On Gypsum. 161 



can voyager had better information, than most of the 

 travellers and rapid tourists through the United States, 

 who have amused the world with fanciful, hasty, and, 

 too often illiberal and malignant tales about us and our 

 affairs, I will not undertake to determine. But I have 

 no doubt of his sincerity, and belief in the information 

 he imparted. 



An English gentleman, Mr. Strickland, I with plea- 

 sure, except from the mass of temporary residents, 

 tourists and travellers in and through our country, — 

 He has published an account of his observations here, 

 which are chiefly agricultural, with more attention to 

 truth and accuracy, and I am persuaded with candid 

 intention. But he is not without some prejudices, and 

 is misinformed, in some instances. In one particularly, 

 as to the gypsum, which is only important, because it 

 is an item in the catalogue of his mistakes. He attri- 

 butes the introduction of the plaister into this country, 

 to the Germans of Lancaster county in this state ^ to 

 whom merited compliments are paid, for their industry, 

 and other good qualities. But this assertion is, so far 

 as it respects the gypsum, entirely unfounded. When 

 I first sent samples of tht gypsum into that county, very 

 soon after I was accquainted with it, I perceived the 

 Germans there, to be totally ignorant of its existence, 

 and of course, of its agricultural uses. More than ten or 

 twelve years elapsed, before they could be prevailed on 

 to use it freely. In combination with all their valuable 

 qualities, they have some reprehensible alloys: their 



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