Letter from Henry Bry to Josiah Meigs, April 27, 1822

Monroe Ouachita 27. April 1822 D Sir. I returned yesterday from New Orleans after a passage of 4 days & 15 hours = Thus we travel 500 miles against a strong current, in one tenth of the time we employed in barges we are that much in proportion nearer to our great market - I have given to my friend M[[superscript]]r[[/superscript]]. [[Chen ?]] the Collector, a small box[[strikethrough]]es[[/strikethrough]] directed to you which he promised to forward with dispatch - It contains a Stone evidently reduced to its shape by men - I found it in my field - a piece appears to me broken off = It has a perfect resemblance with the [[underlined]][[Greek letters - ζίσκος?]][[/underlined]] of the anci[[strikethrough]]e[[/strikethrough]]ent greek, which was also made of Stone - you know that they called the brass ones [[underlined]][[Greek letters -Σολο?]][[/underlined]] - It is probable that the first inhabitants of this country had a game

of the same nature - I cannot see to what other use that stone can have been adapted.- It is true that the Indians have nothing approaching that game, but every thing about us shows that other numerous nations have inhabited this country, [[strikethrough]] the [[/strikethrough]] [[insertion]] whose [[/insertion]] names are buried in oblivion. The other piece included in the box is a piece of petrified wood, having the grain and appearance of oak - It is not a great curiosity but what renders it worthy of examination is its shape -- exactly such [[insertion]] as [[/insertion]] a chip made with an ax in cutting down a tree -- I found it in my garden. --- I wish it was in my power to send you some thing more interesting, it only shews you my desire of complying with your wishes - Could I go to the warm Springs on our river 450 miles from here by water, I might make a more valuable collection, but It is [[end page]] [[start page]] impossible to think of it at present ---- With esteem & friendship Yours Sincerely H. Bry P.S. M.[[superscript]]r[[/superscript]] P. Desbigny told me he had forwarded my official bond in due form about four weeks ago - I hope you received it

[[paper in landscape format]] From H. Bry to J.Meigs, presenting a Stone &c. found in Louisiana. [[double line]] Presented and read 1.[[superscript]]st[[/superscript]] June, 1822. [[double line]] Monroe Louisiana April 27„[[superscript]]th[[/superscript]] [[image - vertical coiled line]] Free Hon[[underlined]][[superscript]]ble[[/superscript]][[/underlined]] Josiah Meigs Com[[underlined]][[superscript]]er[[/superscript]][[/underlined]] Gen. Land office [[underlined]] Washington [[/underlined]] C[[superscript]]a[[/superscript]] [[line]] Communicated 1 June 1822 and read. [[line]] [[paper rotated through 90 degrees, with text written over previous address]] [[underlined]]Henry Bry ~ Par[[superscript]]r[[/superscript]]. Ouachita May 30. 1822 [[/underlined]]