ART. X.-CRITICAL NOTICES. 1.-Philadelphia in the Year 1824; or a Brief Account of the various Institutions and Public Objects in this Metropolis; being a complete Guide to Strangers, and a useful Compendium for the Inhabitants. To which is prefixed an Historical and Statistical Account of the City; with a Plan of the City, View of the Water Works, and other Engravings. pp. 238. Carey & Lea. Philadelphia. 1824. Ir was a remark of one of the wisest and best men, whom the world has seen, that there exists in the economy aud course of nature an indissoluble union between virtue and happiness, between duty and advantage, between the genuine maxims of an honest and magnanimous policy, and the solid rewards of public prosperity and felicity. By the writer of a brief history of Philadelphia, this remark of Washington is quoted, as being fully illustrated in the rise and growth of that city. And, indeed, there are many associations connected with the origin of Philadelphia, its progress and history, equally grateful to the philanthropist and the patriotic citizen of the United States. Its foundation was laid in peace and concord. Our ancestors in general, however gently we may touch their motives and temper, merit little for their wisdom and discretion, in their conduct with the Indians. They were too prone to look on the wild man as an inferior being, and to set themselves up as lords over his rights and property, without remembering that they were intruders on his soil, or condescending to meet him even in the land of his fathers on equal and amicable terms. To the reproach of many of our progenitors, whose virtues in other respects speak volumes in their praise, the sword was too often made by them the charter of their rights, and the instrument of gaining ascendency over the natives. But the memorable interview of William Penn with the Indians, on the bank of the Delaware, exhibited a different scene; the even scales of justice, and the mild persuasion of christian love, were the powerful engines with which he swayed the barbarian mind, and taught the savage to confide in the sincerity of the white man; and the first page in the annals of Philadelphia is one of the brightest in the history of mankind, recording an event not more to the credit of the wise and benevolent legislator, through whose agency it happened, than honorable to humanity itself. It was here also, that religious toleration was made the basis of a government at its beginning, and religious freedom established at a time, when the yoke of bigotry and superstition was bowing to the dust the necks of almost all the inhabitants of civilised Europe. In later times it was here, that the first Congress of the colonies assembled, and the articles of confederation and union were agreed upon; and it was here that American Independence was first declared. This city was moreover the residence of Franklin, Rittenhouse, Rush, and of other men, who contributed to achieve our nation's liberties, and who deserve a nation's gratitude. 'At the beginning of the year 1681,' says the writer of the brief history above cited, the tract of ground upon which Philadelphia now stands was covered with forests; and wild men and savage beasts had a pretty equal title to it. Tradition has preserved the anecdote, that in the year 1678, a ship called the Shields of Stockton, the first that had ever ventured to sail so high up the river, approached so close to the shore in tacking as to run her bowsprit among the trees which then lined the bank, and the passengers on board, who were bound for Burlington, remarked upon it as an advantageous site for a town. Little could they foresee the city that was to be erected upon that spot, or the contrast between its growth and that of the still humble village for which they were destined. 'The love of religious liberty led to the foundation of Philadelphia. William Penn had fixed his thoughts upon America as a land of refuge and freedom, many years previous to his acquisition of Pennsylvania. It was not, however, until August 1682, that this venerable lawgiver, with his worthy associates, took their final leave of England. They were accompanied with favorable winds, and on the twentyfourth of October the proprietary landed at Newcastle, amid the acclamations of the Dutch and Swedish settlers. From this place he proceeded to Upland, (now called Chester,) and shortly afterwards concluded that famous treaty with the natives, which they promised should endure "as long as the trees should grow, or the waters hold their course;" a promise, which was faithfully kept during the whole period of the proprietary government.' 'Previously to the arrival of the proprietor, some of the emigrants, who had preceded him, provided for themselves temporary accommodations on the site of the city, in bark huts, which the natives taught them to erect, or in caves dug in the high bank that overhung the Delaware. In one of these rude caves was born the first native Philadelphian.* The first house erected in Philadel * John Key, who reached the patriarchal age of eightyfive, and died at Kennet, in Chester county, in July, 1767. He was born in a cave, afterwards known by the name of Pennypot, on the Bank near Race street. Proud relates of him, that when near eighty, he walked from Kennet to the city, a distance of thirty miles, in one day. The natives of these dwellings of primitive simplicity, seem to have ap proached the primitive longevity; for Edward Drinker, who was also born in a cave, survived until the declaration of Independence. phia was a low wooden building, on the east side of Front street, in what was called Budd's Row, a little to the north of the creek or inlet now occupied by Dock street, and which originally flowed as far to the north and west as Chesnut and Third streets. The owner kept a tavern there, called "The Blue Anchor," for many years. One of the first brick buildings erected in Philadelphia, was a house, which till very recently stood on the north side of Chesnut street, opposite Carpenter's Court. In Letitia Court still survives the venerable building, which the proprietor occupied as his town residence, and which was erected within a few years after his arrival. Upwards of eighty houses, of different sizes, were erected during the first year; and the foundation being now laid, the proprietor addressed a letter of general information and description respecting the country, to the "Society of Free Traders," the following passage of which conveys his thoughts and wishes in regard to the infant city. 6 66 Philadelphia, the expectation of those that are concerned in this province, is at last laid out, to the great content of those here that are any ways interested therein. The situation is a neck of land, and lieth between two navigable rivers, Delaware and Sculkil; whereby it hath two fronts upon the water each a mile; and two from river to river. Delaware is a glorious river; but the Sculkil, being an hundred miles boatable above the falls, and its course north east, towards the fountain of Susquahanna, (that tends to the heart of the province, and both sides our own,) it is like to be a great part of the settlement of this age. I say little of the town itself, because a platform will be shewn you by my agent; in which those who are purchasers of me will find their names and interests. But this I will say for the good providence of God, that of all the many places I have seen in the world, I remember not one better seated; so that it seems to me to have been appointed for a town, whether we regard the rivers or the conveniency of the coves, docks, springs, the loftiness and soundness of the land, and the air, held by the people of these parts to be very good. It is advanced within less than a year to about fourscore houses and cottages, such as they are; where merchants and handicrafts are following their vocations as fast as they can; while the countrymen are close at their farms. Some of them got a little winter corn in the ground last season, and the generality have had a handsome summer crop, and are preparing for their winter corn. They reaped their barley this year in the month called May; the wheat in the month following; so that there is time in these parts for another crop of divers things before the winter season. We are daily in hopes of shipping to add to our number; for blessed be God, here is both room and accommodation for them. The stories of our necessity being either the VOL. XX.-No. 46. 28 fear of our friends, or the scarecrows of our enemies. For the greatest hardship we have suffered hath been salt meat; which by fowl in winter, and fish in summer, together with some poultry, lamb, mutton, veal, and plenty of venison, the best part of the year hath been made very passable. I bless God, I am fully satisfied with the country, and entertainment I got in it. For I find that particular content which has always attended me, where God in his providence hath made it my place and service to reside, &c.” 'From this time the population, and the number of houses, began to increase with great rapidity. "On the 12th of January, 1683, the first general assembly of representatives convened at Philadelphia; and on the second day of the succeeding March, the first grand jury for the city was summoned. It is remarkable, that the first conviction, in a place of so much simplicity, was for counterfeiting the silver coin, an offence most generally the offspring of an advanced stage of society, and for the execution of which neither the materials nor the requisite privacy would seem likely to have been found.* Another trial was of one Margaret Mattson, indicted for witchcraft. The jury, with characteristic simplicity found her "guilty of having the common fame of being a witch, but not guilty in manner and form as she stands indicted." The governor and his council presided as judges on this occasion; and it was not until the end of the succeeding year, that persons were appointed to act in the judicial capacity.' pp. 3-5. The first government is complained of as having been instituted on defective principles, and not well adapted to advance the prosperity of the city, or secure the liberty of the citizens. Several changes were introduced from time to time, but it was not till 1796, that the present system was established. 'The mere enumeration of the public institutions of this city, established and supported for the diffusion of education, the relief of distress, the improvement of the human condition, the advancement of philosophy and literature, and similar purposes, will probably surprise even most of those in whose vicinity philanthropy has been so actively at work. In this labor of usefulness, it is right to say, that the members of the society of "Friends" have had their full share. A large proportion of the charities and comforts of Philadelphia has been derived from the unwearied philanthropy of this excellent sect, who have imparted something of their own love of solid usefulness, and their unostentatious benevolence, to the general character of the city. It is a subject of frequent re *The punishment to which the offender was condemned, is no less remarkable He was sentenced to pay a fine of forty pounds towards the building of a court house! In the country from which the judges had just come, he would have been hung. So much were their ideas already purified. proach against the "Friends," that they are averse, or at least indifHow unfounded the ferent to the cultivation of human learning. aspersion is, at least as respects the Quakers of Philadelphia, will be seen in the account of their literary establishments in the following pages. Probably at least one half even of the best informed inhabitants of Philadelphia are ignorant that there are not less than fifteen public schools established by this society in different parts of the city—that in the principal institution are taught the Latin, Greek and Hebrew languages, the mathematical sciences and natural philosophy, the public lectures are delivered in it on botany, mineralogy, &c. that it possesses an observatory, containing the most valuable astronomical instruments, a cabinet of minerals, and an extensive library of rare and useful books. It will equally surprise many Philadelphians, to learn that a public library founded by the friends, has existed for many years in the central part of the city, containing several thousand volumes, and open without any charge once a week to all respectable applicants. These institutions, and the silence and modesty with which their operations are conducted, are characteristic of Philadelphia.' pp. 10, 11. To the following short notice of the commerce of the city, several valuable tables are attached, exhibiting the state of commerce in Philadelphia as compared with that of Baltimore, New York, and Boston. 'For a considerable period after the peace of 1783, Philadelphia stood at the head of the commercial cities of the Union. The profitable carrying trade, and the great demand in Europe for bread stuffs, consequent upon the wars, which arose out of the French Revolution, caused great activity in commerce, and greatly enriched this city. The superior advantages of New York, however, arising from her proximity to the ocean, have gradually raised her to the first rank in commerce, and placed her at a great distance beyond the other ports of the United States. After the peace of 1815, the commerce of Philadelphia declined to a very low ebb, in common with that of Boston, Baltimore, and other cities. The new state of things produced by general peace had closed many profitable avenues ; new channels were to be found; large profits were no longer to be expected; and it required some time for mercantile habits to adapt themselves to the change. Within the last four years, however, commerce and trade have again revived; a steady though gradual improvement is taking place, and Philadelphia is evidently resuming her former elevated rank in commerce.' pp. 31, 32. The American Philosophical Society and the Academy of Natural Sciences, are thus described. "The first was founded in 1743, principally by the exertions of Dr Franklin. In 1766 another institution for the same objects |