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REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE.

EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD.

VOL. XII.-NO. 14. PHILADELPHIA, OCTOBER 5, 1833. NO. 301,

From the Washington Globe.
UNITED STATES BANK.
REPORT

Of the Government Directors of the Bank of the United
States, to the President; relative to the printing ex-
penses of that institution, referred to in the paper
read to his Cabinet, on the 18th of September, 1833.
To the President of the United States:

year,

the sum paid for Stationary and Printing amounted to $3.765 94, which we presume to be the necessary expense of the institution under this item, when no extraordinary disbursements are made. During the year 1830, the expenditures increased to $7,131 27 during the first, and $6,950 20 during the last half and entries are made in both, of large sums, making together about $7,000 paid for printing and distributing Mr. M'Duffie's report and Mr. Gallatin's pamphlet. These seem to be the commencement of a system of expenditure, which was the next year immensely increased, and received the sanction of the Board, as appears by the entries on the minute, and two resolutions passed at the close of this year and in the succeed

PHILADELPHIA, August 19, 1833. Sir,-We had the honor to receive your letter of the 3d instant, directing us to examine and report upon the expense account of the Bank of the United States for the last two years. Those of us to whom it was addressing Spring. ed, requested the attendance of our colleague, Mr. On the 30th November, 1830, it is stated in the minM'Eldery, to assist us in the examination. On his ar-utes, that "the President submitted to the Board a copy rival, we proceeded to investigate the various charges, of an article on Banks and Currency, just published in and to look into such of the vouchers, on which they the American Quarterly Review of this city, containing were founded, as we had time and opportunity to do. a favorable notice of this Institution, and suggested the These are so numerous, and embrace so many small expediency of making the views of the author more items of various kinds, that a full view of them only can extensively known to the public, than they can be by be given to you, by transmitting copies, made by some means of the subscription list-whereupon it was, on person authorised or requested by you or the Secretary motion, resolved, that the President be authorised to of the Treasury. The time and labor necessary for this take such measures, in regard to the circulation of the mode would have prevented our resorting to it at pre: contents of the said article, either in whole or in part, as sent, even had you authorised us to do so, for we have he may deem most for the interests of the Bank." On believed it would be more consistent with your wishes, the 11th March, 1831, it again appears by the minutes, that we should at once report the result of our own that "the President stated to the Board, that in conse labors, leaving you to decide, after you shall have been quence of the general desire expressed by the Directmade acquainted with them, whether such a more mi- ors at one of their meetings of the last year, subsequent nute statement of the Expense Account be requisite. to the adjournment of Congress, and a verbal under. We may add, too, that finding the particulars of many standing with the Board, measures had been taken by expenditures were to be ascertained, only by an inves-him in the course of that year, for furnishing numerous tigation of numerous bills and receipts, we requested, at the Board, that the Cashier might furnish such a statement of them as might be susceptible of ready examination; but as this request was not complied with, we were obliged to depend entirely on our own partial inquiries. These facts we mention merely to guard against any deficiency you may observe in our remarks, and any inaccuracies, should there be such, in the details which we communicate.

copies of the reports of Gen. Smith, and Mr. M'Duffie, on the subject of this Bank, and for widely disseminating their contents through the United States, and that he has since, by virtue of the authority given him by a resolution of this Board on the 30th day of November last, caused a large edition of Mr. Gallatin's essay on Banks and Currency to be published and circulated in like manner, at the expense of the Bank. He suggested at the same time the propriety and expediency of ex. As the Expense Account embraces the various ex- tending, still more widely, a knowledge of the concerns penditures for salaries, making and issuing notes, trans- of this institution, by means of the republication of other portation of specie, buildings, repairs, and taxes on real valuable articles, which had issued from the daily and estate, stationary, printing, and contingencies of all kinds periodical press-whereupon it was, on motion, resolv. it is necessarily so large and intricate, that we deemed ed, That the President is hereby authorised to cause to it expedient at present to confine our investigation to be prepared and circulated, such documents and papers that portion which embraced expenditures, calculated as may communicate to the people information in regard to operate on the elections, as they seemed to be the to the nature and operations of the Bank." objects of inquiry suggested by you. All expenditures In pursuance, it is presumed, of these resolutions, of this kind, introduced into the Expense Account, and discovered by us, we found to be, so far as regards the institution of this city, embraced under the head of Stationary and Printing. To it, therefore, we chiefly directed our inquiries; and an examination of that item of the account, for the last three years, undoubtedly presents circumstances, which, in our opinion, fully warrant the belief you have been led to entertain.

The Expense Account is made up at the end of every six months, and submitted with the vouchers of the Dividend Committee for examination. Commencing with the last six months of the year 1829, we find that

VOL. XII.

27

the item of stationary and printing was increased, during the first half of the year 1827, to the enormous sum of $29,979 92, exceeding that of the previous half year by $23,000, and exceeding the semi-annual expenditure of 1829, upwards of $26,000. The Expense Account itself, as made up in the book which was submitted to us, contained very little information relative to the particulars of this expenditure, and we were obliged, in order to obtain them, to resort to an inspection of the vouchers. Among other sums was one of $7,801, stat ed to be paid on orders of the President, under the resolution of 11th March 1831, and the orders themselves

quantity and names of the documents furnished, and the expenses of the distribution and postage. With this object we stated, at the last meeting of the Board, the result of our examination of the Expense Account, and submitted the following resolutions.

were the only vouchers of the expenditure which we evident necessity there was, that the accounts should found on file-some of the orders, to the amount of be so stated, as to enable the Directors and Stockholdabout $1,800. stated that the expenditure was for dis-ers to ascertain the particular sums of money paid, the tributing General Smith's,and Mr. M'Duffie's reports, and Mr. Gallatin's pamphlet; but the rest stated generally that it was made, under the resolution of 11th March 1831. There were also numerous bills and receipts for expenditures to individuals, among them of Gales & Seaton, $1,300 for distributing Mr. Gallatin's pamphlet; of William Fry for Garden & Thompson, $1,675 75 for 5000 copies of General Smith's and Mr. M'Duffie's reports, &c.; of Jesper Harding, $440 for 11,000 extra papers; of the American Sentinel $125 74 for printing, folding, packing, and postages on 3000 extras; of William Fry, $1,830 27 for upwards of 50,000 copies of the National Gazette, and supplements containing addresses to members of the State Legislatures, review of Mr. Benton's speech, abstracts of Mr. Gallatin's article from the American Quarterly Review, and editorial article on the Project of a Treasury Bank; of James Wilson, $1,447 95 for 25,000 copies of the reports of Mr. M'Duffie and Mr. Smith, and for 25,000 copies of the address to members of the State Legislatures, agreeably to order and letters from John Sergeant, Esq.; and of Carey & Lea $2,850 for 10,000 copies of Gallatin on Banking, and 2,000 copies of Professor Tucker's article.

"Whereas it appears by the Expense Accounts of the Bank for the years 1831, and 1832, that upwards of eighty thousand dollars were expended and charg ed under the head of Stationary and Printing du ring that period-that a large proportion of this was paid to the proprietors of newspapers and periodical journals, and for the printing, distribution and postage of immense numbers of pamphlets and newspapersand that about twenty thousand dollars were expended, under the resolutions of S0th November, 1830, and 11th March, 1831, without any account of the manner in which,or the persons to whom the same were disbursed. And whereas it is expedient and proper, that the particulars of an expenditure, so large and unusual, which can now be ascertained only by the examination of numerous bills and receipts, should be so stated as to be readily submitted to and examined by the Board of Di rectors and the Stockholders: Therefore, Resolved, That the Cashier furnish to the Board, at as early a day as possible, a full and particular statement of all those expenditures, designating the sums of money paid to each person, the quantity and names of the documents printed by him, and his charges for the distribution and postage of the same; together with as full a statement, as may be, of the expenditures on orders; under the reso

During the second half year of 1831, the item of stationary and printing was $13, 224 87, of which $5,010 were paid on orders of the President, and stated generally to be under the resolution of 11th March 1831, and other sums were paid to individuals as in the previous accounts, for printing and distributing documents. During the first half year of 1832, the item of sta-lution of the 30th November, 1880, and 11th March, tionary and printing was $12,134 16, of which $2,150 are stated to have been paid on orders of the President, under the resolution of 11th March 1831. There are also various individual payments, of which we noticed $106 38 to Hunt, Tardiff & Co. for 1000 copies of the review of Mr. Benton's speech; $200 for 1000 copies of the Saturday Courier; $1,176 to Gales & Seaton for 20,000 copies of "a pamphlet concerning the Bank,' and 5000 copies of the minority report relative to the Bank; and $1.800 to Matthew St. Clair Clarke for "300 copies of Clarke & Hall's bank book.”

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1831. That we ascertain whether expenditures of the same character have been made at any of the offi ces, and, if so, procure similar statements thereof, with the authority on which they were made. That the said resolutions be rescinded, and no further expenditures made under the same."

that the President be authorised and requested to con tinue his exertions for the promotion of -aid objects,"

These resolutions were postponed on the motion of one of the directors, for the purpose of introducing a substitute for them, by the vote of all present, except ourselves, and one other member of the board. The resolution substituted was as follows:-" Resolved, that During the last half year of 1832, the item of stationa- the board have confidence in the wisdom and integrity ry and printing rose to $26,543 72, of which $6,350 are of the President, and in the propriety of the resolutions stated to have been paid on orders of the President, un of the 30th November, 1830, and 11th March, 1831, der the resolution of the 11th March, 1831. Among the and entertain a full conviction of the necessity of a re specified charges we observe $821 78 to Jesper Hard-newed attention to the object of those resolutions; and ing, for printing a review of the veto; $1,271 04 to E. Olmstead, for 4000 copies of Ewing's speech, Bank Documents, and Review of the Veto; $4,106 13 to Wm. Fry for 63,000 copies of Mr Webster's speech, Mr. Adams' and Mr. M'Duffie's reports, and the majority and minority reports; $285 for 14,000 extras of "the Protector," containing Bank Documents, $2,583 30 to Mr. Riddle, for printing and distributing reports, Mr. Webster's speech, &c; $150 12 to Mr. Finnall for printing the speeches of Messrs. Clay, Ewing, and Smith, and Mr. Adams' report;$ 1,512 75 to Mr. Clark for printing Mr. Webster's speech, and articles on the Veto; and $2,422 65 to Nathan Hale for 52.500 copies of Mr. Webster's speech. There is also a charge of $5,040, paid on orders of the President, stating that it is for expenses in measures for protecting the Bank against a run on the Western Branches.

Viewing this as indicating an intention (which was indeed avowed) to continue, and, even, extended, the system of lavish expenditure, and to authorise disbursements, the particulars of which could not be clearly ascertained, either by the board or their constituents. And regarding it also as evincing a desire to encounter our remonstrances, against the constitution of such a system, by a reference to the personal character and motives of the President of the institution (which were not drawn into discussion or question by us) we offered, as an amendment, the following resolutions: Resolv ed that while this board repose entire confidence in the integrity of the President, they respectfully request him to cause the particulars of the expenditures, made under the resolutions of 30th November, 1830, and 11th During the first half year of 1833, the item of station- March, 1831, to be so stated, that the same may be ary and printing was $9,093 59, of which $2,600 are readily submitted to and examined by the Board of Di stated to have been paid on orders of the President, un-rectors, and the Stockholders. Resolved, that the said der the resolution of 11th March, 1831 There is also a charge of Messrs. Gales & Seaton of $800, for printing the report of the Exchange Committee.

Having made this examination of the Expense Account, we were not only struck with the large sum that had been expended, under the head of Stationary and Printing, in the two years to which you refer, but also to the

resolutions be rescinded, and no further expenditures be made under the same." This amendment met with the same fate as our previous resolutions, being reject ed by the same vote, and the resolution offered as a substitute was passed.

These, sir, are the circumstances attending the best examination we have been able to make, in regard to

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the matters referred to us, by your letter of the 3d inst.
Should they not prove sufficiently minute, or our re-
port sufficiently explicit, we must infer from the course
pursued by the Board, when our resolutions were sub-
mitted to them, that a more exact statement can only
be obtained, by an agent directly authorised by the

Executive. We have the honour to be,
With great respect, your obedient servants,
H. D. GILPIN,

JOHN T. SULLIVAN,
PETER WAGER,

HUGH M'ELDERY.

DAMAGED FLOUR.

The following letters will no doubt be interesting to some of our readers. If they should have the effect of calling the attention of the public to the adulterations which often occur in our flour, a very important object

will be obtained.-Poulson's Amer. Da. Adv.

TO JACOB GREEN, M. D.
Professor of Chemistry in Jefferson Medical College.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 21, 1833.

Dear Sir-A friend in the country, whom I visited
yesterday, informed me that on Wednesday last, his
whole family became sick from eating a pudd ng or bread
made from wheat flour purchased at a store. The symp-
toms were violent vomiting and nausea which had not
gone off yesterday, with some fever, heat in the throat,
debility, &c. Had they had any reason for suspecting
that any person desired to injure them, they would have
thought the flour to have been poisoned; but having
none such, they were at first inclined to ascribe their
sickness to the new paint on a room.
The number of
persons attacked was twelve, and none escaped who
had eaten the pudding or the bread.

I brought with me a sample of the flour. If there is any mode of detecting any foreign substance in it without much trouble, I would thank you to apply your tests upon the small parcel I send you herewith, and will be glad to hear the result of your experiments. I am, very respectfully and truly, Your friend and servant,

Professor JACOB GREEN.

Dear Sir

CONDY RAGUET.

TO CONDY RAGUET, ESQ.

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 24, 1833.

211

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From the Pittsburg Gazette.

THE TRADE OF LAKE ERIE.

The interesting account of the Mad River Rail Road, which we published yesterday, commenced with the following paragraph, which we think, merits or requires some comment

"Owing to the fortunate position of our city by nature, and the aids she has received from art and industry, it happens that almost every improvement that is made in the interior, whether in this or in the remoter states, redounds to the benefit of New York. All the canals and rail roads that are constructed, do, in effect, by their connection with existing means of communication, facilitate the conveyance of goods from this city to their places of consumption, and of the produce of the coun try in return. Hence it is, that the people of New York have a direct and palpable interest in giving encourage. ment to works of internal improvement, far beyond the local limits of our state."

The able editor of the Spectator speaks most complacently of the "fortunate position of that city," and remarks, very truly, indeed, as matters now stand, that almost every improvement that is made in "the interior, redounds to the benefit of New York." While we admit that this statement is well founded, just now, yet we must add that the New Yorker does not seem to have given to the subject a thorough consideration-he does not seem to have distinctly ascertained why it is that such improvements as the Mad River Rail Road redound to the advantage of his city.

Twenty years ago there was no outlet from Lake Erie but the St. Lawrence; had the Mad River Rail Road and the Ohio Canal been executed at that time, they would, inevitably, have redounded to the advantage of Montreal and Quebec, because they were situated on the best route of communication with the Ocean,and the trade of the Lake would have pursued that route. The New Yorkers, however, actuated by that shrewd and enterprizing spirit which characterizes them, have made a better outlet-an outlet which is more direct, and situated in a more southern latitude, and which is open several weeks earlier and later, every year, than the St. Lawrence, and which, on these accounts, is preferable.

I have carefully examined the wheat flour you sent me last Saturday; and which seems to have produced such noxious effects in the family of your friend. I could not detect in it any mineral poison, which might Lake Erie is one great reservoir for the reception, have occasioned the symptoms which you have describ- not only of the waters which are conducted to it by ed in your letter. From the odour and general appear-streams and canals, but also, of the immense amount of ance of the flour, I should pronounce it unfit for mak- produce which is conveyed to it, either by the natural Here all this proing a wholesome and nutritious bread. The wheat, it or artificial routes of conveyance. is well known, is sometimes infected with a disease duce, the amount of which is already very large, and which converts the farinaceous part of the seed into a which must increase with the increase of population and black powder, which often imparts injurious qualities to of the facilities of transportation, is collected together, the bread. Upon scrutinizing the flour with a micro- as a noble prize, worthy of the emulation and enterscope, I noticed a considerable quantity of a dark pow-prize of the wealthy cities which are in a position to Here it is, all collected in one great der. Whether our wheat is liable to the disease called contend for it.

the black and the brown rust, and whether the pow-mass, and seems to cry out to the cities of Philadelphia, der just noticed be this del terious substance, I have New York, and Baltimore, "win me and wear me,not determined. What is called spurred rye, or secale which ever city opens to me the smoothest and pleascornutum, is a disease common to several graminiferousantest road to the Ocean will secure me. I am growing plants-perhaps the wheat flour in question may con- so large that this little Lake will soon be too narrow tain this poison. The late Dr. Wollaston notices the and contracted for me-open, then, your various routes case of a family of eight persons, in England, who were of communication, and I will at once choose that which much injured by eating damaged wheat,-grain infect is best, and eagerly pursue my way to the broad Ated with secale cornutum. The darnel, a pernicious ex-lantic."

otic, now naturalized with us, also injures our wheat New York at present has the best channel of passage, flour. The quantity of spur in our grain this year is ex- and of course this great trade seeks this route, not be

cause nature has given that city advantages over Philadelphia, in the struggle for it, but because New Yorkers have been more enterprizing. Nature, indeed, has given Philadelphia precisely the same advantage over New York which the latter city possesses over Montreal and Quebec, viz. a longer summer, and long. er continued navigableness of its waters.

Cleaveland harbor is open several weeks earlier in the spring than Buffalo. This is a decisive advantage given to Philadelphia as a boon from nature. Let the capitalists of that city, then, complete a communication from Pittsburg to the harbor, at the mouth of the Cuy. ahoga, and this immense trade will at once be secured to Philadelphia, simply because produce may, by that route, be afloat on the Atlantic, before it can be stowed away in a canal boat at Buffalo. Complete this connexion, and then the Philadelphia editors may, with great truth, adopt the language of the New York editors, and say, that "every improvement in the interior redounds to the advantage of" Philadelphia.

TRADE OF CLEVELAND.

The following extracts from the Cleaveland Herald, merit the most serious attention of the citizens of Philadelphia, and of Pittsburg, and Pennsylvania. Having lately devoted so much of our columns to this subject, we will not run the risk of tiring the patience of our readers, and submit these extracts, without further comment.-Pitt. Gazette.

"Western Trade. The great increase of commerce on these Lakes, is beginning to excite the attention of the citizens of New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. It is but a short time since, that vessels of any description, sailed Lake Erie; and, but a few years since the first steamboat entered our harbor. But how great and important has been the change since that period. Now, the Lake is white with canvass-steamboats of any number,and of the largest class, finished in the first style, administer to the comfort and accommodation of the community. The amount of business done upon the Lake, until within a few years past, was so inconsiderable, that it excited little or no interest in the public mind. The construction, however, of the Ohio canal, and the opening of other avenues of commerce, have given an impetus to business, and opened a new field of enterprize, that have produced results which, while they have been fully realized by our own citizens, are beginning to be duly appreciated by those of other states."

* * *

"The resources of the west are but partially devel oped-the country is new, and but sparsely populated; and, if such important advantages have been already realized, what may we anticipate for the future. In the year 1825, the number of vessels which arrived at this port, was 75. Of these, 21 were steamboats. The value of the articles exported that year, amounted to only 50, 166 dollars-imports, 132,645. Business continued gradually but slowly to increase until the year 1829, when the produce of the Ohio canal gave it a fresh stimulus. The result of that year exhibits an increase over the preceding of more than one hundred per cent. The number of vessels which arrived that season was 314. Of these, 90 were steamboats, and the residue sloops and schooners. The amount of property exported, was $222.000; that imported, $568,000. The subsequent year, 1830, exhibits a corresponding increase. The number of arrivals was 775; and the business in proportion. Last year, the value of commodities exported, may be a million and a half; and that imported, at two. The number of arrivals at 1,070; of these, 470 were steamboats. From the transactions of the present year, up to the middle of last month, the value of exportations, the present season, may be estimated at about two millions; and importations at four millions seven hundred thousand dollars. Thus, it will be seen, that the value of our exportations has increased, I

in the short space of eight years, from fifty thousand to two millions; and the importations from one hundred and thirty-two thousand six hundred and forty-five dol lars, to four millions seven hundred thousand dollars! What a commentary is this upon the value of internal improvements and the resources of this young but flourishing country! It speaks volumes in favor of the grow. ing importance and value of this trade. It forms, how ever, when compared with the aggregate business of the Lake, and the upper Lakes, which are constantly pouring in their rich treasures upon her bosom, but an item of the vast amount. This trade, which has been so rapidly aug. menting, has, as yet, no settled route, or established market. Hence arises the anxiety of the different states to secure, while practicable, the 'golden harvest.'

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From the United States Gazette. IMPROVED ECONOMY OF THE STEAM ENGINE.

It is well known that for some time past the effective power of steam engines, instead of being estimated by horse power, (30,000 pounds raised one foot high in a minute,) has, especially in England been measured by the weight which the engine would raise to the height of a foot during the consumption of a bushel of bituminous coal. The engine of Watt, which, in its day was doubtless regarded, as nearly perfect, was under then existing arrangements, capable of raising on an average about 19 8-10 millions of pounds to that height. The improvement of Woolf, which consisted mainly in employing in one cylinder, steam of a greatly increas ed elasticity above that used by Watt, and then allowing it to expand in a second cylinder until reduced to atmospheric pressure, gave at once a notable increase of the efficancy of a given quantity of fuel. The nature and effects of expansion were long ago demonstrated by Robinson, yet their application seems but recently to have been successfully combined with other improvements to attain the maximum effect of fuel.

In the number of the Repertory of Patent Inventions for August, 1833, there is an interesting account of some experiments and observations made by Mr. E. Galloway, upon one of those celebrated engines in Cornwall, which have for some years past been the subject of monthly inspection and report. The engine of Wilson at Wheel Town was selected for the trial, and the result was, that in six hours and five minutes, the engine consumed ten bushels of coal, and raised 125 millions of pounds one foot high or 125 millions of pounds to the bushel of coal. Hence the improved Cornish engine performs about 6 times as much work by the consumption of a bushel of coal as the engine of Bolton and Watt. The foregoing data enables us readily to convert the Cornish standard into horse power.

Mr. Galloway refers this vast increase of efficiency to five principal causes.

First-The form of the Cornish boilers is cylindrical instead of wagon shaped as in the Bolton and Watt construction-and there is a central tube for the fire-a passage below for the return gas, and then two others along the side for repassing to the back end of the boiler where the chimney is placed.

Second-The management of the fire itself which is large and thick-the fire doors left partly open, and the coals being dusted on the top-but the fire never stirred or stoked except about once in 24 hours to remove clinkers.

Third-The use of steam of high pressure say 50 pounds to the square inch, cutting off the communica tion between the boiler and cylinder after 1-5 or 1-4 of the stroke, and allowing the steam to act expansively through the rest of the course.

Fourth-In covering or clothing the boilers, steam pipes, steam chests, and cylinder with a non-conducting substance, such as straw or saw dust-where steam on

ly can be in contact with the iron, and a mixture of clay
and straw where it is exposed to the action of fire.
Fifth-Suspending the action of the piston at the
completion of the stroke and allowing time for the per-
fect condensation of the steam in the cylinder before
making the returning stroke.

By the first and second of the above improvements
Mr. H. ascertained that the 19 8-10 millions of the
Watt engine were increased to 34 2-10 millions. By
the fourth or the addition of clothing to the engine, &c.
the power added was 34 million, making thus far
115, and by the temporary suspension of the motion to
complete the vacuum, he computed that 1-10 of the
whole duty on 11 6-10 was added which would swell
the total amount to 127 millions or a very little more
than he found by actual trial.
W. R. J.

STEAMBOAT NAVIGATION OF THE SUSQUE-
HANNA RIVER.

In pursuance of a public call through the newspapers, to the citizens of Harrisburg and its vicinity, friendly to the measure of petitioning Congress for the construction of a steamboat navigation from the Chesapeake to the Lakes, up the Susquehanna river; a large and highly respectable portion of the citizens aforesaid, assembled at the Court House, in said borough of Harrisburg, on Friday evening, the 20th of September, ultimo.

Judge HUMMEL was chosen President, Major Joel Baily, Col. Henry Buehler, Vice Presidents, Charles C. Rawn, and Mordecai M'Kinney, Esqrs. were appointed Secretaries.

George W. Harris, Esq. recurring to the object of the meeting went into a lucid detail of facts, relative to the practicability of accomplishing the proposed object; and showing the immense national importance of such an improvement; he concluded by proposing the following resolutions, which being read, were seconded, and unanimously adopted.

Resolved, as the sense of this meeting, That a steamboat navigation through the Susquehanna river, between the Chesapeake and the Lakes, is a project deeply interesting, not only to the interior of Pennsylvania, but to the nation at large; and being a national work, should be executed with the funds of the General Go

vernment.

Resolved, That a similar connexion between the Michigan lakes and the Illinois river, is also an important national enterprise, to the execution of which the means of the nation ought also to be applied.

Resolved, That a committee of fifteen persons be appointed to prepare a memorial to Congress in favor of these projects, and to circulate the same for signature, in such parts of the Union as they may deem advisable.

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Thursday Evening, Sept. 19, 1833. Mr. Lippincott moved to proceed to the consideration of an Ordinance relative to Will's Hospital. Considerable debate was had on the subject, as to whether Mr.

Wills designed the Hospital to be devoted to the use of the white,-Mr. Massey contending that it included both the blind and lame of the colored population, as well as whites and blacks, and Messrs. Toland, Groves, and others opposing such a construction of the testament. The ordinance finally passed the Select Council, and was amended in Common Council, but not returned.

from the Common Council relative to time keepers in Mr. Toland moved the consideration of an ordinance the city. Considerable debate was had on the subject. Mr. Groves desired information respecting the public utility of the measure, and was replied to by Messrs. Neff, Wetherill, Massey, and others. The ordinance was finally passed, as follows:

AN ORDINANCE

Providing for the regulation of Time-Keepers.

Section 1. Be it ordained and enacted by the citizens of Philadelphia, in Select and Common Councils assembled, That Phillip Garrett, Isaiah Lukens, Ellis Clark, Thomas Voight, H. C. Kiggs, and D. Weatherly, watchmakers of the city of Philadelphia, be and are hereby appointed a committee to be styled "The Observatory Committee," who shall be empowered to take charge Resolved, That the same committee be directed to of, and direct the means provided by this ordinance, to make a report to the public, in relation to these pro-regulate time-keepers and chronometers. jects, and also, to act as a corresponding committee, and that they perform such other duties as may advance the objects of this meeting.

Henry K. Strong, Esq. addressed the meeting, exhibiting in glowing colors, an interesting relation of numerous facts, as to works of a similar character; he showed the noble advantages of this improvement in times of peace to our trade and the Union, and the still nobler advantages, which would result to us from such an improvement in times of frontier hostilities as enabling us to transport with expedition and advantage, troops and provisions to their required destination.

The following named individuals were appointed by the President, the Committee referred to in the third resolution. The names of the officers of the meeting, viz. Judge Hummel, Joel Baily, Henry Buehler, Charles C. Rawn, and M. M'Kinney, and Henry K. Strong being afterwards added to said committee upon motion.

Section 2. And be it further ordained and enacted by the authority aforesaid, That it shall be the duty of the Observatory Committee, immediately after the passage of this Ordinance, to make such arrangement with the managers of the school corporation, as may be requisite for the use of their Observatory in Fourth street, and for the accommodation of a clock on which the time shall be recorded, as hereinafter provided.

Section 3. And be it further ordained and enacted by the authority aforesaid,, That the said Observatory Committee be, and are hereby authorised and directed to purchase a suitable clock, and provide accommodation therefor, on the premises of said school corporation: Provided, the expense thereof shall not exceed two hundred dollars; and that the Mayor of the city be authorised to draw his warrant on the city treasurer for payment of said expenditure, upon the requisition of the Observatory Committee,

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