Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-04-23
LETTER IRON wAsnINGToN IRvlNG.

The friends OF this distinguished writer will be well
pleased To hear from him az ain, and still more to read the
following sketch oil his recent ourncyd among the wild
tnbcs beyond the verge OF civilization; aud earnestly
hope that 1t will not be long before have something
more than stretch of this Interesting tour; although we
believe he has as yet written nothing tic subject for
the press The letter before will be perceived was
written to friend in Europe, during Mr. lving recent
soiourn in Washington 1t reaches us through the me.
DUN oil The London AthenGum.-.E y. Conn., .4iy.
WAsHGNGToN CITY, Dec. Is, 1892
arrived here fe days since, from tour OF several
months, which carried me far 10 the est beyond the
bounds OF civilization.
After wrote to you in August, FROM think Niagara
proceeded with my agreeable fellow travellers Mr.. l..
aud MIR r. to Buffalo, and embarked al Black Rock
on Lake Erie. On board of the steamboat was Mr. e.
OF the Commissioners appointed by government TO su.
pennend the settlement Of the emgrdnt Indian tribes TO
the west OF the Mississippi II on his way to the
place oil rendezvous, and on his invitations agreed
accompany him IN his expedition. The offer was too
tempting to be resisted should have an opportunity of
seeing the remnants OF those great Indian tbes which
are now about TO disappear independent natOns or to
he amalgdnated under some new form Of government
should those fine countries Of the far vest while
still in state of pristine wlncss and behold herds Of baf
does securing their native prairc before they driven
beyond the reach OF a civilized tourist.
We, accordingly, rdycrsed the centre Of Ohio and en-
bdred III steam boat at Cincinnati, for Louisville in Ken
lucky Thence we descended the Ohio river ia another
steam boat and assembled the Mississippi TO st. Louis
Our voyage was prolonged By repeatedly running aground,
in consequence OF te owuess Of the waters, and the
first occasion nearly wrecked and the bot.
tom, by eucOuuterng another steam boat coming with all
Fortunately, we bad time TO shear little receive
the blow obliquey which carried away part Of wheel
and all The upper works on side OF tie boat
From ST. Louis | went TO Fort Jefferson, about nine
miles distant. 10 Black Hawk, he Indian warrior
and bis fellow prisoners orlorn crew, cmacidted
and deiectedthe redoubtahlc ciedn himself medgre
old man, upwards OF seventy. lie has, however, fine
head Roman sJc Of face, and progressing couu-
tcnauee.
At ST. Louis we bought horses for ourselves. aid a
covered wagon for our baggage, tents, provisions, sc.
and travelled by land to Independence, a small from
tier hamlet OF Lighthouses, situated between and three
hundred miles up the Missouri, the utmost verge Of
civilization.
From independence, struck across the Indian coun-
try, along the line of e Indian missions; and arrived on
the Sth Of October after Ten eleven days tramp Fort
Gibson frontier fort in Arkausas. Oar journey 10y aI-
most entirely through vast prdlcs open grassy plains,
diversified occasionally by beautiful groves and deep
Mr. LaObo and Count Portals. Mr. irving bod with
those gentlemen Boston Boz July and had travelled toghsf
White Mountains Of New Hampshire, through country which he
describes beautiful with Gno mixture Of lakes 0nd forests
bright pure running streams.