Letter from Horton Howard to Josiah Meigs, March 2, 1822

Delaware 3rd Month 2nd 1822. Worthy Friend I take the liberty of doing myself the pleasure of sending the with my monthly return, a small sample of a large body of beautiful Gypsum discovered and purchased, last fall in the Delaware District. It lies in Section N[[superscript]]o[[/superscript]] 10. in the Township N[[superscript]]o[[/superscript]] 6. of range N[[superscript]]o[[/superscript]] 17. on the peninsula on the north side of Sandusky bay I am informed by one of the fortunate purchasers (a resident of Ohio, the other residing in in the state of New York which is confirmed by a number of persons who have seen it, that it makes many acres of the bottom of the Bay when the water is very shallow, and covers many more of the dry land, and is known to extend a considerable distance further, but little below the surface of the ground. It is said to be sufficient for any demand, for increasing the fertility of our land, (already rich, but well adapted to the use of Plaister) or for exportation along the shores of our extensive inland seas and rivers, through the great Western Canal in New York or any others which may be made.- It no doubt will [[strikethrough]] will [[/strikethrough]] much inhance the value and tend to promote the sale of the lands in our District ~ We have lately had a reappearance of considerable quantities of Pidgeons which I am informed

collect in great abundance and roost in a swamp in the Millitary lands about 16 miles a little to the north of east from this town. It is said they occupy a distance of about four miles in length, but I have not ascertained the width. but the groth on those swampy grounds in this place being small it bends under them and they do not make such a distruction amongst the timber as usual. My engagements have been such that I have not had an opportunity of collecting further information respecting them. With much respect and esteem I remain thy friend -- Horton Howard [[large swash under signature]] Josiah Meigs Commissioner of the Genl Land Office P.S. I send the enclosed letters and small samples of Gypsum for the President and the Secretaries, Crawford and Calhoun, which I ask the favour of the to Deliver to them, and much oblige thy Affectionate friend H. Howard [[large swash under signature]] [[end page]] [[start page]] [[blank page]]

[[remnants of red wax seal remain on paper]] [[paper in landscape format]] From Horton Howard to J. Meigs transmitting a specimen of gypsum, &c. dated, 2[[superscript]]d[[/superscript]]. March, 1822. Read, [[underlined]] 1[[superscript]]st[[/superscript]]. June, [[/underlined]] 1822. [[paper rotated through 180 degrees]] Josiah Meigs Commissioner of the Gen[[superscript]]l[[/superscript]] Land Office Washington City [[line]] Communicated 1 June 1822 and read. [[paper in portrait format, having been rotated through 270 degrees, text written across the above address]] Private - [[?]] Specimens of Gypsum [[from ?]] Ohio ~ [[line]] For the Columbian Institute Josiah Meigs March 14 1822