28th.  The weather is mild again.  An express from the Hudson’s Bay Company departed for Saginaw, at seven o’clock A.M.  The adverb “fiducially” first brought to my notice, as the synonym of confidently, steadily.  Finished the perusal of Mr. F.’s manuscript lectures, on the Romish Church.  Think them an offhand practical appeal to truth, clear in method, forcible in illustration.  Learning and research, such as are to be drawn from books other than the Bible, have not been evidently relied on.  They might not do to print without revision.  The New Testament does not, as an example, declare that Peter ever was at Rome, and yet that fact, got from other sources, is much relied on by that Church.

March 1st. The change in temperature continues.  It is so mild and warm that the snow melts.

2d.  S. Mild, and Sabbath exercise as usual.

3d.  The temperature falls, and it becomes sensibly cold and wintry.  The sky and lower atmosphere, however, remain clear.

Cadotte, an expressman from La Pointe, Lake Superior, arrived in the course of the afternoon, with letters from Mr. Warren.  Miss W., Miss D. and Mr. J., pass the evening.

4th.  Weather mild; snow soft and sloppy.  Receive visits from Mr. Abbott, Mr. Ferry, and Mr. Mitchell.

5th.  Snow has melted so much, in consequence of the change of temperature, that I am compelled to stop my team from drawing wood.  The ice is so bad that it is dangerous to cross.  The lake has been open from the point of the village to the light-house, since the tempest of the 26th ultimo.  The broad lake below the latter point has been open all winter.  The lake west has been, in fact, fast and solidly frozen, so as to be crossed with trains, but twelve days!

Mr. Warren’s express set out for Lake Superior this morning.  Our fourth express from Detroit came in during the evening, bringing New York dates to the 4th of February.

6th.  The evidences of the approach of spring continue.  The sun shines with a clear power, unobstructed by clouds.  Snow and ice melt rapidly.  Visited the Mission’s house in the evening.

7th.  Clouds intercept the sun’s rays.  An east wind broke up the ice in the harbor, and drives much floating ice up the lake.

8th.  The wind drives away the broken and floating ice from the harbor, and leaves all clear between it and Round Island.  It became cold and freezing in the afternoon.  Conference and prayer meetings at my house.

9th.  Very slippery, and bad walking, and icy roads.  Freezes.

10th.  In consequence of the increase of cold, and the prevalence of a calm during the night, there was formed a complete coating of ice over the bay, extending to Round Island.  This ice was two inches thick.  Mrs. Schoolcraft spent the evening at Mrs. Dousman’s.  On coming home, about nine o’clock, we found the ice suddenly and completely broken up by a south wind, and heaped up along shore.