December 19, 1832
Bright weather; the most penetrating cold up to now. At seven thirty, -5 5/6°R [18.9°F, -7.3°C]. All the roofs white with hoarfrost. The brisk, icy wind continued, and the sun shone all day. We worked at home. I sent a letter to Germany (dated 16 December) and a little box of seeds (designated H. P. T. B.) by mail, to be conveyed via Pittsburgh to Germany and Bonn, the letter to Neuwied. At twelve noon, -2 5/6°R [25.6°F, -3.5°C].
Now one sees the neighboring farmers or planters coming to town in their overcoats, which are made from thick, whitish woolen blankets. The colorful stripes that decorate these blankets are used here as lapels, collars, and borders; indeed, they often are striped like zebras. One sees coats like these with black, dark blue, yellow, and green markings. Indeed, some wear grass-green coats with black markings. These, the most common and cheapest kinds of clothing, nevertheless cost eight to ten dollars (twenty to twenty-five Rhenish florins) here.
In the afternoon I took a walk. There had been surface thawing in places exposed to the sun, and one could not make any progress because of the mud. A small falcon (Falco sparverius) eluded me. At the Cutoff River I came upon a pig whose young, born two days ago, sat half naked in her lair, while the mother, angered at my visit, came and snapped at me with her snout. Finally, she lay down near her young and they began to nurse. It is remarkable how unconcernedly one lets animals roam about here. A cow calved several days ago. The cold weather must kill many a young animal. I visited Mr. Lesueur, who came to see us later again that evening. Mr. Bodmer went out after I had left but did not shoot anything either. He had seen only woodpeckers. Russel, the hunter, arrived on a horse, from which ten turkeys were hanging, one of which I kept. Another man brought a young mink. Mr. Say spent the evening with us.