Your former communications on the subject of the steam-engine, I took the liberty of laying before the American Philosophical Society, by whom they will be printed in their volume of the present year.  I have heard of the discovery of some large bones, supposed to be of the mammoth, at about thirty or forty miles distance from you:  and among the bones found, are said to be some which we have never yet been able to procure.  The first interesting question is, whether they are the bones of the mammoth?  The second, What are the particular bones, and could I possibly procure them?  The bones I am most anxious to obtain, are those of the head and feet, which are said to be among those found in your State, as also the ossa innominata, and scapula.  Others would also be interesting, though similar ones may be possessed, because they would show by their similarity that the set belong to the mammoth.  Could I so far venture to trouble you on this subject, as to engage some of your friends, near the place, to procure for me the bones above mentioned?  If they are to be bought, I will gladly pay for them whatever you shall agree to as reasonable; and will place the money in New York as instantaneously after it is made known to me, as the post can carry it, as I will all expenses of package, transportation, &c. to New York and Philadelphia, where they may be addressed to John Barnes, whose agent (he not being on the spot) will take care of them for me.

But I have still a more important subject whereon to address you.  Though our information of the votes of the several States be not official, yet they are stated on such evidence as to satisfy both parties that the republican vote has been successful.  We may, therefore, venture to hazard propositions on that hypothesis, without being justly subjected to raillery or ridicule.  The constitution, to which we are all attached, was meant to be republican, and we believe to be republican according to every candid interpretation.  Yet we have seen it so interpreted and administered, as to be truly what the French have called it, a monarchic masque.  Yet so long has the vessel run on this way and been trimmed to it, that to put her on her republican tack will require all the skill, the firmness, and the zeal of her ablest and best friends.  It is a crisis which calls on them to sacrifice all other objects, and repair to her aid in this momentous operation.  Not only their skill is wanting, but their names also.  It is essential to assemble in the outset persons to compose our administration, whose talents, integrity, and revolutionary name and principles may inspire the nation, at once, with unbounded confidence, and impose an awful silence on all the maligners of republicanism; as may suppress in embryo the purpose avowed by one of their most daring and effective chiefs, of beating down the administration.  These names do not abound at this day.  So few are they, that yours, my friend, cannot be spared among them without leaving