of sums of money, unusual in amount to be granted within so short a period for the like purpose, by the government of other countries, possessed of much greater and more extensive resources.

"The Champlain Canal having been finished, and the Erie Canal being in operation for upwards of two hundred miles, it is submitted to you, whether independent of providing the necessary means to enable the commissioners to finish the western section, legislative interposition has not become necessary, in conducting the extensive concerns connected with the operation of the system, as far as it has progressed; and to expedite the adjustment of existing claims for damages of meritorious citizens, who have patiently submitted to privations arising out of the necessity of the measure for public good; but from whom a just and equitable remuneration ought no longer to be withheld.

The navigation of the Hudson since the introduction of the canals, has assumed an importance highly interesting to the citizens of this state. The same subject has heretofore been presented to the legislature, and commissioners have been appointed by a law passed for the purpose, to report a plan for improving the navigation of the river. Their report has been received, and appears on the journals. By it, two plans, with estimates of their respective expenses, are given, one for deepening the channel of the river, and the other for a lateral canal for ship navigation; but canalling is recommended as the most efficient plan, if it should be judged that the benefit to be derived from it, is of sufficient magnitude to make its adoption advisable. The report further states, that no extraordinary obstacles are presented to its execution-that the track indicates facilities which were not anticipated before it was minutely explored. The accuracy of estimates, emanating from so respectable a source, cannot be questioned; and the amount of the expenses stated, ought not to be put in competition with the positive advantages to be secured by it to the country. The vast amount of property produced by the soil and by the industry of the western and northern citizens of this state, to be benefited by sales at a market for direct exportation, can readily be anticipated. If congress, therefore, would authorise a small tonnage duty on vessels passing through the contemplated canal, to be exacted by this state until the debt created to complete it, shall be paid off, and suffer such duty to be continued in aid of the funds set apart for the payment of the canal debt, until the final extinguishment of that debt, it would be an object mutually beneficial to the state and to the general government; as no reasonable doubt can be entertained but that the arrangement would in a short time eventuate in a removal of the duties on salt, and in such a diminution of toll as would require a sum, sufficient only to defray the repairs and other expenses, incident to the use of the canal; while congress at the same time would obtain an additional port of entry of considerable importance, and an extensively useful national improvement, without immediately resorting to the public funds for its accomplishment. If it should be deemed expedient to adopt the plan of a lateral ship canal, for the improvement of the navigation as suggested

in the report alluded to, a law might be passed, authorising the prosecution of the work, upon condition that the assent of congress to the collection of such tonnage duties as are specified in the act, should first be obtained by the commissioners named in it, to conduct the construction of the canal.

NOTE FF.-p. 113.

Letter from Nathaniel H. Carter, Esq. to David Hosack, M. D. containing the observations of the Hon. Rufus King, relative to the talents and public services of Governor Clinton.

DEAR SIR,

NEW-YORK, October 28th, 1828.

I take great pleasure in complying with your request, to state the substance of a conversation which I had with the Hon. Rufus King, at his residence in London, on the 24th November, 1825, respecting the late Governor Clinton. American papers had just reached England, containing an account of the Grand Canal celebration on the completion of that great work, and the mingling of the waters of Lake Erie with the ocean. Mr. King appeared to feel as lively an interest as myself in the proceedings; and in his remarks on the festival, he took occasion to pronounce a high and flattering eulogium upon the talents and public services of Mr. Clinton. He expressed much satisfaction, that the plans of that illustrious statesman had at length been fully realised, and that the stupendous enterprise with which his reputation was identified, had been crowned with complete success. He rejoiced that Mr. Clinton had outlived the prejudices and passions of his opponents, and was in the full enjoyment of that popularity and public confidence which he had so justly merited. In a word, Mr. King spoke of the late Governor in terms of the most liberal and unqualified praise. This conversation made a deep impression on my mind, not only as manifesting the opinions and feelings of one distinguished individual towards another, but because I was aware they had never been political friends.

Dr. DAVID HOSACK.

I am, dear Sir, very respectfully, and truly yours,
N. H. CARTER.

NOTE GG. HH. and II.-p. 118.

The enemies of Governor Clinton have frequently adduced the charge against him, that his ambition had induced him to claim the whole merit of having originated the canal policy of this state. His answer to the following address from the citizens of Utica, as well as his reply to the address from the citizens of New-York upon his removal as canal commissioner, abundantly vindicate him from that charge.

Congratulatory Address to Governor Clinton, delivered by George Bacon, in behalf of the citizens of Utica, on the 31st October, 1825.

In behalf of the citizens of the village of Utica, we are deputed to tender to your excellency and your honour, to the honourable the board of canal commissioners, and to the various respectable delegations from our citizens elsewhere, who have honoured us with their presence on this auspicious occasion, our heartfelt gratulations on the happy consummation of a great work, which is destined as we trust to form a memorable epoch in the annals of our state, and to diffuse countless blessings to our posterity through remote generations.

The satisfaction which is derived on beholding the triumph of a vast enterprise of public utility, which for a long time struggled for its existence against the heavy tide of prejudice and of error, is at once the richest source of gratification, and the highest reward to a liberal and enlightened mind.

It must afford the most consolatory reflections to your excellency and your honour, to be able to realize that the entire completion of our great chain of inland navigation, will form an era cotemporaneous with your executive administrations of the concerns of this rising state; and that when the conflicting passions of the present day have subsided, and the transient interests of the passing moment shall have lost all their consequence, the great and permanent interests connected with this event, will be identified with those of every citizen of the state; and its authors and projectors enrolled amongst the eminent benefactors of their country.

To the honourable the board of canal commissioners, and to all those distinguished individuals, (many of whom with a Schuyler, a Morris, and a Fulton, now rest from their labours) whose genius has contributed to the projection, or whose counsels or labours have aided in the erection of this splendid trophy of the enterprise and energy of a free people, we tender the deep homage of a people's gratitude, in view of that fortunate and glorious result, which we are this day brought to witness. For fortunate indeed must that citizen be considered,

whose talents and whose services have in any degree contributed to accomplish that which gives him a lasting title to the gratitude of his fellow-citizens, and whose name shall be associated in all future time, with a work surpassing in its usefulness to mankind, the most imposing structures of antiquity; compared with which, in every moral and essential view, the boasted pyramids of Egypt, and the mouldering walls of the Colosseum, can be regarded but as splendid playthings, to minister to the pride and ambition of vain-glorious power.

Inhabitants as most of those around us are, of a district of country which less than half a century since, had hardly felt the permanent impress of a civilized footstep, and to whose occupants the rude barque of the savage then furnished the only idea of navigation; we reciprocate our mutual congratulations that we have lived to witness even at our doors, an extent of navigable communication stretching from our remotest frontier, to the great commercial emporium of our state, equal or superior for all practical purposes, to the first navigable rivers of the globe, or even to those mighty oceans which break upon either shore of our magnificent continent.

As fellow-citizens of this most populous member of our national confederacy, we congratulate you all, that this high enterprise has been commenced, prosecuted and accomplished by the courage, perseverance, and resources of our state alone, unaided by the capital and uncountenanced by the encouragement of any other power, either foreign or domestic.

And by a yet higher and more enlarged title, as Americans, and as citizens of a free representative government, we congratulate you upon the decisive evidence which this imperishable monument will furnish to a doubting world of the sagacity, wisdom, and energy of a free people, in accomplishing, without a burthen, a greater national work, than within the same period, has ever been effected with all the concentrated force of the most unlimited despotism.

Neither the time nor the occasion justify us in adding further to these brief outlines of a picture, which no American patriot can contemplate, without an emotion of honest pride; and no friend of civil freedom without an increased confidence in the entire sufficiency of our free institutions of government, to secure the individual welfare of its citizens, and to exalt and sustain the lasting glory of our country.

"Ever may the All-just

Give to the cause of freedom such success."

To which Governor Clinton made the following reply.

E. BACON,

J. C. DEVEREUX, Committee.

CITIZENS OF UTICA :-In this flourishing village, which is indebted for much of its prosperity, to the great work that has been the subject of your eloquent eulogium, and animated

congratulation, are now assembled before you, representatives from our great city, and from the rising towns of the west, to mingle their felicitations with yours, and to proceed to our commercial emporium, rejoicing in the great consummation, and tendering the hand of congratulation in their transit of upwards of five hundred miles, from the lakes to the Atlantic ocean, in the first vessels that have attempted this important voyage.

On such an occasion, so worthy the spirit of patriotism, so animating to the friends of republican government, cold and insensible must be that heart that does not feel the force; futile and feeble must be that understanding which does not recognise the weight of your remarks. Indeed, such was the career to be expected from the members of this enlightened and public spirited community. In all the vicissitudes which have marked the destinies of this work, whether in evil or good report, whether in prosperous or adverse fortunes, the citizens of Utica have stood firmly and fearlessly at their posts, its decided and energetic supporters, neither turning to the right nor to the left, nor changing with the tides and currents of public opinion; but vindicating, fearlessly and independently, the great interests of internal improvement. And you can enroll in your numbers, a fellow-citizen, whose purity of character, elevation of purpose, and solidity of intellect, are entitled to the highest consideration. In the commencement of this work, he was a prominent and efficient friend, and when it had sunk, irretrievably sunk, in the general estimation, he was greatly instrumental in its resuscitation, and probably prevented its final overthrow.*

For the good which has been done by individuals or communities, in relation to this work, let each have a due share of credit: over the evil which has been perpetrated, let a veil of oblivion be drawn. Let the unfriendly feelings which have sprung from those collisions, be merged in a spirit of conciliation and kindness. Let the dark shades of the past be extinguished in the brilliant enjoyment of the present, and the splendid visions of the future. Accept our sincere thanks for the manifestations of kindness, always gratifying from meritorious sources, and particularly so on the present occasion; and we humbly supplicate the Creator and Father of the Universe, to expand your prosperity, with the prosperity of our beloved country, and to render both as lasting as the great waters that are now connected by the most important communication, and most stupendous work in the world.

* This happy and appropriate allusion relates to Judge Platt, who was an early and active friend of the great system of internal improvement, and who in the hour of its adversity, came forth boldly and fearlessly in its support, and contributed very essentially to its final adoption and triumph.