consequence the deficit was large and embarrassing at the close of that year. The entire revenues of the year only amounted to $47,635.51 and the current expenses to $83,792.80, showing a deficit of $36,157.29.
At the December session, 1844, application was renewed for a waiver of the state liens on the revenues of the canal so as to empower the company to issue its bonds, with preferred liens on its revenues to an amount not exceeding two millions of dollars. In principle and amount it was similar to the measure which had been proposed and rejected at the sessions of 1841 and 1842. Those who had been friends to the company during previous periods of difficulty were now conspicuous for their absence only, and the officers alone stood in vindication of the measure. Instead of a state convention and primary meetings to sustain and encourage the company, it was surrounded by enemies who opposed. The city of Baltimore took decided grounds in opposition to it, and the newspapers of the city were full of communications adverse to the proposed measure. The rail road company with diplomatic skill
