Mobile register and journal., 1841-12-15

getting more and more into fashion, not having new to-day take the liberty of serving up m ola one. We find ii among the manuscripts of Sir Wil- liam Johnson, to whom it was written by lieutenant in the British army from Mobile, in l76s. Canada' and the country of the great lakes, had then recently been acquired thc British crown by conquest; anu the writer of the letter, having made the tour hoSh the deep wilderness ol ie Ohio and ll'lnols cooh'ty, | down the Mississippi and across to fensacoht anu | Mobile-Forda being at that time in possession o the English-giyes a rapid sketch of hs Journey 10 his friend in the valley ol the Mohawk. The views of the young officer appear to have been very Just He admired the beauty, and saw the importance U, the Illinois country-which, It must be borne In nlhd then comprehended the territory now forming ha-a- l doLen states And he also saw how esseht'ai 'o .ie interests ol that country the free haN8alloh of the Mississippi and tlie depot of New of'eahs' True, it did not devolve upon Great bralh 10 oPel the navigation of the river, or 10 acquire the HPo' Both objects, however, have been accomplished by the British race, and the anticlpatons o ,e a'e'ei | have been realized thousand fold. Inc ueneral | Haldmand spoken of as being then m command at | Mobile, alterward Sir Frederick Haidimand, | Goyernor-Generai of Canada.-[N. '. Com. AdV'
 MOBILE, 10th April, 176S. 1 SRI would much rather be thought troublesome | than deficient in showing and acknowledging that respect and attention which your goodness and irend l ly behavior to much deserve. rom tiat nio- tive, therefore, you have the trouble ol hs iet- ter, which, from the circute have taken in joining my regiment, might, from more atie pen, be n'cu with entertaining and perhaps useiull subjects How ever, without ceremonie, shall take the liberty 10 give you my sentiments of the very extensive country have so lately passed through. ..
 That the lands on the Ohio river are generally rich and beauu covered with variety of iine timber, IS indisputabe and they likewise plentully water l ed by number of comnodous rivers and creeks'- | But notwithstanding these advantages oi nature, cannot reconcile to myself the proprlety of making settlements there were the Indians even to admit oi it. The river Ohio really only be said to be n- ygabe from the brakng up of the winter to the monu of June except with very small canoes, ana te pro dgous land carriage to the seo coasts from oft fitt, must but bring Il very small profit to the planter Should they take the port of New Oreaas-for 6y no othcr communication carry produce Co sea-the distance Is too great, as the whole summer months would be employed in such voyagc-besldes It Is foreign port.
 The acquisition of the country of the Illinois, l am afraid will turn out to be but of small advantage to us we by no means command the Indian trade there, as the French and Spanish subjects can go, and do, without interruption, among the lndlans, everywhere in the country, owing to there not being posts made at the mouths of these rivers leading to their towns, particularly the Illinois river and Ohio But really | at present. so long as New Orleans Is in the hands oianothcr power, the whole produce of that country | must center there-ir our merchants will always dispose of their pelty, whatever the country pro- duces, at Orleans, because they get as good price there as if they were to ship them off. So little at tepon has been paid in order to render the country in any means serviceable to Us, for the expeuce It keeping il, that you would imagine pans had been taken to induce the inhabitants to remove from our side. There settled administration ol jus tice but the whole depends upon the near will and fancy of the officer commanding the troops, and whose disposition k dspesing to all ranks under his con- | mand as well as an msaciabe desire to get money by any means ever go low. It's displeasing me to give such character of of his rank, but l am afraid it will be found be just, and from the ,I.. ttnaf of them has left us; and those who remain seem to be m a st,:c of suspense whehe to go of or waite for d more favorable change. About Fort Chartres, where there was, taking possession ol that country, Il very pretty settlement there Is mt tlrce iamiIys, and them wretchedy poor At the v- liee of Kaskaskia there Is indeed several, who sup port themselves chiefly by hunting and in performing voyages to and from New Orleans, but of those would, believe, remain, iftheir property and inter- | est were not so materially concerned. The inhab- lanls of the vege of Caho, which Ives about forty miles above Fort Charires, are crcumstanced in the same manner But sure am, had that country fallen under the command and inspection of Il sensible and moderate man, would have had many of the French settlers come over to us, in place of desertng US.
 In general the lands of the Illinois pretty good, and no doubt capable to produce many necessary cles, if proper attention is pad to the climate; yet perhaps there is in the world, for its ex tent less supplied with water falling into it, which induces believe it will never be thoroughly set tied unless the banks of the rivers And that will never happen with any advantage to England unless we can procure the ideal island of New-Orleans. l call il ideal, because have yet been able to find water enough along the North East side of it transport into lake Ponchartrain, except for about two months of the year when the Mississippi overfows its banks, and furnishes many guys of the with water. Yet could we find passage, small craft, to go to sea- the country of the H. linois would be worthy of attention. But had the island of New-Orleans, that country in very short time would, believe, be equal 10 any ofour colonies. At present we allowed the free navigation of the river Mississippi, but the Spaniards may prevent us from landing, and cannot anchor vessel in the river, but is obliged to make them fast alongside the bank to trees. And from the lbberyille, where the Island ofOrleans begins, to the town, it is two hundred miles.
 From the above confused sketch you:may easily con- lecture what the Illinois will turn to be. The on- y port for exportation, foreign one, lyabe to be put under many regulations to our disadvantage, be- sides the encroachments they have it in their power 10 make, the prejudice of the coonie. On the other hand, in possession of NewOrleans we would have fine harbor in the Bay of Mexico and secure to ourselves the produce ofa large and extensive country, happy Tn d luxuriant soIl, and which would fail to be cultivated from the river Illinois the sea and by the cultivation of the fer tile lands of the Mississippi, the coast of this province would be of consequence; and the ports o Pensacola and Mobile would become, do believe hourishng places of trade, when, on the contrary they will remain nconsiderable every respect, and only receptacle for men of broken fortunes.
 But have dwelt too long this subject, to one who knows these circumstances much better, and who can judge with much more accuracy and perspicuty than dare pretend to.
 The Court Marital for the tryal of Major Farmer has been sitting since my arrival in the province l heared the whole prosecution when at Pen sacola and there was not evidence said thing in support of any of the many and heavy charges ex hibited against him. And if may allowed to judge 1 think Major Farmer has been greatly injured by the near surmise and chmera of a mans brain.
 Give me leave to congratulate you on the safe arri val of Sir John, to whom beg you will present my most respectful compliments, also to Capt. Claws and Capt. Johnson, and their families.
 General Haldmand is we and made very kind enquiry, for you, and expressed the satisfaction he had in hearing from you.
 ain sure have tired your patience, and ought to be ashamed for troubling you with long letter. but your known goodness cmbolden'd me,
 Who has the honor to be,
 Sir, your much obliged,
 And very obedient servt,
 GEO. PIIYN. yUT