
          Wmstown [Williamstown, Mass.] Oct. 2d, 1832.

Dear Sir,

I forwarded by Mr. George Griffin a copy of the Manual of
Mineralogy which I suppose you have received. It is not exactly
the book I wish, but upon the whole the matter it contains is all of it, valuable.
There are some mystakes [mistakes] for which I do not hold myself responsible,
particularly those which relate to the position of some of the figures. To
tell the whole story would not be expedient, but for the vindication of
my own character for accuracy (perhaps you will smile at the word
"accuracy") I remark that the manuscript was ready in May, that
Messrs. Webster & Skinner employed a N. York engraver to cut the figs. [figures] but
the first set of cuts were such wretched things that I rejected them.
Accordingly a new engraver was employed, who produced a more tolerable
set of figures, & now some time in July the printing went on. A few of
the first sheets were sent me according to engagement, but soon the 
cholera broke out in Albany [added: &] nothing more was forwarded [crossed out: &] I supposed
the printing of the [crossed out: worked] work was suspended & heard nothing of it for
four weeks when behold I received 200 pp [pages] of it finished. The gentleman
who looked over the proof sheets is a fine accurate man but as we sometimes
say is no "judge of pictures" hence the figures in a few instances are 
out of position. Another thing, the printer disobeyed my orders in relation
to the size of the type in the Introduction & it obliged me to insert in
        