The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-22

FEB. 25h.--W. J. Hamilton, v. p, in the chair.
Paper read: "Notes on the Topography of British
North America" by DIR. Bigsby, J. X. G. s., &c,
Secretary 10 the Boundary Commission, appointed
under the 9th and 7th articles of treaty Of Client,
10 remark upon the water communications be-
tween Lakes Superior and La Croix. One Of these,
called the New Route, leaves Lake Superior at
Fort William; the other, or the Old Route, at the
Grand Portage, forty-two miles westward. The
United States division, under Colonel Delaheld,
undertook the former-the British, under Mr.. As
tronomer Thompson, the latter portion Of the work.
This party was likewise directed TO construct maps
Of the three extensive and intricate collections OF
water named Lakes La Croix, Laplue. and the
Lake Of the Woods. The original maps were pre-
sented to the society This country, although fre-
quently traversed by travellers, and especially by
Sir George Back, Sir j. Richardson, and others
has never been minutely described, but these re-
gions are daily acquiring importance. Not only
within the last few years has the and flourish
ing State OF Wisconsin been established on the
south borders of Lake Superior, but the north shore
OF that inland sea, dcsoac and arctic IL appears.
IL now the seat Of busy and increasing mining
population; A broad band OF copper and argentif
erous has been discovered, extending from the
north shore OF Lake Huron, about the river Misjis-
jaga, into Lake Superior where IL IL best known
the north shore about Point Msrmoaze and the
Montreal river.
The country between Lake Superior and the
Lake Of the Woods is, like the whole watershed
between Hudson's Bay and the valley Of the ST.
lawrence rugged assemblagc Of hills, with lakes.
a,
or very mpcrfcctly drained, land. For the sake OF
clcarness, Il may be divided into four parts, alter
nately basaltic and granitic; division indicating
distinct features and capabilities, during the
vey of the tract of country 220 miles in length,
between Lake Superior and the Rainy Lake, or
lake Lapluie. This latter forms a considerable
body Of water, nearly three hundred miles in cir
cult, and enclosing upwards OF 500 islands. Ac;
cording 10 the observations Of Captain LEROY. il IL
I6O feet above the level Of the sea- The party here
fell in with numerous band Of Indians, men, wo-
men, and children, under chief with the sinister
name Of 1.-TWO hearts" They were encaInpcd in
quiet cove. and II would have been offensive TO
pass them without notice, we landed and exchanged
the calumet Of peace. After having received pres
ent Of tobacco, 1.-TWO hearts" ssd "that his people
had watched in all parts Of the lake, well as
other foil of palcfsces, likewise holding up
pieces Of bright metal 70 the sun" "Have you
suffered wrong from any red man, and for what
purpose are you rambling over our waters and
putting them in your books'" asked he.
Mr.. Thompson replied "that we had met with no
nolestation whatever, but that our business TO
find how far north the shadow Of the United States
extended, and how far south the shadow Of their
great father" The Indians here much en-
ployed by the Hudson's Bay Company hunters,
guides, and bostmen. The largest portion Of the
paper was devoted 10 the Lake Of the Woods, body
Of water become of ms tonal interest from ts having
been assumed as the starting point for the boun-
Diary across The Great Plain 70 the Rocky noun
tsns, along the parallel Of 4s north latitude Rca-
were assigned for the adoption Of this parallel
in 1873, by Franklin and other diplomat and
the true northwest point of the lake. determined
by Mr.. Webster and Lord Ashburton, was indi-
Gated. The Lake of the Woods is four hundred
miles round, and IL well provided with animal life
II s divided into three parts, Of very distinct char
acters. Upwards OF eleven hundred islands were
laid down in this lake alone. This interesting pa.
per was interspersed with anecdotes illustrative o
Indian life, and was followed by an animated de-
scrption OF the great headwaers of the Mississippi
and Missouri by MIR. Cstn, the American traveller.
Two chemists Of Nuremburg, Germany, have
published n memoir ON the dangers connected WIN
are employed The preparation Of pbosphoric
matches has produced in the workinen diseases OF
the Jaw bones, which have sometimes destroyed
life, and often occasioned the loss OF thc bones.
Young girls they say, are subject 10 this ac-
tion of phosphorics than persons more advanced in
] age.