Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-12-20
THE GAZETTE.
MONDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 90, 1858
TIE DEVILS TEA KETTLE.


There is, probably, says the Mountain De-
N ocrat, no portion Of tho Continent which
affords wider field fo- geograp hical research,
than the Great Basin of Deseret, or Utah.
In that solitary, UNEMPLOYED region, are many
curious salt lakes, the vestiges of o lost ocean,
the waters Of which are go strongly impreg-
mated with saline matter that they are little
else than immense reservoirs of salt solution.
Vast rivers meander for hundreds of leagues
through sterile solitudes, and at last disap-
pear in the thirsty desert. Immense deposits
OF soda cause the water, in certain localities,
toseethe and cifervesce like boiling cauldrons
Springs OF sulphur, and springs Of boiling hot
water, mountains of snow and burning plains,
smiling valleys and vast deposits Of subter-
ranean ice, these, and thousand other won
ders are to be seen in the Great American
Basin.
Lieutenant Sawtelle, of the 9th infantry,
while on the recent march across the CONT
nept, at u point bout forty miles from where
the overland route first strikes the Humboldt,
saw very singular natural curiosity, which,
per compliment, we will name the "Devlrs
Tea Kettle" On the very apex Of a coDical
shaped mound, about eighty feet in height,
was On unfathomable miniature lake OF warm
water which had no apparent outlet or Inlet.
The water was quite tepid and perfectly trans.
parent, and its surface was nearly on level
with the top of the cone which contained It,
Various attempts were made to tathom this
curious basin, but no bottom could be found.
At the distance of forty feet from the base OF
the mound, were number of gushing foun-
tains, the water Of which was intensely hot.
Can any one explain the mystery Of the "DeV-
iPs Tea kettle?"
A SENSIBLE LETTER ON BIOGRAPHIES.
Some time since biographer, desirous of
laying before the American public ON anthem
tic biography of the Hon. John y. Crltten-
den, wrote to him asking his permission 70
prepare and publish such work. Mr.. Crit
tenden declined the request in letter, which
we give, with the exception OF such parts as
were Of purely personal character:
"FRANKFoRT, Sept. lS55.-Tbap ktul as l
am to you for your offer, cannot give you
the permission you ask to write my biogra'
phy-because did, before the date OF your
letter, promise that permission to another,
whenever could bring myself to consent to
the publication of such work. BY that
promise am bound.
may add, Sir, that l have strong dlsin-
clipation to appear to assume place among
the Justly distinguished historical characters
of our country, and have still greater
aversion and disgust al. the very idea OF being
reckoned among that numerous, vain class,
that figure only in biographies.
fear the public would hardly ascribe
much Importance to, or take much interest
in, the history of my life. And l shrink from
the idea Of seeming to exact more of its at
tention than may be due to NE, or Of seeming
to claim for myself the recorded honors of
history. 1t is time enough when man is
dead, to write his history, Such are my
feelings on the subject. \
am, very respectfully, yours, &C.,
J.J. CRITTENDEN."