EXTRACT FROM THE REVIEW OF THE LIFE OF FATHER MARQUETTE BY JARED SPARKS. From the January No. of the North American Review. We need say nothing here of the services which Mr. Sparks has rendered to American history. His Lives of Ledyard and Morris and Washington; his editions of the writings of Washington and Franklin, and of the Diplomatick Correspondence; and his collection of American Biographies, which has now reached the tenth volume, are all known through this country and in Europe. He has done more than any other one man to preserve for posterity the undoubted records of our early history; and we trust a long life may be granted him, wherein to pursue his labours; for, with the advance already gained in any, M. Talon, a man of great activity and enterprise, knowledge of the details of past times, his labours are becoming every year more and more valuable. Among his various publications, the series of American Biographies ranks high in interest and utility; through it, many have been made known to the world, who might otherwise have found no historian; and we hope he may be able to continue it through many more volumes. Among those persons, who but for this work might have remained without their deserved celebrity, is Father Marquette, whose brief story is now before us. His Journal, giving an account of the discovery of the great Mississippi Valley, was published in France in 1681, and a poor translation of it was given in the Appendix to Hennepin's volumes, printed in London in 1698; but all knowledge of his doings slept in these dusty works, and in a few pages of Charlevoix's "New France," until Mr. Sparks drew up an abstract of the original Journal, for the second edition of Butler's "History of Kentucky." This abstract he has now somewhat altered and enlarged, and put into a wider circulation, through his "Biography." It is curious and interesting; and as Marquette's discovery is but little known, and the labours of those that followed hin but slightly appreciated, we have thought it worth while to give our readers a sketch of the progress of the French in the knowledge and settlement of the Mississippi valley.

among "the Illinois of Perouacca," he was able to baptize one dying child; and who took such a hold of the hearts of those wild men, through the inspiration of love, that for years after his death, when the storms of Lake Michigan swept over the Indian's frail canoe, he called upon the name of Marquette, and the wind ceased and the waves were still.

In the year 1671, this Jesuit missionary led a party of Hurons to the point of land ch projects from the North, at the strait between Lakes Michi gan and Huron, and there founded the old settlement of Michillimackinac. Here, and along the neighbouring shores, he laboured with noiseless diligence, until 1763, when the intendant-general of the colo

and who was upon the point of closing his career in Canada, determined that the close should be worthy of his character, and called upon Marquette to be the leader of a small party, which was to seek for that great river in the West, of which the Indians ́ had so often spoken. The representative of the government in this undertaking was M. Joliet, a substantial citizen of Quebec, and with them went five other Frenchmen.

Upon the thirteenth of May, 1673, this little band of seven left Michillimackinac in two bark canoes, with a small store of Indian corn and jerked meat, wherewith to keep soul and body in company, bound they new not whither.

The first nation they visited, one with which our reverend Father had been long acquainted, being told of their venturous plan, begged them to desist. There were Indians, they said, on that great river, who would cut off their heads without the least cause; warriours who would seize them; monsters who would swallow them, canoes and all; even a demon, who shut the way, and buried in the waters that boiled about him all who dared draw nigh; and, if these dangers were passed, there were heats there that would infallibly kill them. "I thanked them for their good advice," says Marquette, "but I told them that I could not follow it; since the salvation of souls was at stake, for which I should be overjoyed to give my life."

Passing through Green Bay, from the mud of which, says our voyager, rise "mischievous vapours, which cause the most grand and perpetual thunders that I have ever heard," they entered Fox River, and toiling over stones which cut their feet, as they dragged their canoes through its strong rapids, reached a village where lived in union the Miamis, Mascoutens, and "Kikabeux" (Kickapoos.) Here Allouez had preached, and behold! in the midst of the town, a cross, (une belle croix,) on which hung skins, and belts, and bows, and arrows, which

The advantages of water communication were never more perfectly shown, than in the rapid progress of the French in Canada when first settled. During the years in which John Eliot was preaching to the savages of Natick and Concord, the Jesuits were lifting their voices upon the furthest shores of Lake Superiour; while a journey from Boston to the Connecticut was still a journey through the heart of the wilderness, Allouez and Dablon had borne the cross through that very " Mellioki" (Milwaukie) region, to which our speculators have just reached. With strong hearts those old monks went through their labours; sleeping, in midwinter under the bark" these good people had offered to the great Manitou, of trees for blankets, and seasoning their only food, "Indian corn, grinded small," with "little frogs, gathered in the meadows." They were very different men from "the apostle" of the Puritans; but, to all appearance, were as pure, and as true, and as loving; the Miamis were" so greedy to hear Father Allouez when he taught them," says Marquette, "that they gave him little rest, even in the night."

Among those who were foremost in courage and kindness, was Marquette himself; a modest, quiet man, who went forward into unknown countries, not as a discoverer, but as God's messenger; who thought all his sufferings and labour fruitful, because

to thank him because he had taken pity on them during the winter, and had given them an abundant chase."

Beyond this point no Frenchman had gone; here was the bound of discovery; and much did the savages wonder at the hardihood of these seven men, who, alone, in two bark canoes, were thus fearlessly passing into unknown dangers.

On the tenth of June, they left this wondering and well-wishing crowd, and, with two guides to lead them through the lakes and marshes of that region, started for the river, which, as they heard, rose but about three leagues distant, and fell into the Mississippi. Without ill-luck these guides conducted them

to the portage, and helped them carry their canoes across it; then, returning, left them "alone amid that unknown country, in the hand of God."

was indeed a dangerous rock in the river, and came to the Ouabouskigou, or Ohio, a stream which makes but a small figure in Father Marquette's map, being With prayers to the mother of Jesus they but a trifling watercourse compared to the Illinois. strengthened their souls, and then committed them- From the Ohio, our voyagers passed with safety, selves, in all hope, to the current of the westward- except from the moschetoes, into the neighbourhood flowing river, the "Mescousin" (Wisconsin;) a of the "Akamscas," or Arkansas. Here they were sand-barred stream, hard to navigate, but full of isl-attacked by a crowd of warriours, and had nearly ands covered with vines, and bordered by meadows, lost their lives; but Marquette resolutely presented and groves, and pleasant slopes. Down this they the peace-pipe, until some of the old men of the atfloated with open eyes, until, upon the seventeenth tacking party were softened, and saved them from of June, they entered the Mississippi, "with a joy," harm. "God touched their hearts," says the pious says Marquette, "that I cannot express."

narrator.

From this point Joliet and our writer determined to return to the North, as dangers increased toward the sea, and no doubt could exist as to the point where the Mississippi emptied, to ascertain which point was the great object of their expedition. Accordingly, on the seventeenth of July, our voyagers.

bour, to the Illinois, through which they soon reached the Lake; and "nowhere," says Marquette, "did we see such grounds, meadows, woods, buffaloes, stags, deer, wildcats, bustards, swans, ducks, parakeets, and even beavers," as on the Illinois river.

Quietly floating down the great river, they re- The next day the Frenchmen went on to "Akammarked the deer, the buffaloes, the swans-"wing-sca," where they were received most kindly, and less, for they lose their feathers in that country,"- feasted on corn and dog till they could eat no more. the great fish, one of which had nearly knocked These Indians cooked in and eat from earthenware, their canoe into atoms, and other creatures of air, and were amiable and unceremonious, each man earth, and water, but no men. At last, however, helping himself from the dish, and passing it to his upon the twenty-first of June, they discovered upon neighbour. the bank of the river the foot-prints of some fellowmortals, and a little path leading into a pleasant meadow. Leaving the canoes in charge of their followers, Joliet and Father Marquette boldly advanced upon this path toward, as they supposed, an Indian village. Nor were they mistaken; for they soon came to a little town, toward which, recom-left Akamsca; retraced their path, with much lamending themselves to God's care, they went so nigh as to hear the savages talking. Having made their presence known by a loud cry, they were graciously received by an embassy of four old men, who presented them the pipe of peace, and told them that this was a village of the "Illinois." The voyagers were then conducted into the town, where all received them as friends, and treated them to a great smoking. After much complimenting and presentmaking, a grand feast was given to the Europeans, consisting of four courses. The first was of hominy, the second of fish, the third of a dog, which the Frenchmen declined, and the whole concluded with roast buffalo. After the feast they were marched through the town with great ceremony and much speechmaking; and, having spent the night, pleasantly and quietly, amid the Indians, they returned to their canoes with an escort of six hundred people. The Illinois, Marquette, like all the early travellers, describes as remarkably handsome, well-mannered, and kindly, even somewhat effeminate. The reverend Father tells us, that they used guns, and were much feared by the people of the South and West, where they made many prisoners, whom they sold as slaves.

In September the party, without loss or injury, reached Green Bay, and reported their discovery; one of the most important of that age, but of which we have now no record left except the narrative of Marquette, Joliet (as we learn from an abstract of his account, given in Hennepin's second volume, London, 1698) having lost all his papers while returning to Quebec, by the upsetting of his canoe. Marquette's unpretending account, we have in a collection of voyages by Thevenot, printed in Paris in 1681. Its general correctness is unquestionable; and, as no European had claimed to have made any such discovery at the time this volume was published, but the persons therein named, we may consider the account as genuine.

Afterward, Marquette returned to the Illinois, by their request, and ministered to them until 1675. On the eighteenth of May, in that year, as he was passing with his boatmen up Lake Michigan, he proposed to land at the mouth of a little stream running from the peninsula, and perform mass. Leaving his men with the canoe, he went a little way apart to pray they waiting for him. As much time passed, and he did not return, they called to mind, that he had said something of his death being at hand, and anxiously went to seek him. They found him dead; where he had been praying, he had died. The canoemen dug a grave near the mouth of the stream, and buried him in the sand. Here his body was liable to be exposed by a rise of water; and would have been so, had not the river retired, and left the missionary's grave in peace. Charlevoix, who visited

Leaving the Illinois, the adventurers passed the rocks upon which were painted those monsters of whose existence they had heard on Lake Michigan, and soon found themselves at the mouth of the Pekitanoni, or Missouri of our day; the character of which is well described; muddy, rushing, and noisy. "Through this," says Marquette, "I hope to reach the Gulf of California, and thence the East Indies." This hope was based upon certain rumours among the natives, which represented the Pekitanoni as passing by a meadow, five or six days' journey from its mouth, on the opposite side of which meadow was a stream running westward, which led, beyond the spot some fifty years afterward, found that the doubt, to the South Sea. "If God give me health," waters had forced a passage at the most difficult says our Jesuit, "I do not despair of one day making point; had cut through a bluff, rather than cross the the discovery." Leaving the Missouri, they passed lowland where that grave was. The river is called the demon, that had been portrayed to them, which Marquette.

Great Bridge of Boats across the Tigris.

View of the City of Bagdad. houses of the city, though in a bad condition, are much frequented. The markets afford an abundance of provisions, at a low price.

are accustomed to reside here, the population may amount to eighty thousand. The Persians, under the particular protection of the government, enjoy a Bagdad is an important mart for Arabian, Indian, very extensive trade, and are celebrated for honesty, and Persian productions, as well as for European and prudence, and integrity. The higher classes are American manufactures. A splendid view is afford-more civil and attentive to strangers than is usually ed by the bazars, with their twelve hundred shops, the case with Mohammedans. On the other hand, filled with all kinds of oriental goods. The chief the lower classes are infected with the prevailing manufactures of the city are red and yellow leather, much esteemed, and silk, cotton, and woollen cloths. With the aid of the English and Persians, the pacha has established a cannon foundry. This city supplies Asia Minor, Syria, and part of Europe, with East India goods, which are imported to Bassora, ascend the Tigris in boats, and are carried by caravans to Tokat, Constantinople, Aleppo, Damascus, and the western parts of Persia. There is also some trade in jewels. An English packet runs between Bagdad and Bassora. A multitude of strangers assemble at Bagdad, partly on mercantile business, partly to visit the sepulchres of the saints, among which is that of the prophet Ezekiel. The heat of the summer obliges the inhabitants to shelter themselves in subterranean chambers, but the winter is cold enough to make a fire necessary. The city is nevertheless agreeable, healthy, and free from pestilential diseases; but the inhabitants frequently suffer from cutaneous disorders.

Bagdad is inhabited by Turks, Persians, Armenians, Jews, and a small number of Christians. The Turks compose three fourths of the whole population. The Jews are confined to a secluded district of the city, and are in a very oppressed condition. Inclusive of the Arabs, Hindoos, Afghans and Egyptians, who

vices of the East. The people are bold, enterprising, and turbulent. The city, of which a general view is given above, was begun in 762, by the Calif Abu Giafar-Almanzor, finished in four years, and raised to a high degree of splendour, in the ninth century, by Haroun Alraschid; but one hundred years after it was destroyed by the Turks. In the thirteenth century, it was stormed by Holagou, grandson of Zingis Khan, who caused the reigning calif to be slain, and destroyed the califate. The descendants of the conqueror were expelled, in 1392, by Tamerlane, and in 1402, by Kara-Yusef. In the following century, Shah Ismael, the first sovereign of Persia of the house of Sofi, took possession of the city. From that time it was a perpetual subject of contest in the wars between the Turks and Persians. After a memorable siege, in 1638, it was conquered by the Turkish emperour, Amurath IV., and Nadir Shah endeavoured in vain, in the eighteenth century, to wrest it from the Turks.

GREAT distress has never hitherto taught, and while the world lasts it never wll teach, wise lessons to any part of mankind. Desperate situations produce desperate councils, and desperate measures.

USEFUL ARTS.

BLEACHING,

Is a very important chymical process. According to the old system, it was a tedious and unpleasant process, comprising a number of operations, conducted in the following manner: 1, steeping and milling; 2, bucking and boiling; 3, alternate watering and drying; 4, scouring; 5, rubbing with soap and warm water; 6, starching and bluing.

practice entirely changed. We are indebted to Mr. Hall, of England, for the first useful employment of the art of chymistry in bleaching. Prior to his time it was a mechanical trade, but that ingenious chymist converted it into a scientifick process, which we may now proceed to describe. When a coloured piece of cloth is exposed to the action of oxymuriatick acid, the colour entirely disappears in a longer or shorter period, and the acid, if the quantity of cloth upon which it has been exerted, is sufficient to exhaust it, is reduced to the state of common muriatick acid. It is evident, then, that the colouring matter has lost its In the first of these operations, the cloth intended property of exhibiting colour by combining with oxy to be bleached, disposed in folds, is put into warm gen; and when the cloth thus bleached has been for water, where it is allowed to remain until the air bub- some time exposed to the air, it becomes yellowish, bles, which, after eighteen hours' steeping, begin to because part of the oxygen which had combined with arise on the surface, have disappeared; this gener- the colouring matter flies off. An additional process ally happens, according to the warmth of the weath-therefore is necessary, and as it was found that the er, in from fifty to seventy hours; if allowed to re-action of the oxymuriatick acid rendered the submain longer, a scum which forms on the surface of stance of the colouring matter soluble in alkaline lixthe water would precipitate, and the steeping must ivia, by the employment of such lixivia, a permanent be discontinued before this occurs. After the steep-white is obtained. In this new mode of bleaching, ing, the cloth is taken to the mill, in which by con- the oxymuriatick acid effects, almost immediately, a tinued agitation with a large quantity of water, all change, which exposure to the atmosphere requires the loose foulness is carried off. many weeks to accomplish, and therefore the whole process is prodigiously accelerated.

Much com

The oxymuriatick acid for the use of the chymist, is usually obtained by distilling muriatick acid off the black oxide of manganese; but Berthollet sug

In the bucking and boiling, alkaline leys are employed to remove that particular substance which oc-plaint was at one time heard, with respects to the incasions the brown colour of the cloth. Potash is the jury sustained by the cloths in the new mode of alkali mostly employed. The ley is at first put on bleaching, and often with justice, as in the infancy of the cloth only blood warm, it is then drawn off, and the discovery the want of experience was necessarily poured on at a greater heat. The cloth is next taken attended by the liability to errour; and through want into the field and spread out, where it is watered at of skill, among many who were anxious to adopt it, intervals sufficiently short to keep it constantly wet; with a view to commercial advantage, this was often for if allowed to dry, while strongly impregnated every considerable. But when properly conducted, with alkaline salts, the texture of the cloth would be it is found to be less injurious to cloth than the old injured. After this has been attended to, about half mode, at the same time that it produces a much su-" a day, dry spots are allowed to appear before the periour white. watering is repeated. By this process, the cloth acquires a greater degree of whiteness than before it was taken out, and where the evaporation has been strongest, as on the upper side of the cloth, the col-gested, for the use of the bleacher, the more economour is whitest. After the cloth has received in the field a tolerably good and uniform colour, as is fit for souring, in which operation it is steeped in sour milk, or in water soured with bran or rye-meal, and used new-milk warm; or what is still better, in water acidulated with sulphurick acid. After being sufficiently soured, which is accomplished in a few the best :hours, the acid is entirely removed by washing in the fulling-mill, and the cloth is then washed by the hand with soft soap and warm water. Coarse cloths are washed more slightly; being rubbed over with soap, they are worked between boards, called rubbingboards, which effect the purpose by the grooves they contain. The finishing operations of starching and bluing, are conducted in a similar manner to the starching and bluing of the laundry.

The various steepings, boilings, and exposures to the air, to be performed in the process of bleaching above described, consumed much time, and the manufacturer was besides very dependant on the state of the weather; but while the nature of the change produced on the linen was not understood, there appeared but little hope of materially shortening the period employed in completing. The progress of discovery, however, in chymistry, at length threw a ray of light upon the subject, and in a short time the theory of bleaching became better known, and the

ical method of obtaining it by the decomposition of muriate of soda, which is effected by diluted sulphurick acid, and the oxide of manganese being added to the mixture, the muriatick acid is produced, and oxygenized at the same time. The following proportions of the ingredients are considered by most to be

Manganese
Common salt
Sulphurick acid
Water

Parts.

3

8

6

12

The proportion of manganese must be varied acThe different ingredients cording to its quality. should be intimately mixed, and distilled in leaden, The distillation should be earthern, or glass retorts. carried on very slowly, and heat need not be applied till the first disengagement of gas has ceased, after which a sand-bath may be employed, or if the retort be of lead, it may be placed in a vessel of boiling water.

The retort must be connected with a receiver, which is designed to collect the muriatick acid that may come over in the first instance, and from this receiver proceeds a tube, the other extremity of which enters a cask of water nearly at the bottom. By this means the gas has to rise through a consider