284 NATHANIEL SOUTHGATE SHALER 



slight objection, the force of which you will recognize at once. No one could 

 read the MS. and say what was in the essay. Therefore they deputed me 

 to request you to fulfil the usual requirements and present the paper as a 

 communication at some future meeting. I dare say that this will annoy 

 you a little at first, but I think after a time it will be more amusing than 

 annoying. 



I hope you have by this time entirely surmounted the first difficulties of 

 the summer campaign. 



Very truly yours, A. HYATT. 



It was doubtless his Coast Survey work that necessitated 

 many short journeys at this time, such, for instance, as the one 

 referred to in the next letter. 



HINGHAM, April 23, 1875. 



. . . Six o'clock found us here, about twenty-three miles behind us. 

 We wanted to go to Cohasset, but a likely-looking hotel tempted us to give 

 up the five miles. My companion is rather dull, not conceited enough to be 

 amusing. I feel somewhat rested already. I can't see my letters, and the 

 thousand and one things that solicit care are away from my hand. I shall 

 like the road after it turns towards home much better than I do now. My 

 horse and I feel alike, he constantly tries to turn around and evidently thinks 

 the performance very foolish. I am not sure that he is not right. 



Within a month Mr. Shaler was back in Kentucky again 

 supervising the State Survey. He writes : 



May 15, 1875. 



. . . We had a fatiguing journey to Grayson, the weather has been hot 

 and the roads something frightful for stones and gullies. If the boy gets here 

 with my horse I shall ride to S.'s camp, about fifteen miles, and, after seeing 

 him, take a boat to Vanceburg. ... I fear I shall not get home before 

 Wednesday morning, for I have promised the people of Lewis to come their 

 way, and I suppose they are in a certain sense entitled to my presence. I am 

 tired and stewed with heat. Generally in a bad humor. I see four months 



of hot work ahead, but I hope to be able to go through it. P left me 



to-day; he is a good fellow but a little tiresome with time, like most mortals. 

 The room is full of dorbugs; five already in the wash-basin by their own 

 blundering, so you may reckon the number. I wish I were home to-night, 

 even though I should have to take up the burden of another move the next 

 day. . . . Fortunately I am tired and can hope to find some forgetful- 



