In the mean time, while I accepted this place, the subject of the management and superintendence of the western mines appeared to be fully appreciated by Mr. Calhoun and Mr. Crawford, the latter of whom requested a written statement on the subject; and it was held for further consideration.[6] I found during this, my first visit to the capital, that the intelligence of my favorable reception at New York, and of my tour in the West, had preceded me.  Friends appeared, of whom, at this distance of time, I may name the Vice-President, D.D.  Tompkins, Judge Smith Thompson, of the Supreme Court, Colonel Benton, Senator elect from Missouri, Hon. John Scott, the delegate, Hon. Jesse B. Thomas, Senator from Illinois, John D. Dickinson, Esq., Representative from Troy, N.Y., Hon. Josiah Meigs, Commissioner of the General Land Office, Gen. Sol.  Van Rensselaer, and Dr. Darlington, Rep. from Pennsylvania.  To each of these, I have ever supposed myself to be under obligations for aiding me in my object of exploration, and I certainly was for civilities and attentions.

[Footnote 6:  This effort became the cause of the government finally taking definite action on the subject.  Mr. Monroe presented it to the consideration of Congress in the fall, and a superintendent was subsequently appointed.]

Mr. Calhoun addressed a letter to Governor Cass, of Michigan, and I proceeded immediately to the North, to be ready to avail myself of the first opportunity of ascending the lakes to the place of departure.

CHAPTER V.

Set out on the expedition to the north-west—­Remain a few weeks at New York—­Visit Niagara Falls, and reach Detroit in the first steamer—­Preparations for a new style of traveling—­Correspondents—­General sketch of the route pursued by the expedition, and its results—­Return to Albany, and publish my narrative—­Journal of it—­Preparation for a scientific account of the observations.

1820.  I left Washington on the 5th of February, exactly one year from my return to Potosi from the Ozarks; proceeded to New York, where I remained till early in March; traveled by sleigh over the Highlands, was at Niagara Falls on the 1st of May, and reached Detroit in the steamer “Walk-in-the-water” on the 8th of May.  Captain D.B.  Douglass, of West Point Academy, was appointed topographer, and joined me at Buffalo.  We proceeded up Lake Erie in company, and were received in a most cordial manner by General Cass and the citizens generally of that yet remote and gay military post.

Arrangements were not completed for immediate embarkation.  We were to travel in the novel Indian bark canoe.  Many little adaptations were necessary, and while these things were being done we spent a couple of weeks very agreeably, in partaking of the hospitalities of the place.  My correspondence now began to accumulate, and I took this occasion of a little pause to attend to it.  The publication of my work on