e
incidents compressed within the history of this settlement. No place in
the United States presents such a series of events interesting in
themselves and permanently affecting, as they occurred, its progress and
prosperity. Five times its flag has changed; three different
sovereignties have claimed its allegiance; and since it has been held by
the United States, its government has been thrice transferred. Twice it
has been besieged by the Indians, once captured in war, and once burned
to the ground."

"Detroit has long been considered as the limit of civilization toward
the northwest. This town, or commercial port, is dignified by the name,
and enjoys the chartered rights of a city, although its population at
present does not exceed three thousand. The banks of the river above and
below the city are lined with a French population, descendants of the
first European traders among the Indians in that quarter, and extending
from Lake Erie to Lake St. Clair, increasing in density as they approach
the town, and averaging, perhaps, one hundred per mile. This place, but
a little while ago so distant, is now brought within four days of the
city of New York, the track pursued being seven hundred and fifty miles.
Here, at Detroit, some of the finest steamers in North America come and
go every day, connecting it with the east, and have begun already to
search out the distant west and north."--Colton's _Tour to the American
Lakes_, vol. i., p. 46.]

[Footnote 417: "Le fruit de sa victoire (Da Buisson) fut que les Anglois
desespererent de s' etablir au Detroit, ce qui auroit ete la ruine entiere
de la Nouvelle France, non seulement a cause de la situation de ce lieu,
qui est le centre et le plus beau pays du Canada, mais encore parcequ'il
ne nous auroit plus ete possible d'entretenir la moindre communication
avec les sauvages d'en haut ni avec la Louisiane."--Charlevoix, vol.
iv., p. 105.]

[Footnote 418: "Le roi tres Chretien cede a la reine d'Angleterre a
perpetuite, l'Acadie, ou Nouvelle Ecosse, en entier, conformement a ses
anciennes limites, comme aussi la ville de Port Royal, maintenant
appellee Annapolis Royale."--_Article XII. du Traite d'Utrecht_, 1713.]

[Footnote 419: "Ce dernier article ne nous ota rien de reel, et ne donna
non plus rien aux Anglais, parceque les cantons renouvellerent les
protestations, qu'ils avoient deja faites plus d'une fois contre les
pretentions reciproques de leurs voisins et ont tres bien sc