185 
my memory is correct. Here lassitude, inattention, or want 
of knowledge in several public functionaries, afforded spec¬ 
ulation a fair opportunity to sink the reputation of our state 
to an extent, not at first view easily to be imagined. From 
the port of New-York there has been shipped for several 
years past, rising of four hundred thousand barrels of flour, 
some times more. The largest portion of which has been 
manufactured in our state. Agreeably to the u prices cur¬ 
rent/’ and quotations in our public prints, our state has 
been a loser of at least half a million of dollars for several 
years past, in succession. 
Gentlemen ! can it be considered in any other light than 
highly disadvantageous to this state, to suffer its principal 
staple to remain in its present state of depression ? Com¬ 
merce as well as agriculture is deeply interested in the re¬ 
putation of the article in question. I have purposely de¬ 
clined availing myself of the universal murmurs of the bak¬ 
ers in this city. Many of our greatest shippers have loudly 
complained. Several who are manufacturers, are desirous 
of a reform, being firmly convinced themselves, that such 
mal-practice is highly detrimental to the permanent interest 
of this state. 
Before this paper is concluded, I beg leave to mention a 
circumstance of some moment to millers residing westward 
in our state. For several years past I have seen large quan¬ 
tities of their flour arriving in this market in a spoiled state, 
and sold at considerable loss. I had a fair opportunity to 
examine such flour when I was deputy inspector with Wm. 
Jones ; a great deal of it was from wheat of a superior qual¬ 
ity. It was not my province to proffer a remedy ; that, I 
always considered to be the duty of those who were honor¬ 
ed with the appointment time after time. Why neither 
have attempted to do justice to those persons, as well as to 
the state generally, is best known to themselves the remedy 
is easy and simple. 
The Society, it is hoped, will feel an interest in the sub- 
