fornia, has had reason to bless the Mormons for their charity The surface of society there exhibits the aspect of the highest degree of public and private virtue and sound morality. But the poison is at work secretly; and not many years will elapse before its effects will be seen on the surface of the body politic.

To the mind of the Christian, the religious character of the Mormons offers a dark picture. To the American patriot, the philanthropist, and the Christian philosopher, the political and social aspect of the sect awakens fearful apprehensions concerning the future. The Mormons are, ostensibly, loyal to the federal constitution, and profess great purity in their social relations. Will their loyalty survive the day of sufficient power to avenge the wrongs they have suffered, provoked or not, at the hands of American citizens? Is their allegiance to the Head of their Church as Supreme Pontiff-"prophet, priest, and king," spiritual and temporal-insignificant and without meaning? Will polygamy, now openly avowed and practiced, be productive of no social evils, which may menace the stability of public virtue and the best interests of society? These are questions of vast importance, and command our most serious attention. The fire of persecution is quenched, we hope, forever. The puissance of public opinion, formed on the basis of public virtue and supported by public law, must enter the lists as champion of social purity and uncorrupt republicanism. The sooner the trumpet of the herald is heard the better. The sect is rapidly increasing in numbers, power and influence. They really assume political, social, and religious independence of all the world. They will not tolerate public officers among them who are not of their faith. They enact laws, regulate commerce, coin money, and do all other things which an independent state claims a right to do. Asserting their saintship par excellence, and consequently the whole earth as their patrimony, they look for universal dominion, temporal and spiritual. The Great Salt Lake Citythe New Jerusalem-is to be the central capital where the glory of the earth is to be displayed.

PRAIRIE AND MOUNTAIN REGIONS EXPLORED.

One of the most magnificent conceptions connected with the whole history of our country and of humanity, in the present age, is the gradual and inevitable diffusion of a civilized population throughout the vast domains of the West, until they even reach the far distant shores of the Pacific. Whatever instrumentalities may aid in the accomplishment of this glorious result, deserve the commendation and praise of every patriot; and few Americans can boast of possessing a greater, probably none as great, a share in the promotion of this benificent result, as Col. Frémont. For several years previous to 1843, the tide of emigration continued to spread like a slow but mighty flood, farther and farther over those boundless domains; but many dangers and difficulties harassed thr

daring adventurer, as he thus labored heroically to plant the standard of civilization in the midst of those pimeval solitudes. In 1842, a thousand of these bold pioneers started from the confines of Missouri, and traversed the vast plain which intervened between them and the foot or the Rocky Mountains. They then crossed that mighty barrier, after enduring extraordinary privations and perils, and spread themselves out over the verdant slope which descended toward the calm billows and the unvexed shores of the Pacific. The American Congress at this period were singularly averse to taking any measures which would protect these settlers, both from the Indians, and from the other hardships incident to their adventurous life. The British Hudson Bay Company were then the implacable foes of every American colonist; and they constantly incited the Indians to the most infamous outrages upon them. At length, through the exertions of Mr. Benton, the matter of the Western territories, and the remoter domains of the United States, was brought before Congress in 1842. Considerable opposition then existed in the minds even of distinguished and enlightened statesmen, against any expenditure of time or money, in the promotion of the security and welfare of those vast tracts. It was thought that the time for action had not yet arrived, and that the outlay would not be remunerative. But through the more enlightened exertions of the great statesman of Missouri, a propitious change was effected. A bill was introduced by Mr. Linn, a senator from Missouri, whose purpose was to protect and ncourage emigration to those remote regions which lay in the valley of the Oregon, and around the mouth of the Columbia River. The consequence of this movement was, that soon the emigration vastly increased. Coldpies were planted throughout Oregon, composed of hardy and industrious settlers; and the foundations were then laid, broad and deep, upon which a mighty empire will hereafter be erected, which will constitute a prominent portion of the prodigious family of empires which, in the progress of time, will occupy and adorn this whole continent. But the chief promotive cause of that very emigration, was the first expedition of Frémont to the Rocky Mountains, which was undertaken in the summer of 1842. His purpose was to establish the feasibility and safety of an overland communication between the Atlantic and the Pacific States. The comprehensive plan of this expedition comprised the whole of those western territories which lie between the Missouri and the Pacific; and the execution of his plan embraced the exploration of the Rocky Mountains, on one of whose highest peaks, that of the Wind River, thirteen thousand feet above the level of the ocean, it was his good fortune afterward to plant the standard of his country.

Before his appointment to this memorable expedition, Lieut. Frémont had become impressed with the important and valuable results which such a venture would produce. He made application to Col. Abert, Chief of the Corps of Topographical Engineers, for permission to visit the frontier lying beyond the Mississippi. No sooner was the permission granted, than his views and aspirations enlarged; and taking back the order to Col. Abert, he had it so altered as to include the Rocky Mounters, and to specify the South Pass as the point to which his

special investigations should be directed. His purpose was to ascertain the most desirable and feasible point in the line of emigrant travel across the mountains, in order that greater facilities might be afforded for the safe and speedy termination of the toils and dangers of the westwardbound pilgrim. The approval of the secretary of war was then obtained; and preparations were immediately made to carry out the enterprise. Ample philosophical instruments and all the necessary stores were provided. Twenty-five voyageurs were placed under the control of the chief of the expedition. Four months were occupied in accomplishing the arduous task, and the fullest success attended the labors of the adventurers. Lieut. Frémont, with four chosen men, boldly ascended the highest peak of the Rocky Mountains, an eminence till then untrodden by the foot of man; and from his lofty perch he beheld the unknown origin, and fountains, among the gorges and ravines beneath him, whence flowed those vast rivers, some of which discharged their mighty burdens into the capacious Pacific, and some into the more restless bosom of the Mississippi. The minute details of this successful expedition are contained in the succeeding pages and need not here be further dwelt upon. But he who peruses this stirring yet simple and sublime narrative, must rise from it with the conviction, that never have greater devotion and courage, more resolution and fortidude, or more consummate scientific qualities, been employed in the service of science, or in the advancement of the highest and noblest aims of humanity than were possessed and displayed by the hero of this narrative. To Col. J. J. Abert, chief of the corps of Topographical Engineers: SIR: Agreeably to your orders to explore and report upon the country between the frontiers of Missouri and the South Pass in the Rocky Mountains, and on the line of the Kansas and Great Platte rivers, I set out from Washington city on the 2d day of May, 1842, and arrived at St. Louis by way of New York, the 22d of May, where the necessary preparations were completed, and the expedition commenced. I proceeded in a steamboat to Chouteau's landing, about four hundred miles by water from St. Louis, and near the mouth of the Kansas river, whence we proceeded twelve miles to Mr. Cyprian Chouteau's tradinghouse, where we completed our final arrangements for the expedition.

Bad weather, which interfered with astronomical observations, delayed us several days in the early part of June at this post, which is on the right bank of the Kansas river, about ten miles above the mouth, and six beyond the western boundary of Missouri. The sky cleared off at length and we were enabled to determine our position, in longitude 90° 25' 46', and latitude 39° 5' 57". The elevation above the sea is about 700 feet. Our camp in the mean time, presented an animated and bustling scene. All were busily engaged in completing the necessary arrangements for our campaign in the wilderness, and profiting by this short stay on the verge of civilization, to provide ourselves with all the little essentials to comfort in the nomadic life we were to lead for the ensuing summer months. Gradually, however, everything-the maleriel of the camp-men, horses, and even mules-settled into its place:

and by the 10th we were ready to depart; but, before we mount our horses, I will give a short description of the party with which I per formed the service.

I had collected in the neighborhood of St. Louis twenty-one men, principally Creole and Canadian voyageurs, who had become familiar with prairie life in the service of the fur companies in the Indian country. Mr. Charles Preuss, a native of Germany, was my assistant in the topographical part of the survey; L. Maxwell, of Kaskaskia, had been engaged as hunter, and Christopher Carson (more familiarly known, for his exploits in the mountains, as Kit Carson) was our guide. The persons engaged in St. Louis were:

Clement Lambert, J. B. L'Esperance, J. B. Lefevre, Benjamin Potra, Louis Gouin, J. B. Dumes, Basil Lajeunesse, François Tessier, Benjamin Cadotte, Joseph Clement, Daniel Simonds, Leonard Benoit, Michel Morly, Baptiste Bernier, Honore Ayot, François La Tulipe, Francis Badeau, Louis Menard, Joseph Ruelle, Moise Chardonnais, Auguste Janisse, Raphael Proue.

In addition to these, Henry Brant, son of Col. J. B. Brant, of St. Louis, a young man of nineteen years of age, and Randolph, a lively boy of twelve, son of the Hon. Thomas H. Benton, accompanied me, for the development of mind and body such an expedition would give We were well armed and mounted, with the exception of eight men, who conducted as many carts, in which were packed our stores, with the baggage and instruments, and which were drawn by two mules. A few loose horses, and four oxen, which had been added to our stock of provisions, completed the train. We set out on the morning of the 10th, which happened to be Friday, a circumstance which our men did not fail to remember and recall during the hardships and vexations of the ensuing journey. Mr. Cyprian Chouteau, to whose kindness, during our stay at his house, we were much indebted, accompanied us several miles on our way, until we met an Indian, whom we had engaged to conduct us on the first thirty or forty miles, where he was to consign us to the ocean of prairie, which, we were told, stretched without interruption almost to the base of the Rocky Mountains

From the belt of wood which borders the Kansas, in which we had passed several good-looking Indian farms, we suddenly emerged on the prairies, which received us at the outset with some of their striking characteristics; for here and there rode an Indian, and but a few miles distant heavy clouds of smoke were rolling before the fire. In about ten miles we reached the Santa Fé road, along which we continued for a short time, and encamped early on a small stream-having traveled about eleven miles. During our journey, it was the customary practice to encamp an hour or two before sunset, when the carts were disposed so as to form a sort of barricade around a circle some eighty yards in diameter. The tents were pitched, and the horses hobbled and turned loose to graze; and but a few minutes elapsed before the cooks of the messes, of which there were four, were busily engaged in preparing the evening meal. At nightfall, the horses, mules, and oxen were driven in and picketed, that is, secured by a halter, of which one end was tied

to a small steel-shod picket, and driven into the ground; the halter being twenty or thirty feet long, which enabled them to obtain a little food during the night. When we had reached a part of the country where such a precaution became necessary, the carts being regularly arranged for defending the camp, guard was mounted at eight o'clock, consisting of three men, who were relieved every two hours-the morning-watch being horse-guard for the day. At daybreak the camp was roused, the animals turned loose to graze, and breakfast generally over between six and seven o'clock, when we resumed our march, making regularly a halt at noon for one or two hours. Such was usually the order of the day, except when accident of country forced a variation; which, however, happened but rarely. We traveled the next day along the Santa Fé road, which we left in the afternoon, and encamped late in the evening on a small creek, called by the Indians, Mishmagwi. Just as we arrived at camp, one of the horses set off at full speed on his return, and was followed by others. Several men were sent in pursuit, and returned with the fugitives about midnight, with the exception of one man, who did not make his appearance until morning. He had lost his way in the darkness of the night, and slept on the Prairie. Shortly after midnight it began to rain heavily, and, as our tents were of light and thin cloth, they offered but little obstruction to the rain: we were all well soaked, and glad when morning came. We had a rainy march on the 12th, but the weather grew fine as the day advanced. We encamped in a remarkably beautiful situation on the Kansas bluffs, which commanded a fine view of the river valley, here from four to five miles wide. The central portion was occupied by a broad belt of heavy timber, and nearer the hills the prairies were of the richest verdure. One of the oxen was killed here for food.

We reached the ford of the Kansas late in the afternoon of the 14th, where the river was two hundred and thirty yards wide, and commenced, immediately, preparations for crossing. I had expected to find the river fordable; but it had swollen by the late rains, and was sweeping by with an angry current, yellow and turbid as the Missouri. Up to this point the road we had traveled was a remarkably fine one, well beaten, and level— the usual road of a prairie country. By our route, the ford was one hundred miles from the mouth of the Kansas River. Several mounted men led the way into the stream to swim across. The animals were driven in after them, and in a few minutes all had reached the opposite bank in safety, with the exception of the oxen, which swam some distance down the river, and, returning to the right bank, were not got over till the next morning. In the mean time, the carts had been unloaded and dismantled, and an India-rubber boat, which I had brought with me for the survey of the Platte river, placed in the water. The boat was twenty feet long and five broad, and on it were placed the wheels and body of a cart, with the load belonging to it, and three men with paddles.

The velocity of the current and the inconvenient freight, rendering it difficult to be managed, Basil Lajeunesse, one of our best swimmers, took in his teeth a line attached to the boat, and swam ahead in order to reach a footing as soon as possible, and assist in drawing her over.