The agents of the government also rejoiced in the happy termination of their labors, and the drum, whose roll had carried away the troops who had been present to preserve order, now converted to a symbol of peace, was never more destined to be beaten to assemble white men to march in hostility against these tribes. They were forever our friends. What war had not accomplished, the arts of peace certainly had. Kindness, justice, and liberality, like the "still small voice" at Sinai, had done what the whirlwind and the tempest failed to do.
Fourteen years before, I had taken the management of these tribes in hand, to conduct their intercourse and to mould and guide their feelings, on the part of the government. They were then poor, in a region denuded of game, and without one dollar in annuities. They were yet smarting under the war of 1812, and all but one man, the noble Wing, or Ningwegon, hostile to the American name. They were now at the acme of Indian hunter prosperity, with every want supplied, and a futurity of pleasing anticipation. They were friends of the American government. I had allied myself to the race. I was earnest and sincere in desiring and advancing their welfare. I was gratified with a result so auspicious to every humane and exalted wish.
War, ye wild tribes, hath no rewards like this;
'tis peaceful labors that result in bliss.
29th. Baron de Behr, Minister of Belgium, presented himself at my office. He was cordially received, although bringing me no letter to apprize me of his official standing at Washington. He had been to the Sault Ste. Marie, and visited the entrance into Lake Superior. He presented me a petrifaction picked up on Drummond Island, and looked at my cabinet with interest.
The troops under Major Hoffman embarked in a steamer for Detroit. Also Major Whiting, the U.S. Paymaster, and Mr. Edmonds, my adjuncts in official labor.
Oct. 17th. Old friends from Middlebury, Vermont, came up in a steamer bound to Green Bay, among whom I was happy to recognize Mrs. Henshaw, mother of the bishop of that name of Rhode Island.
18th. Alfred Schoolcraft, who had commenced the study of ornithology with decided ability, hands me the following list of birds, which have been observed to extend their visits to this island and the basin of Lake Huron.
| Common Name. | Order. | Family. | Genus. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown Thrush | Passeres | Canori | Turdus | T. Rufus. |
| Cedar Bird | " | Sericati | Bonelycilla | B. Carolinensis. |
| Canada Jay | " | Gregarii | Corvus | C. Canadensis. |
| Crow | " | " | " | C. Corone. |
| House Wren | " | " | Trylodites | T. Edom. |
| Blue Jay | " | " | Corvus | C. Vociferus. |
| Raven | " | " | " | C. Corax. |
| Snow Bird | " | Passerini | Fringilla | F. Hyemalis. |
| Sing Cicily | " | " | " | F. Melodia. |
| Robin | " | Canori | Turdus | T. Migratoria. |
| " | Passerini | Loxia | L. Corvurostra. | |
| Red Winged Starling | " | Gregarii | Icterus | I. Phoenicus. |
| Goldfinch | " | Passerini | Fringilla | F. Tristis. |
| Little Owl | Accipetres | Stapaces | Stryx | S. |
| Sparrow Hawk | " | " | Falco | F. Sparverius. |
| Golden Plover | Gralle | Pressirostre | Charadrus | C. Plurailis. |
| Woodcock | " | Semicole | Scolipax | S. Minor. |
| Green Winged Teal | Lamelasodenta | Anas | Anas Crecca. | |
| Wood Duck | " | " | A. Sponsa. | |
| Golden Eyed Duck | " | Fatigula | F. Clengula. | |
| Hooping Crane | Herodii | Grus | G. Americana. | |
| Kingfisher | Passeres | Augubrostres | Alcedo | A. Alcyon. |
| Loon | Pygopodes | Colymbus | C. Glacialis. | |
| Partridge | Galinacia | Perdix | P. Virginiana. |
Of their habits he appends the following remarks:--
"The Canada Jay (C. Canadensis) preys upon smaller birds of the sparrow kind. This fact has been related to me by persons of undoubted veracity, and I have myself seen one of them in pursuit of small birds.