Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1846-01-17

cations Of the pous missionary establish
ments planted is wearing a milder and
more agreeable aspect.
ELIJAH WHITE.
WASHINGTON, December IS, 1915,
CAPT. FREMONT'S.E EXPEDITION.
Two expeditions have already been made
the first to the Rocky Mountains, and
the second TO Oregon and Californie--and
now this. enterprising officer is absent on
his third expedition TO explore more partic-
ularly the western slope between the Noun
tains and the Pacific ocean. The main OBJ
ect OF these enterprises seems to have been
of military character; but scientific re-
searches are made into all the resources Of
the country, so that the result is, says the
Democratic Review, "an immense colec-
ton OF geographical, botanical, geological,
and meteorological information, mixed up
with the details, which would enable gen.
eral to march an army, or an emigrant TO
move his family to Oregon; and from which
statesman might judge the value Of the
country, and "a farmer choose residence
in it,"
Nature seems 10 have stocked these ro-
gions snd provided all the means OF imme-
date habitation. or subsistence during a
passage through the country. According to
Capt. Fremont, the simple article Of grass
must constitute the ba'is Of all military ope-
ralions, as well us Of the movements OF a
civil character, in that country. The short
sweet buffalo grass begins about one hun
dred and fifty miles from the frontier Of the
United States, and continues to a very
great elevation on the Rocky Mountains,
and on the other side a large grass, called
bunch grass, sets in, and extends TO the
ocean, and both kinds, green or dry, are
available summer and winter, for the sup
port Of cattle and horses.
One is surprised to read the description
Of magnificent plain, as large as oil France,
situated 10 an elevated region west Of the
Mountains. as it were, like the city Of Naz-
areth. sin valley on HILL" entirely sur
rounded IN circular form by almost con.
tinuous chain of lofty mountains, shroud-
ed in eternal SHOWS. This valley has been
called "FREMoNT's BASIN. Imagine 20 mill
lions Of people swarming that beautiful
vale, and rejoicing in all the arts and bless
ings of free government, enlightened laws,
and pure religion! Indeed, the magma
ton can scarcely compass the grandeur and
boundless capabilities of this, as yet, undis.
covered country; and there is some dam
ger Of falling into that extravaganza OF
speculation, which led Columbus and his
followers, when landing in America, TO sup
pose they had reached paradise itself. But
of these plain facts there seems 10 be no
doubt now, that cattle, horses and sheep,
can Subsist, summer and winter, upon the
spontaneous grasses Of the pIains-that the
valleys towards the ocean are never COW
cred with snows-thst there is convent
ent admixtrre Of timber with prairie OF
the best Gualty-that there are some four
or five thousand people in the American
settlements alone, having farms, mills, stock,
&c,-a busy community, thriving and hap
py,-that the Indians, though numerous,
are of peaceable nature, and disposed to
adopt the arts Of civilization, that the
Feast India commerce will at no distant
day, be carried on overland from the Column
oa to the Missouri; and that the United
States; and not England, will command that
commerce and rule that country.
Great Britain, a, an early day, explored
the regions north of the Oregon; Lewis and
Clark were sen, by President Jefferson TO
explore the Oregon, and now it has devol-
we'd upon Capt. FIemon, to complete the
discoveries, and fully to lay open 10 the in
formation OF all, the minutest details Of the
surprising riches and resources Of the whole
region west Of the mountains, south even
| to the limit of California.
The passage of,he Sierra Nerdda Snowy
mountain) from the midst of the Rocky
chain over TO Capt. Suffers settlement, at
sNuepa Helvetia," was a miraculous exploit.
Some seventeen horses and mules were lost
in the attempt, having been plunged head
long with their ladlng down fearful glaciers
and precipices. ~
Much is to be expected from theNPresent
lexpedition, fitted out on a larger calSthan
the others, with the advantage o! The knowl-
edge and experience before attained by this
spirited energetic and daring young officer.
| We remember what tremendous crowd
surrounded the gallant Captain, at the To.
bacco Warehouse, when he first hung out
for recruits here. The question TO be de-
cided was, not which must 60, but which
must stay a, home. No higher compimen,
could be paid to Capt. Fremont, as an OH
Ger and adveu,urer,- .Nissourida.