Comment by Ed. Constantin François Chassebœuf Boisgirais, Comte de Volney, the French traveller and author, member of the brilliant group which included Holbach, Madame Helvetius, Voltaire, and the encyclopædists, the correspondent of Franklin and the friend of Bonaparte, travelled extensively in the interior of America during the years 1795 to 1799, and after his return to France published an account of his observations under the title, Tableau du Climat et du Sol des Etats-Unis d'Amérique (Paris, 1803). A translation was published in Philadelphia the succeeding year.
[042] The Indiana coal fields are now known to embrace an area of about seven thousand square miles, chiefly in the southwest quarter of the state.—Ed.
Footnotes to Chapter II:
[043] Observations were made, at Shippingsport, to ascertain the rate of going of our chronometer, the latitude of the place, and for other purposes; according to these, the Falls are in 38° 15′ 23″ N.— James.
Comment by Ed. The latitude is 38° 15′ 8″.
[044] Page 108.—James.
Comment by Ed. Miguel Venegas, a native of Mexico, was born in 1680, joined the Jesuit order in 1700, and after several years' service as professor of Latin, rhetoric, and theology, went out as a missionary to the Indians. His chief work was, Noticia de la California y su Conquista temporal y espiritual hasta el tiempo presente (Madrid, 3 vols., 1757). Its importance as a contemporary account of the native tribes and mission stations of California is attested by the fact that translations were promptly made into English, French, and Dutch. The English edition is entitled Natural and Civil History of California (London, 2 vols., 1759).
[045] For historical importance of the Wabash River and origin of the name, see Croghan's Journals, in our volume i, note 107; for sketch of the site of Shawneetown, see ibid., note 108.—Ed.
[046] Testudo geographica of Leseuer.—James.
[047] Usually called Cave-in-Rock. For additional facts relative to its history, see Cuming's Tour, in our volume iv, note 180.—Ed.