NOTES 413 



persons and excentric geniuses in America, and per- 

 haps in the world I beg leave to observe, that 



I do not presume to undertake his justification, but 

 only admire his enterprising policy, and the vigour and 

 activity of his mind." 



Smyth, A Tour in the United States of America. 

 London, 1784, Vol. I, pp. 124-128. 



P. 263- ' Upon occasion of the last war Dr. Mitchel 

 [John Mitchell] was employed by the ministry to take 

 an accurate survey of all the back countries of North 

 America, most of them being then but little known, 

 except to the French, who were in possession of a line 

 of forts through all North America. No person could 

 have been more properly appointed, for he was not only 

 able to lay down the country with exactness, but being 

 well acquainted with practical agriculture in Virginia 

 and Pensylvania, he was able to understand the nature 

 and value of those countries he should traverse. This 

 was the origin of his map of North America [1755], 

 the best general one we have had : at the time it was 

 published, it was accompanied by a bulky pamphlet 

 written by the Doctor, and entitled, The Contest in 

 America, in which he enters into a full elucidation of 

 the importance of the back countries, and of the fatal 

 effects which must flow from leaving the French in 

 possession of their encroachments. Among others he 

 considers particularly the territory of the Ohio, and 

 shews of how much importance it is to the planters of 

 Virginia." American Husbandry. London, 1775. 

 Under caption, " The Ohio." 



P. 268 " A controversy has for a long time existed 

 whether this animal [the Mammoth] were a species of 

 elephant or not; and both the affirmative and negative 



