162 LETTER. 



national strength, by increasing the number of our most efficient 

 seamen. 



Among these memorials, you will find one from Albany, dated 

 October 19th, 1827, and signed by his excellency Nathaniel 

 Pitcher, lieutenant-governor of the state of New York, the hon- 

 ourable Erastus Root, speaker of the house of representatives, 

 and by nearly all the members of the legislature. 



I have also the honour of transmitting to you three other memo 

 rials: the first is dated Charleston, South Carolina, May 31st, 

 1827, and signed by the mayor of the city, President of the 

 Chamber of Commerce, and by a very long list of respectable 

 citizens. The second is dated Raleigh, North Carolina, Decem- 

 ber 24th, 1827, and contains the signatures, of his excellency 

 James Iredell, governor of the state; the honourable B. Yancy, 

 speaker of the senate; the honourable James Little, speaker of 

 the house of commons ; and by a large proportion of the members 

 of each branch of the legislature. The third memorial is dated 

 Richmond, Virginia, January 1st, 1828, and is sustained by a 

 number of respectable citizens : by the honourable Linn Banks, 

 speaker of the house of delegates, and by a large and very 

 respectable number of the members of the legislature^ 



With the above papers, I send you for reference, in like man- 

 ner, the following preamble and resolution, adopted by the house 

 of delegates of the sj;ate of Maryland, which I have had in my 

 possession, but which has never been officially introduced into 

 this house ; 



" Whereas foreign nations have long turned their attention 

 towards the acquirement of a more perfect knowledge of the 

 geography of the earth, by means of voyages of discovery, and 

 by these exertions have not only acquired reputation, but extended 

 the weight of their influence, opened new channels for commer- 

 cial enterprise, nd benefited the human race* by enlarging and 



