variety of people.

Amusements are also a good deal attended to, particularly concerts and balls in the winters, and there are annual horse races at a course about three miles from town, near the Allegheny beyond Hill's tavern.[165]

On the whole let a person be of what disposition he will, Pittsburgh will afford him scope for the exercise of it.

{232} Notes made in descending the rivers Ohio and Mississippi in the spring of 1808—from Maysville.

CHAPTER XXXVIII

Columbia—Newport—Cincinnati—Port William—Louisville and the falls.

May 7th, at 8 P. M. departed from Maysville—8th, the Ohio is safe and clear of obstructions from Maysville to the Little Miami river, fifty-six miles.

Little Miami is a beautiful river, sixty or seventy yards wide, falling into the Ohio on the right from the northward.