31st.  A Mr. H. Howe, of Worcester, Mass., writes, wishing to be informed of same stream of the Upper Mississippi, having sufficient water power, with pine timber, and means of ready issue into the Mississippi, to furnish a suitable site for a saw-mill.  The question is readily answered:  there are many such, but it is entirely Indian country, and cannot be entered for such a purpose without violating the Indian intercourse act, which it is a part of my duty, as an Indian Agent, to enforce.  It would be a trespass, subjecting him to a suit in the U.S.  District Court.  I replied to him, stating these views.

April 7th.  The dispute with Ohio, respecting our southern boundary, grows warmer, and is fomented, on her part, by speculators in public lands on the western shores of Maumee Bay.  Otherwise it could be easily settled.  The mere historical and geographical question, as founded on the language of the Ordinance of 1787, would appear to leave the right with Michigan.  Ohio legislation, or constitutional encroachment, could not surely overrule an act of Congress.  “The difficulty with Ohio,” says Major W., of Detroit, “is of a threatening character.  It is not now, perhaps, any nearer adjustment that at any previous stage, although pacificators have been sent on by the President.  But the ’million of freemen’ State does not think it comports with her dignity to desist, or vacate Michigan, is prepared for war, and is determined to proceed to blood if need be.  Gov.  Cass will be here, it is said on good authority, in May or June.  Political divisions here, unfortunately, run too high for a proper convention.  Party feeling has governed exclusively, in a case where they, perhaps, can have no operation.  Whoever goes into the convention will probably have nearly the same views, and it would have been well to have sent the best and most intelligent.  But, on the whole, probably three-fourths of the members will find it as new business as if they were to undertake astronomy.”

14th.  Charles Fotheringay, of Toronto, U.C., issues and forwards a circular headed “Lyceum of Natural History and the Fine Arts.”  The object is to found, in that city, a cabinet which shall do justice to the claims of science and philosophical learning on this subject.

CHAPTER LIV.

Requirements of a missionary laborer—­Otwin—­American quadrupeds—­Geological question—­Taste of an Indian chief for horticulture—­Swiss missionaries to the Indians—­Secretary of War visits the island—­Frivolous literary, diurnal, and periodical press—­Letter of Dr. Ives on this topic—­Lost boxes of minerals and fresh-water shells—­Geological visit of Mr. Featherstonehaugh and Lieut.  Mather—­Mr. Hastings—­A theological graduate.