THE UNITED STATES.

387

upon to inspect the hull of any steam-boat or vessel, shall after thorough examination of the same, give to the owner or master a certificate, in which shall be stated the age of the said boat or vessel, when and where originally built, and the length of time that such has been running, and shall state also, whether in his or their opinion the said boat or vessel is sound, and in all respects sea-worthy and fit to be used for the transportation of freight or passengers.

And that the person or persons, who shall be called upon to inspect the boiler and machinery of steam-vessels, shall after a thorough examination of the same, make a certificate, in which he or they shall state his or their opinion, whether said boilers are sound and fit for use, together with the age of the boilers; it also provides

That every captain, engineer, pilot, or other person employed on board of any steam-boat or vessel propelled in whole or in part by steam, by whose misconduct, negligence, or inattention to his or their respective duties, the life or lives of any person or persons on board said vessels may be destroyed, shall be deemed guilty of manslaughter, and upon conviction thereof before any circuit court of the United States, shall be sentenced to confinement and hard labour, for a period of not more than ten years; and declares,

That in all suits and actions against proprietors of steam-boats, for injuries arising to persons or property, from the bursting of the boiler of any

steam-boat, or the collapse of a flue, or other injurious escape of steam, such shall be taken as full prima facie evidence, sufficient to charge the defendant or those in his employment with negligence, until he shall shew that no negligence has been committed by him or those in his employment.

These humane provisions in the law of America are rendered in great part inoperative-the federal power possessing but little local influence or means of enforcing its authority against a determined resistance of any number of its citizens. Steamboat accidents are quite as numerous and appalling in their consequences, since the passing of this act, as at any period since their first introduction.

Of the whole number of steam-boats, respecting which returns have been made, 351 are in use on the waters adjoining, or flowing into the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico; 64 on the great north-western lakes, and 285 on the waters of the Mississippi valley, viz:

THE UNITED STATES.

389

No returns have been made of the tonnage of 45 boats on the waters of the Atlantic, nor of 9 boats on the Mississippi and Ohio. The character of the engine of one small boat on the North-western Lakes, is also omitted in the returns; this would require an addition to the tonnage of 54 ascertained boats, estimated at 200 tons each, of

Making a probable aggregate in all the ascertained boats, equal to

10,800

Tons, 137,473

35,109

Estimated for 213 boats, viz 139 boats on the waters

of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico; 1, on the Western lakes, and 73 on the valley of the Mississippi, of which no returns have been made, at 70 for each boat, and which is pretty near the average

14,910

Making an aggregate of horse power in the 700 boats returned equal to

50,019

Add for 100 boats considered not to be returned, but whose horse power is estimated at 70 each

7,000

Ascertained and estimated total of horse power in Steam-boats in the United States, supposed to number 800

57,019

The whole number of Steam-boats built for the western waters of the United States, up to the 20th of April 1839, is stated to be 378. Of these, there were built at Pittsburg, and immediate vicinity,

which is 2000 miles by water from New Orleans, its nearest port or sea outlet, 130; at Wheeling, 22; at Cincinnati, 83; the residue at different points along the Ohio.

The general deficiency in the supply of manual labour in America, has made it necessary to provide other auxiliaries in its stead; by water power, where such means are attainable, and otherwise, by steam power, especially in the larger towns and cities. Scarcely any of the mechanic arts, that are not assisted in their progress by this latter means; while seldom a store or workshop is now built, either for any certain use, or for the speculative purpose of leasing out to others, that has not its engine-room and engine, as of course, attached to the premises; the number has in consequence materially increased within late years.

The total number of standing steam-engines, those of which a return has been obtained, as well the estimated number in those states from where no return has been had, up to the period, 1838, amounted of all sizes, to 1860, and of 36,319 horse power; of which, 383, with 7,448 horse power, being the greatest number in any one state, were belonging to Pennsylvania; 274, with 7,796 horse power, to the state of Louisiana; 165 to Maryland; 124 to Virginia, and the residue, apportioned between the remaining states.

CHAPTER XII.

Progress of Internal Improvements-Resolute determination of the American settler-Railroads, canals, &c.-Currency of the United States-The experimental freaks of General Jackson in relation thereto-Undue value attached by Act of Congress to foreign coin in the United States-Importations of Specie into the United States, in 1835 and 36— General bankruptcy, in 1837-Speculating and overtrading mania in the United States-American "shin plasters"Suspension by the United States and other banks, in 1837General bankruptcy law-Its passage through Congress and subsequent repeal-Opinions in relation thereunto-The present relations of debtor and creditor in the United States -Interest paid on discounts-Penalties of usury-General bad faith of Americans in money dealings-Remarkable instance, in which the Author was concerned- Domestic exchangesNational bank-Opinion of Judge Story as to its constitutionality-Damages on protested bills.

THE progress of internal improvement in the United States, has of late years exceeded that of every other country. To this end, is every man's energy in some way or other found to contribute, either in the discovery of some new and untried means—some greater facility in its further promotion, or in exhausting the opportunities already within his disposal for its ultimate accomplishment. The extraordinary activity and enterprise of its population, continually urging them to renewed