Box 2, Folder 7: Typewritten Letters, 1811-1828

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1827.

on Natural History and drawing plans of the locks.***

Dec. 16.*** I now contemplate going to school tomorrow.

Dec. 17. River very nearly as high as last spring. Reports from above say the water at Pittsburgh is six feet higher than ever before known. Did not commence school today on account of high water.

Dec. 18. Went to school, am to go when not at work on the canal.

This day is just one year since I commenced to go to school to Mann Butler of the Jefferson Seminary., Louisville.

Dec. 19. The flood wood at Louisville running on the south side of the river is supposed to be caused by the north winds, but it was today in the same direction as seen on the 10th of the month although we have had no other than a west wind all day. Am reading a book on Natural History.

Dec. 21. Rainy day, did not go to school.*** Mr. Goodwin, the secretary of the L&P canal, told me he had a thermometer that he would lend me this winter, -and I expect I shall get it before the beginning of the New Year and that I can commence a pretty complete meteorological table by that time.

Dec. 22. No rain today, we now expect dry and cold weather once more.

Dec. 23. The river is now 16 ft. above low water at Louisville.

Dec. 24. Spent my day in reading Natural History in Mr. Berthoud's book, and in solving some problems in perspective. My brother Pazzi goes to Mann Butler's school and last week he wrote the best piece of the whole school:::

Dec. 26. This morning I took a long tour to the south west on the hill or second bank of the river, in search of our cows. I came across an old rotten log which the hogs had lately been rooting and found some snail shells.*** My search for the cows led me to a swamp back in the woods, which now contains a considerable quantity of water, here I saw a pair of wild ducks and listened to

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the song of various others of the feathered creation, -I saw woodpeckers, crows, and a great many I do not know the name of. I did not find the cows at any rate:

Dec. 27. Thursday, I spent my time in my room nearly all this day. One thing worthy of remark in this place, is the great length of time of muddy weather--our streets have not been clear from mud since about the first of this month. It rained a little this morning but the sun has now made its appearance again, we are in hopes of fair weather as we were on the 22nd of this month.

Dec. 28. During the day and last night we have had very strong winds, and in the latter part of the day it grew very cold. I went to Louisville to day with the engineer's report and got from Mr. Goodwin the present mentioned on the 21st of this month. Commenced today, keeping a register of the temperature. Received a letter from Prof. Silliman.

New Haven Dec. 26., 1827.

Dear Sir:

I have received your communication on the Louisville canal and the geology of the vicinity and think them sensible manly productions creditable to your tastes and habits of observation. Time will (perhaps sooner than you realize) remove the difficulty of you and I trust you will improve year by year, in everything that is wise and good and become a blessing to your fellow men. I should like to receive your profile of the canal, if it could be folded as a letter it would cost but 25 cents, and if necessary to cover it, which I suppose it would be I would willingly pay the double postage. If sent immediately after receiving this letter it would be in season to appear with your communication in the next no. after that which will issue in a few days.

I would be glad if you would lay by for me specimens of your limestone &c. with the honeycomb cavities and of that soaked

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with petroleum and of any thing else which you seem curious. They may come to me by way of Pittsburgh and Phila. or via New Orleans.*** You will say whether you wish any specimens in return.

Your honeycomb is I think without a doubt a coral limestone and the particular variety is the Favorite of Mr. Say. I will alter this passage in your piece accordingly.

Yours with esteem,

B. Silliman.

Mr. Lapham.

Dec. 29. Saturday-- a cold day. I spent the greater part of this day in copying a geological profile of the country between Louisville and the Knobs and a profile of the canal for Prof. Silliman.

Shippingsport, dec. 31st, 1827.

Respected Sir.

*** I have already collected a considerable number of minerals and petrifactions from the different rocks about the Falls which (although there is nothing find or beautiful) I will forward to you soon. I have no book which treats of petrifactions, I was glad to learn the name of our honeycomb rock. I had no idea it was a petrifaction when I wrote the description of it. I was pleased to see my communication so well spoken of.

Your respectfully,

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Chapter II 1828.

1828.

Jan. 1 to 4 Staid in my room, weather rainy, roads muddy, spent my time reading and drawing plants (Sketch No. 5).

Jan 5. River rising, expect our village to be overflowed.***

Jan 8. Gen'l Jackon's day: On account of height of water in the river and the prospect of its covering over the plain back of Shippingsport, I did not go to school to day. We piled up wood and did other things preparatory for an unwelcome visitor (viz. the water of the river).

The canal is now crossed by the turnpike in its middle and the water flows into it from each end. Here is a convenient place for measuring the fall of the river on the rapids.,- which I found by actual measurement to be about one foot and one half. The water from above just begins to run over the bar left for the turnpike. The inhabitants of this place are now very much subject to great inconvenience from the height of the water which is now continually rising.

Jan 9. I received the 2nd number vol. 13 of Silliman's Journal today. Water of the river still rising.

Jan 10. The temperature of the river water before our door, six inches under its surface is 47.5 degrees, while the air is at the same time 52 degrees. I looked over my collection of shells to day, some of them I found at the Falls of the Ohio and others in the Miami river between Hamilton and Middleton on the Ohio.

The river is now one and one half feet deep before our door and we are obliged to make use of a raft when we wish to leave it. It has not risen more than two inches today, and we expect it will begin to fall soon.

Jan 11. River about the same as yesterday-spent my time in trying to find the name of my shells.

Jan 14. River fell an inch or so last night but we have no expec-

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-tation of its going down far yet. On an old rotten log which floated up before our door I collected some shells*** I am drawing a plan of the locks for Mr. Foote of Cincinnati.

Jan 15. Mr. Goodwin says he will have my meteorological table printed in "The Focus" (a weekly newspaper printed in Louisville.)

Jan 16.*** River fell six inches last night and raised as much today.

Jan 18. A cold morning: the thermometer 20 degrees 50 '; on the river fell two feet last night, and will soon be away from our door.

We were surprised this morning to see several enormous flocks of pigeons flying to the north. Some of them lit in Indiana opposite this place. We were a long time getting at the beautiful and varied forms into which the flocks put themselves. I finished my plan of the locks for Mr. Foote.

The birds we saw this morning were wild pigeons (Columba migrators). The number of fair, cloudy and variable days in the last three months will appear in the following table, as kept by myself at this place, Shippingsport, Ky.

[Table on Cloudy, Fair, and Variable Days for the months of Oct., Nov., and Dec.]

I spend part of my time now studying botany.

Jan 19. Saturday. The river has now gone down nearly to its proper place of residence--at least it has left our house on its journey that way. The inhabitants are busily engaged clearing out their houses. The waves on the river are very high from the west wind that blows this afternoon.***