“Hurry” was the word on all parts of our route; but, after reaching the Hudson, we felt more at ease, and we reached New York and got into lodgings, on the evening of the 24th (Nov.).  The next day was celebrated, to the joy of the children, as “Evacuation Day,” by a brilliant display of the military, our windows overlooking the Park, which was the focus of this turnout.

28th.  In conversation with the Rev. Henry Dwight, of.  Geneva, he made some pertinent remarks on the Toltecan monuments, and the skill of this ancient people in architecture, in connection with some specimens of antiquities just deposited in the New York Historical Society.  This nation had not only preceded the Aztecs in time, as is very clearly shown by the traditions of the latter, but also, there is every reason to believe, in knowledge.

29th.  Texas papers contain the following statistics of the Indian population of that Republic, of whom it is estimated that there may be 20,000.  “The different tribes known as wild Indians, comprise about 24,000, west and south-west.  There are on the north ten tribes, known as the ‘Ten United Bands,’ between the Trinity and Red River, numbering between 3 and 4000.  Of these latter tribes, three are said to have wandered off beyond the Rio Grande and the Rocky Mountains.  Of the Comances, nearly one-half of the Indians known by that name are, and have always been, without the limits, and press upon the tribes of New Mexico.  In all it appears that we have within the limits of Texas, an Indian population of 20,000—­of whom one-fifth may be accounted Warriors.  There are one or two remnants of tribes (perhaps not more than fifty in number) living within the settlements of the whites, whom they supply with venison, and in that way support themselves.

“Some of these tribes are the hereditary enemies of Mexico, who has nevertheless furnished them with arms and ammunition, in the hope of inciting them against our people, at a risk to her own.  If, looking beyond our borders, we turn our eyes to the north, we behold within striking distance of the United States frontier on the north-west, an indigenous Indian population of 150,000, and on their western frontier 46,000; in all between 2 and 300,000 Indians within the jurisdiction of the United States—­against whom, were they to combine, they could at any moment direct a war force of 60,000 men.”

These popular estimates, may serve the purpose of general comparison, but require some considerable abatements.  There is a tendency to estimate the numbers of Indian tribes like those of flocks of birds and schools of fish.  We soon get into thousands, and where the theme is guessing, thousands are soon added to thousands.

Dec. 4th.  James L. Schoolcraft of Michilimackinack, in a letter of Nov. 10th, describes a most revolting scene of murder, which, owing to the effects of drinking, recently occurred at the Menomonie pay-ground at Grande Chute, Wisconsin.