Sworn and subscribed before me, this 27th day of February,

A. D. 1839.

D. S. BACON, Chairman pro. tem,

Interrogatories propounded to Gov. Mason.

1st. Did you, by virtue of a law of this state, make any negotiation in whole or in part, of the $5,000,000, and if so, what, prior to June 1st, 1838? Please state fully.

2d. Did you, in behalf or for the use of the state of Michigan, and by reason of certain acts of the legislature thereof, open a negotiation with the Morris canal and banking company, or with any of its officers, with a view to obtain a loan of money for the use of this state? and if aye, when and where did said negotiation commence? Did such negotiation terminate in a positive agreement? and if aye, what, in brief, were the terms and conditions of such agreement? and who were parties to it? State fully.

3d. Did you at any time receive from said Morris canal and banking company, any money for the use of this state, by reason of any such agreement or contract? If aye, when? and where? and under what circunstances? Please explain fully.

4th. Did you, on or about the fifth day of June, 1838, and if not then, at what time or times, receive of said Morris canal and banking company, a certain instalment, which, by the terms of such contract, purported to become payable in or for the month of August, 1838, in the bank bills of said company, consisting of $100,000, or if not of that sum, then of what sum did it consist? and if not for the instalment purporting to be payable in said month of August, then during or for what month was it payable? Please state fully all the particulars.

5th. After the receipt by you of said money, and before its payment over to or receipt by the State Treasurer of this state, were any of said bank bills abstracted from the bundles in which they were contained? If aye, state fully how many of them? to what amount? and under what circumstances? State all the particulars, so far as the same are within your knowledge, information or belief.

6th. How, where, and by whom was it first discovered that money had been taken from any of the packages in your possession? State particulars.

7th. Is the document marked (A,) herewith exhibited, a true copy of your letter directed to Edward Biddle, Esq, dated June 18, 1838? If aye, by whom was it sent? and what directions or instructions did you give to the person who took it, relative to its disposition? Please state fully.

8th. What disposition was made of the residue of the bills so received by you and not abstracted from the trunk in which you caused the same to be brought to Detroit? Was the same paid over to the State Treasurer as in part of any of the sums accruing to this state upon any such contract of loan, and was credit accordingly given for its receipt by said State Treasurer? Please state particulars.

9th. If paid over by you to the State Treasurer, was it receipted for; or was it receipted for by you to the Morris canal and banking company?

10th. If the bills so paid over and either receipted for or credited by the State Treasurer, what disposition was afterwards made thereof? And what, if any thing, within your knowledge, information or belief, was done with, or what disposition made of the sums or bills obtained as aforesaid? or relative to the deficiency appearing after such abstraction? Please answer particulars fully.

11th. Who were present when the money was delivered to you?

12th. Did Mr. Romeyn know of the money being stamped or marked?

13th. Did T. Romeyn, Esq., when in New York or elsewhere, draw a check of $10,000 in your favor, on the Bank of Clinton, and if so, was said check paid? Please state fully.

(No. 45.)

Report of the committee to investigate the accounts of Benjamin Porter, Acting Commissioner of the State Prison.

The committee to investigate the accounts of Benjamin Porter, acting commissioner of the state prison, would beg leave to report:

Soon after the appointment of the committee, they, together with the committee on the part of the honorable the Senate, proceeded to Jackson to perform the duties assigned to them. The two committees, although not a joint committee, resolved to act and sit together during the investigation, and after examining the books, the works at the prison, the buildings on the prison ground, and hearing the testimony and explanations, the commissioners and the clerk have come to the same general conclusions; and the committee would respectfully refer you to the report (No. 34 Senate) made by the honorable the committee appointed by the Senate. Your committee would further report, that after investigating the books and check rolls kept by the commissioners, and after examining the works, they have come to the conclusion that the report made by the acting commissioner to the Auditor General on the 3d of November last, did not exhibit a correct statement of the expenditures, amount of work done and materials on hand. The reasons why your committee came to the above conclusions, are,

First. The amount of stone reported to have been laid in the cells and other walls, was more by over 300 perches, at that time, than now appears to be found by an estimate which the committee made, which would make a difference of some $3,000, according to the estimate made by the commissioner, which your committee are of opinion, from all the facts which came within their knowledge, the price set by the perch, was more than it ought to have cost.

The next item in the report of the 3rd of November last, is the amount of brick in cells, &c. The whole amount of brick laid in cells, will fall much short of the reported amount. What is meant

by the character, &c. your committee does not know. The amount of excavation done, will not vary much in quantity, but estimated price per cord is from two to three times higher than work is frequently done at.

The buildings are mostly, in the opinion of your committee, estimated in said report too high, particularly one of them, which

the acting commissioner told your committee he had his doubts whether any thing has been paid, which he reported at $1,900, and at this time it is not any where near completed. On asking the said commissioner why he reported in that case as he did, his reply was, that one of the other commissioners told him it was paid for.

The committee are of opinion that from all the information they could obtain, that the other materials mentioned in the report will fall much short of the amount exhibited in said report. In regard to the actual amount of expenditures for the prison, your committee could not, either from the books or the commissioner, arrive at any definite conclusion. The amount of money which had been received for the prison on the account of the twenty thou sand dollar loan and over drafts, there appeared to be a difference in opinion of the commissioners, of the amount of $10,000.

Your committee also found, upon examination, that the commissioner had entered into contract with various individuals to a very large amount, to do the principal part of the work in erecting the prison, or as much as would be required to be done this season, much against the interest of the state, even if he had or was authorized to let the same, (which your committee doubt,) for the reason your committee are of opinion that much of the work contracted to be done, might and should have been done by the convicts.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

A. ALLEN,

F. SHURTZ.

(No. 46.)

Communication in regard to the State Library.

To the House of Representatives of the State of Michigan:

herewith transmit the enclosed statement, in doing which, I beg leave most respectfully to invite the attention of the honorable the legislature to the past and present condition, as well as to the future enlargement and preservation of the state library. OREN MARSH, Librarian.

Feb. 20, 1839.

COMMUNICATION.

To the Legislature of the State of Michigan:

I herewith transmit a statement of the manner in which the amount of the sum which has been appropriated for the enlargement of the state library, has been expended the last year for the said purpose, agreeably to an act approved March 21st, 1837. Amount of sum appropriated, $1,000.

BOUGHT OF COLLINS, KEESE & CO.

New York, July 20, 1638.