Oct. 16th.  Wisconsin is slowly, but surely, filling up with a healthy population, and founding her moral, as well as political institutions, on a solid basis.  Rev. Jer.  Porter, my old friend during the interesting scenes at St. Mary’s, in 1832 and 1833, writes me, that, after passing a few years in Illinois, he has settled at Green Bay, as the pastor of a healthful and increasing church.  “I have recently,” he writes, “made an excursion on horseback, in the interior of the territory.  I traveled about 400 miles, being from home sixteen days.  I went to meet a convention of ministers and delegates from Presbyterian and Congregational churches, to see if we could form a union of the two denominations in the territory, so that we might have a perfect co-operation in every good work.  We had twelve ministers of these denominations present, all but four or five now in the territory, and were so happy as to form a basis of union, which will, I trust, prove permanent, and be a great blessing to our churches.  This seems to us a very favorable beginning.

“I find the beautiful prairies of the interior rapidly settling with a very good population from the Eastern States, and the healthiness of the country gives it some advantages over Illinois.  With the blessing of the Lord, I think this may yet be one of the best States in the Union.”

20th.  The Rev. Henry Kearney, of Kitternan Glebe, Dublin (Ireland), communicates notices of some of the inroads made by death on the rank of our friends and relatives in that land.  “Since my last, the valued friend of the family, the Right Hon’ble Wm. Saurin (late Attorney-General) was removed from this world of changes to the world of durable realities.  He was past eighty.  The bishop (Dromore) is still alive, not more than a year younger than his brother.  Old age—­found in the ways of righteousness—­how honorable!

“You will have learned, from the European newspapers, the agitated state of all the countries from China to Great Britain.  Is the Lord about to bring to pass the predicted days of retribution on the nations for abused responsibility, and the restoration of the ancient nation of Israel, to be, once more, the depository of his judgment and truth for the recovery of all nations to the great principles of government and religion taught us in His holy word?”

Nov. 1st.  Having concluded the Indian business in the Upper Lakes for the season, I returned with my family to Detroit, and employed my leisure in literary investigations.

Dec. 3d.  Mr. Josiah Snow apprizes me that he is about, in a few weeks, to issue the first number of a newspaper devoted to agriculture, in which he solicits my aid.

15th.  J. K. Tefft, Esq., of Savannah, informs me of my election, on the 9th Sept. last, as an honorary member of the Georgia Historical Society.

19th.  I wrote the following lines in memory of my father:—­