3d of March, 1817, entitled an act allowing further time for entering donation rights to lands in the district of Detroit, I now enter the rear of said farm so as to extend it to 80 arpents in depth.

PETER AUDRAIN, ESQ., Register of the Land Office, Detroit.

ABSTRACT OF TITLE

Private claim, No. 77. Knagg's farm.

Pierre Drouillard to Joseph Gaubielle. W. D. £400, April 11, 1783. Land, 31⁄2 arpents front on River Detroit by 60 arpents deep.

Joseph Gaubielle to Whitmore Knaggs. W. D. £566 13s 4d., August 9, 1803. Farm, 31% by 60 arpents.

Josette Knaggs, widow and devisee of Whitmore Knaggs to James W. Knaggs. Q. D. $1.00, June 13, 1827, and June 30, 1832. Farm containing 200 acres.

James W. Knaggs to John W. Strong. W. D. $3,600, June 30, 1832. Farm containing 180 59-100 acres and the back concession.

John W. Strong to Thomas H. Hubbard. W. D. $7,000, Dec. 4, 1834. Farm and back concession.

Thomas H. Hubbard to Bela Hubbard. Q. D. $1,000, June 5th, 1835. Farm and back concession.

GENERAL CASS AND THE BRITISH FLAG

From the Democratic Free Press, Detroit, August 17, 1843

In the year 1818, at the south* [Sault], Gen. Lewis Cass had been ordered by the government to endeavor to procure a cession of land for the establishment of a military post. The power of the United States had not been established in that quarter, and the islands were exclusively under British influence. The Indians, however, were invited to attend a council, when the subject was to be opened to them. Their disposition was manifestly unfriendly, and the American party was upon its guard. The whole force, however, including a small military detachment which accompanied it, the engagés and boatmen, did not probably exceed thirty or forty men, while that of the Indians trebled this number. During the progress of affairs, a bold, turbulent Chippewa chief, well known for his hatred to the Americans, and his attachment to the British interests, hoisted the British flag in the Indian camp, situated within our boundary. This daring act, intended to push matters to extremity, could be met but in one way, and that was to haul it down, let whatever might be the consequences. Were not this done, the honor and safety of the party were gone. General Cass happily took one of those bold and decisive steps which in moments of peril are the safest. He ordered the American party under arms, and while this order was executing, he walked across to the Indian camp, and going up to the lodge of the hostile chief, he tore down the flag, and put his foot upon it. He was attended only by his interpreter, who explained to them, by his directions, the audacity of the step they had taken, and his determination under any circumstances, to prevent and punish such conduct. The reproof was received in silence, and the party jumped into their canoes and paddled over to the Canadian shore. After awhile, however, they returned. and business was resumed, and ultimately the desired arrangement was made.

*See appendix

SKETCH OF THE EXECUTIVE MANSION, DETROIT, 1826

(From T. L. McHenry's [Kenney's] Tour of the Lakes.)

It is not exactly in, nor entirely out of the city-I mean its settled parts; but stands by itself on the bank of the river, with the roadway from the city towards Springwells, between it and the precipice, or edge of the bank, down which a diagonal and rough way has been cut to the river. The house is of cedar logs, and weather boarded, one story, with a high, sharp roof, out of which, and near the centre, comes a short stone chimney of enormous thickness, and on which the roof leans, being a little sunk round it. Before the front door, which is nearly in the center of the building, the building being some fifty feet front, is a porch that, being a little out of its perpendicular position, inclines north. Its figure is as nearly that of a square as of any other figure, with a sharp Chinese looking top that shoots up some three feet above the eaves of the house, and seems to have in no one place the least connection with the building. I told the governor that my puzzle was to decide which was built first, the porch or the house. He acknowledged his inability to decide the question, but added, "the house itself is anterior to the time of Pontiac's war; there being on it now the marks of bullets which were shot into it then." I learned afterward that the porch had once ornamented the garden as a summer house, but had been advanced from its retirement to grace the front of the residence of the executive of the Michigan territory. A post and board fence runs between the house and the road, the house standing back from the line of it some ten or twelve feet; two gateways open into the enclosure, one having been intended to admit, and the other to let you out, over a circular gravel walk that gives figure to a green plat in front of the door, and between it and the fence. One of these has been shut up, but how long I don't know so we go in and come out at the same gate. The position occupied by this relic of antiquity is very beautiful; not on account of the views to it and from it, only, although these are both fine; but it is sustained on either side and in the background, by fertile upland meadows and flourishing orchards and gardens, which give it a most inviting appearance, and serves to impress one with the idea of old age surrounded by health and cheerfulness. In front are the shores of Canada, with the beautiful river between, and to the right the Huron church, etc., the sound of the bell from which strikes gratefully upon the ear. Now for the inside of the building.

You enter first into a room, or saloon, of some ten feet square, in which the governor receives his business visitors; and where lie scattered about in some tolerable confusion, newspapers, and the remains of pamphlets of all sorts, whilst its sides are ornamented with Indian likenesses, and pipes, and snowshoes, and medals, and bows and arrows, etc. On your left is the door which leads into the dining apartment, back of which is another room (in which is a fire place) of about the same size, divided from it by folding doors. This dining room is warmed in winter by one-half of a stove, whilst the other half, passing through the partition into the saloon, keeps that comfortable. From the right of the audience room, or saloon, you enter the drawing room; and in place of the back room in the left division, two rooms are arranged, one of which serves for the library, and the other for a lodging room. These rooms being all well carpeted and curtained, and furnished in excellent, but plain style, present a view of comfort, which forms a striking

contrast to the exterior; and you are made to forget, in the midst of these interior accommodations, the odd-shapen and ancient appearance from without. There is much of the simplicity of republicanism in all this. Extrinsic appearances are to a reasonable extent disregarded, and the higher value is attached to the interior; and this is not an unfit emblem of the Governor (Cass) himself. You are not to imagine, however, that this is intended to apply to his person; in that he is portly, and altogether governor-like, and in regard to which he is neat in his dress, and though plain, polished in his

manners.

THE INDIAN CHIEF PONTIAC, AND THE SIEGE OF DETROIT

From T. L. McKenney's Tour of the Lakes

I have just returned from a ride of nine miles up the river to Grosse point, where I have been for the twofold purpose of seeing the country, and the vessel (as I hoped I should), charged with our canoe; the delay of which alone detains us. From Grosse point the prospect is open to a fine view of Lake St. Clair. The road to this point is along the margin of the strait, and affords a pretty view of the land upon the one side, and the water on the other. The grounds for the whole way are certainly excellent, and are for the most part cut up into small farms, on which are as fine apple orchards as I have ever seen; many of them, however, are suffered to run up into shoots and suckers; and others, for the want of attention in pruning off dead limbs, to go to decay. The inhabitants on this route are principally French. They appear reconciled to let the earth rest, and the houses to go to decay around them; and the orchards to decline and die. This portion of the population, however, is declining fast; another generation or two will know them only from history, and perhaps from lands which, on comparison, will be even then found in arrears. When time shall put these fine, but neglected lands into other and more skillful hands, this beautiful country will have imparted to it that fruitfulness, and those charms which nature has done her part in conferring, but not before.

In the middle of the strait, and about two miles above the city, is a superb island. I could have wished they had called it by another name than Hog Island. It is said to contain a thousand acres of prime land, but only a small portion of it is cultivated; the rest is in wood. This beautiful island has been the theatre of savage barbarity. The spot, however, that attracted most my attention, was "the bloody bridge," to which I have already referred; the remains of it are yet visible, as I have before stated. It was here that Pontiac by his skill and courage, secured for himself the title of the brave, and for this bridge that of "bloody." I believe I promised you a sketch of the siege of Detroit, during which this famous battle was fought. I would like much to disclose to you the history of those times, but this alone would require a volume. I will just review the origin and progress, and termination of this siege, but I will be as brief as possible.

The French had held possession of Canada, and exercised an influence over the Indians of the lake country for more than a century. The wars between them, it is true, were frequent and bloody; but these being succeeded by seasons of peace, the Indians were, meanwhile, operated upon by presents, and by the priests, and not a little by the growing power of the French, until at last the animosity of the aborigines gradually subsided, and was succeeded by attachment. Or, if not by this, by a state of dependence in matters of trade

which led them to wish success to the French, at least over the English. They had surveyed the French power, and had contended with it; they knew how far it was intended to operate upon them, and the limits that had been assigned to it. It was grown familiar to them, as had also the French traders. When, therefore, this connection was dissolved by the ascendancy of the British power, in 1760, and Montreal and its dependencies in the lake country fell under British rule, the Indians, ignorant of the relations in which they were to stand towards this new power, and cherishing a sympathy for the French, became restless, and following their warlike propensities, were prepared to rally under the banners of a leader, and measure strength with the new power. It was under these circumstances and at this period, that Pontiac, an Ottawa chief, a man of wonderful resource, of deep and daring device and stratagem, and gifted withal, with a most commanding eloquence, resolved on prostrating the British power, and securing to himself and people freedom alike from both French and English rule. His efforts were unremitted; and throughout the vast regions of the northwest, his active spirit was felt by the numerous bands inhabiting there. His was the power that operated upon masses. But there was no sounding of the tocsin; no alarm of war was given; no motion of the wave was felt, but a breeze was heard, and a deep and silent stream was made to flow; and although it was seen by the eyes of observing Englishmen, it was taken for a stream of fertility which was passing on, enriching and beautifying the region as it went. It was a deceitful stream, for Pontiac was busy in all directions multiplying currents, which, at the concerted moment, were to be precipitated into it, and like a mountain torrent, he intended that in its course it should sweep everything away before it.

It was in the month of November of the year 1760, that Major Gladwin was detached by General Amherst, the commander in chief, and then at Montreal with a thousand men, to take possession of Detroit. Owing to the advanced state of the season they penetrated no further than Niagara; but wintered there, and employed the early part of the following spring and summer in preparing boats and fitting out the expedition. In September following they arrived at Detroit, when the post was formally surrendered by the French and taken possession of by the English. In the following month Major Rogers, with his rangers, who had accompanied Major Gladwin to Detroit, took possession in like manner of Michillimackinac.

The first object that engaged Major Gladwin's attention was to secure the friendship of the Indians; to do which he held treaties with them at Saginac, the river Raisin, and at Brownstown. He thought he had realized this object. In the spring of 1762, everything appearing quiet, the British Fur Company commenced the prosecution of the Indian trade, and in the month of June a party set out to open this traffic, protected by a company of rangers. They left Michillimackinac in bark canoes, destined for the Grand Portage. Here a post was established, which being defended by a stockade work, the rangers separated from the trading party and came on to Detroit, where they arrived in October. Every circumstance justified the English in concluding that the Indians were satisfied with this new state of things, nor were any signs of dissatisfaction manifested until the spring of 1763. It was at that period the commissioners were appointed to explore the southern shores of Lakes Michigan and Huron; and to confirm the apparently friendly disposi