1841. Jan. 12th.  The Rev. Thomas Hulbert, of Pic, Lake Superior, who has studied the Chippewa language, says:  “I fully concur in your remarks on the claims of philology.  Circumstances may be easily conceived in which the missionary could in no way serve the cause of Christianity so effectually as by the study of barbarous languages.  His primary object, it is true, is Christian instruction; but he would, at the same time, serve the cause of science, by assisting in the advance of comparative philology.  In this light I view your Algic, Researches, which I consider a valuable acquisition to the missionary, as it introduces him into the stronghold of Indian prejudices.  The introductory remarks I studied with peculiar interest.

“I find the principal difficulty in getting at the principles of the language to be in the compounds.  I have long thought upon the subject, but have as yet ascertained no rule to guide me.  However, I do not despair.  If it cannot be taken by a ‘coup de main,’ patience and perseverance may in the end prevail.  I intend to bend my mind to this subject for the future.  It will probably require much research to settle this matter.  There are some compounds that I form readily, in others I fail.  I have not observed anything in the language like the rythmatic flow of Greek and Latin poetry; there is no alternation of long and short syllables; some words are composed entirely of long syllables, others of short ones, but generally there is at least one of each in a word.

“I have nothing in the shape of Indian poetry or hieroglyphics, neither have I seen the rocks you mention south-east of this place, but I have heard of them.  All their traditions, or comic and tragic lore, should be collected, though it could not all be published in consequence of its obscenity.  Almost all the Ah-te-soo-kaum I have heard, has had more or less of this ingredient.”

Those who contend for a Welsh element in the languages of the American stocks, find little or no support in modern vocabularies.

     ENGLISH.  GERMAN.  WELSH.  ALGONQUIN.

     Fire, Feuer, Tan, Schoda. 
     Water, Wasser, Duel, Neebi. 
     Earth, Erde, Daal, Aki. 
               Welt,
     Wind, Wind, Gwint, Noden. 
     Sky, Volka, Avere, Geezhikud. 
     Sea, Meer, More, Gitchigomi. 
     Book, Buch, Llyfer, Muzzenyegun.

This topic requires, however, to be investigated on a broad scale.  It is merely adverted to here.  It is among the western nations that inquiries should be extended.

Feb. 4th.  I received a diploma of membership from the Georgia Historical Society, forwarded in accordance with a previous notice; and a few days after, through the medium of the Hon. A.S.  Porter, the first volume of their transactions.  Southern zeal quite outdoes us, in our literary efforts here of late.  The truth is, men have speculated so wildly, they have no money to devote to historical or literary plans.  A correspondent writes me (Feb. 12th) on these visionary plans of investment.