The derangements in the fiscal affairs of the Indian department are in the extreme.  One would think that appropriations had been handled with a pitchfork.  A correspondent writes:  “For 1827, we were promised $48,000, and received $30,000.  For 1828, we were promised $40,000, and have received $25,000; and, besides these promises, were all the extra expenditures authorized to be incurred, amounting to not less than $15,000.  It is impossible this can continue.”  And these derangements are only with regard to the north.  How the south and west stand, it is impossible to say.  But there is a screw loose in the public machinery somewhere.

Dec. 5th.  AUTOBIOGRAPHY.—­“It is to be regretted,” writes Dr. Edwin James, “that our lamented friend (Mr. Johnston) had not lived to complete his autobiography.  This deficiency constitutes no valid objection to the publication of the memoirs, though it appears to me highly desirable that you should complete the sketch, so as to include the history of the latter portion of his life.  In perfect accordance with the plan of such a continuation, you would embody much valuable detail in relation to the history and condition of this section of the country for the last thirty years.  You must, doubtless, have access to all the existing materials, and to many sources of authentic information, which could, very appropriately, be given to the public in such a form.”

15th.  UNION OF THE PURSUITS OF NATURAL AND CIVIL HISTORY.—­I brought forward, and had passed at the last session of the Legislature, an act incorporating the Historical Society of Michigan.  Dr. Pitcher, who has recently changed his position to Fort Gratiot, at the foot of Lake Huron, proposes the embracing of natural history among its studies.  He finds his position, at that point, to be still unfavorable in some aspects, and not much, if anything, superior to what it was at St. Mary’s.

27th.  FISCAL PERPLEXITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT.—­These were alluded to before.  No improvement appears, but we are all destined to suffer.  A friend, who is versed in the subject, writes from Washington:  “The fact is, that nothing could be worse managed than the fiscal concerns of the department.  Not the slightest regard has been paid to the apportionment made, and there is now due to our superintendency more than the sum of $40,000.  You can well conceive how this happens, and I have neither time nor patience to enter into the details; suffice it to say, that I am promised by the Secretary that the moment the appropriation law passes, which will probably be early in January, every dollar of arrearages shall be paid off.  This is all the consolation I can furnish you, and, I suppose I need not say that I have left no stone unturned to effect a more desirable result.  It is manifest, however, that the whole department will be exceedingly pressed for funds next year, as a considerable part of the appropriation must be assigned to the payment of arrearages, which have been suffered to accumulate; and it is not considered expedient, in the present state of affairs, to ask for a specific appropriation.  It will require at least two years to bring our fiscal concerns to a healthy state.”