
          New York. Augt. 23rd 1837

My dear Sir

I have been out of the city a great part of the season
or I would long since have replied to your letter of April last
& sent the receipt for the lithographic printing.

You have probably seen a short notice by Mr. Hall of the
high mountains of Essex Co. New York. A full account of this
interesting region will be given by Dr. Emmons, in whose geological
district it is situated. Mr. Redfield will probably write
the popular account of our excursion, for he was of our party &
measured with great care, all the more important stations. It
is surprising that these mountains have never been visited before.
Even the old hunters of Essex Co. say that [crossed out: the] no person, to
their knowledge, has ascended the highest of them. The peak
which we named Mt. Marcy is full 5,300 [added: ft.] above the level of the
sea. On the 5th of Augt. we found plenty of ice near the
summit & in the shade the water was freezing in the
middle of the day.

I found many interesting alpine plants
never before seen in the U.States, except in the White Hills of N.H.
The geology of the region wasuncommonly interesting, but of
this you will be informed by Dr. Emmons. Perhaps Mr. Redfield will
furnish you a paper on the heights of the mountains, the [?]

        