I employed the day in reading Humboldt’s “Superposition of Rocks in both Hemispheres.”  Humboldt is the Dr. Johnson of geology.

11th.  Kwewis, a Chippewa convert, returned, after spending a week or more among the Point St. Ignace Indians.  He complained of the listlessness and want of attention of the Indians to the truths by Mr. G., his spiritual guide.

I determined to send an express, as soon as the state of the ice will permit, to St. Mary’s, with directions for its continuance from that place to La Pointe, in Lake Superior—­the missionary station.

12th.  The meteorologic phenomena begin to thicken.  The thermometer, at 2 P.M. to-day, stood at 48 deg., Some snow, of a moist, sleety character.  Wind easterly.  Not a particle of ice has formed in the harbor up to this day.

13th.  Perused Stewart’s visit to the South Seas and the Sandwich Islands.  Certainly the author is one of the most gifted religious travelers.  He reminds the reader, by his graphic descriptions, sometimes of Bishop Heber.  It is remarkable, that with every improvement, the population of these islands declines.

A blow from the east, with depression of temperature, and some snow.

14th.  Easterly wind continues.  Thermometer at noon 38 deg..

16th.  Strong easterly winds.

17th.  On rising this morning and drawing the curtains aside, I observed a vessel in the harbor from Detroit.  It proved to be the “General Warren,” with supplies for the inhabitants, ordered in the fall, but, for two or three weeks back, not expected.  By her we have New York city papers to Nov. 26th, and Detroit dates to Dec. 4th.  What a jumble is a newspaper!  Here we have the death of Ferdinand of Spain, and the report of troubles in Europe:  the appointment of Mr. Butler as Attorney-General, and the busy note of editorial discussion preparatory to the meeting of Congress; the result of elections, progress of nullification, “cussin and discussion” by Jack Downing, a terrible list of murders, accidents, &c.  Prominent among things for scientific readers, are accounts of the meteoric phenomena of November.

18th.  Dispatched an express to St. Mary’s with letters for the sub-agency, missionaries, &c.  In the evening the vessel sailed for Detroit with a light westerly breeze, which is fair.

Mr. Abbot, being in the office during the day, remarked that he had examined the old records before alluded to; that the first public act of the commanding officer is the appointment of a notary by Gov.  Sinclair in 1780; the next is a grant of land in 1781.

Stating these facts afterwards to Mr. Mitchell (William), he observed that his father, who was the post surgeon, remarked that the removal of the troops from old Mackinack was the year after the massacre, which would be 1764.  This is astounding.  Yet Carver’s Mackinack, in 1766, appears to have been “old Mackinack.”