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Has received Robinson’s drawing of the inclined wheel and will send it to the Patent Office. Liberty of U.S. encourages inventiveness. Comments on the policies of surveying Indian lands.

Receipt of purchases made by Foster including cups and saucers, decanters, sugars, creams, and other items. On partially printed bill from Norcross & Mellen, “Importers of Crockery and Glass Ware.” Includes manuscript letter dated July 29 to Stearns’ brother discussing business and travel to Boston and Albany. Mentions potash being sold and paid according to order. Stearns had been sent to retrieve Stoughton’s Elixir (patent medicine) and also acquired the recipe which is not included. Verso includes a message reading “I cannot close this without telling you that Elias Smith has turned Universalist & has left his Society!!!! & is about commencing the practice of physic.”

Providing updates about travel and business, including Mr. Wood making improvements to their marine chronometer, collaborating with Doctor Abbott despite potential controversy, and the chronometer being tested at sea. States that Abbott’s theory, likely his magnetic theory of calculating latitude and longitude, isn’t thought to be original or accurate, and that "it is thought that the Doct. Has taken to high a pitch to cord even with John Bulls highest note." "I have the satisfaction to find that we have put a machine in motion that has excited the attention & inquiry of the scientific men in this country and which is acknowledged to be the great desideratum which has been so long sought for & which will be of immense utility for mankind." Discusses conferences with one of Abbott’s advocates, Mr. Bolton of Liverpool. Mr. Wood refuses to work with Abbott.

Travelled to New Haven by stage and steamboat. Settling in at the Medical College, noting boarding with medical students. Attended an amputation.

Written the day of an eclipse which she witnessed with the children. “We have all been busily engaged looking thro’ a bit of smoked glass, the eclipse is now on, but as I have got tired of looking, I resume my pen.” Describes the children’s reactions to the eclipse, with one guessing that a big cow ate a piece of the sun. Mentions one of the children being African American. Requesting updates on her family and when she plans to visit. Reports on a collapsed bridge and Mrs. Duncan and Mr. Evans getting married – “don’t it beat the dogs, everybody is surprised.” Describes her daughters’ excitement about having a male cousin. Postscript indicates trouble with getting the letter sent. Signature of the letter is in quotation marks.

Has sighted the sea serpent off the Nahant shore, but having seen himself mentioned in newspaper reports wants to provide a more accurate account. Notes rumors of sightings, crowds gathering at the beach, and that he had brought his "famous Mast Head Spy Glass." Describes the 50- to 60-foot sea serpent and includes a pen-and-ink sketch of it. Recalls the crowd following the sea serpent and considers how it propels itself, breathes, and comparisons to snakes, eels, whales, and sharks. Caught another sighting in a different bay, presuming the sea serpent moved due to the number of boats pursuing it. Third page is mutilated, and some text is missing. Features many textual revisions and cross-outs in the hand of Prince and Davis, suggesting it may have been revised for publication.

Technical discussion of the merits of a cannon designed by Townsend, possible alterations, and a disagreement about types of weapons requested.

Regarding Jedidiah Morse's struggle with the church over his geographical publications. Recommends that the church replace him with a new minister. Thoughts on how to frame his dismissal and plans for re-entering the ministry.

Writing to Taylor, a "Druggist," seeking the approbation of "some of your first chymists" in Philadelphia in favor of Fahnestock's new method of preparing artificial mineral water in stoneware vessels.

Regarding a plate electrical machine for instructional purposes. Notes cost, the difficulty of obtaining large plates of glass, and compares it to moveable plate batteries.