convey. That he, the Governor, had invited him to attend the council, with a view of learning from his own lips, whether there was any truth in the reports. which he had heard, and to learn whether he, or his tribe, had any just cause of complaint against the whites, and, if so, as a man and a warrior, openly to avow it. That as between himself and as great a warrior as Tecumseh there should be no concealment-all should be done by them under a clear sky, and in an open path, and with these feelings on his own part, he was glad to meet him in council." Tecumseh arose as soon as the Governor had finished. Those who knew him speak of him as one of the most splendid specimens of his tribe-celebrated for their physical proportions and fine forms, even among the nations who surrounded them. Tall, athletic, and manly, dignified, but graceful, he seemed the beau ideal of an Indian chieftain. In a voice first low, but, with all its indistinctness, musical, he commenced his reply. As he warmed with his subject, his clear tones might be heard, as if "trumpet-tongued," to the utmost limits of the assembled crowd who surrounded him. The most perfect silence prevailed, except when the warriors who surrounded him gave their guttural assent to some eloquent recital of the red man's wrong and the white man's injustice. Well instructed in the traditions of his tribe, fully acquainted with their history, the councils, treaties, and battles of the two races for half a century, he recapitulated the wrongs of the red man from the massacre of the Moravian Indians, during the Revolutionary war, down to the period he had met the Governor in council. He told him "he did not know how he could ever again be the friend of the white man." In reference to the public domain, he asserted "that the Great Spirit had given all the country from the Miami to the Mississippi, from the lakes to the Ohio, as a common property to all the tribes that dwelt within those borders, and that the land could not, and should not be sold without the consent of all. That all the tribes on the continent formed but one nation. That if the United States would not give up the lands they had bought of the Miamis, the Delawares, the Potawatomies, and other tribes, that those united with him were determined to fall on those tribes and annihilate them. That they were determined to have no more chiefs, but in future to be governed by their warriors. That their tribes had been driven toward the setting sun, like a galloping horse (Ne-kat-a-cush-e Ka-top-o-lin-to). That for himself and his warriors, he had determined to resist all further aggressions of the whites, and that with his consent, or that of the Shawnees, they should never acquire another foot of land.” those who have never heard of the Shawnee language, I may here remark it is the most musical and euphonious of all the Indian languages of the West. When spoken rapidly by a fluent speaker, it sounds more like the scanning of Greek and Latin verse, than anything I can compare it to. The effect of this address, of which I have simply given the outline, and which occupied an hour in the delivery, may be readily imagined.

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William Henry Harrison was as brave a man as ever lived. All who knew him will acknowledge his courage, moral and physical, but he was wholly unprepared for such a speech as this. There was a coolness, an independence, a defiance in the whole manner and matter of the chieftain's speech which astonished even him. He knew Tecumseh well. He had learned to appreciate his high qualities as a man and warrior. He knew his power, his skill, his influence, not only over his own tribe, but over those who dwelt on the waters of the Wabash and Illinois. He knew he was no braggart-that what he said he meant-what he promised he intended to perform. He was fully aware that he was a foe not

to be treated light-an enemy to be conciliated, not scorned-one to be met with kindness, not contempt. There was a stillness throughout the assembly when Tecumseh had done speaking which was painful. Not a whisper was to be heard—all eyes were turned from the speaker to the Governor. The unwarranted and unwarrantable pretensions of the chief, and the bold and defiant tone in which he had announced them, staggered even him. It was some moments before he arose. Addressing Tecumseh, who had taken his seat with his warriors, he said: "That the charges of bad faith made against the Government, and the assertion that injustice had been done the Indians in any treaty ever made, or any council ever held with them by the United States, had no foundation in fact. That in all their dealings with the red man, they had ever been governed by the strictest rules of right and justice. That while other civilized nations had treated them with contumely and contempt, ours had always acted in good faith with them. That so far as he individually was concerned, he could say, in the presence of the 'Great Spirit,' who was watching over their deliberations, that his conduct, even with the most insignificant tribe, had been marked with kindness, and all his acts governed by honor, integrity, and fair dealing. That he had uniformly been the friend of the red man, and that it was the first time in his life that his motives had been questioned or his actions impeached. It was the first time in his life that he had ever heard such unfounded claims put forth, as Tecumseh had set up, by any chief, or any Indian, having the least regard for truth, or the slightest knowledge of the intercourse between the Indian and the white man, from the time this continent was first discovered." What the Governor had said thus far had been interpreted by Barron, the interpreter to the Shawnees, and he was about interpreting it to the Miamis and Potawatomies, who formed part of the cavalcade, when Tecumseh, addressing the interpreter in Shawnee, said, "He lies!" Barron, who had, as all subordinates (especially in the Indian department) have, a great reverence and respect for the "powers that be," commenced interpreting the language of Tecumseh to the Governor, but not exactly in the terms made use of, when Tecumseh, who understood but little English, perceived from his embarrassment and awkwardness, that he was not giving his words, interrupted him, and, again addressing him in Shawnee, said: No, no; tell him he lies." The guttural assent of his party showed they coincided with their chief's opinion. General Gibson, Secretary of the Territory, who understood Shawnee, had not been an inattentive spectator of the scene, and understanding the import of the language made use of, and from the excited state of Tecumseh and his party, was apprehensive of violence, made a signal to the troops in attendance to shoulder their arms and advance. They did so. The speech of Tecumseh was literally translated to the Governor. He directed Barron to say to him, "he would hold no further council with him," and the meeting broke up.

One can hardly imagine a more exciting scene-one which would be a finer subject for an "historical painting," to adorn the rotunda of the Capitol. On the succeeding day, Tecumseh requested another interview with the Governor, which was granted on condition that he should make an apology to the Governor for his language the day before. This he made through the interpreter. Measures for defence and protection were, however, taken, lest there should be another outbreak. Two companies of militia were ordered from the country, and the one in town added to them, while the Governor and his friends went into council fully armed and prepared for any contingency. The conduct of Tecumseh upon

this occasion was entirely different from that of the day before. Firm and intrepid, showing not the slightest fear or alarm, surrounded as he was with the military force quadrupling his own, he preserved the utmost composure and equanimity. No one could have discerned from his looks, although he must have fully understood the object of calling in the troops, that he was in the slightest degree disconcerted. He was cautious in his bearing, dignified in his manner, and no one from observing him would for a moment have supposed he was the principal actor in the thrilling scene of the previous day.

In the interval between the sessions of the first and second council, Tecumseh had told Barron, the interpreter, "that he had been informed by the whites, that the people of the Territory were almost equally divided, half in favor of Tecumseh, and the other adhering to the Governor." The same statement he made in council. He said that two Americans had made him a visit, one in the course of the preceding winter, the other lately, and informed him that Governor Harrison had purchased land from the Indians without any authority from the Government, and that one half of the people were opposed to the purchase. He also told the Governor that he, Harrison, had but two years more to remain in office, and that he, Tecumseh, could prevail upon the Indians who sold the lands not to receive their annuities for that time; that when the Governor was displaced, as he would be, and a good man appointed as his successor, he would restore to the Indians all the lands purchased from them." After Tecumseh had concluded his speech, a Wyandotte, a Kickapoo, a Potawatomie, an Ottawa, and a Winnebago chief, severally spoke, and declared that their tribes had entered into the "Shawnee Confederacy," and would support the principles laid down by Tecumseh, whom they had appointed their leader.

At the conclusion of the council, the Governor informed Tecumseh that "he would immediately transmit his speech to the President, and as soon as his answer was received, would send it to him; but, as a person had been appointed to run the boundary line of the new purchase, he wished to know whether there would be danger in his proceeding to run the line." Tecumseh replied, Tecumseh replied, "that he and his allies were determined that the old boundary line should continue, and that if the whites crossed it, it would be at their peril." The Governor replied, 'that since Tecumseh had been thus candid in stating his determination, he would be equally so with him. The President, he was convinced, would never allow that the lands on the Wabash were the property of any other tribes than those who had occupied them and lived on them since the white people came to America. And as the title to the lands lately purchased was derived from those tribes by fair purchase, he might rest assured that the right of the United States would be supported by the sword."

"So be it," was the stern and haughty reply of the Shawnee chieftain, as he and his braves took leave of the Governor and wended their way in Indian file to their camping ground. And thus ended the last conference on earth between the chivalrous and gallant Tecumseh, the Shawnee chief, and he who since the period alluded to has ruled the destinies of the nation as its Chief Magistrate. The bones of the first lie bleaching on the battle field of the Thames-those of the last are deposited in the mausoleum that covers them on the banks of the Ohio.

THE State of Illinois is situated between 37° and 42° 30' N. latitude, and between 87° 30′ and 91° 40′ W. longitude. It is bounded on the north by Wisconsin, on the east by Lake Michigan and Indiana, on the south by Kentucky, and on the west by Missouri and Iowa. It is separated from Kentucky by the Ohio, and from Missouri and Iowa by the Mississippi. One half of the eastern part is divided from Indiana by the Wabash.

TOPOGRAPHY.

There is a hilly region in the southern part, and some rugged country in the northwest; but as a general rule, the surface of Illinois is level, consisting in many parts of gently undulating prairies, which are covered with a luxuriant grass and an abundance of beautiful wild flowers. They also abound in wild fowl. Says a recent writer: its prairies, which are The want of variety,

"The great landscape feature of Illinois is seen in almost every section of the State. which is ordinarily essential to landscape attraction, is more than compensated for in the prairie scenery, as in that of the boundless ocean, by the impressive qualities of immensity and power. Far as the most searching eye can reach, the great unvarying plain rolls on; its sublime grandeur softened but not weakened by the occasional groups of trees in its midst, or by the forests on its verge, or by the countless flowers everywhere upon its surface. The prairies abound in game. The prairie duck, sometimes but improperly called grouse,

are most abundant in September and October, when large numbers are annually taken. Perhaps the most striking picture of the prairie country is to be found on Grand Prairie. Its gently undulating plains, profusely decked with flowers of every hue, and skirted on all sides by woodland copse, roll on through many long miles from Jackson county, northeast to Iroquois county, with a width varying from one to a dozen or more miles. The uniform level of the prairie region is supposed to result from the deposit of waters by which the land was ages ago covered. The soil is entirely free from stones, and is extremely fertile. The most notable characteristic of the prairies, their destitution of vegetation, excepting in the multitude of rank grasses and flowers, will gradually disappear, since nothing prevents the growth of the trees but the continual fires which sweep over the plains. These prevented, a fiue growth of timber soon springs up; and as the woodlands are thus assisted in encroaching upon and occupying the plains, settlements, and habitations will follow, until the prairie tracts are overrun with cities and towns. Of the thirtyfive and a half millions of acres embraced within the State, but thirteen millions, or little more than one-third, were improved in 1860, showing that despite her wonderful progress in population and. production, she is yet only in her infancy. Excepting the specialty of the prairie, the most interesting landscape scenery of this State is that of the bold, acclivitous river shores of the Mississippi, the Ohio, and the Illinois rivers."*

Lake Michigan forms the northern part of the eastern boundary. Chicago, the principal city, is situated near the southern end of the lake, and possesses a very large lake trade. The other towns on Lake Michigan are, Otsego, Waukegan, Rockland, and Evanston.

The Mississippi River forms the western boundary of this State, and receives the waters of the Rock, Illinois, and Kaskaskia rivers, besides those of several smaller streams. The important places on the Mississippi, beginning on the north, are Galena, Rock Island, Oquawka, Quincy, Alton, East St. Louis, and Thebes. The Ohio River forms the southern boundary, and empties into the Mississippi, at the extreme southern end of the State. The city of Cairo is situated at the confluence of these two rivers, and is an important. place. The Illinois River is the largest in the State. It is formed by the confluence of the Des Plaines and Kankakee, which unite at

* Appleton's Hand-Book of American Travel.