of which I conceived it would be productive to the union at large, and to this state in particular, by cementing the eastern and western territory together, at the same time that it will give vigour and increase to our commerce and be a convenience to our citizens.'"

NOTE Q.-p. 92.

The services of Christopher Colles and of Jeffrey Smith.

The following observations, taken from a publication entitled "The Canal Policy of the State of New-York," by Tacitus, generally believed to have been published under the superintendence of Governor Clinton, contains a succinct view of the plans of improvement proposed by Mr. Colles, and of the spirit and enterprise with which they were urged as early as the year 1784.

"The utility of canals to supersede the portages on the Mohawk and Oswego rivers, and to unite the Mohawk River and Wood Creek, must have been obvious to every traveller. During what was called the French war, this route was of course the thoroughfare to the military posts on Lake Ontario-and Oswego and Niagara were the great seats of the fur trade, in times of peace as well as of war. Carver,* who travelled through the western country in the summer of 1766, says, 'the Oneida Lake, situated near the head of the river Oswego, receives the waters of Wood Creek, which takes its rise not far from the Mohawk River. These two lie so adjacent to each other, that a junction is effected by sluices at Fort Stanwix.' Thus we see at that early period, that an artificial water-communication was made between those streams at Rome, and in times of high flood, there is no doubt but that boats frequently passed from the one to the other.

* See Carver's Travels, page 79.

"Mr. Christopher Colles, a native of Ireland, who settled in New-York, and who had, before the revolutionary war, proposed a plan for supplying that city with good water, was the first person who suggested to the government of the state, the canals and improvements on the Ontario route. Colles was

a man of good character, an ingenious mechanician, and well skilled in the mathematics. Unfortunately for him, and perhaps for the public, he was generally considered a visionary projector, and his plans were sometimes treated with ridicule, and frequently viewed with distrust.

"In the session of the legislature of 1784,* he presented a memorial, and on the 6th of November in that year, Mr. Adgate, from the committee to whom was referred the memorial of Christopher Colles, proposing some interesting improvements in inland navigation, reported-That it is the opinion of the committee, that the laudable proposals of Mr. Colles for removing the obstructions in the Mohawk River, so that boats of burthen may pass the same, merit the encouragement of the public; but that it would be inexpedient for the legislature to cause that business to be undertaken at the public expense. That as the performing such a work will be very expensive, it is therefore the opinion of the committee, that if Mr. Colles, with a number of adventurers, (as by him proposed,) should undertake it, they ought to be encouraged by a law, giving and securing unto them, their heirs and assigns for ever, the profits that may arise from transportation, under such restrictions and regulations, as shall appear to the legislature necessary for that purpose; and authorising them to execute that work through any lands or improvements, on payment of the damages to the proprietors, as the same shall be assessed by a jury;' and it appears that this report was sanctioned by the house.

"At the next meeting of the legislature, Mr. Colles again presented a memorial, and on the fifth of April, 1785, a favourable report was made by the committee to whom it was referred; and one hundred and twenty-five dollars was appropriated in the supply bill for the purpose of enabling him to make

6

* See Memorials of Assembly for that year.

an essay towards removing certain obstructions in the Mohawk River, and to exhibit a plan thereof to the legislature at their next meeting.

"In pursuance of this arrangement, Mr. Colles visited the country to be affected by the intended improvements, and took an actual survey of the principal obstructions upon the Mohawk River as far as Wood Creek. The results of this journey of observation and survey, were published by him in a pamphlet, entitled Proposals for the speedy settlement of the waste and unappropriated lands on the western frontier of the state of New-York, and for the improvement of the inland navigation between Albany and Oswego. Printed at New-York, by Samuel Loudon, 1785.'

In this pamphlet Mr. Colles enters into certain calculations illustrative of his proposed design. He observes

"From the foregoing views, the importance of the proposed design will appear sufficiently evident. By this, the internal trade will be increased -by this also the foreign trade will be promoted-by this, the country will be settled-by this, the frontiers will be secured-by this, a variety of articles, as masts, yards, and ship timber may be brought to New-York, which will not bear the expense of land carriage, and which, notwithstanding, will be a considerable remittance to Europe. By this, in time of war, provisions and military stores may be moved with facility in sufficient quantity to answer any emergency; and by this, in time of peace, all the necessaries, conveniences, and if we please, the luxuries of life may be distributed to the remotest parts of the great lakes which so beautifully diversify the face of this extensive continent, and to the smallest branches of the numerous rivers which shoot from these lakes upon every point of the compass.

"Providence, indeed, appears to favour this design; for the Alleghany mountains, which pass through all the states, seem to die away as they approach the Mohawk River; and the ground, between the upper part of this river and Wood Creek, is perfectly level, as if designedly to permit us to pass through this channel into this extensive inland country.

"The amazing extent of the five great lakes, to which the proposed navigation will communicate, will be found to have five times as much coast as

all England; and the country watered by the numerous rivers which fall into these lakes, full seven or eight times as great as that valuable island. If the fertility of the soil be the object of our attention, we will find it at an average equal to Britain. Of late years, the policy of that island has been to promote inland navigation; and the advantages, gained both by the public and individuals, have been attended with such happy consequences, that it is intersected. in all manner of directions, by these valuable water-ways, by which the inhabitants receive reciprocally the comforts of the respective productions, whether flowing from the bounty of Providence, or the effects of industry; and by an exchange of commodities, render partial and particular improvements the source of universal abundance.'

"At the next session Mr. Colles renewed his application, and on the 8th of March, 1786, a committee reported favourably on a memorial of Christopher Colles and his associates, and leave was given to bring in a bill to compensate them for the purposes specified in that memorial.

"It does not appear that any further steps were taken on the part of Mr. Colles. His operations probably failed for the want of subscribers to the contemplated association. It is not a little remarkable, that this project commenced so soon after the termination of the revolutionary war, and that contemporaneous efforts were made in some of the southern states."

Notwithstanding what has been said in the preceding pages of the suggestions made by General Schuyler in 1797, and by Gouverneur Morris in 1800, relative to the extension of the navigation to Lake Erie, the ensuing extracts from the journals of the legislature, as early as 1786, show that Mr. Jeffrey Smith, and probably Christopher Colles, must have preceded them in this view of the measure.

Extracts from the Journals of the Assembly of the State of New-York.*

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, Friday, March 17, 1786.

Mr. Jeffrey Smith moved for leave to bring in a bill, entitled, " An act for improving the navigation of the Mohawk River, Wood Creek, and the Onondaga river, with a view of opening an inland navigation to Oswego, and for extending the same, if practicable, to Lake Erie."

Ordered,―That leave be given accordingly.

Mr. Jeffrey Smith accordingly brought in the said bill, which was read the first time, and ordered a second reading.

Saturday, March 25, 1786.-Mr. N. Smith, from the committee of the whole house, on the bill, entitled, " An act for improving the navigation of the Mohawk River, Wood Creek, and the Onondaga River, with a view of opening an inland navigation to Oswego, and for extending the same, if practicable, to Lake Erie," reported, that the committee have made some progress therein, and have directed him to move for leave to sit again.

Ordered, That the said committee have leave to sit again.

Wednesday, March 29, 1786.—Mr. Brinckerhoff, on behalf of Mr. N. Smith, from the committee of the whole house, on the bill entitled, "An act for improving the navigation of the Mohawk River, Wood Creek, and the Onondaga River, with a view of opening an inland navigation to Oswego, and for extending the same, if practicable, to Lake Erie," reported that the committee

* To Colonel Troup, who was a member of the Assembly in that year, viz. 1786, I am indebted for reference to this source of information. In a letter from Colonel Troup he also observes-"That on reviewing the journals of the Assembly, he finds that on the 1st February, 1786, A petition from Christopher Colles, with a report of the practicability of rendering the Mohawk River navigable, was referred to Jeffrey Smith and others,' and adds, "that it is therefore very possible that Mr. Colles may have furnished Mr. Smith with the idea of extending the navigation to Lake Erie."