The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-01-01

General dshieg's Expedition --Ihe Int ex-
ncdtion Of General Ashley 10 the country vest
of the Rocky MOI mas been productive OF
information on sUnjr-ts of no small interest 10
the people of the maoD. il has proved that the
overland expeditions, in large bodies, may DC
made to that remote region, without TIE neces-
sty of transporting provisions ior man OF beast,
General Ashley lett ot. Louis IN March last and
returned ia September. Ills return Caravan
consisted ofupwards OF one hundred horses and
mules. and more than halt that number Of men
He went to the station ofthe party he had lett
beyond the mountains, when he came III year
ago, and thence descended river, believed to
be the Buenayentaara about one hundred and
fifty miles to the Great Lake.
His return march TO St. Louis occupied about
20 DAYS, each mule and horse carrying nearly
two hundred pounds OF beaver tur-the ANIMALS
keeping their strength and flesh on the grass
which they found, and without losing any time
on this long journey The men also found an
abundance OF food they say there was no day
in which they could not have subsisted n thou
sand men, and often ten thousand. Bufialoe
furnished the principal food-water OF the best
quality was met with every day The whole
route lay through level and open country, bet
ter for carriages than any turnpike road IN the
United States Wagons and carriages could
eros ng the Rocky Mountains at the source of
he north fork Oft the Platte. and descending the
valley of tue Buenayentura, towards the Pacific
ocean. The lake which terminated the eXpedl-
ton westward, is most remarkable body of
water, aud heretofore unknown, unless from
vac, accounts 1t is estimated to be one hun
d miles long, and sixty or eighty wIdc.-lt
was coased last spring by party OF Gen. Ash
Icy men in canoes, who were occupied tour and
twenty days in making its circuit. They did not
exactly ascertain its outlet, but passed place
where they suppose il must have been The wa.
Ter of this lake is much saltcr than that of the
sea. Some of the salt obtained from this water
Iby boiling has been brought in by Gen. Ashley
he has also brought some specimens oil rock
salt, found in strata several feet thick al the sur
face of the ground, with streams OF water rum
ing through II in numerous little channels. The
people in the mountains plentifully supply them
selves with salt at this spot, and carry 1t home
in bags
In the whole expedition, Gen Ashley did not
lose a man, nor had any one of those died
whom he left behind last year, many of whom
have been out four or five years, and are too
happy in the freedom Of those wild regions 10
think of returning to the comparative thraldom
of civilized ife.--It would seem that no attempt
has been made TO ascertain the precise latitude
and longitude of the point al which Gen. Ash
lev crossed the mountains.--lt Is TO be hoped
that this will not be neglected on the next eApe-
dition. From all that we can learn, the elefa-
ton is exceedingly small where the passage OF
the mountain was eflectcd--so small as hardly
to affect the rate of going Of the caravan, aud
forming at the most, an angle three degrees,
being two degrees less than the steepest ascent
on the Cumberland road. Missouri Herald.
II is said that the male heir and linea descen
dant Of the Earl Of Perth, has lately been DIS
.....ruA tn he n nnnr ultLlnn IN the Painsher col