He says he began his voyages to old Mackinack seven years before the removal of the post to the Island.  This was, he says, in 1767.  The post was then in command of a Capt.  Glazier, afterwards of De Peyster (who subsequently commanded at Detroit), then of Patrick Sinclair (who had previously built a fort at the mouth of Pine River—­St. Clair Co. seat), and then of Gov.  Sinclair (so called).  The Indians, at the massacre of the garrison of old Mackinack, did not burn the fort.  It was re-occupied, and it was not till the breaking out of the revolutionary war that the removal from the main to the island took place.  It must have been (if he is correct as to the period of seven years) in 1774, and the occupancy of the island is, therefore, coincident with the earliest period of the movement for Independence—­fifty-nine years.[74]

[Footnote 74:  See ante.]

Previous to that era, Mackinack was the spot where the men stopped to shave and dress preparatory to the traverse.  About the time Capt.  Thorn first began sailing to old Mackinack, the Indians plundered a boat at the island while the owner stopped to dress, in consequence of which the interpreter at the old post (Hanson, I think) went over to demand redress, and killed the depredator, an Indian.

My inquiries on this topic of old men, red and white, which were commenced last spring, may here drop.  It is now rendered certain that the occupancy of old Mackinack—­the Beekwutinong of the Indians—­was kept up by British troops till 1774; between that date and 1780 the flag was transferred (the letters of the commanding officers to their generals would alone give this date).  The principal traders, probably, went with it; the Indian intercourse likewise.  Some residents lingered a few years, but the place was finally abandoned, and the town site is now covered with loose sand.  The walls of the fort, which are of stone, remain, and the whole site constitutes an interesting ruin.  The post was first founded by Marquette as a missionary station about 1668.

11th.  Major Whiting, of Detroit, writes a letter of introduction in the following terms:—­

“Captain Tchehachoff, of the Russian Imperial Guards, is traveling through our country with a view to see its extent and null—­its geographical and scenic varieties.  As he proposes to visit Michilimackinack, I wish him to become acquainted with you, who can give him so much information relative to those portions of it which he may not be able to visit.  I have put into his hands some of your works, which may have anticipated something you will have to say.

“He is, probably, the first Russian who has been on our N.W. interior since the enterprising gentlemen who thought to speculate on the ’copper rock.’  But Capt.  Tchehachoff has no other views than those of an enlightened and disinterested observer.  I am sure that it will give you pleasure to show him all kindly attentions.”