Transcribe Ward, Henry A. Letter to Orton, James (1852-04-19)

We do not want to buy,/u. specimens we want to <u.find them to to take our chisels & hammer & cut them right out of the rocks, and if persons are going to hinder us from doing this, all we have to do is fall back upon our own dignity & tell them it is a free country. I never was hindered yet in getting minerals & that too where it is ten times as thickly settled as up there. And depend upon it Orton if we ever gather we shall get a quantity of beautiful minerals. I have seen some splendid ones from there this spring & have learnt the precise localities of some.I do hope Orton that we can bring about a trip to St. Lawrence & Jefferson counties this summer. A few years hence & all the good localities will be picked over. But you perhaps ask how I can go to Jefferson Co. if I cannot go to Nova Scotia. I will tell you. I had given up going to either for I am placed in such a position now that I do not feel my own as I did when I was paying my own way. I had therefore as I said given up going at all, but the way seems more open now for Mr. Nichols told me that just before the term closed that if I would spend a few weeks in St. Lawrence or Jefferson Co. next summer getting minerals for the Academy he would pay my expenses. I told I thought I would go, but was not certain. I have always felt confidence in my ability to get minerals for myself but I do not like the responsibility of going for others. I fear he over estimates my ability on the subject from the fact too that he is not posted upon it himself. If I go I shall depend on my own cabinet to make them good if I should not meet with success proportionate to the expense.I never doubted however before this offer that I should have perfect success. I shall