68 EARLY UNDERTAKINGS. [1838, 



ing through Geneva, arrived at Cananctaigua in time 

 for dinner. We reached Avon, on the Genesee 

 Eiver, by sunset. Here is a famous sulphur spring ; 

 and people crow^d the dirty hotels and boarding-houses 

 to drink nasty water. We reached the next consider- 

 able village, LeRoy, early in the evening ; but our next 

 stage, which brought us to this jplace, only ten miles, 

 was two and a half hours ; so it was about midnight 

 when I arrived here, in a very pitiable plight, so 

 thorovighly exhausted I was obliged to leave the coach 

 and betake myself to rest. I was very unwilling to do 

 this so long as I was able to ride, as, had I continued 

 with the coach, I should have reached Buffalo early in 

 the morning and in time for the steamboat, in which 

 case I could expect to reach Detroit Saturday after- 

 noon, making only four days from New York. 



I find myself much better this morning, though 

 weak, and so unstable about the epigastrium that I 

 scarcely dare take any food. I have been debating 

 with myself whether to go on directly to Buffalo to- 

 day, and take the steamboat of to-morrow morning 

 for Cleveland, or some- other port in Ohio that I may 

 be able to reach by Saturday evening ; or to go from 

 this place directly to Niagara Falls, which I could 

 reach before evening, and remain there until Monday 

 morning. I have pretty nearly decided upon taking 

 the former course, as I shall save some time thereby. 

 But I dread a tedious ride in a stagecoach. In either 

 case I hope to have an opportunity of writing again 

 to-morrow evening. 



I met Professor Bailey,^ of West Point, on board 



1 Jacob Wliitman Bailey, 1808-1857; professor in the Military 

 Academy at West Point. One of the earliest students of American 

 Alg-se, and distinguished also for his microsoopio researches in botany. 



