1832.] REPORT ON CANAL COMMISSIONERS. the location of the Philadelphia and Columbia rail-road, between the Little and Big Conestoga bridges. * 30. Relative to the records of the appraisers of damages. 31. Relative to certain turnpike road companies. Fifty-five private. All marked thus (*) are not signed, in consequence of the indisposition of the Governor; those marked thus (†) are signed, but not formally returned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. FRIDAY, MARCH 23. Report of the Committee appointed to investigate the of ficial conduct of the Canal Commissioners. The Select committee, to whom was referred the petitions of sundry inhabitants of this commonwealth, praying for an investigation of the conduct of the canal commissioners, report: county; on the 13th of June, Messrs. Stevenson and Mitchell, (Mr. Clarke being sick) at Wilkesbarre; on the 25th at Northumberland; on the 29th at Williamsport; on the 11th of July at Franklin, in Venango; on the 19th at Beaver; on the 27th at Pittsburg; and on the 30th at Holidaysburg, in Huntingdon county. It was here they heard that their letter of the 11th of communications to them, had miscarried; and Mr. MitJuly, directed to the engineer at Wilkesbarre, and his chell immediately hastened on to Northumberland. On the 5th of August he arrived, and on the 10th made a contract for the repair of part of the dam. It is unnecessary to state the progress of this work. It was pressed on with all possible zeal, by Mr. Mitchell, as his letters and acts clearly prove; and in addition to numerous other difficulties, the waters were unusually high the whole season. Your committee are therefore satisfied that the charge of negligence is not supported. The 2d charge is that of partiality, in giving to Lee and Shriner a contract for extending the schute of the Shamokin dam. It appears that James Lee and John Shriner, jr. put two proposals, which are exhibited to the committee by the superintendent, in the following terms: 1st. For schute, per lineal foot, including all necessary work, coffer dams and excavation, that may be necessary, $9. That they have heard and examined all the evidence exhibited by the petitioners, in support of the two fol-in lowing charges against said commissioners. It was alleged: 1st, That said commissioners had been guilty of gross negligence in not procuring the Shamokin dam to be repaired in the summer and autumn of 1831. 2d. That they exercised undue favoritism and partiality in awarding to Lee and Shriner, a contract for extending the schute of the Shamokin dam, on the 10th day of August last. In support of these charges, the petitioners proved that the said dam was broken and materially injured by an ice flood, on or about the 6th of March, 1831; that two of the canal commissioners, Messrs. Stevenson and Mitchell, met at Northumberland on the 25th of June, and had the dam examined by Mr. Ferguson, one of their engineers; that soon after, they advertised that proposals for repairing said dam would be received at Wilkesbarre, a distance of sixty miles, until the 20th of July; that people went up to put in proposals, but there On the 5th of was no person there to make contracts. August, Mr. Mitchell came again to Northumberland, and on the 10th made a contract with Doctor Petrikin, which, after some little work was done, was abandoned on the 25th of September; and on the 1st of October a new contract was made with Saxton & Co. They proved also, that between the 1st of June and the 1st of August, new work, in almost every part of the State, was put under contract. To those unacquainted with all the facts, there might have been strong evidence of neglect on the part of the commissioners, but on examining the whole case, it is clear the petitioners upon this point have no just cause of complaint. The commissioners named in the petitions, James Clarke and John Mitchell, are zealous friends of internal improvement, and have exhibited evidence of uncommon industry and perseverance in the prosecution of their duties. By the act of 21st March, 1831, the commissioners are directed "to complete the first twenty miles of the Philadelphia and Columbia rail-road, proceeding from Philadelphia westwardly, &c. with the least possible delay;" and by the same act, immense improvements in different parts of the state, and embracing the extreme ends of it, are directed to be immediately laid out, put under contract, and prosecuted with vigor. Uncommon labor and toil were required of them. A few facts only need be stated. 2d. For cribbing the schute, stoning and coffer dams alone, per lineal foot, $6 50. M'Carty and Co, made a proposal in the following terms: For the schute cribbing, stoning and coffer dam alone, $7 25 per lineal foot. The contract was given to Lee and Shriner at $9 per foot, and is expressed in the body of the agreement in these words, to wit: "The said Lee and Shriner engage to furnish all the materials, which shall be in such quantity and of such quality as shall be approved by the engineer on said division, and perform all the labor necessary to construct, in the most substantial and workmanlike manner, the continuation of the schute in the Shamokin dam, connecting with the walls of the present schute, and extending down as far as it may be deemed necessary and directed by the engineer in charge of said division, including flooring and all other items of work that may be found necessary to complete the Lord Butler, the superintendent, says: "Lee's same." bid of $9 a foot was considered best. It settled the whole amount of expense; he could have been called on to clean out gravel and blow out rock, and timber and gravel were removed by Lee." He says: "The flooring was dispensed with," it being found "not necessary." Your committee remark that the flooring, if required, would have cost a considerable sum, but they have no means of ascertaining the amount with any precision. They suppose it might have been between 500 and $1000. The new part of the schute is 332 feet by 60, and would require about 20,000 feet of plank, beside several thousand feet of large timber. Lee and Shriner say, "they took out a good deal of timber, stone, and gravel, from the bottom of the schute. were very convenient, and were used for filling the cribbing; the gravel was boated down to the deep waThe quantity was not stated. ter." were employed several days." The stone "Several boats Mr. Ferguson, the engineer, stated that "Lee and Shriner's proposal at $6 50, was for the same work as M'Carty and Co's. at 7 25 per foot;" but that " M'Carty and Co's. proposals were accompanied with some The commissioners found it necessary to allot certain matters not in accordance with the specifications, and days for the transaction of business in different parts of he did not see how they could be received." He furthe state, allowing as little time for travelling as possi- ther stated that "the work done by Lee and Shriner ble. Accordingly, in April, they proceeded to the Del- was no more than proposed to be done by M'Carty and aware division; on the 4th of May they met in Philadel- Co. for $7 25 per foot," that he was not conscious the phia; on the 11th at Downingtown; on the 18th at Co-word "flooring" was in the contract of Lee and Shrilumbia; on the 25th at Ebensburg, in Cambria county; ner, and he gave the following estimate without noticing on the 1st of June at Williamsburg, in Huntingdon that item: CANAL OFFICE, SIR-I certify the following to be a correct return of For excavating gravel at tail of schute, and for filling in part of old crib, (at estimate of engineer,) 125 $6101 From the foregoing facts it is evident the canal commissioners, in the exercise of a sound discretion, were perfectly justified in giving the preference to Lee and Their contract covered every thing that was contemplated, and left nothing for extra charges. Shriner. Suffice it that the conditions and sentiments of the respective people are so widely different, that many arguments might be urged against its adoption. It is alluded to simply as an historical fact, to explain the original cause of that intellectual poverty, which now unhappily distinguishes our labouring poor, and how this might have been prevented by an early compliance with the injunction contained in the "Frame of govern. ment." But notwithstanding the inertness of the assembly, we shall presently see that an uncommon zeal for learning was manifested in the establishment of private seminaries; but partly from their situation in the city, and partly from the indigence or parsimony of the people, their benefits were partial, and their operation circumscribed. Usefulness and industry were inculcated by the founder, as the primary duties of a citizen; and it was agreed upon in England, as fundamental law, that tion, and arts, that all wicked and scandalous living there should exist "a committee of manners, educamay be prevented, and that youth may be successively trained up in virtue, and useful knowledge, and arts." In 1683, the year of Penn's arrival, an elementary private school was established at Philadelphia, under the superintendence of one Enoch Flower. Proud has preserved in his history, a record of his charges, which hardly exceeding the means of the poorest colonist. A were only £10 a year for boarding and tuition, a sum This contract with Lee and Shriner is very compre- ted, was opened in 1689,-only six years after the arseminary, the principal of those subsequently incorporahensive. It placed the contractors wholly in the pow-rival of Penn, for teaching the elementary branches of er of the officers. The latter could exact from the former an amount of labor that would deprive them of all profit, or by dispensing with some expensive and perhaps useless items, could give them a lucrative job. If this be a specimen of contracts generally, it behoves contractors to be subservient to superintendents and engineers. A breath may make or ruin them. But although your committee readily acquit the commissioners from all censure in relation to this charge, yet they are constrained to think there is some defect in the present mode of making contracts and carrying them into execution. By the act of 6th April, 1830, "the engineers are to make the estimates of work done for payment;" and by the 3d section of said act, "the superintendent is to settle and pay the accounts of contractors, and return their accounts to the Auditor General for settlement." The canal commissioners are not invested with power of supervision or correction; the estimate is exhibited to the superintendent, who settles his accounts with the Auditor General. If, then, any mistake has been committed in this transaction, upon which the committee do not intend to express an opinion, the commissioners are not chargeable with it. Your committee are satisfied that the petitioners have not sustained either of the charges submitted to their consideration, and therefore offer the following resolu tion: Resolved, That the committee be discharged from the further consideration of the subject. From "The Friend." The Indian Languages and Pennsylvania History. (Concluded from page 251.) the mathematics, and something of English and Latin This literary relic is announced in the title page as the production of Daniel Leeds, Student in Agriculture. To this neglect of common seminaries in the early periods of Pennsylvania, are we to ascribe the present immense difference in mental cultivation, between the indigent and laboring classes of this state, and those of New England. No sooner had the pilgrims landed upon the rock at Plymouth, than they resolved to diffuse The contents of this treatise may be collected in the blessings of literary instruction at the public ex-part from the title page: "A Trumpet sounded out of pense, with a liberality, and in a degree which might the wilderness of America, which may serve as a warnchallenge comparison with any country in ancient or ing to the government and people of England, to bemodern times. Indeed, the cause of education must ware of Quakerism; wherein is shown how in Pennever flourish when sustained by legislative patronage, sylvania and there away, where they have the governespecially if offered in a way, and with a delicacy, ment in their own hands, they hire and encourage men which forbid rejection. It is far from our present pur- to fight; and how they persecute, fine, and imprison, pose to discuss the question, or insist upon the proprie- and take away goods for conscience sake: By Daniel ty of introducing a similar system into Pennsylvania. Leeds." lished at Philadelphia, under the auspicies of Dr. Franklin, in 1741. This is said to be the first literary journal ever published in the United States. Our readers will readily excuse our omitting even the names of those who acquired a reputation in the departments of divinity and politics; it is enough to say, that the concerns of church and state proved to be fruitful topics of ingenuity and learning, of acrimony and heat. 263 ties, enter into the volumes published. These are to be found, and very fully, in the Register of Pennsylvania. The Editor seems to be a devoted antiquarian, and treasures up with fond and scrupulous care, every fact and every anecdote which conversation or reading can collect, illustrative of common and public life. His design seems to embrace every thing, whether small or great, which is necessary to a complete development of the physical and intellectual, the natural and artificial history of Pennsylvania. It is difficult to imagine or refer to any event relating to the transactions of Pennsylvania upon which an accession of light has not been thrown. We cordially commend him for uncommon diligence in the accumulation of rare and curious knowledge. It thus appears that two schools and a printing press were established almost before the settlers had time to provide shelter from the inclemency of the weather, and while on every side lay a howling and interminable wilderness. The colony of Pennsylvania being earlier than her sister provinces in the introduction of printing, she may be considered before them in the promotion of literature. In Massachusetts, eighteen years elapsed To this catalogue of productions upon the subject of from the period of the first settlement, before she could our domestic annals, must be added the three formal boast of a press; seventy years passed in New York histories by Proud, Gordon, and Ebeling. Of the first without witnessing this engine of refinement; and it was we shall say but little. Time has placed it where it not till a later period, that it was introduced into other properly belongs, to a class of works, the result of hoprovinces. In some of the colonies, most strenuous'ef- nesty and perseverance, which the philosophic historiforts were made by the agents of the parent country, to an, the antiquarian, the searcher into minute and insuprevent the diffusion of knowledge, as injurious to her lated events, rejoices to discover. It is excellent as a interests and authority. "I thank God," says Sir Wm. book of reference-without an intentional error-the Berkely, in his twenty-third report upon Virginia, sixty-reflections sound, though delivered in a style rather sofour years after the settlement of that province, "we have no free schools, nor printing; and I hope we shall not have these hundred years. For learning has brought disobedience, and heresy, and sects into the world; and printing has divulged them, and libels upon the government. God keep us from both." porific-the original documents accurately copied to the letter-the dates unexceptionable-in short, it furnishes a firm basis to a more elegant edifice. It was the object of Gordon to furnish a history superior to such objections, and altogether worthy of the magnitude of the theme, in felicity of style and purity of language. In an age which has produced a Hallam, a Scott, an Irving, and a Lingard, whose labors have imparted to their respective subjects so great a celebrity, we had a right to expect that a new lustre would be shed upon the events of our domestic history. But for ourselves we may say, that we look in vain for those evidences of taste and knowledge, which mellow and diversify the style, refine and expand the sentiments, and impart to each page the richness, elevation, and maturity arising from long addiction to elegant studies. Gordon has no doubt read extensively as a lawyer, but the exclusive study of professional writers, is unpropitious to grace, elegance, or ease. Of the excellent history in German, by Ebeling, it is only necessary to say that the style is agreeable and animated, and that it is a subject of surprise and mortification, there is no inducement held out to a translator." The early writers of provincial Pennsylvania, poetic and prosaic, were numerous. Among them no one is entitled to a more distinguished niche in the temple of fame, than James Logan. He is said to have been a poet in other languages besides his own. A Greek ode has been ascribed to his elegent pen, and it is certain, that he composed playful epistles in Roman numbers. Notwithstanding the activity of his life, having successfully filled the offices of Secretary of the Province, Chief Justice and President of the Council, he found leisure to write several learned treatises in Latin, and to translate into beautiful English the De Senectute of Cicero. The memory of Logan must ever be held in the highest estimation for his extensive knowledge and uncommon virtues. His munificence to Philadelphia in giving to it the Loganian library, has embalmed him in the affections of all. To manners the most urbane and conciliating, he united an erudition extensive and profound; an English style purely classical; and a morality at once un-riod of the revolution, should be a matter of very geneyielding and elevated. Latin poetry found a votary in Thomas Makin, the successor to Keith, as teacher in Friends' Academy. His Encomium Pennsilvania, which appeared in 1728, and his Descriptio Pennsilvania, published in the following year, describe pretty accurately, in no contemptible hexameters and pentameters, the institutions, productions, and scenery of the province. The names of Ralph, whom the caustic couplet of Pope has immortalized, of Beveridge, Godfrey the younger, Nathaniel Evans, and Elizabeth Ferguson, are all worthy of designation as prose or poetic writers, by no means destitute of merit. A reference to the papers of Wharton and Fisher will convince the most incredulous -not that the cacoethes scribendi prevailed to an alarming extent in provincial Pennsylvania-but that it justly claims the merit of possessing a respectable share of taste, in the departments of general composition and fugitive poetry, besides producing the elder Godfrey and a Rittenhouse. A good history of Pennsylvania, including the peral concern. Proud has nominally brought down his narrative to the year 1770, but it is little more than a chronological series of the most striking events, since 1747; and Gordon's terminates with 1775. Ebeling, it is true, has deduced a history to the year 1802. Though very good as a narrative, it is too succinct and general; and does not invest the story of Pennsylvania, during the revolution, with the interest of which it is susceptible. As the chronicles of this era now extant, do not fill the wishes of the public, it is hoped that a continuous narrative from the earliest periods to the most recent times, will be speedily undertaken. It is discreditable to Pennsylvania, that while numerous memoirs and recollections of the times swell the libraries of the other States, she should be without any thing to remember and relate. A reason indeed exists for some mitigation of this censure. Pennsylvania for a long period, lost more completely than the other states her own individuality in a more intimate connexion with the national struggle, and in being originally the seat of the federal government. A national feeling arose, which rendered her comparatively indifferent to the preservation or accnmulation of facts relating exclusively to her own The Memoirs of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, are chiefly composed of original articles contributed by the members. They therefore relate almost exclusively to some portion of our provincial or municipal history, which in the estimation of the writers, had a particular interest or special importance in a historical Du Ponceau began the translation of it, but from or biographical point of view. Little of its statistical want of encouragement relinquished the enterprize. and still less of its ancient customs and local peculiari- | Vide 1 Vol. Hazard's Register of Pennsylvania. sons, or redounding to her municipal reputation. In desiring the want of her revolutionary history supplied, we are not anxious that she should enter the list with those who, of late years, have been contending for the honor of originating the appeal to arms. But she has her own tale, and might give sundry details both curious and instructive. She owes it to herself in vindication against numer-viduals own houses and their contents. They are, as a ous attacks. She owes it to the confederacy as her contingent to a fund of knowledge,common alike to every member. The lives of many of her worthies are but partially known, and some of the most illustrious are mouldering almost without an epitaph. We trust that the task will be undertaken by a pen worthy of its magnitude and splendor; and that while recording its events with independent recklessness and scrupulous honesty, its delicacy and dangers will be remembered and appreciated. J. R. T. From the New York Observer. SKETCHES OF PENNSYLVANIA-2. (Continued from page 255.) PITTSBURG, March 28, 1832. Messrs. Editors-In the south eastern angle of the state, including the city and county of Philadelphia, and the counties of Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware and part of Lancaster, the Friends are numerous. There are also societies or meetings of this denomination scattered in other parts of the state. I know not their whole number, nor exactly what proportion are Orthodox and what proportion Hicksites, but believe that the denomination is about equally divided. The separation which has taken place between the two parties will prove of great benefit to the interests of vital piety. The Methodists are found in a greater or less extent, in every county in the state; so also are the Baptists. I have no means of ascertaining the precise number of either. It is however very considerable. The Methodists are much the most numerous of the two. The Moravians have congregations at Bethlehem, Nazareth,Lititz, Lancaster, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, and a few other places. Their Bishop resides at Bethle hem, and also the superintendent of their affairs. The lands on which their towns stand belong to the General Society, whose centre is Herrnhut, in Germany. Indipeople, remarkable for order sobriety, and industry. In West Pennsylvania there are a number of churches of Covenanters, Seceders or Associate Church, and Unionists, or Associate Reformed Presbyterians. The Roman Catholics are formed most numerously in Philadelphia, and the western part of the state, and chiefly in and about Pittsburg as a centre. They have small chapels however in most of the large towns in the state. The constructing of the numerous canals and roads in this state, during the last ten or fifteen years, has introduced a large number of Catholic Irishmen. There are probably 50 or 60 Episcopal Churches. There are about 335 Presbyterian churches, and 230 ministers,-a: least forty of whom are without charges, being professors or teachers, agents or secretaries of societies, &c. but still preaching more or less, and many of them in vacant congregations. A very considerable number of their churches are small and feeble. The Lord has poured out his Spirit on a goodly number of their churches, as well as upon those of other denomi nations, during the last year. Still revivals are far from being general. There has been an interesting state of things in the first Presbyterian church in this city during the winter. And of some of the other churches, this may be said, in a qualified measure. There are two Presbyterian churches in the city proper; a third is being built in Bayardstown, which is a continuation of the city, up to the southern bank of the Allegheny river, and a fourth in Allegheny town, opposite to Pittsburg, under the labors of the Rev. Job F. Halsey. The edifice of the theological seminary, under the General Assembly, and which is located at Allegheny town, is now occupied by the students, and the work of completing the rooms is going forward. The present number of students is thir ty. This is an important institution for the interests of the Presbyterian church in the Valley of the Mississippi. The German population, which occupies chiefly the On Monday evening of this week there was an inte middle part of the state, is divided into two principal resting annual meeting of the Sabbath-school Associa denominations, viz. the Lutheran and the German tion of the First Presbyterian Church. The report Reformed. Of these, the Lutheran is much the larger. stated that there are eight schools, embracing upwards The Lutherans have two Synods, one in East and one of 600 scholars, and having eighty teachers, belonging in West Pennsylvania. They have a promising theo- to this association. A number of teachers and scholars logical Seminary at Gettysburg, and religion is looking were hopefully converted during the past year. Among up among them. Sabbath schools are being establish- the persons who spoke, was a lawyer who has recently ed, and revivals have occurred in several of their began to think about his soul, and who stated that it was churches during the last year. I scarcely know a de- the remarks of his little daughter, who attends the Innomination in which I feel a more lively interest than fant Sabbath-school, which first led him to reflect deepthe Lutheran. I believe that God is going to do won-ly on his need of religion. Resolutions were passed for ders in it and by it. The German reformed church is also increasing, and the prospects of vital godliness are brightening. Some ministers residing in East Pennsylvania have broken off from this body, and avowed Unitarianism. There are also a few ministers among the Lutherans who are reckoned neological in their doctrines, but they have not so avowed them as to have become subjects of discipline. Besides these denominations among the Germans, there are several minor ones. Among them may be reckoned what are called the United Brethren. I do not mean the Moravians, who were originally called the United Brethren; but another denomination, very similar to our Methodist brethren in doctrine, zeal, and mode of laboring. I know not their numbers. There are a number of congregations of Tunkers in this state. They baptize by three immersions, that is an immersion for each name of the Holy Trinity. In Cambria county, there are two or three congregations of Welsh, who have preaching in their own language at least part of the time. They are a plain, humble, and apparently pious people. establishing Bible classes among the apprentices, in the numerous and extensive manufactories in this place and its vicinity,-and at the close, $120 were subscribed by this association of teachers to enable the American Sunday-school Union to continue the effort which they are making in the Valley of the Mississippi. The persons who compose this association, not long since, subscribed very liberally towards the two years' effort of the society. They seem to be influenced by the right spi rit, and to feel the importance of continually pressing forward. Last night the annual meeting of the West Pennsyl vania Lyceum was held. This institution has establish ed a manual labor school upon a fine farm, about 24 miles from this city, at a place called Zelionople. It has commenced well. It has now 18 or 20 students, and the number is rapidly increasing. It needs some additional buildings and improvements, which I trust will soon be made. It can then accommodate 40 or 50 stu dents, who, if industrious and skilful, can support themselves, with the exception of tuition ($20 per annum,) SELECT COUNCIL.—Mr. DUANE, as chairman of the committee on the Girard fund, made the annexed re ing. port, which was made the order for the next stated meetThe Committee, appointed by the select and Common Councils, of the City of Philadelphia, "to digest a plan for the general management of the bequests of the late Stephen Girard," respectfully report: That, although a specific or limited duty seemed to have been assigned to them, it soon became obvious, that even such a duty could not be performed, without reviewing the entire subject of the testator's will: it was especially necessary to consider the amount devised and bequeathed, the objects of the testator, and the means or agents for accomplishing those objects: When the novelty and magnitude of the subject shall be duly regarded, it is conceived, that these will offer an ample apology, for the postponement of this report, to the present time; indeed, the Committee owe it to themselves to say, that, until the 4th of the present month, such powers had not been conferred by the Legislature, upon the Select and Common Councils, as, the Committee conceived, ought to be possessed, in order that the trusts and duties, created and enjoined by the testator's will, might be duly executed: Now, that those powers are possessed, the Committee for the first time come to the precise recommendation, which will close this report. 1. The amount devised and bequeathed. The Commit- To individuals in his employment, $116,000 7,000 300,000 $563,000 Leaving, it is presumed, after the payment of the collateral inheritance tax, about six millions of dollars, in real and personal estate in Pennsylvania, to the City of Philadelphia-the real estate in Philadelphia subject to annuities amounting to $3900, which will be gradually diminished, and at last extinguished, on the death of the annuitants. 265 the college to be applied to the maintenance and education of the orphans; and as the wants of the establishment shall call for a greater revenue, that revenue is to be derived to its whole extent if needful, from the income of the remaining three millions and a half of dollars; but, until the state of the college shall demand the application of the whole of the said income, it may be applied, to establish a competent police-to improve the general appearance of the city-and, consequently, to reduce the taxes. 3. The means, or agents for carrying those objects into effect. When we consider, the magnitude of the estate thus devised and bequeathed-the deep anxiety which the testator manifested for the strict execution of his designs-and his characteristic caution and prudence in his transactions through life, we cannot but regard, as very remarkable, his omission to designate specifically the agents, who should execute his designs, or the manner in which those agents should be created, or continued. Without doubt, difficulties, in relation to any prescribed organization, presented themselves to a mind, which never contemplated any subject imperfectly, and, rarely, if ever, failed to overcome obstacles: but, in relation to the duties to be performed, after his demise, instead of endeavoring to establish any particular plan, or to guard against abuses and perversions, he solemnly transferred all responsibility of that kind, to the community which was to be so deeply concerned in the result: What compliment, could be greater than this, to those with whom he had lived? What can be a stronger incentive than this, to future communities and their agents, faithfully to perform all that the testator desir ed? The task, therefore, of proposing or establishing a plan, devolves upon the present Councils, under circumstances calculated to create unusual solicitude: reverence for the departed benefactor, and anxiety for those of whom he desired to be for ever the friend, exercise an influence, that needs no further force. But there are still other considerations that claim attention; the testator, as it may be said, on the verge of the grave, emphatically besought his fellow citizens "to observe and evince special care and anxiety in selecting members for the city Councils and other agents;" and it would appear therefore to have been his desire that the responsibilities imposed by his will, should be borne by persons chosen with a view thereto: the present Councils, however, although not chosen since the testator's decease, do not consider themselves at liberty to defer proceedings under it; on the contrary, it seems to be their duty to act according to their own judgment. If, however, the suggestions which under these circumstances the Committee will now make, shall not be found to be such as might have been the result of more mature reflection and inquiry, they feel a pleasure in reflecting that partial alteration or entire change may be proposed by those, in or out of Councils, who, from their experience and public spirit, are at once competent and disposed to serve the community. To bring the subject, therefore, distinctly within the view of Councils and of others, in order that error may be pointed out, or improvement proposed, and not under an impression that the best plan is here presented, the Committee respectfully submit the following propo sitions: 1. There shall be provided, or erected, a suitable 2. The objects of the testator, of the six millions just mentioned, half a million of dollars are to be invested, building, for the accommodation of all the officers-for and the income applied to the formation of a new and the preservation of all the deeds, books, and paperscontinuous avenue or street along the entire eastern and for the transaction of all the business, connected front of the city-to regulate, widen, pave and curb with the trusts and duties created and enjoined by the Water street, in the whole city extent thereof and to Will of the late Stephen Girard: and, until such estaremove, and to prevent the erection, in the city, of wood-blishment shall be in readiness, temporary accommodaen buildings; leaving five millions and a half for pur-dation shall be procured. poses to be now mentioned; of these five millions and a half, two millions in money are devoted to the establishment of a College for orphans, such part of that sum as may not be used in constructing and fitting up VOL. IX. 34 2. There shall be established a Board of Directors of the Girard Trusts, which shall consist of nine individuals, residing in the city of Philadelphia, distinguished for their integrity, intelligence, and public spirit, as well as |