Let others write what others deftly may,
     I aim with thought to fill my wintry day.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Mineralogy—­Territorial affairs—­Vindication of the American policy by its treatment of the Indians—­New York spirit of improvement—­Taste for cabinets of natural history—­Fatalism in an Indian—­Death of a first born son—­Flight from the house—­Territorial matters—­A literary topic—­Preparations for another treaty—­Consolations—­Boundary in the North-west under the treaty of Ghent—­Natural history—­Trip to Green Bay—­Treaty of Butte des Morts—­Winnebago outbreak—­Intrepid conduct of General Cass—­Indian stabbing—­Investment of the petticoat—­Mohegan language.

1827.  January 10th.—­Mineralogy became a popular study in the United States, I believe, about 1817 or thereabouts, when Professor Cleveland published the first edition of his Elements of Mineralogy, and Silliman began his Journal of Science.  It is true Bruce had published his Mineralogical Journal in 1814, but the science can, by no means, be said to have attracted much, or general attention for several years.  It was not till 1819 that Cleveland’s work first came into my hands.  The professor writes me under this date, that he is about preparing a new edition of the work, and he solicits the communication of new localities.  This work has been about ten years before the public.  It was the first work on that subject produced on this side of the Atlantic, and has acquired great popularity as a text-book to classes and amateurs.  It adopts a classification on chemical principles; but recognizes the Wernerian system of erecting species by external characters; and also Hany’s system of crystallography, so far as it extends, as being coincident, in the respective proofs which these systems afford to the chemical mode of pure analysis.  As such it commends itself to the common sense of observers.

20th.  Territorial affairs now began more particularly to attract my attention.  Robert Irwin, Jr., Esq., M.C. of Detroit, writes on territorial affairs, growing out of the organization of a new county, on the St. Mary’s, and in the basin of Lake Superior.  I had furnished him the choice of three names, Allegan, Algonac, and Chippewa.

Major R.A.  Forsyth, M.C., says (Jan. 22d), “the new county bill passed on the last of December (1826).  It is contemplated to tender to you the appointment of first judge of the new county.  We have selected the name of ‘Chippewa.’”

Mr. C.C.  Trowbridge writes (25th) that “it is proposed in Congress to lay off a new territory, embracing all Michigan west of the lake.  This territory, at first proposed to be called Huron, was eventually named Wisconsin.”