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Lake Superior with Lake Huron, is about 80 miles long. The fall, or Saut de St. Marie, is near the head of the strait, fifteen miles from Lake Superior; the river here descends twenty-two feet and ten inches, in 900 yards, and cannot be ascended with large vessels; canoes and other small craft are towed up, with considerable difficulty. Large quantities of white fish are taken at the foot of these rapids; they are so numerous that 500 have been taken in two hours by one person. The principal rivers which discharge themselves from the eastern shore of the territory, are Saganaw, Huron, and Raisin. The Saganaw is a large and deep stream, which falls into Saganaw Bay, at its southern extremity. The Huron River discharges itself into Lake St. Clair, twenty miles north of Detroit, after an easterly course of 60 miles. Numerous rivers fall into Lake Michigan, on its eastern shore; the most noted of which is the St. Joseph, which rises in Indiana, near the source of the Maumee, and running in a northwestern direction, falls into the lake near its southern extremity. Grand River rises near the sources of the Saganaw and the Raisin, and runs in a westerly direction, until it falls into the lake, about 60 miles north of the St. Joseph's; it is navigable for boats nearly to its

source.

Face of the Country.-A ridge of high land divides the waters flowing into Lake Michigan, from those which fall into Lake Huron, St. Clair, and Erie. The country along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, and extending into the interior as far as the dividing ridge, consists of sand hills, sometimes covered with a few stinted trees, and scanty vegetation, but generally bare, and thrown by the wind into a thousand fantastic shapes.

The

whole of this tract has been gained from the lake, and the land is still continually making encroachments, every storm throwing up new quantities of alluvial. The eastern part of the state consists of lands ceded by the Indians, but never has, until recently, been brought into notice. It is now ascertained to be a fertile region, well fitted for wheat and fruit of all kinds, generally level, and watered by fine rivers, most of which present facilities for the transportation of produce from the interior. Since the

lands were offered for sale by the United States' government, in 1818, emigrants have flocked to this territory in great numbers; and, perhaps, in no country north of the cotton and sugar climate, could the farmer find a better field for enterprise, or a surer prospect of reward. The lands on Saganaw river and bay, which were ceded by the Indians, in 1819, are represented to be of excellent quality, and beautifully situated.

CLIMATE. The climate is healthful, and milder than in the Atlantic states in the same latitude. In the eastern parts it resembles that of the western part of NewYork and Pennsylvania; towards the southern boundary it increases in mildness, but upon the coast of Lake Huron and St. Clair it is more severe. No part of the country is better supplied with fish and other wild game; the trout of Michilimackinack have a superior relish; they weigh from 10 to 70 pounds each, and are taken at all seasons of the year. White fish are caught in abundance in the straits of St. Mary, the River Detroit, and Lake St. Clair. Sturgeon are commonly caught in all the lakes, The beaver frequent the rivers running into Lake Michigan. Bears, wolves, elk, deer, and foxes, are also found in the forests.

The territory, when first discovered by the whites, was inhabited by a tribe of Indians called Hurons. This tribe was dispersed by the Six Nations, and the French began small settlements about the year 1670; they built a fort at Detroit and Michilimackinack, for the protection of the fur trade. In 1763 the territory was ceded to Great Britain, and by the latter to the United States, in 1783. No improvement or settlement of any account was commenced, until 1787. It was detached from the Northwest Territory in 1805, and erected into a territorial government, and General Hull appointed first governor. During the late war, Detroit and Michilimackinack fell into the hands of the British, but were restored on the return of peace.

COMMERCE. The territory is finely situated for commerce, being almost surrounded by navigable waters, which will soon be connected with the Mississippi on one side by canals, and is already connected with the Atlantic

Ocean on the other. The vessels which navigate the lakes are from 10 to 100 tons burthen. The merchants supply themselves mostly from New-York. Goods are transported through the Erie canal to Buffalo, and thence to Detroit by steamboat, or other lake conveyance. The navigation has greatly increased on Lake Erie within a few years; six steamboats navigate this lake; they formed a daily line, in the spring of 1830, from Buffalo to Detroit. Large numbers of emigrants passed Buffalo, N. Y., on their way to this territory, in the spring of 1830. Many were leaving the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and other parts of the Union, for the St. Joseph's country, so called, more particularly than for any other section of this territory.

POPULATION. The population, exclusive of Indians, in 1810, was 4762, and in 1820, 8896, none of whom were slaves. The population has very greatly increased since the last census was taken. The settlements are principally in the southeast part, on Lake Erie, the River Detroit, Lake St. Clair, and the runs which fall into them, particularly the Maumee, Raisin, and Huron. Detroit, the capital of the territory, is regularly laid out on the west bank of Detroit River, nine miles from Lake St. Clair. It is finely situated for commerce, and was first settled by the French from Canada.

CHAPTER XVIII.

President Jackson's Administration.

Congress assembled December, 1829. The president's message was communicated to both houses on the eighth. We make a few extracts from the same.

"It affords me pleasure to tender my friendly greetings to you, on the occasion of your assembling at the seat of government to enter upon the important duties to which you have been called by the voice of our countrymen. The task devolves on me, under a provision of the constitution, to present to you, as the federal legislature of

twenty-four sovereign states, and twelve millions of happy people, a view of your affairs, and to propose such mea sures as, in the discharge of my official functions, have suggested themselves as necessary to promote the objects of our Union.

"In communicating with you for the first time, it is, to me, a source of unfeigned satisfaction, calling for mutual gratulation, and devout thanks to a benign Providence, that we are at peace with all mankind, and that our country exhibits the most cheering evidence of general wel fare, and progressive improvement. Turning our, eyes to other nations, our great desire is to see our brethren of the human race secured in the blessings enjoyed by our selves, and advancing in knowledge, in freedom, and in social happiness.

"Our foreign relations, although in their general character pacific and friendly, present subjects of difference between us and other powers, of deep interest, as well to the country at large, as to many of our citizens. To effect an adjustment of these shall continue to be the object of my earnest endeavours; and, notwithstanding the difficulties of the task, I do not allow myself to apprehend unfavourable results. Blessed as our country is with every thing that constitutes national strength, she is fully adequate to the maintenance of all her interests. In discharging the responsible trust confided to the executive in this respect, it is my settled purpose to ask nothing that is not clearly right, and to submit to nothing that is wrong, and I flatter myself that, supported by the other branches of the government, and by the intelligence and patriotism of the people, we shall be able, under the protection of Providence, to cause all our just rights to be respected.

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Of the unsettled matters between the United States and other powers, the most prominent are those which have, for years, been the subject of negociation with England, France, and Spain. The late periods at which our ministers to those governments left the United States, render it impossible, at this early day, to inform you of what has been done on the subjects with which they have been respectively charged. Relying upon the justice of our views in relation to the points committed to negociation, and the

reciprocal good feeling which characterizes our inter course with those nations, we have the best reason to hope for a satisfactory adjustment of existing differences. "With Great Britain, alike distinguished in peace and war, we may look forward to years of peaceful, honourable, and elevated competition. Every thing in the condition and history of the two nations is calculated to inspire sentiments of mutual respect, and to carry conviction to the minds of both, that it is their policy to preserve the most cordial relations. Such are my own views, and it is not to be doubted that such are also the prevailing sentiments of our constituents. Although neither time nor opportunity has been afforded for a full developement of the policy which the present cabinet of Great Britain designs to pursue towards this country, I indulge the hope that it will be of a just and pacific character; and if this anticipation be realized, we may look with confidence to a speedy and acceptable adjustment of our affairs.

With other European powers our intercourse is on the most friendly footing. In Russia, placed by her territorial limits, extensive population, and great power, high in the rank of nations, the United States have always found a stedfast friend. Although her recent invasion of Turkey awakened a lively sympathy for those who were exposed to the desolations of war, we cannot but anticipate that the result will prove favourable to the cause of civilization, and to the progress of human happiness. The treaty of peace between these powers having been ratified, we cannot be insensible to the great benefit to be derived to the commerce of the United States, from unlocking the navigation of the Black Sea-a free passage into which is secured to all merchant vessels bound to ports of Russia, under a flag at peace with the Porte. This advantage, enjoyed upon conditions by most of the powers of Europe, has hitherto been withheld from us. During the past summer, an antecedent, but unsuccessful attempt to obtain it, was renewed, under circumstances which promised the most favourable results. Although these results have fortunately been thus in part attained, farther facilities to the enjoyment of this new field for the enterprise of our citizens, are, in my opinion, sufficiently desirable to ensure to them our most zealous attention.

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