Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

From the Albany Statesman.

TYPOGRAPHY OF THE NORTHWEST.

During the last year an expedition was authorized by the national government, which left Detroit sometime in the month of May, under the personal orders of Gov. Cass, of the Michigan territory, provided with the necessary means of making observations upon the topography, natural history, and aborigines of the country. We have had an opportunity of conversing with one of the gentlemen who accompanied Gov. Cass in the expedition, Mr. H. R. Schoolcraft, who has recently returned to this city, bringing a large collection of mineral and other substances, calculated to illustrate the natural history of the regions visited. We learn that the party passed through Lake Superior, and penetrated to the sources of the Mississippi, which have been, for the first time, satisfactorily ascertained. In returning, they passed down the Mississippi to Prairie du Chien, and thence came across to Green Bay by means of the Ouisconsing and Fox rivers. Indian tribes were found in every part of the country visited, by whom they were generally well received, except at the Sault St. Marie, where a hostile disposition was manifested. The country was found to present a great variety in its soil, climate, productions, and the character of the savages, and the information collected must prove highly interesting both to men of business, and men of science.

Mr. Schoolcraft contemplates publishing an account of the expedition, under the form of a Personal Narrative, embracing notices of interesting scenery, the Indian tribes, typographical discoveries, the rapids, mineral productions, and geology of the country, accompanied by an elegant map, and a number of picturesque views. From an inspection of the manuscript map and views, we are persuaded that no analogous performances, of equal merit, have ever been submitted to the hands of the engraver in this country. We have always been surprised, that while we have had so many travellers through the valley of the Ohio and Mississippi, no one should have thought of filling up the chasm in our northwestern geography. The field is certainly a very ample one—we cannot but felicitate the public in having a person of the acknowledged talents, industry, and original views of Mr. S. to supply the deficiency.