Letter from Robert Little to Asbury Dickens, Secretary of the Columbian Institute, December 31, 1825

[[in pencil]] Dec 31/25 [[/in pencil]] Asbury Dickins Esq[[superscript]] r [[/superscript]]. Secretary to the Columbian Institute. Sir [[strikethrough]] From indisposition being not able to attend the meeting of the Institute this evening [[/strikethrough]], I [[strikethrough]] will [[/strikethrough]] beg you to lay before the meeting the following circumstances. In keeping a meteorological record these last 3 years I have had the misfortune to break two Thermometers, and the last accident which occurred about six weeks since, was with a very valuable, self-registering one which I cannot replace, I believe it was the only one in the District. I have some arrears of my subscription due to your Treasurer which I wish to settle before the close of the Year, and only ask of the Institute, that in doing so, I may be permitted to charge 10 Dollars for my Thermometer, which is considerably below their cost price. As a member of the Institute I would propose that a good Self-Registering Thermometer be purchased in New York or Philadelphia - and placed under the care of some Person who may have leisure to carry on these Reports.

I hope some one will call up my postponed resolution to admit strangers on the nights when papers are read. I am sure it would have the happiest effect upon the Institute. [[two x's in pencil through preceding paragraph]] I am Sir Your most obd[[superscript]] t [[/superscript]] Serv[[superscript]] t [[/superscript]] Robert Little. Saturday Dec[[superscript]] r [[/superscript]] 31, 1825 [[end page]] [[start page]] [[blank page]]

[[three columns in landscape format]] [[first column]] [[rotated 270 degrees]] M[[superscript]] r [[/superscript]]. Elliott D[[superscript]] r [[/superscript]]. Hault D[[superscript]] r [[/superscript]]. McWilliams D[[superscript]] r [[/superscript]]. Thornton D[[superscript]] r [[/superscript]]. Walkins [[/rotated]] Read 31 Dec[[superscript]] r [[/superscript]]. 1825 [[/first column]] [[second column]] From Robert Little, stating the loss of a valuable self registering thermometer, &c. 31[[superscript]] st [[/superscript]]. December, 1825. allowed a credit of $10. for his thermometer, and authorized to purchase another [[double line]] [[rotated 180 degrees]] Asbury Dickins Esq[[superscript]] r [[/superscript]] Secretary to the Columbian Institute [[/rotated]] Abstract recorded Vol: 1. page 191. [[/second column]] [[third column blank]]