68 Internal Improvements* 



of the western counties now passes either to Montreal 

 by the St. Lawrence, or to New York, by the Bath, 

 Coshecton and Newburgh turnpike, and thence down 

 the Hudson. It is not at all surprising, therefore, that 

 the reports of the treasury should exhibit the decline 

 of Philadelphia, and the rise of New York, in very 

 striking colours. — Before the state of New York be- 

 gan to form roads and canals, Pennsylvania, as an im- 

 porting state, stood in comparison with New York as 

 twelve to seven ; but since New York began to make 

 roads and canals, since even party rancour has been 

 suppressed for this great object, the scale has turned 

 as much against Pennsylvania and for New York, as it 

 was before the reverse. 



What indeed can be a more convincing proof of the 

 intelligence of the New York legislature, and the ig- 

 norance of our own, than these facts : a canal naviga- 

 tion is now completing along the Mohawk : a turnpike 

 road is now forming from Bath to Angelica : at the 

 last session of the legislature of New York, Dewitt 

 Clinton, Gouverneur Morris, Stephen Van Rensellaer, 

 P. B. Porter, Simeon Dewitt, Thomas Eddy and Wil- 

 liam North, all men of talents, of high reputation, and 

 of opposite politics, were appointed a committee to ex- 

 plore the country between the Hudson and lake Erie, 

 and to report to the next legislature such improve- 

 ments as they might think necessary for the internal 

 prosperity of the state, and for securing to the city of 

 New York its present high standing ; these commis- 

 sioners left Albany in June last, and have just returned 

 after performing their duty. What a contrast does 

 this form to our stagnant condition ; not one public 



