Transcribe Ward, Henry A. Letter to Dewey, Chester (1857-03-21)

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I am aware that on the one hand a mere [drog]
enumeration of factors will be of no interest
while on the other </s hand > or series of highypotheses
& conjectures will not be allowed the place

which should be held by real information.
Again, I am not describing a series of beds
until then or unknown, nor am I seeking to
give that which will serve as an complete </s turn >
scale of comparison with similar formations
at home - for either of these the reader should refer to
Bronziart's work upon the subject. My single [disos] would
be to present a conscious general view of the [se]Ferting
deposits as they present themselves in the Paris Basin
to mention the agencies which appear to have 
presided at their formation, & to draw, </u with much
caution >such conclusions as they offer towards the
elucidation of the Principles of Geology. I have as
yet thought of no particular arrangement of my
subject, but propose [ ist a one as may include
these several points viz? An account (less detailed than
the one I sent you?) of the different [beds] dwelling especially
as those little known in America, as the [Sysssum, colcaire]
[Sropien] Plastic class. & chalk - and of their principal
mineral contents, both general & accidental. 2.  A view
of the distribution of these deposits - as illustrating
their manner of formation. 3. Such conclusions from
the whole as may demonstrate the </u regime > to which
the Basin was submitted, as the oscillations it
underwent the alternote  admission of fresh & salt water,
the date of the English channell & c. & c. Should I not say
a little about the </s Oney > early history of the Basin, such
as I mentioned it to be in my letter to you? Are any dissrefuc-
ions, upon the formation of chalk. Gypsum & c. ad-
missible? Finally, how many cuts would be allowed?
I should like one to show the [Iuropisante] antecedents of the
Basin (The same which I sent you) One surface view of its present 
beds. One section giving a complete series of the beds, & Two to
small maps showing the form of the [Eucene] sea at two
different ages. These cuts could be very coarse, but they
seem a necessary accompaniment of the memoir. You
 see, Sir, that I am somewhat interested  in the thing
which I propose. Will you be so kind as to give me a
word of advice upon the subject as soon as your con-
venience will permit. I should prefer to a days the
article to you in order that you might see & {pruve] it
before it was presented Its final acceptation & public-
ation would of course be gratifying to me, but the chief
& great profit would result from the [Column] & study
of writing it. Hoping to hear a word from you upon the
subject. & thanking you for all your past & present interest
in me. I remain, Sir, Yours very respectfully.
Henry A. Ward
[ybg]

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I am aware that on the one hand a mere [drog] enumeration of factors will be of no interest while on the other </s hand > or series of highypotheses & conjectures will not be allowed the place

which should be held by real information. Again, I am not describing a series of beds until then or unknown, nor am I seeking to give that which will serve as an complete </s turn > scale of comparison with similar formations at home - for either of these the reader should refer to Bronziart's work upon the subject. My single [disos] would be to present a conscious general view of the [se]Ferting deposits as they present themselves in the Paris Basin to mention the agencies which appear to have presided at their formation, & to draw, </u with much caution >such conclusions as they offer towards the elucidation of the Principles of Geology. I have as yet thought of no particular arrangement of my subject, but propose [ ist a one as may include these several points viz? An account (less detailed than the one I sent you?) of the different [beds] dwelling especially as those little known in America, as the [Sysssum, colcaire] [Sropien] Plastic class. & chalk - and of their principal mineral contents, both general & accidental. 2. A view of the distribution of these deposits - as illustrating their manner of formation. 3. Such conclusions from the whole as may demonstrate the </u regime > to which the Basin was submitted, as the oscillations it underwent the alternote admission of fresh & salt water, the date of the English channell & c. & c. Should I not say a little about the </s Oney > early history of the Basin, such as I mentioned it to be in my letter to you? Are any dissrefuc- ions, upon the formation of chalk. Gypsum & c. ad- missible? Finally, how many cuts would be allowed? I should like one to show the [Iuropisante] antecedents of the Basin (The same which I sent you) One surface view of its present beds. One section giving a complete series of the beds, & Two to small maps showing the form of the [Eucene] sea at two different ages. These cuts could be very coarse, but they seem a necessary accompaniment of the memoir. You

see, Sir, that I am somewhat interested  in the thing

which I propose. Will you be so kind as to give me a word of advice upon the subject as soon as your con- venience will permit. I should prefer to a days the article to you in order that you might see & {pruve] it before it was presented Its final acceptation & public- ation would of course be gratifying to me, but the chief & great profit would result from the [Column] & study of writing it. Hoping to hear a word from you upon the subject. & thanking you for all your past & present interest in me. I remain, Sir, Yours very respectfully. Henry A. Ward [ybg]