however, and further exploration was arrested for several years. At length, in 1658, two daring traders penetrated to Lake Superior, wintered there, and brought back accounts of a ferocious tribe who dwelt on "a great river" to the west. These accounts incited the Jesuit Fathers at Quebec to dispatch a missionary to the tribe mentioned. Father RENE MESNArd, (or MENARD,) an aged priest, was selected, and set out in the autumn of 1660, penetrating that fall as far as Chegoimegon Bay on Lake Superior. The next spring he crossed the country from Lake Superior to Black River Falls, Wisconsin. Here, or near here, it is supposed, he was lost in the forest. His cassock and breviary, long afterwards preserved among the Dakotas as medicine charms, afforded the only clue to his fate. In 1665, Father CLAUDE ALLOUEZ, the successor to MESNARD, reached La Pointe, and, erecting a chapel, established a permanent mission among the Ojibwas.

SECOND DISCOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI.

DE SOTO had discovered the Mississippi in 1541, but the discovery was never used, and was well nigh forgotten. Over a century had passed, when it was again to be discovered from the north. JEAN NICOLLET, an interpreter and Catholic, in 1639, advanced on a mission to one of the strange tribes of the west [Winnebagoes] so far that he discovered the Wisconsin River, and, floating down it, heard from the Indians of a "great water," only three days' journey beyond, which he inferred was the sea. While Father ALLOUEZ was preaching to the Ojibwas, on Lake Superior, he heard these accounts of a powerful nation, called by that tribe the Naudowessioux, meaning, in the Ojibwa tongue, "enemies," and of a mighty stream called the Mese Seepi, signifying, "Great River.” Returning to Quebec soon after, he spread the reports of this great river, and M. TALON, Intendant of New France, became interested in the subject. He resolved to endeavor to discover this great stream, so as to reap the honors of such a feat, but owing to the trouble and delays incident to carrying an expedition into the far wilderness, it was not until 1673 that anything practical was effected.

LOUIS JOLIET, of Quebec, once a priest, but at that time a

fur-trader, agreed to undertake a voyage to the unknown river. With him was associated Father JACQUES MARQUETTE, a Jesuit priest, then a missionary among the Hurons, admirably fitted, from his influence among the Indians, to aid the enterprise, and who has been thought by some to have been the real originator of the expedition. They set out from Michilimackinac, Father MARQUETTE's missionary station, on May 13, 1673, accompanied by five Frenchmen and two Algonquin Indians. They proceeded to Green Bay, thence up the Fox River to the portage, and on June 10 launched their canoes on the Ouisconsin. MARQUETTE and JOLIET proceeded thence alone. For seven days they floated down this river, and, on the 17th, chanting the Exaudiat and De Profundis in thankfulness to God, they glided out on the broad bosom of the "Great River."

The two explorers continued their journey down the Mississippi, until, about the middle of July, they reached the mouth of the Arkansas. Here they began to retrace their voyage, and, returning by the Illinois River, soon floated into Lake Michigan through one of the branches. JOLIET returned to Quebec to become famous for his discovery. MARQUETTE pursued his missionary labors along the western lakes for two years longer, and, on the 16th of June, 1675, died at the age of thirty-eight.

LA SALLE'S EXPEDITION.

No effort to follow up the discovery of MARQUETTE and JOLIET seems to have been made for fully five years. ROBERT CAVALIER, SIEUR DE LA SALLE, a descendant of a noble Norman family-once a Jesuit, but then a fur-trader of Montreal— resolved, if possible, to prosecute still further the discovery of the Mississippi, and laid his views before Count DE FRONTENAC, then Governor of New France. Imbibing somewhat of the enthusiasm of LA SALLE, but unable to fit out such an expedition, FRONTENAC sent him to France, with credentials that would ensure him aid at Court. COLBERT, the Prime Minister of Louis XV, kindly listened to LA SALLE's scheme, and procured for him authority to prosecute his plan, as well as other honors. LA SALLE also enlisted Chevalier DE TONTI, and

about thirty colonists, to accompany him. The expedition arrived at Quebec September 15, 1678. A vessel was built, and LA SALLE started on his voyage, but was compelled to put into winter quarters near Niagara Falls. In the spring of 1679 he built and launched another vessel above the Falls. It was called the Griffin. The expedition again set sail on August 7, and arrived at Green Bay on October 8. The Griffin was loaded with furs and sent homeward, with instructions to return at once. But she never returned, a storm on Lake Erie having sent her and her cargo to the bottom. Meantime, having left a part of his force in a small fort near the mouth of St. Joseph's River, he proceeded with the rest to the Illinois River, where he built a fort, which, in view of the discouraging circumstances surrounding him, he named Creve- Cœur, [Broken Heart.]

While here he resolved to make another effort to explore the Mississippi, and on February 28, 1680, dispatched

FATHER LOUIS HENNEPIN,

with two companions, on a voyage of discovery. Perhaps no one could have been selected better fitted for such a mission. He had all the ambition and daring of a knight-errant. He was born in Flanders about the year 1640. He entered holy orders while young, but was always afflicted with a burning passion for travel and adventure. He relates that he used to hide himself behind the doors of taverns, to listen to the sailors narrate their adventures, and longed to visit strange lands. This at last led him to get leave of his superiors to go to Canada. He came over on the same ship which bore back LA SALLE in 1675, and then, most probably became acquainted with LA SALLE and his plans. PARKMAN describes his dress: "With sandaled feet, a coarse gray capote, and peaked hood, the cord of SAINT FRANCIS about his waist, and a rosary and crucifix hanging at his side." Such was the first white man who was to look upon the Falls of Saint Anthony.

HENNEPIN'S ADVENTURES.

HENNEPIN set off, as stated before, on February 28. His canoe was heavily laden with goods sent by LA SALLE as pres

ents to the Indians. For companions and oarsmen he had two Frenchmen, named ACCAU and DU GAY. Floating down the Illinois River to its mouth, which they reached on the 12th of March, they commenced their toilsome journey up the Mississippi. Game was abundant, and they fared well. On the 11th or 12th of April, HENNEPIN says they stopped in the afternoon to repair their canoe, when a fleet of Sioux canoes suddenly swept into sight, and in a moment they were surrounded by 120 naked warriors. HENNEPIN placated them with presents of tobacco, when they explained to him that they were on their way to attack the Miamis. HENNEPIN caused them to understand that the Miamis had gone across the Mississippi, beyond their reach. At this they showed signs of sorrow, and finally stated that they would retrace their way up the river, and that HENNEPIN and his companions must accompany them. To this he agreed, as they had thus far expected to be murdered, while it allowed him to continue his explorations. Slowly the Indians and their prisoners paddled their way up the Mississippi, HENNEPIN and his companions still tormented with fears for their safety.

THEY ARRIVE AT THE SITE OF SAINT PAUL.

On the 30th day of April, or the 19th day after their captivity, HENNEPIN's captors arrived at what is most probably the site of the present city of Saint Paul. He describes it as a little bay or inlet, five leagues below the Falls of Saint Anthony, grown with alders or rushes. This description seems to point to the little bay at the mouth of Phelan's Creek, which is about that distance below the Falls, and would be a very convenient point for the Indians to land and set out on their journey overland to Mille Lac. Here, he says, the Indians broke his canoe to pieces, and hid their own among the reeds. They then divided amongst them the baggage and effects of the Father, even taking his priestly robes, whose ornaments allured their covetousness. They then set out on foot for their village, which was near Mille Lac, and arrived there about May 5th.

Here HENNEPIN was adopted into the family of the Chief, AQUIPAGUETIN, and lived with him in his lodge on an island in the Lake. His account of his life among the Indians is entertaining, but space forbids its narration here.

In September, the Indians set out on their annual hunt, and left HENNEPIN and his companions at liberty to go where they pleased. ACCAU preferred to remain with the Indians, and consequently HENNEPIN and DU GAY set off alone down the Mississippi River in a small canoe.

HE DISCOVERS THE FALLS OF SAINT ANTHONY.

About the first of October, they arrived at the Falls of Saint Anthony, being beyond doubt the first white men to gaze upon that spot. His description of the Falls is very brief, but tolerably accurate. He named them, he says, in honor of Saint ANTHONY, of Padua. They portaged around the Falls, meeting several Indians who were making sacrifices to the Spirit of the Waters. Launching their canoe below the Falls, they continued their journey, and, after a variety of adventures, reached the Jesuit station at Green Bay.

HENNEPIN'S SUBSEQUENT CAREER.

From thence he proceeded to Montreal, and, soon after, to Europe. Providence," he writes, "preserved my life that I might make known my great discoveries to the world." He published an account of his travels, and afterwards, for some reason, put out a new edition, with a lying account of his exploration of the Mississippi to its mouth in 1680. This has detracted from the fame he otherwise would have had, and, though twenty editions of his work have been printed, in six different languages, HENNEPIN died at last in obscurity. In the Northwest, which he was so instrumental in discovering, something has been done to his memory. A town in Illinois, and a flourishing county of our own State, carry the name of the Franciscan priest to posterity.

THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

Though HENNEPIN referred to the River as the Meschasipi and Meschasebe, he nevertheless endeavored to bestow upon it the name of "Saint Louis," in honor of the King of France. MARQUETTE and JOLIET christened it La Riviere de Conception; LA SALLE named it "the Colbert," after the Prime