76 EARLY UNDERTAKINGS. [1838, 



How are the girls ? I must write to them specially 

 as soon as I can. Does the doctor go regularly to 

 market every morning ? I hope to get away from 

 here early next week. Best remembrances to the 

 doctor. Adieu. 



DETROIT, August 16, 1838. 



My last letter left here, I suppose, in yesterday 

 morning's boat, and will reach New York in four days. 

 Since its last date nothing whatever has transpired 

 here of any interest. Dr. Houghton arrived here yes- 

 terday morning, and as it was a rainy day I spent 

 near the whole time at his house. He is a very ener- 

 getic little fellow, and the account of his adventures in 

 exploring the unsettled portions of the State is very 

 interesting. He has slept in a house not more than a 

 dozen nights since the commencement of his surveys 

 this season. Mr. Whipple was somewhat unwell, and 

 I saw him but for a few minutes. I am now going 

 round to his office to read the newspapers, as a mail 

 from New York must have arrived this morning. 



Thursday evening. I spent the whole morning 

 with Mr. Whipple, who is really a downright clever 

 fellow in both the English and the Yankee senses of 

 the term. We compared notes fully about the uni- 

 versity and everything about the matter we could 

 think of. I obtained all the information he could 

 afford me about what they were doing, and con- 

 templated doing. I told him fully what I wished 

 to do, and in everything I believe we understood 

 each other and agreed wonderfully. This is im- 

 portant, because Whipple, although secretary of the 

 board, is not a member ; yet he is the moving spirit of 

 the whole, and throws his whole energy into the work. 

 We owe the plan adopted as to the arrangement of 



