with the fact that you have expressed considerable interest in the
result of my explorations, inclines me to present to you the
"Itasca," one of the canoes used in the expedition, for the Museum
of your Society, as a memento of my voyage and discoveries.

During this tour of observation and exploration, extending from the
headwaters of the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico, I had
the satisfaction of locating the true source of the mighty stream
down which we paddled our canoes to the sea.

I am not now in a position to give you a detailed account of my
explorations on the Great River, but shall avail myself of the
earliest opportunity to transmit to your Secretary a complete
history of the voyage, which will be issued in book form as soon as
the matter can be put in proper shape for publication.

Very truly yours,
Willard Glazier.

In response to this letter Captain Silas Bent, late of the United States
Navy, accepted for the Society the canoe in these words:

Captain Glazier:--It becomes my pleasant duty to accept for the
Missouri Historical Society this beautiful canoe, which has itself
become historic by reason of the service it has rendered you. It
shall be deposited with other treasured relics in our museum.

I have also to express to you the high appreciation in which the
Society holds the valuable contributions to geographical knowledge
resulting from your explorations among the headwaters of the
Mississippi River, and your discovery of the remotest lake that
contributes to the perennial birth of this hydra-headed "Father of
Waters," whose Genesis near the Arctic regions gives it a length of
more than three thousand miles to the tropical gulf, to which it
bears upon its ample bosom in safety the freightage of an empire.

I desire, too, to thank you for the interesting lecture just given
us upon the achievements of the heroic old explorers, who have in
centuries past preceded you in investigations of the
characteristics of this river. But whilst past investigations have
made us familiar with the general character of the stream, and the
peculiarities of its many mouths, yet we know very little of its
source; and should be gratified I am sure if yo