8 THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY : Ce 
dition. to avail herself of the advantages thus offered by her 
enterprising sons to extend her dominions over the Mississ- 
ippi valley, and accordingly no official action was taken to 
perfect the discovery. But among those occupying the 
frontier settlements along the line of the Great Lakes, to 
whom this discovery was communicated, was Robert Cava- 
lier de La Salle, then living at Fort Frontenac, (now King- 
ston), Canada. This man, possessed of indomitable natural 
energy, and ambitious of securing wealth and distinction, 
conceived the idea of securing these ends, by colonizing this 
new region, and planting the standard of France in this 
magnificent valley. Full of these schemes, in the year 1678 
he went to France, where, in presenting his plans before the 
French government, he had no difticulty in procuring a royal 
commission with full powers and privileges for carrying out 
his designs. On returning to this country he immediately 
set about his preparations, and in 1679 launched the first 
sail vessel on Lake Erie. On August 7th, of the same year, 
he set sail on his adventurous journey. On reaching the 
extreme settlements of Green Bay, he concluded to send 
back his vessel loaded with furs, for additional “supplies, 
while he continued his journey in bark canoes along the 
east shore of Lake Michigan, as far as St. Joseph river, to 
which point he had given directions for his vessel to return. 
While waiting here impatiently this expected arrival, the 
cold season was rapidly advancing, and the severities of an 
approaching winter awakened anxious fear and sclicitude. 
Unable longer to bear this intolerable suspense, this resolute 
commander resolved to push forward with the slender means 
at his command, in the direction of his proposed exploration 
Accordingly, on the 3d of December, 1679, he proceeded 
with his party by the return route of Marquette, six years 
previously, passing up the St. Joseph river in Michigan, 
crossing by a portage to the Kankakee, branch of the Illi- 
nois, and down the latter stream. He found the "Ilinois 
