22 October: Gloomy, densely overcast sky. At seven thirty, temperature of 10 3/4°R [56.2°F, 13.4°C]. At nine o’clock I went to see Mr. Say to view his insect and shell collection. He owns an interesting collection of Wabash shells that includes several highly original species. His correspondence is extensive, and he has a very good library at his disposal here. At present he is again expecting books from Europe, which cost several thousand dollars.

In Mr. Say's garden I found several interesting plants: Euphorbia marginata from the Arkansas River; Simphoria, with ripe fruits; several beautiful Phlox; the Bignonia radicans— another Bignonia is also said to grow here; further, Loni cera sempervirens, with ripe fruits; and the Macelura aurantiaca Nutt.,M3Bow-wood or yellow-wood a prickly tree from the Arkansas with very tough wood from which the Indians make their bows. Mr. Say told me that the true homeland of the catalpa tree (Catalpa syringaefolia), not previously known, is here in the woodlands along the Wabash. The tree grows to be very thick and tall here, and the wood is used for posts, where it is said to last a long time. Quercus macrocarpa also grows here. I obtained some enormous acorns.

Dreidoppel had gone hunting and had brought back two species of tits (Parus bicolor and atricapillus Wils.), as well as a Troglodytes ludovicianus and a Picus auratus, and also a whole basket of various species of Unio.

Mr. Owen, the son of the former owner of Harmony, paid us a visit and invited us to come to his house a mile from here that evening. At five thirty he called for us with his carriage. The weather had cleared, and the sun shone brightly. The carriage was a kind of cart; the horses were poor. Mr. Owen rode along beside us on horseback. This young man was educated entirely in the European manner and still speaks German well; he and his brother had acquired [the language] during their three-year stay at Hofwil in the Fellenberg Institute. His wife is English, very vivacious and talented, for she paints very well and has musical ability. We spent a very pleasant evening at Mr. Owen’s house, a mile from Harmony, and did not return until ten o’clock in the darkness. The night was bright and cool.