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

1021829.

sion [impression], perhaps I only enveloped a card or memorandum in the little keg, which was filled with specimens for you and sent to New Orleans on its way to Louisville. A few weeks since it arrived here again having made the tour to New Orleans, safe and sound. Either it, or a larger thing will be again forwarded to you as soon as I can attend to it.

The return was occasioned by the blunder of a clerk of the gentlemen to whom it was sent.

I think you for the notice of your journey.

Owing to a press of public duty I have no more time than to subscribe myself,

Yours very truly,

B. Silliman

New Haven Conn.

March 5th, 1829.

Mar. 20. Last evening a heavy gale of wind sprang up accompanied by snow and was succeeded by intensely cold weather which lasted through the day. *******

Mr. Ives visited us in the evening, he and I are learning the game of chess.

Mar. 22. Went to Louisville to church, heard an excellent sermon delivered by the Rev. Mr. Bascom at the Methodist Church.

In the afternoon I sat in my room reading Pope's poetry.

Mar. 23. Went to Louisville, took supper at Allen's Tavern with Dr. Fitch and then went down to hear Mr. Bascom deliver an address on the subject of African colonization, or the project of colonizing the free black people of the United States on the western coast of Africa.

A society has been formed in Louisville, it is auxiliary [auxiliary] to the American Colonization Society at Washington.

Mar. 24. I went to the wharf to see the newly built steamer "Uncle Sam", which has just made its first trip from Pittsburgh, where

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it was built. It is of the largest class, the engine and other parts are of the most splendid construction.

I saw on her a machine for lowering freight into the hold and raising it out, of a new construction, or rather combination.

It consists of a common wheel or axle, connected with another axle by cog wheels, which increase the power 9/50

Afterwards I went on the commons between this place and Portland for the purpose of collecting some shells, which are found among decayed logs scattered over the fields. Here I found a few species of Helix or snail. On the second bank of the river I happened to go near a small pond of water, on the bank of which among the weeds that were drifted there I found two or three species of planorbus, the Soymenia heterostropha, the cyclas similes and several other species of aquatic shells, of which I do not know the names.

The weather began to moderate on Sunday last, and to day it is quite warm, the river, also, began to fall a few days ago and is going down very rapidly.

Mar. 16. My work took me to the upper end of the canal to day. I found some shells on the mud in the canal, just below the surface of the water. I brought some of them home alive. ***** There are some species of Helix which can not be got from their shells in the usual way, as they draw themselves so far into their shells on being touched.***********

Mar. 26. Fields begin to look green.

[Mar. 26?] Went over to Rock Island with Mr. Taylor and got several specimens of shells.

Mar. 29 The weather, which for a few days has been so smoky as almost to obscure the sun, changed last night to rainy. Rain continued the greater part of the day.

- 104 - 1829 Mar. 30. Rain has ceased. and the day is fair. Went to Portland this morning to get some castings, and on the way I worked in the afternoon on the canal measuring locks. Saw some martins (a species of swallow) this afternoon for this afternoon for the first time this spring. Mar.31. Went along the line of the canal as far as the bridge, saw the red maple in flower, saw the common willow tree with leaves (see Feb.6th,1828). From these observations on the trees it will appear that the vegetation this spring is about one month later than in 1827 and nearly two months later than last year.

Shippingsport, Ky. Apr. 1st, 1829.

Dear Father, -

Perhaps you are aware that it has long been a favorite project with me to procure a collegiate education.

Many have been the methods which have occurred to me for accomplishing it and almost as many have been found deficient and therefore abandoned before they had passed the limits of my own imagination. [illegible]

Many of the lonely hours which I have seen since the family left here, in June last, have been spent on this subject, and in the many lonely walks which I have taken between this place and Louisville has my mind been occupied in the same way. And I have at last hit upon a plan which I think is likely to succeed. This plan is to procure the funds from some friend, if I can find one both able and willing, and to return such to him after receiving my education. [illegible]

As Mr. Canvass White, the engineer, has declared himself my friend I resolved to try him, accordingly on the 5th of March, after his return from New Orleans, I submitted to him a letter of which I enclose a copy.********[copy omitted here? having trouble with rest]

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[illegible] I am aware that you will lose the profits of my wages while at college, but can not this be repaid? Or can it not be arranged in some way so as not to prevent my going if Mr. White should succeed in getting me in at Yale? ********

Please let me hear from you soon. ********

Your affectionate son,

Seneca Lapham. Increase A. Lapham.

April 3. ******After finishing work on the canal I went over to Rock Island to get some shells for Mr. White, found specimens of two genera, anodonta and alasmodonta, which I had not before seen here. April 5. Went to the Presbyterian church this morning, after which I dined with Mr. Mann Butler and spent a few hours with him. April 6. [illegible] [Dr?] Fitch lent me one number of Transylvannian Journal of Medicine, containing the first part of Dr. Short's "Florula Lexingtoniensis". This was particularly acceptable as I have no work of Botany by me.

As I came down I took a route which I often traveled last spring, along the edge of the woods, discovered only one plant in flower besides those already mentioned.

The weather is fine though rather windy. The river which has been down tolerably low is now rising quite rapidly again. April 8. Rainy day. ***** Light thunder and lightning once or twice during the day for the first time this season. April 9. Another rainy day. This morning I went to the woods south of this place in search of plants in flower, succeeded in finding one new one [pencil note left - see notebook 1828 p.9 for omissions?] April 10. Still raining. [illegible] Work on the canal much interrupted by high water in the river , which is now as high as it has been this spring and is rising rapidly. April 11 Did some work at the bridge, drew a plan of a house for

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[illegible] I am aware that you will lose the profits of my wages while at college, but can not this be repaid? Or can it not be arranged in some way so as not to prevent my going if Mr. White should succeed in getting me in at Yale? ********

Please let me hear from you soon. ********

Your affectionate son,

Seneca Lapham. Increase A. Lapham.

April 3. ******After finishing work on the canal I went over to Rock Island to get some shells for Mr. White, found specimens of two genera, anodonta and alasmodonta, which I had not before seen here. April 5. Went to the Presbyterian church this morning, after which I dined with Mr. Mann Butler and spent a few hours with him. April 6. [illegible] [Dr?] Fitch lent me one number of Transylvannian Journal of Medicine, containing the first part of Dr. Short's "Florula Lexingtoniensis". This was particularly acceptable as I have no work of Botany by me.

As I came down I took a route which I often traveled last spring, along the edge of the woods, discovered only one plant in flower besides those already mentioned.

The weather is fine though rather windy. The river which has been down tolerably low is now rising quite rapidly again. April 8. Rainy day. ***** Light thunder and lightning once or twice during the day for the first time this season. April 9. Another rainy day. This morning I went to the woods south of this place in search of plants in flower, succeeded in finding one new one [pencil note left - see notebook 1828 p.9 for omissions?] April 10. Still raining. [illegible] Work on the canal much interrupted by high water in the river , which is now as high as it has been this spring and is rising rapidly. April 11 Did some work at the bridge, drew a plan-106 - 1829.

the Louisville "Exchange", a public house proposed to be built at Louisville. Weather continues the same as yesterday, being of that description which is rather peculiar to March than April, cold, windy with broken clouds passing rapidly, discharging now and then slight showers, between which we will perhaps have a short interval of sunshine. The river commenced falling at noon.

April 15. Heavy frost last night.

April 17. Smoky. Borrowed Malte Brun's geography and read in it. River continues very high, about three feet above the bottom of the guard lock.

April 18. * * * Weather this morning was cloudy with light showers. * * * It cleared off at noon, was oppressively warm. Went to the woods in search of flowers. [handwritten note appears to left of above three lines: see notebook 1828 & 9 for omissions]

The extreme heat indicated, I thought, some severe storm and in this I was not disappointed, about ten o'clock the heavens blackened with thick clouds and the wind arose, the most vivid flashes of lightning, I think, I ever saw accompanied by the most dreadful thunder awoke me. The wind continued to roar, the lightning increased to one continuous sound. Now the rain commenc- ed falling, not as usual in drops, but apparently in one solid mass of water which materially checked the violence of the wind. No material damage was done to any of the houses except a small room (which Mr. D'Etiste had built on his porch for a bed-room in summer) was entirely blown down, it stood directly opposite the window at which I slept.

April 27. River ceased rising to day and will probably fall soon. * * * Mr. Berthoud, the postmaster of this place, had been absent about a week last Saturday, during which time no mail arrived here! When it did come I got letters from home and Silliman's Journal.*** of a house for]