Capt.  Tchehachoff visited the island during the month, and accepted an invitation to spend a few days with me.  He repaid me for this attention with much agreeable conversation and many anecdotes of Russia, Germany (where he was educated), and Poland.  He possesses a character of extreme interest to me, as being a Circassian, or descendant of that people, who are the local representatives of the Circassian race.  He was very fair in complexion, and possessed a fine, manly, tall, and well-proportioned figure, and a beautiful red and white countenance, with dark hair and eyes.  He spoke English very well, but with a broad Scottish, or rather provincial accent, on some words, which he had evidently got from his early teacher—­whom he told me was a female—­such as ouwn, for own, &c.

He told me that, on Mr. Randolph’s first presentation to the Russian Empress, he kneeled, although he had been notified that such a ceremony would not be expected of him.  He told some very characteristic anecdotes of the wild pranks of the German students at the university.  He was, I think, in some way related to descendants of Count Orloff, who was so remarkably strong and compact of muscle that he could push an iron spike, with his thumb, to its head in the sides or planking of a vessel.

Capt.  Tchehachoff was certainly strong himself; he had a powerful strength of hands and arms.  He used great politeness, and was very punctilious on entering the dining-room, &c.  He interested himself in the apparently tidal phenomena of strong currents setting through the harbor and straits, which were in fine view from the piazza of my house, and made some notes upon them.  He asked me why I had not concentrated and published my travels, and various works respecting the geology of the Western country, and the history and philology of the aboriginal tribes—­subjects of such deep and general interest to the philosopher of Europe.  One morning early in October (9th), he bade us an affectionate adieu, and embarked in a schooner for Chicago.

Oct. 10th.  Chicago is now the centre of an intense and everyday growing commercial excitement, and however the value of every foot of ground and water of its site is over-estimated, and its prospects inflated, it is evidently the nucleus of a permanent city, destined to be one of the great lake capitals.

The Rev. Jer.  Porter, our former pastor at St. Mary’s, who was the first of his church order, I believe, to carry the Gospel there in 1833, writes me, under this date, detailing his labors and prospects.  These are flattering, and go to prove that the religious element, if means be used, is everywhere destined to attend the tread of the commercial and political elements of power into the great area of the Valley of the Mississippi.  Chicago is, in fact, the first and great city of the prairies, where the abundance of its products are destined to be embarked to find a northern market by the way of the lakes, without the risks of entering southern latitudes.  This is an advantage which it will ever possess.  Nature has opened the way for a heavy tonnage by the lake seas.  Other modes of transportation may divert passengers and light goods, but the staples must ever go in ships, propelled by wind or steam, through the Straits of Mackinack.