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

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*See note book.

windy and, towards evening cool, or compared with the temperature of a few days back it might truly be said to be cold.

June 8. Weather cool enough to remind us of winter, woolen clothes quite comfortable.

June 9. Mann Butler Esq. of Louisville is authorized by that city to travel through New York to visit the High Schools, for the purpose of establishing one in Louisville.*** A very cool day for the season of the year.

June 12. Just one year since the family left this place and I have been alone. Musquitoes are now so plentiful as to make it necessary to use musquito bars.

June 14. Procured a horse this morning and rode into Indiana about six miles, for the ride and to collect minerals, of which I found no new ones.*** Saw a species of lizard with feet like climbing birds (like the one described before in this journal) on the side of a tree. I rode up to him and struck the tree just below him with a whip, he started and ran a short distance with great activity and swiftness. I then struck him across the tail, at which he ran up the tree too rapidly, almost for sight, until he was out of my reach. he was smaller than the one formerly described and had a tail of a lead blue color.

June 15. A dull, wet, rainy day; I started twice to go on the canal but was driven back by the rain. We had two uncommonly brilliant flashes of lightning accompanied by two sharp claps of thunder which were so near as to have an unnatural sound.

June 17. I was on the canal nearly all the time to day. A blast going off scared some horses hitched to a hack standing near causing a run-a-way in which one the horses was killed.

June 21. Went to church with Messrs. Henry and Taylor in Louisville. In the afternoon we waded the Ohio river to Goose Island in search of shells and petrifactions. Did not find as many as we expected.*** Got a fisherman to set us across

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the Indian chute, from there we went down to the ferry at Clarksville, where we crossed the river for home.

June 24. *** Went a mile beyond Louisville to hear Henry Clay make an electioneering speech in which he "hurrahed for Jackson"::

[June 28]. One of the bosses on the canal gave me a piece of metallic ore and said one of the men in his employ had brought it in from the neighborhood for the purpose of having it analyzed. He would not reveal the secret of its particular locality, because he supposed it to be silver. It is shining, composed of small circular crystals, is easily crumbled with the fingers and melts in the flame of a candle. In the evening we discovered it to be sulphuret of antimony.

June 25. Henry Clay rode across the bridge today although it is not entirely finished. Capt. Smythe observed to a man who has the management of the work that he "saw Clay on the bridge", at which the man was quite miffed, not understanding the joke.***

July 4. Independence: I saw a portable theodolite at Louisville yesterday. The famous swing bridge raised to day.

Shippingsport July 4, 1829/

Dear Brother,

I will celebrate this 53rd anniversary of American Independence by answering your last letter.*******

I thought I wrote you that I had seen your description of the Welland canal in the Ohio State Journal., perhaps I only

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*Dr. Lapham enjoyed telling this fact to his political friends and seeing their wondering looks until he explained that Henry Clay, describing the great political excitements, said people ran wild and scarcely knew what the question was in their eagerness to "Hurrah for Jackson" swinging his hat as he made the exclamation.

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wrote it in my notes for you and neglected to copy it in my letter." Mr. Henry has had several letters from Mr. White, he has not been to New Haven yet. In all his letters he says "my respects to Mr. Lapham, &c. &c. He has probably got me a situation in the Rensselear school at Troy.

The system of retrenchment introduced into the construction of our canal is highly prejudicial and has been the means of spoiling the appearance of many parts of the work, particularly the lift locks. The canal bridge is finished.******* total cost $20,000. It is a beautiful piece of workmanship although it has some defects.****

We have a fine cool weather, low water and other conveniences for carrying on the canal work but unfortunately a scarcity of hands. $13.00 a month is given for labor.

The swing or pivot bridge as it is called, is nearly finished, when it is entirely you shall have a drawing and description of it.

Mr. Dry. Lapham.

Affectionately yours,

Increase.

July 5. Went to the woods for blackberries.

July 7. Worked all day collecting old castings for our pivot bridge, we got on the north side about three tons before an equilibrium was produced. At evening it was swung around about half way over the lock.

July 9. Went to Louisville with the level in a hack and took some levels on the bank of the river for Capt. Smythe. Dined with him at Allan's Tavern.

July 10. *** Gave Mr. Taylor some shells for Mr. Lea of Philadelphia. He is to see him tomorrow. Found a place in the falls where shells can be found in abundance.***

July 16. Drew a plan of the bridge for Mr. White. Weather for the

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most part this summer has been cool but yesterday and today it is getting hot. Went to New Albany. Was introduced to Mr. Benton, who is building a large foundry for iron, one for brass and various shops for blacksmiths, turners, &c. on a large scale. I was very much interested with the appearance of his forty men all actively engaged in their various mechanical pursuits. After this we walked up the Indians side of the river and passed by a place where there is a town laid out under the name of Providence, in which is situated a large steam mill.

July 18. Mr. White told Mr. Henry he was at New Haven, Conn, only about two hours and consequently did nothing about getting me a situation at Yale College.***

Yellow Bud, July 1829.

Dear Brother,-

Your letter bearing date of July 4th is received.*** I have no late news from the Welland canal. I wrote a long letter to David Thomas on botany, and offered my services in examining this part of the country with reference to the theory of exterior attraction. He mentions one fact in regard to the boulders scattered over the surface of the country which corresponds with the laws of exterior attraction. The largest masses of granite and other rocks occupy the most elevated situation and we find them the most numerous on the northern slope of the elevated lands.

Your affectionate brother.

Darius.

I.A. Lapham.

July 27. Rainy day.*** I boxed up the shells for Mr. White and wrote to him. My letter contains a list of the names of the shells as far as I know them and a request that he should ascertain whether they were correct and what are the names of the shells I did not know.

July 28.*** Got a book on Physics or Natural Philosophy by Dr.

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Arndt from Dr. Clapp today, at New Albany. I ascertained, that a small specimen which I have had in my cabinet upwards of two years and which I had formerly taken to be a variety of calcareous spar was Fluate of lime.

It was taken from the rock quarried in the lockpits. I made a small basin of sheet lead and put in it some of the mineral in powder, sulphuric acid was then poured in and a piece of common window glass was laid on the basin. A large quantity of gas was evolved and after standing an hour the glass was found to be corroded on the side exposed to the action of the acid.

Left a paper for publication with the editor of the "Focus" in Louisville on progress of the canal, &c.

Aug. 2. A very hot day, staid home all day reading Arndt's Physics.

Aug. 5. River commenced rising on the 27th ult. and continued rising until last night, when it was about 14 ft. above the low water, an unusual time in the year for a rise of this kind, though it is of immense advantage to some of the larger steamboats that have been laying on the bottom a few miles below.

Bought a measuring tape for the canal and a bundle of quills for myself.

Aug. 5., 1829, Shippingsport, Ky.

Dear Brother,--

*** I send you a plan of the swing or pivot bridge invented by John R. Henry and constructed on the Louisville and Portland canal in 1829. (Sketch No. 13). With this sketch and what I have formerly said concerning the bridge you will be able to discover its principle and the superiority it possesses over other