p. 33

-33-
1828.

continue very high, it has been so ever since it was up to our door, and if the rain continues much longer we expect it will be over the streets again.

Feb. 28. A very cold morning. We went to school to day.

Feb. 29. We went to school. The river is now in the street below Taylor's store and is rising. It is 25 ft. and 9 inches above low water at Louisville at 12 o' clock to day.

March 1. Darius and I were engaged the greater part of the day in calculating the lateral pressure of water against the lock gates and the weight of one to be constructed of cast iron. The river commenced falling last night. Father told me that in one instance he had observed iridescent colors in bituminous coal from Pittsburgh.

March 2, Mr. Henry visited us this afternoon and said he had some surveying to do for the U.S. Bank and the theater and that I must go to Louisville and get a compass in the morning.

March 3. Agreeably to the above I went to Louisville this morning and borrowed a compass of Mr. Joyce. At noon we commenced our survey of a tract of land containing 2,000 acres lying south of Shippingsport and Portland and west of Louisville. I came home at night cold and tired with wet feet and (having frank a good mug of beer with Mr. H.) a head rather above the common order.

March 4. I took breakfast with Mr. Henry in order that I might be ready by the time he was, for a trip to the land which I have been travelling back and forth ever since. It is all covered with forest trees, of which the beech and poplar are the most conspicuous. It contains also a large number of ponds to get a correct map of which was the principal object of our journey. They are nearly dry in summer, and support numerous trees, particularly the red or water maple (Acer rubrum) which grows very tall and is