"Brothers--My young men will finish their dances in a little while, when we will be glad to give you our hands." ("_How, how, how!_" great applause, and "Hear, hear.") The venerable old man then resumed his seat; and at that moment, as the pipe was preparing, Daniel was making his way through the crowd, with one hand raised above the heads of the audience, conveying a large square letter, which he was endeavouring to hand to me. On opening the letter and reading, I found it was from the Honourable Mr. Murray, and, with permission of the audience, I read thus:-- "Dear Sir,--I have great pleasure to inform you that I am instructed by Her Majesty to transmit to you the enclosed 20_l._ note to be given to the Ojibbeway chiefs; and also to say that Her Majesty has instructed me to order to be made, as soon as possible, an entire piece of plaid, of Her Majesty's colours, which is also to be presented to them in her name, as an evidence of Her Majesty's friendship for them, and solicitude for their welfare. I have transmitted the order for the plaid, and as soon as it can be prepared I shall send it to them. "I have the honour to be, dear Sir, yours, &c. &c. "CHAS. AUG. MURRAY, "_Master of Her Majesty's Household, Buckingham Palace._ "_To Geo. Catlin, Esq._" */ The reading of this letter called forth a round of applause, which the Indians did not seem to understand until its contents were interpreted to them by Cadotte, when they received the bank-note with a yell or two, and then gathered around it to examine it, and to make out, if they could, how it could be a present of 20_l._, or (in American currency, which they were a little more familiar with) 100 dollars. That they might better appreciate it, however, I sent Daniel to the door with it, who in a few moments brought back twenty sovereigns, which were placed in the chief's hand, and, being better understood, were soon divided equally, and put into the pouches which were attached to their belts. The War-chief (who was not much of an orator, and always seemed embarrassed when he spoke) then rose, and advanced to the front of the platform to offer his acknowledgments. He held his long pipe to his lips, and, drawing several deep breaths of smoke to his lungs, and pouring it out through his nostrils, at length began:-- "My friends--I can't speak--I never speak. (Great applause, and he smoked again.)