reward the future labors of the industrious Vi- f 1804 gneron: Nature herself unaided by man has al- \Dece ready planted on them three or four species of Vines, which are said to produce annually an exuberance of excellent grapes. A great variety of plants, some of which in their season, I am informed produce flowers highly ornamental, would probably reward the researches of the Botanist.
On the way into the river I took the courses by compass and the distances by time ; when the Doctor comes with the last party I have appointed two good hands to chain the same distances, to be noted down by young M! Hunter — At 8h p.m. the therm! was down at 24?—the wind blew strong all the afternoon, but fell calm by night.
I omitted to observe in its proper place that having observed from the bottom of one of the hot springs a frequent ebulition of gas, we should have collected some for examination, but no apparatus was provided for the purpose, it was so unfortunate that we had not even a funnel at the Springs, which with a bottle might have sufficed: it was not hydrogen, because I failed in several attempts to inflame it by a lighted torch: there can be no doubt of its being Carbonic acid, having always found indications of an excess of a weak acid, by which the lime and iron were disolved in the water. With respect to the quan
1804 \ tity of hot water delivered by the springs I made December J t^e following rough estimate. — There are four principal springs, two of inferior note, one rising out of the gravel and a number of drippings and drainings all issuing from the margin or from under the rock which overhangs the creek. Of the four first mentioned, three deliver nearly equal quantities, but one (N° 1) the most considerable of all and the hottest delivers about five times as much as one of the other three, the 2 of inferior note may be equal to one, and all the drippings & small springs are probably underrated at double the quantity of one of the three; that is, taking all together, the whole will amount to a quantity equal to eleven times the water delivered by the standard spring, which was the only one commodiously situated for measurement; I neglect the springs up the hill, because it is probable that what is not evaporated unites with the springs below. We found a Kettle containing eleven quarts was filled by the standard Spring in eleven seconds; Hence the whole quantity of hot water delivered by all the springs issuing visibly from the base of the hill may amount in one minute to 165 gallons and in 24 hours to 3771 yi Hhds of 63 gallons each, which is equal to a handsome brook and might work an over-shot mill. In cool weather condensed vapor is seen arising out of the gravel bed of the Creek from springs which cannot be taken into
the the account; during summer and fall I am in- f 1804 formed the Creek receives little or no water, but IDecember what is supplied by the hot-springs, at those seasons probably many small springs may be seen rising out of the bed of the Creek, which are now invisible; during that time the Creek itself is a hot bath, too hot indeed near the springs, so that a person may chuse the temperature most agreeable to himself, by selecting a natural bason nearer to or farther from the principal springs; at 3 or 4 miles below the springs, the water is tepid and unpleasant to drink.
Therm! in air 90 in river water 360 — wind Sunday 30* very light at, N.W. This morning & the night past are the coldest we have experienced this winter. The People set off very early to bring in Doctor Hunter's baggage from the springs. Employed myself in bringing up my journals &c — The Doctor arrived with the people about 3!1 p.m. — The Sky was most serenely clear this day, its color over head was that of the darkest prussian blue and during last night the stars shone with uncommon lusture. People have conceived an idea that they see more stars here and at the hot springs than any where else; which idea arises from the extreme transparency of the atmosphere, which causes the stars to strike the eye with greater brightness, and no doubt stars of inferior magnitude will be seen in a
pure