April 4th.  A friend from Lancaster, in Pennsylvania, writes:  “It was my luck to be called to Washington the latter part of February, and to be detained until the 11th ultimo, and in that great city business occupied my attention all the time.  The congregation of strangers from all parts of the Union was immense; the number estimated at fifty thousand.  Thirty thousand of them, at least, expectants, or thinking themselves worthy of office.  But, alas! for the ingratitude of man, they were, almost to a man, sent home without getting their share of the pottage....  There has yet been no change in the head of the Indian Bureau, although there are three candidates in the field.

“I have just heard the rumor of the death of Gen. Harrison (the newly-elected President of U.S.), and, upon inquiry, find that it is well founded.  It is said that he died last night at twelve o’clock.  He has been suffering for a week past with a severe attack of pneumonia, or bilious pleurisy.  Should this be so,[98] it will make a great change in the political destiny of the country for four years to come.  Mr. Tyler is a southern man with southern principles, rather a conservative, opposed to a heavy tariff, if in favor of any.  There will be a different policy pursued, and you will find great disappointment and confusion.  He is not a man who will pursue a proscriptive course in turning out and putting into office, but who will go upon the great principle of the Virginia school in regard to office-holders.  ’Is he honest?  Is he capable?’ I am of the opinion that the chartering of a national bank will not meet his approval.  But there is no telling.  Politicians, in these days of humbug, make so many turnabouts that it is impossible to scan their future conduct by their past deeds.”

[Footnote 98:  It was.]

7th.  Wrote a communication for the Michigan Farmer, on the important subject, as a matter of taste, of “ornamental and shade trees.”  New settlers are bent on denuding their lands of every tree, and a newly opened farm looks as if a tornado had passed over it.

6th.  Messrs. Dawson and Bates submit estimates for the contemplated historical volume, for which I am taking every means of preparing the materials.  I am satisfied that without publication the Hist.  Society cannot acquire a basis with the literary world to stand upon.  My own collections respecting the language and history of the Indian tribes are alone adequate to the publication of several volumes, and I have long sought, without being able to find, a proper medium of bringing these materials forward.  My local position is unfavorable to sending them to the American Philosophical Society, or to any of the cities on the seaboard, where they would, however, be mangled, as I told Mr. Duponceau, for want of proof-reading; and here, alas! it is a question of dollars.

15th.  Rev. Geo. N. Smith reports the state of the new mission at “Old Wing,” on Little Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan, as encouraging.  The American Board (who gave up this general field just at a time when, some thought, it was ready to bear fruits) transferred the treaty fund under which this mission was undertaken.