English, had their domiciles at Detroit; and the nature of the trade was such as to require large amounts of capital, in order to be profitable; because the great distance, and the immense extent of country, over which their furs and peltry were collected, rendered it impossible to turn the capital employed more than once in a year, and sometimes once in two years. The business was also extremely laborious and precarious. In some seasons, their profits were enormously large; in others, they were small; and occasionally, they were subjected to heavy losses.

During a large portion of the year, they had to endure the fatigues and privations of the wilderness; and as often as they returned from those laborious excursions to their families and comfortable homes, they indulged most freely in the delicacies and luxuries of high living. Scarcely a day passed without a dinner party, given by some one of them, at which the best of wine and of other liquors, and the richest viands furnished by the country, and by commerce, were served up in great profusion, and in fine taste. Genteel strangers who visited the place, were generally invited to their houses, and their sumptuous tables; and although at this day, such a practice would be considered a breach of moral duty, as well as of good breeding, they competed with each other for the honor of drinking the most, as well as the best wine, without being intoxicated themselves, and of having at their parties the greatest number of intoxicated guests. This revel was kept up in a greater or less degree, during the season they remained at home, as an off

quently, the principal part, if not all the Indians then in slavery, were the descendants of enslaved captives. Immediately after the laws of the United States were introduced, and their courts of judicature established, the validity of that relation was questioned, and the value of that species of property was very much diminished; not only by the uncertainty of its tenure, but by the effect which the discussion of the subject produced on the minds of the slaves. Very soon after the right became a subject of enquiry, public opinion decided against it, and the relation ceased to exist.

set to the privations and suffering of their excursions into the wilderness.

At one of those sumptuous dinners, given by Angus McIntosh, the bottom of every wine glass on the table had been broken off, to prevent what were called heel-taps; and during the evening, many toasts were given, which the company were required to drink in bumpers. The writer of this narrative was one of the guests, on that occasion; but being in very delicate and precarious health, was not required to comply with the rules prescribed for others; but was permitted to eat and drink, as his judgment dictated. This privilege was awarded to him most cheerfully, at all those parties, as it was known that without it, he could not have participated in their hospitality.

Soon after the town of Detroit came into the hands of the Americans, most of those merchants removed, and established themselves at Sandwich, in Upper Canada, where it was the universal custom to celebrate the birth-day of the king. The General Court of the Territory being in session at Detroit, on the 4th of June, 1800, which was the birth-day of his majesty, George III., the judges and the bar, and also the officers of the American garrison, with many of the principal citizens of Detroit, were invited to be present, and partake in the festivities of the occasion. The invitation was accepted, and about an hundred Americans joined in the festival. A spacious building, erected for a warehouse, was so arranged as to accommodate between four and five hundred persons, with seats at the tables, at the same time. The entertainment was splendid; the tables were richly and abundantly supplied with every thing which appetite or taste could desire.

The loyalty of his majesty's subjects was evinced by every expedient in their power; and if a moiety of their prayers, in behalf of their royal master, had been granted, he must have lived a thousand years, and his shadow never have grown less.

During the evening, much deference was paid, by the managers, to the feelings of their American guests. Next to the King, the President of the United States was drank; and among the residue of the toasts, there were several complimentary to our country and her distinguished statesmen. By pursuing that liberal, respectful course, no bad feeling was excited; and although more wine was drank, in proportion to numbers, than the writer ever witnessed on any other occasion; yet the party, late in the night, separated in harmony and mutual good feeling. The American garrison, at Detroit, consisted of two regiments, commanded by Colonel Strong, who, in consideration of his great responsibility, and to relieve from duty as many of his officers as practicable, declined to be a guest, and remained at his post in the citadel.

At that party the court and bar became acquainted with the British officers, stationed at Fort Malden, and received a pressing invitation to visit them, and spend a night at their quarters in the garrison. At the same time, Captain Currie, of the John Adams, an armed vessel of the United States, politely offered to convey the party to Malden, and from thence to Maumee Bay. These invitations were accepted, and, as soon as the court had finished the business of the term, they and the bar sent their horses by land to the foot of the Rapids, and embarked for the British garrison. They were received by Captain McMullen, the commandant, and entertained with great hospitality. He gave them a fine supper, good wine, and excellent beds; which were seldom met with, by western travelers, in those early days of territorial improvement. In the morning, the

party took leave, and returned to the vessel.

At that time, the fort was in a very unfinished state, and no material or preparation was discovered for completing it. It was said, however, by the officers, that preparations were in progress for that purpose, and that it was the intention of government to put the works in a complete

state for defence, without delay. Early in the afternoon, the brig cast anchor in the Maumee Bay, and the barge was let down and manned. Having taken leave of the officers, the party took their seats, and in a few hours were landed at the foot of the Rapids. The passage was pleasant, and the misery of wading through the deep mud of the Black Swamp was escaped.

The residue of the journey to Cincinnati, presented nothing unusual.

CHAPTER XIV.

Five thousand white males in the Territory.-Proclamation of the Governor. -Delegates to the Assembly elected.-Second grade of Territorial Government organized.—Members of the first Territorial Legislature.—Their Character.-Talents.-Employments.-Movements of Colonel Burr.-Mr. Smith implicated.—Probably without cause.-Burr's visit to Cincinnati.— Notice taken of him.-War with Spain contemplated.-May account, probably, for Burr's movements.-Principles of the Federal party. Their agency in forming and adopting the Federal Constitution.-Condition and character of the country improved by their measures.-Origin of their name.-Have long ceased to exist as a party.

IN 1798, it was ascertained that the North-western Territory contained five thousand white male inhabitants, and was therefore entitled, as a matter of right, to enter on the second grade of territorial government, provided for in the ordinance of 1787. This fact was made known by the proclamation of Governor St. Clair, calling on the people to elect Representatives to the first General Assembly, and requiring the members, when elected, to meet at Cincinnati, in Convention, for the purpose of nominating ten persons, to be returned to the President of the United States; five of whom, it was his duty to select; and, with the advice and consent of the Senate, commission as a Legislative Council. The Representatives were chosen, and assembled at Cincinnati, on the 4th of February, 1799, as required by the proclamation. After due deliberation they made the nomination-reported it to the Governor, and then adjourned, to meet at Cincinnati, on the 16th of September, ensuing. The Governor transmitted the names