FEB 13 16.8

Bright Fund

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1886, by the “PIONEER AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN," In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.

PREFACE.

Since the organization of the Michigan State Pioneer Society in 1874, many of the veterans, who, in early youth and vigor, came to the then far west, have annually met together, renewed old acquaintance, and revived the recollections of early struggles, failures and successes, and traced back to their beginnings many of the institutions of which the State, to-day, is so justly proud. Papers are annually read at these gatherings, which have been carefully prepared, from personal knowledge of the matters to which they refer.

In the interest of history, and to rescue from concealment and danger of entire loss, family treasures carefully stowed away, libraries of antiquarian lore, and the archives of antiquarian and historical associations have been searched and examined, to bring to light papers and matters relating to the early history of the Territory and State, and these have, from time to time, been published in volumes, entitled, "Pioneer Collections of Michigan." The volume now presented is the eighth of this series, and the committee feel assured that it will repay careful perusal and study. In some of the matters herein contained, the reader will be carried far back of the recollection and times of any now living, where the scenes depicted transpired.

The Diary of a careful observer (who lived in Detroit during the entire period covered by the Pontiac Conspiracy, having a personal acquaintance with most of the scenes and incidents referred to), has been procured, through the courtesy of the gentlemen who have the custody of the papers. belonging to the old Historical Society of Michigan, and it has been translated, and is now for the first time published entire.