CIVIL AND POLITICAL HISTORY. v 109 



empire in America ; and this is the more probable, as most of 

 these institutions were founded during the ambitious, splendid 

 and enterprising reign of Louis XIV." We add, that Louis 

 XV., pursued the same policy towards his American empire 

 as his predecessor had done. The Marquis Gallisonere, Gov- 

 ernor General of new France, (as all this western country 

 was called by them) in the year 1749, sent out an expedition, 

 commanded by Louis Celeron, for the purpose of depositing 

 medals at all important places, such as the mouths of the most 

 considerable streams, and at remarkable places, such as the larg- 

 est mounds, and other ancient works. Most of these medals, 

 perhaps all, which were made of lead, containing " a proces ver- 

 bal,'''' drawn up by order of the Governor General, contained 

 blanks to be filled up with the date of the time of depositing 

 them, and the names of the places, rivers, or objects where they 

 were deposited. I had, for a considerable time, in my possession, 

 such a medal, which stated it to have been left at the mouth of 

 Venango river, where that stream empties into the Belle riviere 

 or river ' Oyo,' as the Ohio was called by them. This medal 

 was a thin plate of lead, and the lettering was rudely done. 

 It asserted the claims of Louis XV., to all the country wa- 

 tered by the " riviere Oyo" and branches, and was deposited 

 at the mouth of "Venango riviere," Aout 16th, 1749. 



Such medals as the above were deposited in many places 

 over the western country, and many ancient coins, belonging 

 to the Greeks, Romans, Gauls, Germans, &c., were also left at 

 many places. It is one hundred and fifty eight years since the 

 Griffin sailed across Lake Erie. 



The French began to erect a line of forts, for the purpose 

 of connecting Canada with the valley of the Mississippi, as 

 early as 1719, and continued to extend them into this country, 

 until they had established them, at all the most important 

 points. After erecting Fort Du Kane at Pittsburgh, they es- 

 tablished posts in the direction of the Potomac, but, the Eng- 

 lish finally conquered Canada, and most of their western posts, 

 all indeed, along lake Erie, and on the waters of the Ohio, fell 

 with Canada and were surrendered at the peace of 1763. It was 



