Mather, Irwin F. The Making of Illinois. Chicago: A. Flanagan, 1900. 292 pp.
The work is strong in the number of subjects which it treats. The Illinois of our period is well covered. The bibliography cites many valuable sources, but no references are given in the body of the work. The date of the founding of the village of Kaskaskia is given as 1695—a confusion of the mission on the Illinois River with the later village of the same name.
Mayo, A. D. Western Emigration and Western Character. (Christian Examiner, N. Y., LXXXII., 265-82, 1867.)
The subject is well treated, but the value of the article for our purpose is not so great as it would have been if confined to the early period.
Meigs, William M. The Life of Thomas Hart Benton. Philadelphia and London: J. B. Lippincott Company, 1904. 535 pp.
The work throws much light upon the policy of the United States in regard to the sale of public lands, and the attitude of the West towards that policy.
Melish, John. A geographical Description of the United States, with the contiguous British and Spanish Possessions. Philadelphia: John Melish, 1816. 182 pp.
A trifle over one page is devoted to Illinois. Of interest only as showing what was presented to the East at the time concerning Illinois. Melish was a professional map and gazetteer maker. His work typifies that of the geographers of the time, who described the world with marvelous audacity.
—— A geographical Description of the United States, with the contiguous Countries, including Mexico and the West Indies. Philadelphia: John Melish, 1822. v.+491 pp.
Seven pages are devoted to Illinois. The description of several Illinois towns is useful. This was a second and much improved edition of the author's similar work of 1816.