5th.  Finished and dispatched my mail for St. Mary’s by two Indians, who set out at ten o’clock A.M.  I received an official visit from Ossiganac, and seven men from the village of L’Arbre Croche.  He stated it to be the wish of the Ottawas, to visit Washington.  The reasons for such a visit arose from a desire to see the President, on the subject of their lands.  Many of these lands were denuded of game.  Drummond Island had been abandoned.  They thought themselves entitled to compensation for it.  They were poor and indebted to the traders.  The settlements would soon intrude on their territories.  Wood was now cut for the use of steamboats and not paid for.  They had various topics to confer about.  This was, in fact, the first move of the Lake Indians, leading in the sequel to the important treaty of March 28th, 1836.

6th.  The thermometer is again depressed, and a recurrence of easterly winds.

7th.  The depression of temperature creates the sensation of coldness after the late mild weather, although the thermometer, examined at 8 o’clock, has not fallen below 26 deg., but six degrees below the freezing point.

I embodied Ossiganac’s remarks in a letter to the Department, and also requesting the survey of the old grants under Wayne’s Treaty of 1793.  I likewise proposed the establishment of an Indian Academy at Michilimackinack for the Indian tribes of the upper lakes.  Mackinack has peculiar facilities of access in the open months for a large circle of cognate tribes; and, in view of a future cession of the country, these tribes will possess ample means.  I wrote to my sister Catharine, in the prospect of her dying of consumption; directing her mind to the great moral remedy in the intercession of Christ.

8th.  Our third express for Detroit left this morning.  The day was clear and calm, with the thermometer at 30 deg. at 8 o’clock.  I began sketching some remarks, to be transmitted to the American Lyceum, on the best mode of educating the Indians.

9th.  S. Mild.  An Indian woman was buried to-day, who has borne the character of a Christian.  As her end drew near she said she did not fear to “pass through the valley of death.”  She appeared to be prepared to die, and had the testimony of Christians in her behalf, many of whom attended her funeral.  As a general fact, the Christian Indians whom I have known, seize with great simplicity of faith on an Intercessor and his promises.

10th.  Mild.  In consequence of the protracted mildness of the weather, Indians from Thunder Bay visited the office.  They spoke of the meteoric phenomenon of November.  I asked the leader of the party what he thought of it.  He replied that it betokened evil to the Indian race—­that sickness would visit them calamitously.

In the evening the wind veered from a favorable quarter suddenly to the north, producing a strong sensation of cold.