common talents of the author. It was signed by
many thousands in the city, and throughout the
state. With the Legislature, it had the desired effect,
and was the means of establishing the canal policy
on a firm basis, and producing the law of 15th of
April, 1817, directing the work to be commenced,
which was accordingly done on the 4th of July
following.

From the period of presenting the first report of
the commissioners to the legislature, in 1812, to the
passing of the act of 1817, (excepting two years of
the war with England

) I attended the several ses-
sions of the Legislature, for the purpose of interesting
the members in the great project of the proposed
canal, from Lake Erie to the Hudson River. De Witt
Clinton, and myself, were uniformly engaged in
using every means in our power, by distributing
pamphlets, and endeavouring to explain to the mem-
bers, the great value and importance of such a canal,
and showing them the great advantages the state
would derive, as to its agricultural and commercial
improvements, and the increase of revenue, from tolls.
We were encouraged to pursue further exertions, by
procuring an act, in 1813, which authorized the com-
missioners to obtain a loan of five millions of dollars,
to enable the state to prosecute the grand under-
taking. This act was afterwards repealed, and
nothing further was done during the war, and from
the period of the termination, until the meeting held
at the City Hotel, in the latter part of the year 1815.
The friends of the plan were much discouraged, in
consequence of the violent opposition it met with
from men not capable of forming a correct judgment
as to the practicability of the work.

From the year 1810, I devoted most of my time, in
endeavouring, in connexion with De Witt Clinton

,
and Robert Fulton, to enlighten the public mind,
respecting it, by publishing pamphlets, essays in
newspapers, &c. &c.