126 JOURNAL OF THE 



Taking Dr. Kerr's statements about platinum in detail, 

 tlie first must refer to the account already quoted of Shep- 

 ard's identification of one grain sent him by Clingman. I 

 can find no account of other finds. Nor is any published 

 mention to be found of Bissell's discovery. There is no 

 record of a scientific examination nor any scientific 

 authority supporting it. Mr. Bissell is himself long since 

 dead. There is the same lack of authenticity and scien- 

 tific authority for the report from Burnsville. 



It is a great pity that these reports, etc., were not 

 examined into and definitely settled as to authenticity 

 while those finding or acting as experts were yet alive. 

 Dr. Shepard seems to have left no trace of his connection 

 with the find beyond the note quoted. 



Something so unique as the only specimen of native 

 platinum found in the United States up to that time would 

 surely have been preserved in his collection of minerals, 

 yet Prof. Harris, of Amherst, where the collection is pre- 

 served, writes me that there is no record of it there. 



General Clingman, now very old, has kindly written me 

 his recollection of the matter: 



"In the year 1846 I found platinum in the gold wash- 

 ings of Rutherford county, and sent specimens to Prof. C. 

 U. Shepard, then in Charleston, S. C, and part of the 

 year in Connecticut. I also sent some to Prof. Dana. It 

 was found in small pieces among the gold grains. I also 

 obtained some in McDowell and in Burke, also some in the 

 western part of Rutherford, now Polk county, and a little 

 in the eastern part of Henderson county, near the Polk 

 line. I am told that some was also found in the southern 

 part of Jackson county in the washings of the Gold Spri-ng 

 tract." 



Prof. E. S. Dana has written me that his father. Prof. 

 J. D. Dana, who is referred to above by General Clingman, 

 "has no recollection in regard to the subject." 



