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He is extremely anxious that I should go right on there with him. Commence Surveys next Thursday. One Year's employment. I should be second Eng on the Road. Have charge of it under Mr. Field as Chief, and know that he would do every thing in his power for me & my interests. Mr. Field, "Alfred", and I have been together so long, we understand each other perfectly. He depends a great deal upon me, entirely in many things and in fact feels as if he could not get along without me. There is the Quandary. What to do I do not know. At any rate I must go over and see Mr. Field. We are extremely busy here, but I believe I shall go over to Keene, on Wednesday or Thursday.

   Anchor Ice. My acquaintance therewith is certainly a good deal of the Theoretical, but also somewhat at least of the Practical. At any rate I have seen it. It seems you and Samuel have not noticed it. I presume it is not often if ever found in the Piscataquis. It must be however I think in Pleasant River. Miller's River is great for it. It may be found perhaps in most brooks, at some places, at some time or times, most every season. I remember seeing it of old in "One Brook" east of the Old House at Milo. There was a time Last Fall when Miller's River, where I was at Grout's was so full of Anchor Ice, as to raise the Water flowing over it a foot or two. It was probably some phenomena connected with the subject of Anchor Ice which occasioned the remarkable Ice freshet on the Penobscot three years or four since.  Your "prescription" "exact observation careful Chemical Analysis etc." has been followed perfectly by men of the highest qualifications. The Parker Cleaveland L.L.D.& Fellow of all Manner of Am. & For. Scientific Societies, has devoted much characteristic time, talent & learning to the subject. He has a peculiar theory of accounting for it, founded upon some deep, & thorough Crystalographical researches.