Rhode Island American And Providence Gazette

To the Editor of the Albany Daily Advertiser

I have noticed with some surprise an article in your paper lately, stating that the voyage of Captain Atwood, in the good schooner Enterprise, to the West Indies, is the first attempt ever made to introduce foreign navigation from Albany; whereas every son of Albany should be proud in recollecting that the first American vessel which ever tracked its way across two seas, a voyage of 9000 miles, to the East Indies, was an Albany sloop, commanded by Captain Dean, then of this city, about the year 1785. The spirit was revived by the publication of several essays in 1789, under the signature of "A Friend to Navigation," and in connection therewith a constant song on canals, &c. west and north of the Hudson river. There opening a communication from the great lake, essays were intended to prompt a spirit of enterprise, and demonstrating the local advantages of Albany, being at the head of navigation of one of the best rivers on the globe, and connected by its fortunate position with vast inland regions. In 1792, three brigs sailed from this place for the West Indies, principally owned by gentlemen who had settled here from Rhode-Island. commenced under the active and able superintendence of Gen. Schuyler—the paving of the city, the Albany Bank, a library and lamps, all commenced in that year so auspicious in the history of Albany: and yet it would seem that the present generation are almost ignorant of these facts.

In respect to the rigorous prosecution of the improvements of this city, and the Schenectady turnpike, it is a justice due to the late Chancellor Lansing to award to him the principal merit of their execution. Should a history of the city be ever written, the files of the Albany Gazette and Register for the last 16 years of the 18th century, will afford valuable materials. The spirit of enterprise for foreign commerce received a serious check in 1793 by the loss of the brig South Carolina, Captain Marshal, on her way to the West Indies, which is thus noticed in the Albany Register:

"The loss of the brig South Carolina, from this port, bound to St. Martin's, is too unfortunate as a temporary check to our infant navigation, than the loss of property, as she was insured."

"Two other brigs are now in port, and notwithstanding all the ridicule of the Yorkers, we may consider the foundation of our navigation as fairly established."