1829.]

281

(Signed)

To the field officers of

the Pennsylvaria line. S

N. B. At all events do not come to a final decision, should it be contrary to this request, before 7 o'clock in the morning, when we may have something to offer that may meet your approbation.

Head-Quarters, Sept. 6th, 1780. Dear Sir-I have received your letter of the 3d, and return you my warmest thanks for your professions of friendship. These are the more pleasing as I am convinced they are founded In the strictest sincerity, and I hope it is needless for me to tell you at this time, that an equal regard for you prevails on my part. I am concerned, however, that you should have given yourself the trouble of writing me on the subject of your letter. I did not want any assurances or any proofs upon the point, because I entertain no idea that you encouraged the unhappy measure to which you allude, and which I wish to be buried in oblivion. Your former assurances, your anxiety to which I was a witness, the interesting part you took to compromise and settle the matter, were sufficient to remove any belief of the sort. I do not know with certainty the person to whom you allude, as having attempted to injure you, but from what I have heard, and not without much pain, it is probable I could conjecture who it is. If I am not mistaken with respect to the person I mean, I can with the greatest truth assure you that he never mentioned a syllable to me in his life injurious to you in the least possible degree, nor have I any reason to believe that he ever did to any gentleman of my family.

ral Wayne to that of the first; notwithstanding it might," in some measure, have been wounding to the feelings of honourable ambition to resume a command subordinate to the one which he had executed for a length of time, that of conducting the Pennsylvania line of the army, and subsequently to that, the handsomest and most honourable command in the army, viz: the corps of Infantry. Between Generals Wayne and Irvine there, had long existed a remarkably strong attachment, which commenced previously to the war and only closed with their lives. The correspondence between those two officers was unreserved, free, and interesting, nearly the whole of which is missing; a circumstance which is much regretted by their friends.

These two gallant men bore a strong resemblance to each other, and when mounted on horseback, the one could, with difficulty, be distinguished from the other, even at a short distance. Their ancestors had fought side by side, as officers under King William, at the celebrated battle of the Boyne, as their descendants subsequently did on this side of the Atlantic in a similar cause, and in the same line of the continental army, and what added greatly to their honour, they shared largely of the confidence and esteem of the illustrious Washington, who indulged them on every proper occacasion with the privilege of acting as an independent corps, the command as senior officer devolving on General Wayne. Thus, so far as circumstances and military, etiquette would admit, General Wayne was still in command of the Pennsylvania line, with which he was, before the close of the campaign, fully vested; in consequence of that very excellent officer and worthy man, Major General St. Clair, having been appointed to the superintendence of the left wing of the army.

In Rogers' Remembrancer of American heroes, sages, &c. wil be found an interesting memoir of the late brigadier General William Irvine, to which the reader is

General WAYNE.

Whatever unpleasant feelings General Wayne may have experienced on the subject of his address to the Commander-in-chief, they must have been of short duration. Indeed, it is probable that the reports which he heard had been so much exaggerated that, on closer inquiry, they ceased to give him any concern; however this might be, one thing is certain, that friendship alone is discoverable in his correspondence, both in and out of the army, during the remainder of the campaign of 1780.

Scarcely a doubt was entertained that General Wayne would have been re-appointed to the command of the Light Infantry, had the army admitted of such a corps, previously to the arrival of the Marquis de Lafayette from France. This great and distinguished friend of the United States, whom every American did then, as he does now, delight to honour, was appointed to that command, it being the greatest military compliment which the Commander-in-chief could possibly bestow VOL. IV.

36

The Marquis de Layfayette, who, in January, 1779, returned to France for the purpose of offering his ser vices to his King, still retained his early zeal in behalf of the American cause, and exerted every means in his power to induce his court to send effectual aid to the United States. In this he most happily succeeded, and as no prospects equally congenial with his feelings ap-. peared on the European continent, he returned to America, and about the middle of May, 1780, communicated to the Commander-in-chief and Congress, the pleasing intelligence that a French fleet, with a powerful detachment of land forces, might be speedily expected on the coast.

This joyful news roused the nation from its lethargy. Congress, and the executives of the different states, especially the inestimable Governor of Pennsylvania, exerted themselves to make such arrangements as the crisis demanded, and the patriotic merchants of Philadel phia proceeded to the establishment of a bank, with a capital of about £315,000, to be paid in specie, if required; the object of which was to supply the army. with provisions, &c.

The stockholders were to derive no advantage from the establishment; their credit and money were to be advanced for the benefit of the continental army; they asked nothing more than that Congress should pledge the faith of the nation for a redemption of the costs and charges of the institution in a reasonable time. These stipulations were entered into, and the bank speedily went into operation, and was productive of very happy effects. In addition to this, the ladies of Philadelphia most nobly and patriotically subscribed large donations for the immediate relief of the suffering soldiers, which example was extensively followed. Yet those, with other sources of relief, fell far short of their objects. (To be continued)

upon this subject to remark, to the contractors holding ertificates, that inasmuch as they are issued expressly by the direction of the representation of the commonwealth, and that every possible obligation exists on the part of the state, to redeem promptly those certificates. To such, then, who are now, and may become hereafter possessed of those certificates, that it would illy comport with good policy, that those evidences of debt should be permitted to become matters of speculation, with the money speculator, the contractor parting with his certificate for a less consideration, save that of the ordinary banking premium of discount; would in my humble opinion do away, in part, that just and patriotic motive which would induce the Legislature to favor the interests of the deserving class of our fellow-citizens, who have toiled on the public works of the Commonwealth, and to them alone, is the protecting care of the Legislature prayed for in the present case.

It will at all times give me pleasure to afford to the contractors on this line of canal, such facilities in the furtherance of their works as my power will admit. JOHN RYON, Jr. Superintendent of the Susqueh. & W. Branch Div. CANAL OFFICE, MILTON, October 21, 1829.

State's Adv.

FRANKLIN INSTITUTE. The 23d Quarterly Report of the Managers of the FRANKLIN INSTITUTE of the State of Pennsylvania, for the promotion of the Mechanic Arts.

The Board of Managers, in obedience to the 3d section of the 10th article of the constitution, make report of their proceedings since the last quarterly meeting of the Institute.

The principal objects which have engaged the attention of the board during the preceding quarter, are the experiments "to ascertain the value of water as a moving power, and the relative effects produced by it on water wheels of different constructions," and the monthly meetings for the discussion of scientific questions, upon the plan adopted at the quarterly meeting in April last. The committee appointed to carry into effect the views of the board on the subject of water power, have continued to be actively engaged in the prosecution of the undertaking, and by their zealous and praiseworthy perseverance, have succeeded in collecting about $2000 to defray the expenses.

The house for the accommodation of the apparatus for making the experiments, situated at the corner of Ninth and Vine streets, is completed. Four millwrights are now at work, and it is confidently expected that the committe will be able to present to the Institute the result of their labours at the next annual meeting. An additional subscription is considered necessary to enable the Committee to complete the experiments, which it is hoped the members of the institute will voluntarily contribute to an object of so much utility.

The monthly meetings have been regularly held, and the subjects proposed have been discussed in that liberal and amicable spirit which ought always to characterize the search after truth. It is believed that something has already been done to forward the great work of improvement, for the promotion of which this association was formed.

A more general attendance of the members is desirable, and would tend to increase the interest already excited at these meetings, and render them still more useful.

The Committee on Inventions have diligently attended to the objects submitted to their inspection, which have been more numerous than formerly. The utility of this Committee is beginning to be generally felt and acknowledged by inventors, and they are frequently put in possession of facts and principles in relation to their supposed inventions, of which they were previously ignorant, and by which their views and pursuits are

entirely changed. Thus, often an honest and industrious mechanic, with mistaken ideas, is saved from the loss of time and money, while the ingenious inventor is encouraged and assisted by the countenance and concur rent opinions of those more experienced than himself, and thereby enabled to reap the reward of his exertions, at the same time that an important improvement is ultimately secured to the public.

The Board of Managers also beg leave to announce that the vacancy in the Professorship of Mechanics and Natural Philosophy, occasioned by the resignation of Dr. T. P. Jones, has been filled by the election to that office of Walter R. Johnson, A. M.

The lectures for the season will commence on the second Monday in November, and it is hoped that the members of the Institute will evince by their attendance, that interest in them which the variety and utility of the subjects to be treated of would seem naturally to excite.

The Board have always viewed the lectures of the Institute, as one of its most useful auxiliaries in the diffusion of practical and scientific instruction through the community, and also as one of the most effectual means of increasing the prosperity of the institution, and therefore respectfully ask the members of the Institute to aid and assist by their exertions, in extending the sphere of their usefulness.

The Board announce also that Mr. S. C. Walker has resigned the office of Teacher of the Mathematical School of the Institute, which he has conducted in a creditable and satisfactory manner. The vacancy thus created, has been filled by the appointment of Levi Fletcher, A. M. a gentleman already known to the Institute as their first teacher of Mathematics, from which situation he was compelled to withdraw, in consequence of ill health.

From the additional experience Mr. F. has acquired in the practical applications of the science of Mathematics, by being employed several years on board one of our ships of war, the board feel every confidence in his ability to communicate instruction in that department. The school will be opened the 27th inst.

The Drawing School will be opened at the same time, under the direction of the former teachers, Mr. H. Bridport and Mr. G. Strickland. The Board recommend strongly to the members these evening schools, as of very great importance to the rising generation, connected as they are with the privilege of attendance on the lectures. An opportunity is thus offered of acquiring useful knowledge, at a much cheaper rate than it can be obtained in any other manner, and at the same time of keeping the youths who attend, away from the haunts of idleness, immorality and vice, and nourishing in them, at an early period of life, a taste for the solid pleasures which the studies of the arts and sciences must always afford.

The quarterly report of the treasurer is herewith presented, from which it will be discovered that the general funds of the Institute are very limited, owing to the tardiness of many of the members in the payment of their dues. The Board take this opportunity of urging punctuality as the only means by which this association can be rendered beneficial to its members and the public. The funds appropriated to meet the cur rent expenses are at present considerably deficient of the amount due by the Institute, and as the expendi tures have been limited by the Board to the least possible sum to keep them within the receipts, they have been compelled to postpone the execution of several important designs for want of means. If each individual member would use a moderate exertion for the interest of the society, it would be enabled not only to liquidate every debt, but would also have ample means to carry all the views of the Board into effect.

The sinking fund derives from the rents of the building, and from other sources, an income sufficient to pay the interest on the Loan, and leave an annual sur