the range of mercury in different densities, and with a degree. of heat that will just make water boil. I agree with you, that June will be preferable to July, but I feel some discouragement about making the attempt at all. This cold snowy winter has considerably cooled my zeal, but when I get thawed out, in the spring, perhaps it may return.

I do not recollect your showing me the red earth from Somersworth. I wish the various fossils that abound in that neighborhood could be explored, and their nature and uses ascertained. A part of the ore which our friend Place sent me, is gone to London. Mr. Davenport, of Salem, a watchmaker from England, has sent it to a relation of his, who, he says, is one of the Assay-masters in the Tower; that he will analyze it, and that we may depend on an accurate account of the different fossils it contains, and their proportions, by which an estimate of its value may be made. Another part of the ore I put into the hands of an ingenious gunsmith in this town, who is considerably acquainted with ores, and wished to make some experiments upon it, but I have not seen him since.

I was much pleased that the American Academy were able to form a quorum for elections at their last meeting (it requiring a greater number of members for that than any other business), and that you were elected a member by a full vote. The gentlemen whose names you saw in the paper were all eligible in November, but there were not members enough present for a quorum. You have, or will soon receive, an official letter from the Corresponding Secretary, announcing your election.

Your letter of the 25th January unfolded an enigmatical article in the Salem paper, which I had received a few hours before your letter came to hand. I was by no means able to conceive how it could happen that my name should be mentioned among the elections of the Philosophical Society at Philadelphia. I am highly indebted to you for the obliging manner in which you mentioned me to Mr. Hazard, and for the honor conferred by the Philosophical Society. I also feel my obligations to Mr. Hazard for the active part he has taken in seconding your wishes. This act of friendship has been

received with greater pleasure, as the thought had never entered my mind. But, unluckily for me, honors of this kind, like civil and military preferments, become real honors only where there is a capacity of honoring them. The obligations, however, to those who procure, or bestow them, are not at all lessened by the unworthiness of the person on whom they are conferred.

Your bill of mortality is selected for publication, and is now in my hands. I think it is sufficiently particular for the purpose for which it will be published. If you wish, however, to make any additions, I can send it to you, though the time will be short before the printers will want it, as they have already made considerable progress in their work.

Dr. Hill says the tree-toad, or tree-frog, as he calls it, is peculiar to North America, and to some few places in the North of Europe. His description, I suppose, was taken from those in Europe, and does not well agree with the animal we call by that name. Catesby mentions a green tree-frog in the Southern States, which, he says, "sings in the night, chit, chit, chit." I suspect this animal to be quite different from our tree- toad. I have seen so few writers on Zoology, that I am unable to say whether our tree-toad has been described, but I very much doubt it.

Nothing has been published on Animal Magnetism that I have heard of. I have been an unbeliever, but some late experiments have converted me. I now believe, at least, that there is a certain somewhat, which produced a rotary motion in a sword. I have very often felt the motion so powerful as almost sufficient to remove the guard from off the end of my fingers, and that some degree of resistance would not prevent its turning. I have thought that, after the same person has continued the experiment with little intermission for a considerable length of time, the effects became more evident, and have fancied that I felt something, like a very gentle breath of air, on the back of my fingers and hand next the sword. The same effect may be produced with a shovel, or tongs, but in a much less degree. The same sword, suspended by two threads, with the fingers very near but not in contact with the sword, will not produce any effect. Bars of iron, steel,

and steel highly magnetic, supported horizontally, produce no effect. Some experiments upon glass have puzzled me, but I mean to make further trials. The sword I have used has a large silver guard, and when supported by the rim, the fingers are at some distance from the blade. What effect has magnetism on silver? Why is it called magnetism? Why not electricity? Or why is it called either? I am totally ignorant of the matter. Pray be so kind as to enlighten me. I have tired you with my long letter. I can not see you, and you must indulge me the pleasure of writing, and as much as my paper will admit. Dr. Fisher desires his most respectful compliments to you. He says he still feels the good effects of the shower-bath, but does not know but it may be best to repeat it next summer. He retains his White Mountain airs, and even our good friend Mr. Heard is strongly tinctured with them.

Mrs. Cutler joins me in kind regards to your lady and family. I am, with much affection and esteem,

Dear Sir, your most obedient, humble servant.

[To Rev. Dr. Belknap.]

M. CUTLER.

IPSWICH, April 11, 1785. Rev. and Dear Sir:-Since I wrote you last, I have had the pleasure of receiving two letters from you-one of March 1st, the other, the 26th. My obligations to you are greatly increased by your kind care to give me the earliest notice of the late vote of the Philosophical Society, at Philadelphia. When I receive official information from the Secretary, I shall not fail of acknowledging the high sense I have of the honor conferred, and particularly to express my obligation to Mr. Hazard, who, in compliance with your friendly request, has interested himself in this matter.

The distance, which you tell me our mountains are seen north-westward, much exceeds what I should have apprehended, and increases my desire for another visit. I expect soon to know whether there will be any prospect of it this summer, and will give you the earliest information.

I am pleased with your intention of presenting specimens of the colored strata in Lebanon to the Museum. It is cer

tainly the most probable method for exciting attention to those valuable articles which the kind Author of Nature has so liberally scattered around us. How unhappy that there is no encouragement, from any quarter, for exploring and making experiments upon those natural productions, which might be improved as the greatest national advantages, and when we so greatly need them, too. When you have made your collectious, pray remember an old friend, and throw by two or three pieces.

For this month or two past, I have been busily engaged in comparing the minutes I have made of our vegetable productions with those that have been described by botanical writers. The turning over of old folios, bringing them to the Linnæn system, and comparing them with our productions, has been a tedious job. Patience has had its perfect work. I have found myself sufficiently perplexed in distinguishing with certainty the indigenous vegetables that ought to be considered as a new genera, especially as it has long been supposed that every genus in the vegetable kingdom was known. May we not wonder that so much labor and expense should have been bestowed in examining almost every petty island in the seas, and yet so extensive a part of this continent as lies between the latitudes of 40 and 50, exceedingly diversified in soil and surface, should remain at this day unexplored? It reflects no great honor, I think, upon us, that, after all our pretensions to science, and the actual progress we have made, natural history should have been so totally neglected. Natural productions ought to be the first object of attention with an infant country. They afford us materials for all the arts. and manufactures, most of the delights and ornaments of life, and the most important articles of commerce. We, as individuals, can do but little, but let us, at least, show it is not for want of dispositions.

The gentleman who brought your letter is now waiting for this, and will be so kind as to leave it with Mr. Parker. Pray write by every opportunity. Please accept our sincere regards to you and Mrs. Belknap.

I am, dear sir, most affectionately yours,

M. CUTLER.

[To Rev. Dr. Belknap.]

IPSWICH, June 29, 1785. Dear Sir:I feel anxious to make another attempt for measuring the White Mountains, but find so many difficulties in the way that I have given up the thought of going this year. The thought, however, has been a little revived within a few days, occasioned by the Count Castiglioni, an Italian gentleman from Milan, who is on his tour through the United States, principally with a view of examining their natural productions. He is very desirous of a tour to the White Mountains, and would make us a most valuable as well as very agreeable companion. He has done me the honor of spending a day or two with me. He is a perfect master of Botany, and is preserving specimens of every vegetable he finds in blossom. His manners are easy, affable, and engaging. He speaks English well-am told he is possessed of an immense fortune. He is now gone to Portsmouth. I should have given him a letter to you, if there had been any probability of his having time to go to Dover before he sets out for Penobscot, which he expected to do in a few days. After his return from the Eastward, will be the time, if at all, for the journey to the White Mountains. Dr. Dexter, of Boston, and several other gentlemen, propose to be of the party, should it be attempted.

The gunsmith at town has made some trials on our friend Place's ore, and can get no copper of consequence out of it. I fear it will turn out of little worth.

Please make Mrs. Cutler's and my compliments agreeable to your lady and family.

I am, dear sir,

Your most sincere and affectionate friend,

M. CUTLER.

P. S.-I am, at present, very much out of health, but hope it will not prove to be more than a long and tedious cold. I have been exceedingly exercised with an inflammatory sore throat, though it is now considerably abated.