I observed the _Erythronium dens canis_, and _Panax trifolium_ appeared in flower on the 25th.
_28th_. The schooner "Recovery" arrived from Fort William on the north shore of Lake Superior, bringing letters and despatches, political and commercial. Mr. Siveright, the agent of the H. B. C., kindly sent over to me, for my perusal, a letter of intelligence from an American gentleman in the North.
_29th_. I have, for some time, relinquished the expectation of being selected to conduct the exploring party, intended to be ordered by government, into the region of the St. Peter's, at least the present season. A letter of this date terminates the uncertainty. "Major Delafield," says a correspondent, "informs me that an exploring party has been ordered under Major Long, to make the tour which was intended for you. Why this arrangement has been made, and the original plan abandoned, I cannot conjecture, unless it resulted from the necessity of placing a military officer at the head of the party. I presume this was the fact, for I am certain that the change in the project did not arise from any feeling in Mr. C.'s mind unfriendly, or even indifferent to you. Upon that subject I can speak definitely, and say to you, that you have a hold upon his esteem, not to be shaken." Thus falls another cherished hope, namely, that of leading an expedition to the North.
_30th_. Minute particulars are often indicative of general changes. This is the first day that the mosquito has appeared. The weather for a few days has been warm. Vegetation suddenly put forth; the wild cherry, &c., is now in bloom, and gardening has commenced with fine prospects.
_31st. Odjibwa language_.--There are two generic words in the concrete forms of the Chippewa for water or a liquid, in addition to the common term _neebi_. They are _aubo_ and _gomee_. Both are manifestly compounds, but, in our present state of knowledge, they may be temporarily considered as elements of other compounds. Thus, if the letter _n_ be prefixed to the former, and the sound of _b_ suffixed, the result is the term for soup, _nabob_. If to the same element of _aubo_, the word for fire, _iscoda_, be prefixed, the result is their name for ardent spirits, _iscodawabo_, literally fire-water. In the latter case, the letter _w_ is thrown in as a coalescent between the sound of a, as _a_ in hate; and the a, as _a_ in fall. This is out of a mere regard to euphony.