for the warring tribes of both regions. The Lake and its surroundings compose one of the most beautiful groups of scenery on the face of the earth; and the whole region is clustered with associations with some of the most romantic and important events in American history. These, and the natural history of the region have been illustrated in various ways by the scholarly pen of one of its eminent residents, the Hon. WINSLOW C. WATSON, of Port Kent.

This beautiful lake was discovered in the year 1609, by Samuel Champlain, a French navigator, whilst he was on the war-path with the Hurons and other Indian tribes, in a foray against the Iroquois whom the Frenchman believed to be neighbors dangerous to the peace of a colony he had just planted at the junction of the St. Charles and St. Lawrence rivers. While this brave explorer was penetrating the present State of New York from the north, HENDRICK HUDSON was sailing up the river that bears his name, from the south as far as the site of Waterford. Had both pushed forward a little further, they might have met in the great wilderness between Fort Edward and Whitehall. Three quarters of a century before Champlain sailed up the St. Lawrence, Jacques Cartier discovered and named that river, and navigated its waters to the site of Montreal. He and his crew passed the severe winter of 1535-6 on the site of Quebec, where he lost one of his vessels, and in the Spring returned to France, treacherously decoying the Huron sachem on board his vessel, and carrying him away from his country to die in the land of the Gaul.

Other voyages were made to the St. Lawrence, but no permanent settlement was planted until the following century, when Samuel Champlain, an active and intelligent member of the French navy, whom Henry the Fourth of France had attached to his person because of his accomplishments, laid the foundations of the city of Quebec, and built for himself a house, on the bank of the St. Charles, in what is now the "Lower Town," not far

from the spot where Cartier's vessels were moored more than seventy years before.

Champlain was then about thirty-eight. years of age. In his youth he had served in the navy, and was enjoying a pension from his King. The name of Canada had been given to the St. Lawrence region in Cartier's time; and now Chastes, Governor of Dieppe had obtained permission of Henry to found settlements there. He chose Champlain to act as his substitute in the enterprise. The monarch bestowed upon the sailor, the title of "General Lieutenant of Canada," and charged him to send home a faithful account of his transactions. He sailed in the spring of 1603, in a ship commanded by Pont-Gravé and went up the St. Lawrence to the Sault St. Louis, at the site of Montreal. They returned to France without accomplishing their object.

Under another patron, Champlain made voyages to America; and in the year 1608, he, with Pont-Gravé, ascended the St. Lawrence to the rock-bound bay of Tadousac, near the mouth of the Saguenay river, one hundred and thirty miles below Quebec. Champlain contemplated founding a permanent settlement there, but the country was too rugged and they went on up to the mouth of the St. Charles. There he planted the fruitful seed of a colony. He constructed huts, sowed grain, and began the development of that immensely profitable fur-trade with the Indians which soon commanded the profound attention of European merchants.

There, at the beginning of July, 1608, Champlain began the construction of a house for himself on the banks of the St. Charles, a sketch of which (printed at the head of this paper) was published in his account of his voyages, in 1613. It was built upon a point covered with hickory trees and wild vines, of wood and stone, the lower story being of the latter material and pierced for cannon and musketry. It was indeed a fort. It consisted of a group of three connected two-story buildings, small and strongly constructed, each with a cellar six feet deep. Around the

entire second story ran a gallery, and about the base of the buildings was a walk ten feet wide, and outside of that was a ditch, with a draw-bridge. Around the whole was a solid rampart of stone and earth, upon which cannon were planted. The kitchen was apart from the buildings, across a court-yard. From the centre of this court arose a tower to the height of the roof of the buildings, on which was a sun-dial. Outside of these fortifications Champlain planted and cultivated fields, orchards and gardens. Upon the site of this first house built at Quebec, and the first permanent dwelling-place of the French in Canada, the Church and the Market-house of the Lower Town now stand; and in that house Champlain lived a large portion of the time for twentyseven years, and there he died in December, 1635.

The enmity of the Hurons excited by the perfidy of Cartier, was changed to friendship for the French, through the kindness and wisdom of Champlain, and with these people he made frequent war upon the Iroquois. He explored Canada extensively and discovered its resources. On returning to that country in 1620, after one of his visits home, he brought his family with him, and bore the com

mission of Governor of the province, for France claimed to have territorial jurisdiction by right of discovery. He made strenuous efforts to christianize the native inhabitants and for that purpose he had invited some Jesuit missionaries to the colony so early as the year 1615.

Meanwhile, the English (in 1627), had captured Quebec, and with it, of course, all Canada, and Champlain left the city he had founded, then containing about two hundred souls. The country was restored to France, by treaty, five years later, when Champlain returned as Governor. His force of missionaries was now increased to fifteen clergymen and many lay brothers. A college was established at Quebec in which the children of friendly savages were to be educated in the learning and ways of civilization, the doctrines of the church, and the use of the French language.

But Champlain did not live to see the fruit of his generous planting. He only saw the germ a-budding, and by the eye of faith, alone, could he discern the coming harvest. He regarded the conversion of the savages as the highest aim of his life. "The salvation of one soul," he said "is of more importance than the founding of a new empire.'

Whilst I concur in a measure with the writer of an article entitled "Col. John Kelly," published in the August No. of the RECORD "That we of Pennsylvania have been deficient in gathering up the memorials of our men of the Revolution," yet a reference to the 3rd Edition of Rogers' Biographical Dictionary, published many years since, would have shown the writer that we have not been altogether neglectful of the fame of many of them. Mr. Linn is in error as to Gen'l James Irvine. He was a citizen of Philadelphia and not of Carlisle, and was not related to the three brothers, Col. Wm. Dr. Mathews and Captain Andrew Irvine, all of Carlisle.

Captain Andrew Irvine died soon after the war, from the effects of seventeen bayonet wounds received at the night attack on General Wayne at the Paoli. Among those omitted in the list given by Mr. Linn might have been added, General Richard Butler, his three brothers, Cols. Gibson and Broadhead, Captain Brady, Cols. Hampton, Walter Stewart, Grier, Hay, and many other distinguished subalterns. It is a matter to be regretted that some one competent to the task, had not given us long since, a history of the career of the "Pennsylvania Line," whose services extended from Canada to Georgia. Reference condemnatory, is frequently

made in our histories, to the mutiny of the Pennsylvania Line, in New Jersey, but when we take into consideration their then condition, ill paid, starved, half clothed, with other grievances to complain of on the part of the state authorities, and contrast it with their noble rejection of the offers of the British emissaries among them, of competence and ease, we must concede to the common soldier, however misguided for the moment, a sublime adhesion to the flag of their country.1

Let me add one more tribute to the fidelity of the Pennsylvania Line. I allude to the period of Arnold's treason, when verily, it "tried men's souls,' and at the very moment of the greatest distrust in the minds of both Washington and Green, should it not be a subject of state pride, that the "Pennsylvania Line" was selected to march to the succor and defence of West Point? All honor to the soldiers of the old "Keystone State," then, as ever after, in all our wars, as firm

1 On the first of January 1781, the whole Pennsylvania line, excepting a part of three regiments consisting of about two thousand men, then stationed at Morristown, N. J. mutinied, because of grievances which they believed might be remedied. General Wayne was in command of these troops, and was much beloved by them. He attempted to bring them back to duty, when, after declaring their respect and love for him they said: "We are no longer under your command; we warn you to be on your guard; if you fire your pistol or attempt to enforce your commands, we shall put you instantly to death." They avowed their willingness to fight for their dear country if that country should be just to them, and marched towards Philadelphia to demand of Congress, sitting there, simple justice-the supplying of necessary comforts.

Sir Henry Clinton, commander of the British in New York, hearing of this defection and mistaking the spirit of the mutineers, hoped to win them to the royal interest, and dispatched as emissaries for that purpose, a British sergeant and a New Jersey Tory, with a written offer that on laying down their arms and marching to New York, they should receive their arrearages and the amount of the depreciation of the continental currency, in hard cash; be well clothed; receive a free pardon for all past offences; be taken under the protection of the British government, and no military service be required of them. So certain was Clinton of success in his scheme of seduction that he went to Staten Island with a considerable military force, to act as circumstances might require. But Sir Henry's proposals were rejected with disdain. "See! comrades," said one of the leaders of the mutineers, he takes us for traitors. Let us show him that the American army can furnish but one Arnold, and that America has no truer friends than we.' They seized the emissaries, delivered them, with Clinton's papers, into the hands of Wayne, as spies, and they were executed as such. The mutineers refused the reward offered for the apprehension of these emissaries: saying, "Necessity wrung from us the act of demanding justice from Congress, but we desire no reward for doing our duty to our bleeding country!" Congress in accordance with an arrangement made by commissioners, with the mutineers, at Princeton, complied with their just demands, and these brave and patriotic men returned to duty. [EDITOR.]

as a rock. The subjoined copies of letters from General Wayne will show, that I do not claim undue merit for the Pennsylvania Line. W. A. J.

Irvine, Wayne Co. Pa.

[GEN'L WAYNE TO WASHINGTON.] Smith's White House, Sept. 27th, 1780. Dear Sir:

Your letter of yesterday from Robinson House' came to hand between seven and eight o'clock last evening. As the troops were much fatigued on account of loss of sleep, no prospect of any movement of the enemy up the river, and being in possession of, and commanding the pass by Storms' towards West Point, with a squad in our rear to file off our artillery towards Haverstraw Forge under the mountain to Suffrens, General Irvine and myself thought it best to remain in this position till morning, or until a move of the enemy should take place, in the latter case, to make a rapid march for West Point, sending our Artillery and baggage the route already mentioned as soon as the latter should arrive. I forgot to mention

to your excellency, that the 1st and 2nd Brigade, [Pennsylvania], marched at a moment's warning, leaving our tents standing, guards and detachments out, pushed with rapidity to secure this pass, where it would be in our power to dispute the ground inch by inch, or to proceed to West Point as occasion might require, which was effected in as little time as ever so long a march was performed in.”

[GFN'L WAYNE TO- -]

"The detached and debilitated state of the Garrison at West Point insured success to the assailants; the enemy were

1 The house of Joshua Hett Smith, near Haverstraw, on the west side of the Hudson below Stony Point, where Arnold and André had their last interview,

? The house (yet standing) opposite West Point, that belonged to Colonel Beverly Robinson, a Tory, and until two days before the date of this letter, had been the head quarters of Arnold. His treason was now discovered, and at this date Major André was under guard at West Point. There was an apprehension that the British might attempt to seize this post, and hence the anxiety to occupy certain passes leading to it.