KENTUCKY.
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and south-east for more than two miles. It is called the “ haunted chamber,”from the echo within; its arch is very beautifully incrusted with lime-stonespar; and in many places the columns of spar are truly elegant, extending fromthe ceiling to the floor. Near the centre of this arch is a dome, apparently fiftyfeet high, hung in rich drapery, festooned in the most fanciful manner, for sixor eight feet from the hangings, and in colors the most rich and brilliant. Bythe reflections of one or two lights, the columns of spar and the stalactites havea very romantic appearance. Of this spar a large cellar, called “ Wilkins’ armchair,” has been formed in the centre of the avenue, and encircled with manysmaller ones. The columns of spar, fluted and studded with knobs of sparand stalactites ; the drapery of various colors superbly festooned, and hung inthe most graceful manner; these are shown with the greatest brilliancy by thereflection of the lamps.
In the vicinity of the “ haunted chamber” the sound of a cataract was heard ;and at the extremity of the avenue was a reservoir of water, very clear, andgrateful to the taste, apparently having neither inlet nor outlet. Here the air,as in many other parts of the cave, was pure and delightful. Not far from thereservoir, an avenue presented itself, within which were several columns of themost brilliant spar, sixty or seventy feet in height, and almost perpendicular,standing in basins of water; which, as well as the columns, the doctor observes,surpasses in splendor and beauty, every similar work of art he had ever seen.
Returning by a beautiful pool of water, the doctor came to the second hop-pers, where he had found the mummy before alluded to. It had been removedfrom another cave, for preservation, and was presented to him by his friend,Mr. Wilkins, together with the apparel, jewels, music, &c. with which it wasaccompanied. It has since been placed in the Washington Museum, the pro-prietor of which thinks it probable that this mummy is as ancient as the immensemounds of the western country, which have so much astonished the world.
The state penitentiary, at Frankfort , contained, in September, 1830, Penitenti101 convicts. This institution was formerly an expense to the state; ary and hos-but since 1825, under the management of its present keeper (Mr. Joel pilals 'Scott), it has more than supported itself. At Lexington there is a Lunatic Asy-lum ; at Danville, an Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb; at Louisville and Smith-land, on the Ohio, hospitals for sick and disabled boatmen.
A canal about two miles long, around the falls of the Ohio, at Louis-ville , was finished in 1831, and during 104 days, before it was closedby the ice, 827 boats, of 76,000 tons, passed through, of which 406 were steamboats. A rail-road is in progress from Lexington to the Ohio.
The Northern Bank of Kentucky , and the Louisville Savings’Institution, receive the public deposites. an s '
There are two banks chartered by the state, namely, the Bank of Kentucky and the Bank of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, at Frankfort , formerlyhaving branches in other places; but they have withdrawn all their branches,and have closed up their accounts. The state owns a part of the stock of theformer of the two banks, and the whole of that of the latter.
Transylvania University , in Lexington, is the oldest and most Educationcelebrated institution in the western states, and has medical and lawschools connected with it. Centre College is established at Danville ; AugustaCollege, at Augusta ; Cumberland College, at Princeton; and St. Joseph’sCollege, a respectable Catholic seminary, at Bairdstown.
The number of periodical papers in 1831 was 25.
The Baptists in this state have 25 associations, 442 churches, 289 R h sministers, and 37,520 communicants; the Methadists, 77 preachers, denomina-and 23,935 members; the Presbyterians, 103 churches, 61 ministers, tlon8,
9 licentiates, and 7,832 communicants; the Roman Catholics , about 30 priests;