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frequently an article of food for their party； and esteemed more
delicate than the deer。 The Fleecy Goat they did not see； but
procured two skins from the Indians； of which this is one。 Their
description will be given in the work of Governor Lewis； the journal
and geographical part of which may be soon expected from the press；
but the parts relating to the plants and animals observed in his
tour； will be delayed by the engravings。 In the meantime； the plants
of which he brought seeds； have been very successfully raised in the
botanical garden of Mr。 Hamilton of the Woodlands； and by Mr。
McMahon； a gardener of Philadelphia； and on the whole； it is with
pleasure I can assure you that the addition to our knowledge in every
department； resulting from this tour of Messrs。 Lewis and Clarke； has
entirely fulfilled my expectations in setting it on foot； and that
the world will find that those travellers have well earned its favor。
I will take care that the Institute as well as yourself shall receive
Governor Lewis's work as it appears。
It is with pleasure I embrace this occasion of returning you my
thanks for the favor of your very valuable works； _sur les poissons
et les cetacees_； which you were so kind as to send me through Mr。
Livingston and General Turreau； and which I find entirely worthy of
your high reputation in the literary world。 That I have not sooner
made this acknowledgment has not proceeded from any want of respect
and attachment to yourself； or a just value of your estimable
present； but from the strong and incessant calls of duty to other
objects。 The candor of your character gives me confidence of your
indulgence on this head； and I assure you with truth that no
circumstances are more welcome to me than those which give me the
occasion of recalling myself to your recollection； and of renewing to
you the assurances of sincere personal attachment； and of great
respect and consideration。
_Contents of the large square Box。_
A Fibia。
A Radius。
Two ribs belonging to the upper part of the thorax。
Two ribs from a lower part of the thorax。
One entire vertebra。
Two spinous processes of the vertebra broken from the bodies。
Dentes molares； which appear to have belonged to the full…grown
animal。
A portion of the under…jaw of a young animal with two molar
teeth in it。
These teeth appear to have belonged to a first set； as they are
small； and the posterior has but three grinding ridges； instead of
five； the common number in adult teeth of the lower jaw。
Another portion of the under…jaw； including the symphisis； or
chin。 In this portion the teeth of one side are every way complete；
to wit； the posterior has five transverse ridges； and the anterior
three。
A fragment of the upper…jaw with one molar tooth much worn。
Molar teeth which we suppose to be like those of the mammoth or
elephant of Siberia。 They are essentially different from those of
the mammoth or elephant of this country； and although similar in some
respects to the teeth of the Asiatic elephant； they agree more
completely with the description of the teeth found in Siberia in the
arrangement and size of the transverse lamina of enamel。 This idea；
however； is not derived from actual comparison of the different teeth
with each other； for we have no specimens of Siberian teeth in this
country； but from inferences deduced from the various accounts and
drawings of these teeth to be found in books。 A few of these teeth
have been found in several places where the bones of the American
animal have existed。
An Astragalus。
An Oscalcis。
Os naviculare。
In the large box in which the preceding bones are； is a small
one containing a promiscuous mass of small bones； chiefly of the
feet。
In the large irregular…shaped box； a tusk of large size。 The
spiral twist in all the specimens of these tusks which we have seen；
was remarked so long ago as the time of Breyneus； in his description
of the tusks of the Siberian mammoth in the Philosophical
Transactions； if that paper is rightly recollected； for the book is
not here to be turned to at present。 Many fragments of tusks have
been sent from the Ohio； generally resembling portions of such tusks
as are brought to us in the course of commerce。 But of these spiral
tusks； in a tolerable complete state； we have had only four。 One was
found near the head of the north branch of the Susquehanna。 A second
possessed by Mr。 Peale； was found with the skeleton； near the Hudson。
A third is at Monticello； found with the bones of this collection at
the Big…bone lick of Ohio； and the fourth isthat now sent for the
Institute； found at the same place and larger than that at
Monticello。
The smallest box contains the horns of the mountain ram； and
skin of the fleecy goat。
PLOUGHS
_To Monsieur Sylvestre_
_Washington； July 15； 1808_
SIR； I had received from you on a former occasion the four
first volumes of the Memoirs of the Agricultural Society of the
Seine； and since that； your letter of September 19th； with the 6th；
7th； 8ths； and 9th volumes； being for the years 1804 '5 '6； with some
separate memoirs。 These I have read with great avidity and
satisfaction； and now return you my thanksfor them。 But I owe
particular acknowledgments for the valuable present of the Theatre de
De Serres； which I consider as a prodigy for the age in which it was
composed； and shows an advancement in the science of agriculture
which I had never suspected to have belonged to that time。 Brought
down to the present day by the very valuable notes added； it is
really such a treasure of agricultural knowledge； as has not before
been offered to the world in a single work。
It is not merely for myself； but for my country； that I must do
homage to the philanthropy of the Society； which has dictated their
destination for me of their newly…improved plough。 I shall certainly
so use it as to answer their liberal views； by making the
opportunities of profiting by it as general as possible。
I have just received information that a plough addressed to me
has arrived at New York； _from England_； but unaccompanied by any
letter or other explanation。 As I have had no intimation of such an
article to be forwarded to me from that country； I presume it is the
one sent by the Society of the Seine； that it has been carried into
England under their orders of council； and permitted to come on from
thence。 This I shall know within a short time。 I shall with great
pleasure attend to the construction and transmission to the Society
of a plough with my mould board。 This is the only part of that
useful