Letter from John Locke to Increase Allen Lapham, April 14th

Cincinnati April 14, 1836

Dear Sir,

I regret that I have not a personal
acquaintance with yourself and Dr.
[Hildseth?] who with myself have been appointed
on the geological committee. I wrote to Dr.
Hildseth some weeks ago and have received
from him a letter detailing his plan of
[?] proposing to [?] the state into
four parts for the [purpose?] of collecting materials
for a report to the next Legislation
assigning the N.W. to yourself, the NE to
[name], the S.E. to himself, and the S.W.
to myself. As you have access to
the governor, will you ascertain of him what
his views are with regard to Dr. Hildseth's plan
and whether, in case I should find [?]
in the examination of the part assigned to
me, to make some excursions, my traveling
expenses would be [?]; and inform
me accordingly. Should I make [?]
an excursion my first move, which
I cannot make till May 15th, would be to
Columbus, where I should hope to have an
interview with you when we can exchange
sentiments more freely.

Very Respectfully yours

John Locke

I. A. Lapham Esq.