Washington County, Minnesota - Jonathan Cakvek, the First British Traveler at Falls of Saint Anthony, 1881

Jonathan Cakvek, the First British Traveler at Falls of Saint Anthony

CWver'i Early Lift. - In th# Battle near Lake George - Arrive! at Mackinaw - Old Kort at Green Bay - Winnebago Village. - Description of Prairie du Ctiien. Earthwork! on Bank! of Lake Pepin. - Sioux Banda Deaciibcd. - Cave and Burial Place m Suburb! of St. Paul. - The Pall! of Saint Aulhony. - Burial Rilci of tLe Sioux. - Speech of a Sioux Chief. - Sclnller'i Poeiu ol the Death Bong. - Sir John Herechel'a Tiaiiklatioii.-.-Sir E. Bulwer Lytton'a Veraiotl. - Coneepoudeuce of Sir William Johnton. - Carver '- Prvgect lor Opening a Koute to the Pacific. - Suppoeed Origin of the Sioux. - Carver ! Claim to Lauda Ex¬ amined. - Alleged Deed. - Tratuuony ol Rev. Samuel Petera. - Communication from Gen. Leavenworth. - Report of U. 8. Senate Committee.

Jonathan Carver was a native of Connecticut His grandfather, William Carver, was a native of Wigan, Lancashire, England, and a captain in King William's army during the campaign in Ireland, and for meritorious services received an appointment as an ollicer of the colony of Con¬ necticut.

His father was a justice of the peace in the new world, and in 1732, the subject of this sketch was born. At the early age of fifteen he was called to mourn the death of his father. He then commenced the study of medicine, but his roving disposition could not bear the coniines of a doc¬ tor's office, and feeling, perhaps, that his genius would be cramped by pestle and mortar, at the age of eighteen he purchased an ensign's commis¬ sion in one of the regiments raised during the French war. He was of medium stature, and of strong mind and quick perceptions.

In the year 1757, he was captain under Colonel Williams in the battle near Lake George, where Saint Pierre was killed, and narrowly escaped with his life.

After the peace of 1763, between France and England was declared, Carver conceived the pro¬ ject of exploring the Northwest. Leaving Boston in the month of June, 1766, he arrived at Macki¬ naw, then the most distant British post, in the month of August. Having obtained a credit on some French and English traders from Major Roger's, the officer in command, he started with them on the third day of September. Pursuing the usual route to Green Bay, they arrived there on the eighteenth.

The French fort at that time was standing, though much decayed. It was, some years pre¬ vious to his arrival, garrisoned for a short time by an officer and thirty English soldiers, but they having been captured by the Menoininees, it was abandoned.

In company with the traders, he left Green Bay on the twentieth, and ascending Fox river, arrived on the twenty-lifth at an island at the east end of Lake Winnebago, containing alxnit fifty acres.

Here he found a Winnebago villago of fifty houses. lie asserts that a woman was in author¬ ity. In the month of October the party was at the portage of the Wisconsin, and descending that stream, they arrived, on the ninth at a town of the Sauks. While here he visited some lead mines about fifteen miles distant. An abundance of lead was also seen in the village, that had been brought from the mines.

On the tenth they arrived at the first village of the " Ottigaumies" [Foxes] about five miles be¬ fore the Wisconsin joins the Mississippi, he per¬ ceived the remnants of another village, and learned that it had been deserted about thirty years before, and that the inhabitants soon after their removal, built a town on the Mississippi, near the mouth of the " Ouisconsin," at a place called by the French La Prairie les Chiens, which signified the Dog Plains. It was a large town, and contained about three hundred families. The houses were built after the Indian manner, and pleasantly situated on a dry rich soil.

He saw here many houses of a good size and shape. This town wsis the great mart where all the adjacent tribes, and where those who inhabit the most remote branches of the Mississippi, an¬ nually assemble about the latter end of May, bringing with them their furs to dispose of to the traders. But it Is not always that they conclude their- sale here. This was determined by a gen eral council of the chiefs, who consulted whether' it would be more conducive to their interest to sell their goods at this place, or to carry them on to Louisiana or Mackinaw.

At a small stream called Yellow River, oppo¬ site Prairie du Chien, the traders who had thus far accompanied Carver took up their residence for the winter.

From this point he proceeded in a canoe, with a Canadian voyageur and a Mohawk Indian as companions. Just before reaching Lake Pepin, wliile his attendants were one day preparing din¬ ner, he walked out and was struck with the pecu¬ liar appearance of the surface of the country, and thought it was the site of some vast artificial earth-work. It is a fact worthy of remembrance, that he was the first to call the attention of the civilized world to the existence of ancient monu¬ ments in the Mississippi valley. We give his own description :

"On the first of November I reached Lake Pepin, a few miles below which I landed, and, whilst the servants were preparing my dinner, I ascended the bank to view the country. I had not proceeded far l>cfore I came to a fine, level, open plain, on which I perceived, at a little dis¬ tance, a partial elevation that had the appearance of entrenchment. On a nearer inspection I had greater reason to suppose that it had really been intended for this many centuries ago. Notwith¬ standing it was now covered with grass, I could plainly see that it had once been a breastwork of about four feet in height, extending the best part of a mile, and sufficiently capacious to cover five thousand men. Its form was somewhat circular and its flanks reached to the river.

" Though much defaced by time, every angle was distinguishable, and .appeared as regular and fashioned with as much military skill as if planned by Yauban himself. The ditch was not visible, but I thought, on examining more curiously, that I could perceive there certainly had been one. From its situation, also, I am convinced that it must have been designed for that purpose. It fronted the country, and the rear was covered by the river, nor was there any rising ground for a considerable way that commanded it; a few straggling lakes were alone to be seen near it. In many places small tracks were worn across it by the feet of the elks or deer, and from the depth of the bed of earth by which it was covered, I was able to draw certain conclusions of its great anti¬ quity. I examined all the angles, and every part with great attention, and have often blamed my¬ self since, for not encamping on the spot, and drawing an exact plan of it. To show that this description is not the offspring of a heated imag¬ ination, or the chimerical tale of a mistaken trav¬ eler, I find, on inquiry since my return, that Mons. St. Pierre, and several traders have at dif¬ ferent times, taken notice of similar appearances, upon wliich they have formed the same conjec¬ tures, but withont examining them so minutely as I did. How a work of this kind could exist in a country that has hitherto (according to the gen¬ erally received opinion) been the seat of war to untutored Indians alone, whose whole stock of military knowledge has only, till within two cen¬ turies, amounted to drawing the bow, and whose only breastwork even at present is the thicket, I know not. I have given as exact an account as possible of this singular appearance, and leave to future explorers of those distant regions, to dis¬ cover whether it is a production of nature or art. Perhaps the hints I have here given might lead to a more perfect investigation of it, and give us very different ideas of the ancient state of realms that we at present believe to have been, from the earliest period, only the habitations of savages."

Lake Pepin excited his admiration, as it has that of every traveler since his day, and here he remarks : " I observed the ruins of a French fac¬ tory, where it is said Captain St. Pierre resided, and carried on a very great trade with the Naudowessies, before the reduction of Canada."

Carver's first acquaintance with the Dahkotahs commenced near the river St. Croix. It would seem that the erection of trading posts on Lake Pepin had enticed them from their old residence on Rum river and Mille Lacs.

lie says: "Near the river St. Croix reside bands of the Naudowessie Indians, called the River Rands. This nation is composed at pres¬ ent of eleven bands. They were originally twelve, but the Assinipoils, some years ago, re¬ volting and separating themselves from the oth¬ ers, there remain at this time eleven. Those I met here are termed the River Bands, because they chiefly dwell near the banks of this river, the other eight are generally distinguish by the title of Xadowessies of the Plains, and inhabit a country more to the westward. The names of the former are Nehogatawonahs, the Mawtawbauntowahs, and Shashweeutowahs.

Arriving at what is now a suburb of the cap¬ ital of Minnesota, he continues: "About thir¬ teen miles below the Falls of St. Anthony, at which I arrived the tenth day after I left Lake Pepin, is a remarkable cave, of an amazing depth. The Indians term it Wakon-teebe [Wakan-tipi]. The entrance into it is about ten feet wide, the height of it five feet. The arch within is fifteen feet high mid about thirty feet broad; the bottom consists of fine, clear sand. About thirty feet from the entrance begins a lake, the water of which is transparent, and extends to an unsearch¬ able distance, for the darkness of the cave preents all attempts to acquire a knowledge of it.] I threw a small pebble towards the nterior part of it with my utmost strength. I could hear that it fell into the water, and, notwithstanding it was of a small size, it caused an astonishing and ter¬ rible noise, that reverl>e rated through all those gloomy regions. I found in this cave many In¬ dian hieroglyphics, which appeared very ancient, for time had nearly covered them with moss, so that it was with difficulty I could trace them. They were cut in a rude manner upon the inside of the wall, which was composed of a stone so ex¬ tremely soft that it might be easily penetrated with a knife; a stone everywhere to be found near the Mississippi.

" At a little distance from this dreary cavern, is the burying-place of several bands of the Naudowessie Indians. Though these people have no fixed residence, being in tents, and seldom but a few months in one spot, yet they always bring the bones of the dead to this place.

"Ten miles below the Falls of St. Anthony, the river St. Pierre, called by the natives Wadapaw Menesotor, falls into the Mississippi from the west. It is not mentioned by Father Hennepin, though a large, fair river. This omission, I con¬ sider, must have proceeded from a small island [Pike's] that is situated exactly in its entrance."

When he reached the Minnesota river, the ice became so troublesome that he left his canoe in the neighborhood of what is now St. Anthony, and walked to St. Anthony, in company with a young Winnebago chief, who had never seen the curling waters. The chief, on reaching the emi¬ nence some distance below Cheever's, began to invoke his gods, and offer oblations to the spirit in the waters.

" In the middle of the Falls stands a small island, about forty feet broad and somewhat lon¬ ger, on which grow a few eragged hemlock and spruce trees, and about half way between this island and the eastern shore is a rock, lying at the very edge of the Falls, in an oblique position, that appeared to be about live or six feet broad, and thirty or forty long. At a little distance be¬ low the Falls stands a small island of about an acre and a half, on which grow a great number of oak trees."

From this description, it would appear that the little island, now some distance below the Falls, was once in the very midst, and shows that a con¬ stant recession has been going on, and that in ages long past they were not far from the Minne¬ sota river.

" The country around them is extremely beau¬ tiful. It is not an uninterrupted plain, where the eye finds no relief, but composed of many gentle ascents, which in the summer are covered with the finest verdure, and interspersed with little groves that give a pleasing variety to the pros¬ pect. On the whole, when the Falls are inclu¬ ded, which may be seen at a distance of four miles, a more pleasing and picturesque view, I believe, cannot be found throughout the uni¬ verse."

On the twenty-fifth of November, he had re¬ turned to the place opposite the Minnesota, where he had left his canoe, and this stream as yet not being obstructed with ice, he commenced its as¬ cent, with the colors of Great Britain flying at the stern of his canoe. There is no doubt that he entered this river, but how far he explored it cannot be ascertained. lie speaks of the Rapids near Shakopay, and asserts that he went as far as two hundred miles beyond Mendota. He re¬ marks: and pleasing language? Why are those feet mo¬ tionless, that a few hours ago were fleeter than the deer on yonder mountains? Why useless hang those arms, that could climb the tallest tree or draw tlio toughest bow? Alas, every part of that frame which we lately beheld with admira¬ tion and wonder has now become as inanimate as it was three hundred years ago! We will not, Imwever, bemoan thee as if thou wast forever lost to us, or that thy namo would be buried in oblivion; thy soul yet lives in the great country of spirits, with those of thy nation that have gone before thee; and though we are left behind to perpetuate thy fame, we will one day join thee.

" Actuated by the respect we bore thee whilst living, we now come to tender thee the last act of kindness in our power; that thy body might not lie neglected on the plain, and become a prey to the beasts of the field or fowls of the air. and we

After speaking of the upper bands of the Dahkotahs and their allies, he adds that he " left the habitations of the hospitable Indians the latter end of April, 1767, but did not part from them for several days, as I was accompanied on my journey by near three hundred of them to the mouth of the river St. Pierre. At this season these bands annually go to the great cave (Day¬ ton's Bluff) before mentioned.

When he arrived at the great cave, and the In¬ dians had deposited the remains of their deceased friends in the burial-place that stands adjacent to it, they held their great council to which he was admitted.

When the Naudowessies brought their dead for interment to the great cave (St. Paul), I attempted to get an insight into the remaining burial rites, but whether it was on account of the stench which arose from so many dead bodies, or whether they chose to keep this part of their custom secret from me, I could not discover. I found, however, that they considered my curiosity as ill-timed, and therefore I withdrew. * *

One formality among the Naudowessies in mourning for the dead is very different from any mode I observed in the other nations through which I passed. The men, to show how great their sorrow is, pierce the flesh of their arms above the elbows with arrows, and the women cut and gash their legs with broken flints till the blood flows very plentifully. * *

After the breath is departed, the body is dressed in the same attire it usually wore, his face is painted, and he is seated in an erect pos¬ ture on a mat or skin, placed in the middle of the hut, with his weapons by his side. His relatives seated around, each in turn harangues the de¬ ceased; and if he has been a great warrior, re¬ counts his heroic actions, nearly to the following purport, which in the Indian language is extreme¬ ly poetical and pleasing

"You still sit among us, brother, your person retains its usual resemblance, and continues sim¬ ilar to ours, without any visible deficiency, ex¬ cept it has lost the power of action! But whither is that breath flown, which a few hours ago sent up smoke to the Great Spirit? Why are those lips silent, that lately delivered to us expressions will take care to lay it with those of thy predeces¬ sors that have gone before thee; hoping at the same time that thy spirit will feed with their spirits, and be ready to receive ours when we shall also nrrivo at the great country of souls."

For this speech Carver is principally indebted to his imagination, but it is well conceived, and suggested one of Schiller's poems, which Goethe considered one of his best, and wished " he had made a dozen such."

Sir E. Lytton Bulwer the distinguished novelist, and Sir John Ilerscliel the eminent astronomer, have each given a translation of Schiller's " Song of the Nadowessee Chief."

Explorers Axd Pioxeers Of Minnesota

It appears from other sources that Carver's visit to the Dahkotahs was of some effect in bring¬ ing about friendly intercourse between them and the commander of the English force at Mackinaw.

Carver'S Project For A Route To The Pacific

The earliest mention of the Dahkotahs, in any public British documents that we know of, is in the correspondence between Sir William Johnson, Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Colony of New York, and General Gage, in command of the forces.

On the eleventh of September, less than six months after Carver's speech at Dayton's Bluff, and the departure of a number of chiefs to the English fort at Mackinaw, Johnson writes to General Gage: "Though I wrote to you some days ago, yet I would not mind saying something again on the score of the vast expenses incurred, and, as I understand, still incurring at Michilimackinac, chiefly on pretense of making a peace between the Sioux and Cbippeweiglis, with which I think we have very little to do, in good policy or otherwise."

Sir William Johnson, in a letter to Lord Hills¬ borough, one of his Majesty's ministers, dated August seventeenth, 1708, again refers to the subject :

"Much greater part of those who go a trading are men of such circumstances and disposition as to venture their persons everywhere for extrava¬ gant gains, yet the consequences to the public are not to be slighted, as we may be led into a general quarrel tlirough their means. The In¬ dians in the part adjacent to Michillmackinac have been treated with at a very great expense for some time previous.

"Major Rodgers brings a considerable charge against the former for mediating a peace between some triljes of the Sioux and some of the Chippeweiglis, which, had it been attended with success, would only have been interesting to a very few French, and others that had goods in that part of the Indian country, but the contrary has hap¬ pened, and they are now more violent, and war against one another."

Though a wilderness of over one thousand miles intervened between the Falls of St. An¬ thony and the white settlements of the English, Carver was fully impressed with the idea that the State now organized under the name of Minne¬ sota, on account of its beauty and fertility, would attract settlers.

Speaking of the advantages of the country, he says that the future population will be "able to convey their produce to the seaports with great facility, the current of the river from its source to its entrance into the Gulf of Mexico being ex¬ tremely favorable for doing this in small craft This might also in time he facilitated by canals or shorter cuts , and a communication opened by water with Eero York by way of the Lakes."

The subject of this sketch was also confident that a route would be discovered by way of the Minnesota river, which would open a passage to China aud the English settlements in the East Indies."

Carver having returned to England, interested Whitworth, a member of parliament, in the northern route. Ilad not the American Revolu¬ tion commenced, they proposed to have built a fort at Lake Pepin, to have proceeded up the Minnesota until they found, as they supposed they could, a branch of the Missouri, and from thence, journeying over the summit of lands un¬ til they came to a river which they called Ore¬ gon, they expected to descend to the Pacific.

Carver, in common with other travelers, had his theory in relation to the origin of the Dahko¬ tahs. He supposed that they came from Asia. He remarks: "But this might have been at dif¬ ferent times and from various parts - from Tarlary, China, Japan, for the inhabitants of these places resemble each other. * * *

"It is very evident that some of the names and customs of the American Indians resemble those of the Tartars, and I make no doubt but that in some future era, and this not far distaut, it will be reduced tQ certainty that during some of the wars between the Tartars and Chinese a part of the inhabitants of the northern provinces were driven from their native country, and took refuge in some of the isles before mentioned, and from thence found their way into America. * * *

"Many words are used both by the Chinese and the Indians which have a resemblance to each other, not only in their sound, but in their signi¬ fication. The Chinese call a slave Shungo; and the Noudowessie Indians, whose language, from their little intercourse with the Europeans, is least corrupted, term a dog Shungush [Shoankah.J The former denominate one species of their tea Shoushong; the latter call their tobacco Shotisas-sau [Chanshasha.] Many other of the words used by the Indians contain the syllables chc , chaw , and c/iu, after the dialect of the Chinese."

The comparison of languages lias become a rich source of historical knowledge, yet many of the analogies traced are fanciful. The remark of Ilumbolt in -* Cosmos'' is worthy of remembrance. "As the structure of American idioms appears remarkably strange to nations speaking the mod¬ ern languages of Western Europe, and who readily suffer themselves to be led away by some acci¬ dental analogies of sound, theologians have gen¬ erally believed that they could trace an aflinity with the Hebrew, Spanish colonists with the Basque and the English, or French settlers with Gaelic, Erse, or the Has Breton. I one day met on the coast of Fern, a Spanish naval officer and an English whaling captain, the f on her of whom declared that he had beard Basque s) token at Ta¬ hiti; the other, Gaelic or Erse at the Sandwich Islands."

Carver liecame very poor while in England, and was a clerk in a lottery-office. lie died in 1780, and left a widow, two sons, and live daught¬ ers, in New England, and also a child by another wife that he had married in Great Britain

After his death a claim was urged for the land upon which the capital of Minnesota now stands* and for many miles adjacent. As there are still many persons who believe that they have some right through certain deeds purporting to be from the heirs of Carver, it is a matter worthy of an investigation.

Carver says nothing in his book of travels in re¬ lation to a grant front the Dahkotahs, but after he was buried, it was asserted that there was a deed belonging to him in existence, conveying valuable lands, and that said deed was executed at the cave now in the eastern suburbs of Saint Paul.

T1Ie Cave In The Bluff Below St. Paul

" To Jonathan Carver, a chief under the most mighty and potent George the Third, King of the English and other nations, the fame of whose warriors has reached our ears, and has now been fully told us by our yootl brother Jonathan, afore¬ said, whom we rejoice to have come among us, and bring us good news from his country.

" We, chiefs of the Nando wessies, who have hereunto set our seals, do by these presents, for ourselves and heirs forever, in return for the aid and other good services done by the said Jona¬ than to ourselves and allies, give grant and con¬ vey to him, the said Jonathan, and to his heirs and assigns forever, the whole of a certain tract or territory of land, bounded as follows, viz: from the Falls of St. Anthony, running on the east bank of the Mississippi, nearly southeast, as far as Lake Pepin, where the Chippewa joins the Mississippi, and from thence eastward five days travel, accounting twenty English miles per day; and from thence again to the Falls of St. Anthony, on a direct straight line. We do for ourselves, heirs, and assigns, forever give unto the said Jo¬ nathan, his heirs and assigns, with all the trees, rooks, and rivers therein, reserving the sole lib¬ erty of hunting and fishing on land not planted or improved by the said Jonathan, his heirs and assigns, to which we have affixed our respective seals.

The original deed was never exhibited by the assignees of the heirs. By his English wife Car¬ ver had one child, a daughter Martha, who was cared for by Sir Richard and Lady Pearson. In time she eloped and married a sailor. A mercan¬ tile firm in London, thinking that money could bo made, induced the newly married couple, the day after the wedding, to convey the grant to them, with the understanding that they were to have a tenth of the profits.

The merchants despatched an agent by the name of Clarke to go to. the Dahkotahs, and ol>- tain a new deed; but on his way he was murdered in the state of New York.

In the year 1794, the heirs of Carver's Ameri¬ can wife, in consideration of fifty thousand pounds sterling, conveyed their interest in the Carver grant to Edward Houghton of Vermont. In the year 1806, Samuel Peters, who had been a tory and an Episcopal minister during the Revolu¬ tionary war, alleges, in a petition to Congress, that he had also purchased of the heirs of Carver their rights to the grant.

"In the year 1774, 1 arrived there (London), and met Captain Carver. In 1775, Carver had a hearing before the king, praying his majesty's approval of a deed of land dated May first, 1767, and sold and granted to him by the Naudowissies. The result was his majesty approved of the exer¬ tions and bravery of Captain Carver among the Indian nations, near the Falls of St. Anthony, in the Mississippi, gave to said Carver 13711. 13s. 8d. sterling, and ordered a frigate to be prepared, and a transport ship to carry one hundred and fifty men, under command of Captain Carver, with four others as a committee, to sail the next June to New Orleans, and then to ascend the Missis¬ sippi, to take possession of said territory conveyed to Captain Carver ; but the battle of Bunker Ilill prevented."

In 1821, General Leavenworth, having made inquiries of the Dalikotahs, in relation to the alleged claim, addressed the following to the commissioner of the land office :

" Sir: - Agreeably to your request, I have the honour to inform you what I have understood from the Indians of the Sioux Nation, as well as some facts within my own knowledge, as to what is commonly termed Carver's Grant. The grant purports to be made by the chiefs of the Sioux of the Plains, and one of the chiefs uses the sign of a seriKuit, and the other of a turtle, purport¬ ing that their names are derived from those ani¬ mals.

"The land lies on the east side of the Mississ¬ ippi The Indians do not recognize or acknowl edge the grant to be valid, and they among others assign the following reasons:

"1. The Sioux of the Plains never owned a foot of hand on the east side of the Mississippi. The Sioux Nation is divided into two grand di¬ visions, viz: The Sioux of the Lake; or perhaps more literally Sioux of the River, and Sioux of the Plain. The former subsists by hunting and fishing, and usually move from place to place by water, in canoes, during the summer season, and travel on the ico in the winter, when not on their hunting excursions. The hatter subsist en¬ tirely by hunting, and have no canoes, nor do they know but little about the use of them. They reside in the large prairies west of the Mississippi, and follow the buffalo, upon which they entirely subsist; these are called Sioux of the Plain, and never owned land east of the Mississippi.

" 2. The Indians say they have no knowledge of any such chiefs as those who have signed the grant to Carver, either amongst the Sioux of the

River or the Sioux of the Plain. They say that if Captain Carver did ever obtain a deed or grant, it was signed by some foolish young men who were not chiefs and who were not author¬ ized to make a grant. Among the Sioux of the River there are no such names.

" 3. They say the Indians never received any¬ thing for the land, and they have no intention to part with it without a consideration. From my knowledge of the Indians, I am induced to think they would not make so considerable a grant, and have it to go into full effect without receiving a substantial consideration.

*- 4. They have, and ever have had, the pos¬ session of the land, and intend to keep it. I know that they are very particular in making every person who wishes to cut timber on that tract obtain their permission to do so, and to ob¬ tain payment for it. In the month of May last, some Frenchmen brought a large raft of red cedar timber out of the Chippewa River, which timber was cut on the tract before mentioned. The In¬ dians at one of the villages on the Mississippi, where the principal chief resided, comix'lled the Frenchmen to land the raft, and would not per¬ mit them to pass until they had received pay for the timber, and the Frenchmen were compelled to leave their raft with the Indians until they went to Prairie du Chien, and obtained the nec¬ essary articles, and mado the payment required."

On the twenty-third of January, lS23,the Com¬ mittee of Public Lands made a report on the claim to the Senate, which, to every disinterested l>erson, is entirely satisfactory. After stating the facts of tho petition, the report continues:

"The Rev. Samuel Peters, in his petition, fur¬ ther states that Lefei, the present Emperor of the Sioux and Naudowessies, and Red "Wing, a sachem, the heirs and successors of the two grand chiefs who signed the said deed to Captain Car¬ ver, have given satisfactory and positive proof that they allowed their ancestors' deed to be gen¬ uine, good, and valid, and that Captain Carver's heirs and assigns are the owners of said territory, and may occupy it free of all molestation.

The committee have examined and considered the claims thus exhibited by the petitioners, and remark that the original deed is not produced, nor any competent legal evidence offered of its execu¬ tion ; nor is there any proof that the persons, who it is alleged made the deed, were the chiefs of said tribe, nor that (if chiefs) they had authority to grant and give away the land belonging to their tribe. The paper annexed to the petition, as a copy of said deed, has no subscribing witnesses ; and it would seem impossible, at this remote pe¬ riod, to ascertain the important fact, that the per¬ sons who signed the deed comprehended and understood the meaning and effect of their act.

"The want of proof as to these facts, would interpose in the waj of the claimants insuperable difficulties. But, in the opinion of the committee, the claim is not such as the United States are under any obligation to allow, even if the deed were proved in legal form.

" The British government, before the time when the alleged deed bears date, had deemed it pru¬ dent and necessary for the preservation of peace with the Indian tribes under their sovereignty, protection and dominion, to prevent British sub¬ jects from purchasing lands from the Indians, and this rule of policy was made known and en¬ forced by the proclamation of the king of Great Britain, of seventh October, 1763, which contains an express prohibition.

" Captain Carver, aware of the law, and know¬ ing that such a contract could not vest the legal title in him, applied to the British government to ratify and confirm the Indian giant, and, though it was competent for that government then to confirm the grant, and vest the title of said land

" The territory has since become the property of the United States, and an Indian grant not good against the British government, would ap- I>ear to be not binding udoii the United States government.

" What benefit the British government derived from the services of Captain Carver, by his trav¬ els and residence among the Indians, that gov¬ ernment alone could determine, and alone could judge what remuneration those services deserved.

" One fact appears from the declaration of Mr. Peters, in his statement in writing, among the papers exhibited, namely, that the British gov¬ ernment did give Captain Carver the sum of one thousand three hundred and seventy-five pounds six shillings and eight pence sterling. To the United States, however, Captain Carver rendered no services which could be assumed as any equit¬ able ground for the support of the petitioners' claim.

" The committee being of opinion that the United States are not bound in law and equity to confirm the said alleged Indian grant, recom¬ mend the adoption of the resolution:

Lord Palmerston stated in 1839, that no trace could be found in the records of the British office of stato papers, showing any ratification of the Carver grunt.

Explorations By Lieutenant Z. M. Pike Chatter Xii

Trading TotU «t the beginning of Nineteenth Oentnry. - 8on4y Loke Fort. - leech Uke Fort. - William Bontwo, before 8c bool craft at Item Uke.-Di.l- (ion of Nortbweot Territory. - Organization of Indiana, Michigan and Upper Louisiana. - Notices of Wood, Fraser, Fisher, Cameron, Faribault. - Early Traders. - Pike's Connell at Mouth of Minnesota River. - Grant for Military Posts. - Encampment at Falls of 8t. Anthony. - Block House near Swan Riser. - Visit to Bandy and Leech Lakes. - British Fla* Shod at and lowered. - Thompson, Topographer of Northwsst Company. - Pike at Dickson's Trading Foot. - Returns to Mendota. - Falls to And Career's Case. - Oonlerenos with Little Crow. - Cameron soils Uqoor to Indiana.

At the beginning of the present century, the legion now known as Minnesota, contained no white men, except a few engaged in the fur trade. In the treaty effected by Hon. John Jay, Great Britain agreed to withdraw her troops from all posts and places within certain boundary lines, on or before the first of June, 1790, but all Brit¬ ish settlers and traders might remain for one year, and enjoy all their former privileges, with¬ out being obliged to be citizens of the United States of America.

In the year 1800, the trading posts of Minnesota were cliieily held by the Northwest Company, and their chief traders resided at Sandy Lake, Leech Lake, and Fon du Lac, on St. Louis River. In the year 1794, this company built a stockade one hundred feet square, on the southeast end of Sandy Lake. There were bastions pierced for small arms, in the southeast and in the northwest comer. The pickets which surrounded the post were thirteen feet high. On the north side there was a gate ten by nine feet ; on the west side, one six by five feet, and on the east side a third gate six by five feet. Travelers entering the main gate, saw on the left a one story building twenty feet square, the residence of the superintendent, and on the left of the east gate, a building twentyfive by fifteen, the quarters of the voyagenra. Entering the western gate, on the left was a stone house, twenty by thirty feet, and a house twenty by forty feet, used as a store, and a workshop, and a residence for clerks. On the south shore of Leech Lake there was another establishment, a little larger. The stockade was one hundred and fifty feet square. The main building was sixty by twenty-five feet, and one and a half story In height, where resided the Director of the fur trade of the Fond du Lac departmentof the North¬ west Company. In the centre was a small store, twelve and a half feet square, and near the main gate was flagstaff fifty feet in height, from which used to float the flag of Great Britain.

William Morrison was, in 1802, the trader at Leech Lake, and in 1804 he was at Elk Lake, the source of the Mississippi, thirty-two years after¬ wards named by Schoolcraft, Lake Itasca.

The entire force of the Northwest Company, west of Lake Superior, in 1805, consisted of three accountants, nineteen clerks, two interpreters, eighty-five canoe men, and with them were twenty-nine Indian or half-breed women, and -about fifty children.

On the seventh of May, 1800, the Northwest Territory, which included all of the western country east of the Mississippi, was divided. The portion not designated as Ohio, was organ¬ ized as the Territory of Indiana.

On the twentieth of December, 1803, the province of Louisiana, of which that portion of Minnesota west of the Mississippi was a part, was officially delivered up by the French, who had just obtained it from the Spaniards, accord¬ ing to treaty stipulations.

President Jefferson now deemed it an object of paramount importance for the United Stales to explore the country so recently acquired, and make the acquaintance of the tribes residing therein; and steps were taken for an expedition to the upper Mississippi.

As the old settlers, on the tenth of March, saw the ancient flag of Spain displaced by that of the United States, the tears coursed down their cheeks.

On the twentieth of the same month, the terri¬ tory of Upper Louisiana was constituted, com¬ prising the present states of Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, and a large portion of Minnesota.

The first American officer who visited Minne¬ sota, on business of a public nature, was one who was an ornament to his profession, and in energy and endurance a true representative of the citi¬ zens of the United States. We refer to the gallant Zebulon Montgomery Pike, a native of New Jersey, who afterwards fell in battle at York, Upper Canada, and whose loss was justly mourned by the whole nation.

When a young lieutenant, he was ordered by General Wilkinson to visit the region now known as Minnesota, and expel the British traders who were found violating the laws of the United States, and form alliances with the Indians. With only a few common soldiers, he was obliged to do the work of several men. At times he would precede Ins party for miles to reconnoitre, and then he would do the duty of hunter.

During the day he would perform the part of surveyor, geologist, and astronomer, and at night, though hungry and fatigued, his lofty enthu¬ siasm kept him awake until he copied the notes, and plotted the courses of the day.

On the 4th day of September, 1805, Pike ar¬ rived at Prairie du Chien, from St. Louis, and was politely treated by three traders, all born un¬ der the flag of the U nited States. One was named Wood, another Frazer, a native of Vermont, who, when a young man became a clerk of one Blakely, of Montreal, and thus became a fur trader. The third was Henry Fisher, a captain of the Militia, and Justice of the Peace, whose wife was a daughter of Goutier de Verville. Fisher was said to have been a nephew of Presdent Monroe, and later in life traded at the sources of the Minnesota. One of his daughter's was the mother of Joseph Rolette, Jr., a mem¬ ber of tire early Minnesota Legislative assem¬ blies. On the eighth of the mouth Lieutenant Pike left Prairie du Chien, in two batteaux, with Sergeant Ilenry Kennerman, Corporals William E. Mack and Samuel Bradley, and tort privates.

At La Crosse, Frazer, of Prairie du Chien, overtook him, arrd at Sandy point of Lake Pepin he found a trader, a Scotchman by the name of Murdoch Cameron, with his son, and a young man named John Uudsdell. Orr the twontyfirst he breakfasted with the Kai>osia band of Sioux, who then dwelt at the marsh below Day¬ ton's Bluff, a few miles below St. Paul. The same day he passed three miles front Mendotu the encampment of J. B. Faribault, a trader and native of Lower Canada, then about thirty years of age, in which vicinity he continued for more than fifty years. He married Pelagie the daugh¬ ter of Francis Kinnie by an Indian woman, and his eldest son, Alexander, born soon after Pike's visit, was the founder of the town of Faribault.

Arriving at the confluence of the Minnosota and the Mississippi Rivers, Pike and his soldiers encamped on the Northeast point of the island which still bears his name. The next day was Sunday, and he visited Cameron, at his trading post on the Minnesota River, a short distance al>ove Mendota.

On Monday, the 23d of September, at noon, he held a Council with the Sioux, under a cover¬ ing made by suspending sails, and gave an ad¬ mirable talk, a portion of which was as follows :

" Brothers, I am happy to meet you here, at this council fire which your father has sent me to kindle, and to take you by the hands, as our chil¬ dren. We having but lately acquired from the Spanish, the extensive territory of Louisiana, our general has thought proper to send out a number of his warriors to visit all his red children ; to tell them his will, and to hear what request they may have to make of their father. I am happy the choice fell on me to come this road, as I find my brothers, the Sioux, ready to listen to my words.

" Brothers, it is the wish of our government to establish military posts on the Upper Mississippi, at such places as might be thought expedient. I have, therefore, examined the country, and have pitched on the mouth of the river St. Croix, this place, and the Falls of St. Anthony ; I therefore wish you to grant to the United States, nine miles square, at St. Croix, and at this place, from a league below the confluence of the St. Peter's and Mississippi, to a league above St. Anthony, extending three leagues on each side of the river ; and as we are a people who are accustomed to have all our acts written down, in order to have them handed to our children, I have drawn up a form of an agreement, which we will both sign, in the presence of the traders now present. After we know the terms, we will fill it up, and have it read and interpreted to you.

" Brothers, those posts are intended as a bene¬ fit to you. The old chiefs now present must see that their situation improves by a communication with the whites. It is the intention of the United States to establish at those posts factories, in which the Indians may procure all their things at a cheaper and better rate than they do now, or than your traders can afford to sell them to you, as they aie single men, who come from far in small boats; but your fathers are many and | strong, and will come with a strong arm, in large boats. There will also be chiefs here, who can attend to the wants of their brothers, without their sending or going all the way to St. Louis, and will see the traders that go up your rivers, and know that they are good men. * * * *

"Brothers, I now present you with some of your father's tol>acco, and some other trifling things, as a memorandum of my good will, and before my departure I will give you some liquor to clear your throats. *

The traders, Cameron and Frazer, sat with Pike. Ilis interpreter was Pierre Rosseau. Among the Chiefs present were Le Petit Corbeau (Little Crow), and Way-ago Enagee, and L'Orignal Leve or Rising Moose. It wras with difficulty that the chiefs signed the following agreement; not that they objected to the lan¬ guage, but because they thought their word should be taken, without any mark ; but Pike overcame their objection, by saying that he wished them to sign it on his account.

" Whereas, at a conference held between the United States of America and the Sioux na¬ tion of Indians, Lieutenant Z. M. Pike, of the army of the United States, and the chiefs and warriors of said tribe, have agreed to the follow¬

Akt. 1 . That the Sioux nation grant unto the United States, for the purpose of establishment of military posts, nine miles square, at the mouth of the St. Croix, also from below tho confluence of the Mississippi and St. Peter's, up the Missis¬ sippi to include the Falls of St. Anthony, extend¬ ing nine miles on each side of the river ; that the Sioux Nation grants to the United States the full sovereignty and power over said district forever.

Art. 8. The United States promise, on their part, to permit the Sioux to pass and repass, hunt, or make other use of the said districts, as they have formerly done, without any other exception than those specified in article first.

In testimony whereof, we. the undersigned, have hereunto set our bauds and seals, at the mouth of the river St. Peter's, on the 23d day of September, 1805.

The following entries from Pike's Journal, des¬ criptive of the region around the city of Minne¬ apolis, seventy-five years ago, are worthy of pres¬ ervation:

"Skit. 26th, Th unday. - Embarked at the usual hour, and after much labor in passing through the rapids, arrived at the foot of the Falls about three or four o'clock ; unloaded my boat, and had the principal part of her cargo carried over the portage. With the other boat, however, full loaded, they were not able to get over the last shoot, and encamped about six yards below. I pitched my tent and encamped above the shoot. The rapids mentioned in this day's march, might properly be called a continuation of the Falls of St. Anthony, for they are equally entitled to this appellation, with the Falls of the Delaw are and

Sept. 27th, Friday. Brought over the residue of my loading this morning. Two men arrived from Mr. Frazer, on St. Peters, for my dispatches. This business, closing and scaling, apj»eared like a last adieu to the civilized world. Sent a large packet to the General, and a letter to Mrs. Pike, with a short note to Mr. Frazer. Two young Indians brought my llag across by land, who ar¬ rived yesterday, just as we came in sight of the Fall. I made them a present for their punctual¬ ity and expedition, and the danger they were ex¬ posed to from the journey. Carried our boats out of the river, as far as the bottom of the hill.

Sept. 28th, Saturday. - Brought my barge over, and put her in the river above the Falls. While we were engaged with her three-fourths miles from camp, seven Indians painted black, appeared on the heights. We had left our guns at the camp and were entirely defenceless. It occurred tome that they were the small party of Sioux who were obstinate, and would go to war, when the other part of the bands came in ; these they proved to be ; they were better armed than any I had ever seen ; having guns, bows, arrows, clubs, spears, and some of them even a case of pistols. I was at that time giving my men a dram ; and giving the cup of liquor to the first, he drank it off ; but I was more cautious with the remainder. I sent my interpreter to camp with them, to wait my coming ; wishing to purchase one of their war clubs, it being made of elk horn, and decorated with inlaid work. This and a set of bows and arrows I wished to get as a curiosity. But the liquor I had given him began to operate, he came back for me, but refusing to go till I brought my boat, he returned, and (I suppose being offended) borrowed a canoe and crossed the river. In the afternoon got the other boat near the top of the hill, when the props gave way, and she slid all the way down to the bottom, but fortunately without injuring any person. It raining very hard, we left her. Killed one goose and a racoon.

Sept. 29th, Sunday. - I killed a remarkably large racoon. Got our large boat over the port¬ age, and put her in the river, at the upper land¬ ing; this night the men gave sufficient proof of their fatigue, by all throwing themselves down to sleep, preferring rest to supper. This day I had but fifteen men out of twenty-two ; the others were sick. This voyage could have been per¬ formed with great convenience, if we had taken our departure in June. But the proper time would be to leave the Illinois as soon as the ice would i>errnit, when the river would 1)6 of a good height.

Sept. 80th, Monday. - Loaded my lx>at, moved over and encamped on the Island. The large boats loading likewise, we went over and put on board. In the mean time, I took a survey of the Falls, Portage, etc. If it l>e possible to pass the Falls in high water, of which I am doubtful, it must be on the East side, about thirty yards from shore ; as there are three layers of rocks, one be¬ low the other. The pitch off of either, is not more than five feet ; but of this I can say more on my return.

On the tenth of October, the expedition reached some 'arge island below Sauk liapids, where in 1797, Porlier and Joseph Renville had wintered. Six days after this, he reached the Rapids in Morrison county, which still bears his name, and he writes: ''When we arose in the morning, found that snow had fallen during the night, the ground was covered and it continued to snow. This, indeed, was but poor encourage¬ ment for attacking the Rapids, in which we were certain to wade to our necks. I was determined, however, if possible to make la riviere do Corbeau, [Crow Wing River], the highest point was made by traders in their bark canoes. Wo em¬ barked, and after four hours work, became so benumbed with cold that our limbs were perfectly useless. We put to shore on the opposite side of the river, about two-thirds of the way up the rapids. Built a large fire ; and then discovered that our boats were nearly half full of water; both having sprung large leaks so as to oblige me to keep three hands bailing. My sergeant (Kennerman) one of the stoutest men I ever knew, broke a blood-vessel and vomited nearly two quarts of blood. One of my corporals (Bradley) also evacuated nearly a pint of blood, when he attempted to void his urine. These unhappy circumstances, in addition to the inability of four other men whom we were obliged to leave on shore, convinced me, that if I had no regard for my own health and constitution, I should have some for those poor fellows, who were kill- ing themselves to obey my orders. After we had breakfast and refreshed ourselves, we went down to our boats on tho rocks, where I was obliged to leave them. I then informed my men that we would return to tho camp and Micro leavo some of the party and our large boats. This informa¬ tion was pleasing, and the attempt to reach the camp soon accomplished. My reasons for this step have partly been already stated. The nec¬ essity of unloading and refitting my 1>oats, the beauty and convenience of tho spot for building huts, the fine pine trees for peroques, and the quantity of game, were additional inducements. We immediately unloaded our boats and secured their cargoes. In the evening I went out upon a small, but beautiful creek, which emptied into the Falls, for the purpose of selecting pine trees to make canoes. Saw five deer, and killed one buck weighing one hundred and thirty-seven pounds. By my leaving men at this place, and from the great quantities of game in its vicinity, I was ensured plenty of provision for my return voyage. In the party left behind was one hunter, to be continually employed, who Mould keep our stock of salt provisions good. Distance two hundred and thirty-three and a half miles above the Falls of St. Anthony.

Having left his large boats and some soldiers at this point, he proceeded to the vicinity of Swan River where he erected a block house, and on the thirty-first of October he writes: "En¬ closed my little work completely with pickets, nauled up my two boats and turned them over on each side of the gateways; by which means a defence Mas made to the river, and hail it not been for various political reasons, 1 would have laughed at the attack of eight hundred or a thousand savages, if all my party Mere within. For. except accidents, it would only have afford¬ ed amusement, the Indians having no idea of taking a place by storm. Found myself pou'crfully attacked M'ith the fantastics of the brain, called ennui, at the mention of which I had hitherto scoffed ; but my books being packed up, I Mas like a person entranced, and could easily conceive M'liy so many persons Mlio have been confined to remote places, acquire the habit of drinking to excess, and many other vicious prac¬ tices, which have been adopted merely to pass time.

During the next month he hunted the buffalo which were then in that vicinity. On the third of December he received a visit from lloliert Dickson, afterwards noted in the history of the country, M ho was then trading about sixty miles below, on the Mississippi.

On the tenth of December M'ith some sleds he continued his journey northward, and on the last day of the year passed Fine River. On the third of January, 1800, he reached the trading post at Red Cedar, now Cass Lake, and M as quite indig¬ nant at finding the British flag floating from the staff. The night after this his tent caught on fire, and he lost some valuable and necessary clothing. On the evening of the eighth he reach¬ ed Sandy Lake and was hospitably received by Grant, the trader in charge. lie writes .

"Jan. 0th, Thursday. - Marched the corporal early, in order that our men should receive assurance of our safety and success. lie carried M'ith him a small keg of spirits, a present from Air. Grant. The establishment of this place M as formed tMelve years since, by the North-west Company, and Mas formerly under the charge of a Mr. Charles Brusky. It has attained at present such regularity, as to permit the superintendent to live tolerably comfortable. They have horses they procured from Red River, of the Indians; raise plenty of Irish potatoes, catch pike, suckers, pickerel, and white fish in abundance. They hiivo also beaver, deer, and moose ; but the pro¬ vision they chiefly depend upon is M ild oats, of which they purchase great quantities from the savages, giving at the rate of about one dollar and a half per bushel. But flour, pork, and salt, are almost interdicted to persons not principals in the trade. Flour sells at half a dollar ; salt a dollar; pork eighty cents; sugar half a dollar; and tea four dollars and fifty cents per pound. The sugar is obtained from the Indians, and is made from the maple tree."

He remained at Sandy Lake ten days, and on the last day two men of the Northwest Company arrived M ith letters from Fon du Lac Superior, one of which Mas from AthapuscoM-, and had been since May on the route.

A Mr. Anderson, in the employ of Rol)ert Dickson, was residing at the west end of the lake. While here he hoisted the American flag in the fort. The English yacht still flying at the top of the flagstaff, he directed the Indians and his sol¬ diers to shoot at it. They soon broke the iron pin to which it was fastened, and it fell to the ground. He was informed by a venerable old Ojibway chief, called Sweet, that the Sioux dwelt there when he was a youth. On the tenth of February, at ten o'clock, he left Leech Lake with Corporal llradley, the trader Mctiillis and two of his men, juul at sunset arrived at Red Cedar, now Cass Lake. At this place, in 1798, Thompson, employed by the Northwest Company for three years, in topographical surveys, made some ob¬ servations. lie believed that a line from the Lake of the Woods would touch the sources of the Mississippi, l'ike, at this iniint, was very kindly treated by a Canadian named Roy, and his Ojibway squaw. On his return home, he reached Clear River on the seventh of April, where he found his canoe and men, and at night was at Grand Rapids, Dickson's tradingpost. lie talked until four o'clock the next morning with this person and another trader named Porlier. He forbade while there, the traders Greignor [Grignon] and La Jennesse, to sell any more liquor to Indians, who had become very drunken and un¬ ruly. On the tenth he again reached the Falls of Saint Anthony. He writes in his journal as follows :

Aphil 11th, Friday. - Although it snowed very hard we brought over both boats, and descended the river to the island at the entrance of the St. Peter's. I sent to the chiefs and informed them I had something to communicate to them. The Fils de Pincho immediately waited on me, and informed me that he would provide a place for the purpose. About sundown I was sent for and introduced into the council-house, where I found a great many chiefs of the Sussitongs, Gens de I'euilles, and the Gens du Lac. The Yanctongs had not yet come down. They were all awaiting for my arrival. There were about one hundred lodges, or six hundred people; we were saluted on our crossing the river with ball as usual. The council-house was two large lodges, capable of containing three hundred men. In the upper were forty chiefs, and as many pipes set against the poles, alongside of which I had the Santeur's pil>es arranged. I then informed them in short detail, of my transactions with the Santeurs; but my interpreters were not capable of making them¬ selves understood. I was therefore obliged to omit mentioning every particular relative to the rascal who flredon my sentinel, and of the scoun¬ drel who broke the Fols Avoins' canoes, and threatened my life; the interpreters, however, in¬ formed them that I wanted some of their princi¬ pal chiefs to go to St. Louis; and that those who thought proi>er might descend to the prairie, where we would give them more explicit infor¬ mation. They all smoked out of the Santeur's pipe, excepting three, who were painted black, and were some of those who lost their relations last winter. I invited the Fils de Pinchow, and the son of the Killeur Rouge, to come over and sup with me; when Air. Dickson and myself en¬ deavored to explain what I intended to have said to them, could I have made myself understood; that at the prairie we would have all things ex¬ plained; that I was desirous of making a better report of them than Captain Lewis could do from their treatment of him. The former of those savages was the person who remained around my jM)st all last winter, and treated my men so well; they endeavored to excuse their jieople.

"Aphil 12th, Saturday. - Embarked early. Al¬ though my interpreter had been frequently up the river, he could not tell me where the cave (spoken of by Carver) could be found ; we carefully sought for it, but in vain. At the Indian village, a few miles below St. Peter's, we were al>out to pass a few lodges, but on receiving a very partic¬ ular invitation to come on shore, we landed, and were received in a lodge kindly; they presented us sugar. I gave the proprietor a dram, and was about to depart when he demanded a kettle of liquor; on being refused, and after I had left the shore, he told me he did not like the arrange¬ ments, and that he would go to war this summer.

I directed the .interpreter to tell him that if I returned to St. Peter's with the troops, I would settle that affair with him. On our arrival at the St. Croix, I found the Pettit Corbeau with his people, and Messrs. Frazer and Wood. We had a conference, when the Pettit Corbeau made many apologies for tlie misconduct of his people; he represented to us the different manners in which the young warriors had been inducing him to go to war; that he had been much blamed for dismissing his party last fall; but that he was de¬ termined to adhere as far as lay in his power to our instructions; that he thought it most prudent to remain here and restrain the warriors. lie then presented me with a beaver robe and pipe, and his message to the general. That lie was determined to preserve peace, and make the road clear; also a remembrance of his promised medal. I made a reply, calculated to confirm him in his good intentions, and assured him that he should not be the less remembered by his father, although not present. I was informed that, notwithstand¬ ing the instruction of his license, and my par¬ ticular request, Murdoch Cameron had taken liquor and sold it to the Indians on the river St. Peter's, and that his partner below had been equally imprudent. I pledged myself to prose¬ cute them according to law; for they have been the occasion of great confusion, and of much injury to the other traders. This day met a canoe of Mr. Dickson's loaded with provisions, under the charge of Mr. Anderson, brother of the Mr. Anderson at Leech Lake. He politely offered me any provision he 'had on board (for which Mr. Dickson had given me an order), but not now being in want, I did not accept of any. This day, for the first time, I observed the trees beginning to bud, and indeed the climate seemed to have changed very materially since we passed the Falls of St. Anthony."

The strife of political parties growing out of the French Revolution, and the declaration of war against Great Britain in the year 1812, post¬ poned the military occupation of the Upper Mississippi by the United States of America, for several years.