We started on our journey by the evening train. When we arrived at Port Huron our first difficulty occurred; the Custom-House officers would not pass our baggage, although we pointed out the great importance of our party, and also, that the moon would not wait an instant for us. They did not see it; so our baggage was locked up for the night. We took rooms at a small inn, and then Mr. Douglas and I went by rail to Huron, to see the head of the Customs. After going up two flights of stairs, we were shewn into a room which two gentlemen occupied. The chief was smoking, with the chair resting on its two hind legs and his resting on the table. We told our story, and shewed him a certificate from the American Consul at Quebec. He looked very hard at me, took the cigar out of his mouth, wrote a pass which he handed to me, and then resumed his cigar and former position. We began to thank him, but as he hid himself in smoke, we retreated down stairs. I never was more struck with the kindness of our American cousins than I was during this trip. On all occasions, they did all in their power to promote our convenience. In the morning we had time to see Mr. Muir, the director of the railway, who kindly gave us a free passage over his line, a kindness that was shewn to us by all the directors of the different lines that we travelled on. I may remark that the cases with the heavier parts of the telescope were broken, and I much feared that the instruments would be seriously damaged. Mr. Muir very kindly had outside cases put on, and I carried the most valuable part (the object glass) in my hand. After we left Chicago, and before going to bed, we left word to be called before crossing the Mississippi. It is not fair to judge of scenery from a view taken through the window of a railway car, but I must say that I was disappointed,--shallow, sluggish, and muddy; but then I ought to remember that I live on the banks of one of the finest and most beautiful rivers in the world. In the morning we were on the prairie, which is not so flat as I had expected to see it, but it is a beautiful undulating country, and if there were trees upon it nothing more could be desired. It was explained to me by a gentleman who was travelling with us, the reason why trees do not grow on this beautiful land. It appears that on the eastern bank of all rivers and streams only do trees grow; now without entering into the cause of the prairies catching fire, I will only say that in September, when the long grass is quite dry, they do catch fire, and then burn until it is stopped by a river, and as it always burns to windward, and as the wind generally blows in one direction, we have a solution why the trees only grow on one side of a river; and once the primeval forest is removed, it never has a chance of growing again, as the young trees are sure to be burnt, and the beautiful black soil of the prairie is enriched by the deposit of burnt grass.