he resigned, and returned to George's creek; in 1779, as before was said.

He had taken measures to secure lands in Kentucky: But if he obtained a settlement and pre-emption, or a pre-emption only, it is presumed, that it was by means of a friend, or by hiring some person to make the requisite improvement for him, in the country—a thing not unfrequently done in those days,

It appears that, in 1780, the next year after leaving the army, he was in Kentucky, and located lands on treasury warrants, for himself, and sundry friends, and relations. Early in 1781, he sent a younger brother to have his entries for land surveyed; in order that he might secure the land by early patents. Correctly inferring from what he had seen, that titles would be much involved in dispute; and that the elder grant, would be a material circumstance in the adjustment. Hearing that Richard May, was killed by the Indians, and apprehending that the surveying might be suspended, through a fear of the enemy, he came to the country himself, and had the business completed. To this prudent course of conduct, may be attributed the almost entire escape from litigation, and the safety of the lands taken up by him. Certainly, one of the most laudable modes of acquiring property, since it deprives no man of a right; and appropriates, at a stipulated price, that which was previously waste.

In April, 1786, having a wife and family, he removed them. from Monongahela, to Pleasant run, in Nelson, afterwards Washington county, Kentucky.

In the same year, he volunteered under General Clark, for the Wabash expedition; and was appointed quartermaster— without funds. It is evidence, nevertheless, of the good repute in which he was held.

There was in 1787 and '88, an abatement of Indian hostilities--at least, no formidable expedition took place, which called for retaliation. In 1789, among other depredations, a considerable party of Indians stole the horses of Mr. Hardin, at the time, called Major, and those of his neighbours; without

so much, as leaving him one for the plough. The marauders were pursued; but escaped, by crossing the Ohio.

In the course of the year, he was appointed county lieutenant, with the rank of colonel, which gave him the command of the militia of the county.

As the summer advanced, he determined to cross the Ohio with a strong party of his militia, and scour the country for some miles out; in order, if there were any camps of Indians in that quarter, to break them up. Accordingly, he made his desire of assembling volunteers known; and was joined at the place of rendezvous, by two hundred mounted men, ready for the enterprise. With these he proceeded across the river, and on one of the branches of the Wabash, fell on a camp of about thirty Shawanees-whom he attacked, and defeated, with the loss of nine killed, and two taken prisoners. Two of his own party were wounded-none killed, nor taken. From these Indians, Colonel Hardin recovered two of the horses, and some colts which had been stolen in the spring of the year. And it is worthy of note, that no more horses were stolen from that neighbourhood, during the residue of the war.

His subsequent military transactions have already been interwoven with similar occurrences, into the general history; and need not be repeated-for they will not be forgotten.

There was no expedition into the Indian country, after he settled in Kentucky, that he was not on; except that of General St. Clair. It was his intention to have been on that, but he was prevented by accidentally wounding himself with a carpenter's adze; which he occasionally used. This wound produced a serious lameness; from which he recovered.

He was a man of unassuming manners, and great gentleness of deportment; yet of singular firmness, and inflexibility, as to matters of truth and justice. If he loved popularity, he sacrificed no principle to gain, none to retain, the possession. And, although he was popular, in a high degree, he used it to no purpose of self aggrandizement. Sinister designs, he never formed. He could but censure the conduct of some of his officers, on General Harmar's campaign-yet, he did it with

the greatest delicacy. His own conduct was arraigned--he bore it with composure; and demanded a legal inquiry. The character, and conduct, of his commanding general, was highly censured and popular resentment, uncertain of its object, but irritated by disastrous events, seemed to demand a victim. Harmar appeared, all but bound in fillets for sacrifice-he stood firm in his defence; and rescued him, by his manly adherence to truth, from the very foot of the altar; and at the imminent risk of his own favour with the people. It mattered not: he knew no safeguards, but firmness, veracity, and honour.

Although unanimously acquitted by the court of inquiry, of the charges alleged against himself; he was undoubtedly humiliated in his own opinion, by the occurrences of the expedition; for on that of General Scott, which took place afterwards, he left home as a private of Captain Wilson's company; intending to serve in that capacity. At the general rendezvous, however, he was not permitted to proceed in that character. The part he acted, has been already mentioned.

It was not that nature had distinguished Colonel Hardin, by the liberal gift of splendid qualities; but she had with the dexterous hand of care, mixed together her best elements, in his temperature-it was not that he possessed literary acquirements; for even his English education, was very imperfectit was not that he had gained any brilliant victories; on the contrary, he had been repeatedly defeated-no; it was, because his readiness to serve his country, was the most conspicuous trait in his character-it was, that he never avoided the post of danger--it was, that no man could attach to him any real fault; or shew, that the thing done by him, could have been better done-it was because, of his sound practical good sense, his capacity for what he undertook, the sterling worth of his moral feelings: it was, in fine, for the compound of his physical, and intellectual services, and capabilities, that he was beloved, confided in, esteemed, and employed in public office.

For several years previous to his death, he had been a professor of religion in the Methodist connexion. He left six children; three of each sex. The government of the United States.

enabled the mother to educate the sons-not that such aid was really necessary; but it was convenient; intended, however, on the part of the government, rather as an acknowledgment of the meritorious devotedness of the father to the public service, than as a pecuniary aid: having, nevertheless, for its recommendation, the quality of compensation for the loss, which the widow and family had sustained.

Colonel Hardin, had in his lifetime laid the foundation of an ample estate, in land; by locating military warrants between Scioto, and Little Miami. His personal attention was indispensable to perfect, and realize, this part of his fortune. His death suspended the work. Nor has it been practicable to complete the expected superstructure without him: so that, in fact, nearly the whole has been lost, and his family deprived of almost all benefit from what he had done. It may, however, be considered as flourishing, and highly respectable.

The subject of courts, of the utmost importance to the personal rights of the citizens, and to the peace and wellbeing of the public, will be pursued; so as to present, in a series, the course of legislation in relation to them.

The outline, is, that of a system commencing with the county court, and rising by gradation through the court of quarter sessions, and court of oyer and terminer, to the court of appeals; with original and appellate jurisdiction-in effect, two courts.

These, with the justices of the peace, embraced the civil, and criminal, judicial power of the state; except that portion, which was left, to be exercised, by courts martial, under militia laws.

It would seem, that if any thing could be rendered consistent, and permanent, it should be the system by which justice, itself always uniform, was to be administered, to the same people. What derangement! what incalculable injuries! result from the contrary!! It is, however, to give examples, by reciting facts; not to offer precepts, by exclamation; that the topic already noticed, has been resumed.

The county court, is to be considered, as a corporation, or municipality of an original, complicated, and comprehensive.

character, of primary usefulness, and extensive effect, upon the local affairs of the community-embracing the rights, interests, moral habits, and all the rudiments of government, in such a manner, as to render it an object of momentous concern, to the legislature, and to the people.

In the first place, its members, as justices of the peace, possess and exercise, as conservators of good order, and as judicial officers, individually authorized to hold their tribunals, without limit, as to time, or place; and as members of the courts, an almost infinitude of powers: to which are added, eligibility to the legislature-offices that require great virtues, and no less qualifications, to fit them for either place. Yet, who are these justices in general? It is, however to be remarked, that what cannot be well done, may be ill done-when sometimes from necessity, often from negligence, and even from worse motives, the best appointments are not always made: while the people, still more ignorant than their magistrates, are the greater sufferers.

In the system alluded to, in addition to the foregoing powers, a portion of these "justices," were also the "judges" of the quarter sessions court, vested with jurisdiction, as has been said, of all matters at law, and in equity; not appertaining, to themselves either individually, or as members of the county court, except land cases; which furnished subjects, for the original jurisdiction of the court of appeals-or else such as were cognizant only in a military court. And yet, they were in general, but illiterate men, without one in twenty having any pretensions to a knowledge of jurisprudence. And to these, were intrusted, both the making of the laws, and the adjudications on them.

That the system was not fixed unalterably on the country, was some consolation--that it has been improved, is not to be denied and that the country has been almost worried to death, by the changes, is a fact equally notorious: its present condition, is truly deplorable.

It is the history of these changes, that is now to be retraced, and connected.