seat in the house, which he had held for fourteen years. The interest which the contest excited, is proved by the number of pamphlets published on these questions. No fewer than thirteen, published in one year, [1764,] remain in the collection of the American Philosophical Society. The imposition of the stamp act produced, as may be supposed, great activity in the press. The chief writer was John Dickinson, who acquired great distinction at this period, and of whose Farmer's Letters Dr. Ramsay says, that in this work "he may be said to have sown the seeds of the revolution." For an account of Dickinson we refer to the American Quarterly Review, for June, 1827, where also, honourable mention is made of Francis Hopkinson, who, as a satirical and facetious essayist, stands without a rival on our list of authors. His writings throw much light upon the spirit of the times, and though many were elicited by passing events, they will remain lasting memorials of his taste and literary genius. The subjects upon which he bestowed the lash, though passing, were important, and will be as familiar to after ages as to the present.We may venture to predict, without laying claim to divine inspiration, that after perusing the unvarnished detail of the historian, the reader will naturally recur to the vivid illustration of the satirist. We seldom obtain a correct view of the tone of the public mind from the pages of the historian; this is to be gathered only from the periodicals of the day, where every topic discussed appears in all its freshness, without disguise. History may be compared to the Egyptian art that preserved the body, but could not retain the spirit. We pass over the life of Mr. Hopkinson, and that of his distinguished cotemporary, Benjamin Rush, as these subjects have recently been fully treated:* "It may surprise many to learn," says Mr. Wharton, "that there are in the city library no fewer than 459 works, printed in Philadelphia, before the revolution. Of these, 425 are original books and pamphlets, and 34 reprints of foreign books and pamphlets. Many were doubtless printed, which were never purchased for the library, and some that were in the library, have been lost or destroyed. Perhaps the third might safely be added to the number in the library, which would give upwards of 600 for the number of works printed in the province." 21 the first number of the Pennsylvania Evening Post, published three times a week by Benjamin Towne, being the first evening paper printed in Philadelphia. Dr. Witherspoon is said to have written essays occasionally for this paper. It was discontinued in 1782. Towne, like many others, was a vacillating politician. He was on the side of this country, until the British army entered Philadelphia, when he conducted his paper under the auspices of the British general; but, on the city being evacuated, he again changed his ground, and printed in support of the republican cause. This class of politicians was numerous at that particular juncture, and has not yet become quite extinct among us. October, 1778, Dr. Witherspoon published a very humourous recantation of Benjamin Towne, which hasbeen preserved in the works of that author. The last newspaper it was attempted to establish prior to the revolution, was the Pennsylvania Mercury and Universal Advertiser, by Story and Humphreys. It was commenced in April, 1775, and was published weekly until Dce. 1775, when all the printing materials were destroyed by fire, in consequence of which event the paper was discontinued. To this list may be added nine or ten newspapers in the German language. In The first literary magazine ever published in the colonies was printed and edited by Benjamin Franklin. It was entitled "The General Magazine and Historical Chronicle." The first number appeared in January, 1741; and, according to Thomas, the work was continued only six months. At the same time came out, in opposition to Franklin, the American Magazine, or a Monthly view of the British Colonies, printed and sold by Andrew Bradford. This publication was even shorter lived than its competitor; proving conclusively, that the time for periodical literature had not yet arrived. We meet with no other project of the kind, until October, 1757, when appeared the American Magazine, under the auspices of Dr. Smith, already noticed. The publication of this ceased at the expiration of one year. In 1769 a small paper, of little value, entitled the Penny Post, was published by Benjamin Mecom. His design was to print it weekly, but it came from the press in an irregular manner. The American Magazine, by Joseph Nicola, was commenced in 1769, and ended with the year. To this work were subjoined the transactions of We learn from Thomas's History,† that prior to 1775 the American Philosophical Society. The Royal Spithe following newspapers appeared in Philadelphia. ritual Magazine, or the Christian's Grand Treasury, was The American Weekly Mercury, already mentioned, begun in 1771, and published monthly, for a few which was discontinued about 1747; the Pennsylvania months only, by John Mac Gibbons. In January, 1775, Gazette, conducted by Franklin, which underwent va- was commenced the Pennsylvania Magazine, or Ameririous changes, and was not discontinued until 18-; the can Monthly Museum, for which Thomas Paine, author Pennsylvania Journal and the Weekly Advertiser, first of Common Sense, was one of the principal writers. It published December 2, 1742, by William Bradford, and was published by Robert Aitken, upon whose authority continued until after the year 1800, when it was discon- Thomas relates a characteristic anecdote of the indolent tinued; and the True American, a daily paper, was pub-propensities of Paine. He had engaged to furnish lished in its stead. On the 6th of January, 1767, appeared the first number of the Pennsylvania Chronicle and Universal Advertiser, printed by William Goddard. It was ably edited, and Joseph Galloway, a delegate to the Continental Congress, from Pennsylvania, whose name is still remembered, and likely to be so, was a silent partner with Goddard; as was also Thomas Whar-swered the other; but the printer, entertaining doubts, ton, a wealthy merchant, both in the tory interest. This insisted on proceeding immediately to business. Paine paper was discontinued in 1773. The Pennsylvania accordingly went home with Aitken, and was soon seatPacket, or the General Advertiser, was first issued in ed at a table, with writing apparatus, and a decanter of November, 1771, by John Dunlap. It afterwards came brandy, "without which," says Aitken, "he would neinto the possession of Claypoole, who, about 1784, pub- ver write." The first glass put him in a train of thinklished it daily. It was the first daily paper in the Uniteding; the printer feared the second would disqualify him, States, and is still published by Mr. Poulson, under the title of the American Daily Advertiser. The Pennsylvania Ledger was commenced in January, 1775, and discontinued in May, 1788. In January, 1775, appeared *Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, vol. 2 and 4. † History of Printing in America, &c. by Isaiah Thomas. monthly, a certain quantity of original matter for the Museum; but it was often difficult to make him comply with his engagement. In one of these indolent fits, while the press was waiting, Aitken went to his lodgings, and complained of his neglect. "You shall have matter in time," coolly an or render him untractable; but it only enlivened his mind, and when he had swallowed the third glass, he wrote with great rapidity, intelligence and precision; and his ideas appeared to flow faster than he could commit them to paper. What he penned from the inspiration of brandy, was perfectly fit for the press, without any alteration or correction. It may be presumed that his attacks on Christianity were written under similar excitement, Paine was born at Thetford, in Norfolk, in the year 1737, where he received a common English education, and was brought up to the business of his father, who was a staymaker. By the advice of Franklin he came to America, and arrived in Philadelphia about the close of 1774. His pamphlet entitled "Common Sense," which was written at the suggestion of Dr. Rush, appeared in January, 1776; and the legislature of Pennsylvania rewarded the author with 500 pounds. He also obtained a grant of land in the province of New York. In 1790 he went to London, and in March of the following year, excited some notice by the "Rights of Man," written in answer to Edmund Burke. This drew a prosecution upon him, and he fled to France, where he was chosen a member of the National Assembly; but in the time of Robespierre was thrown into prison and narrowly escaped the guillotine. During his imprisonment, which lasted eleven months, he finished his infamous "Age of Reason." After his liberation, he wrote some political pamphlets, one of them a scandalous attack upon the character of General Washington. His political writings were exceedingly popular, and beneficial to the American cause. He returned to America in 1802, and died June 8, 1809. His grave has been outraged, and his bones have been removed across the Atlantic for political purposes. It was no uncommon practice among the ancients, to exhibit the bleeding and marred corpse of a favourite, to excite the popular fury, and it seldom failed of success; but we question whether the same combustible tendency exists in the dry bones of a disorganizing politician. The experiment, in the present instance, proved abortive. It is the first on record, and we trust that it may be the last. Among the vacillating politicians of the eventful period of the Revolution, was the reverend Mr. Duche, the assistant minister of Christ church, and St. Peter's, in Philadelphia. He was educated at the Philadelphia College, and was a whig until the British army entered the city. In June, 1775, he preached a military sermon in support of the cause of the colonies; and yet, while the American army was encamped at Valley Forge, he had the presumption to write to General Washington, advising him to renounce what he is pleased to term "a degenerate cause." The bearer of this letter was Mrs. Ferguson, a lady of considerable literary attainments, and who contributed a variety of essays, in prose and verse, to the literature of the day. On receiving a letter of this corrupt tendency, Washington, aware of the machinations then on foot to remove him, if practicable, from his station, perceived the necessity of immediately laying this extraordinary communication before Congress, which was accordingly done, and Mr. Duche left the country. He passed the remainder of his days in England, in obscurity snd neglect. Graydon calls him "a weak and vain, but probably not a bad man." He is also noticed in Galt's Life of West. He published in 1774 a series of letters, under the signature of Tamoc Caspipina, and also a volume of sermons. Duche's defection is not to be tried by the tone of thought of the present age, but by the feeling which pre. vailed at the important crisis, when he took the step that destroyed his earthly prospects. The world had long slumbered over the idea of the perfectability of an inherent form of government, and it reposed in the public mind like an incubus, which it appeared impossible to shake off. A republic was pronounced unfit for the control and prosperity of a popular nation, and it was asserted that the idea could be experimented upon, with a prospect of success, only among the unambitious shepherds, on the snow-clad mountains of Switzerland. Such were the sentiments of some who were instrumental in revolutionizing the human mind. It cannot be supposed that all who sat in our councils, or fought our battles, during the war of independence, foresaw the happy result of the enterprise. They were sensible of their own grievances, and many contended, merely with the design to have those grievances redressed, and then to convert the sword into the ploughshare, and return to their allegiance; while others acknowledged the neces sity of being disengaged from European influence, but in their patriotic dream, ribands of distinction, stars, titles and laced apparel, occasionally obtruded. Such men unquestionably there were, men too of enlightened minds, who did much service, and had their country's good nearest at heart, and let them wot be hastily condemned for a dream of this kind. The most perfect system of civil government then upon earth was that of Great Britain. Monarchies presented themselves wherever the eye was turned, and the earth groaned beneath the weight of thrones. It would have been a bold flight of mind, indeed, to have predicted the present condition of America. The human mind may be compared to the young eagle, taken from its nest, domesticated, and its wings clipped. Never having enjoyed its wild liberty in a purer region, it remains satisfied in the haunts of man; but having once tasted of its native freedom, it is beyond the skill of man to tame the full grown bird.— Our course has been through a stream of resistless light for the last half century. It has extended beyond our hemisphere, and awakened from the sleep of centuries the most restless of the human mind; and there is no power on earth that can now lull it to its ancient reposeR. P. S. Phil. Mon. Mag. REMINISCENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. OUR CITY. About the time, when, in Paris, the head of Louis, our august ally," had rolled into the basket; when it had been pronounced before the Convention, 'Lyons is no more;' when the Abbe Seives had placed in his pigeon holes, (until called for,) Constitutions for every State in Europe; when our Mr. Monroe had exhibited to Europe a strong spectacle;' when the three grinning wolves of Paris had begun to lap French blood; while Lieut. Bonaparte, of the Artillery, was warming his scabbard in the anti-chamber of Barras; when the straw blaze of civil liberty, enkindled in France, by a ('spark from the altar of '76'-which only sufficiently illuminated the surrounding gloom of despotism, to render the 'darkness visible,') was fast going out, leaving only the blackened embers, and a smoke in the nostrils. About this time, almost every vessel arriving here, brought fugitives from the infuriated negro in Port au Prince, or the sharp axe of the guillotine in Paris, dripping night and day with the blood of Frenchmen, shed in the name of liberty, equality, and the (sacred) rights of man. Our city thronged with French people of all shades from the Colonies, and those from Old France, giving it the appearance of one great hotel, or place of shelter for strangers, hastily collected together from a raging tempest. The characteristic old school simplicity of the citizens, in manners, habits of dress, and modes of thinking and speaking, on the subject of civil rights, and forms of government, by the square and rule of reason and argument, and the rules of the schools,' began to be broken in upon by the new enthusiasm of Caira and Carmagnole. French boarding houses, (Pension Francaise,) multiplied in every street. The one at the south east corner of Race and Second streets, having some 40 windows, was filled with Colonial French to the garret windows, whistling and jumping about, fiddling and singing, as fancy seemed to suggest, like so many crickets and grasshoppers. Groups of both sexes were to be seen seated on chairs, in summer weather forming semi-circles near the doors, so displayed, as sometimes to render it necessary to step into the street to get along; their tongues, shoulders and hands in perpetual motion, jabbering away, all talkers and no hearers." Mestizo ladies, with complexions of the palest marble, jet black hair, and eyes of the gazelle, and of the most exquisite symmetry were to be seen, escorted along the pave ment by white French gentlemen, both dressed in West India fashion, and of the richest materials. Coal black 1829.] REMINISCENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. negresses, in flowing white dresses, and turbans of 'muchoir de Madras,' exhibiting their ivory dominos, in social walk, with a white or creole-altogether, forming a contrast to the Native Americans, and the emigrants from Old France, most of whom still kept to the stately old Bourbon style of dress and manner, wearing the head full, powdered a la Louis, golden headed cane, silver buckles, and cocked hat, seemingly to express thereby their fierce contempt for the pantaloons, silk shoe string, and 'Brutus Crop.' The 'Courier des Dames,' of both, daily ogling and 'sighing like a furnace,' bowing a la distance-dangling in door ways by day, and chanting 'dans votre lit' by night, under the window, of our native fair ones, bewildered by the, at that time, novel and delightful incense of flattery, so unusual to them in the manner, and offered so romantically by young French gentlemen, (possibly) elegant and debonaire. The Marseilles hymn was learned and sung by the citizens every where, to which they added the American song of Hail Liberty Supreme Delight. Instrumental music abounded in the city every where, by day as well as by night, from French gentlemen, (may be) amateurs, on the hautboy, violin and clarionet, exquisitely played and seemingly intended to catch the attention of neighbouring fair ones, at opposite windows. The blue, red and white cockade and flag were to be seen in every direction; with varieties of emblems in shop windows of Liberty and Equality; such for example, as black and white naked children, in fraternal hug. Dunlap's House (in Market street,) and Garden, the residence of citizen Genet, the French Minister-was one continued scene (for a time,) of republican revel, civic fete, fire works, and dancing caira round the Pole and Cap of Liberty. Many ultra patriotic citizens, taking into consideration; the coldness of the general government towards the citizen Genet, had a town meeting called in the State House yard; where the reading of an address, containing words that breathed and thoughts that burned,' having been commenced by the chairman; who, possessing but a feeble tone of voice, the assembled citizens presently began to be impatient at his want of that 'boiling, bubbling energy,' necessary for the occasion. A loud call was made for Doctor who was unanimously voted into the chair; to commence over again, and read their address, which he performed to their entire satisfaction; and which they expressed by shouting and clapping of hands. The Doctor was in person, large and portly, dark suit and ruffles with powdered short hair, in appearance gentlemanly, and of sanguine complexion. He had a powerful voice, not unlike the sound from a fallen bar of iron, with which he uttered every word and sentiment with truly patriotic fervor; waking the very echo from the neighbouring walls; the whole procedure' ending with loud acclamation. Curious Tales of Doubloons and Old French Plate, being found in large quantities in hogsheads of coffee and sugar, sold at the auctions, supposed to have been shipped off by the Island owners, in haste and at a venture: they intending to follow, but prevented by a bloody gash in their throats by the negroes. Every thing of the Old School had almost gone out of vogue with the majority, in dress, politics and religion. Many of the ultra patriotic citizens (at the time) used to meet at stated times, of evenings, in the Old Academy to 'take note' of the movements of Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton and Knox: whether or no, these 'Solomons' and 'Samsons,' were in danger of being seduced from the strait line of duty by the-gold of England-and if so, to sound an alarm to the people through the new political trumpet, ('Surgo ut prosim,') by the grandson of Franklin-about this time the French frigate Ambuscade, Citizen Bompard, commander, came up the Delaware, and anchored off Callowhill street. This added fresh straw to the blaze; the officers being much on shore, and huzza'd by boys and men; French cockades selling at six pence a piece. For some offence offered 23 to the person of the captain, while in the city, the whole crew or nearly, came on shore one day to revenge the indignity on the offenders, said to have been offered by some English sailors. They landed in boats, and having formed in higgledy piggledy order, they marched up hill, when wheeling to the left, they marched down Front street-officers and men all vociferating together and armed with swords, pistols, hatchets and long pikes, a few armed stragglers following on the pavement on each side. Matthew Clarkson, the Mayor, having collected the constables and some citizens in a body, performed the solemn farce of marching 'down town,' after them. Not finding their English enemies and without injuring any one, they re-embarked in their boats, which had followed them down the river to South street wharf; from whence, they returned to the ship, singing the Marseilles Hymn, in full chorus all the way. Sometime afterwards the frigate went down the bay, and out to sea, having been challenged by the British frigate Boston. The engagement took place off Sandy Hook, in which both captains were killed, and both ships claimed the victory; but as neither was taken, it was considered a drawn battle. Among the many, and varied expedients resorted to to raise the wind, by some, and recruit the finances, by others of the multitudes of emigrants residing in the sea ports, the balloon and car of citizen Blanchard was the most talked of and most remarkable, it being the first 'erial flight' that had been projected on American ground, by any one. So great was the excitement produced by it among the citizens, and in the mind of Washington, among others, as to induce him to give to Blanchard, a certificate, (as President of the United States,) to all and every one among whom he should alight from his car. The prison yard, on Sixth street, was the scene of operation, so as to give the people outside a fair view from 'Potter's Field,' opposite, which, on the day of ascension was completely jammed with spectators, and from whence the one half of the balloon was visible, in appearance not unlike a monstrous water melon, reeling to and fro, in a water tub. From the willow tree, which then stood near the Seventh-street part of the field, which, at the time, ran through to Spruce street, ‘Lady' Washington was seen to drive rapidly up in her cream coloured coach, drawn by four Spanking Virginia bays. She had hardly adjusted herself at the coach window, when the balloon ascended rapidly, but steadily, to a great perpendicular height, with Blanchard in the car beneath, waving his flag. He then passed away to the south east, through immense flocks of wild pigeons, in flight at the time, which opened to the right and left, as he passed, they seemingly frightened at the wonderful stranger. He finally vanished into thin air as from a point, and landed safely in the Jerseys, near Woodberry; having caused great alarm, as he descended among the country people. He returned the same evening to the city, and by a special invitation, (as was said,) presented himself, at No. 190 High street, near Sixth, (now a fruit store,) where, at his residence, as President of the U. States, George Washington, was in the habit of holding a weekly levee for his friends and strangers of distinction. About this time, and for years afterwards, a remarkable sailor, whose lower rigging on the larboard side, had been shot away, used to traverse the streets and markets on crutches, vending ballads and extra accounts of famous battles between the French and Austrians, every now and then twanging out, with sonorous tone, Bloody News! but he has passed away, as also the 'Republic Francaise,' and the heroes of those battles and the effects of them; the Consulship, and the Throne Imperial; which had been swayed by one "Whose Game was Empires, and whose stakes were Thrones, "Whose Table Earth, whose dice were human bones; But he also hath passed away to the 'clods of the valley,' in St. Helena; his coffin 15 feet under ground, and fastened down by clamps of iron; "With not a line along the lid, "To date the birth and death of all it hid." due thereon, to Philadelphia Dispensary....1078 221 Amount put out at interest on Bond and Mortgage.. Which latter circumstance happened, as is known to Balance in Treasurer's hands, this day, Dec. all, not LANG SYNE. SOUTHERN DISPENSARY. According to custom, the Managers of the Southern Dispensary, lay before the public their Annual Report. In so doing, they lament the necessity of exposing to view the smallness of the sum derived from annual contributions, in an institution among the most useful ever devised by the spirit of benevolence. But for the aid lent by the occasional legacies of the charitable, the poor of Southwark would have been denied the benefit of an institution, to which they have long looked for assistance, in the trying circumstances of sickness, imbittered by poverty. It cannot be too often repeated, that such charities are among the earliest applied to by those who are descending from competency and comfort, into poverty and sorrow; that their benefits are seldom abused or misapplied; and that by the timely aid derived from them, many a sufferer is prevented from incurring expenses, which might render his poverty irremediable. It is hoped that those who are desirous of directing a portion of their superfluity, towards the relief of poverty combined with disease, will not wait to be personally solicited, but will enhance the value of the donation, by making it a free-will offering. Donations and subscriptions may be addressed to R. M'Mullin, Treasurer, No. 161 Swanson street, or to any of the Managers. One thousand and thirty six patients have been at- Of those, the number recovered is,. Dead,... Removed,.. Irregular and discharged. .22 15th, 1828... Total, Published by direction of the Managers. .....800 00 ..126 80 2671 35 C. PENROSE, President. P. WILLIAMSON, Secretary. ..1014 -1036 .955 Loan to Kensington District... .33 EXPENDITURES. ..2600 00 .167 87 80 00 Remaining under care,....... -1036 Apothecary's Salary. Medical Books and Periodicals.. Total......... The Managers of the Northern Dispensary, in presenting their Annual Report, wish to direct the attention of the public, particularly to the circumstance that the benefit of this charity has been bestowed in 1150 cases of discase, at an average expense of 31 cents in each case. He who has languished on the bed of sickness, and has imbibed hope and consolation from the attention of his Physician, and experienced relief from pain, or renewed health from the use of his remedies, will highly appreciate an institution which thus cheerfully confers the same benefit upon thousands of the afflicted, and materially diminishes the amount of human misery. In the last report of this board, the formation of a Medical Library was advocated. Since that time some progress has been made in the measure, under a conviction that it is calculated to be of considerable service to the objects of our charity, by the facility it affords their physicians of extending their Medical knowledge. Owing to our economical arrangements, we have been enabled to do this without interfering with the main object of the Institution. But we desire it to be expressly understood that dispensing inferior Medicines forms no part of our economy. Annual contributions, donations and legacies of the charitable, will be gratefully received by John C. Browne, Treasurer, President of the Kensing 25 zed, and every view of the subject leads to the belief of a great augmentation of its business and profits in the future; the increase has been gradual so as to warrant its permanency, to continue confidence in the usefulness of the work, and add daily to the resort by traders to its conveniences, not only from the country on its borders, but from more distant parts on the Susquehanna. During the last year many substantial improvements and repairs have been put upon the work; parts which were early constructed, have been faithfully repaired, and will not again require expenditure for a considerable period. have been finished, and much progress made in others Works which had not been completed, which were referred to in the last report. Amongst the former may be named the extension of the navigation to Mill Creek, which is finished in a very faithful manner, Mr. George Duncan; and amongst the latter, which are and does great credit to the engineer and contractor, nearly completed, are to be found the channels and the towpaths of Fair Mount and Flat Rock dams, and the extension of the towpath to Sheridan's Bridge from Fair Mount locks. The Canal at Plymouth has been widened and a new lock and feeder put in, so as to make the Canal available for water power. The works generally have been improved in solidity, and few accidents have occurred to impede a steady navigation during the whole season. In pursuance of the authority given at the last meeting of the Stockholders, the board has borrowed 102, 630 dollars, of which 54,630 dollars was taken at an interest of 5 per cent., and the remainder at 55 per cent., the latter with a small premium averaging 14 per cent. The sums thus raised, were applied to pay for the afore. mentioned works and repair, for the purchase of Real Estate at Plymouth, 10,800 dollars; for damages 10,112 dollars 58 cents; for temporary loans 40,000 dollars, and for permanent loans 8000 dollars. Anthracite coal, the use of which a few years ago was unknown, and of which in 1820, only between three and four hundred tons was consumed, has now become an article of the first necessity, and the consumption has advanced to upwards of 75,000 tons a year and is constantly increasing; so as to warrant the belief, that the demand will be fully equal in a few years to the means of supply, and thus afford a bountiful return to the Stockholders for the long privation of the income of and one so important to the State. their capital, advanced to forward a magnificent work, The quantity of coal which was brought to Showing an increase of 47284 tons, $1360 15,924 tons 3 82 or more than 50 per cent. which increase is very nearly 3 49 equal to the whole quantity brought down in 1826, which 2 69 was 16767 tons. But valuable as this fact is, here is yet another source for the augmentation of the Lusiness, which is very encouraging, and shows the importance of the trade independent of Coal. 5 33 .5 75 1 51 4 62 ........5 91. ......4 76 ...2 26 38 50 1 39 6 71 0 26 37 97 Flour, Iron, &c. 40969 |