"I have also to express to you the high appreciation in which the
Society holds the valuable contribution 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 you could give us,
this evening, a brief account of the circumstances attending your
explorations in that direction, and of the difficulties you had to
encounter in the accomplishment of your object."

In compliance with Captain Bent's request that he would give some
account of the events connected with the expedition to the source of the
Mississippi, Captain Glazier then briefly narrated the leading incidents
of his voyage and explorations. At the conclusion, several gentlemen
came forward to congratulate him upon the practical results of his
undertaking and expressed their appreciation of the work he had
accomplished. The _Itasca_, which occupied a prominent position on the
platform, was duly inspected, and afterwards removed to the rooms of the
Historical Society.

III. LETTERS PERTINENT TO THE SUBJECT.

A letter from Captain Glazier which appeared in the Saint Paul _Pioneer
Press_ in December, 1886, and was copied into several Eastern papers, is
here introduced as an epitomized narrative of the discovery. The journey
to the headwaters of the Mississippi, the launch of the canoes on Lake
Itasca, the search for its feeders and the finding of one larger than
the others which the Indian guides said flowed from another lake to the
south of it; the passage of the canoes up this feeder and the entrance
of the explorers upon a beautiful lake which they ascertained by
sounding an