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Correspondence Addressing An Interesting Chapter of American Mapmaker History -- John Melish 

A fascinating letter regarding John Melish's map of Pennsylvania and Henry Tanner's efforts to improve the map of Pennsylvania in his American Atlas.

The letter addresses the copper plates used to create the map of Pennsylvania originally authorized and created pursuant to an act of the Philadelphia legislature originally passed on March 19,1816.  After Melish's death, on April 1, 1823, the legislature passed a supplent to the March 19, 1816 act:

That the secretary of the commonwealth and the surveyor general are hereby authorized to take possession of all the plates, prints and other property of this commonwealth, which was in the possession of the late JOHN MELISH, and now in the possession of his legal representatives.  

RESOLUTIONS 

1. Resolved that WILLIAM R. SMITH, of the Senate, and JACOB HOLGATE of the  House of Representatives, by a committee to correspond GEORGE M. DALLAS, of the city of Philadelphia, who is hereby authorized to take charge of the copper plates of the state map, and all copies, belonging to the commonwealth, now in the hands of the representatives of JOHN MELISH, dec., and to deposit the same in some proper place. 

2. Resolved that the secretary of the commonwealth and surveyor general may permit HENRY S. TANNER, of the city of Philadelphia, to have the use of the surveys of the different counties, which were furnished to the late JOHN MELISH, also the use of the state map, to enable Henry S. Tanner to improve the map of PA, forming a part of the American Atlas.  

ANDREW GREGG, Secretary, Harrisburg PA, 12 May 1823.

In furtherance of the foregoing, Dallas attempted to take possession of the copper plates. The following letter provides a status report written to David Mann, Esq., Auditor General of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (in Harrisburg), with the second part of the letter discussing the status of his efforts to recover the map and plates.

My Dear Sir,

The suits brought against the unlicensed retailers of foreign merchandise have now reache the point at which they are about to pass from my private to my professional care.  In other words, judgement having been obtained, and many appeals entered, it is the duty, by law, of the deputy attorney general t o conduct these last cases to their termination.  I have thought this the proper moment for mentioning top you the subject of compensation referred t in your letter of 19 of June last. Considering the number of actions (between 3 and 400) the many magisrates whom it was necessary to visit and to advise, and the several formal hearings, I hope you will think my charge of one hundred dollars within the term "reasonable" which you have asked.

I avail myself of this opportunity to mention that I consider the Commonwealth [of Pennsylvania] in my debt on another score.  You may remember that a joint resolution was passed by both houses of the legislature, in January 1823, appointing Wm. R. Smith and Jacob Holgate " a committee to correspond with me and authorizing me to take charge of the copper plates of the State map, and also of all the copies of the State Map belonging to the Commonwealth in the hands of the representatives of John Melish deceased":  and in case of a refusal to deliver them on demand. I was authorized to take such lawful measures as I might deem necessary to effect the object contemplated by the resolution.  A correspondence was accordingly opened between the committee and myself: and I immediately commenced such measures as appeared to me proper and expedient.  Mr. Hulme, the representative of Mr. Melish, refused to deliver up the plates and maps, except upon certain conditions: and I advised the committee, by letter dated the 24 January 1823, of the necessary preparatory steps.  After considerable delaying the offices at Harrisburg, and after much trouble on my own part, the subject unexectedly took another turn in the legislature, and did not afterwards come under my attention.  One of the committee, Mr. Smith, in April 1823, requested me to write to the then Secretary of state to explain to him my views on the subject.  I did so, but Mr. Gregg never noticed my communication.  For the services performed on this occasion, I have charged the Commonwealth fifty collars, and will be pleased to receive that sum at the time with the fee already mentioned.

I am, most respectfully, Dear Sir, yr. friend & Servant, G.M. Dallas, 7. Aug. 1824.