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INCREASE OF POPULATION.

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dustry more active, and that the whole of the existing generation are improving the resources of the country for those who are to follow them, there are hardly any bounds to the expectations that may be formed of its future greatness if wisely and discreetly governed, and if kept free from the great scourges of society-luxury, intemperance, and war.

The increase of population in the State of New-York is shown by the following numbers at each of the indicated periods of census:

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This was the slow rate at which the population of the state increased anterior to the revolution, and while it was merely a British colony, ruled by authorities at a distance from the scene. change, after it became an independent country, is remarkable, as will be seen by the following:

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Of the population of 1830, the folowing is a more detailed

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There is every reason to believe that in two years hence, at the census of 1840, the population of the state will be nearly, if not quite, three millions; but even this, though just one hundred times more than it was in 1701, is but a handful compared to what it might, and ro doubt will, sustain in less than a century hence, when its 3000,000 will be increased to 20,000,000, for which there are ample resources in the agriculture, manufactures, mining, and commerce of the state. It is not at all improbable but that, including the inhabitants of other portions of this great country, our posterity will see the United States of America embracing the Canadas on the north, Mexico on the south, and touching the Paafic on the west, with a population greater than that of all Europe, and an advance in the arts, sciences, and useful improvements of life such as no nation has ever yet witnessed.

The public canals of the State of New-York, undertaken at the expense of the State Government, including the Erie Canal to the west, the Champlain Canal to the north, and their respective auxiliaries and feeders, of all of which Albany may be regarded as the principal port of inlet and outlet, extend over a length of 655 miles; they have 343 locks, with 3037 feet of lockage. Their ac

tual cost was 11,962,712 dollars, or about 2,500,000l. sterling; and the tolls received on them in 1836 were 1,614,336 dollars, or about 323,000l. sterling, being more than 12 per cent. of profit on the actual outlay.

But this is still farther improving, as by an official report on the tolls and trade of the State Canals, published during our stay in Albany, in the government paper, the Argus, of the date of July 7, 1838, the following gratifying facts were made known:

"CANAL TOLLS.-The tolls received on the New-York State Canals for the week ending 7th July, 1838, were 36,682 dollars, being an increase of 26 per cent. on the previous year. The flour and wheat arriving at the Hudson River, via the Erie Canal, for the same period, were 28,950 bushels of flour, and 13,296 bushels of wheat; being an increase of 15,861 bushels of flour, and 12,296 bushels of wheat over the previous year."

TOLLS ON THE STATE CANALS.-The tolls collected on the NewYork State Canals for the fourth week of June amount to the sum of 47,123 dollars, exceeding the receipts for the corresponding week in 1837 by the sum of 15034 dollars. The tolls for the whole month of June exceed the collections in the same month in 1837 by about 37 per cent.

From the opening of navigation to the close of June there has been received for canal tolls the sum of 516,081 dollars. This exceeds the collections up to the same time in 1837 by the sum of 119,966 dollars.

The quantity of merchandise cleared from Albany and Troy from the opening of navigation to the close of June for the present year, shows an increase, comparing this year with last, of 5223 tons of merchandise, equal to 16 per cent. Besides the merchandise cleared on the canals, there has passed over the railroad this season 1526 tons.

The increase of flour and wheat this year over lest is equal to 139,216 barrels of flour, or about 79 per cent. There has been brought to tide-water on the railroad, not embraced in the foregoing, 12,421 barrels of flour. While the merchandise gong from tide-water has increased 16 per cent., the tolls paid on products generally have increased 30 per cent.; and on flour and wheat the increase is 79 per cent.

The quantity of flour and wheat shipped at Buffalo from the opening of canal navigation to the 30th of June for the present year, shows an increase of 225 per cent. over the previous one. The tolls received at the collector's office at Buffalo from the opening of navigation to the 30th of June for the year 1838, shows an increase of 119 per cent.

LOCKAGES ON THE ERIE CANAL.-A statement has been furnished of the lockages for the month of June, 1838, at Lock No. 26 on the Erie Canal, which shows that 70 cribs and 3349 boats passed

CANALS AND RAILROADS.

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this lock during the month, averaging 114 lockages per day. This is an increase of 1491 lockages over June, 1837.

SALT DUTIES.-The amount received by the superintendent of the Onondago Salt Springs for the last three years, in the months of May and June, is as follows, viz.: in 1836, 16,291 dollars; in 1837, 22,365 dollars; and in 1838, 38,123 dollars; being an increase in 1837 over 1836 of 25 per cent., and of 1838 over 1837 of 72 per cent.

Besides these State Canals, there are a great many others in progress, the estimated cost of which will exceed three millions of dollars, and canals by incorporated companies which will cost upward of two millions of dollars more.

Of railroads in this state there have been as many as 29 executed by incorporated companies, from 1820 to 1836, at a cost of 12,000,000 dollars, or nearly three millions sterling, extending over a length of 670 miles; and these, too, are still increasing, and all returning a remunerating profit.

The records respecting the early history of Albany are very scanty, and the field of the antiquary is consequently very limited. In a journal called the Schenectady Reflector, some extracts are given from the earliest minutes of the Albany corporation, of which the following are examples:

CITY OF ALBANY.-We present a few extracts from the earliest minutes of the Albany city corporation.

In 1746 the corporation ordered 6l. to be paid to John Bell," the city whipper," for six months' services.

In 1747 they direct a receipt to be signed by their clerk "for half a barrel of powder received from Sybrant G. Van Schaick, in lieu of the powder he borrowed from the corporation when the governor was here last."

In 1748 they ordered "Mr. Santvoort to pay Robert Lottridge for two gallons of wine that Mr. Miller bought upon the corporation account when the governor came."

These and many similar orders demonstrate that our Dutch burghers were good and faithful subjects to their English governors, besides paying a pretty good salary to their city whipper.

Such are the trivial and unimportant incidents recorded in the minutes, and selected by the Reflector as interesting to the antiquary. The modern details announce more important facts, and show, as strikingly as anything can do, the contrast between the old times and the new, in the history of this country at least. Let the returns here given be received as proofs.

In the State of New-York, as we learn from the official records, there were, in the year 1835, the latest period to which the returns have been completed (and every one considers the number of most of them to have increased rather than otherwise since then), the following:

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The only branch in which there has been a decrease, and that must be regarded as a blessing rather than a loss, is in that of distilleries and breweries. Of the former there were, not many years ago, upward of 1200. By the operations of the Temperance Societies these have been reduced to 337, the number given in the above table; and the gain to the country, in converting grain to wholesome and nutritious food, instead of distilling from it a poisonous and destroying drink, is unequivocal; as is also the conversion of barley and fruits into food for cattle, instead of their fermentation into beer and cider. The amount of animal nourishment is thus greatly increased, and the amount of intoxication and all its deleterious consequences are in an equal degree diminished. Other branches of manufactures have sprung up, too, since 1835, which are not enumerated in the list given; and, among others, that of silk and beaver hats, which in the last year, 1837, were made to the value of four millions of dollars, or 800,000l. sterling.

The agricultural statistics of the State of New-York are as encouraging as those of its manufactures, showing a progressive increase and improvement in every department, as the following table will exhibit:

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Estimated value of Improved Lands and Live-stock in the State of NewYork, by the census of 1835, compared with the same in 1825:

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The banks existing in this state have always been regarded as the safest and best secured in the Union; and they have fully sustained their reputation by their being the first of all the banks in the country to resume specie payments, which is now sustained by the whole of them. The most recent official statement respecting their number and condition is that made by the commissioners appointed for that purpose by the Legislature in May, 1837, of which the following is an authentic copy:

NEW-YORK SAFETY-FUND BANKS.

The following statement is furnished by the Bank Commissioners for the purpose of showing the general condition of the Banks as compared with their condition on the 1st of January, 1837:

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From this table it will be perceived that the city banks had, previous to the suspension, reduced their discounts, since 1st of January, about 800,000 dollars, and their circulation nearly three millions and a quarter.

NEW-YORK STATE BANKS AND CIRCULATION.

The charters of the Lockport Bank, capital 100,000 dollars, and the Sackett's Harbour Bank, capital 200,000 dollars, having been repealed by the Legislature at the session of 1837, the present banking capital of the state is 37,301,460 dollars, of which the capitals of nine banks, 5,100,000 dollars, are not subject to the safety-fund act.

The amount of circulation, authorized by the suspension act of May, 1837, is as follows:

VOL. II.-C

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