22d.  The geography of the line of country between Sault St. Marie and the shores of Lake Huron, opposite to the island of Mackinack, is a perfect terra incognita.  It has been passed in the winter only on snow shoes.  The distance in a direct line from N.E. to S.W. is about forty or forty-five miles.  It is about double that distance by the St. Mary’s River and Lake Huron—­which is and has been the ordinary route, from the earliest French days, and for uncounted centuries before.  Mr. G. Johnston, who has just passed it, with Indian guides on snow shoes, writes:  “I reached this place at half-past twelve this day, after experiencing great fatigue, caused by a heavy fall of snow and the river rising.  I inclose herein a rough sketched map of the region through which I passed, that is, from Lake Superior to Lake Huron in a direct southerly line.

“The banks of the Pe-ke-sa-we-see, which we ascended, are elevated and pretty uniform.  From its mouth to the first fork, is a growth of cedar, on either bank, intermixed with hemlock, pine, birch, and a few scattered maples.  Thence to the third fork, denoted on the map, the growth is exclusively pine and fir.  This river is sluggish and deep, and is navigable for boats of ten to fifteen tons burden, without any obstruction to the third forks.  Its width is uniform, about sixty to seventy feet wide.

“From this point to Pine River of Lake Huron, is invariably level, gently rising to a maple ridge, and susceptible of a road, to be cut with facility.

“The banks of Pine River are very high.  The river we found open in many places, indicating rapids.  It is obstructed in many places with drift wood.  The pine ridge, on either bank, indicates a vigorous growth of the handsomest pine trees I ever beheld.  The water marks are high—­say ten to twelve feet, owing to the spring freshets.

“I reached the mouth of the river on the Sabbath, and encamped, which gave the Methodist Indian an opportunity of revealing God’s Holy Word to Cacogish’s band, consisting of thirty souls.  We were very kindly received, and supplied with an abundance of food—­hares, partridges, trout, pork, corn and flour.  We had clean and new mats to sleep on.”

Feb. 4th.  The American Lyceum at New York invite me, by a letter from their Secretary, to prepare an essay on the subject of educating in the West.

6th.  Dr. John Torrey, of N.Y., writes on the eve of his embarkation for Europe:  “I shall take with me all very rare and doubtful plants, for examination and comparison with the celebrated herbaria of Europe.

“Your boxes and packages of specimens must have been detained on the way by the closing of the (N.  Y.) canal, as I have as yet received nothing from you.  The plan of your proposed narrative I like much, and I hope the work will be given to the public as early as possible.  Dr. Houghton did not come to New York, but has settled himself (as you doubtless know) at Detroit.”