1831.] RAIL ROAD MEETING.-LETTERS FROM THE WEST. tains 6 stores, an academy, 3 or 4 meeting houses of GERMANTOWN RAIL ROAD MEETING. At an adjourned meeting of the inhabitants of Germantown, convened at Bowen's Inn, on Thursday the 28th inst. for the purpose of deliberating on the route of the Rail Road near that village,-of which JOHN F. WATSON was Chairman, and P. R. FREAS Secretary, it was Resolved, That the Report of their Commit'e then made and adopted, should be furnished to the gentlemen, constituting the Delegation, acting in behalf of "the Philadelphia, Germantown, and Norristown Rail Road Company." The gentlemen representing the Rail Road Company, consisted of its President, Col. Watmough, the Chief Engineer, Col. Douglass, and Messrs. McCreedy and Hassinger, Managers. These had with them, their corps of Engineers with their implements, who were directed to give any levels which might be deemed essential to satisfy the Committee acting in behalf of the former Town Meeting. The Committee, after introducing their report, by some necessary preamble, thus enter into detail, to wit: The chief Engineer informed us, that the grade of the road from the city to Clapier's hill, was desired to be 32 feet in the mile, which brought the grade to the foot of Clapier's hill on Roberts' place. Your Committee desired of the Engineer a level to be taken to a more westerly point of the hill, to see if the road might not take a course through Messrs. Blight's, Goddards, and Coulter's grounds, and thence on the southwestwardly side of Germantown, accord. ingly, one was taken near the ravine on Mr. Clapier's place, another on the southwestwardly point of land on Mr. Blight's place, near to Fails run; thence we proceeded up the Falls run to the township line, taking several levels; by which it clearly appeared that with a gradation of forty feet per mile from the location about Rhiner's place, considerable filling would be required on 95 the low ground, and a cutting on Blight's point of land supposed to be about 30 or 34 feet, and in a little distance up the run, a continual succession of cutting would commence at the bottom of the run, constantly increasing in depth; and where the township line crosses the run, the road would be 22 feet or thereabouts below the surface of the ground; and from thence the rise becomes rapid, and the road must continue to increase in depth under ground the whole distance up to the widow Johnson's summit. Your committee also explored the proposed route through the ravine near Skerrit's continued by Royal's, or by Dr. Betton's; and comparing the whole view of the S. W. side, your Committee are convinced that without a stationary engine to raise 40 feet on Clapier's hill, it is impracticable to locate the road on the S. W. side of Germantown, without an unreasonable expenditure of the capital of the company: while the N. E. side, on the representation of the delegation, is ascertained to be practicable without an engine, crossing the turnpike near the Methodist meeting house; by which, distance is increased before meeting the high ground. Your committee have been furnished by the delegation with a profile of a route which theyalso report herewith. Your Committee beg leave further to report, that such was the polite attention and candour of the delegation, and willingness to give every information required, that whatever may have been said or suggested to the contrary, your Committee verily believe that the choice of the N. E. side of the lower part of German town in preference to the S. W. side, has not been the result of any undue influence on the president, the chief engineer, or members of the board; but that in consideration of interests compared, required the N. E. route. SAMUEL HARVEY, Dear } Committee. Telegraph. I arrived here on Monday after flying (I cannot find a more appropriate expression) for a little more than two days. I spent the greater part of yesterday on Braddock's battle ground, about 13 miles east of this place. The field, which was the principal theatre of that memorable action, is now covered with a luxuriant crop of corn. The plough frequently turns up imperishable memorials of "days departed," bullets, gunlocks, dirks, fragments of sabres and bayonets, various metallic ornaments, &c., but all remains of the human beings, who took a part in that fearful tragedy, have long since mingled with their mother earth. The only trace left of the lordly favourite of the saloons of St. James, or the humble Virginia Blues, is in the fertility of the soil their valour immortalized and their death consecrated. Changed as the scene now is, busy imagination, annihilating time and space, calls up the occurrences of that eventful day in shadowy succession before you. You behold Braddock swelling with indignation at the presumption of "a d-d buckskin," in offering advice to a British General whose brow was still encircled with laurels gathered on the continent, and marching on through the dark forest, in all "the pomp and circumstance of war," expecting no doubt, to find the Little Turtle and his copper skins entrenched and waiting his assault in the manner prescribed by European tactics. When the death-tones of the war-whoop thrilled his nerves, and the shout of an unseen enemy was scattering destruction through his palsied ranks, desperate were the efforts of his valour to cover the effects of his arrogance. His veteran troops would have faced dan ger fearlessly at the mouth of the cannon, or the point of the bayonet, but they shrunk from an encounter where their very discipline rendered them useless. Banner and plume were trailing on the dust, and proud hearts quailed at the thought of a tomahawk and the scalping knife, when the clear deep tones of Washington's manly voice rose above the tumult, and his laconic order, "every man to a tree," told Virginia's gallant rangers their duty. You are familiar with the succeeding events, the conduct of Braddock and his death-bed, when the better feelings of his heart had regained an ascendency over the prejudices imbibed from aristocratic habits and education, and the masterly manner in which Washington covered the retreat of his shattered and desponding forces. A short distance hence is the spot where Arthur St. Clair spent the last year of an unhappy life, his proud spirit chafing at the recollection of his country's ingratitude. But you will have thought it time to hear something about Pittsburg itself, and you are right. I have neither the space, the leisure, nor the information requisite to give you the statistics of the place, nor is it my intention to attempt it. The city is finely situated for trade and well laid out, but there are few public buildings or private mansions, sufficiently elegant to attract the admiration of the beholder at the first view. The business part of the town lies along the banks of the Allegheny and Monongahela, and at the point where they unite and form the Ohio. There are, however, considerable villages on the opposite side of each river-Bayardstown and Allegheny bearing the same relation to Pittsburg that Camden and the villages across the Schuylkill do to Philadelphia. The two great sources of the commerce of Pittsburg are her manufactures and the transit of merchandise from the eastern cities, intended for the valley of the Mississippi. Its iron-works have long been celebrated, excelling in extent and variety any others in the union. She is well called "the western work-shop." I crossed the Monongahela this morning, to visit a nail factory, one of the most perfect I have ever noticed. The iron is thrown into the forge in rough pigs, and passing on through all the various changes of bar and hoop, is transformed into most excellent nails, apparently by magic, for no human application is visible. The coal used at this establishment is excavated at the top of a hill in the immediate neighborhood, and by means of a covered schute about 300 yards in length, is thrown almost into the door of the furnace. Coarse cutlery is manufactured in great quantities, and in a few years the importation of finer articles will be considerably lessened. This is the proper mode of supporting the American System. The glass works of the Messrs. Bakewell are well worthy of attention from their extent, and the variety, beauty and extreme delicacy of the articles produced. They are constantly thronged with visiters, particularly ladies, several of whom I observed in the cutting-room, scrutinizing the process at the risk of their eyes, which are frequently injured by the small particles of glass thrown from the stones. There are various other factories for window-glass, bottles, &c. in auction phrase, "too tedious to mention." As a manufacturing city, Pittsburg has advantages over every other in the United States, and she seems determined to improve them. The hills with which she is environed afford inexhaustable supplies of coal, iron ore, &c. and the Ohio gives her the command of a large and increasing market-the great valley of the Mississippi. A tin mine, supposed to be inexhaustible, has lately been discovered, which will afford the means of a valuable addition to her metallic products. ['] The wharves are lined with steamboats, and every thing betokens a press of business. Goods are pouring in from the Alantic cities, and there is great difficulty in storing them until an opportunity for shipment offers. Numerous and spacious as the warehouses of this place are, they are by no means sufficient for the vast quantities of merchandize forwarded annually. A heavy commission house (Riddle, Forsyth & Co.) is about to construct one, which will obviate the objection so far as they are concerned; it will be two hundred feet deep by sixty in depth, supported by pillars, and will probably be the largest in America. The great quantities of bituminous coal used in the various manufactories, give the city a very dirty appear. ance, and it is pretty generally covered with clouds of smoke from the same cause. The first idea that strikes you when you enter it is, that it is a place of business exclusively, and you will be convinced of the correctness of the impression before you leave it. The citizens with whom I have had any intercourse are intelligent, frank, and hospitable, entirely free from ceremony, but sincerely desirous of rendering the stranger's sojourn among them as agreeable as possible.--Penn. Inquirer. PORT OF PHILADELPHIA. Inward-For July, 1831. Merion township, has a living Gosling, which has four Remarkable Curiosity-Mr. Philip Reese, of Upper perfect legs, two wings and one head-the hinder part appears to be double, with two rectums, and two tails with large expanding feathers. It has the use of all its legs, and appears to be as healthy and thriving as any of the brood.-Norristown Herald. Mr. THOMAS M'KEAN, has been appointed an Alderman of the city of Philadelphia, in the room of Mathew Lawler, Esq, deceased. HAZARD'S REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA. DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE. VOL. VIII.-NO. 7. EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD. PHILADELPHIA, AUGUST 13, 1831. INDIAN HISTORY. [FROM THE PEMBERTON MANUSCRIPTS.] Minutes of Conference between the Government of Pensilvania and Teedyuscung, King of the Delaware Indians, &c. (Taken by Charles Thomson, Secretary for Teedyuscung.) March 24th, 1758.-As the Governor deferred his answer, Teedyuscung upon hearing that a number of the Cherokees were come to Virginia, with a design to go to war, was very uneasy that his messenger was not dispatched, and fearing some ill consequences might ensue from detaining him any longer, he went to the Governor's but not meeting with the Governor, he went to the Secretary's with Isaac Still his interpreter, Welamekigkink the messenger and Moses Tetamy and spoke as follows. Brother, I would have this messenger, who came with me dispatched as soon as possible, to carry back to the Indians the good news of what we have now done. Brother, You must have heard that the Cherokees are come down to go to war. Now as several of our friends, who have joined with me live near, and some among the French, it is necessary the messenger should be sent before to tell them to separate from the French, that they may not be cut off with them. Brother, I would have you also dispatch a messenger immediately to the Cherokees, to inform them of what is done, and to stop them. For if any mischief is done, it will not be said the Cherokees did it, but that you have done it, who hired and sent them; and this will undo all that we have done. But when the Indian Nations are informed of the peace we have made, then all those Indians will come and join the Cherokees and be all friends with the English and all together will go against the French. Being asked, what sort of message can be sent to the Cherokees that will not do harm; for should any Indians come down with Frenchmen at their head, as they have always done, what then must be done? Teedyuscung replied, I would therefore have the messenger sent as soon as possible to prevent any of the Indians joining with the French. He farther said, NO. 189. Allen, I sent Captain Harrison and three other Indians to the assistance of that place. They were there on service ranging in the woods two weeks. I desire they may be rewarded for their service. I desire you will order the messengers guns to be mended at Bethlehem. A copy of the above being made out by Charles Thomson, was delivered to the Secretary who was desired by Teedyuscung to send it immediately to the Governor, which the Secretary promised should be done. On the same day the following message was sent to the Governor from the Assembly. May it please your Honor We beg leave to observe that by the Minutes of the Conference, laid before us from time to time, since the Treaty of Easton, it does not appear that any effectual measures have been taken to recover our fellow subjects, from the captivity they are under with the Indians, with whom a peace has long since been concluded, nor even to remind them of their engagements to re store them. We, therefore, think it our duty, to recommend it to your honour, before the Indians depart from this City, to make some enquiry after the Captives, and to take such measures as shall be most likely to restore them to their country, families, and friends. We also think it absolutely necessary, for the welfare of this Province and the promotion of his Majesty's Indian interest in America, that a friendly and kind invitation should be given to the Chiefs of each of the eight tribes of Indians, that have, by a late Messenger, shewn an inclination to enter into an alliance with his Majesty, and take up arms against his enemies, that some of them would, when it was convenient to them, take an opportunity of visiting this Government, and further ratifying the good work of peace so happily begun, and now almost perfected. his Majesty's interest in general is like to receive from the late Conference with them, are such proofs of the good policy of such an invitation, that we need not add any thing further to enforce it. The good effects this Province has already felt, and Signed by order of the House, March 24th, 1758. As the Public Treasury was exhausted, that the InBrother, here is our messenger between us both, I dians might be furnished by the Public with what they leave it to your generosity what you shall give him.wanted, the following Address was presented to the When a man is travelling he must eat and drink. He Assembly: may also lose his horse, which is the case with this man who lost a very stately horse in coming down. All these things should be considered. There were nine other messengers who came with this man, all those should be rewarded; they make in all ten; three here and seven at Bethlehem. To the Representatives of the Freemen of the Province of The Address of the Trustees and Treasurer of the Friendly Association, for regaining and preserving Peace with the Indians, by pacific measures Respectfully sheweth: That as we have, with the ap probation of this Government, at several Treaties held with the Indians, at Easton and Lancaster, contributed freely towards the Presents made to the Indians, and defraying the expenses of the Messengers sent by the King's Deputy Agent, to invite the Indians on the Ohio to renew their alliance with the Crown of Great Britain; and as, by the blessing of Divine Providence, pacific measures have so far succeeded, that from the Messages now received from eight Tribes of those Western and other distant Indians, it appears there are just grounds to hope for the establishment of Peace with them; and the engaging a considerable number, with whom this | Government hath not been acquainted, to enter into the alliance, We are heartily disposed to promote so desirable a service, and thereby to give a renewed tes. timony of our loyalty to our gracious King, and our sin cere concern to advance the cause and interest of the Christian religion, and the Peace and prosperity of our Country; and being informed that the Public Treasury is exhausted-least these salutary measures should thereby be delayed, and the promises made by the Governor in behalf of this Province remain unperformed—we think it our duty to acquaint you, that, out of the fund of our Association, we are willing to supply you with such sums of money as may be immediately necessary, for carrying on these negotiations towards establishing Peace with the Indians, and to wait for the repayment of the money, out of the Public Treasury, till it can be conveniently done. If our proposal appears to you to be conducive to the public advantage, and meets with your approbation, we shall immediately direct our Treasurer to pay the Provincial Commissioners, or such other Committee as you may be pleased to appoint, such sum or sums as on consideration you may judge these exigencies may require. Signed by order, and on behalf, of the said Trustees and Treasurer, ABEL JAMES, Clerk, The foregoing Address being read and considered by the Assembly, the following resolves were passed: Resolved, That the thanks of this House be given to the said Society, for their friendly and generous offer. Resolved, That this House do recommend it to the Provincial Commissioners, to borrow of the said friendly Society, such sum or sums of money as may be sufficient to answer the present Indian demands; and that the Representatives will use their care and endeavours, to se ure the repayment thereof, when further supplies shall be raised for the public service. have now entered into our alliance, that they may be fully informed of what has passed here between us, and the good work we have done. Take this, my Calumet Pipe, with you, for our friendly Indians to smoke out of. It is the Pipe our old Proprietor, William Penn, smoked in, on his first arrival into this Country, with all the Indians that entered into a Covenant Chain with him, and has been preserved by his order to this day for that good purpose. I recommend it particularly to the Delawares, our Brethren, and to their Grand-children, the Shawanese, to smoke out of it heartily, as it has now been filled with the same good tobacco. They, the Delawares and Shawanese, will then remember their Mother Country; for the Ground in Pennsylvania, is the Ground they came out of. Brother-You know when they first left us, they went only a hunting, though at too great a distauce from us, to a place where an evil Spirit reigned, where they lost themselves by the instigation of that evil Spirit, whose cunning and power they could not resist. Brother-I cannot help thinking, that their Thoughts must be often bent towards their Mother Country; as it is most natural for all sorts of People,to love that Ground best from which they first sprung. Brother-We remember very well how kindly you received our forefathers, when they first arrived in this Country. You secured their ships to the bushes, and kindled up a fire for them,and you entertained them with the best you had; and you must remember the mutual friendship that subsisted between us since that time; North, will be now entirely dispelled, as the greater and I hope those black Clouds, that came from the part of them already are. We shall then see one andone the better; and I assure you, nothing shall be other with a great deal of pleasure, and the sooner it is wanting on my part, towards perfecting this good work. In confirmation of which, I give you this Belt. [Gave a Belt.] of our Children that yet remain among the Indians. I Brother-I must put you in mind, at this opportunity, should be extremely glad to see as many of them as you can possibly bring; and as you are a wise man, you know that will give great satisfaction to me, my CounAt a Conference with the Indians at the Governor's House, cil, Assembly, and all the good People of the Province. 25th March, 1758. PRESENT-The Hon. William Denny, Esq. Lieutenant Governor; William Logan, Richard Peters, Lynford Lardner, Esquires; the same Indians as before; Conrad Weiser, Esq.; Isaac Still, Interpreter. The Governor, addressing himself to Teedyuscung, and the Indians, spoke as follows: Brother Teedyuscung-1 fully expected I should have been able to have given you an answer to the request you made, respecting the assistance you wanted from this Government, in being supplied with proper Ministers, School-masters and Council, at your Indian Towns. I laid your request immediately before the Assembly, and they sent me word, that as it was an affair of such importance, they would take time to consider it well, and give me an answer. This they have not as yet done; and as you have acquainted me, that your Messengers are very uneasy to return to inform the Indians of what has passed here, I must, for the present, defer giving you an answer to what you then desired; but you may depend on it, that every thing this Government engaged to do at Easton, they will faithfully perform-what they are now considering, is only the method of doing it. This is my answer to what you mentioned the other day. Brother-You may remember I told you, on Wednesday last, that although I had then fully answered the Mess ges you had brought me from the Indian Country, yet I had something more to say to you. [A String.] Brother-You may remember that at first, when the Clouds were beginning to be dispelled, a lit le Foot Path was opened, by Fort Allan to Wyoming, for our Messengers to pass through with Messages; but as now Indians on Susquehannah, I think it necessary to open the Clouds are entirely dispelled between us and the a Great Road; that is, from Diahogo, and the heads of the Susquehannah, down to Fort Augusta, called by the Indians Shamokin; where you will always find protection in your Road to Philadelphia. [A Belt.] [N.B. Teedyuscung expressing some dissatisfaction at this proposal-the Governor added, that it was only a proposal to him to consult the Indians at Wyomink upon, and then he might give an answer, after knowing their minds.] Brother-I have now done; and shall, without delay, lay before his Majesty's Commander-in-Chief, and Sir Will am Johnson, the gentleman appointed to transact Indian Affairs in this district, all that has passed between us; and I make no doubt, but the resolutions of the Indians, with regard to the French, will be very agreeable to them; and they will immediately transmit it to his Majesty, who will be exceedingly pleased. BEEF. The premium Ox, slaughtered by Mr. Anthony Wilhelm on Friday last, weighed as follows: Beef,....... .1,378 pounds. Rough tallow,. 175 Hide,.. 128 Heart,. 93 Brother-I think proper that our Peace Belt, that I gave you the other day, should be sent with the greatest dispatch, and in the safest manner you can, to the Indian Towns on the Ohio, and the other Towns who [Millon Advocate.] Total,....... 1,690 1831.] SUSQUEHANNA AND PELAWARE. In looking over a file of the Pennsylvania Chronicle for 1768, we met with the following remarks, on the improvement of the Schuylkill, and connecting the Susquehanna and Delaware; which subjects at present Occupy so much attention. It is sometimes interesting to compare the views of past and present generations, NAVIGATION OF THE SUSQUEHANNA AND DELAWARE RIVERS. It is a fact indisputedly certain, that what port soever on this continent can acquire the greatest share of its inland commerce, must proportionably advance in riches and importance; as whether manufactures be established or not, it is evident that no civilized people ever existed without having occasion, both for imports and exports of considerable value. 99 time and expense, many inconveniencs; it often debauches their morals, lessens their industry when at home, tempts their servants to commit disorders, and takes off that decorum which the eye of a wise man always produces among his dependants; so that every attempt to facilitate carriage may be considered as a moral as well as political advantage. Our great and wise founder was a man of views suf ficiently extensive to be convinced of the possibility and utility of this scheme. His atttempts to settle the city on the banks of that river are well known, and tho' the short date of his life, and incumbered situation of his affairs, rendered his design abortive; yet the judg ment of so great a man, may, I hope, be a means of procuring those proposals a fair and impartial consideration. The navigation of the Schuylkill has already attracted the attention of the legislature; but their attempt having consisted chiefly in clearing the passage through the rocks at the falls, the river is thereby rendered shallower above those obstructions, and the nav Although this city has hitherto had a large share of the trade of this continent, yet the continuance of those advantages seems to depend on a vigorous exertion of those powers kind Providence has put in our hands.-igation rather less practicable than before, the depth of The vicinity of the navigable parts of Potomac, &c. to the Ohio, and the extensive navigation from New York to Lake Ontario, seems to call loudly to us to exert ourselves to preserve the advantages, the industry and virtue our ancestors have gained, and to prevent the important commerce of the inland parts of this continent from taking a different turn. The Schuylkill is a channel properly adapted, by Providence, for a communication between the rivers Delaware and Susquehanna; and the making an easy and commodious navigation, as far as possible, up that stream, is an object that deserves our serious attention, and is certainly much more practicable than many seem to imagine. It has been asserted, in the Chronicle, that the best way into the Indian country, is by Fort Augusta [Shamokin], as the west branch of Susquehanna is many miles nav gable; and the straightening our roads and moderating the rate of ferriage have been well recommended therein, as measures absolutely necessary to preserve the commerce of our back counties, to this city, from which they receive protection. But the project in question would most effectually advance both these useful and advantageous designs; for the town of Reading being only fifty-three miles from Harris' Ferry, is consequently nearer to a great part of the country beyond the Susquehanna, than Baltimore, or any other southern part; and had that town a constant and ready communication by water with this city, it would be, I suppose, as good a market in all respects: And if some of the principal ferries on Susquehanna were at the same time made free, there is no doubt but most of the commerce of those counties would center there. water being insufficient for vessels of any burden, except in great freshes, and then the natural rapidity of the current renders the passage downwards very dangerous, and the return almost impracticable; besides as these freshes seldom happen but in spring and fall, and not always then, so precarious a navigation is of very little consequence. Some have thought that contracting of the stream might be a means of improvement; but as that could only be done by deepening the channel, in the best of the current; and as the bottom of the river is hard, and in some places rocky, and the distance great, such an attempt appears to me impracticable, and not likely to answer the intended design; for the velocity of the current would be thereby vastly increased, and the content of the water proportionably lessened, and rendered too shoal and rapid to admit vessels of any burden going down, much less returning: And as such a channel would be very small, compared with the body of the river, when raised by large freshes, the crookedness of the stream would, at such times, occasion its being filled up in many places, and the work be to do over again every year. The only possible method effectually to compass this desirable event, is that which is so frequently practised in England and elsewhere, viz. the moderating the current, and deepening the water by a number of dams across the river, accommodated with sluices or locks, to give passage up and down to flats or rafts, as often as occasion requires. It has been delivered as the opinion of good judges, that the surface of the water at Reading is not more than sixty feet perpendicular above the head of the tide; but admitting it should prove one hundred feet, yet sixteen dams, each six feet high, would reduce the water to a sufficient depth and stagnation, as only six feet descent, in near one hundred miles, must make the current very moderate and passible up or down with the greatest case. How important soever these considerations may appear at present, they are extremely trivial compared with what may probably be the case in succeeding ages, when all the interval of the mountains, the shores of Ontario and Erie, and the extensive plains of Ohio, I am not much acquainted with the charge of making &c. &c. may be filled with people, whose necessaries, dams, but should think six thousand pounds abundantconveniencies, or luxuries must be a perpetual fund of ly sufficient to erect one over the Schuylkill, with employment and wealth to the sea-ports with which proper sluices for the purpose of navigation; at which they communicate. And as many of the wide extend-computation the cost of sixteen dams, amounts to ninety ed branches of Susquehannah, are or may be made navigable, a communication may be thereby opened from this city, of greater extent and consequence than can be easily conceived. But were our attention only extended, at present, to that part of the province situated on this side that river, the country along Schuylkill and above Reading is naturally very valuable, and would be more so, did not their excessive distance from markets reduce the value of their produce, and discourage the improvements which industry, constantly attentive to these objects alone, would certainly and soon produce. The taking our farmers from their habitations to come long journies to market, has besides the loss of six thousand pounds. And considering the fertility of the land along that river, and the very great extent of country above Reading, the trade of which would cer tainly and soon centre there; the quantity of goods transported downwards annually, may be computed at fifteen thousand ton, and five thousand ton returned: Allowing therefore a dollar per ton for toll to the proprietors of the navigation, it would amount to seven thousand five hundred pounds per annum; from which deduct five hundred pounds for the charge of collecting; the remaining seven thousand pounds amounts to seven per cent. interest upon the computed charges of erecting the works: And as the dams would produce very valuable seats for mills, the profits arising from that |