Contains a copy of Capt. Heald's letter of 1812, describing the massacre at Fort Dearborn.
Biggs, William. Narrative of William Biggs, while he was a Prisoner with the Kickepoo Indians ... on the west Bank of the Wabash River ... Printed for the author, June, 1826. 22 pp.
Biggs was captured on March 28, 1788, and remained a captive for several weeks. This very rare book gives valuable insight into the revolting customs of the Indians.
Birkbeck, Morris. Extracts from a supplementary Letter from the Illinois: an Address to British Emigrants, and a Reply to the Remarks of William Cobbett, Esq. 2d ed. London: James Ridgeway, 1819. 36 pp.
Birkbeck had issued an address to British emigrants, advertising the virtues of his English settlement in Illinois. William Cobbett declared that Birkbeck's account of the fertility and salubrity of Illinois was not true. Birkbeck issued a somewhat scathing reply, showing Cobbett's ignorance.
—— Letters from Illinois. Philadelphia: M. Carey & Son, 1818. 12mo. vii. + 154 pp.
Twenty-two letters written from November, 1817, to March, 1818, by Morris Birkbeck, from the English settlement in Edwards county, Ill., of which settlement he was the founder. Very valuable for notes concerning transportation and the manner of life of the early settlers of Illinois.
—— Notes on a Journey in America from the Coast of Virginia to the Territory of Illinois. Philadelphia: Richardson, 1817.
Passed through several editions in England.
A graphic account of the journey of Birkbeck from 500 miles east of Cape Henry, Va. (April 26, 1817), to Shawneetown, Ill., where on August 2, 1817, he bought 1440 acres of land as a site for his English settlement. Very valuable for information concerning transportation and western conditions.