On Salt Marsh. 249 



New York, February 15, 1818. 

 Dear Sir, 



I have the pleasure to enclose a reply to your favour, 

 relative to the process employed in reclaiming the salt 

 marshes in the vicinity of our city. General Swartwout 

 and his brothers, who have engaged in this enterprize, 

 unite in this reply. It is my intention to add to this in- 

 formation the observations of another gentleman, to whom 

 I shall submit the contents of your valuable letter. 



I have carefully watched the progress of the improve- 

 ments of general Swartwout, and am convinced that they 

 will prove successful. If I possessed the means, such is 

 my confidence in the plan they are pursuing, I most 

 cheerfully would have united in the undertaking. Our 

 citizens in general want faith upon this subject ; but I 

 am persuaded that each year's cultivation will evince the 

 correctness of the views of the present proprietors. 



Your letter* and the reply to it, in my opinion deserve 

 publication, in as far as they may prove the means of cul- 

 tivating the numerous inlets of our seaboard. The mo- 

 ment I receive any additional information, it shall be for- 

 warded to you. 



I am, dear sir, with great respect, yours, 



David Hosack. 

 Hon. Richard Peters. 



* 1 have retained no copy of the letter I wrote to Dr Tlosack ; 

 otherwise it would have been published. The time I devote to 

 sucli subjects is, in a great degree, stolen from other, but less 

 agreeable occupations. I regret that I cannot comply with his 

 polite intimation; as the letter seems to be deemed important by 

 those who are better and more experienced judges of its useful- 

 ness, than I have any pretensions to consider myself. The effect 

 it has produced, amply rewards all my endeavours. R. Peters. 



2R 



