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Of those pure winds, so cool and rich with dews,
Which thee come o'er, with "healing on their wings,"
The "sea-breeze" that is called; of fish thou giv'st
For food or oil; of pearl and coral which

Thou givest man for ornament and use.

We speak of these, and have not spoken all.

He who, O sea, has poured thee out and set

Thy bounds, and said, "Come thou thus far, and stayed
Shall here thy proud waves be," has given to thee
Yet other uses, and a secret one

Man knows not of.

And now, good-bye, my friend

And angel-company; one happy hour

Or so, I've passed in thy society.

And if I've faithful been in noting down
What thou hast whispered, I am doubly blest.

St. Louis, 1852.

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Being a Collection of Veracious Memoranda, taken during the Expedition of
Exploration in the year 1845, from the Western Settlements of Missouri to the
Mexican Border, and from Bent's Fort on the Arkansus to Fort Gibson,
via South Fork of Canadian-North Mexico and Nor Western Texus.
By FRANCOIS DES MONTAIGNES, of St. Louis.

CHAPTER THREE.-[Continued.]

Wherein the Great north-western-mule-waggon and pack-saddle Exploring-Expedition makes a grand movement, and its historian, one still more grand, though rather mixed with Geometry.

The sun was bright, and his rays, warm and cheering like blazing logs in the wintry night, caused mirth and hope to lighten up the countenances of the explorers; and even the weather-beaten physiognomies of the veteran voyageurs, hardened and embrowned by many a mountain rain and snow, ielaxed from their usual frigidity, by degrees, and seemed to share in the general satisfaction around.

Under such happy auspices as these, Francois could not but feel the sincerest emotions of pleasure, and with renewed hope, aug his heels into his animal's ribs, and went, like others have frequently done before, on his way rejoicing.

In tolerable order, if the expression is satisfactory, we proceeded over the first rise or swell in the prairie; and then happened the first incident, which, though trivial and unimportant, as far as regards the main end of the expedition, was, nevertheless, the cause of no little difficulty and delay, at the time, and an omen of evil to the sanguine Francois, all the previous bright auspices, and the future glory of the adventure, to the contrary notwithstanding.

One of the teams, more heavily laden than the balance, having to cross a ravine, ploughed by descending rains across the road, sank deeper in the soft clay than its predecessors, and the mules faltering, became badly stalled. 'Twas an unfortunate stall, and the more so to certain outsiders, as will be easily inferred from the sequel.

The unlucky waggon remained in this situation for some time, and the cavalcade moved on. The rear body however-the cavalry of the expedition, whilst passing the obstacle, shewed evident signs of uneasiness, and sundry mules of peevish and irascible temper, chose to make it a fit subject to descant upon. The consequence was, that in less time than it takes the historian to record it, six or eight of the explorers were pursuing their explorations on foot, and their pack and riding animals scouring over the prairie in hot pursuit of the fast receding advance guard.

Not a whit wiser than the rest, the mule led by Francois, which by a queer fatality, happened to be a very devil, and had to been knocked down with a rock preparatory to being packed at all, must needs consider the wagon in the road a

phantom to be frightened at, although he had seen it daily for a week, and with the luckless Frenchman for a centre and the rope for a radius, began an indefinite series of rapid circles, increasing the range with the velocity, and performing the manoeuvres with a correctness and skill, which would have done credit to Euclid and a pair of compasses.

The unsophisticated explorer supposing this singular conduct to be a mere momentary fancy of the jocose animal, humored his caprice for some time, by turning his own mule and keeping a front face to the rude geometrician, until perceiving that the centrifugal force of the movement freed Euclid of his pack, and would most likely pull him from his seat, he wisely let the miscreant go, who shot off at a tangent, and then, his own saddle turning at the moment, rolled easily and unhurt to the ground. Such was his debut on the prairie.

This was but one of the episodes of the day's march; and though the distance from Boone's Fork to our second camp was but six or seven miles, it presented but one uninterrupted scene of accident and disorder: Loose animals scattered here and there without pack or saddle,-packs and saddles along the road, far away,—whilst many a poor fellow who had set out well mounted and equipped, now vainly pursued his truant charges on foot, or walked humbly along the route with his rifle on his shoulder and inwardly wishing all long-eared and longlegged beasts to the devil.

Though no bones were broken or serious damage done, the prestige was any thing but pleasant, and many shook their heads in a sinister way and hoped "that things would turn out better than they looked."

Even the infidel greenhorns who neither believed in signs, dreams or any particular creed at all, seemed partially affected by the signs of to-day, and an observer would have concluded from some of their lengthened countenances that a return road would have been willingly and unanimously adopted.

The second camp was rather inferior to the first in respect to the proximity of wood; but the water was good and the pasturage in the neighborhood abundant. The place upon which we pitched our tents, was a little plateau near the creek, as level as a table, and with the fresh meat supplied by one of our beeves and the luxuries of flour, coffee. sugar, etc., we enjoyed altogether, what most of our people called "The jolliest kind of a time."

Several additional hands joined the party the morning after our arrival here, as also a couple of heavy ox wagons to transport a portion of our provisions and outfit beyond the deep rich soil, which had become well saturated by the recent heavy rains, and sank like quicksands beneath both hoof and tire.

The little valleys and creek bottoms, which interperse this section of the country, were well timbered, and at no great distance from our camp were several farms and habitations belonging to the Shawnees, who had received this territory for their ancient hunting grounds east of the Mississippi. The appearance of these improvements evinced no remarkable industry or progress, although six months afterwards, a similar scene in the shape of a Kickapoo village, near the frontier of Arkansas, presented charms to our eyes, which those only can appreciate, who have made a tour among the houseless tribes of Buffalo-enters who roam over the American desert. Practising with rifle and pistol was a la orite amusement whilst encamped here, and as game was said to exist in the neighborhood, several, and amongst them Francois, shouldered their guns and dispersed themselves through he dense little groves which fringed the creek.

The underwood was thick and tangled, and our amateur hunters had no great success to boast of. The Indians bad searched the covers well; the deer were scarce, if there were any at all, and not even a rabbit or a squirrel eli ened the solitude.

Just on the point of returning empty-handed and dispirited, Francois cast a glance into a thicket ahead, and beheld a sight which sent the blood beating back to his heart with rapture and surprise, and made his fingers tingle as if froshitten. Crouching leisurely at the foot of a tree, was one of the largest black bears in the Shawnee country,

With a hasty glance at the condition of his rifle, he drew his wool hat more firmly over his brow, and then with breathless and careful haste, began a series of retrograde movements, until he had attained a sufficient distance from the bear to make a safe surround.

Then, concentrating all his energies for the task, our modern Mike Fink, with ready rifle and breathless with caution, advanced towards the thicket. During all these maneouvres of marching and countermarching, which would

have reflected honor upon the most renowned tactician, the boisterous little river continued to babble and bubble along amongst the rocks, and made as much noise in the glen, as though not a bear was there, nor any Mike Fink creeping stealthily and noiselessly through the woods to shoot him.

Mike was compelled to wade the creek to reach his prey, but had he known, poor fellow, how often he would afterwards be compelled to cross the Arkansas, the unfortunate bear he discovered in the Shawnee Country would have been left where he was found: in statu quo.

So the creek was forded, the woods were threaded, and the ursus major again in full view Yes! there he was! the same as before: unmoved and unterrified; his two short ears projecting on either side as valiant as a bear's ears could be, and his oily rotund body resting easily and lazily upon his haunches. Sardanapalus what a feast! Selecting a neat little sapling for a rest, Fink took a long and steady sight; the gun rang clearly and distinctly, and Mike beheld an ordinary black stump with a bullet hole through it. His nerves must have been steady, for, intending to blow the bear's brains out, he had aimed between the two erect ears, and sure enough he had literally made daylight shine through the very spot he presumed to be occupied by brains.

Without reloading his piece for additional sport, Francois took a bee-line for camp, where he arrived sound enough, I am happy to state, not to enter upon any minute description of his hair-breadth escapes or the extraordinary quantity of game to be found in the neighborhood.

Several Shawnees visited us on the 24th to dispose of a few vegetables which they brought along; the latter were quite acceptable and with the little fish caught in the creek, afforded material aid" to the other viands which graced our humble board.

The company now numbering near eighty men, had been, as I have stated, divided into messes of eight and ten, and again into guards or watc: es. Though there was no immediate necessity for all the pains taken in this latter respect, it was deemed a favorable opportunity to accustom the men to the irksome duty, so that when well upon the prairie, they would be fully disciplined for the arduous march before them. The day guard which consisted merely in keeping the grazing animals within bounds and driving them to the stream for water, was an easy and indolent employment; but to many, and especially to such as had been accustomed from childhood to long naps, the right watch with its silence and loneliness presented contrast which no novelty or association could invest with sufficient interest to make desirable. One of these amateur watchmen being upon duty, whilst at this dangerous camping ground, and possessed of an eccentric turn of mind, as well as a temperament anything but sanguine, took it into his head that he might risk an attack of rheumatism by parading over the damp ground at night, entered a tent, and wisely devoted to rest the few hours which intervened to daylight. The astounding news that there was a sleepy explorer amongst us, broke upon us the following morning like a thunder clap, as doubtless daylight did upon the unfortunate Dogberry himself, and the circumstance afforded the entire camp a topic for discussion, which would probably have continued until the following day, had not a proclamation been made throughout the camp for the explorers to assemble at the Captain's tent; "For the long-haired Greeks to come to Council."

"The object of the meeting was briefly explained by our talented Command"er-in-Chief, who, after a few appropriate remarks, informed us that He himself "was the leader of the expedition, having been employed by sundry powerful and "wealthy Americans, Uncle Sam amongst the balance, to make an exploration of "certain regions to the westward, the locality, distance, names, etc. etc. of which "it would not benefit us to be informed of. As to the route we were to pursue in "visiting these strange countries, it would be of no material use for us to inquire "any particulars, as only He-himself and aids, such as assistant botanist, assist"ant geologist, assistant mineralogist, assistant conchologist, pilot, cook, as "also assistant journalist and astronomer knew anything about it, and a further "diffusion of such knowledge, would be utterly superfluous.

"Several pertinent remarks were here made by our talented chief respecting "the nonsensical custom of some ignorami, who cannot travel over these regions "without taking notes and keeping a journal. After reprobating such literati "for some time, he gave all to understand that no notes or memoranda should be "kept, as He himself, who was by rights (like a pope on a small scale), both ten"poral and intellectual captain of the expedition, had as much as he could do to "attend to this branch of the concern himself.

"Martial law or the law of Mars, the God of war, was declared by our va"liant commander-in-chief, to be the law which should direct Him in governing "his command. As to the drowsy headed fellow, who preferred a nap to the "chance of obtaining a shot with his empty gun at some imaginary horse thief, he "was formally pronounced to be no longer a member of the mule and packsaddle "exploring expedition, but ordered to return as speedily as possibly to the point, "whence none but an ill wind could have blown him.

"Any one falling asleep hereafter, shall be shot after breakfast.”

This Demosthenic effort, which would undoubtedly have been reported "verbatim et literatim ut loquitur tempore," had the house not been in secret session, the reporters kicked out, and the press muzzled, I have looked in vain for, amid the numerous and voluminous reports with which Congress and other great functionaries have been so liberally provided, and had not Francois preserved his usual habit of acting somewhat perversely, and humored an odd Xenophonian fancy for pencils and memoranda, at least one half of the stirring incidents of this Grecian march would never have been narrated by historian's pen, and all the brilliant passages, like the one above, would have been lost to the scientific worlp forever.

"Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air."

NOTE. It has been the world's axiom for ages that murder, treasor, robbery, sacrilege, etc., will eventually reap their respective deserts; and the reader of these hasty memoranda will perceive during the course of coming chapters that the taking and preserving of private notes respecting strange scenes and strange cople, through which one passes in this world of ours, forms no exception to the general rule.

In the instance above, it would constitute a grave offence in the eyes of martial law, for the commander-in-chief had publicly and expressly stated to his command that no small Xeno phons would be tolerated in the expedition, as he himself was the only one in camp, legally and naturally qualified to record our deeds, and see that they were properly printed by order of Congress.

LITERARY NOTICES, PERIODICALS, ETC.

"THE MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE," for January, 1853, has been received. This sterling periodical has now entered upon its 28th volume, and we do but simple justice to its industrious and able Editor, Freeman Hunt, to say that the character of the work improves with every volume.-The "Merchants' Magazine" should be in the hands of every intelligent man in the United States, whatever may be his avocation.

"DE Bow's REVIEW," for January, 1853, made its appearance in due season. This pioneer of southwestern periodicals has completed its 13th volume. To say that this valuable work has been ably sustained from its beginning to the present time, conveys but an imperfect idea of the talent and industry necessary to establish a great work in a region where the people habitually look abroad for all kinds of literature. See Prospectus.

"THE TEACHER AND WESTERN EDUCATIONAL MAGAZINE." Edited by John H. Tice, Secretary of the Board of Public Schools, St. Louis, Mo. This is a monthly publication "intended to embrace all subjects connected with educational interests." A more noble object could not have been conceived by the able and philanthropic Editor, and we are highly gratified that he has devoted his talents to the cause of education in the West. The subjects contained in the first number are selected with judgement and well treated. The pamphlet contains 32 pages, and the mechanical department is executed with much taste. Price $1.00 per annum.

"NORTON'S LITERARY REGISTER." We are indebted to the publishers of Norton's Literary Gazette, New York, for the Literary Register and Book buying Almanac for 1853. The volume contains a calendar calculated for every part of the United States, a list of Libraries in the U. S., and also a list of American publications for the year 1852. Also a historical sketch of Yale College and other Libraries, with handsome engravings of Harvard College, Yale College and other literary edifices. The work will be found useful to every family, as well as to business men. Price 25 cents.

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In the presentation of the cause of the "Association for the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations," we are happy in making our acknowledgments to the Editors and Proprietors of two of the daily presses of St. Louis, distinguished for the industry and enterprise with which they devote themselves, in preparing the foundation and gathering together the materials and forces for the superstructure of the wealth, the honor, the glory of the State of Missouri, which have for ages been slumbering in the dust.

Mr. MITCHELL, of the "News," has presented us with an article on the Exhibition of Missouri, which must arouse the spirit of the people from the apathy in which they have been supinely indulging for more than a generation.

Mr. BUDD, of the "Intelligencer," has presented us with the above engraving of the NEW YORK CRYSTAL PALACE, in which Missouri is called upon to display her immense treasures on the 2d of May, 1853.

The time for action is short. The demand great. The Internal Improvement System is based upon the resources of the State. The resources are more than sufficient to sustain the undertaking. The Exhibition will be a trial. The people have it in their power to pass it triumphantly. Let them show themselves Let them show their vast means. Let them astonish England. Let them astonish the world. In the arts of peace, as in the arts of war, Missouri like "England expects every man to do his duty."

men.

IRON MOUNTAIN RAILROAD.-On motion of Hon. JOHN F. DARBY, the Bill introduced by him on the 25th January, granting right of way for the I. M. R. R. through certain lands of the United States, passed the House of Congress the same day.

The corps of Engineers surveying the route, were one mile below the Maramee river on the last day of January.

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