2 Captain Bayfield on the 
1, Lake Superior has been lately visited with a view 
to geological enquiry by the following gentlemen, with 
all of whom we have been personally acquainted: Mr. 
Schoolcraft, American Indian Agent at the Falls of St. 
Mary, Doctor Bigsby, and Doctor Richardson. The first 
of these gentlemen has written an account of his tour through 
the lakes to the head waters of the Mississippi, which con- 
tains brief, but faithful, notices of the south shore of Lake 
Superior. Doctor Bigsby is well known in this country, for 
the zeal and ability which he has displayed in the investiga- 
tion of its geological phenomena. Doctor Richardson passed 
along the north coast of Lakes Huron and Superior in canoes, 
and arrived with Captain Franklin and his party at Fort Wil- 
liam, where we then were, in May 1825. From this latter 
gentleman something worthy of his pen may be expected, 
relative to the geology of those parts of the lakes which he 
had an opportunity of observing ; and although the land 
aretic expedition having a greater object in view, travelled 
with all possible rapidity, yet his great experience, and the 
advantage of having afterwards traced the great primitive 
formations further westward than either of the other gen- 
tlemen, will enable him to form a more enlarged idea of the 
extent and trending of the several formations, as well as their 
connexion with other rocks. 
Each of these gentlemen has travelled with the avowed 
view of collecting geological facts, and with the intention of 
communicating those facts to the public. We, on the con- 
trary, were fully occupied, by the engrossing details of a 
service, (thesurvey of the lakes,) which allowed of no res 
pite; which required the most incessant exertion both of mind 
and body; and in which the practical application of several 
sciences, involving many long and difficult calculations, left 
us scarcely the necessary time for rest and refreshment. 
Under these circumstances we could only view the subject of 
Geology 
