
          In the north Burial ground of this City (Middletown) that was laid out 
 in 1650 there is a majestic Elm the following measurements 
 I made Sept 6th1832 assisted by my friend Mr E F Johnson
 The circumference of this Elm tree is 26 feet at 2 feet from 
 the ground, and at 10 feet from the ground it measures
 7 feet in circumference. It spreads from N to S [North to South]
 110 feet, from E to W [East to West] 95 feet. Nothing very certain can
 be told respecting the age of this tree. Some are certain it is
 that it was a large tree when the first settlers arrived here.


 On further examenation [examination] I find that there are some enormous
 trees of bitterwood mentioned by Michaux one of 40 and another
 of 47 feet circumference But these trees are of rapid
 growth and may in point of age bear some analogy to the
 Eastern plane tree I should not therefore carry the age
 of these large trees beyond 800 years so that for all
 I can yet see to the contrary [added: the Hemlock] may be the largest lived
 tree of the American forest.


 The first years of my travels in America I saw a very
 large Hemlock tree about 6 miles west of Cooperstown NY
 that measured 18 feet in circumference. this was a 
 stately tree but the top was gone and it bore every
 appearance of very great age had I then felt as much
 interest in this particular as I since feel I might have
 been induced to cut it down to try to ascertain the age
 by counting the concentric rings.
        