which you refer, as this is free from the mathematique.

I suppose you have read Featherstonhaugh’s Report on the Lead Mines of the West &c. While there is a good deal of ability displayed, it seems to me that there are some blunders so gross & so much of egotism & especially such an indirect and silly effort to convince the Government that nobody but his own royal self knows any thing about geology that I think somebody ought to give him a few salutary lashes, and if I knew a little more about his history in N. York & Philadelphia I would at least make out a jeu d’esprit for the newspapers. Have you seen the pompous annunciation of his appointment as ‘United States Geologist’ in the London Philosophical Magazine? As he has been spitting out venom so long against American science I think it right that Americans should begin to cast back some of the gravel of his Rhinoceroides.

 I should think M^rs Silliman would find her health improved by accompanying you to Nantucket, as M^rs Hitchcock did by going to Portland and I am confident that she has the organ of benevolence so well developed that a knowledge of the great increase to your happiness which her company will make will decide her to go. With M^rs H & my own respects to her & you, believe me truly & respectfully yours, Edward Hitchcock (over)