but for freedom; not for ambition, but for his country. How well and how greatly, let the present condition of the happy vallies and sunny mountains of freedom make answer.

But not even yet had he filled the full measure of his fame. In the pride of victory, in the flush of success, with a devoted soldiery, accustomed to execute his wishes, instead of stooping to the mean ambition of a tyrant, in ruining his country, to elevate himself, he plucked the warrior's plume from his brow, and cast it with his sword at the feet of his country. Oh! how mean and little are the names of Alexander, of Cæsar, of Napoleon, when seen in the light of such a deed as this! Instead of being an effort of his virtue, it was its natural result. Instead of being produced by ambition, it sprung from his ordinary sense of duty. What, to the most gifted, had proved an impracticable virtue, was to him, of facile performance. In no act was he governed by the narrowness of private interest. One general feeling of philanthropy seemed to inspire him, and he continually sought the welfare of his country, with a zeal and assiduity he never exhibited for his own. It is true, he could not have enslaved his country, had he cherished the design. The heroic band he led, would sooner have perished than yielded their assent. But in him, they saw the great example of patriot love; from him they caught the spirit which knew no submission, and held all enemies alike who would injure their country.

He retired to private life, unambitious of further distinction, and well pleased to escape the din and turmoil of his former days. In the seclusion of his retreat he cultivated the quiet arts of peace, without a regret for the past or a sigh for the future. But fame found him here. The privacy of his condition did not obscure its glory, and again his country called him to her aid. The freedom we had won by valor must be preserved by wisdom. Though national independence was secured by the revolution, our political organization was imperfect. We had the materials of freedom, but not its system-the power of self-government, without being well aware of the best means of using it. We had achieved the privilege of self-government, but history furnished no precedent to aid in its exercise. And we stood a people, free indeed, but wanting the ascertained means of self-preservation. The sages and soldiers of the revolution, with the illustrious WASHINGTON at their head, again came forward to meet the high exigency; they were

successful. In a council combining more experience, more patriotism and more intellectual power than the history of ages could shew, they devised a system of government, unique in its character and original in its design, which has answered the high behests of freedom, and stands a beacon light to all the nations of the earth. A numerous people now repose in peace and happiness beneath its power, encouraging by precept and example the diffusion of the benign principles of liberty.

WASHINGTON, Without his own desire, was placed at the head of the new organization, by the voluntary suffrage of the people, and again became charged with the political destiny of his country. His life had been spent in the field, and his achievements were those of a soldier. But such was the nature of the Revolutionary contest, that the most eminent political merit, could alone have given efficiency to the most consummate military skill.-It was a war of opinion-its prosecution and success depended, not upon the coercion of an organized and arbitrary government, but on the voluntary judgment of the people. It was a high school for the civilian as well as the soldier-and admirably was WASHINGTON prepared by it, as well for the duties of the cabinet as the exigencies of the field. He assumed the responsibilities of his new and unprecedented station, and placed himself by the vigor and wisdom of his policy, upon the most enviable heights of political reIf his success as a military chieftain had won the admiration of the world, his wisdom as a statesman secured its highest applause. Having given an impulse and direction to the untried institutions of his country, which will influence their destiny through all coming time, he voluntarily left the lofty station he had filled, and closed his career amidst the peace and happiness of that country he had assisted to elevate and redeem. The fabric of his character was then completed-then was the model, designed by Heaven for the imitation of mankind, brought to its final perfection. Then was the complete idea of freedom exemplified and explained. The mission for which he was sent, was accomplished-and the wide earth may now rejoice in the eventual fulfilment of those purposes of liberty to which his life was consecrated.

nown.

IN ASSEMBLY,

April 24, 1832.

REPORT

Of the committee on trade and manufactures, on the communication from his excellency the Governor, upon the adulteration of potash.

Mr. Seymour, from the committee on trade and manufactures, to which was referred the communication from his excellency the Governor, upon the adulteration of potash,

REPORTED:

That the importance of the subject induced them to resort to every source of information concerning it. They accordingly addressed a letter to the inspector of potash at New-York, who communicated personally, such facts as he possessed in relation to what is called patent potash. A letter was also addresssd to Horatio Gates, Esq. of Montreal, who, it is well known, is largely interested in the shipment of the article from that market. His answer to that letter, enclosing a communication from the Head Inspector of Potash at Montreal, and the extract from the printed circular issued by the house of H. Gates & Co. will show that the patent potash has not been confined to our market. The committee also employed Dr. Lewis C. Beck to make full chemical investigations into the qualities of the patent potash, and such other samples as are met with in our market. The full report of Dr. Beck contains the specifications of two patents, with remarks upon them, the analysis of several specimens of potash, and some directions by which adulterations in that article may be detected.

From all these documents, and from verbal information received by the committee, there can be no doubt that mistaken views con[A. No. 307.]

1

cerning the manufacture of potash are widely diffused; that a larger proportion of inferior potash has been sent to market during the last year than in any former year. From private letters, and other sour ces of information, the committee are led to believe that the patent modes have been adopted by many manufacturers, without the least intention of fraud; yet, from all they can ascertain concerning them, they are of opinion that they are calculated to injure the potash, and if extensively adopted, seriously to affect its reputation in foreign markets. In consequence of the short time which has elapsed since the receipt of the accompanying documents, the committee have not been enabled to prepare a bill on the subject, if indeed such a course had been deemed advisable; but they conceive these documents too important not to be laid before the community as speedily as possible. In a matter of this sort it is perhaps difficult to apply the remedy by any legislative provision. The only way which it can be done is by a revision of the law relating to the inspection of potash, But as the session is already so nearly completed, the committee did not deem it advisable at this time to make the attempt. In the hope however that the evil may at least, in a great degree, be met, and the interest of the manfacturers as well as the consumer may be proteeted, the committee would submit the following resolution :

Resolved, That four times the usual number of the communication of the Governor on the adulteration of potash, presented March 27th, 1832, and the documents accompanying this report, be printed.

Message from the Governor, relative to the adulte

GENTLEMEN,

ration of Potash.

TO THE LEGISLATURE.

I consider it my duty to lay before you the accompanying correspondence.

Document No. 2 contains the first information which I received of the existence of the abuse of which its writer complains. On the receipt of that letter, I felt the propriety of inquiring farther into the matter, and addressed a note, (Document No. 1.) to Professor Beck, the very learned and distinguished Principal of the Academy in this city. He gave immediate attention to it, and I received from him documents No. 3 and 4.

Number 4 is a memoir from the pen of Lewis C. Beck, M. D., the learned Professor of Chemistry in the same institution. This memoir confirms the statements in Document No. 2, in relation to the existence of the fact of the adulteration of potash, its mode and effect. It also gives a concise and lucid view of the chemical principles by which the adulteration is effected, as well as the very simple method of detecting it.

I can add nothing by way of illustration, nor can I conceive that any arguments are necessary to urge your attention to the subject, for the purpose of speedily providing a remedy.

E. T. THROOP.

Albany, March 27, 1832.

[No. 1.]

DEAR SIR,

Copy of a Letter to T. Romeyn Beck, M. D.

Saturday Morning, March 10, 1832.

I send you herewith a letter which I have lately received, in relation to a new and ingenious method of adulterating potash. The matter concerns an important article of commerce, and if the facts and conclusions of the letter writer are tenable, the attention of the Legislature should be called to a correction of the abuse.