6th.  Major Whiting writes:  “I have lately begun Buckland’s Treatise, and a noble work it is; the subject he treats just in that way which will communicate the greatest amount of information to the reading public.  That part which explains the bearing of the Scriptures on geology, will have a most salutary effect on the public mind.  It was all important that such explanations should be given.  Many good minds have been startled, and approached geology with averted eyes, apprehending that it ran counter to the great truths of the Bible.  Viewed as the Bible generally has been, geological facts are likely to disturb the moral world.  Either they must be disbelieved, or that literal interpretation of Genesis, so long received, must be abandoned.  To make this abandonment, without having satisfactory reasons for it, would have risked much, that never should be put in jeopardy.  It had come to this, geology must be sealed up and anathematized, or it must be reconciled with the Sacred Writ.  Buckland has undoubtedly done the latter; and he has thus conferred an inestimable blessing on mankind.”

12th.  A remarkable land claim, upon the Indians, who are parties to the late treaty of 1836, came before me.  This consisted of a grant given by the Chippewas in 1760, to Major Robert Rodgers, of anti-revolutionary fame, to a valuable part of the upper region on Lake Superior.  The present heir is James Chaloner Alabaster, who says the deed, of which a copy is furnished, has been in the possession of his family in England about sixty years.  It appears to have been executed in due form for a consideration.  It is prior to the proclamation of George III. interdicting grants.

19th.  A band of Chippewas, originally hailing from Grand Island, in Lake Superior, but now living on the extreme northern head of Green Bay, visited the office.  It embraced the eldest son of the late Oshawn Epenaysee (South Bird), who died, in the first class of chiefs, at Grand Island last fall.  His name is Ado-wa-wa-e-go (something of an inanimate kind beating about in the water on shore).  They requested that he might be recognized as their chief.  On examination this request was acceded to, and I invested him with a flag.

24th.  The department submitted a proposition to the Indians, to take half their annuities under the treaty of 1836, at the approaching payments, in goods, and half in silver.  If the goods were declined, they were requested to receive the half annuity in silver, with the other annuities provided by the treaty, in kind, and to wait for the other moiety till the next year.

I submitted the offer to a full council of the chiefs and warriors this day.  They debated it fully.  A delegation visited the goods, which were shown by an agent.  They decline receiving them, but agree to receive the half annuity in coin, and wait, as requested, for the other half till the next payment.  This proposition was called the “goods offer,” and was much distorted by the public-press.  I was blamed for having carried the offer into effect, whereas it was declined, and the half annuity in silver accepted, and the credit asked for, given for the rest.