Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-01-18

as well as to the managers that snou '~
the result of my mission.
Mr.. Kean told me that ne had received ie'-
ter from Mr. Wood, (Which he Showed me- In
which Mr.. Wood gave it as his opinion, thar
Mr.. Kean's coming to philadelphia TO iulhi MS
engagement, would probably endanger his per-
sonal safety or his life MIR. Kean was not pre-
pared to encounter repetition OF the procee'
dings that had clisgraccd another city, and al
ter consulting with his friends, determined 10
relinouish his engagement altogether, which he
did; lor Why, said he, shall | again encounter
those who NAV assassinate me?--(some dissat-
isfaction was here expressed) The speaker
continued: ladies and Gentlemen, this was not
the opinion which Mr.. Kean had formed OF you,
but it is an opinion which any man would nave +
been justified in forming, from Inc coh'eh'S Vi
the letterto which allude.
Mr. Kean thinks better things OF Phllade-
phia public, and though he now cannot perform
his original engagement Of appearing here
twelve nights, vet believe, were he assured OF
the kind intentions you have manifested TO-
wards him, now and On former occasions, ne
would vet appear before this audience Tor
shorter period" The speaker sat down amidst
applause, and we hastily left the theatre, to
give this imperfect and short account OF the
proceedings, without being able TO say what fol-
lowed them.
INTERESTING REPORT,
From the Committee on the subject OF lobac.
co Warehouses submitted to the House OF
Delesa,es, of Virginia, on the | 18th INST by
Mr. May.
The committee appointed to enquire whether
any abuses exist at the warehouses OF this COM
monwealth contrary to the laws and injurious
to the planters, beg leave to submit the follow
ing report:
The attention Of your committee has ocen
principally directed 10 the warehouses III TINS
city; al which, the inspection is attended win
great waste and loss TO the planters. 1t has
not been practicable to ascertain, with Preci-
sion, the extent that loss; but 1t Is In PROOF,
tina, one individual has purchased, within pc
Rod Of about eighteen months, eighty Thousand
weight of loose tobacco, at price liked by the
inspectors; and understood 10 be for the benefit
of the hands employed in their respective
warehouses. 1t was also proved, that the same
individual had purchased in one year, hity
thousand weight of loose tobacco, from
ShockG warehouse alone.
The causes assigned by the witnesses, Tor
this enormous waste, are-lst. drafts made LOT
distribution among persons attending as Pur-
chasers, either really or professedly-2d TRIM
mngs by order of the inspectors, on account oil
damage to the tobacco from green hogsheads,
weather. sc sd drafts by smokers and chew
ers. who call at the warehouses to supply them
selves in that mode, while the inspectors are
otherwise engaged-and 4th. Gin the opinion oil
the committee probable depredatlons by the
hands, to increase waste, of which they derive
the benefit
When to these losses, are added the sample,
which is unnecessarily large and an arbitrary
deduction for xpected deficiency in the subse-
ouent weighing, an oppressive tax is imposed
on this branch of !abour, for the benefit of those
who have not the 'sembance of claim upon 1t.
In the opinion of your committee, the in
spectors are required by law, to sell all the
loose tobacco, and TO pay the proceeds into the
treasury. But this provision, having been
made when much tobacco was picked al the
warehouses, the inspectors appear TO have In
terpreted it, to apply exclusively to the waste
from that source.
Your committee are aware that the interests
Of the planters require, that such distribution
Of samples should be made among the purchas-
ers, as will enable them 10 ascertain fully, the
kind and quality OF the tobacco; and that a
waste must take place, in proportion to that
distribution; But they ere Of opinion that this
waste will be greatly diminished, by taking
from the hands, the temptation to augment It,
10 this end it is recommended, that the third
inspector be required to attend at the ware
houses in Richmond, who shall have the same
powers and perform the same duties with the
other inspectors, in ORDER the better to supcrin-
tend the opening and coopering of the hogs
heads, and to preserve and sell the waste tobac-
cot may also be expedient to require, that
before stripping the tobacco, it should be
weighed and certified to the owner or his "a
gent, to enable him, by comparing it with the
tare and nett weight afterwards, to ascertain
the extent of his loss by the process OF inspec-
ton; and to render the inspectors liable, when
it shall exceed reasonable amount. The wit
nesses who have been examined, generally con-
cur in the opinion that it ought not to exceed
ten pounds, for each hogshead, where no trim
ming is requisite.
l, also appears, that large quantities Of to-
bacco (sometimes loose, and sometimes packed
in tubs and casks which have most probably
been stolen, are sold by black and white boat
men in Richmond. They are believed frequent
ly 10 elude the powers of the inspector of boats
by forged permits and manifests. 1t is recon-
mended that The sales of such tobacco be Who'll
ly prohibited, except under the superintendent
of one OF the inspectors, and who should be en-
powered to retain it for reasonable time in
l. hall hat ~