Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-10-27

Extract Of a letter from IN oacer 10 the Uni
ted States service 10 gentleman IN We.
way. dated /
Canfonmenf, Con H'and. Sept. 4.
larrived here len days since. in CON.
psny with detachment OF The Sin regimen,
infantry which, in conjunction viii tie
three companies of riAemen before q, he
place, makes our force about a thou. I'd
strong. With this force we shall proceed
Immediately on 10 complete our expedition.
I travelled The most OF ibe Nay from s,
Louis by land, and hnd tbs country an IN.
tire prairie, iDtesperseo with ciump.of tree,
The Missouri bottom Is excepted bowerer,
that is GEM ally we'll tinbered. and i: n.
markedly fertile; and is from two TO ire
miles broad. The navigation Of The Mi..ou.
II is very difficult hard and Iaborou. %
The troops il requiring from 80 to 40 uep
10 cordel each boat. The steam boat-E1ve.
diiion is now here and anUiher boat is boyrly
expected and 1 presume they viii no, Al.
tempt 10 ascend further with them.
A council has Leen held with some OF The
Indian nations they do not appear to lax.
any interest in the expedition, vi ich was e1.
pected. The Indians are extremely Doc,
and ignorant.
The scientific corps. which proceeded By
land from Foi Clay, and was to join US Z,
the Council Buds, we're met by a war party
OF Pswree indians, and robbed Of ever
thing that was not Immediately about thei,
persons. They we're Of ccurse compelled to
join US at this place, which has prevented
our receiving useful information Of he int.
rior of the country.
The Pawnee is the most powerful and
warlike tribe on the lower part Of the Mls.
souri,. Their settlements are situated so or
go miles up the river Plat, which enptie.
into the river Missouri about $50 miles above
its mouth, aud so or 90 miles below the Cou1.
eli Bluffs
Our troops are healthy. and in fine spirits.
We shall spend the winter at the Council
Bluffs
Salem, October I9.
On Tuesday evening last, capt John En-.
dicott, OF the ship Janus. who arrived yes,er.
day. saw the whole hemisphere of the hea.
vens Illuminated with brilliant corTuseatrop. Of
light, like what we saw in the Aurora Borea.
liz, except that il wa. tInged with various
prismatic colors This Interesting and novel
phenomenon continued considerable par, Of
the night, attracting the admiratiun OF The
beholders by its rariegated hues and move.
ments.
On Wednesday violent gust OF wind, &C.
companied with rain, hail and snow, was II.
penenced by captain Endicoti. Of the Janus,
captain Downing, of the General Stark, and
captain Potter. Of the Abby.
Spot on The Sun.-Captain Endicott also
saw on Tuesday, dark spot on the sun,
which be judged covered nearly an eighth
part of its disk. The waoie surface OF the
sun lad, at the time, singular brsssy CON.
pleYion.
Captsin Downing, from ST. Salvador, re-
ports. that great preparations were making
a, that place for the reception OF the grand
Spanish fleet, which was soon expected from
Cadiz. A general order had passed for all
the garrisons, batteries, SC. TO be put in
complete repair. We presume the reception
alluded to is 10 be of a complimentary and
friendly nature.
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE.