MOUNT TAHAWUS. 9 



Thus does nature change — yet is ever beautiful in 

 her changes. I did not design, when I commenced 

 this letter, to fill it up with such a diary of my feel- 

 ings ; but the truth is, when I first get into the coun- 

 try, at least into the backwoods, I wish to do nothing 

 for the first two or three days but lie down on the hill- 

 side, and look at the trees and sky, and think of the 

 strange contrast between the life I have just left and 

 the one that surrounds me. It takes some time to ad- 

 just myself to it — quite a preparation — before I can 

 enter on that active life of fishing, tramping, and 

 camping out in the woods, which my health demands; 

 and it is but natural you should have my transition 

 state. At least, it is natural I should write out that 

 which is uppermost in me. 



I expect soon to start for the Adirondac Mountains, 

 at whose broken terminations I now rest, I have some 

 things to say about Long Lake and Mr. Todd's co- 

 lony there, which will put your readers right respect- 

 ing it. You know, two years ago, that Mr. Todd took 

 me up rather sharply in your paper on account of 

 some statements I made respecting that country. I 

 made no reply then; but I will now show that I was 

 not only right in every particular, but that every 

 prediction I then made of the fate of the colony has 

 already proved true. 



