Box 2, Folder 8: Typewritten Letters, 1829-1832

97

see additions at end entries for January -

Chapter III - 1829

1829.

-97-

Jany.19. ******Mr. Canvass White made me a present of a fine pencil for drawing. Shipped waterlime on board steamboat Aurora to father.

The river lately rose, very abruptly.,25 ft., commenced falling again to day. Jany. 22. Gen'l Jackson arrived here yesterday and left to day on his way to the seat of government. Jany. 24. Mr. Berthond introduced Mr. Beauford, U.S. Rng., he wished to see my plans of the locks &c. relating to this canal. Jany. 31. *******A few days ago a lady gave me for examination a univalve shell, said to have come from the Indian seas. I took two figures of it, one showing the base and aperture, the other the apex. It belongs to the genus Cyprea L., being involuted, sub-ovate obtuse and smooth, the opening longitudinal linear, dentated on each side and extending to both ends of the shell. It is probably the tiger cowry, being beautifully spotted with dark brown and pale blue on the upper side. It has a line of pale yellow extending the whole length of the shell on top, or side opposite the mouth. For a small space each way from the mouth there are no spots and the shell is perfectly white. [Sketch No. 11 Cypria in drawing book.] Feb. 9. *******While in Louisville I was introduced to Mrs. Goodwin, who gave me several specimens of sea shells from the American coast. ******** Feb. 11. Wrote to Prof. Silliman and to Darius. ***** A steamboat arrived from New Orleans bringing some oysters and I secured a specimen of the shell for my cabinet.

They are said to be not so good eating as those from New York.

[pencil sketch: 98]

-98- 1829

Shippingsport, Ky. Feb. 11th, 1829.

Dear Brother, --

I send you a figure of our bridge as now adopted on a scale of 40ft. to an inch.******(Sketch.)[pencil sketch - No 12]

Your affectionate brother, D. Lapham. Increase.

Shippingsport Ky. Feb. 11th, 1829.

Dear Sir,--

I have delayed writing until this period [pencil sketch - hoping] that I might have something interesting to relate in regard to the geology of the western country on my return from Chillecothe, Ohio. But owing to the haste with which I was obliged to travel my observations were very limited and I only discovered that the lime rock (which I think must be the Lias of Prof. Eaton), after rising from under the sandstone and slate (3rd Graywacke of Eaton) at this place continues to be the only rock found in situ until we arrive within ten miles of Chillecothe, where it again passes under the sandstone.

I took with me a keg of minerals and petrifactions, which were collected on and about the Ohio Falls and exhibited them to Mr. Dorfeuille, proprietor of the Western Museum. Among these were species of Madepora, Milipora, Tubipora, Terrebiatula, Trilobus and Productus.

On hearing his opinion I was induced to throw away specimens which before I had supposed to be valuable; and to be much vexed at myself to think that I had sent you some that were quite as bad. I have to plead for excuse my almost total want of experience in collecting such specimens and it is probable that you may find a few among them worth saving.

You will not therefore consider it a very great loss if they have not come to hand.****** I have been engaged to collect

-99- 1829.

for Mr. Canvass White, Civil Engineer, four specimens of each variety of shells found in the Ohio river, about the falls and have already about thirty varieties of unios and seberal [several] univalves. He wants them for Philadelphia Scientific Institutions and for himself. **** Prof. B.S. Silliman New Haven, Conn. Respectfully yours, Increase A. Lapham. Mar. 3. Canvass White returned from New Orleans to day. Mar. 5. Wrote to Canvass White the following letter.

Shippingsport Ky. Mar. 5th, 1829.

Respected Friend,--

Deeply impressed with a sense of the high importance of a thorough course of collegiate education and knowing that I have now arrived at an age when it must be commenced if ever, I have for some time past been reflecting on this subject and endeavoring to form a plan by which I might attain so desirable an object. But various difficulties present themselves present themselves resulting from one source only, the want of sufficient means to accomplish it.

My parents are not in such circumstances as to allow my calling on them and to wait until I can earn it myself would cause too great a delay and perhaps blast my prospects forever. The strong desire I have for accomplishing this object is my only apology for addressing you on the subject.

I want the means to do it and if you through your own pecuniary resources or influence [influence] in society will obtain for me the amount of money necessary for a collegiate education, you will have conferred on me a favor equal to my most sanguine expectations, and one which (if life and health are the allotments of Heaven) shall be canceled to the last farthing.

I am, sir, with sentiments of respect and esteem your most obt.servt.

Canvass White, Esq. Louisville,

Increase A. Lapham.

[pencil sketch - 100] 1829.

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Mar.7. Eighteen years old to day; Mar.9. Canvass White visited Shippingport to day. He took o ne[one] set of shells which I had collected for him consisting of thirty varieties of unios.

He told in answer to my letter that he wanted me to stay with Mr. Henry at the canal this season, and he would endeavor to procure a situation for me at Yale College, being acquainted with Prof. Silliman and other of the Professors. He will be at New Haven before he returns to this place in June next and will then make such arrangements as are necessary and let me know about it.

Shippingsport Mar. 9, 1829.

Dear Brother,--

My last letter had scarcely passed from my hands when yours of the 8th ult. was received. *********

I am much pleased with the plan and arrangement of your book, though I think it ought to include railroads, as they come under the superintendence of civil engineers as much as canals and within ten years you may make yourself acquainted with the practical operations of their construction, perhaps Ohio will make a railroad from Dayton to Lake Erie. *******

The river is quite high and rising fast, we will be overflown in a few days.

Tomorrow I go with Mr. Henry about half way to Frankfurt for the purpose of surveying [illegible - crossed out] five miles of turnpike road. Will be gone five or six days only and if I discover anything new or interesting I will give you a description.

From your affectionate brother, Increase.

Mr. D. Lapham.

Mar. 10. [illegible -crossed out] Dr. Harrison of Louisville has offered me the privilege of reading any of the books in his library for the use of

1011829.

Sillman's Journal.

Shippingsport, Mar. 10th, 1829.

Dear Sir,--

******* I hope you may find a few, at least, among the specimens I sent you worth preserving in your cabinet. ****** I examined the Scioto, while on a visit to my parents in Ohio, for shells, going out on every sunken log, where the muskrats had been feeding on their animal inhabitants, in search of them. About fifteen varieties were discovered, among them Unio. cuneatus, U. cylindricus, U. prolongus, U. radiatus and a species of the genus Anodouta, or a shell which might with little impropriety be called a toothless Unio and cyclas similes.

***** It is probable that I have many of the shells which occur in your neighborhood, but it would be of great advantage to me to have a set of them, as I should then be certain of having their names correctly and could ascertain the meaning of a good many of the terms used in their description. ********

Yours respectfully,

I.A. Lapham.

S.P. Hildreth M.D.

Marietta, O.

Mar. 18. Cold weather yet, hard frost in the night and no appearance of vegetation.

Mar. 19th. Commenced drawing plan of the locks for Mr. Beauford, Engineer. Weather still cool with some snow. The river is a little above Mr. Berthond's [Beauford's?] wharf and is still rising.

Mr. Lapham,—

Dear Sir,—

******* I thought I had written you respecting the specimens which you were so kind as to send me) which arrived safely but not seasonably). Such is distinctly my impres