small river that comes from near the Miamis, and five or six others quite as large, and flowing with greater rapidity along the declivity of a mountain [higher ground] and discharging into the Illinois [Ohio] two

leagues below a village and from there thence into the River Colbert. It is called the Quabachi or Aramoum.

The original of this letter was sent to Mr. Parkman, who kindly returned it with the following note:

JAMAICA PLAINS, MASS., 9 Sept., 1872.

DEAR SIR: With regard to the extract from La Salle's letter, one or two points are worth attention. It looks like an account made from hearsay. On the map described on pp. 406-7 of Discovery of the Great West, [map No. 2 above] the Maumee River is clearly laid down, with a portage direct to the Ohio, which is brought close to Lake Erie. This map is clearly anterior to 1680. On the map of Franquelin, 1864, made after data furnished by La Salle, the Maumee is also laid down, with a branch [tributary] to the Wabash, designated as R. Agonasake, closely approaching it. Now I have little doubt that 'la riviére que vous avez vue marquée dans ma carte,' is the Maumee, the natural route 'pour aller à la riviére Ohio ou Oléghin (Allegheny) Sipon.' The distance to the portage at Fort Wayne is certainly far more than 'une journée,' but accuracy is scarcely to be expected. After crossing the protage, La Salle speaks of a stream 'qui se change bientôt en riviére par la jonction de quantité de semblabies (et) qui aprés le cours de plus de 100 lieues sans rapides reçoit une autre petite riviére qui vient de proche celle des Miamis.' Such a 'petite riviére' is laid down on Franquelin's map. It flows into the Wabash, and answers to the Tippecanoe. The 'riviére des Miamis,' an Franquelin's and other contemporary maps, is the St. Joseph of Lake Michigan. La Salle goes on to say that the main river in question, called by him 'Ouabache or Aramoni,' 'constant le long au penchant d'une montagne, se descharger dans celle des Illinois deux lieues an dessous du village et de lá dans le fleuve Colbert' [Mississippi]. He begins by professing to indicate the way to the Ohio, but ends with bringing the traveler not to the Ohio but to the Illinois. I can see no other explanation of the passage, than that of a slip of the pen on La Salle's part, (or that of some copyist,) writing Illinois for Ohio. [See map No. 1, above.] I can think of no other way of making the passage intelligible. This solution derives some support from the circumstance that on Franquelin's map an Aborigine village Taarsila, is laid down a little above the mouth of the Wabash (Ouabache). La

Salle, you remember, says that the mouth of this river is two leagues below the village.

The river is called by him 'Aramoni ou Ouabache.' He speaks a few years later of another Aramoni, identical with the Big Vermillion a branch [tributary] of the Illinois. One of the branches [tributaries] of the Wabash is also now called Big Vermillion, and the name Vermillion is given to the county of Indiana where this branch [tributary] joins the main stream. The coincidence is worth remarking. Vermillion is mentioned in La Salle's time as among the chief articles of Aborigine trade, and possibly Aramoni may be the Illinois or Miami name for it. Yours very truly,

F. PARKMAN.

Summing up the question, it is presumed by the writer that La Salle's route to the Ohio River was along the south shore of Lake Erie, thence up the Maumee to its source, thence to and down the Little River to the Wabash. After being forsaken by his company, he turned his attention more to the Aborigines, first for the supply of his immediate wants and, secondly, for the investigation of trade possibilities. While returning up the Wabash and down the Maumee in the winter and spring of 1669-70, he undoubtedly met many Miami Aborigines from whom he may have learned not only of the River St. Joseph of Lake Michigan, which he afterwards called the Riviere des Miamis, but of the Kankakee, Desplaines, and Illinois Rivers, which he explored ten years later after, and with, great difficulties, but intent upon determining the outlet of the Great River the Mississippi and the best route to it. He visited and associated with many tribes of Aborigines, and formulated broad plans of trade with them from his observations and experiences. According to the writing of Nicolas Perrot, the author voyager, La Salle explored the Ottawa River of Canada in the summer of 1670 with a party of Iroquois.

Could La Salle have accomplished his ambitions and his plans, he would have led not only the van of discoverers at all times, but he would have controlled the fur trade of the Great Lakes, and of the rivers of the Mississippi Basin. But those high in authority, as well as the petty dealers, were jealous, watchful and hampering - while the quiet plottings of assassins ended his career in the year 1687 at the age of forty-four years.

KOSSUTH BEFORE OHIO LEGISLATURE.

[Copy of an address delivered before the General Assembly of Ohio, February 6, 1852, by Louis Kossuth, the Hungarian Patriot. His appearance before the Assembly was by invitation, and after its delivery a Committee was appointed to wait upon him and procure the manuscript of the address. This was secured, with the autograph of Kossuth, and is now preserved in the State Library. This publication is made from the original manuscript.-E. O. R.]

MR. PRESIDENT: The General Assembly of Ohio, having magnanimously bestowed upon me the high honor of this national welcome, it is with profound veneration that I beg leave to express my fervent gratitude for it.

Were, even with the honor which I now enjoy, no principles connected, still the fact would be memorable in history, and would not fail to have a beneficial influence consciously to develop the spirit of the age, which however contradicted, however opposed, still always proved to rule, and will prove to rule the destinies of humanity.

Applying the touchstone of philosophical scrutiny to that instruction which history affords, we cannot fail to remark that almost every century had one predominant idea, which all absorbingly prevailed, and impressed a common direction to the activity of nations. This predominant idea is the spirit of the age; invisible yet omnipresent; impregnable yet all pervading, scorned, abused, opposed, and yet omnipotent.

The spirit of our age is democracy. All for the people, and all by the people. Nothing about the people without the people. That is democracy. And that is the ruling tendency of the spirit of our age.

To this spirit is opposed the principles of despotism, claiming sovereignty over mankind; and degrading nations from the position of a self-conscious, self-consistent aim, to the condition of tools, subservient to the authority of ambition.

One of these principles will and must prevail. So far as one condition prevails, the destiny of mankind is linked to a com

mon source of principles; and within the boundaries of a common civilization, community of destiny exists. Hence the warm interest, which the condition of distant nations awakes now-adays, in a manner not yet recorded in history, because humanity never was yet thus aware of that community as it is now. With this consciousness thus develops. Two opposite principles cannot rule within the same boundaries. Democracy or despotism. - There is no transaction between Heaven and hell.

In the conflict of these two hostile principles, until now it was not right, not justice, but only success, which met approbation and applause.- Unsuccessful patriotism was stigmatised with the name of crime; revolution not crowned with success was styled anarchy and revolt; and the vanquished patriot being dragged to the gallows by victorious despotism. It was not the consideration, why a man died on the gallows, but the fact itself that there he died, which imparted a stain to his name.

And though impartial history now and then cast the halow (halo) of a martyr over an unsuccessful patriot's grave; yet even that was not always sure; tyrants often perversed history, sullied by adulation or by fear;- but whatever that last verdict might have been; for him who dared to struggle against despotism, when he struggled in vain, there was no honor on earth; victorious tyranny marked the front of virtue with the brand of a criminal.

To have opposed existing authority, though that authority was that of a violence, worse than the authority of a pirate is,— this opposition when unsuccessful was sufficient to exclude from every place where authority is residing. The people never failed to console the outcast first, by its sympathy; but authority shared not the people's sympathy; regarded rather this very sympathy as a dangerous sign of the people's propensity to anarchy.

The idea of justice thus prevented; virtue thus deprived of its fair renown, and honor but attached to success, though criminal, like L. Napoleon's: all this became an obstacle of unmeasurable influence to the freedom of nations, never yet achieved but by a struggle, which success raised to the honor of a glorious revolution, but failure lowered to the reputation of a criminal revolt.

MR. PRESIDENT: I feel proud that my humble self became an opportunity for the restoration of public honors to where it only should be bestowed; to righteousness, and to a just cause; where as till now honors were (never) lavished but by success. I consider this a highly important fact, which cannot fail to encourage the resolution of devoted patriots, who though not afraid of death, may be excused for recoiling before humiliation.

Senators and Representatives of Ohio: I thank you for it in the name of all, who may yet suffer, for having done the duties of a patriot. You may yet see, many a man who out of the source of your approbation, will draw encouragement to noble deeds. Because there are many on earth, ready to meet misfortune for a noble aim; but not so many ready to meet even humiliation and indignity.

Besides in honoring me you have approved what my nation has done. You have honored my nation by it. And I pledge my word to you, that it will yet do what you approved.*

The approbation of our conscience, my nation and myself, we had; the sympathy of your generous people we met; and it is no idle thing that sympathy of the people of Ohio; it weighs heavily like the sovereign will of two millions of free men; powerful like a giant in his stoutest youth;- You have added to it, the sanction of your authority. Your people's sympathy you have framed it into a Law, sacred and sure in all consequences, upon which humanity may rely, because you have registered it. There is also a triumph of the Republican principle in this your fact. It is as if you had said: Ye despots, who call yourself sovereigns, and proclaim your arbitrary whim to be the law of humanity: we in our legitimate authority, not derived from sacrilegious violence like yours, but from the only legitimate

*The Senate had just introduced the following Joint Resolution : "Resolved by the General Assembly, That the Governor of Ohio be authorized, and is hereby instructed to deliver to Louis Kossuth, the Constitutional Governor of Hungary, on loan, all the public arms and munitions of war belonging to the state, which remain undisturbed, to be returned in good order upon the achievement of Hungarian liberty."

This resolution, on April 12, passed the Senate by a vote of 16 to 8, but was subsequently, April 15, 1852, indefinitely postponed in the House by the decisive vote of 59 to 26. E. O. R.