1787, were transferred to the general government; by that constitution too the government of the United States, having acquired the funds which formerly belonged to the State, is charged with the common defence; all claims therefore resting upon equitable considerations for revolutionary services (and not coming within the engagements of the State government) the committee apprehend should be made to the government of the United States, and not to that of this State. If the conclusions herein arrived at by the committee are correctly drawn from the facts assumed, it is obvious that the claim of the petitioner cannot be sustained. Believing they are so, the committee offer for the consideration of the House, the following resolution: Resolved, That the prayer of the petitioner, Tousant Levernway, ought not to be granted. IN ASSEMBLY, April 8, 1833, REPORT Of the select committee on the petition of the mayor and common council of the city of New-York, relative to the twelfth ward of said city. Mr. Ostrander, from the select committee to whom was referred the petition of the mayor and common council of the city of NewYork, for the passage of a law to establish a public place, and lay out certain streets in the twelfth ward of said city of New-York, REPORTED: They have had the subject under consideration. The petitioners represent, that they have been applied to by the proprietors of land in the twelfth ward of the city of New-York, to take the necessary measures for establishing a public place between Thirtyfirst and Thirty-fourth streets, extending one hundred feet on each side of the Fourth avenue, and also to have a street laid out and extended from Thirtieth to Forty-second streets, between Third and Fourth avenues; and also to have a street laid out between Fourth and Fifth avenues from Twenty-third to Forty-second street; they therefore ask for the passage of a law, a draft of which was adopted in common council, authorising them to carry into effect the above proposed improvement. Your committee are of opinion, that the improvement asked for by the petitioners, would add much to the convenience and health of that part of the city, and that it is expedient to have it done at this time, as no buildings are erected on the land proposed to be taken for the purpose above mentioned, and that the prayer of the petitioners ought to be granted, and ask leave to introduce a bill prepared for that purpose. IN ASSEMBLY, April 9, 1833. REPORT Of the committee on trade and manufactures, on the petitions in relation to the inspection of potash. Mr. Myers, from the committee on trade and manufactures, to which was referred the petition of the inhabitants of the counties. of Chenango, Madison and Cortland, interested in the manufacture of potashes, relative to the inspection of said article, REPORTED: That the committee have given to the subject that careful examination which its importance demands. The petitioners, among other things set forth in their memorial, say, that an unreasonable prejudice exists in the minds of some of the inspectors against an improvement made and patented to Ephraim Parce, for the manufacture of potashes. For the purpose of determining the relative purity of the potashes made on said Parce's plan, with those made in the old or usual manner, the petitioners furnished samples of each kind, accompanied by the affidavits of the manufacturers, and requested permission to have them analyzed under the direction of the committee. In conformity to that request, the samples thus furnished, together with the affidavits of the Messrs. Tallmans, the manufacturers, and the certificate of Dr. Pulford, (Docs. No. 1 and 2, hereto annexed,) were delivered to Dr. L. C. Beck, professor of chemistry of this city, for the purpose of being examined, and the samples analyzed by him. In his full and able report to your committee, (and which accompanies this report as Doc. No. 3,) it appears that of the sam[Assem. No. 298.] 1 ples analyzed by him, the patent potash contained 74.21 per cent pure potash, and that manufactured on the old or usual mode, 73.89 per cent pure potash; thus showing a trifle in favor of the patent potash. In the certificate of Dr. Pulford, before referred to, it appears that from twelve bushels of ashes manufactured on the old plan, he made 78 pounds of potash, and that from twelve bushels of the same kind of ashes, manufactured on the patent plan, he made 145 pounds of potash. That the samples thus made were delivered to Professor Hadley of Fairfield, and analyzed by him, and the patent potash found to contain considerable more alkali than that manufactured in the old mode. For a more detailed account of the analysis and comparative purity of each kind of potash, your committee would refer to the report of Professor Beck, and also to the certificate of Professor Hadley, which also accompanies this report as Doc. No. 4. From the result of all the experiments which have been made by Professor Beck and Hadley, it appears that the patent potash contains more real alkali than that manufactured on the old plan. And as is stated by Professor Beek, "The value of a specimen of commercial potash depends altogether upon the quantity of real alkali which it contains," and as it appears evident from the certificates and other facts which were furnished the committee, that a much greater quantity of potash is obtained from a given quantity of ashes, by manufacturing on the patent than on the old plan, your committee are of the opinion of Professor Beck, as contained in his report," That the manufacture of potash upon this plan is a decided and important improvement," Your committee would also state, that soon after the subject was referred to them, George Seaman, Esq. the experienced inspector of the article from the city of New-York, came personally before them, and stated in substance as follows: That he had no prejudice against the patent potash. When called on to inspect potash, did not inquire what plan it was made on, but if it was good he branded it "first sort," let it be made on what plan it would. That he believed that good potash, even better than the common average of "first sort," was made on Parce's patent mode, and that it was an important improvement, |