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I received your letter by M^r Linn, & have delayed answering it till
I could procure the volume in the hands of D^r Barton. I paid him a
visit a few days ago, & got the book. We have had a good deal of
conversation on the subject. I am affraid he has not done much for
you. The Book arrived while he was engaged in the Annual lectures, &
this engagement, added to very evident ill-health, has hindered him
from doing as much as he wished to do. He has, however, heaped
together a good deal of Scribble, which, he says, satisfies himself
so very little, that he doubts whether he shall send it to you.

You have so often experienced the negligence & inattention of your
literary friends, that I suppose, you will not be surprised or disappointed
at any new proofs of it from this quarter: Yet I trust, you will be inclined
to pardon the few comments you will meet with, when you recollect that
I am whollly unacquainted with the chieef branches of Knowledge discussed
in the first volume. Geography was the only subject in which I was
at all qualified to correct any mistakes you have committed, &, on this
I have not been sparing, as you will find, of my corrections. I can tell,
you however, that I read the whole with great pleasure & profit, for my
superficial knowledge requires just such historical & summary views as you
have given.

I feel some regret that all the corrections to be made by your friends
were not made in the proof sheets. Somethings may properly appear in
supplemental Notes, but some corrections could only properly appear in the text
itself. I am aware of your difficulties, & instead of condemning you for any
errors committed, can only admire your diligence & learning.

The

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The subsequent volumes which will treat of Moral, Political & critical
subjects, will come much more near the verge of my customary & favourite
pursuits, than the present volume. I should like much to lend my aid
in the business of correction, with respect to such topics, & should hope
to be of some little service to you. I wish it were possible to see the
sheets before they were finally committed to the press. Consider, if this cannot
be done. The Mail will carry single Printed Sheets for a trifle.

There has been some talk of your coming this way, in May.
Shall I take the first opportunity of sending on this volume, or shall
I keep it till you come?

You have managed the Mitchellean System very dextrously; but you
have mortally offended the D^r. I doubt not, by not exalting the “Extinguish
=ment of Pestilence” to the rank of illustrious & infallible doctrines, shedding
its brightest glories on the last Age.

I admire what you have done on Geography, but a Man whose favourite
pursuit it was, would have given an exact, (& equally brief,) survey of the actual
boundaries of our former & present knowledge. The facts, actually added to the science
& the Mistakes rectified, might have ^{‸ been} brought within small compass. The chief glory of
Rennel has been to verify, & thus to verify revive the Knowledge of Herodotus & Strabo.

I have seen a Political letter with your name to it, published by Gemil.
I hope you mean never to forgive that betrayer of a sacred trust. I am also
informed that you have denounced the review. I am anxious to hear from you on
all these topics. Do, Spare me a full & confidential letter, on these subjects.~

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Rev^d. Samuel Millar

Liberty Street

New York