Stephen, Adam (1718-1791) to Horatio Gates
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02021 Author/Creator: Stephen, Adam (1718-1791) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 10 December 1786 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket ; 22.7 x 18.6 cm. Order a Copy
Describes his visions of lava flows, overflowing oceans and ghosts (sounds almost Blakean). Mentions places all over the globe and gives strange account of manufacturing snowshoes from a pattern from Greece. Stephen as Major General in the Revolution led a division which accidentally fought troops of Anthony Wayne at Germantown, was accused of intoxication, and was subsequently dismissed in 1777. Seller's description says he apparently became insane after this.
[excerpt]
…By Adams from Spitzbergen in September last - The hull of Saltpetre mentioned by Capt Wyat fell into the Crater of the polar Volcano, which occasioned a tremenduous Eruption, and the Lava keeps Advancing Southward with such rapidity…Duinepique a shock of an Earthquake has levelled the Northern part size far beyond that of the…Caspian Sea, so that now a Vessel of 50 Ton may pass from thence into Cooks River-
From Kingston in…been all this time employd in undermining the Rockey Mountain that Separates Panama from Porto bello, and having Accomplished at last the Pacific Ocean being higher than the Atlantic has overflowd the most of Jamaica, all Surnam & the Caracas. . .
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