ཅན་ཚང་

Entered according to the, Act of Congress of the United States of America, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirtyfour, by STEPHEN WELLS and GEORGE L. WHITNEY, in the Clerk's office of the District of Michigan.

CEO. L. WHITNEY, PRINTER

Checked

May 1913

PREFACE.

THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MICHIGAN was instituted in 1829, and four annual discourses have been delivered under its auspices, bring. ang together the scattered facts connected with the first settlement of the country, and its subsequent history, down to the close of the war of 1812, with occasional sketches of events of a later occurrence. These discourses do not form an unbroken chain of history. Collectively, they are of a desultory character; and yet they constitute the best body of information on the subject of Michigan which is before the public. The editions of the two first discourses have been nearly, or are quite, exhausted, and the diminution of those of the two last has been in proportion to the time they have been in print.

This evidence of interest, on the part of the community, in the topics embraced by the discourses, has suggested the expediency of collecting them into one volume, and republishing them in that form, with some additional matter, properly coming within the scope of the work. The extracts from Mr. Schoolcraft's address to the Lyceum of Detroit, contain some new and interesting views of the natural history of the Territory. They are cursory, the character of the address not admitting any thing more elaborate or in detail; but they are the result of the most recent observations of a mind that has now been, for many years, habitually engaged in the subject. The remarks of Mr. Lyon on the experiment made in boring at Detroit are worthy of record. They give us a deep insight beneath the earth, where we had before been restricted to the surface. The facts disclosed by them, taken in connexion with the well known position of the linestone quarries at Monguagon, lying near the surface, and running across the mouth of the Detroit river, suggest new reflections as to the formation of the stony basin which is filled by the alluvion on which Detroit and its vicinity are spread. The article copied from Silliman's Journal, on the subject of the supposed tides and periodical variations of the surface of the Lakes, relates to a theory which has occupied much attention and excited no little speculation. Embracing most of the recorded data connected with it, and which alone can guide opinions to any satisfactory conclusions, the article seems to find a suitable place in this coilection.

It is to be regretted that these discourses have now been suspended for two years. A perseverance, up to this time, in the plan so successfully pursued for four years, would have led to something like a fulfilment of the original design of the society. The series is now obviously incomplete. The legislative and judicial history of the Territory has scarcely been touched upon; and the long administration of Gov. Cass remains nearly unnoticed. The former will be as curious as it will be interesting and instructive; presenting to view the operation of a junction, so anomalous in our country, of the legislative and judicial powers in one body or in the same men. The framers of the ordinance of '87, aware of the antirepublican and irreconcilable association they were about to establish, no doubt intended to apply a corrective of its injurious tendencies, by making the legislative an adoptive, instead of inceptive, or originating power. This restriction was found in practice, as might have been anticipa ted, merely nominal, as the rule of modification, to suit the circumstances of the case, could have no other limit than the discretion of those who were to apply it. And the errors of legislation could, of course, find no correction in the process of adjudication, as the legislator and the judge were the same.

The history of Gov. Cass' administration will be the history of the Territory from that state of utter feebleness and desolation which marked its initial period, to the vigor and prosperity of its termination, when the Governor was transferred to a higher station.

It is hoped that these two interesting and fruitful subjects will still be brought out under the auspices of the society, whose labors may yet long be productive of useful results. Even when all the important incidents of the past, whether in obsolete print, in MS. or in tradition, shall have been gathered up, and fixed on permanent record; each passing year will still doubtless offer something in political and statistical changes, in the devel opement of science or the arts, which will be worthy attention and preservation.

DISCOURSE

DELIVERED BEFORE THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MICHIGAN,

BY LEWIS CASS.

Introductory Remarks-Observations upon the early condition of the North American Indians-Early European AdventurersThe Sacred Fire-The Neutral Nation-Establishment of Trading Posts by the French-French Expedition to the sources of the Mississippi-Establishment of a French Post at DetroitDescription of Detroit and its vicinity-Expedition of the Ottogamies against the French and their allies-Final subjugation of the Ottogamies-Possession of Detroit and the Upper Posts by the British-Notice of the celebrated Indian Chief, PontiacPontiac's design to attack the British Posts simultaneously-Destruction of Fort Michilimackinac-Attack upon Detroit by Pontiac-Interesting interview between Major Gladwin and Pontiac, at the Fort-Attack upon the Garrison-Capture of Major Campbell-Pontiac in council with the French-Attempt by the Indians to destroy the English vessels-Battle at Bloody Bridge -Cessation of Indian Hostilities-General Bradstreet arrives at Detroit-Establishment of Peace-Assassination of PontiacAmicable relation established between the British and the Indians -Revolutionary War between the British and the United Colonies-Expedition under Captain Byrd-Successful Expedition of General Clark against the British and Indians-Termination of the War.