16 Briugier on the Region of the Mississippi, i^c. 



gether) the latitude you had prescribed for an answer, and 

 which would have required several days, in order to give 

 you any satisfaction. 



Notwithstanding, I will endeavour to send you, for the 

 present, such information as the narrow bounds I have left 

 will admit. I will hereafter take more time for a detailed 

 description, which I will forward to you, or to Professor 

 Silliraan. 



% I am extremely mortified, that the specimens* remaining 

 in ray possession, and which will accompany this, are of so 

 little account. I should have been happy to be able to 

 give you a better testimony of ray good will, towards all 

 attempts useful to society. 



Before I proceed, I must claim your indulgence for at- 

 tempting to write in a language with which I am so little fa- 

 miliar. 



The state of Louisiana,! covering mostly a country 

 of alluvion, just making its appearance above water, af- 

 fords but little variety of Mineral productions; whilst it 

 presents a vast field for those wdio wish to trace many 

 grand operations of nature. 



I will pass over the numerous phenomena which the sedi- 

 ment of the Mississippi is preparing, for future ages, in the 

 Gulph of Mexico. The effect resulting from the infinite 

 quantity and variety of matter carried daily by the torrents 

 into the bos-om of the sea, and precipitated therein, accord- 

 ing to their respective gravities; the depth of the watei: 

 its currents and counter-currents, and all the various marine 

 productions, constitu.te a subject sufficiently interesting, but 

 which can be examined in many other places. 



Banks of the Mississippi. 



I will, however, stop a moment, on the margin of the 

 Mississippi, to consider how, as the stream is ascended, the 

 ijanks of this river gradually rise, and again descend to- 

 wards the swamps ; so that ^he Mississippi, in all its alln- 



« 



"^ The specimens alluded to by (he author, are in our possession, and in 

 general we sigree with him as to their nature. Editor. 



t In fl-is Fi-'sav. I uniformly !i<!c the name? on Mclii?h"s map of tbe rniti^H 



