 | More features from our Special Collections ROCHESTER, Nathaniel. Letter to Messrs. Leavitt, Weed, Backus & Norton, October 16, 1825.The founder of Rochester, Nathaniel Rochester regrets his inability to attend the ceremonies opening the Erie Canal and offers a toast for the occasion.  Gentlemen In addition to my advanced age and consequent bodily infirmities, I was yesterday attacked with a violent cold which incapacitates me for the very honorable post assigned to me by your polite note, in the celebration tomorrow on the completion of the Erie Canal.Permit me Gentlemen to tender to you and through you to the Citizens of Rochester my grateful acknowledge- ments for this mark of your favor, and as I cannot give my personal attention to this very laudable and proper celebration permit me to offer a toast for the occasion. Yours very respectfully N Rochester "The Erie & Champlain Canals, the greatest public work in America, if not in the world. A principal link in the chain that binds the Union of these states, and a proud monument of the merit of those who projected it and those who carried the measure into effect."   See also: |