TO OUR READERS.

With this number the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society enters upon its fourth volume. Three years ago we issued its first number, in very modest form, as an experiment, and it has since grown so rapidly in public favor, as to convince us that it occupies a place in the literature of our State quite satisfactory to a large class of its people. The demand for it has so increased that an enlarged edition has become necessary, its circulation extending to every county in the State, and to almost every state in the Union.

The object of the Journal, as we have before stated, is to popularize Illinois history-to convey to the people and familiarize them with, the the knowledge of facts and events that contribute to perfect the history of our great State, and to interest them in promoting that purpose by adding thereto such historical material as may be in their possession.

At the recent banquet in this city in commemoration of Mr. Lincoln's birthday anniversary, one of the speakers said, in his address, that the history of Mr. Lincoln has not yet been written. This assertion is, in a certain sense, true, notwithstanding the multitude of Lincoln biographies that have been published. The same is equally true of the history of Illinois. The most prominent events and transactions in the inception, growth, and advancement, of the State, are generally well known; but in every county, district, and neighborhood, are stored the memories of local occurrences, incidents, and personal biographies, yet unpublished, essential to a complete history of the State, as are the distant springs

and small rivulets, in coalescing, to the formation of the great river.

The mission of the Journal is to induce the collection of those ultimate sources of historical data-to search out fundamental facts, the causes of historical results, the motives and incentives of conspicuous actors therein, and the influences of surrounding conditions at the time. Much of this work has been well done by able writers in the preceding volumes of the Journal, and we have encouraging reasons for expecting its continuance in the future. Grateful indeed for the valuable assistance we have received from every quarter, we still respectfully solicit the further aid of all who are interested in our gratuitous undertaking. It is our aim to maintain the reliable standard of this periodical that it now enjoys. With that view we will continue to present to our readers, as far as practicable, original and authentic papers, and only such reprints as are now obsolete but of recognized importance. Contributions on these lines are respectfully requested from all parts of the State.

Due regard will be paid, as heretofore, to contemporary State history, editorial comments, book reviews, and necrological notices.

LEGISLATION BEFORE THE PRESENT GENERAL ASSEMBLY RELATING TO HISTORICAL

MATTERS AND AFFAIRS.

An unusually large number of bills of interest to the Historical Society have been introduced into the present General Assembly, the more important of which are mentioned below.

The Illinois State Park Commission has prepared a handsome and valuable report describing some of the most important historic places in Illinois and making

suggestions concerning them. Among those mentioned are Starved Rock, the Great Cahokia Mound and the White Pine Forest in Ogle county.

The commission recommends the purchase of Starved Rock and some neighboring land, about 1,100 acres, for a State park. The commission represented by its chairman, Prof. J. A. James, of the Northwestern University, and its secretary, Mr. Alexander Richards, of Ottawa, with a large delegation from LaSalle county and neighboring counties appeared before the appropriation committees of the General Assembly now in session and made eloquent pleas for the purchase of this historic, beautiful and picturesque site and pointed out reasons from every standpoint for the purchase of the land for a State park. A very close and attentive hearing was accorded the commission and its friends; and if the Legislature should decline to make the purchase it will be solely on the ground of economy and the feeling that the State has not at this time sufficient funds to warrant this outlay.

MADISON COUNTY CENTENNIAL, SEPTEMBER 12, 1912.

The people of Madison county propose next year, 1912, to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the organization of Madison county. They propose to celebrate at the same time the centennial anniversary of the first legislative body ever held in Illinois. In 1812 the Territory of Illinois held its first legislature, elected by the people. It is proposed to erect a monument at Edwardsville, the county seat of Madison county, to commemorate the above mentioned historic events and also as a memorial to Governor Ninian Edwards, and of Fort Russell, near Edwardsville, one of the most important of the pioneer forts. An appropriation of five thousand dollars is asked for the erection of the monument.

SITE OF FORT CHARTRES TO BE PURCHASED.

The citizens of Monroe county and other interested persons are asking the Legislature for a small appropriation of one thousand dollars for the purchase of about ten acres in which is located the site of old Fort Chartres, there being yet remaining the old powder magazine. This is one of the most important historic sites in the Mississippi valley, and its remains should be purchased, preserved and marked by the State of Illinois.

THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PUZZLE.

(Letter from Rev. James Howard, Pastor St. Agnes Catholic Church, Springfield, Ill.)

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, January 30, 1911.

MRS. JESSIE PALMER WEBER,

Secretary of the Historical Society,

Springfield, Illinois.

MY DEAR MRS. WEBER-I received your favor of the 28th and the Journal of the Society, both having reference to a bronze piece found in St. Clair County. I thank you for both. It seems to me that the opinion that the relic is not a medal of the Church is correct. It was made by some Catholic for his own use. In the supposition that it be of French origin, in conformity with the ancestral fleur-de-lis found on it, we may say that, on account of the period at the end, the word Leith is an abbreviation of some French family name, such as Leithiere or Leithellieux. The family escutcheon in brass or marble is a familiar sight on the Continent. In this particular case, the Caravel may designate the habit of sea-faring in that family or at least that their castle was near the sea and the Blessed Virgin is commemorated to invoke Her intercession for protection from Her Son

against the dangers of the deep. In the event that the word Leith be English, we can take the fleur-de-lis to be simply a canopy (commonly found over the Blessed Virgin's statues). Possibly the solder and perforations, which indicate wire, may show that this was a single cachet used in the year 1800 on some important transfer from La Belle France to the country of the Illinois. Very respectfully your servant,

JAMES HOWARD.

THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PUZZLE.

(Letter from Rev. C. J. Eschman.)

PRAIRIE DU ROCHER, ILL., Feb. 1, 1911.

I do not consider your "Archaeological Puzzle” a religious one. Catholic medals usually have impressions and inscriptions on both sides; it is hardly probable that the one side should be in such fair state of preservation, and the other worn entirely smooth.

The transposition of the letters and figures make the supposition of its being used as a seal most probable to me. I have no books in the country here in which to search for the escutcheon of Leith, Scotland, which I think it comes nearer representing than anything else. The thought suggests itself, that the illustration may represent the ferryman transferring a human soul across the mythological "Lethe,"-this illustration may have been selected on account of the similarity of names. It may also be that the location of Lieth suggested the placing of a ferryman, if such it be, on their escutcheon; for before bridges were built, ferrymen must have abounded in Lieth.

A Scotchman coming to these western French settlements in the beginning of the 19th century, could easily have brought this seal with him. And it is not difficult to