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Collections >> The First Century of the First State University >>
Primary document
Title: Letter from Elisha Mitchell to Duncan Cameron, December 28,
1835: Electronic Edition.
Author: Mitchell, Elisha, 1793-1857
Funding from the University Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill supported the electronic publication of this title.
Text transcribed by
Bari Helms
Images scanned by
Bari Helms
Text encoded by
Brian Dietz
First Edition, 2005
Size of electronic edition: ca. 13K
Publisher: The University Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
2005
© This work is the property of the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill. It may be used freely by individuals for research, teaching and
personal use as long as this statement of availability is included in the
text
The electronic edition is a part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill digital library, Documenting the American South.
Languages used in the text:
English
Revision history:
2005-06-29, Brian Dietz finished TEI/XML encoding.
Source(s):
Title of collection: University of North Carolina Papers (#40005),
University Archives, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Title of document: Letter from Elisha Mitchell to Duncan Cameron,
December 28, 1835
Author: Elisha Mitchell
Description: 4 pages, 5 page images
Note:
Call number 40005 (University Archives, University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
Editorial practices
The text has been encoded using the recommendations for Level 5 of the TEI in Libraries Guidelines.
Originals are in the University Archives, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Original grammar, punctuation, and spelling have been preserved.
DocSouth staff created a 600 dpi uncompressed TIFF file for each image. The TIFF images were then saved as JPEG images at 100 dpi for web access.
Page images can be viewed and compared in parallel with the text.
Any hyphens occurring in line breaks have been removed, and the trailing part of a word has been joined to the preceding line.
All quotation marks, em dashes and ampersand have been transcribed as entity references.
All double right and left quotation marks are encoded as ".
All single right and left quotation marks are encoded as '.
All em dashes are encoded as —.
Indentation in lines has not been preserved.
For more information about transcription and other editorial decisions, see the section Editorial Practices.
The text has been encoded using the recommendations for Level 5 of the TEI in Libraries Guidelines.
Originals are in the University Archives, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Original grammar, punctuation, and spelling have been preserved.
DocSouth staff created a 600 dpi uncompressed TIFF file for each image. The TIFF images were then saved as JPEG images at 100 dpi for web access.
Page images can be viewed and compared in parallel with the text.
Any hyphens occurring in line breaks have been removed, and the trailing part of a word has been joined to the preceding line.
All quotation marks, em dashes and ampersand have been transcribed as entity references.
All double right and left quotation marks are encoded as ".
All single right and left quotation marks are encoded as '.
All em dashes are encoded as —.
Indentation in lines has not been preserved.
For more information about transcription and other editorial decisions, see the section Editorial Practices.
Page 1
Chapel
Hill
Dec. 28th 1835
To Duncan
Cameron Esq.
Pres. of the Executive Committee
Dear Sir,
I inclose a letter I received yesterday from Dr Griscon
of New
York, resident as it seems at this time in Philadelphia. On the third page
of the letter I have copied an advertisement that appeared in the last number of
the American Journal of Science and the Arts. On reading that I wrote to Dr. Griscon
asking of him information respecting the sum for which he would dispose of his
cabinet and the letter inclosed is his reply.
of New
York, resident as it seems at this time in Philadelphia. On the third page
of the letter I have copied an advertisement that appeared in the last number of
the American Journal of Science and the Arts. On reading that I wrote to Dr. Griscon
asking of him information respecting the sum for which he would dispose of his
cabinet and the letter inclosed is his reply.My title here is "Professor of Chemistry Mineralogy and Geology.["] The second of these sciences can
be taught only by means of specimens and for enabling the Professor to teach it
the University has made no purchases of minerals whatever. For the department
of Geology a purchase to the amount of fifteen dollars was made by Dr
Caldwell
in Switzerland. The business has been carried on by means of such
specimens as we have been able to pick up or purchase for ourselves.
in Switzerland. The business has been carried on by means of such
specimens as we have been able to pick up or purchase for ourselves.If the committee should not consider
themselves safe in making an appropriation for this object, I am so little
satisfied with our present means of instruction in this department, that, if
they will consent to devote the sum necessary for the purchase of Dr
Griscon's
Cabinet or some
Page 2
other of equal
goodness to the supply of our wants in this particular I will most cheerfully
consent to have an amount equal to the interest of
the sum so employed deducted from my own salary — so that no
alteration should be made in the amount of ways and means actually at their
disposal
Cabinet or somePage 2
I should consider myself as sufficiently repaid by the superior precision and
accuracy given to my own knowledge and the advantages afforded the students.
I am very Respectfully
Yours,
Page 1
232 Arch Street Philada
Esteemed Friend
Having resided in this city during the last 6 weeks, there has been some
delay in the attention which I should otherwise have paid to the contents of
thy letter.
My Cabinet of Minerals has been estimated to be worth, as minerals sell in this country, from 1500 to 1800$.
It contains many specimens of rare value, not merely from their rarity
& beauty but from their history. Many of them have the labels in the
autographs of Phillips
, Haüy, Gay Lussac
&c.
, Haüy, Gay Lussac
&c.The lowest price that I have yet offered the collection at is
$1500. There have been hitherto but few applications, &
rather than keep it long on hand, I am willing to reduce the price to
$1250. This is as low as I should be willing to go at present,
& compared with the cost of one of the early cabinets purchased by
Yale
College & one by the College of Physicians & Surgeons
of
New York
it is very low indeed. Should it not sell at this price, I may make a
further reduction in the course of of the Spring, especially as I am a
considerable sufferer by the recent calamitous fire in New York. I
should not be willing to break the collection unless there should eventually
be no other mode of disposing of it.
of
New York
it is very low indeed. Should it not sell at this price, I may make a
further reduction in the course of of the Spring, especially as I am a
considerable sufferer by the recent calamitous fire in New York. I
should not be willing to break the collection unless there should eventually
be no other mode of disposing of it.I am very respectfully
thy friend
Page 2
Professor Griscom's
Cabinet for sale
Cabinet for saleIt contains 3000 specimens of all the common and many of the rare species. A
large proportion has been obtained during 20 years from eminent
mineralogists of Europe and America and labeled by their own hands. It is sufficient both
for private use and for practical instruction in any institution
Apply to Dr.
J. H. Griscom
No. 276 East Broadway New York
No. 276 East Broadway New York
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