CHEROKEE EMIGRATION.—­A letter from Gen. Scott of this date, to the Governor of Georgia, states that, of the two parties of Cherokees, or those who are for and against the treaty of New Echota, only about five hundred (including three hundred and seventy-sixty Creeks) remain east of the Mississippi, and of the anties a little over five thousand souls.  About two thousand five hundred of these had been emigrated in June, when the emigration was suspended on account of sickness.  An arrangement was made in the month of September, by which John Ross was, in effect, constituted the contractor for the removal of the remainder (twelve thousand five hundred) of his people.

16th.  Mr. J. Toulmin Smith, the phrenologist, of Boston, writes:  “I perfectly concur with you in your remarks on the minor details of phrenology.  They have hitherto been loose and vague, but though at first sight they seem minor, they will be found, in truth, of great importance to the thorough elucidation and application of the subject.

“The Indian tribes do, indeed, present most interesting subjects for examination, and it is an anxious wish of my mind to be able to examine them thoroughly (per crania), and also to compare them with the crania found in their ancient burial-places, supposed to be the remnants of an anterior race.  Not only will this throw light on their history, but it will do so also on those ‘minor’ but most interesting points, to the elucidation of which my attention has been, and is particularly directed.  I should be exceedingly happy to be able to compare also one or two female Indian skulls with the males of the same tribe.  The females, I presume, may be easily recognized phrenologically; it may be done with facility by the large philoprogenitiveness, and the smaller general size of the head.”

22d.  Rumor says that Mr. Harris, Com.  Indian Affairs, had entered into land speculations in Arkansas, which led Mr. Van Buren to call for a report, which, being made, the President returned it with the pithy and laconic endorsement “unsatisfactory,” whereupon Mr. H. tendered his resignation.  Rumor also says, that Mr. T. Hartley Crawford, of Pennsylvania, is appointed in his stead.  This gentleman is represented to be a person of some ability; an old black-letter lawyer, but a man who is apt to lose sight of main questions in the search after technicalities.  They say he is very opinionated and dogmatical; personally unacquainted with the character of the Indians, and the geography of the western country, and not likely, therefore, to be very ready or practical in the administrative duties of the office.  Time must test this, and time sometimes agreeably disappoints us.

29th.  I reached Detroit this day, with my family, in the new steamer “Illinois,” having had a pleasant passage, for the season, from Mackinack.  The style of the lake steamboats is greatly improved within the last few years, and one of the first-class boats bears no slight resemblance to a floating parlor, where every attention and comfort is promptly provided.  He must be fastidious, indeed, who is not pleased.