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Life of Thomas Eddy

SW_WH1793_Page_239

and a spirit of liberality. I believe thou wilt agreewith me, that we ought not to expect a sum sufficientto erect all the necessary buildings (say $70,000)would readily be granted us, but I am of opinionthey would cheerfully allow us $10,000 a year, to bepaid out of the fund arising out of the sales of goodssold at vendue; and, they may more readily do this,as the amount from this source, for 1815, will bevery considerable. A part of this fund is to be paidto our corporation for the support of foreign poor,some of this part might possibly be diverted for ouruse, if we cannot otherwise succeed. If we could complete this establishment, all theinsane in the state might be accommodated; andthe number at this moment in the several counties must be very considerable. If this city contains onetenth of the inhabitants of the whole state, and hasone hundred and twenty lunatics, the number inthe country must be very great; but, it is very pos-sible, it may not be in the same proportion, owingto the use of spirituous liquors being more prevalentin the city than in the country. If we could obtain 10,000 dollars a year, I wouldpropose, that the Governors should open a loan, toborrow 70,000 dollars, at six per cent; this wouldrequire 4,200 dollars to pay the interest, and theremainder, 5,800, might be appropriated towards theexpense of supporting the establishment. If we canobtain this annuity, it will be highly important thatwe should have it for as long a period as possible.Suppose (in order to keep the time out of sight) theeshould move to fill up the blank that will be left inthe draft of the bill, thus: Ten thousand dollars,annually, in quarter yearly payments, the first quar-ter to be paid the 1st of May next, and the same tobe paid every year hereafter, during the period men-tioned in the first section of the act, passed 14thMarch, 1806, entitled, an act for the better andmore permanent support of the Hospital in the city