Forty-eight miles lower down on French Creek is Meadville, a thriving post-town, and the seat of justice for the counties of Warren and Crawford, to the latter of which it belongs. It contains about one hundred houses, and several stores; and is a place of considerable business.[25]
Immediately below the mouth of French Creek, at the place where it unites with the northeasterly branch of the Alleghany river, is Franklin, a post-town, containing about fifty houses, and several stores. It is the shire town for Venango county. The river is here two hundred yards wide.
Near this was the antient post Venango, and on the scite of this town was erected Fort Franklin in the year 1787, to defend the frontiers of Pennsylvania from the depredations of the neighbouring Indians.
About one hundred miles lower down, as the river runs, or one hundred and ninety-eight from Erie, is Freeport, on the mouth of Buffalo Creek, and opposite {38} to Kiskimenetas, a considerable branch of the Alleghany river. The head waters of this branch are Little Conemaugh and Stone Creek, which rise from the foot of the Alleghany mountain, and pass in a N.N.W. direction through gaps in the Laurel Hill and Chesnut Ridge. After their junction the principal stream is called Conemaugh River. But, having received Black Lick from the N. E. and, seventeen miles from its mouth, Loyal-*
