Senate

, which was seconded by De Witt Clinton, and
passed unanimously; it was then immediately sent
to the Assembly, and also passed there without oppo-
sition. These commissioners made several reports,
all which are likely in thy possession; the joint reso-
lution was dated 15th March, 1810. After the war,
it seemed necessary to excite the attention of the
legislature to the prosecution of the grand canal.
Judge Platt being in the city in 1816, we conversed
on the subject, and were of opinion, that it would
likely produce a good effect, if a general meeting
of our citizens could be had, and they be induced to
present a memorial to the legislature, stating the
advantages that would result, by connecting the
waters of the Great Western and Northern Lakes
with the Atlantic Ocean. On consulting with De
Witt Clinton and John Swartwout, it was agreed to
address circular letters to several of our most influ-
ential citizens, requesting them to attend a regular
meeting at the City Hotel. This meeting was large
and respectable, and Judge Platt introduced the object
for which the meeting was convened, and was fol-
lowed by Clinton, Swartwout, and others. A com-
mittee consisting of De Witt Clinton, J. Swartwout,
and myself, were appointed to draft a memorial—
this was drawn by De Witt Clinton, and was cer-
tainly one of the most able and best drawn papers,
that has been written on the subject, of the advanta-
ges that would result by completing a canal the
whole route from Erie to the Hudson. Copies of this
memorial were sent to thyself, for the county of
Ontario, and also to several others of the counties,
and when they were presented to the legislature
were signed by many thousands of our citizens
throughout the state; and the prosecution of the
canal is certainly owing to the circumstance of this
memorial being at that time presented to the legisla-
ture.

The remarks made in Watson

's book, page 73, as