IN our issue to-day we present our readers with some very faithful engravings of views taken in the vicinity of Mackinac, Michilimackinac county, Michigan. The village itself is situated on Mackinac island, in Lake Huron, about 320 miles N. N. W. of Detroit. It is pleasantly located around a small bay, at the south-eastern part of the island, and has a very safe harbor, deep enough to admit of anchorage for large vessels. Fort Mackinac stands on a rocky eminence, 150 feet above the village, which it commands. The settlement of the island was commenced in 1764. In 1793 it was surrendered to the American Government, taken by the British in 1812, but restored by the treaty of Ghent. Mackinac is the seat of an extensive fur trade.
Our large engraving presents an accurate view of the town and harbor, showing the Fort and other points of interest. The island is of limestone formation, and contains many objects of curiosity. By one who has visited the impressive and beautiful scenes here represented, and borne away even an indistinct reminiscence, these engravings must be viewed with more than ordinary interest. In the minds of those by whom they have never yet been visited they must excite a lively curiosity — so original and striking is their character, so expressive of those wonders which Nature delights to create.
It always affords us pleasure to reproduce in this paper the grand or lovely scenes with which our country abounds, especially of those portions which have not been worn down by the footsteps of curiosity-seekers. We have in contemplation the sending a good artist into the territories of Nebraska and Kansas, to discover there and sketch, with faithful pencil, the many glorious features of that most interesting and unexplored region.