suis venu saluer à mon tour cette statue de la Liberté, hommage d'une République à une République sœur, d'un pays libre et ami à un pays ami et libre. A la Liberté, Messieurs, à la Liberté qui éclaire le monde ! SPEECH OF COUNT FERDINAND DE LESSEPS. Before separating, Count DE LESS EPS was called upon, and, in a few words, returned thanks for the reception accorded to himself and the other members of the French delegation. Speaking of the Panama Canal, he said: I am very glad to say, that the prejudices which existed in the minds of the citizens of America have disappeared, and that a proper understanding of the MONROE doctrine now prevails. Strange as it may seem, I do not think they have heretofore had a clear understanding of that doctrine, although it is claimed to be American. I happened to enter diplomatic life at the time this doctrine first started, at a Congress held in 1822 or 1823, when I was a very young man, and when Mr. CANNING, Of England, and two or three other distinguished diplomats met, and papers were drawn upon the subject, which I, then commencing my diplomatic career, was instructed to copy. A proper understanding of that famous doctrine would show, that, so far from interfering with it in any way, such a canal as that projected has no bearing whatever upon the subject, unless it be, indeed, to carry the doctrine out. [Applause.] At the conclusion of Count DE LESSERS' speech, the President declared the entertainment at an end. The company then separated. Monthly Meeting, Thursday, November 4, 1886. A regular monthly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held this day, at one o'clock, P. M., at the Rooms of the Chamber, on Nassau-street, between Cedar and Liberty streets. PRESENT. JAMES M. BROWN, President. CHARLES S. SMITH, First Vice-President. And a quorum of members. The minutes of the last regular meeting, held October 7, were read and approved. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES. Mr. CHARLES S. SMITH, in behalf of the Executive Committee, reported the following named candidates for membership, and recommended their election: ALFRED W. BATES, WILLIAM BROWN, THEOPHILUS D. HAZARD, JAMES STILLMAN, LUCIEN C. WARNER, RICHARD M. WALTERS, Nominated by WILLIAM H. LYON. HENRY HENTZ. JAMES TALCOTT. FRANCIS B. THURBER. These gentlemen were, on one ballot, unanimously elected members of the Chamber. Mr. SMITH Submitted a communication from the Pensacola Board of Trade and Exchange, dated Pensacola, Fla., September 20, 1886, inviting the appointment of delegates to represent the Chamber at the Convention of the " American Shipping and Industrial League," to be held at that city on the 10th instant. On recommendation of the Executive Committee the invitation was unanimously accepted, and the President authorized to appoint two delegates to attend the Convention. The President thereupon appointed Messrs. AMBROSE SNOW and A. FOSTER HIGGINS. Mr. GUSTAV SCHWAB, in behalf of the Committee on Foreign Commerce and the Revenue Laws, reported the following preamble and resolution: Whereas, The Chamber of Commerce of the State of New-York has learned with interest that a system of cables is about to be constructed, under the auspices of "La Compagnie Telegraphique des Antilles" and "The Pedro Segundo American Telegraph and Cable Company," whereby direct cable communication is to be established between this country and Brazil, connecting at the French Colonies with France; and Whereas, The strong friendly relations which have so long existed between France, Brazil and the United States of America, and the commercial benefits which will be derived by our citizens from such construction render it proper that this body should take some action in the matter; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That this Chamber hereby expresses its gratification that the construction of such cables is about to be made, and its appreciation of the substantial aid and encouragement given by the Government of the Republic of France to an undertaking which will prove so beneficial to the citizens of the respective countries engaged in conducting commercial business therewith. Mr. SCHWAB stated that the preamble and resolution had been considered and approved by the Committee. Thereupon, on motion of Mr. FRANCIS B. THURBER, they were unanimously adopted. Mr. A. FOSTER HIGGINS, Chairman of the Committee on the Harbor and Shipping, reported the following resolutions: Resolved, That this Chamber hereby reiterates its mature judgment in favor of the bill constituting a Commission for New-York Harbor and its waters, which was introduced at the request of this Chamber, was passed by the United States Senate, and is now pending in the House, as a measure absolutely required by the peculiar geographical and legal conditions of this national gateway from the ocean. Resolved, That experience of a nature to be deplored has taught, that no reliance can be placed upon any or all measures, short of this, to protect our channels from serious dangers, and our coasts and the ocean frontages, now so largely sources of health and enjoyment to all citizens, from the destructive effects of dumping garbage, offal and other offensive matter, in total disregard of law. Resolved, That whilst entertaining the highest respect and confidence in the ability of our Engineer Corps, in all matters relating to that profession, we deem the combined judgment of the Navy and Professors of the Coast Survey, with that of the Engineers, together with civilians representing the respective States adjoining, as prudent business wisdom, and of a value not to be thrown aside for any consideration; and we therefore earnestly request the passage of the bill in question. Mr. FREDERICK A. CONKLING opposed the resolutions, on the ground that a change in the present supervision and method of improving the harbor was unnecessary, as the United States Engineer Corps were, in his opinion, competent to deal with the problem. Messrs. A. FOSTER HIGGINS, CHARLES S. SMITH, NATHANIEL NILES and HENRY HENTZ advocated the creation of a Commission, as provided for in the bill to protect and improve the harbor. The question was taken, and the resolutions were adopted, with but one dissenting vote. Mr. HIGGINS further reported the following communication he had received from the Hon. WILLIAM C. ENDICOTT, Secretary of War, requesting the Chamber of Commerce to present, in writing, a definite plan, which should express the views and wishes of the Chamber, and which should also embody any objection to the plans of the Engineer Corps, for the improvement of the harbor of New-York: SIR: WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, October 20th, 1886. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 15th of October, when I requested, in my letter of the 11th instant, that you would forward any plans and documents you might wish to send, so that the matter could be looked into, before making an appointment for a personal interview. Perhaps I should have added, that it seemed important to me that there should be presented to the Department some definite plan, which should express the views and wishes of your Chamber, and which should embody, also, any objection to the plans of the Engineers for the improvement of New-York harbor. Many newspaper articles have been sent to me, criticizing and condemning the Engineers' plans, and I think that any objections thereto which your Committee may desire to present should be submitted in writing. I may also add, that communications as to plans and schemes of improvement are, when made orally, difficult to remember, and, before acting upon them, they must, necessarily, be the subject of much examination and study. Therefore, it would seem best that such communications should be presented in writing, in order that they may be perfectly understood. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. FOSTER HIGGINS, Esq., Chairman, &c., Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York. Mr. HIGGINS submitted the following draft of a letter he had prepared in reply to the Secretary of War, setting forth the views of the Chamber on the subject: NEW-YORK, November 4th, 1886. To the Hon. WILLIAM C. ENDICOTT, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.: SIR,-In compliance with your wish, as expressed in your favors of the 11th and 20th ultimo, I proceed to state to you briefly the views of the Chamber of Commerce, and of this Committee, upon the subject of "Permanent Improvement of the sea entrance of the Harbor of New-York." The harbor's entrance is confined by the land barriers of Long Island on the north, and New-Jersey on the south; Coney Island forming the nearest extension of the former, and Sandy Hook that of the latter, at the points of the narrowest part of the entrance. The distance between Sandy Hook and Coney Island, in a line due north from the point of the Hook, is seven and one-twelfth miles, and the distance is about the same from the point of the Hook, northeast, to the shoal water of Rockaway Inlet, five miles further east. This triangle, formed by the point of the Hook, Coney Island and the projection of Long Island at Rockaway Inlet, constitutes the practical entrance to New-York. The entrance varies in depth, by reason of shoals lying across the same, from a few feet to ten fathoms. There are, embraced in this entrance, five distinct channels, as follows, beginning at Coney Island: Each and all of these channels are in active and constant use, according to the route desirable to pursue, and the draft of water required by the vessel. It may be assumed, that vessels requiring over fifteen feet draft, generally use the fourth and fifth channels, whilst all others may use the first, second or third, as required, and as most convenient and adapted. The greatest available draft of water to be relied on as obtainable at all times and states of tides cannot be stated as more than twenty-four feet. For all exceeding this, a favorable condition of tide and weather must be sought and awaited, to avoid serious danger. Of the entire shipping owned by citizens of the United States, the |