During this day he sent down a messenger, placing in his right bosom a piece of white hare skin, and in his left, part of the head of the white-headed eagle.  Both these substances had a blue stripe on them of the nature and substance of the blue sky, being symbols of peace.

The messenger said to the man that complained:  “Your words are heard, and I am come from the Good Spirit with good words.  You must conform yourself to his commands.  I bring pieces of the white hare skin and the white eagle’s head, which you must use in your MEDAWA (religico-medical rites), and whatsoever is asked on those occasions will be granted, and long life given to the sick.”  The messenger also gave them a white otter skin, with a blue stripe painted on the back part of the head.  Other ceremonial rites and directions were added, but these may suffice to indicate the character of Mr. Eshquagonaby’s tradition, which has just been sent to me.

July 1st.  I was now anxious to collect materials for the publication of a volume of collections by the Michigan Historical Society, and addressed several gentlemen of eminence on the subject.  Mr. J. K. Paulding, Sec. of the Navy (July 9th), pleads official engagements as preventing him from doing much in the literary way while thus employed.

Dr. Noah Webster, of New Haven, expresses his interest in the history of the country generally, and his willingness to contribute to the collection and preservation of passing materials.  “In answer to the request for aid in collecting national documents, I can sincerely say it will give me pleasure to lend any aid in my power.  Respecting the State of Michigan, I presume I could furnish nothing of importance.  Respecting the history of our government for the last fifty years, I might be able to add something to the stock of information possessed by the present generation, for I find men in middle life absolutely ignorant of some material facts which have a bearing on our political concerns.  But little can be expected, however, from a man of eighty-two, whose toils must be drawing to a close.”

The Hon. John A. Duer, Prest.  Col.  College (July 15th), while expressing a sympathy in the object, declares himself too much occupied in the duties of his charge to permit him to hold forth any promise of usefulness in the case specified.

Hon. John Quincy Adams forwarded, with the expression of his interest in the subject, twelve pamphlets of historical value, the titles of each of which he carefully recites in his letter.  “It will give me much pleasure,” he says, “to transmit to the society, when it may be in my power, any of the articles pertaining to the history of the country and mentioned in your letter, as suited to promote the purposes for which it was instituted.”

From other quarters and observers less absorbed in the discharge of specific functions, I received several valuable manuscript communications, chiefly relative, to transactions on the frontiers or to Indian history.