402 MEMOIR OF DANIEL TREADWELL. 



To Daniel Treadwell, Esq., Rumford Professor. 



Cambridge, October 7, 1837. 



Mj- dear Sir, — In the many public offices I have held, and in which I have necessarily been 

 the agent for making contracts, on the part of the public, to very great amounts, one principle 

 I early adopted, to which, through my whole life, I have strictly adhered ; never to give any 

 direction to any contract made on behalf of the public, directly or indirectly, proximately or 

 remotely, to my private advantage. It is among the possibilities of future events that the stone 

 of this quarry may not prove satisfactory to the public taste, or that the contractors may not 

 execute well their undertaking, or be dilatory in performing it, in any of which cases the ma- 

 lignity or jealousy of mankind may attribute the selection of the stone or of the contractors to 

 my influence, or to a desire to promote my interests. I wish, therefore, at this stage of the 

 affair, to have a direct statement from you on the point above alluded to. I do not know that 

 the contract is signed, but if it be signed, no work has as yet been done in relation to the com- 

 pletion of it, and I had rather indemnify these contractors to the full amount of any imagined 

 benefit they expect to derive from fulfilling this contract, and induce them to abandon it by 

 paying them out of my private pui^e, than have a single individual of fair mind imbibe the 

 idea that I had been in the slightest degree instrumental in obtaining for these lessees this 

 contract. 



JIv request, therefore, to you, is to reply directly and conscientiously to the following 

 questions, in writing, so that I may possess hereafter a document, which, as far as in the nature 

 of things is possible, shall enable me, if necessary, to repel any such jealousy or malign sus- 

 picion, should they occur : — 



1. In selecting the quarry, or in accepting the contract, has the fact that it was mine had the 

 slightest influence upon the ultimate decision ? 



2. In the course of all the transactions preceding the selection of the quarry or accepting 

 the contract above mentioned, has anything I- have done or said indicated an intention to 

 produce any influence in favor either of the one or the other ? 



I request a direct and unequivocal answer to both those questions, and that it may be given 

 in the most perfect simplicity and singleness of heart. For however unconscious I may have 

 been of the intention, such influence may have been effected, resulting possibly from my mere 

 relation to the subject, in which case I wish now to be apprised of the fact, that, while I yet 

 probably can, I may take such measures as may relieve me from a possible responsibility 

 hereafter, which to me, if it occur, will be very heavy. 



Respectfully, your humble servant, 



JOSIAH QUTNCT. 



Professor Treadwell was requested by Hon. Nathan Hale, President of the Bos- 

 ton and Worcester (now Boston and Albany) Railroad, to investigate the effect 

 of a device affixed to the chimney of the locomotive to prevent the escape of sparks 

 from the burning fuel, which had become a source of annoj-ance, and even danger, 

 to the passengers. The apparatus answered the purpose intended, but was thought 

 to diminish tlie power of the engine. 



As this investigation would require careful observation, it was determined at the 

 same time to obtain facts for the solution of other questions, such as the comparative 



