504 INDIANA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 



nearly all the fruit was killed, excepting late Apples: 

 but that in this vicinity there was a promise of an abun- 

 dance. But promises, as some newspaper publishers have 

 amble proof of, are rather uncertain dependences, and 

 so are Peaches: for the frost of 7th of May has made 

 them just as valuable as the promises aforesaid. The 

 frost of April 8th injured the Wheat in the latitude of 

 Nashville, and I am fearful that that of May 7th has 

 injured some of the most forward crops in this region. 

 I never mean to "croak," but from personal observation 

 and other information, I am constrained to believe that 

 the present growing crop of wheat in the United States 

 will be a light one. 



Snow in May. — On the 7th of May in latitude 4iy 2 °, 

 near the head of Lake Michigan, there was "a right 

 smart" "flurry" of snow — not quite enough to make good 

 sledding — but more than we wished to see. 



There are several other matters that I had intended to 

 touch upon, but am compelled to refrain from for fear 

 of doubling a tax already doubly too much, and which I 

 very much fear will not be permanently cured by the very 

 inefficient "reform" so called, in the Post Office law. 

 When the wisdom of Congress, show wisdom and honesty 

 enough to abolish their own franking privilege, and fix a 

 uniform prepaid rate of postage upon all letters mailed, 

 of 5 cents, and thereby abolish one half of the expenses 

 of the Post Office Department, then will the reform prove 

 successful, notwithstanding the bitter denunciations of 

 "the friends of the people;" and then you will be able 

 to hear more often from your old friend, 



Solon Robinson. 



Letter from Solon Robinson — Something New — 

 Improvements in the Typographical Art. 



[Daily Cincinnati Gazette, July 23, 1845] 



[July 1, 1845] 

 Messrs. Editors: — When Solomon said there was 

 nothing new under the sun, he referred to the age in 



