at the exchange of 75 for one, and one guinea. 4thly. The articles to be delivered, to the soldiers who remain in service, are a pair of woollen overalls, a pair of shoes, a shirt, and a blanket, unless he have one. 5thly. You will be particular in causing every soldier to whom the above articles are delivered, to sign a receipt therefor, and the same of the pay and recruiting money. 6thly. All necessary assistance to be procured, and will be allowed in your account of expenses. I shall send up from Philadelphia in a few days some persons who will take the burthensome part of the business off your hands, but the payment of monies you will be pleased to keep in your own hands. You will write frequently to inform me or in my absence the vice president, of your proceedings. I am sir, Yr. Obedt. & very Hbb. Ser'v. Bloomsbury, Jany. 13, 1781. (Copy.) J. B. Smith, Esq. pany. Mr. K. stated that one member of the committee on Fire Companies had declined signing the report, be-, cause he looked upon the petition of the Diligent Hose Company as couched in such indecorous language as to render it unworthy of attention. Mr. Keyser from the same committee, made a report, accompanied with a bill providing for the protection of the apparatus of the Fire Companies during times of fire. The bill, which consists of a single section, imposes pecuniary penalties on all persons who shall cross over the hose with carriages in time of fire, or shall in any way injure the hose or other apparatus. Mr. Linn inquired if Councils had the power to pass such a bill. Messrs. Keyser, Lowber and Tilghman replied in the affirmative. Mr.Donaldson thought the bill was not strong enough, JOS. REED. inasmuch as it provided for the protection of the apparatus, during the time of fire only. Mr. Tilghman thought it quite strong enough, and looked upon the common law as affording sufficient remedy for the abuses complained of. PROCEEDINGS OF COUNCILS. TUESDAY EVENING, OCT. 9, 1828. Mr. Lowber thought the enactment of such an ordinance, inasmuch as it positively prohibited the passing of carriages over the hose, would drive out of use the small bridges at present employed by the firemen, to allow wheel-carriages to pass along the streets without be-injuring the hose. A letter was received from the Mayor, stating that, since the last report, he had received a balance of rent, of one hundred and eighty dollars, from the estate queathed to the city by the late James Wills, and that he had paid over the same to the city treasurer. Mr. Tighman, from the committee on Independence Square, made a report recommending to the early attention of the next Councils, the petition of the Washington Grays, for a room in the State House, for an armory. It is stated in the report, that the rooms in the State House will be occupied for some time by the carpenters employed in rebuilding the steeple: and that it is understood, that application will be made for the rooms for the use of the Courts, and for other public purposes. The committee was discharged at its own request. On motion of Mr. Linn, the price of each chart of the river Schuylkill, lately published at the expense of the city, was fixed at fifty cents. Mr. Lowber, from the committee to which the subject had been referred, made a report recommending compliance with the request preferred by Mr. Tanner, for liberty to incorporate the recent survey of the river Schuylkill in his new plan of the City of Philadelphia and adjacent districts. Adopted. Mr. Walmsley, from the committee on accounts, presented the following report: The Committe of accounts to whom was referred the Mr. Keyser replied that the companies would still have to keep the small bridges in use, to facilitate the passage of the engines. Mr Troth and Mr. Linn were both of oponion that the common law did not afford a sufficient remedy for the evil complained of. Persons who were not actuated "by malicious mischief" frequently injured the hose by passing over it with wheel-carriages, and against them the law gave the firemen no protection. They mentioned several instances that had occurred within their own knowledge, the hose being burst by carts and other cariages passing over it in time of fires. from a law which should positively, and under all cirMr. Fell thought great inconvenience would result cumstances, prohibit carriages from passing along the streets in which the hose should happen to be laid. Mr. Keyser said that as the members of Council did not appear prepared to act definitively on the subject, he would move to lay the bill on the table. The mo tion was adopted. On Motion of Mr. Lowber, the following resolution was unanimously adopted. "Resolved, That it affords the members of this Council, great pleasure to bear testimony to the ability, punctuality, and independence with which Joshua Percival has discharged the duties of the office of President of the Council, and that he has their thanks therefor." Mr. Percival made his acknowledgements in a brief That they have examined the accounts of the City address, in which he spoke of the great pleasure he Treasurer from the 1st day of January, to the 30th day of had derived from his association with the members of June, inclusive, compared the same with the vouchers, Council, and disclaimed any merit except that which and find them correct; leaving a balance of $1522.48, arose from a disposition to discharge the duties of his which agrees with the Fennsylvania Bank book exhibit-station with fidelity. Gentlemen, we may never meet ed to them. They also report, that they have examined the City Treasurer's account of Dr. Benj. Franklin's Legacy from the 1st day of January 1828, to the 30th day of June, inclusive, and find the same correct, leaving a balance in his hands of $277.88. again, but I trust that we shall in going to our homes, carry with us the richest reward which honest men can enjoy, the consciousness of having endeavoured to fulfil our duty. On motion of Mr. Thompson, the following resolution was unanimously adopted by Select Council: "Resolved that the thanks of this Council be present They further report, that they have examined so much of the City Commissioners accounts as relates to expened to John M. Scott, Esq, their President, for the abiliditures, from the 1st day of January 1827, to the 1st day ty, punctuality, and impartialty, with which he has of January 1828, compared the same with the vouchers discharged the duties of the office." and findthem correct. Mr. Scott was abssent from the meeting last evening. City Commissioners Office, Oct. 8th, 1828. Mr. Keyser from the committee on Fire Companies, made a report on the petition of the Diligent Hose Company. In the report the committee state, that they are sensible that no part of their conduct has given a colour to the charge of want of impartiality, which was brought against them by the members of the Diligent Hose Com-street Wharf. To the President and Members of the Select Council. No. 1. New Paving.. 2. Unpaved Streets.. 3. Cleansing the City. 4. Docks and Sewers.. 5. Lighting and Watching. 6. Pumps and Wells.......... 7. Regulating Ascents, &c.. 9. Expenses of Offices.. 10. Services in the Markets. 11. Incidental Expenses of Councils.. 13. Repaving over Water Pipes, &c.. 14. City Property,...... the memorial of the Philadelphia Chamber of Com merce, Respectfully sheweth— · That your memorialists being impressed with the belief, that great benefits would result to the government, and to the community, by a change in the mode of collecting the duties on imports, beg leave respect. fully to suggest to your consideration, that suitable warehouses be provided by the government, in which imported merchandise may be deposited under charge of the revenue officers, and that the duties be payable in cash when such merchandise is taken out for home consumption. By such a system, under liberal provisions, your me morialists believe that the commerce of the country would be increased, and the collection of the revenue rendered certain. Merchants would not be obliged as at present, to force their wares into consumption, or to reexport them for the benefit of drawback to avoid greater loss. .$54,450 81 ..7,019 90 .14,012 14 ..3,083 31 .26,669 49 .2,326 68 .1,137 96 ..601 13 .410 00 ...52 83 By the present mode of collecting the duties, oppor .8,385 53 tunity is afforded to the importer, and frequently em.6,133 89 braced, for creating fictitious capital to the amount of 19. Purchase of Paving Stone. .13 20 the duties levied. Thus assuming the duty at 33 per 20. Repaving Footways... .8 25 cent., and that the goods be quickly converted into mo21. Expenses authorised by Councils...... .8,419 45 ney, as is extensively the case, three importations leave To the City Commissioners of the City of Philacelphia. in the hands of the importer an amount equal to the first Gentlemen:--The subscribers on behalf of the Penn-importation, and the more deeply he runs in debt the sylvania, Delaware and Maryland Steam Navigation more capital he will have at command. This temptation Company, is desirous of knowing whether the Corpora- to overtrade, which in many cases is found to be irresist tion think of improving Walnut street wharf, for a pub-ible, producing great injury to the foreign and domestic lic landing for a steam boat wharf, and what in that event trade of the country, would be remedied by the system would probably be the rent and the length of the lease we propose, while at the same time, as no duties would they would grant. Very respectfully, be payable, except when the merchandise should be removed from the public stores for consumption, no hardship would be experienced by the importer, and a certainty of supply to the country would be insured. J. MOLLETER, President of the Pennsylvania Delaware and Maryland Steam Navigation Co. Mr. Donaldson read in his place a bill for the preservation of the Steeple of the State House. It was passed, as follows: AN ORDINANCE, For the protection of the Steeple on the State House, and for appointing a suitable person to take charge of the clock to be placed therein. SECTION 1. Be it ordained & enacted by the citizens of Philadelphia, in Select and Common Councils assembled, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That if any person or persons, shall wilfully cut, or deface any part of the Steeple on the State House, by writing or drawing thereon, or in any other manner, he, she, or they so offending, shall forfeit and pay for each and every offence, the sum of five dollars, to be recovered with costs by any person who will sue for the same, before the Mayor or any Alderman of the city in the same manner as debts under one hundred dollars are by law recoverable, one half thereof for the use of the person who shall sue for the same and the other half for the use of the Mayor, Aldermen and Citizens of Philadelphia. Sect. 2. Be it further ordained and enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the Mayor be and he is hereby authorised to appoint a suitable person to take charge of the Clook to be placed in the Steeple, at a salary not exceeding one hundred dollars per annum. Enacted into an ordinance at the City of Philadelphia, this 9th day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty eight. JOSHUA PERCIVAL Requiring sureties to custom-house bonds, by linking commercial houses together, involves many in the folly and misfortunes of a few. Very little advantage is derived by government from such sureties, for during the predominance of fictitious capital and the credit system, the appearances necessary for a custom-house surety are very readily acquired by the facility of creating capital as above shown. It is believed also that the best interests of the country would be promoted by encouraging a foreign carrying trade. At present an importer is compelled to reexport within twelve months, at whatever disadvantage, without relief or appeal, or lose the benefit of drawback, and have his goods thrown into the home market, for which perhaps they were neither designed, nor at all adapted. To avoid this, cargoes are frequently shipped at great expense and inconvenience, and landed at fo reign ports there to await the opening of a suitable market. As some articles of a perishable nature, could not with propriety be put into warehouses, and others could not conveniently be sold while there, a liberal discount of 7 or 8 per cent. or such other sum as your honourable bodies may deem just and proper, might be allowed to place the importers of such goods upon a footing of equality with the importers of articles to be warehoused. Aware of the pernicious consequences which usually result from premature revolutions in trade, we urge not any sudden or violent change in the long established commercial usage of the country, but respectfully recommend that convenient warehouses be provided by government in all our principal ports, preparatory to any alteration of the credit system, and that the existing revenue laws may undergo such a judicious revision, as, while they shall insure to commerce its just share of public patronage, shall provide for the gradual introduction of a well digested system of cash payment President of the Common Council. To the Honourable the Senate and House of Represen- And your memorialists will ever pray, &c. ROBERT RALSTON, President. JOHN VAUGHAN, Secretary. PRICE OF FLOUR IN THE PHILADELPHIA MARKET, FROM 1784 TO 1828. Average of the price of Wheat in Eng. Per Quarter Years. January Febr'y. March. April. May. June. July. August. Sept'r. (October Nov❜mb. Dec'ber Remarks. Aver. A LETTER' From the Merchants and Traders of Philadelphia, in the Province of Pennsylvania, to the Merchants and Manufacturers of Great Britain. mitted to remain inviolate, and the progress of commerce left to advance, in its old succes ful channel. But we must inform you of a solemn truth, which we think highly worthy of the most serious attention of our superiors, before it is too late; that if those acts of parliaGENTLEMEN-After the repeal of the late American ment, which prohibit us from a circuitous trade, restrain stamp act, and some acts of regulation, injurious to the us from a proper medium of commerce, impose duties trade of Great Britain and her colonies, in which you so on British manufactures, and oppress us with other burgenerously interposed your aid and influence; we flat-thens and difficulties, in discharging our debts and fultered ourselves, that no similar measures would in fu- filling our contracts with the merchants in Britain, are ture be adopted; but that the business so happily be- continued; the people of America must from necessity, gun would have been prosecuted and ended in the general if not from motives of interest, set up manufactories o emolument of both countries. For, with great truth their own; which must gradually diminish, and in its we assure you, that it is our firmest desire to see the consequence put an end to that mutually beneficial comcommercial interests of the latter, inseparably connect- merce, that has hitherto subsisted between us. For aled with the former, on principles of mutual benefit; the though the late, and perhaps the present disposition of grand cement, and only solid foundation, on which a the colonists in general, leads them to the cultivation permanent union between them can be properly estab- and improvement of lands, and to rely on the mother lished. An attempt to support a trade between two country for her manufactures and merchandize, to supcountries on any other, must appear to you, who have ply them with a variety of necessaries; yet, should those had much experience, idle and chimerical. restrictions and duties be continued, it is too evident to be denied, that they will impel the people from necessity, to raise the raw materials, and operate as bounties, by encouraging the Americans to manufacture for themselves. Materials of almost every kind may be found or raised in America: the different soils and climates will encourage the undertaking; and when the benefits thereof shall be once generally known and experienced, the business will be lastingly established, and the present commerce between the two countries, must in a great measure cease; where the loss and injury will fall, it is easy to perceive. America, taught and impelled by the indiscretion of the mother country, to raise and save every necessary within herself, we are satisfied, will be greatly benefitted; but how far the British merchant and manufacturer will be affected and distressed, we must leave you to determine. With the utmost concern, therefore, we observe, that instead of relieving the commercial intercourse between us, from the restrictions under which it has long laboured, new impositions have been laid by the British parliament, on the importation of sundry manufactores of Great Britain, and other articles of trade imported from thence into America, for the sole purpose of revenue: This, we apprehend, is not only injurious to our rights as British subjects, (who cannot be constitutionally and legally taxed, but by their own, or the consent of their representatives) but very detrimental and impolitic, with respect to the future trade between Great Britain and her colonies: hence we find ourselves again under an indispensable necessity to address you, and to request that you will exert your interest and influence to obtain a repeal of the acts imposing those duties; and a further relief from the other burthens, which the American trade has long laboured under, with almost insuperable difficulty. Measures, which we propose to you with the more freedom, as we are convinced your interest is full as much concerned as ours, to have them accomplished with all possible expedition. The statutes imposing duties on paper, glass, tea, &c. being a tax on the Americans, without their consent, we look upon, unconstitutional and destructive of our rights, as your brethren and English subjects. But as the assembly of this province, we are informed, have with decency and firmness petitioned the British legislature for relief, in which the dangerous effects and injurious operation of these acts to our privileges, are set forth, we think it unnecessary to be more particular on this head; but the inexpediency and bad tendency of these statutes, were they in themselves constitutional, must, in our opinion, (whenever they are considered with the attention due to matters of so much consequence to both countries) furnish abundant reason for their repeal. You are well apprised, that by several laws, the American merchants are prohibited from importing such goods as are manufactured in Great Britain, and other merchandize interfering with her trade, from any other part of Europe: hence the colonists have ever paid such prices for them, as the British merchants and manufac. turers have thought proper to charge; notwithstanding which, they have hitherto generally contented themselves with supplying their wants, and even their luxuries, from their mother country and applying their labour and industry to the cultivation of their lands, and raising such commodities as would either mediately or immediately serve for remittances in discharge of their debts to Britain. Under these circumstances, we still hope the parliament may, by proper information, be convinced, that the true interest of the mother country will hereafter in unnatural and useless fetters, with which the sinews of a great degree depend on their relieving us from those American commerce have been so injudiciously cramped; and in particular the following, which we beg leave to remind you of in a brief manner, as we have been full and explicit on most of them, in our address to you of November, 1765. dize imported from Great Britain, taken off, and no fu1st. Were the duties, lately imposed on the merchanture burthens laid on them; the colonists, as heretofore, of their lands, rely on the British merchants for the supwould naturally pursue the cultivation and improvement ply of a great variety of necessaries, as well as luxuries, without interfering with the interest of the mother country in her manufactures. 2dly. The restriction on paper currency, from being a legal tender in colony debts, as it deprives us of the only circulating medium of trade, which we can by any means retain among us, prevents the cultivation of our lands, obstructs the improvement of the country, and is peculiarly embarrassing and distressing to commerce; which your own experience must inform you cannot be carried on to extensive advantage without it. Sdly. The prohibition of the colonists, from exporting bar iroy to the foreign ports of Europe, is manifestly injurious to both countries; as it deprives the Americans of a considerable circuitous remittance to Great Britain. 4thly. The importation of wines and fruit, from the continent of Europe, into America through England, is attended with delay, which often endangers the total loss of the latter, and occasions a very great and unneThus an interesting and beneficial commerce between cessary expense, as well as the risque of a double voythem has been formed on the most lasting principles; it age to the colonies; without producing the least profit has increased beyond the most sanguine expectations, or advantage to the revenue of Great Britain; and thereand would continue so to do, to the inexpressible advan-fore, we conceive it to be an unnatural as well as unnetage of the mother country, were those principles per-cessary restriction on our trade. 5thly. Our trade to Madeira, formerly contributed to enable us to make remittances to Great Britain, by an exportation of wines of the growth of that Island from these colonies, which is now totally obstructed by the heavy duty to which that article is subjected, and no drawback allowed on exportation to Great Britain: which we esteem a great grievance: redress therein will be of manifest benefit to us, without prejudice to our mother country. We have also the like cause of complaint in the articles of coffee and foreign indigo. 6thly. By an act of parliament passed in the year 1765, sugars of the growth of the West India Islands, imported into Great Britain from the continent of North America, are declared, "shall be deemed and taken to be foreign sugars, and liable to the same duties and restrictions;" which is a discouragement to the commerce of the colonies with Great Britain; because it deprives the North American merchants of an advantageous remittance, which they might often make to the British merchant, when the markets of these colonies are overstocked with those sugars, received in return for our flour and other produce shipped to the British Islands; this is a circumstance that often happens, and reduces the merchants here to very considerable difficulties. Thus we have given you, from motives of real regard to the interests of both countries, a brief view of the restrictions and burthens on our trade, which, we think, ought in all good policy to be redressed, and the regu lations to be made for their mutual benefit. Should these take place, we are confident our commercial connections will necessarily revive, and our trade increase, to the inconceivable benefit of the mother country. Because it will from hence follow, that the greatest part of the produce of the labour and industry of the colonists must flow to Great Britain; while the former, at liberty in their commerce, will never think it worth while to manufacture among themselves: but should the present burthens on trade be continued, and particularly the acts imposing duties on tea, paper, glass, &c. for the sole purpose of raising a revenue in America; it is our serious and candid opinion, the commerce between G. Britain and her colonies must, of necessary consequence, greatly diminish, and the general importation of goods suddenly cease. As you have heretofore had occasion to consider the subject, we have only to add, and repeat our earnest request, that you will for your, as well as our interest, and that of both Coutries, exert your interest and influence with the Ministry and Parliament to obtain redress. The manner of doing it must be submitted to you, who are on the spot, and can best determine on the proper est method. Jacob Reynell Jeremiah Warder John Head Joseph Morris William West William Bingham Samuel Howell Williams and Eldridge Thomas Wharton Benjamin Fuller Thomas Paschall Neave and Harman Mease and Miller Stephen Collins Francis Jeyes Samuel Sansom, junior Edward Penington Christophers and Charles Marshall Benjamin Marshall James Benezet James Craig Joseph Pennel Carsan, Barclay & Mitchell Reese Meredith Joshua Fisher and Sons Philip Benezet Peter Reese Joseph Wharton, junior George Emlen, junior Samuel Mifflin William Heysham John Bringhurst Joshua Howell John and Peter Chevalier Isaac Hazelhurst Samuel Pleasants James Maccubbin Swett and Guy James Wharton Curtis Clay Isaac Wikoff Joseph Richardson William Hodge Joseph Pemberton Peter Wikoff Robert Morris Thomas Penrose John Mitchell James Penrose Robert Ritchie Archibald M'Call Isaac Cox William Morrell Edward Batchelor Conyngham and Nesbit Francis Richardson David Sproat William and Samuel Corry William Smith Samuel Purviance Jacob Shoemaker, junior Andrew Bankson David Deshler Enoch Hobart Randle Mitchell Gibson and Asheton Walter and Bertles Shee Matthias Aspden Isaac and Joseph Paschalf Owen Jones Owen Jones, junior Daniel and John Benezet and Thomas Barrow Isaac and Moses Bartram John Drinker Aiexander Huston Wm. and Thos. Bradford Samuel Shoemaker |