your neighbourhood? can you send me a copy, with
the meaning, if it can be obtained—or drawings and
plans of any Indian antiquities? I have heard that the Indians on the Missis-
sippi, whose language is totally different, can yet
understand each other very correctly by means of
signs; is it so with those in your neighbourhood,
and can you describe their method? What effect has the clearing and settling the
country had on the climate—do the streams dimi-
nish, and in what degree? What is the present variation of the magnetic
needle with you, and what has it been formerly, and
at what places observed? It has been remarked in Europe that the varia-
tion was effected by an earthquake; can you recol-
lect about the time of the late earthquakes, which
extended (I believe) northeasterly from the Missis-
sippi, about two years ago, that there was any
change in the variation, and how much? Have you ever observed the Aurora Borealis,
or northern lights, in your neighbourhood? when
and where? and describe the phenomena—can you
recollect any change in the variation at the time?
this has been observed in Europe. What do you suppose may be the average ele-
vation of the hills in your neighbourhood above their
base? Send me a description, and (if convenient) a
drawing of any singular and unaccountable natural
feature in the country, or of any extraordinary phe-
nomena. How far can the great step, which occasions
the falls of Niagara, be traced into Canada, and in
what direction—the same of the ledge which occa-
sions the rapids at Black Rock? Latitudes and longitudes of any part of the
country will be very important in constructing a
correct map of the state, and if you can furnish me