Rapid advance of spring—­Troops commence a stockade—­Principles of the Chippewa tongue—­Idea of a new language containing the native principles of syntax, with a monosyllabic method—­Indian standard of value—­Archaeological evidences in growing trees—­Mount Vernon—­Signs of spring in the appearance of birds—­Expedition to St. Peter’s—­Lake Superior open—­A peculiarity in the orthography of Jefferson—­True sounds of the consonants—­Philology—­Advent of the arrival of a vessel.—­Editors and editorials—­Arrival from Fort William—­A hope fled—­Sudden completion of the spring, and ushering in of summer—­Odjibwa language, and transmission of Inquiries.

1823. April 12th.  Spring is gradually advancing.  The deepened roar of the rapids indicates an increased volume of water.  The state of the ice is so bad this day that no persons have ventured to cross the river.  Yesterday, they still crossed.  The bare ground begins to show itself in spots; but the body of snow is still deep in the woods.

14th.  The T. migratorius or robin made its appearance.  The Indians have a pretty tale of the origin of this bird and its fondness for domestic scenes.

16th.  Gray duck appeared in the rapids.

17th.  Large portions of the ground are now laid bare by the sun.

18th.  A friend at New York, about to sail for Europe, writes me under this date:  “I expect to sail for St. Petersburgh.  I shall take with me some of our choicest specimens, in return for which I hope to procure something new and interesting.  The truth is, we know very little of the mineralogy of Russia, and hence such specimens as can be procured will almost necessarily prove interesting.”

“The Lyceum is about to publish its proceedings.  The members are increasing in numbers and activity.  It has been recently agreed that there shall be at least one paper read at every meeting; this will ensure attention, and much increase the interest of the meetings.  I hope you may, before long, be able to add your personal attendance.”

“I feel it my duty to inform you that the minerals intrusted to my care are situated in every respect as when left by you; they are, of course, entirely dependent upon any order you may give concerning them.  I do not think it necessary that you should make any immediate provision for them, or that there is any cause for uneasiness on their account.” [38]

[Footnote 38:  Notwithstanding, the collection of specimens referred to was afterwards most sadly dealt with, and pillaged of its choicest specimens.]

19th.  The troops began to set up the pickets of a stockade or fort, to which the name of “Brady” is given, in allusion to Col.  Hugh Brady, U.S.A.  The first canoe crossed the river to-day, although the ice still lines each shore of the river for several hundred yards in width.

20th.  S.  My sister Maria writes to me:  “I fancy, by the description you have given of your residence and society at the Sault, that you have enjoyed yourself, and seen as much of the refinements of civilized life as you would have done in many places less remote.  Who have you at the Sault that writes such pretty poetry?  The piece I refer to is signed Alexina,[39] and is a death-song of an Indian woman at the grave of her murdered husband.”