I Cornell University J Library The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://archive.org/details/cu31924098140647 CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 3 1924 098 140 647 In compliance with current copyright law, Cornell University Library produced this replacement volume on paper that meets the ANSI Standard Z39.48-1992 to replace the irreparably deteriorated original. 2004 CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY FROM THE BOOKS OF GEORGE MORGAN WELCH '03 COLONEL Judge Advocate General's Department Army of the United States anil^//^ ANNALS OP Philadelphia, and Pennsylvania, IN THE OLDEN TIME; BEING A COLLECTION OF MEMOIRS, ANECDOTES, AND INCIDENTS OF THE CITY AND ITS INHABITANTS, AND OF THE EARLIEST SETTLEMENTS OF THE INLAND PART OF PENNSYLVANIA; INTENDED TO PRESERVE THE RECOLLECTIONS OF OLDEN TIME, AND TO EXHIBIT SOCIETY IN ITS CHANGES OF MANNERS AND CUSTOMS, AND THE CITY AND COUNTRY IN THEIR LOCAL CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS. By JOHN F. ^^ATSON, MEMBER OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETIES OF PENNSYLVANIA, NEW YORK, AND MASSACHUSETTS ENLARGED, WITH MANY REVISIONS AND ADDITIONS, BY WILLIS P. HAZARD. PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED, IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. I. "Oh! dear is a tale of the olden time I" Sequari vestigia rerum. "Where peep'd the hut, the palace towers; Where skimm'd the bark, the war-ship lowers; Joy gaily carols where was silence rude, And cultured thousands throng the solitude." PHILADELPHIA: EDWIN S. STUART, 9 South Ninth Street. 1891. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1857, by ELIJAH THOMAS, tn the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, in and for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Copyright, 1877, J. M. Stoddart & Co. 12aif^|5 ADVERTISEMENI. " I pray you, let us satisfy our eyes With the memorials and things of fame That do renown this City." 1 HIS work, dedicated to the Historical Society of Penn sylvania by one of its members, and specially recommended to the public by one of its official publications, is designed to revive the recollections and the peculiar traits and cha- racteristics of the olden time; — to give to the present race of Philadelphians and Pennsylvanians, curious and amusing facts from by-gone times, of which few or none have had any proper conception. It is an effort to rescue from the ebbing tide of oblivion, all those fugitive memorials x)f un- published facts and observations, or reminiscences and traditions, which could best illustrate the domestic history of our former days. As such a work is without example for its imitation, it may be deemed sui-generis in its execu- tion. It has, however, powers to please apart from its style and composition, because it is in effect — a museum of whatever is rare, surprising, or agreeable, concerning the primitive days of our pilgrim forefathers, or of the subsequent changes by their sons, either in the alterations and improvements of given localities, or in the modes and forms of " changing men and manners." It is a picture of the doings and characteristics of a buried age. By the images which their recitals create in the imagination, the ideal presence is generated ; and we talk and think with men of other times. \^0L. 1—6. f,X>) A DVEllTISEMENT. Herein the aged may find ready assistance to travel back in memory to the scenes and gambols of their sportive in- nocent youth ; and the youth of our country may regale their fancies vi^ith recitals as novel and marvellous to their wondering minds, as the Arabian tales — even while they have the gratification to commingle in idea with the plays and sports of their own once youthful ancestors. The dull unheeding citizen who writes nil admirari on the most of things, may here see cause " to wonder that he never saw before what he shows him, and that he never yet had felt what he impresses !" To Philadelphians and Pennsyl- vanians, settled in distant countries, and longing for visions of country and home, herein is presented the best gift their friends at home could send them. It is presumed the day is coming, if not already arrived, when the memorabilia of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, and of their primitive inhabitants, so different from the present, will be highly appreciated by all those who can feel intellectual pleasure in travelling back the vale of years, and conferring with the " mighty dead." Such will give their thanks and their gratitude to labours humble as *hese ; — for I have not aimed to give them that " painted form" which might allure by its ornaments of rhetoric. I have rather repressed the excursive fancy, which sometimes I could not but feel. My object has not been to say all that could have been adduced on every topic, but to gather up the segregated facts in the several cases which others had overlooked or disregarded, or to save fugitive scraps, if published, which others had neglected. In this way, I have chiefly aimed to furnish the material by which better or more ambitious writers could elaborate more formal history, and from which as a repository, our future poets, painters, and imaginative authors could deduce their themes, for their own and their country's glory. To such materials, fiction may some day lend its charms to amplify and consecrate facts ; and "Tales of Ancient Philadelphia and the Coun- ADVERTISEMENT. ^'' try," may be touched by genius and made immortal ! Al- ready such efforts have been made : and " Meredith, or the Meschianza," and " A Tale of Blackbeard the Pirate," go to show that this hint is not neglected. The author is fully aware that his pages must show a broken and disjointed form — as well from their necessary divisions into numerous heads and chapters, as from the fact that the varieties written, had to be done in snatches of time, just as he could catch the thought or possess the occasion — and never with the advantage of a second writing for its improvement. Critics may possibly find occasion to condemn this, who may not in their whole lives contri- bute even a tythe of such labours to the public stock of olden time reminiscences. The reader will please observe, that this work having been dosed in its Manuscript, in 184-2, that therefore, all reference to any given number of years back, respecting things passed or done so many " years ago,^^ is to be understood as counting backward y)-o??2 the year 1842. Ptdladelphia County, July, 1842. CONTENTS OF VOL. I. CHIEFLY CONCERNING PHILADELPHIA CITY General Introductory Historyj -....] Epitome of Primitive Colonial and Philadelphia History, - 6 The Primitive Settlement and its incidents, - - - 35 Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement, - - 42 Fragments of the Primitive History, -...'{'! The Pen n Family — and facts concerning them, - - -105 Penn's Descendants — notices of them, .... 121 The landing of Penn at Chester, - .... -127 The landing of Penn at the Blue Anchor Inn, • - 1?0 The Treaty Tree and Fairman's Mansion there, . - . 134 The Swedes' Church and House of Sven Sener, . . - 14|J Penny Pot-house and Landing, ..... 153 Poole's Bridge and its incidents, ..... isg Penn's Cottage in Letitia Court, ..... 158 Slate-roof House — Penn's residence, .... 163 The River-front Bank — and how its original purpose was changed, - 166 The Caves — and their inhabitants, ... - - 171 Habits and State of Society in Colonial Times, - . - . 172 Apparel — Former Dresses, ..... " 183 Furniture and Equipage in Olden Time, .... 203 Changes and Improvements in public and domestic comforts and con- veniences, - - - - - - - -211 Changes in Residences and Places of Business, ... 224 Local changes in Streets and Places, ..... 230 Innovations and new modes of Conducting Business, - - 238 Progress and state of Society, -...-. 243 Changes in prices of Diet, &c. ..... 260 Superstitions and Popular Credulity, .... -265 Pports and Amusements, ...... 276 xiv Contents of Vol. I. City Dancing Assembly, .... 283 Education in Early Times, ...... 286 Primitive Courts and Trials, .--... 298 Crimes and Punishments, - - ... 307 Tiie Excellencies of Penn's Laws, - - - - -311 Philadelphia Bar in Colonial times, - - - - - 315 Militia and Colonial Defence, ...... 323 Duels in olden Time, - - .... 333 The Drawbridge and Dock Creek, .... - 335 The Old Court House, and Friends' Meeting, ... 350 High Street Prison and Market Shambles, . . - . 355 The Stone Prison, S.W. corner of Third and High streets, - 360 Market Houses in Primitive Days, - - - . . 362 The Arch Street Bridge at Front Street, - - - . 364 Shippen's Great House, -..-.. 353 Benezet's House and Chestnut Street Bridge, . - . 371 Clarke's Hall, &c. — Chestnut Street, - - - - 374 Carpenter's Mansion, ...... 376 Christ Church — its early history, - - . . . 373 Friends' Bank Meeting, Front Street, ... 390 Friends' Meeting at Centre Square, ... . 391 The London Coffee-house, ...... 393 State House and Yard — in its beginning, - - . 396 State House Inn, ... ... 403 Washington Square in former days, . . . - . ^^05 Beek's Hollow, .--... 407 Norris' House and Garden, ..... 408 Robert Morris' Mansion, ■ ..... 4(19 Loxley's House, and Bathsheba's Bath and Bower, . - -411 Duche's House, &c. ....... 413 Bingham's Mansion, --..... 414 The British Barracks, .... ... 415 The Old Academy, - - - . ' . . .416 Carpenters' Hall, and First Congress there, - - - 419 Officfl of Secretary of Foreign Affairs, .... 423 Fon Wilson, corner of Third and Walnut Streets, ... 425 Friends' Alms House, ...... 426 Contends of Vol. I. Whitpain's Great House, Wiggleworth's House, - . . . The Old Ferry, .... Offly's Anchor Forge, .... Baptisterion — on ihe Schuylkill, Fort St. David, ..... Bachelor's Hall, .... The Duck Pond, corner Fourth and High Streets, Pegg's Run, &c. — Early notices and changes there. Specimens of the best Houses, . . - Rare Old Houses, .... Churches — their early histbry, ... Hospitals — their early history. Poor Houses — earliest ones, ... Libraries — their early history. Taverns in former days, ... Theatres — their origin. Custom Houses — earliest ones, . . - Banks — in their beginning, . . - North End, ^ . . . . South End and Society Hill, Western Commons, &.C., . - Springs — in earliest days, . . . , Gardens — notices of earliest ones. Ponds and Skating Places, ... Fires and Fire Engines — early notices, - Friends — in early times, ... Persons and Characters, ... Aged Persons, .... Childhood and its Joys, .... XV 428 • 428 429 430 430 431 432 433 436 443 445 447 460 462 462 463 471 474 475 477 482 485 489 493 495 496 499 511 597 603 LIST OF EMBELLISHMENTS IN VOLUME I. ^"And Directions to the Binder. Portrait of Penn. (Frontispiece.) The " Shield" passing the Site of Philadelphia in 1678, - ■ 10 Two Portraits of Penn — as Governor and Young Cavalier, - 111 Penn landing at Chester, ...--.- 127 Penn landing at Bine Anchor, ---.--- 127 The Treaty Tree and Fairman's Mansion, . - - . 134 The Swedes' Church and House of Sven Sener, - - - - 134 Penny Pot-House and Landing, --.-.. 153 Sloop of War wintering in Pegg's Run, - - - - - 156 Penn's Cottage in Letitia Court, 158 Slate-Roof House, Penn's Residence, 158 The Caves and their Inhabitants, - - . . - I71 Head-dress Fashions for 1800, 183 The Drawbridge and Dock Creek, 336 Old Court House and Friends' Meeting House, - - - . 350 High Street Prison and Market Shambles, . - - . 350 Walnut Street Prison, 350 Stone Prison, Southwest Corner of Third and High Streets, - 360 Friends' Bank Meeting House, 360 The Arch Street Bridge at Front Street, - - • - - 364 Shippen's House, South Second Street, 368 Benezet's House and Chestnut Street, 371 Clarke's Hall on Chestnut Street, '371 Carpenter's Mansion, - - 376 Christ Church, 376 The London Coffee House, 393 State House and Congress Hall, --.... 393 Robert Morris' Mansion, Chestnut Street, .... 409 Loxley's House, South Second Street, 411 Washington's House, High Street, 411 Bathsheba's Bath and Bower, 411 Dnche's House, South Third Street, 413 British Barracks, Northern Liberties, 413 Carpenter's Hall, the Place of First Congress, . . - 419 OfBce of Secretary of Foreign Affairs, South Sixth Street, - - 419 Friends' Almshouse, Walnut Street, 427 First Presbyterian Church, High Street, 427 Baptisterion on the Schuylkill, 430 Fort St. David, 43I Duck Pond, Corner of Fourth and High Streets, - - - 433 Pegg's Run, Northern Liberties, 436 Nicholas Wain, --..-.... 507 Logan's and Franklin's Busts, 523 John S, Hutton and James Pemberton, 527 (xvi) ANNALS OF PHILADELPHIA AND PENNSYLVANIA. GENERAL INTRODUCTORY HISTORY. " My soul, revolving periods past, looks back, With recollected interest on all The former darings of our venturous race." Before proceeding to the proper object of the present work, (■'The Annals of Philadelphia, &.c.,") it may be profitable to occupy a few lines in a preliminary and brief survey of the successive efforts made by kings, discoverers, and founders, to settle colonies in our hemisphere. The earliest English claim to sovereignty in America was based upon the discoveries of John Cabot, accompanied by his son Sebas- tian. These, acting under the commission and for the service of Heniy VII., in the year 1497, ran along the line of our coast, from the 38th to the 67th degree of north latitude; — thus making their discoveries only five years later than those by Columbus himself in lower latitudes. But great as were such discoveries, and important as have been their consequences, since developed, they then excited no effectual spirit of adventure and colonization. It was not till upwards of a century, that any nation of Europe made any effective establish- ments in our country. In 1608 the French, conducted by Samuel Champlain, founded their colony in Canada; — about the same time, the Dutch planted New York, and the British, Virginia. The few eariier attempts at colonization made by England and France, were virtually nothing, as they were abandoned almost as soon as begun. When we contemplate the present wealth and resources of our country, once open to the aggrandizement of any respectable adven- turer who had energies sufficient to avail himself of its advantages, it is matter of surprise, that a period of eighty years should have elapsed in England, before any of her subjects should have made any effort to possess themselves of the benefits of their proper discovery ! France with less pretension, did more; for Cartiers, in 1534, made some ineffectual attempts at plantation in Canada. This was undei the discoveries imputed to Verranza, who, only ten years before, Vol. I.— a 1 (1) 2 General Introductory History. while sailing under a patent from Francis I., ranged tnt coast fiom North Carolina to the 50th degree of north latitude, and called tiie country New France. At length the attention of the English nation was called to the subject of colonization, by the genius and enterprise of Sir Walter Raleigh. In 1578, he procured a patent for settlement for the use of his half brother, Sir Humphry Gilbert. The latter, however, made no endeavour to execute it till 1583, when it soon proved abortive in his attempts to a settlement in Newfoundland. It was not, from its very nature, the land to allure and cherish strangers. Anothei expedition quickly succeeded, under a direct grant in 1584 to Sir Walter Raleigh himself. He committed the enterprise to Sir Richard Greenville, under two divisions of vessels, (the first, as it is said, under Captains Amidas and Barlow,*) both of which made the land at Roanoke, in North Carolina, in the years 1584 and '5. Disaster and dissatisfaction soon broke up this colony ; for, losing 108 of their number, in an enterprise wherein their fate was never known, the remainder willingly availed themselves of an unexpected chance to return home with Sir Francis Drake's fleet. They were hardly gone, m 1586, before Sir Walter himself arrived to join his colonists; but finding all had gone, he returned home immediately, much chagrined with his non-success.f Still, however, two other colonies succeeded under Captain While in 1587 and 1590. The first were supposed to have been destroyed ; and the latter, being much distressed by a storm on the coast, resolved on a return home. Thus ended the disastrous and nugatory efforts of Sir Walter and his associates i They were indeed enough to repress and break the spirits of any individual projector. The spirit of adventure slumbered for a season, and no further attempts of Englishmen occurred until 1602, when the enlerprising Bartholomew Gosnold (a name since much appropriated to New England history) made his discovery of Cape Cod and the neigh- bouring regions, although he ihen proposed a voyage to the former ill-fated Roanoke. He was succeeded in the two following years by Captains M. Pring and George Weymouth. In 1607, Captains George Popham and R. Gilbert built Fort George, at the place where now stands the city of Boston. These all contented themselves with making short stays for purposes of trade and trafiic. They sought not colonization, nor cared to seek after ihe abandone'l Roanoke.t Sir Walter having forfeited his patent by attainder, King James I. was pleased to grant another patent for all our territory from the 34lh * Bennet's MS History does not regard Amidas and Barlow as a part of Greenville's expedition, as other historians do; but that they arrived in 1584, and Greenville's in ] 585. He also asserts, as if relating it from data, that the former took, home two natives, named Wanchese and Mateo, and also the first specimens of tobacco. ■\ It has long been held uncertain, whether Sir Walter ever visited his colony, but Bennet's MS. History asserts that he did. ? Roanolie is the Indian name for Wampum. General Introductory History- 3 to the 45th degree, (that is, from North Caroh'na to Nova Scotia,) under the general name of Virginia, — a name previously conferred on Sir Walter's patent, as a compliment to the reigu of the virgin queen, Elizabeth. The South Virginia division extended from the 34th to the 41st degree, or, from Cape Hatteras to New York city, and the first colonization of any of the new patentees, destined however for Roanoke, was effected in 1607, at Jamestown, Virginia. Thus giving place to the idea, often expressed in modern times, of the "Ancient Dominion," so claimed for Virginia among her sister states, although better historical reasons can be assigned for her distinction.* The North Virginia division, if we except the alleged intrusion of the Dutch on the Hudson river,or of Captain Popham's relinquished aUernpt to settle at Boston, was not permanently colonized until 1620, when it was made for ever memorable by the landing of the Plymouth colony of Puritans in Massasoit. or Massachusetts. In 1609, Henry Hudson, an Englishman,! '" ''le service of the Dutch East India company, having fruitlessly sought a north-west passage to India in the high northern latitudes, resolved to repair the losses of his ineffective labours, by extending his voyage more southerly for the purpose of traffic. In returning thence from the bar of Virginia, he discovered our bay of Delaware, and soon after the Hudson river. From this last discovery, certain traders from Holland came out in 1614, under a patent from the States General, and made their first establishment at Fort Orange, (Aurania,) near the present city of Albany. Of this fort they were dispossessed the same year by Captain Argal, acting under Governor Dale of the South Virginia province. But after his return to Virginia, the traders reassembled and formed a new establishment at the mouth of the Hudson, on the island Manahatlan, the present New York, where ihey built a fort, which they called Nieu Amstel, or New Amsterdam. This event is said by some writers to have been in 1615 ; but Go- vernor Stuyvesant's letter of 1664, of the surrender of the place to the British conquerors, speaks of it as occurring " about 41 or 42 years preceding," thus affixing it to the years 1622— 3; — the same period assigned by Professor Kalm. About that time, the Stales General appear to have enlarged their schemes of profit from the country, by an attempt at colonization ; for (hey grant, in ihe year 1621, their patent " for the country of the Nieu Nederland, to the privileged West India Company." From this time the Dutch began to progress southwardly over the lands bordering on * It is a fact on record, that Virginia resisted CromweH's rule, and treated with his naval commander as an " independent dominion." King Charles II. afterwards quar- tered Virginia with his arms, having the motto, *^En dot Virginia quarfum.^* Vide — Encyclopasdia Britannica. See also those arms and motto engraved on a Virginia £5 bill in my MS. Annals, p. 276, in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. ■)■ Wm. Hudson, an English clergyman from Barbadoes, who was a primitive settler at Philadelphia, and has left several descendants among us, was a near relative of Hud- son, the discoverer, perhaps his nephew. He became a Friend, and was employed much in civil oHiccs. 1 General Introductory History. both side? of ihe river Delaware, which (hey tlien called the Zuydl or South river, in coatradistinction to their Noordt or North river. To protect their settlers, they built, in 1623, their first fort on the Dela- ware, and probably made their first village, at the place since known as Gloucester point, in New Jersey, at a liltle distance below the present Philadelphia. This was of course the proper " Ancient Do- minion," to us ! The fortification was called " Nassau." The place was known to the Indians by the name of Arwanus,* and by the ancient Philadelphians, by the less poetical name of Pine point. In 1629, the country of New Netherland became of consequence enough to deserve and receive a governor ; and Wouter van Twiller, the first governor that our country, in common with New York, ever possessed, came out to Fort Amsterdam, (called New York, after 1664-5,) where he ruled in the name of their " high mightinesses and the privileged West India Company." In 1631 the Swedes and Fins, allured by the publication of Wil- liam Usselinx,a Dutch trader, effected a colony under the patronage of their government at Cape Henlopen,t (called afterwards Cape James, by William Penn,) at a place near the present Lewestown, which they called Point Paradise. In 1631, also, the Swedes laid out Stockholm (New Castle) and Christiana, (now Wilmington,) on Minquas creek. They thence spread themselves further along the Delaware. In 1632, Lord Baltimore obtained from Charles I. his patent foi the Maryland colony, and forthwith began his colony there. In 1640, the Puritans from New Haven, under the name of Eng- lish people, desirous of planting churches " after a godly sort," and " to trade and traffic with the Indians" along the Delaware bay, made a purchase of soil for ^.30 sterling, transported thither about fifty families, and erected trading houses ; from all of which they were ejected in 1642, by orders from Keift, the Dutch governor. It is a matter of curiosity and wonder to us of the present day to contemplate the vagueness and contradictions with which our coun- try was at first lavishly parcelled out and patented. First, the Span- iards would have claimed the whole under their general grant from the pope! Then, Henry VII. of England, and Francis I. of France, would each have claimed the whole of our coast : the former under the name of Virginia; the latter under the name of New » Called also Tekaacho. j- 1 have assumed the time given by Campanius, both because he was among the ear- liest historians of our country, and also dwelling among us as a Swede, He speaks thus. "when the Swedes arrived in 1631," &c. Proud, deriving the time from Smith's Nova Caesaria, has given the year 1 627 as the time ; but this is a mistake easily accounted for, as being the year, as the state paper shows, in which the king and diet of Sweden gave their sanction to the colonization. There are, however, several reasons assigned for thinking that 1638 was the year of their first arrival and settlement, and the facts are well told in Moulton's History of New York ; it should be consulted by the curious in this matter. James Logan's letter of 1726 to the Penns, to be found elsewhere in these pages, says, "there was also a prohibition (from the New York government) to the Swedes, between the years 1630 and '40. General Introductory History. 5 Prance. While the Enghsh are actually settling in Virginia proper, the Dutch take possession of New York, and claim it as New Netherlands ; the French at the same time, under their claim of Canada, encroach upon New York. The limits of North and South Virginia are confusedly made to include New York in both of them. The charter for Maryland is made to invade that for the New Netherlands; and the charter for Connecticut is made to encroach upon New York and Pennsylvania both, and to extend in effect to the Pacific ocean. These conflicting charters and interests go far to prove the great deficiency of geographical records and uiforrnation, or the trifling estimation in which lands thus cheaply attained oi held were then regarded. EPITOME OP PRIMITIYE COLONIAL AND PHILADELPHIA HISTORY. " Push enquiry to the birth And spring-time of our State." Our country having been successively possessed by the Dutch, the Swedes, and the Enghsh, at periods preceding the colony of Penn and Pennsylvania, it will be a useful introduction to the propel history of Philadelphia and the pilgrim founders, to ofTer such notices of the early colonial history as may briefly show the times, places and manner of the several attempts at dominion or colonization within our bordeis. When this is accomplished, articles of more general acceptance and more varied and agreeable reading will follow. The Dutch were undoubtedly the first adventurers who endea- voured to explore and colonize the countries contiguous to our bay and river. So far as precedence of time could confer supremacy, the Dutch had it by actual occupancy. But although they so aspired to possess and rule the country in the name of their " High Mighti- nesses," it was not conceded by others ; for the Swedes in 1631 , and the English from New Haven in 1640, severally essayed to be- come colonists under their own laws. These based their claims on their actual purchases from the Indian Sovereigns; of whom they alleged they had each acquired their titles. That the Sachems did so sell to them is perhaps pretty good inferential evidence that the Dutch had not so acquired their title before them, unless for special places where they designed to settle ; — so they certainly procured their title for Cape May, the deed for which is still extant in the archives of state at Alban)^ Captain Kornelis Jacobus Mey, a Dutchman, must be regarded as the first explorer of our bay and river, because it is recorded of him that, as early as 1623, he was among those first settlers who formed a village at Gloucester point, and there built Fort Neissau for its defence. Prom him, thus pre-eminent at least by precedence of name, our prominent points of port entrance derived their names Th'as our Cape May retains his surname; and the inner cape of the southern Colonial and Philadelphia History. 7 siJe of the bay once bore his baptismal name— Cornehus. The name of Hinlopen was at the same time bestowed upon the outer cape, in honour of a Dutch navigator of ihe name of Jehner Hinlopen. The bay itself was called Zuydt baai, but oftener Goodyn's bay; — the latter in honour of Samuel Goodyn, one of the partners of the purchase of Cape May county, from the Indian chieftains, in 1630. The Indian name of the bay was Poutaxat. The river they called Lenape Wihittuck; which means — the rapid stream of the Lenape. It also bore the names of Mackerish Kitton, and Arasapha. The name of Delaware bay and river, conferred by the English, is manifestly derived from Lord Delaware, (i. e. Sir Thomas West,) but whether from his arrival at it on his way to Virginia in 1610, or because of his death off the place on his return home in 1618, is uncertain, as both causes have been assigned. The Swedes called it New Swedeland stream, and the country Nya Swerige, or New Swedeland. The year 1630 must ever be regarded as the year peculiarly fruitful in expedients with the Dutch to colonize and engross the advantages of our river Delaware. Several merchants of Amster- dam, including Samuel Goodyn aforenamed, sent out in this year Captain de Vries with two vessels to execute their projects. They designed to raise tobacco and grain, and to catch whales and seals. The little colony of about three dozen persons, with their cattle and implements of husbandry, made their settlement up a creek* two leagues from Cape Cornelius, which they named Swaenendael (Swandale,) or the Valley of Swans, because they were then nume- rous there. t The ill-natured conduct of an inferior officer in com- mand in De Vries' absence having caused the destruction of the colony by the Indians, and the whalery not being sufficiently en- couraging, we hear little more of the Dutch on the Delaware until several years afterwards, when, being grown into power and conse- quence at New York, they made their approaches as conquerors, to the occasional terror of English or Swedish settlers. From the absence and long silence of Dutch incidents on the borders of the Delaware, subsequent to the loss of De Vries' colony and abandonment, we are the readier prepared to believe the report of some of the historians, that when the Dutch on the South River perceived the superior advantages gaining by their countrymen on the North River, they abandoned the little possessions they had acquired near the Delaware. We think too, the general absence of Dutch settlers among us is strongly corroborated by the fact of so few names of Dutch origin being ever to be met with in our earliest land titles and records, e.xcept that several occur in Bucks County, near • Now Lewistown creek, I presume. ■(• This was the same place called the " Hoer creek," by the Dutch, and Sinknasse, by [he Indiana. As Acrelis speaks of the Dutch haring a fort at the Hoer Kill, in 1638, the probability is that they had then rpsumed their settlement there. The English once called it Deal, and alsn " Whore creek." It may have been originally Iloren, as a horn is crooked. Hiren nook ia a place near New York. 8 UoComaC and Philadelphia History. the Delaware, whereas the names of Swedish settlers are numerous, and their descendants are plentiful among us even to this day. In- deed, what few did remain on our shores must have been about the lower and bay part, as was expressed by William Penn, in his let- ter to the Marquis of Halifax, of 16S3, saying, " the Swedes having had the upper part of the river, and the Dutch the lower and all the bay."* The Swedes claim our notice from and after the year 1631, as the time of their arrival assigned by their historian, Campanius. At that lime they laid out the present New Castle, under the name of Slock- holra.t They also built their first fort for another settlement at Christiana, J on Minquas creek, called also Suspecough. At the island of Tenecum, (written — Tutae as nung Tencho and Tenna Kong,) they built a fort called New Gotlenburg. With it they con- nected several of the best houses, a church, § and the governor's house, called Printz's hall. Numerous are the other places named or held by the Swedes, as set down in the old maps of Campanius and Lindstrom; such as Mocoponaca — the present Chester, Ma- naiung — a fort at the mouth of the present Schuylkill, Chincessing, (now Kingsessing township,) Korsholm fort — a fortress in Passaiung supposed to be the same originally at Wiccacoa, (now Swedes' church neighbourhood,) where Sven Schute|| was in command. They had other names not far from the present Philadelphia, such as Nya- wasa, Gripsholm, Finlandt, Meulendael, Karakung, Lapananel, &-C. — not to omit the settlement of Olof Stille's place, ancestor of a present wealthy city family of that name, at a place called Techo- herassi. The numerous forts, so called under the government of the Swedes, very probably often mere block-houses, indicate the state of their apprehensions from enemies. Whether their Dutch neighbours gave significant signs of intentions eventually to supplant them is not now so obvious ; but it is matter of record that the Dutch, eis early as 1651, built Port Kasimir, and called the place Nieu Amstel, at the present New Caslle. As it had before been a Swedish town undei the name of Stockholm, the Swedish governor, Printz, did what he could to prevent it by solemn protest, ] rats. They were generally along the Delaware in the hollow trees. Many of the ancient houses which he saw still in Philadelphia had heen built of stone, and had the lime made from oyster shells ; this caused them always to have wet walls for two or three days before a rain, so that great drops of water rested on them ; they were indeed good hygrometers, but much complained of; they fell into prema- ture decay, and are since gone. One fact related by Mr. Kalm attaches with peculiar force to Philadelphia; he was much surprised with the abundance and haid- ness of our laurel tree, called by the settlers and Indians the spoon tree, because the latter made of it their spoons, trowels, &c. Lin- naeus has called it Kalmia latifolia, after the name of Kalm, who took it home to Sweden in the form of a spoon made by an Indian, who had killed mar)y stags on the spot where Philadelphia now stands, — they subsisted on its leaves in the winter season. Old George Warner, a Friend, who died at Philadelphia in 1810, aged 99 years, gave a verbal description of Philadelphia as he saw it at his landing here in the year 1726. The passengers of the ship, having the small pox on board, were all landed at the Swedes' Church, then "far below the great towne;" there they were all generously received by one Barnes, who treated them (such as could receive it) with rum, — the first Warner had ever seen. Barnes led them out to the "Blue House Tavern;" (which stood till the year 1828, at the south west corner of South and Ninth Streets, near a great pond,) they then saw nothing in all their route but swamps and lofty forests, no houses, and abundance of wild game. There they remained till recovered; then he was conducted to the ' Boatswain and Call Tavern," (in aforetime the celebrated "Blue Anchor Inn") at the Drawbridge, north-west corner. In all this route he saw not one house, and the same character of woody waste. At that time, he knew but of three or four houses between that place and the Swedes' Church, and those houses were in small " clearings" without enclosures. Northward from the Drawbridge, as high up as High Street, there were but two wharves then huilt; say, the one of Anthony Mortis, the other belonging to the Allen family in more modern times. In walking out High Street, he much admired the very thrifty and lofty growth of the forest trees, especially from beyond the Centre Square to the then romantic and picturesque banks of the Schuyl- kill. The only pavement he then noticed, was near the old Court House, and the then sliort market house, extending fromthat house westward, about a half a square in length. As this venerable old gendeman possessed his faculties to the last, he would have proved a treasure to one in my way of inquiry. It was indeed a men(al fund to himself, to iiave had in his own person so much observation of the passing scenes he must have witnessed in such a changeful city; contrasting its infant growth with its rapid 52 Pacts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement improvements as late as ihe year of his deatii ! He was of loursf in iiis 15ih year when he arrived — just at an age when the imagina- tion is lively, and the feelings are strongly disposed to observation. Holmes' " Portraiture of Philadelphia," done in 1683-4, as a kind of city platform, sho.ws the localities first chosen for buildings at thai early time. It shows about 2U cabins constructed on the river bank. At the " Society hill," from Pine street to above Union street, they had their houses and grotmds extending up to Second street. At the little triangular "square," at the south-east corner of Second and Spruce streets, was the lot and residence of their president, Nicholas Moore. On the north-west corner of Second and South streets was a small house, on the lot of William Penn, Jr. All lots owned on Delaware Front street are marked as running through to Second street, and they all have the saine quantities also on Schuylkill Front street. About six to eight of such lots fill up a square. These were all owners of 1000 acres and upwards in the country, and received their city lots as appurtenant perquisites to their country purchases. Samuel Carpenter's lot is from Front to Second street, and is the second lot above Walnut street. No. 16. Charles Pickering (the counterfeiter, I presume,) has his house on No. 22, midway from Chestnut street to High street. John Holme, (related to the sur- veyor-general,) who owns No. 32, at the north-west corner of Arch and Front streets, has also the first house built on the Schuylkill a1 the correspondent corner there. The chief of the first buildings marked begin northward of Dock street, and continue up to Race street. Several are maiked as built on Second street, but only be tween Chestnut and Walnut streets, and they all on the western side of the street. In truth, the eastern side of Second street was regarded for some tirne as the back lots, or ends of the Front street lots. Three houses are marked on Chestnut street, above Third street, and three on Mulberry street, above Third street; on High street there are none. The map itself may be consulted on page 372 of my MS. Annals in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Among those who plotted the dethronement of King James was Lord Peterborough. To conceal his purposes, he effected his voy- age to Holland, by passing over to Pennsylvania with William Penn. What he says of his visit there is curious.* " I took a trip with William Penn (says he) to his colony of Pennsylvania. There the laws are contained in a small volume, and are so extremel}' good that there has been no alteration wanted in any of them, ever since Sir William made them. They have no lawyers, but every one is to tell his own case, or some friend for him. They have five persons as judges on the bench ; and after the case is fully laid down on all • A friend, however, suggests that this must be metaphorically thken. He onl; meant that he visited William Penn, and that their discourse was about his provinc* and its government, &c. Facts and Occ-urrences of the Primitive Settlement. 53 sides, all the five judges are to draw lots, and he on whom the lot falls, decides the question. It is a happy country, and the people are neither oppressed with poor rates, tythes, nor taxes." As no mention of this visit, incog, occurs in any contemporaneous papers, the probability is that his rank and character were concealed from the colonists. I heard by the late Mrs. Isaac Panish, an aged lady, an anecdote of her relative, the widow Chandler. Mrs. Chandler came to Phila- delphia at the first landing; having lost her husband on the shipboard, (probably from the small pox,) she was left with eight or nine children. Her companions prepared her the usual settlement in a cave on the river bank. She was a subject of general compassion. The pity was felt towards herself and children, even by the Indians, who brought them frequent supplies as gifts. Afterwards a Friend, who had built himself a house, gave them a share in it. In future years, when the children grew up, they always remembered the kind Indians, and took many opportunities of befriending them and their families in return. Among these was " old Indian Hannah," the last sui-vivor of the race, who lived in Chester County, near West Chester, under which head some account of her may be seen in these pages. An ancient lady, relative of the present Coleman Fisher, Esqr., whose name was Rebecca Coleman, arrived at Philadelphia, at the first settlement, as a young child. At the door of her cave, when one day sitting there eating her milk porridge, she was heard to say again and again; "Now thee shan't again!" "Keep to thy part!" i Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement. 3 Apiil, ]775. — Tlie Committee lo find out a place for a City Hall, repo-ted, and ttiey recommend that the money formerly bestowed by several Mayors for the building an Exchange or other public Edifice, be now used to this object. Mayors of the City of Philadelphia. Anthony Morris, October, 1704. — Griffith Jones, November, 1704.— Joseph Wilcox, 1705.— Nathan Stanbury, 1706-7.— Thomas Masters, 1708-9.— Richard Hill, 1710.— William Carter, 1711.— Samuel Preston, 1712.— Jonathan Dickinson, 1713.— George Rock, 1714.— Richard Hill. 1715-16-17.— Jonathan Dickinson, 1718.— William Fishbourne, 1719- 20-21.— James Logan, 1722.— Clement Plumstead, 1723.— Robert Asshe- ton, 1 724.— Isaac Norris, 1725.— William Hudson, 1726.— Charles Read, 1727.— Thomas Lawrence, 1728.— Thomas Griffiths, 1729-30-31.— C. Hasell, 1732.— Thomas Griffiths, 1733-34.— Thomas Lawrence, 1735.— William Allen, 1736.— C. Plumstead, 1737.— Thomas Griffiths, 1738.— Anthony Morris, 1739.— Edward Roberts, 1740.— S. Hasell, 1741.— William Till, 1742.— B. Shoemaker, 1743.— E. Shippen, 1744.— J. Hamil- ton, 1745.— W. Attwood, 1746-47.— C. Willing, 1748.— Thomas Law- rence, 1749.— W. Plumstead, 1750-51.— Robert Shettle, 1752.— B. Shoe- maker, 1753.— C. Willing, 1754.- W. Plumstead, 1755-56.— A. Shute, 1757.— Thomas Lawrence, 1758-59.— John Stamper, 1760.— B. Shoe- maker, 1761.— Henry Harrison, 1762.— T. Willing, 1763.— T. Lawrence 1764-65-66.— Isaac Jones, 1767-68-69.— S. Shoemaker, 1770.— J. Gib- son, 1771-72.— W. Fisher, 1773-74.— S. Rhoade, 1775. The above list is ascertained from the minutes of the City Council. Gal/i iel Thomas' Account of Philadelphia and the Province to the year 1696. An historical description of the Province of Pennsylvania; including an account of the City of Philadelphia. Extracted from the history toritten in the year 1697, and dedicated '■'■to the most noble and excel- lent Governour Friend William Penn^'' by Gabriel Thomas, who came from England in tJie year 1^1, in the ship John and Sarah, of London, commanded by Henry Smith, and resided in Pennsylva- nia about fifteen years. [This work, which belongs to the Library Company of Philadelphia^ was printed in London, in the 3'ear 1698.] Pensilvania lies between the latitude of forty and forty-five degrees West Jersey on the east, Virginia on the west, Maryland south, and New York and Canada on the north. In length three hundred, and in breadth one hundred and eighty miles. The natives of this countrey are supposed, by most people, to have been of the ten scattered tribes, for they resemble the Jews in the make of their persons, and tincture of their complexions ; they observe new moons, they offer their first fruits to a Maneto, or supposed Deity, whereof ihey have two, one, as they fansie above (good ;) another below (bad ;) and Facts and Occurrences of the Priwitive Settlement 67 have a kind of feast of tabernacles, laying their altars upon twelve s ones, observe a sort of mourning twelve months, customs of women, and maiiy other rites. They are very charitable to one another, the lame and the blind iivin£r as well as the best; they are also very kind and obliging to the Christians. The next that came there were the Dutch, (who called the coiintrev New Neitherland) between fifty and sixty years ago, and were the first planters in those parts; but they made liltle improvement, till near the time of the wars between England and them, about thirty or forty years ago Soon after them came the Sweeds and Fins, who applyed themselves to husbandry, and were the first Christian people that made any considerable improvement there. There were some disputes between these two nations some years : ths, Dutch looking upon the Sweeds as intruders* upon their purchase and possession. These disputes were terminated in the surrender made by John Rizeing, the Sweeds Governour, to Peter Stuyvesant, Governour for the Dutch, in 1655. In the Holland war about the year 1665, Sir Robert Carr took the countrey from the Dutch for the English, and left his cousin. Captain Carr, governour. of that place; but in a short time after, the Dutch retook the countrey from the English, and kept it in their pos- session till the peace was concluded between the English and them, when the Dutch surrendered that countrey with East and West Jersey and New York, to the English again. But it remained with very little improve ment till the year 1681, in which William Penn, Esquire, had the coun- trey given him by king Charles the second, (in lieu of money that was due to his father, Sir William Penn) and from him bore the name of Pensilvania. Since that time, the industrious inhabitants have built a noble and beautiful city, and called it Philadelphia, or Brotherly-love (for so much the Greek word Philadelphia imports,) which contains a number of houses all inhabited ; and most of them stately, and of brick, generally three stories high, after the mode in London, and as many several families in each. There are very many lanes and alleys, as first, Huttous-lant Morris-lane, Jones's-lane, wiierein, are very good buildings; Shorters- alley, Yowers-lane, Wallers-alley, Turners-lane, Sikes-alley, and Flow- ers alley. All these alleys and lanes extend from the Front-street to the Second-street. There is another alley in the Second-street, called Car- ters-alley. There are also, besides these alleys and lanes, several fine squares and courts within this magnificent city; as for the particular names of the several streets contained therein, the principal are as fol- lows, viz.: Walnut-street, Vine-street, Mulberry-street, Chestnut-street, Sassafras-street, taking their names from the abundance of those trees that formerly grew there; High-street, Broad-street, Delaware-street, Front- street, with several of less note, too tedious to insert here. It hath in it three fairs every year, and two markets every week. Tliey kill above twenty fat bullocks ever}' week, in the hottest time in Summer, besides many sheep, calves, and hogs. This city is situated between Schoolk ill-river and the great river Dela- ware, which derives its name from paptain Delaware, who came there • Thus showing the Swedes were not thus early regarded as the primitive i-ettlera. 6S Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement. pretty early : ships of two or three hundred tuns may come up to this city, by either of these two rivers. Moreover, in this province are four great market-towns, viz. Chester, the German-town, New-castle, and Lewis-town, which are mightily enlarged in this latter improvement Between these towns, the water-men constantly ply their wherries ; like- wise all those towns have fairs kept in them ; besides thero are several countrey villages, viz. Dublin, Harford, Merioneth, and Radnor in Cum- bry ; all of which towns, villages and rivers took their names from the several countries from whence the present inhabitants came. The com-harvest is ended before the middle oi July,* and most years they have commonly between twenty and thirty bushels of wheat for every one they sow. Their ground is harrowed with wooden tyned harrows, twice over in a place is sufficient ; twice mending of their plow-irons in a year's time will serve. Their horses commonly go with- out being shod ; two men may clear between twenty and thirty acres of land in one year, fit for the plough, in which oxen are chiefly used, though horses are not wanting, and of them good and well shaped. Of sucli land, in a convenient place, the purchase will cost between ten and fifteen pounds for a hundred acres. Here is much meadow ground. Poor people,both men and women, will get near three times more wages for their labour in this countrey, than they can earn either in England oi Wales. What is inhabited of this countrey is divided into six counties, though there is not the twentieth part of it yet peopled by the Christians : it hath in it several navigable rivers for shipping to come in, besides the capital Delaware; there are also several other small rivers, the names of them are, Hoorkill-river, alias Lewis-river, which runs up to Lewis-town, the chiefest in Sussex county; Cedar-river, Muskmellon-river, all taking their names from the great plenty of these things growing thereabouts ; Mother-kill alias Dover-river, St. Jones's alias Cranbrook-river, where one John Curtice lives, who hath three hundred head of neat beasts, be- sides great numbers of hogs, horses, and sheep; Great Duck-river, Little Duck-river, Blackbird-river, these also took there original names from the great number of those fowls which are found there in vast quantities ; Apequinemj'-river, where their goods come to be carted over to Maryland ; St. George's river, Christeen river. Brandy-wine- river, Upland alias Chester-river, which runs by Chester-town, being the shire or county-town, Schoolkill-river, Frankford-river, near which, Arthur Cook hath a most stately brick-house; and Nishamanv-river, where judge Growden hath a very noble and fine house, very pleasantly situ- ated, and likewise a famous orchard adjoyniiig to it, wherein are contained above a thousand apple trees of various sorts ; likewise there is the famous Derby-river, which comes down from the Cumbry by Derby- town, wherein are several fulling-mills, corn-mills, kc. There is curious building-stone and paving-stone ; also tile-stone, with " hich latter, governour Penn covered his great and stately pile, which he called Pennsbnry-honse ; there is likewise iron-stone or oar, (lately found) which far exceeds that in England, being richer and less drossy; some preparations have been made to carry on an iron-work: thereis * Meaning in old style. Pacts and Occurrences of tke Primitive Ssttlenieid. 69 also very good iLiiie-stoiie in great plenty, and cheap, of great use in buildings, and also in manuring land, (if there were occasion) but nature has made that of itself sufficiently fruitful; besides here are load-stones, ising-glass, and (that wonder of stones) the Salamander-stone found near Brandy-wine-river, having cotton in veins within it, which will not con- sume in the fire, though held there a long time.* As to minerals or metals, there is very good copper, far exceeding ours in England, being much finer, and of a more glorious colour. Not two miles from the metropolis, are also purging mineral-waters,! that pass both by siege and urine, all out as good as Epsom : and I have reason to believe, there are good coals also, for I observed the runs of water have the same colour as that which proceeds from the coal-mines in Wales. There are an infinite number of sea and land fowl of most sorts, and there are prodigious quantities of shell and other fish. There are also several sorts of wild beasts of great profit and good food ; I have bouirhl of the Indians a whole buck, (both skin and carcase) for two gills of gunpowder. All which, as well beast-i, fowl and fish, are free and com- mon to any person who can shoot or take them, without any lett, hinderance or opposition whatsoever. There are also several sorts of wild fruits, as excellent grapes, which, upon frequent e.vperience, have produced choice wine, being daily culti- vated by skilful vinerons ; they will, in a short space of time, have arood liquor of their own, and some to supply their neighbours, to their great advantage; as these wines are more pure, so much more wholesome ; the brewing trade of sophisticating and adulterating of wines, as in Eng- land, Holland (especially) and in some other places, not being known there yet, nor in all probability will it in many years, through a natural probity so fixed and implanted in the inhabitants, and (] hope) like to continue. Wallnuts, chesnuts, filberts, hickery-nuts, hurtleberries, mul- berries, rasberries, strawberries, cramberries, plumbs and many other wild fruits, in great plenty, which are common and free for any to gather. The common planting fruit trees, are apples, of which much excellent cyder is made, and sold commonly for between ten and fifteen shillings per barrel. Pears, peaches, &.c. of which they distil a liquor much like the taste of rumm, or brandy, which they yearly make in great quanti- ties : there are quinces, cherries, gooseberries, currants, squashes, pump- kins, water-mellons, musk-mellons, and other fruits in great numbers. There are also many curious and excellent physical wild herbs, roots, and druo-s, of great virtue, which makes the Indians, by a right application of them, as able doctors and surgeons as any in Europe. The names of the counties are as foUoweth : Fhiladelphia, Bucks, Chester, New-Castle, Kent, and Sussex. And now for their lots and lands in city and countrey, since they were first laid out, which was within the compass of about twelve years : that which mitrht have been bought for fifteen or eighteen shillings, is now sold for fourscore pounds in ready silver ; and some other lots, thai might have been then purchased for three pounds, within the space of two years, were sold for a hundred pounds a piece, and likewise some ' The Asbestos, f Springs — mineral. 70 Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement. land that lies near the city, that sixteen years ago might have been put- chased for six or eight pounds the hundred acres, cannot now be bought under one hundred and fifty, or two hundred pounds. Now the true reason why this fruitful countrey and flourishing city advance so considerably in the purchase of lands is their great and ex- tended traffique and comnieroe, both by sea and land, viz. to New-York, New-England, Virginia, Mary-land, Carolina, Jamaica, Barbadoes, Nevis, Monserat, Antego, St. Christophers, Barmudoes, New-foundlaud, Ma- deras, Saltetudeous, and Old England ; besides several other places. Their merchandize chiefly consists in horses, pipe-staves, pork and beef, salted and barrelled up, bread and flour, all sorts of grain, peas, beans, skins, furs, tobacco, and pot-ashes, wax, &.c. which are bartered for runim, sugar, molasses, silver, negroes, salt, wine, linen, houshold- goods, &c. Great encouragements are given to tradesmen and others. I shall in- stall:; a few — carpenters, both house and ship, brick-layers, and masons will get between five and six shillings per day constantly. As to journey- men shooe-makers, they have two shilling per pair both for men and women's shooes : and journeymen taylors have twelve-shillings per week and their diet. And weavers, have ten or twelve pence the yard for weaving : wool-combers, have for combing twelve pence per pound. Potters have sixteen pence for an earthen pot which may be bought in England for four pence. Tanners, may buy their green hides for three half pence per pound, and sell their leather for twelve pence per pound, And curriers have three shillings and four pence per hide for dressing; they buy their oyl at twenty pence per gallon. Brick-makers have twenty shillings per thousand for their bricks at the kiln. Felt-makers will have for their hats seven shillings a piece, such as may be bought in England for two shillings a piece; yet they buy their wool commonly for twelve or fifteen pence per pound. And as to the glaziers they will have five pence a quarry for their glass. The butchers, for killing a beast, have five shilling and their diet ; and they may buy a good fat large cow for three pounds, or thereabouts. The brewers sell such beer as is equal in strength to that in London, half ale and half stout, for fifteen shillings per barrel; and their beer hath a better name, 8 Facts and Uccurrences oj the Primitive Settle-ment. Salem has been told in an interesting manner by R. G. Johnson, Esqr.,in his little historical account of the first settlement at Salem — therein furnishing an instructive picture of the past, in the days of its olden time, including my own forefathers, the Watsons, — first settlers at Greenwich. Pnmitive Commerce. — Isaac Norris, in a letter to William Penn, in 1707, says, the province consumes,annualIy, of produce and mer- chandise of England, 14 to J?15,000. sterling. The direct returns were in tobacco, furs and skins. The indirect are in provisions and produce, via West Indies and the southern colonies. In 1706, about 800 hogsheads of tobacco went from Philadelphia, and about 25 to 30 tons of skins and furs. William Penn himself was concerned in a great many shipments to and from Pennsylvania. For the most part they were intended as measures for best conducting his remittances. The letters be- tween him and James Logan are numerous on this subject. Specie was too scarce lo procure it. Penn was at first averse from insu- rance, saying, '• I am tender (in conscience) as to insurance. If the vessel arrives I shall consider it an engaging providence." In afier times, however, he admitted his partners to insure for him. In 1704, James Logan, spealcing of their joint losses, says, " thy success a( sea is so very discouraging, that I should never be willing to be con- cerned more this way : — and William Trent, who has hitherto been a partner in most of thy losses, almost protests against touching with any vessel again where a proprietary holds a part!" Samuel Carpenter, in a letter of 1708, to Jonathan Dickinson, thus speaks of their embarrassments of trade, saying, " I am glad thou didst not come this summer, for craft from Martinico and several other privateers have been on our coast, and captured many. Our vessels here have been detained some time in fear of the enemy, and now by this conveyance to Jamaica, they are hurrying off 16 vessels to join convoy at the capes under the York man of war." It was usual then to have several owners in one vessel and cargo, so as to divide, as much as possible, their risks. I give here a specimen, from a bill of outfits of a I'hiladelphia vessel in 1708-9, in which were sixteen distinct and separate divisions of eight owner- ships in the " ship Mary Galley," — her total expenses were =^415. and William Poole (the ship carpenter, who dwelt by, and built ships at, Poole's bridge,) held a sixteenth share. I abstract the fol- lowing prices, to wit : — negroes, for day's work in clearing the hold, two shillings and six pence per day, — board of cook and others, per week, 8 shillings,— a barrel of pork, 70 shillings, — staves, 60 shillings per thousand, — wood, at 9 shillings per cord. Conclusion. — We have seen from the foregoing pages, that the lords of trade had a most busy surveillance of our affairs. Their intimate knowledge of which, and their ample records, if now consulted, might cast much light upon our infant history. This idea should Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement. 89 he improved by some of our future historians. That board was in- stituted, in 1671, on pui-pose to keep up a keen inspection and jea lous check of all the British colonies. They therefore sustained an active correspondence with the several plantations, and required frequent communications and exposes of the events transpiring there. We know it to have been the fact in our case, that many secret reports, both good and ill, were made to them, — both from the Governors and authorities among us, and also from the disaf- fected, who thus laboured to frustrate the common purposes of the country. Evelyn's Memoirs show, as he was a member of that board of trade, the kind of machinery they employed against ua as colonies. Another fruitful source of facts for our history may be expected to be obtained, some day, of the Penn family at Stoke Pogis ; for I am well assured by an eye witness, that all of the primitive papers are regularly folded, endorsed and labelled, but not now permitted to be used, by the late owner, John Penn, Esqr., — he alleging that he reserved them for designs of his own. Besides these might be added the fact, that in our own archives at Hanisburgare some records and MS. volumes, which might furthei reward the diligence of a competent explorer. Such are the early minutes of the council, minutes of the first Assemblies, &c. which might further amuse and edify. It is believed that many early papers and records of the city, perhaps as far down as to the Revolution, are irretrievably gone. 'J. P. Norris, Esqr., and others, informed me they were in the possession of Judge Shipptn, and were put in his garret. After his death, Mrs. L., his daughter, (now in New York) regarding them as mere lumber, allowed them to be burnt.* Besides the foregoing depots, where facts may one day be dis- closed, it is desirable that common readers who wish to cherish an inquiring mind respecting the rise and progress of thetr country, should be apprised of the titles of numerous ancient publications in our City Library, and the Library of the American Philosophical Society, which, if consulted, might considerably enlarge theii knowledge of our country. To rnany readers who never thought much on the subjects the very titles would awaken some concern to look into them. From many I select the following Catalogue of Ancient Publications, illustrative of our Early History, in the Philadelphia Library, to wit : Plain Truth ; or, Considerations on the present state of Philadelphia. 1747. 8vo. • Dunlap's Memoir says, Joseph Shippen, the Secretary, only gave up his books, and withheld the documents of his office.— The city Minutes given in this work were found' in Edward Burd's garret. Vol. L— M 8* 90 Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement. An answer thereto, — is called, Necessary Truth ; or, Seasonable Con siderations for the Inhabitants of Philadelphia. Philadelphia," 1748. 8vo Clear and Certain Truths relating to the present crisis, as well the truly pious Christian as others. By a simple tradesman. Germantown, printed by C. Sower, 1747. A short Apology for Plain Truth; in a letter from a third tradesman in Philadelphia to his friend in the country. 1748. Proposals for Trade and Commerce in New Jersey, 1717. 4to. No. 465. Strictures on the Philadelphia Meschianza ; or, Triumph upon leaving America unconqnered. Philadelphia, 1780. 12mo. A letter from Sir William Keith, Governor, to James Logan. Phila- delphia, 1725. 12mo. A serious Address to such of the Inhabitants of Pennsylvania as con- nived at the massacre of the Indians atLancaster. Philadelphia, 17(34. An Answer to an invidious pamphlet entitled, " A Brief State of the Province of Pennsylvania," whereifl the conduct of the Assemblies is considered. London, 1755. 8vo. A true and impartial state of the Province of Pennsylvania, being a full answer to the pamphlets, entitled, " A Brief Slate of the Province of Pennsylvania," and "A Brief View of the conduct of Pennsylvania." Philadelphia, 1759. Charles Reed's letter to John Ladd, Esqr., concerning the massacre of the Indians in Lancas-ter. Philadelphia, 1764. 8vo. A state of the case of Rebecca Richardson, respecting a house and lot m Philadelphia. No. 1572. 8vo. Plantagenet's New Albion, in the Loganian Library, is a rare work, and contains the earliest facts concerning New Jersey and Pennsylvania. London, 1648. The Plain Dealer; or. Remarks on Quaker politics. Philadelphia, 1764. An address to the inhabitants of Pennsylvania, in answer to Plaiii Dealer. An Inquiry into the nature and necessity of a paper currency. 1729. Remedies proposed for restoring the sunk credit of Pennsylvania. 1721. Smith and Gibbon's Remonstrance, showing thr distress of the frontier inhabitants. Philadelphia, 1764. Realty's Journal of a two months' tour with a view of promoting reli- gion among the frontier inhabitants of Pennsylvania. London, 1768. 8vo. An Account of the first settlement of Virginia, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, by the English. London, 1735. 4lo. A Council held at Philadelphia, August, 1744, with the Delawares. The History of the Buccaniers of America. Dublin, 1741. 5th Edition. An Historical Review of the Constitution and Government of Pennsyl- vania from its origin. London, 1759. 8vo. The British Empire in America, and state of the Colonies from 1710 to 1741. London, 1741. 8vo. Novae Sucice seu Pennsylvaniae in America, descriptio Stockholmiae, 1702. 4to. (in the Swedish language.) Histoire der Buccaniers of Vry-buyters van America, met figuuren T' Amsterdam, 1700. 4to. Pacts and Occurrences of ike Primitive Settlement. 91 Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives of the Pro- vince of Pennsylvania, from October 4th, 1682, to September 26th, 1776. 18 vols, folio. A two years' Journal in New York and part of its territories in Amer- ica. London, 1701. 12mo. Douglass' Summar)', historical and political, of the first planting, pro- gressive improvements of the British settlement in North America. Boston, 1749, and London, 1760. Johnson's General History of the Pirates, from their rise and settle- ment in Providence to the present time, by Charles Johnson. 4th Edit, London, 1726. Sir William Keith's (Governor of Pennsylvania) History of the British plantations in America, with a Chronological account of the most remarkable things which happened to the first adventurers. Part I. con- taining the history of Virginia, &.c. London, 1738. 8vo. The Library of the American Philosophical Society, at Phila- delphia, contains thefolloicing books, to ivit : Several books, by various writers, respecting the massacre of Indiana at Lancaster. 1763. MS. — Narrative, by John Watson, of the Indian Walk, being a pur- chase of land made of the Indians in Pennsylvania. 1756. Very interesting. MSS. — Copies of Records concerning the early setdements on the Delaware river. — 1st. English Records from 1614 to 1682. — 2d. Dutch ^''ecords, from 1630 to 1656, — extracted from the archives of the State of Pennsylvania, by Redmond Conyngham, Esqr. MS. copies oi Swedish Records, concerning the colony of New Swe- den, (now Pennsylvania and Delaware,) obtained from the archives of the Swedish g-overnment at Stockholm, by Jonathan Russell, Esqr. (Swedish and French.) MS. — The original cash book of William Penn, containing the entries of his expenses from 1699 to 1703, — kept by James Logan. MS. — The original rough Minutes of the Executive Council of Penn- sylvania, from 1700 to 1716. — from the papers of James Logan. Extracts from the original Minutes of the Executive Council of Pennsylvania, from 1748 .to 1758, — extracted by Thomas Sargent, Esqr. Secretary of State. A brief History of the charitable scheme for instructing poor Germans in Pennsylvania, printed by B. Franklin, 1755. Several pamphlets of 1764,«of Philadelphia, of controversy — for and against the Quakers, whose ascendency in the Assembly was disliked by some. The conduct of the Paxton men impartially represented. 1764. Besides the foregoing, there are several works, giving^ historical and descriptive accounts of America, or of particular provinces, from their settlement. — Several written by Europeans in the 17th and 18th centuries. in the Cambridge Library, Massachusetts, there is a German pamphlet. 12mo. of 44 pages, printed at Memmingen, by Andrew Seyler, 1792 ; 92 Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement the tille of which is "A Geographical, Statistical description of the Province of Pennsylvania, by Fr. Daniel Pastorius, in an extract, (" Irn Auszug'') with notes." It contains several facts from 1683 to 1699, with an account of the Indians, Sic, that woidd much illustrate our early history. Pastorius was a sensible man. and a scholar, who lived during tlie above time in Germantown, as chief magistrate there. The New York Historical Society has reprinted some of Holme's "New Swedeland,'" from the Stockholm edition. Graydon's Memoirs of a life of 60 years in Pennsylvania, — Ed. 1811. — is a book to be particularly recommended to the perusal of Philadel- phians. It contains much of the local and domestic history of the town ut and after the period of the Revolution, and affords a pleasing proof of good humour and good feelings of an aged gentleman, in the review of the incidents of his early life. The present generation know scarcely any thing of the past transactions which his book presents Vv-itli the charm of good reading. The adventures of the Sieur Castleman, published in London, gives a description of his visit to Philadelphia, and some amusing occurrences there in 1707, — he speaks of his acquaintance with a dancing master, then at Philadelphia. The work is very scarce, and has been published in English, French, and Italian. Extracts from the Minutes of Council. These Minutes of Council I examined and made extracts from, down to the year 1T60; I found that they do not furnish much of interest in my way of inquiry, as will be now seen. They were mostly upon Indian Affairs, as will be found under that head. I had freely declared, that they were not such in general as would justify I he expense of printing, since ordered by the Legislature. They expected much from them, just because no one had suffi r.iently examined their contents, as I had. Governor Denny, in 1757, wlien speaking of these Minutes of Council, now so open to all, said: — "They contained important state affairs, many of which require tlie greatest secrecy, and cannot therefore be opened to the perusal of any but such as are concerned in the administration of public affairs." It was begun first at Philadelphia on the lOlh of 1st mo., 1682-3. Present, Wm. Penii, Proprietary and Governor, Capt. \Vm. Markham and 15 others, viz : — Christopher Taylor, Thomas Holmes, Lasse Cock, VVm. Hug, John Moll, Ralph Whithers, John Simcoe, Edward Cantwell, Wm. Clayton, Wm. Biles, James Harrison, Wm. Clarke, Francis Whitehill, John Richardson, John Killiard. The six sheriffs being called in, it was represented, that they could not assemble the whole number of deputies frojn the people, according to charter, but that the voice of the people for 12 delegates was enough, being 72. Agreed to. Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement. 93 12 of 6 mo., 1682. — IVirh. Moore, President of the Society of Free Traders, was summoned for disrespectable words, uttered concerning tiie former conncil. He made apology. 16 of 1 mo., 1683. — A bill proposed for building a House of Correc lion in each county, 24 feet by 10 feet. 23 of 1 mo., 1683.— Ordered that the Seal of Philadelphia be the Anchor. It was voted that the Justices of the Peace, Sheriffs, and Constable? be appointed during the life of the Governor. 11 of 3 mo., 1683. — The Assembly and Council meet together in the meeting house for a special occasion and for more room. 24 of 6 mo., 1683. — Trial of the case of Chs. Pickering coining base money — Robert Felton made it. Luke Watson is named as member of Assembly from his farm at Prince Hook in Sussex. He was one of the General Council in 1684, had 500 acres — gave some offence. The speaker and ilie wlwle hovte., often go to the Governor and Coun- cil lo hear the laws confirmed. 17 of 11 mo., 1683. — A Law proposed for two sorts of Cloaths only for winter and summer wear. 12 of 4 mo., 1684. — Evidence of the abusive epithets of Col. Talbott on the border lines, and driving off land holders, saying " OiF you brazen nosed dog — or I'll ride you down," &c. 15 of 3 mo., 1685. — Thomas Lloyd, President. Three pages of charges were made against Judge N. Moore, for high crimes and misde- meanours. It was on this occasion that Patrick Robinson declared of the Instrument, that the Assembly in so doing had made the impeachment at hah nab, for which they also desire satisfaction. The Council resolved that they could not act until he was first convicted in Court. He after- wards made his submission, and continued an agreed time of about three months. 1 of 12 mo., 1685-6. — The Petition of Chs. Pickering was read about his land in Chester being surveyed. [This marks him who counterfeited.] 12 of 3 mo., 1686. — The Petition of the Frenchmen sent over by Bal- lasses was offered, saying that his agents did not perform their promises. [This accounts, perhaps, for some French names among ns now.] 18 of 3 mo., 1686. — A Petition for Highways was read, and the Coun- cil agreed to appoint a committee to inspect all the business of roads, and to order them to be laid out in the most proper and convenient places. 5 of 5 mo., 1686. — Joshua Carpenter is licensed for 3 mos. to keep an ordinary in his brother Saml. Carpenter's house on the wharfe [above Walnut street.] 24 of 6 mo., 1686. — Jno. White informs this board that the Marylanders have lately reinforced their fort at Christiana, and that they would not suffer him to cut his hay, but presenting their guns at him, said they would cast his hay when made into the River! Also, that Maj. English, a few days past, came into New Castle Co. with 40 armed men on horses, and leaving the Co. at John Darby's, the Major and a Captain came to New Castle, and there told John White, that as to the case of his hay, he might peaceably cut it, if he would only say to them " Thou drunker 94 Facts and Occwrences of the Primitive Settlement. Doggred Jnglish let me cut hay!" The Council advise John Whito to use no violence, but to hope for a speedy settlement from the King. 1 of 8 mo., 1686. — Upon tlie complaint of the Judges of the Court (Provincial) of great abuse offered to them on the bench by their clerk, Patrick Robinson, he was ordered to be dismissed. 19 of 9 mo., 1686. — The Council taking into consideration the un evenness of the road from Philadelphia to the Falls of Delaware., agreed that a (!ommittee and the Surveyors of the County meet, and lay out a more commodious road from the broad street in Philadelphia to the falls aforesaid. 12 of 3 mo., 1687. — Luke Watson, a member of Assembly in 1688, was admitted a member of Council, he having vindicated his former offence. 2 of 2 mo., 1688. — It is ordered that the Indians be encouraged in the destroying of Wolves by an extra provision. Matters of disagreement and unsettled accounts between individuals are often considered and adjudged by Council. All the foregoing extracted in the year 1835, from the first volume in the office of the Secretary of State, it being a folio of medium sized paper, of 209 pages. Besides the foregoing, there were a regular succession of folio volumes, of much larger size, continued regularly to the War of Independence, 1775, it) 20 volumes. After which other volumes follow of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania. In 1701 Whitpain's great front room was used for the General Assem- bly — then tenanted by Joseph Shippen. The Sachems of the Susquehanna Shawana Indians visit the Proprietary Penn in 1701, to lake leave. 11 of 5 mo., 1704. — Gov. Evans and Council. Ordered that all per- sons who serve till releasement in the Prison shall be exempted from watch and ward. Numerous roads leading to Philadelphia are petitioned for about years 1700 to 4. 1704. — The London members of the Society of Free Traders complain that their books, papers, &c., are broken up here., and praying relief against their agents here, and the recovery of the right knowledge of their interests. 4 July, 1718. — A road ordered to be laid out from Philadelphia to Wissahickon Mills, by 5 com'rs, among whom was Andrew Robeson. May 2, 1729. — Lancaster Co. is erected, and in next year the Town also. Jany. 1730-1. — The inhabitants there declare they have no proper I /ad to Philadelphia, but are compelled to go round about through Chester. Feb., 1729-30. — Lancaster town pitched upon and money lent (£300) to build a Court House and Prison on or near a small run of water be- tween the Plantations of Roody Mire, Michl. Shank, and Jacob Imble — at about 10 miles from Susquehanna. All the forgoing are embraced in eight books of demi MSS., (A. to H ) and come down to the year 1734. I examined and extracted Facts and Occun-ences of the Primitive Settlement 95 mem prettjr fully. After this the books begin and continue of larger size in a medium paper, and furnish but little in my way. In the Land Office is a book called the " Proprietary Papers,'' which professes to be made as an index to the papers remaining in " the Proprietary's Box in the Surveyor General's Office." Many of them are curious, I should presume, by their titles. They relate to " Swedes' Lands in Northern Liberties," to drafts of land in Moyamensing, Weccacoe, &c., and sundry miscellaneous kinds. Some are facts concerning " the Proprietaty's Pasture," between Vine Street and Pegg's Run. Extracts from Minutes of the Assernbly and from contempo- raneous occurrences^ viz : January 28, 1683. — Thomas Winn, Speaker of the General Assembly, ordered that the Members who absented themselves from the deliberations of the House, without good cause, shall pay a fine of twelve pence ster- ling for every such offence. IVIarch 16, 1685. — Patrick Robinson, Clerk of the Provincial Courts was required by the Assembly to appear before them with the Recorder of the Court, but refusing compliance he was taken into custody by order of the House for refusal to obey the commands of the House, and voted incapable of exercising the duties of any public office thereafter. Nicholas Moore, for contempt of the authority of the House was ex- pelled. 1689, March 13. — John White informed the Governor that he was unable to attend to his duty as a Member of Assembly, being in prison at New Castle. The fact being made known to the Assembly, they com- manded the Sheriff to place John White at freedom. John White took his seat in the House on the 17th ; but on that night John Claypoole, Sheriff, broke open the door of the chamber when John White was pre- paring to go to bed, and carried him off to confinement. 1694, March 23. — David Jamison informed the House of Assembly that the Five Nations of hidians had been corrupted by the French, and had withdrawn their friendship for Pennsylvania. 1694. — The Speaker informed the House of Assembly that the King's Attorney, in London, expected to receive from them the sum of twenty guineas for reading the several laws transmitted to the King and Council in London. 1695, July 9. — The House of Assembly met at Sarah Whitpain's room, and each member agreed to pay their proportion, aqd charge it to the re- spective county. [Note. — When the Members of the General Assembly first met in the city of Philadelphia, they hired a room and paid the expense. The tociTltry members took lodgings out of the city, and walked in to attend the meeting, frequently bringing their dinners with them.] July 10. —Judges allowed ten shillings a day for their services. 96 Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement. July 25. — John Claypoole presented to the Governor by the House of Assembly, as a man of Ul Fame ; and that he be removed from office. 1698, March 13. — William Morton sent a message to the House of Assembly, that he was a Scotchman, and he was apprehensive if he came to Philadelphia to take his seat as a Member, they would not receive him, and therefore he thought it prudent to remain at home. 1701. — In this year complaint was made to the Governor and House of Assembly, by the freemen of Philadelphia, stating that the Proprietary had encroached upon their rights — thai he had rented part of the land which was intended to be a common for ever ; and requesting that the landing places at the Blue Anchor and the Penny Pot-house should be made free for the use of any man without hindrance. The answer of the Proprietary was that he had made a re-aplotment of the city, with whicii the first purchasers had complied, and consequently had not infringed upon their rights. 1701. — Jurors entitled to receive eight pence a day; witnesses two shillings each. Philadelphia incorporated this year, by request of the inhabitants, into a city. 1704. — Arrangements made for the erection of a Court House and Prison in the city of Philadelphia. August 16. — The country members lodging out of the city were unable from the violence of the wind and rain, to attend their duties in the House of Assembly. October 15. — The Assembly were required to meet on Sunday. They met and organized, then adjourned to meet on Monday the 16th. 1705. — The city of Philadelphia was visited by sickness in the spring. William Biles, Member of the House, complained of a breach of privi- lege. The House censured the Sheriff and Judges who committed the same. An attempt was made this year to make the qualifications for electors fifty pounds in value. 1706. — The wolves had increased in such a degree as to cause an ap- prehension for the safety of all the flocks of sheep in the immediate vicinity of Philadelphia. A communication on the subject was made to the Governor and Assembly. The Slaughter houses in the centre of population in the city of Phila- delphia became such a nuisance that they were ordered to be removed. 1706. — James Logan laid before the General Assembly an interesting account of the Indians at Conesloga. 1707. — The House of Assembly requested the Governor that he would not employ any longer James Letort and Nicholas as Indian Interpreters, as they ought to be considered very dangerous persons. In the year 1708, Solomon Cresson, a Constable of the city of Phila- delphia, going his rounds at one o'clock at night, and discovering a very riotous assembly in a tavern, immediately ordered them to disperse, when John F.vans, Esq., Governor of the Province, happened to be one of them, and called Solomon in the house and flogged him very severely, and had him imprisoned for two days. 1709. — The Indians at Conesloga were required by the Five Nations to come and pay their annual tribute ; but they sent word the)' could nol go until they obtained permission of the Governor of the Provmce Pacts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement. 9' The Assembly accordingly granted the money, as also charges for the journey. 1712. — William Southbe applied to the Assembly for a law for the de- claration of freedom to all negroes. The House resolved — " It is neither just or convenient to set them at liberty." 1713. — A committee of the Assembly were sent to Governor Gookin on business. They returned and reported " that the Governor is not stirring." [See Votes of Assembly, vol. ii., page 144.] 1715. — Mr. Assheton called on the House of Assembly with a message from the Governor, and was introduced into the room and addressed the Speaker as follows : — " The Governor has requested me to state his regret that he has been unable to get the Council together, and will feel happy if the members wait on him this evening at Sarah Kadcliff's, and lake a glass of wine with him." The house soon afterwards adjourned, and waited on the Governor in 'he evening. 1716. — The Judges of the Supreme Court, William Trent, Jonathan Dickinson, and George Roach, refused to sit on any trial of criminals this year. They were declared by the House of Assembly enemies to the Governor and Government on account of said refusal. Charles Gookin, Esq., Governor, accused Richard Hill, Speaker of the House of Assembly, and James Logan, Esq., Secretary, of being friendly to the Pretender, and that they were inimical to the government of Great Britain. September. — Hugh Lowdon, armed with pistols, attacked the Speaker of the House, and bloodshed being fortunately prevented, was committed to prison, and a bill of indictment found; but the Governor ordered a Noli Prosequi to be entered, to the great dissatisfaction of the Assembly. 1717. — Owen Roberts, Sheriff of the county of Philadelphia, was censured by the Speaker, before the House of Assembly, for neglect of duty. Members of .Assembly received four shillings and sixpence for each day they attended. 1718. — A petition was presented to the Assembly for prevention of inhabitants of Jersey from selling any meat, 8lc., in the market. 1719. — The Indian traders at the head of the Powtomak were attacked by a body of Indians and defeated with the loss of many lives. 1720. — The arch in Arch street in Philadelphia was pulled down this year, and caused much excitement. 1721. — A meeting was called in the city of Philadelphia, to take into consideration the prevention of sale of spirituous liquors within the Pro- vince, and to encourage the making of beer as a substitute. 1722. — Civility, Tehahook and Diahausa, Indian Chiefs, waited on the Governor, Sir William Keith, and addressed him as follows : — " Father — The red men have been on the hunting ground — they have followed the deer — they looked not upon your presents. "Father — Our Chief laments the death of the Indian, for he was flesl and blood like him — you are sorry, but that cannot give him life. Fathei be not angry — let John Cartlidge die — one death is enough, why should two die — our hearts are warm to the Governor and all the English." 1722. — Captain Thomas Barrel, and Capt. Thomas James appointed Pilots for the Delaware. V,M.. I.-N 9 'JS Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement. A petition was presented to tlie General Assembly on behalf of day labourers, stating that the practice of blacks being employed was a great disadvantage to them who had emigrated from Europe for the purpose of obtaining a livelihood; that they were poor and honest; they therefore hoped a law would be prepared for the prevention of employment to the blacks. The Assembly resolved, "That the principle was dangerous and injurious to the RepubVic, and ought not to be sanctioned by the House." 1723. — A question was suggested and argued in the Assembly, "Whether a Clergyman, being an alien, could lawfully marry any person within the Province." [t was not decided. Anthony Jacob Hinkle, ordered by the Assembly to be taken to the c<>unty jail by the Sheriff, and there detained during their pleasure. Tavern keepers petitioned the Assembly, that all sellers of ciguars* should be put upon the same footing with them, and compelled to take out a license. Proprietors of Iron Works petition to the Assembly to pass a law to prevent any person from retailing liquor near Iron Works to their work- men, excepting beer or cider. A bill was reported to the House of Assembly for the encouragement of Distilleries within the province, but such was the opposition made to it that Sir William Keith would not give his assent to the bill. A salary was granted to the Attorney General for the first time. 1726. — Thomas Wright was unfortunately killed by some Indians at Snaketown, beyond Conestoga. The persons who committed the act were punished. 1728. — The Indians attacked the Iron Works of Mackatawney, but were driven off with great loss by the workmen. A large number of Menonists arrived this year in Pennsylvania. 1729. — Jonathan Kempster and George Coats were compelled to kneel at the bar of the House of Assembly and solicit pardon and promise bet- ter conduct in future, upon which, and paying fees, they were ordered to be discharged. 1730. — The House of Assembly ordered that a suitable Flag should be hoisted at proper days upon Society Hill — and that the sum of ten pounds should be granted to Edward Carter for hoisting the flag on So- ciety Hill upon Sundays, Holy Days, and upon public occasions. 1731. — The small pox prevailed to an alarming extent this year. The State House began to be built under the direction of Thomas Lawrence and Andrew Hamilton, Esqs. 1735. — Offices adjoining the State House completed. 1 739. — A room in the State House appropriated to the public library of he city of Philadelphia. 1742. — A great riot in the city of Philadelphia produced by sailors on the election ground. 1745. — Peler Chartier, an influential Indian interpreter, went and joined the French Indians on the Ohio, to the injury of Pennsylvania. Peter, at the head of four hundred Shawanese Indians, attacked James Dinnewand • Ciguars in 1725 was impossible ! It must have been written for liquors. Cigara were not in use till after 1798. Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement. 9i) Feiei Teetee, and robbed them of their goods. James Diiinew and Peter Teelfce were considered respectable Indian traders, and much excitement prevailed in consequence of the robbery. 1749. — The friendly Indian Chiefs, on their way to Philadelphia, were encouraged to commit a variety of depredations on the inhabitants. A cow and calf belonging to Henry Ote, of Philadelphia County, were at a considerable distance from the road in a field, and the Indians were told they could not hurt them at that distance, whereupon they took aim with their guns and shot both. 1750. — At an election for representatives in York County, a large party of Germans drove the people from the election ground. The Sheriff left the box and went out to speak to them, but was knocked down with others. Nicholas Ryland, the Coroner, then forced his way into the Court House, took possession of the box, and three of the inspectors re- mained with him to conduct the election. The Sheriff and four inspectors leapt out at the back window of the Court House, or they would have lost their lives. The Sheriff afterwards requested to be admitted, but was refused. The SherifT afterwards called on six freeholders and examined them on their oath, as to the persons they thought duly elected, and then drew up a certificate which he and the six signed, and the return which they signed was accepted by the Assembly. The Sheriff, however, was called before the Assembly and publicly ad- monished by the Speaker, and advised to preserve better order for the future. The following was the explanation given to the Governor by the Ger- mans of their conduct ; — Hans Hamilton, the Sheriff, did not open the polls until two o'clock, at which time the Marsh people assembled, armed and surrounded the window, and would not permit the Dutch people to vote, whereupon the Dutch people being the most numerous, broke into the Court House, and the Sheriff made his escape with some of the in- spectors out of the back window; that they invited the Sheriff to return, but he refused ; that the Coroner then took the Sheriff's place and pro- ceeded to take tickets, and aftei- the election was over, the Sheriff was invited to count the tickets, but he refused to have any thing to do with the election. The farmers complained this year that the bounty given for squirrels had tended to their injury, for the labourers, instead of helping them with their harvests, had taken up their guns and gone to hunt squirrels, as they could make more by squirrel scalps than by wages at day labour. 1751. — Benjamin Franklin, and eight other Commissioners, were ap- pointed to examine the River Schuylkill from Peters' Island to John Bar- tram's, for the most suitable place for a bridge, and they reported in favour of Market Street. 1752. — The superintendents of the State House were directed to pur- chase from Mr. Allen his cedar tree lot lying on Walnut Street, south of the State House for the use of the people of the Province. Number of vessels cleared from the port of Philadelphia were, in 1721, 130; 1722, 110; 1723,85. Deaths in the City of Philadelphia were, in 1722, 188; 1730,244: 1732,254; 1731, the small pox carried off 490; from 1738 to 1744, 3179. Taxahhs in the City.— 1720, 1995; 1740, 4850; 1751, 7100. 100 Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement. Bucks Counhj.—1751, 3262. Chesler Cown/y.— 1732, 21/57; 1737,2532; 1742,3007; 1747,3444 1752, 3951. Lancaster County.— 1738, 2560 ; 1752, 3977. Lancaster Toiim. — 1752, 311. York CoMK«2/.— 1749, 1466; 1750, 1798; 1751,2403. Cumberland Coarai?/.— 1749, 807 ; 1751, 1134. It was the practice of the House of Assembly to have candles lighted at dark. The Speaker would then call " candles," and the door-keeper would immediately bring them in. Some of the Speakers used hand bells to keep silence. 1755. — Samuel Hazard requested aid from the Governor and Assembly to his project of a new settlement or colony in the west. General Braddock defeated. Colonel Dnnbar, (nicknamed Dunbar the tardy,) arrived with three hundred of the wounded at Fort Cumberland on the 22d of July. The colonel did not consider himself in a secure situation, but requested the Governor to call him to Philadelphia. The House of Assembly exculpated themselves from blame in regard to the defeat of Braddock. [See Votes of Assembly, vol. iv., p. 448.] 1755. — George Croghan, .lames Burd, John Armstrong, William Bucha- nan, and Orlan Hoops were appointed commissioners to open a road to the west, for the purpose of sending supplies to the army on the Ohio and Yioghogheny. 1755. — Irish settlement at the Great Cave entirely destroyed by the Indians. Settlement at Tulpehocken attacked by the Indians, and many destroyed on both sides. The report of the Council to the Governor on the matter of settlement of the Shawanese Indians, is to be found on page 517, volume 4th, of Votes of Assembly. The dates of settlement of the Shawanese does not correspond with the accounts given by their agents, as in the public records at Harrisburgh; for the Shawanese Indians came to Pennsylvania, it is said, previous to the landing of William Penn, and their Chief held a conference with him, as it is alleged, to which they repeatedly refer in different talks. They did not all remove to Ohio in the year 1727 or 1729, but many remained until 1750 at their wigwam of the Beaver Pond, near the present location of Carlisle. [See Votes of Assembly, vol. iv., p. 528.] 1759. — The Indian Chief Cayenquiloqudar, sends his son to be edu- cated by the English. Malilon Kirkbride, William Hoge, Peter Dicks, and Nathaniel Pennock vacated their seats in the Assembly at the request of the Council in Lon- d in, as it was desirable that there should be no Quaker in the assembly during war. Mr. Allen being returned a member from the two counties of Cumber- land and Northampton, was required by the Speaker to declare which county he chose to represent, as he could not hold his seat for both. Mr. William Allen chose Cumberland. 1758. — House ordered to be built at Wyoming for the reception of the Vidians under Teedyuskung, in order to promote an Indian settlement f'U the better protection of the province. I'hcts and Occurrerues of the Primitive Settlement. 101 Barracks erected in Philadelphia, and Joseph Fox appointed barrack- master. 1758. — Benjamin Franklin appointed agent for the transaction of go- vernment affairs during his stay in Great Britain. 1759. — Meetings of the inhabitants of Pennsylvania in different place? to express their opinion against horse racing, gambling, plays and lotteries. 1760. — The house of Doctor John, the celebrated Indian Chief, was attacked on February 14th, in the town of Carlisle, by persons unknown, who barbarously murdered Doctor John, his wife, and two children — which, on being communicated to the Governor, he offered one hundred pounds reward for the apprehension of the offenders. 1760. — On March 17th, a very deep snow fell, which shut up all the roads. The Speaker of the House of Assembly, and the majority of the members were unable to get to town. A few only met, and adjourned the house until next day. The snow was in some places seven feet deep. 1761. — An application was made to the Governor, James Hamilton, Esq., by Redmond Conyingham and other merchants of the city of Phila- delphia, for the erection of piers in some suitable place in the Delaware, to preserve their vessels from ice. 1762. — The Assembly directed that the remaining part of the square on which the State House stands, be purchased for the use of the people. A number of white children were given up by the Indians at Lancaster, and as they were not claimed, the Governor ordered them to be bound out for a suitable time. 1763. — Application was made to the Governor for regulating taverns. That one onl}' should be in such a defined distance, or in proportion to so many inhabitants — that the bar-room should be closed upon the sab- bath-day, as it would prevent youth from committing excesses to their own ruin, the injury of their masters, and the affliction of their parents and friends. Reminiscences and Statements of Robert Venable. This was an aged black man, born in January, 1736, died at Philadelphia in 1834, aged 98 years. In August, 1830, I learnt from him the following facts, viz. : — Samuel Powell, a rich carpenter, owned ninety houses, lived at N. E. comer of Pine and Second Streets. Had his garden (across the street) where is now Friends' Meeting — he worked also at making fire-buckets. R. V. showed me a leathern pitcher, (made by S. P.) once jsed in the cooper shop by said R. Venable.* He remembered Philadelphia every where unpaved — was extremely miry, and cart loads often stalled. They used to call the place, in jeer, " Fillhy-dirty,'''' instead of Phila-delphia. He well remembered old Capt. Chanceller, the sail maker, (the great friend of Sir Wm. Keith, who stuck to him to the last, and went down * He probably ilerivej his name from the Venable family. " Thomas Venable" has his inscription in Christ Church, as having died in 1731. 102 Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement. )t and saw him off from New Castle.) He lived at the good brick houss (then large) at the S. E. corner of "Chancery Lane" and Arch Street — and said it was then called " Chanceller''s Lane" Although Ross and Lawrence had law offices there, and Ross lived at the other end of his lot on Second Street. He said this Chanceller was the father of Dr. Chan- celler, and that he had another son, Samuel, who became a sea captain, anil went much to Madeira, where he thinks he must have remained, or died, as he did not know of his having left any family. He was abont his own age, and had played together. Chancellor's boatswain, Will,Dsed to hoist the flag at the staff on Society Hill. At where is the present St. Paul's Church, and descending from Peat Street, at foo* )f which was a fine spring open — they called it " Powell's Hi'.l," a!"... isamuel Powell owned all south of it down to Spruce Street. " The Queen's-head Inn" was on Water Street, on the same lot as " the Crooked Billet Inn," which fronted on the river. The first lamp he ever saw in the street was round, and was set up before Clifton's door, a large two story brick house of double front, at the S. E. corner of Clifton's Alley (since called Drinker's) and Second Street, below Race Street. " Beake's Hollovi'," in Walnut Street, was called after Job Beake, a porter, who lived at the N. W. corner of Fourth and Walnut Streets, and from the back of his house went down a short hill. Wm. Beake was an oarly settler. lu September, 1830, I had further conversation with old Robert, on about two dozen of special inquiries to which I led out his recol- lections. The result as follows: — Of " Penn's Landing at Blue Jlnclior Tavern" he had not before heard. '' Old Cross kept that Inn." Of "the Caves" he said he knew of none left; but knew old Owen Owen, a Friend, and his apple tree, where is now Townsend's Court, by Spruce Street. He remembered the vendues under the court. On one occasion of sales there of prize goods, old Phillips, in examining the French muskets before sale, had his thumb shot off. Of " Bathsheba's bath and bower" he had not heard, but of springs he had. Of one in Dock Street by Pear Street. Of " Coffee Houses," — the oldest he knew was a large wooden house at the N. W. corner of Walnut and Front Streets. There he often saw Governor Thomas go. He had never heard of its being a Catholic Church. Of "Negro Slaves," — never saw any arrive direct from Africa, but enough came roimd by BarbaHoes, &.c. Saw them sold at Coffee House. Of " Theatres" he said he went to the first, play at Plumstead's store, " to light home master and mistress." The company there were genteel. Many people much opposed plays — many fell out with Nancy Gouge because she went there to play. There was tlien no Anchor Forge of Offlv's opposite to Union Street. "The great Fire Works" on the river, the first ever seen, were very grand — were for the honour of the capture of Cape Breton. Old R. Loxley, the artillery officer, had their management. Crowds of people -anie to the city from great distances — people much afraid too. Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement. 103 "The Paxtang boys' alarm," — he was in the midst of it. Says old Capt. Loxley was busy with his artillery and company. ]t was a time of great excitement. Of "Christ Church," he said it had a wooden belfry in the rear of church, with but two bells — the same now at St. Peter's Church. Saw the new bells, by Capt. Bndden, arrive — people greatly admired to hear their ringing at first. He had not known of its clock — was none. Of " Dock Creek," — said he had not heard of vessels of any big size going into it. It used to be a fine skating place in the winter for boys, and he among them — " hundreds of them." Miscellaneous observations. — Had never seen or known old Drinker, or Hutton, or Alice. Had no remarkable things to tell, that he had ever heard from the most aged. The cause of the name of " Whalebone Alley" he could not explain — the whalebone fastened to the side wall of the house he had always seen. Had not heard of any Water Battery once at or between Pine and South Streets. He knew old Black Virgil and wife well — they had lived with Penn in Philadelphia. Poole's Bridge was built in his time, by one Roberts. He knew a person who used often to talk of his personal knowledge of Daniel Pegg. The square fronting northward of the late Bettering-house was a gieat apple orchard in his time, ver)' full of very large trees. Reminiscenses and Statements of J. H. J., of Cheviot, Ohio. The following items are such as were suggested to the mind of a gentleman in the perusal of the Annals. He had been a youth at Philadelphia in the period of the Revolution. What notices are here made are only a part of the whole, being only that portion which might best suit the classification of " Facts and Occurrences of Early Times." Water-melons. — It has been said that Jos. Cooper first introduced them for sale in the Philadelphia market. It is said he got the seed from Georgia, and had difficulty to naturalize the seed. Morris wharf is probably the only one which has remained in family possession so long. Penn's deed to A. Morris is an exception to the water limits. His deed says, " extending into the Delaware," as I was informed by the grand- son, 40 to 45 years ago. An ancient lady told me of a "freak." Some of the youth, one night carried ofl^ a large number of " New Castle grind stones" from an Iron- monger's in Second Street, to Market Street Hill, and at a word let them all roll off to the river. They were seen by a constable ; — he went to owner, asked his bill, presented it to the parent of one of the youths — the bill was paid next day, and the names and affair hushed up. The whipping post and pillory display was always on a market day — then the price of eggs went up much. The criminals were first marched round the streets. Bank Alley used to be called Elbow Lane, from its having a leading 104 Facts and OccurreMces of the Primitive Settlement. from it out to Third Street. There used to be several dry goods' storet and groceries in it. The entertainment given by the French Ambassador at Carpenter's house, now the Arcade, was a supper and ball. The temporary building extended from the house along Chestnut Street up to Sixth Street; the inside was about 15 feet high, and 30 broad, handsomely painted with festoons of roses from the ceiling. Money was thrown out among the crowd. The fire works were on the opposite square. I remember going to see the front house after it was struck with lightning. The one penny bills Bank of North America were merely issued for change, when the bank had refused to lake coppers, so many of them being base. The corporationof New York, about the same lime, did the same. There was a grave yard in Fifth Street, east side, between High Street and Chestnut Street — had several head stones. Aged animals. — I remember seeing an account of a horse belonging to the Pennsylvania Hospital, which was known to be 46 years old. Brimstone. — Somewhere about 179S it was said to rain brimstone, — it came with a very heavy rain. Considerable quantities could be gathered in old Potlersfield, on the margin of the pond, at the choking of the cul- vert. 1 gathered some — it only looked like it. The ground of Dr. Rittenhouse, corner of Seventh and Arch, is highest in the city. When Peale had his Museum of Portraits corner Lombard and Third Streets, he and one Pine were the only portrait painters. Shively was the only noted whitesmith for fine cutlery — shop in Third above Chestnut. "The Medley" was written, I was told, by Joseph Lacock, Coroner. He wrote also a play, with good humour, called " British Tyranny." 1 have several American pla3-s. Wells and Pumps. — Some pumps had great run — people sent for it, especially for the use of the sick. The water in the yard of a house in Norris' Alley was deemed the best in the city; another great water was in Love Lane. One in Walnut Street, by Zacheny's Court, was famous for boiling greens. I have seen the play about the Money-diggers by Col. Forrest — there were two editions. An aged lady once told me the real names of all the characters. The cooper therein lived in Tun Alley. A large haunted house was in Front Street, vis-d-vis Norris' Alley — another in Fourth Street, an old frame, just above Walnut Street. Jacob Balls was the first who exhibited equestrian feats in Philadelphia, probably about 1780-1. I have a plate of il. Parson Smith, in his life time, had a tomb built above ground, at his seat at the Falls of Schuylkill, and was buried in it when he died. " Fort Wilson House" was noted for being covered wiih copper. 1 saw the firing, it was not long, — saw one killed only, near Jlobert's door. Numerous other facts illustrative of the early history of Philadel- phia could have been connected with the present article, but ss they had also some direct bearings on places, characters, &c., intended to be specially described under their appropriate heads, they are less neo "" y in this place. The Penn Family. 105 THE PENN FAMILY. (PRIMITIVE RAGE.) " Proud of thy rule, we boast th* auspicious year — Struck with thy ills, wc shed a gen'rous tear." Business Concerns of William Penn. — These facts concerning William Penn were derived from the perusal of his letters, from 1684 to 1687, to his chief steward or agent, J. Harrison, at Peiinsbury, to wit: In 1684, he says he " hopes the Lord will open his way this fall. I should be sorry to think of staying till next spring." 1685, he says, — " I am sorry my 40 or .^50 charge of the sloop is flung away upon oyster shells. I hope it will not continue to be so spoiled." He also says, " Captain East charges you all with let- ting the ship lay three or four months by the wall, to his and my detriment; and he protested, and made a profitable voyage of it truly. I have no prospect yet of returning, but as soon as I can I will ; for I should rejoice to see you face to face again. I'm sorry you have drawn upon me here, when I am here upon their errand, and had rather have lost =^1000 than have stirred from Pennsylvania. The reproaches I hear daily of the conduct of things bear hard upon my spirits. I wonder yoil had no wampum of mine, for I left aloout 20 or =^25 worth that came from New York, as part of the goods I paid so dear for there. I hear my sloop has been ill-used by Cap- tain Dore, and is now laid up in the Schuylkill. I have disposed of her to Richard Song, the bearer. If she be not fit, then hire him a sloop for his turn. I send rigging by him. which preserve if not wanted for him. He is to be loaded with pipe staves on my account, or any others that will freight to Barbadoes. Let him have one of the blacks of Allen, — two of which are as good as bought, — such a one as is most used to sea; and if George Emlen will go with him, hire him. He will return to thee, by way of Saltitudoes. If George Emlen be settled, [he was wanted as mate] pick out an honest, true man to go with Richard Song. I have sold the Gulielmina for £iQ — so great is my loss. I have lost =^.500 by that vessel. The trees I sent are choice and costly things, and if I live, and my poor chil- dren, I shall have want enough to transplant to other plantations. Receive =;^40 of the bearer for a lady in England that intends to go over soon with her family; and many considerable persons are like to follow. She has bought 5,500 acres, and her first 300 must be chosen on the river, next (above) to Arthur Cook's. She wants a house of brick, like Hannah Psalter's in Bm'lington, and she will Vol. I.— O 106 The Penn Family. give Jf40 steiling in money, and as mucii more in goods. Fran,:is Collms or T. Matlack may build it. It must have four rooms be- low, about 36 by 18 feet large, — the rooms 9 feet high, and of two stories height." In another letter he calls her a relative, and says he sends money from Plymouth, by Francis Rawle,on the 24th of 2 mo. 1686. [Such facts may be deemed too minute for preserv^donj but who can foresee that even such facts may not be requisite to illustrate other needed points of information : — For instance, in the above the price and value of buildings then are given, — the uames of two respectable families now are given as first settlers at Burling- ton, — and the ancestor of the Rawle family is given, and the date of his emigration. It is by such incidental facts that more important ones are sometimes explained.] He writes from London, 1686, saying, he sends for his fam'.ly (to go to Pennsylvania) twenty-five barrels of beef, some hundred pounds of butter and candles from Ireland, and J 30 for my coming over, — meaning as a preparative for such a visit. In meantime, cheer the people; my heart is with you; expect a net by first ship, and some powder and shot. The king is now courteous to Friends before im- prisoned, but pinching to the Church of England; and several Ro- man Catholics get into places. To you I say, be wise, close and respectful to superiors. In another letter he says, " The Lord has given me great entrance with the king, though not so much as is said. Pray stop those scurvy quarrels that Jireak out to the disgrace of the province. All <^ood is said of the place and but little good of the people. These bicker- ings keep back hundreds, — ^10,000 out of my way, and J'lOOjOOO out of the country." In 1687, he says, " I expect to see you this summer, though preferment I may have. I choose my lot among an unthankful people." Penn, the Founder. — Penn, the founder, was once, in the pro- vince, called Lord Penn, and it was ordered to be discontinued by an act of the Council at Philadelphia. From its minutes we learn, that on the 9th of 11 mo. 1685, the Secretary reported to the Coun- cil, that in " the cronologie of the Almanack sett forth by Samuel Atkins of Philadelphia, and printed by William Bradford of the same place," there were these offensive words, to wit: " the beginnino- of government here by Lord Penn." The woids " Lord Penn''' were ordered to be struck out, and the Printer was charged not again to print any thing which had not the " lycence of the Council." This fact of course indicates an Almanack of two years' earlier date than the one of 1687, which I have preserved. Character of the Penn Family. — The following are personal no- tices and facts concerning some of the members of that family, as they were found incidentally mentioned in the pages of Mrs. Logan's MS. selections, — kindly lent to me for gleaning what I might deem nertinent to the present work, to wit: Tlie Penn Family. 107 Isaac NoiTis,Sen'r.,inl701 , thus writes respecting it, saying, '' The Governor is our pater patricB, and his worth is no new thing to us. We V£Ji:ie him highly, and hope his life will be preserved till ail things are settled here to his peace and comfort and the people's ease and quiet. His excellent wife, — and she is beloved by all — by all in its fullest extent, — makes her leaving us heavy, and of real sorro\v to her friends, — being of an excellent spirit, it adds lustre to her character. She has carried under and througji all wiih a wonderful evenness, humility, and freedom. Her sweetness and goodness has become her character and is indeed extraordinary : In short, we love her, and she deserves it. Their httle son (John) is a lovely babe." [The " conduct" of Mrs. Penn refers " to the unhappy misunder- standing in some and unwarrantable opposition in others."] William. Penn's Second Arrival, — 1699. — James Logan writes, in 1700, to William Penn, jun'r., and says, " The highest terms I could use would hardly give you an idea of the expectation and welcome that thy father received from the most honester party here Friends' love to the Governor was great and sincere. They had long mourned his absence and passionately desired his return. Di- rectly from the wharf the Governor went to his deputy, paid him a short formal visit, and from thence, with a crowd attending, to Meet- ing, it being about 3 o'clock on First-day afternoon, where he spoke to the people, and praying concluded it; from thence to Edward Shippen's, where we lodged for about a month." Causes of William Penn's Return Home, in 1701. — William Penn, in writing to James Logan, in July, 1701, says, '• I cannot prevail on my wife to stay, and still less with Tishe. I know not what to do. Samuel Carpenter seems to excuse her in it, but to all that speak of it, say, I shall have no need to stay (in England) and a great interest to return. All that I have to dispose of in this world is here for daughter and son, and all the issue which this wife is like to bring me; and having no more gains by government to trust to for bread, I must come (back) to sell, pay debts, and live and lay up for this posterity, as well as that they may see that my inclina- tion!? run strongly to a country and proprietary life, which then I shall be at liberty to foJlovsr, together with her promise 'his wife's) to return whenever I am ready." A little time iDefore the above lettei he said, " No man living can defend us or baigain for us better than myself." He calls it also " the necessity of going." Penn's Designin Foundins; his Colony. — In 1704-5, Penn thus expresses his noble design to Judge Mompesson, a gentleman then resident here, saying, " I went thither to lay the foundation of a free colony for all mankind, more especially those of my own profession; not that I would lessen the civil liberties of others because of their persuasion, but screen and defend our own from any infringement on that account. The charter I granted was intended to shelter tliem aJ'ainst a violent or arbitrary government imposed upon us; but that lOS llie Peitn Family. they should turn it against me, that intended their security thereby. has sonnething very unworthy and provoking in it. But as a fathet does not use to knock his children on the head when they do amiss, 60 I had rather they were coriected without due rigour." Causes of Penri's Pecuniary EmbaiTassmeiits. — In the year 170.5, he says, " I too mournfully remember how noble a law I had of exports and imports, when I was first in America, that had been worth by this time some thousands a year; which I suspended re- ceiving for a year or two, and that not without a consideration en- gaged by several merchants. But Thomas Lloyd, very unhappily for me, my family, and himself, complimented some selfish spirits with the repeal thereof, without my final consent, which his com- mission required; and that has been the source of all my loads and inabilities to support myself under the troubles that have occurred to me on account of settling and maintaining the colony. I spent upon it J?10,000 the first two years. My deputy governors cost me much, — and vast sums I have melted away here in London to hinder much mischief against us, if not to do us much good. I can sa}' that Lord Baltimore's revenue is far transcending what I can hope for, although he never took him one hundredth of my concern." Petal's Maltreatment from the Fords.- — Philip Ford of London, a merchant, holding the profession of a Friend, had been Penn's steward and general agent there, and proved deeply treacherous to him, by trumping up an enormous account. Penn, in a moment of want and of misplaced confidence, gave him, unknown to all his friends, a deed of sale in absolute forni, for all his province of Penn- sylvania, taking thereon from Ford a lease of three years. In pro- cess of time Ford received =^17,000 and paid out ^16 000 yet claimed a balance of Penn of .i^lO.500 produced by a compound interest account and excessive commissions, (kc. Ford died, and his son, stimulated by his mother Bridget, although a bed-ridden woman, and a professed Friend, would come to no compromise, but on the contraiy, in the 11 mo. 1707-8, actually arrested William Penn, while at the Friends' Meeting! Penn, to baffle their extortion, by the advice of all his friends, preferred to go to the Fleet prison, where he was sure to negotiate better terms for himself. The case came up before the Lords in Chancer}' and in Parliament, etc., but nothing was settled till Penn's friends resolved to help him out of his diffi- culties, by iTiaking terms with the Fords. They gave about =f5000, Penn's friends in London raised by subscriptions j?3000, in Bristol =^2000 and in Ireland „^2000 more, taking securities on his estate to repay themselves. While at the prison, Penn was much visited by Friends, with whom he held Meetings. Isaac Norris,who visited him there, says his lodgings were commodious and comfortable at the Old Baily, and himself well and cheery. The Fords, while he was there, had the presumption to petition Queen Anne to put them in possession of Pennsylvania! — Prcjpns The Pcnn Family. 10',! lerous claim for a debt less than J'2000 ! fi, was of course disre- garded. Penn, while thus " in durance viie" for a few months, conducted his correspondence, &c., as usual. His mind was still free. — "The oppressor holds the body bound, but knows not what a flight the spirit takes!" Isaac Norris writes of him, that "he seems of a spirit fit to bear and rub through diflBculties, and his foundation (in truth) still remains. He verifies the palm in the fable, — " The more he is pressed the more he rises !"• Penw.'s Letters. — Penn's letters to James Logan (especially from Pennsbury) are often singular, — they are so intermixed with civil business and domestic affairs, or sometimes with a little religion. f Potts, kettles, candles, or two or three lbs. of coffee-berries, if to be sold in the town! or, proclamations of " nervous force," assemblies, sheriffs, and customs, — all abruptly] umbled together ! In his mani- fold affairs James Logan became his necessary fac-totum. One cannot but be surprised at the large proportion of civil affairs of all kinds which he has to notice. It seems so incompatible with his known diligence and much time consumed in his religious public engagement^. He perhaps explains this matter incidentally in some expressions to James Logan, saying, as advice to him, that " Religion, while in its growth, fits and helps us above all other things, even in things of this world, clearing our heads, quickening our spirits, and giving us faith and couiage to perform." Penn's letters are vigorous in thought and sententious in expres- sion : — so much so, that the frequent elliptical form of his sentences makes them quite equivocal to modern ears. Some of them by changing the punctuation could be made now to contradict them selves. He wrote rapidly, and with a ready command of words. His wife Hannah too, wrote very like him in business style. The correspondence, as preserved by Mrs. Logan, between James Logan and William Penn, is very well adapted to display the mind and characters of the writers. William Penn's illness and death. — Governor Penn's illness began in the summer of 1712, at London. It began in the form of a " lethargic fit," and at six months afterwards he had a second fit at Bristol. Just before the latter he began and left unfinished his last letter to James Logan. It was sent as it was, and is now at Stenton, in almost illegible characters. After this he left Bristol, in- tending to go to London " to settle some affairs, and to gel some laws passed for the province, but finding himself unable to bear the fatigue * Isaac Norris says, the Fords offered to sell him the country for £8000 sterling ! Philip Ford the elder, was then dead; his widow Bridget Ford and his son Philip were his Executors. James Logan regretted that his patron had so long kept him a stranger to his embarrassments with this ungrateful and extortionate family. f This necessarily happened from the situation of the infant colony, with every tliino to attend to as well as affairs of government. Only take a momentary view of the multitudinous subjects which must have occupied the mind of William Penn al this time, and then vou will not wonder that he rapidly passed from one to the other. 10 110 The Penn Family. of the journey he just reached Ruscumbe,* when he was again seized with his two fonner indispositions," &c. After this, at times, fond hopes were entertained of his partial recovery ; but they eventu- ally proved but the delusions of fond hope. At intervals, " when a htde easy, he had returning thoughts still alive in him of Pennsyl- vania," &c. In the next year (1713) he had " recovered a great degree of health and strength, but not his wonted strength in ex- pression, nor was he able to engage in business as formerly," yet he could sometimes go out to Meeting at Reading, " which he bore very comfortably, and expressed his refreshment and satisfaction in being there ;" indeed, " he frequently expressed his enjoyment in the Lord's goodness to him in his private retirements, and frequently expressed his loving concern for the good of his province," although not so well as to digest and answer particukus in letters relating to business in Pennsylvania. In 1714, his wife further speaks of his having had two or three little returns of his paralytic disorder, but that " they left him in pretty good health, — not worse in speech than for some months before," and when she " keeps the thoughts of business from him he was very sweet, comfortable, and easy, and cheerfully resigned, and takes delight in his children, his friends, and domestic comforts." His Slate then, says she, is a kind of translation ! The company of his wife became an essential part of his comforts; so much so, that " he is scarce ever easy with or without compan)'^, unless she was at his elbow," and if she then took occasion " to write about his affairs in his sight, it so renewed his cares therein, and made him so uneasy and unwell, that she was obliged to write by stealth," PENN, nupt. William Baiter, ob. 1773. GRENVILLE PENIN. JOHN PENN. WIIJLIAM, HENRY, naU 1804. LOUISA. WILLIAM, nat. 1798. M. JULlANNA nat. 1797, nupt. T. KnoT MARY PENN, ob. Infans. Eh Eh O M CO B «* HANNAH PENN, ob. Inlans. LJETITIA PENN, nupU William Aubrey, ob. s. [V WILLIAM PENN, 2d.- nupt. Mary Jones, ' ob. 1720. j GULIELMA MARIA PENN, [ Dupt. A. Thomas, p. m. I Charles Fell, s. m. J SPRINGETT PENN, I ob. in Ireland, Infans, ! 1731. WILLIAM PENN, 3d flupt. p. ux. Forbes,.* s. ux. Ann Vaux,.**^* ob. 1746. W. THOMAS. CHR. GUL. PENN nat 1733, nupt. 1761, Oaskill. .* SPRING'T PENN nat. 1741, ob. 1762. Note. — Ann Penn survived her husband, and married Alexander Durdin, \1V7. In William, 3d, the male branch by his first wife became extinct. The Penn Family. 119 7%e Penn Family of the Royal Tudor Race. — As a sequel to llie foregoing genealogical table 1 here annex some fads, derived from Hugh David, an early emigrant, which go to show that Wil- liam Penn said his house wiis descended of that royal race. The Rev. Hugh David came into this country with William Pen» about the year 1700, and lived in Gwynned, a place setded princi- pally by emigrants from Wales; he related an anecdote of the Penn family, perhaps known only to few, as follows: They, being both on board the same ship, ofien conversed to- gether. William Penn, observing a goat gnawing a broom which was laying on the ship's deck, called out: Hugh, dost thou observe the goat? see, what hardy fellows the Welsh are, how they can feed on a broom; however, Hugh, I am a Welshman myself, and will relate by how strange a circumstance our family lost their name: My grandfather* was named John Tudor, and lived upon the top of a hill or mountain in Wales; he was generally called John Pen- munnith, which in English is John on the top of the hill; he re- moved from Wales into Ireland, where he acquired considerable pro- perty. Upon his return into his own country he was addressed by his old friends and neighbours, not in their former way, but by the name of Mr. Penn. He afterwards removed to London, where he continued to reside, under the name of John Penn; which has since been the family name. These relations of Hugh David, were told by him to a respectable Friend, who gave thern in MS. to Robert Proud; and withal they are confirmed by the fact of Mr. David's declaring it again in some MS. lines of poetry prepared as a compliment to Thomas Penn on his arrival in 1732, and now preserved in ray MS. Annals in the City Library, page 187, with some elucidatoiy remarks. Hush David'' s verses addressed to Thomas Penn. For the love of him that now deceased be, I salute his loyal one of three, That ruleth here in glory so serene — A branch of Tudor, alias Thomas Penn. From Anglesie, an Isle in rich array. There did a prince the English sceptre sway; Out of that stem, I do believe no less, There sprung a branch to rule this wilderness. May Sion's King rule thy heart. —Amen ! So I wish to all the race of Penn, That they may never of his favour miss Who is the door to everlasting bliss. [n 1 832, Jos. F. Fisher visited William Penn's grave, " at Jordans, near Beckersfield, Buckinghamshire." He says, " the little meeting house and grave yard of Jordans' lies about three miles from the * Rfiliert Proud, in MS., says it was probably his great grandfather, for his grand father's n.^mc appears to have been Giles Penn. 120 The Penn Family. London road, on a corner of a simple, yet pretty covintrj' seat of a Lady Young. It would appear to have been anciently the property of soine Friend, who gave the ground and the meeting place as a secluded place in tin:es of persecution. Here repose also the bodies of Isaac Pennington, and others famous for their writings and piety- No stone marks the spot, but the shape of the cemetery is an oblong, at the head of which, and on the middle of its breadth, is seen a little mound, square, but hardly exceeding in height the elevation of a common grave. This is the only distinction it possesses. Some lime trees have been lately planted on the premises, and one whicli has been placed at his giave is already marked with several initials of visitors. A book is kept in the meeting room, wherein strangers who visit the place write their names. The same book contains a slip of paper inscribed thus, viz. : — ' 7^he graves on the right, imme- diately on entering the burial ground, contain the bodies of William Penn and both his wives; Isaac and Mary Pennington, Thos. Ell- wood and his wife — also, Geo. Bowles and his wife.'" These facts are confirmed by a letter to me from Js. T. Hopper, who visited it in 1S3]. A slanderous publication of 1703, written in Philadelphia, and published in London, (done by enemies of course,) thus desciibes the noble Founder, saying : — " Although our present Governor, Wm. Penn, w ants the sacred unction, he was not to want majesty, — for the grandeur and magnificence of Ins mien is equivalent to that of the great Mogul. The gale of his house [a palace] is always guard- ed with a Jnnisary, [peace officer] armed with a club of near ten feet long, crowned with a large silver head, embossed and chased as an hieroglyphic of the master's pride. There a certain day is appoint- ed for audience; [for convenience and method of business,] and, as for the rest, you must keep your distance. His corps du garde gene- rally consist of seven or eight of his (;hief magistrates, both eccle- siastical and civil, [most probably his Council, i-c.,] which always attend him, and sometimes there are more; — when he perambulates the city [probably going to Court or to the Assembly,] one bare headed, with a long white wan [wand] over his shoulder, in imita- tion of the Lord Marshal of England, marches gradually before him and his train, and sonietitties proclamation is made to clear the way. For the support of this and such like rule, here are all sorts of lolls, taxes and imposts. Such as 8d. per tun on vessels, duties upon all liquors, &c. Penn is spoken of as driving out ' in his leathern con- venience.' 'To get into the grant of such indulgences, he used the utmost of his rhetorick to oppose any churcliwan's election, standing upon a high place, and making long speeches till many of owr party were tiied and gone home, and by often shaking his carnal weapon, conunonly called a cane, at us, so that in fine, he got those of his own creatures chosen.'" Of the Pirates it says: — ^" These Quakers have a neat way of gelling money, hy encoiira<^in^ of pirates when they bring in a good Penn?s Descendants. 121 store of gold, so that his government halh been a sure retreat for thai sort of people; — insomuch, that when several oi Avery'' s men were here, the Quaking justices were for letting them hve quietly, — and so pirates for the most part have been set at hberij, and admitted to bail one after another; nay, on the very frontiers of the country, [Lewistown] and at the mouth of the river, [New Castle] a whole knot of them are settled securely." PENN'S DESCENDANTS. The following facts concerning several individuals of the Penn family, descended of ihe founder, are such as I occasionally met with in various readings, — to wit: 1724 — Mrs. Gulielma Maria Fell, grandaughter of the famous Quaker, Sir William Penn, was publicly baptised in the parish church of St. Paul, Convent Garden, in October last. — London Gazette. 1732 — This year one of the proprietaries, Thomas Penn, made his visit to Pennsylvania, and was received with much pomp and state, — probably in such manner as to give him some personal em- barrassment. His former habits, for some years, had not been accus- tomed lo ride aloft amidst the hosannas of the people; for both lie and his brother, after the death of their father, and the difRculties of their mother, had been placed with a kinsman, a linen draper, in Bristol. I found the following description of his arrival and reception in 1732, in the " Caribbeana," a Barbadoes publication of Kriemer's. [t purports to be a letter from a young lady to her father in Barba- does. I have extracted as follows, viz: " He landed at Chester, when our Governor, having notice of it, went to meet him, and carried so many gentlemen with him, and so many joined them on the road, that they made a body of 800 horse. They paid him their compliments and staid till he was ready lo set out." " The poor man who had never been treated but as a private man in England, and, far from expecting such a reception, was so sur- prised at it, that he was entirely at a loss how to behave; and I was told, when he took a glass of wine in his hand, he trembled so, he was scarcely able to hold it. At length he recovered himself and returned their compliments. He reached here at four o'clock in the afternoon. The windows and balconies [mark, the houses then had them,] were filled with ladies, and the streets with the mob, to see him pass. Before he arrived a boy came running, and cried the proprietor was coming on horseback, and a sceptre was carried before Vol. I. -Q ' 11 122 Pexiis Di^scendduts. him in tfie Governor's conch! [It was a crutch of a lame mar therein ; and the person on horseback was probably the servant be- hind the coach !] When arrived, he was entertained at the Go- vernor's house, where he stays ever since. The ships at the wharf kept firing, and the bells ringing, all the afternoon. At the nighl bonfires were lighted." "The Assembly and Corporation feasted him afterwards; the Chiefs of the five nations being present, rejoiced to see him, and, to renew treaties. The fire engines played all the afternoon and diverted the Chieftains greatly." From the minutes of the City Council of the 18th of August, 1732, it appears that the Mayor acquainted the board that liie honourable Thomas Penn, Esqr., being lately arrived in this city, he thought it the duty of this board to give him a handsome welcome by providing a decent collation at the expense of the Corporation; to which the board unanimously agreed, and fixed the time for Monday next, at the Court House, &c. Mrs. Nancarro told me she well remembered hearing her father, Owen Jones, the colonial treasurer, describe the arrival of Thomas Penn, as Governor, in 1732. That it gave great joy to the people, to have once more a Penn among them. The people were of course very anxious to behold him; and although he had shown himself from the balcony of the old Court House, they urged him to anothei exhibition, at the vestibule of the " old Governor's house," so called, in South Second Street below the present Custom House. He, however, soon became unpopular, and when he retired from us, (on his return,) some of the grosser or more malignant part of the people actually raised a gallows over a narrow pass in the woods by which he had to pass. It was not, however, countenanced by any of the better part of society. The Rev. Hugh David, who was a respectable Welshman, that had come over with William Penn, in his second visit in 1700, came from his home at Gwynned in 1732, to make his visit of respect to Thomas Penn, then lately arrived ; for that purpose he had prepared some verses to present him, complimentary to him as descended of William Penn, who was himself before descended of the royal house of Tudor, — "a branch of Tudor, alias Thomas Penn." The in- tended verses were, however, withheld, and have fallen since into iTiy hands, occasioned by the cold and formal deportment of the Governor; for, as Hugh David informed Jonathan Jones, of Merion, in whose family I got the story and the poetry, he spoke to him but three sentences, which were, — " How dost do?" — " Farewell." — " The other door." It would seem, however, he was sufficiently susceptible of soflpi and warmer emotions, he having, as it was said, brought with him to this cotmlry, £is an occasional companion, a person of much show and display, called " Lady Jenks," who passed her time " remote froin city," in the then wilds of Bucks County; but her beauty, a( ■ Peim's Descendants. 123 complishments, and expert horsemanship, made her soon of notoriety enough, to make every woman, old and young, in the country, her chronicle; they said she rode with him at fox-hunlings, and at the famous " Indian Walk," in men's clothes, (meaning, without doubt, their simple conceptions of the masculine appearance of her riding habit array) garbed, like a man in petticoat. Old Samuel Preston, Esq., to whom I am chiefly indebted foi facts concerning her, (often, however, confirmed by others) tells me it was well imderstood there, that she was the mother of Thomas Jenks, Esq.,* a member of Friends, — a very handsome, highly es- teemed, and useful citizen, who lived to about the year 1797, and received his education and support through the means supplied by his father, Thomas Penn. Indeed, Thomas Penn was so much in " the style of an English gentleman," says my infonnant, that " he had two other natural sons by other women, which he also provided for, and they also raised respectable families." From the great age at which Thomas Jenks died, (said to have been near 100 years) I presume he was born in England, and from his bearing the name of his mother, she must have first arrived as the widow Jenks and son.f When E. Marshall, who performed the extraordinary Indian walk, became ofl^ended with his reward, " he d d Penn and his half-wife" to their faces. In 1734, October, John Penn (called the "American," because the only one of Penn's children born here,) made his landing at New Castle, and came on to Philadelphia by land. At his crossing the Schuylkill he was met and escorted into the city, and " the guns on Society Hill" and the ships fired salutes. It states, the escort con- sisted of a train of several coaches and chaises. The Governor and suite alighted at his brother Thomas' house, where an elegant enter- tainment was given. Their sister, Mrs. Margaret Freame, and hus- band, also arrived with hiin. This of course brought over all the then living children of Penn, save his son Richard, then youngest. In 1751, November, Thomas Penn, aforenamed, was announced as marrying Lady J. Fermer, daughter of the Earl of Pomfret. He died in 1775, and she lived to the year 1801. In Weeras' Life of Penn, he is extremely seveie on the cupidity and extortion of the Penn family. I am not able to say where he finds his pretexts. Complaints were made about the year 175-5-6, by Tedeuscung, at the head of the Delaware Indians, that they had been cheated in their lands, bought on one and a half day's walk along the Neshamina and forks of Delaware, back 47 miles to the mountains; and I have seen the whole repelled in a long MS. re- • His son, Thomas Jenka, was a Senator at the time of the formation of the Stale Constitntion, — a very smart man. j- There is some confusion and incoherency of Jates. Jenks was horn in 17(10, and she may have joined herself to Wm. Penn, jr., when he arrived in 170y. There wag i-eminly a Lady Jenks, whose name was Macpherson. She afterwards married Wig. gend, of Bucks County, and left a son who has now many descendants in Bucks Co. 124 Pemi's Descendants port to Governor Dennie, by tlie committee of Council, in which all tlie history of all the Indian treaties are given, and wherein they de clare that till that time (1757) the Penn proprietaries had more than fulfilled all their obligations by treaties, &c. — paying for some pur- chiises, to different and subsequent nations, over and over again. The paper contained much reasoning and arguments to justify the then Penns. If they indeed, "bought low, and sold high," who, without sin in this way, " may cast the first stone!" In the statute sense, the land was theirs before they bought it. It was their an- cestor's by grant of the Sovereign, and as good as the Baronies of England by the grant of the Conqueror. Yet I plead not for such assumptions, — I relate the facts. Having had the perusal of several letters, written by Thomas Peun in England to his Secretary, Richard Peters, dated from 1754 to 1767, I was constrained to the impression that ihey were honourable to the proprietaries, as showing a frank and generous spirit, both in relation to sales and collections for lands. They were mild, too, in remark- ing upon unkindness to themselves from political parlies and ene- mies. They, in short, (and in truth,) breathed a spirit very free from selfishness or bitterness. In them, Thomas Penn showed great afl^ection for church principles — oflfering £-5{) per annum, out of his own funds, to continue Mr. Barton as a missionary at New Castle, l ilu v^uesne, (Fort Pitt.) 166 River-front Bank. '■■ It wus a singular old fashioned striictuie, laid out in ilie style of a foitificition, with abundance of angles boiji salieni and re-entering. Its two wings projected to the street in the manner of bastions, tc which the main building, retreating from 16 to 18 feet, served for a curtahi."* " It had a spacious yard, half way lo Front Street, and ornamented with a double row of venerable lofly pines, which afforded a very agreeable rus in urbe.^^ She continued there till 1768-9, when she removed to Drinker's Big House, up Front Street near to Race Street. Graydon's anecdotes of distinguished persons, especially of British officers and gentry who were inmates, are in- teresting. John Adams, and other members of the first congress, had their lodgings in " the Slate-house." The yard in front was two or three feet above the street, and was walled up higher than the grass plot within. Some of the lofty pines were still there in the Revolution. Mrs. Biirdeau kept y ladies boarding-school in it, a daughter of General Wayne was one of the scholars. The eccentric General Lee was buried from it, and put in Christ Church ground, close along side of Church Alley. " He wished not to lie within a mile of Presbyterian ground, as too bad company !" RIVER-FRONT BANK. The history of the " bank lots" on the river-front is a topic in which all, who can feel an interest in the comfort, beauty, or lame of our city, ixiust have a concern. It was the original design of Penn to have beautified our city, by a most graceful and agreeable promenade on the high bank of the river-fiont, the whole length of the city. Thus intending Front Street lo have had an uninter- rupted view of the Delaware and river sceneiy, after the manner of the celebrated Bomb Q,uai at Rotterdam. How all those desirable purposes were frustrated, and how our admirable natural advantages for an elegant river display, have been superseded by a cramped and inconvenient street and houses, shall be communicated to the reader in the following facts, to wit : We find, from the Citizens' Memorial of the 3d of 6 mo. 1684, the first open attempt to make soi^ie breach in the original plan, but the direct matmer in which they were repelled by William Perm, is evidence how much he then had it at heart to preserve " the top * We may say of this house : — " Trade has changed the scene ;" for the recess is since filled out to the front with store windows, and the idea of the histions, though the} nr(; still there, is lost. River-front Bank. 167 bank as a common Exchange or walk." The memovialists claimed " the privilege to build vaults or stores in the bank against their re spective lots," on the western side of Front Street. His answer ia not known at full length; but his endorsement on the petition speaks thus, viz : " The bank is a top couimoD from end to end. The rest next the water belongs to front lot men (i. e. owners on Front Street) no more than back lot men. The way bounds them. They may build stairs, and the top of the bank be a common Exchange or walk; and against the streets, (opening to the river) common wharves may be built freely, but into the water and the shore, is no purchaser's" The assembly too, addressed Penn on the 20th September, 1701, " concerning property," and his answer is, " I am willing to grant the ends of streets according to your request;" therein showing that the general bank was deemed out of the question. A paper of the 26th April, 1690, from Penn's commissioners of property, combined with a confession from William Penn to James Logan, which we shall presently show, presents us the evidence of the time and the motive for the fatal concession of the bank lots to those who would become purchasers. The persons entitled to the discredit of thus marring our intended beautiful city, were Samuel Carpenter, William Markham, Robert Turner, and John Goodson. They state, that " Whereas, they have been petitioned by holders of bank lots to grant them the further privilege to build on the same, as much higher as they please, on the former terms, they therefore de- clare their concunence with the same, because the more their im- provements are [in elevation or value] the greater will be the pro- prietor's benefit at the expiration of said fifty-one years in the said patents mentioned." It appears from this paper, that before the year 1690, the grants were only occasional to some few special circumstances or friends, and particularly to Samuel Carpenter, whose public buildings on the wharf near Walnut Street were considerable. For these indul- gences they also allured, by a covenant, of giving back to the pro- prietary at the end of fifty-one years, one-third of their improve- ments. To a needy patron, such as Penn was, the right of selling out the purposed improvements, presented, as they may have thought, an appeal to his actual wants, which might eventually reconcile him to their extra-official concessions. How mortified and vexed must Penn have felt on his second ar- rival in 1699, to witness the growing deformity of his city, and to see how far individual interest had swerved his agents from the general good! Logan's letter of 1741, to Penn's son, in explanation of the preceding facts, shows how sensibly Penn regretted the measures so taken, even while his circumstances prevented his reversing and can- celling the things already done; as if he had said : " Mine necessity, not my will, hath done this." Logan's letter says, " Thy father himself acknowledged when here (last) that he owed [as a cause] those hio-h quit-rents for the bank of Philadelphia, and the reversion 168 River-front Bank. of the third of the value [ground and all] after fifty years, entirely to Samuel Carpenter, who, much against his (Penn's) inchnations, had tempted him, with them, to suffer himself [S. C] and other pur- chasers in Front to build on the east side of that street; and he [S. C] subscribed with Jonathan Dickinson and others to have a price set in the reversion of the said thirds, which was then done at 20 shillings per foot, now very near forty years since, with a view- to raide a sum which was then exceedingly wanted." Thus, even Penn, who should have had his equivalent for so es- sential a deformity engrafted upon this city, after all, got not the proffered benefit of fifty years accumulation of value in houses and lots, but a small present sum in lieu ; and we have now the entail of their selfish scheme! 1 feel vexed and chagrined, while I pen this article, to think for what mere personal purposes fair Philad«l- ))bia was so much marred! We were once templed, to propose the expense of opening a river prospect to the river from Arch to Chestnut Street, or, at least, striving so far to repair the loss sustained, as to make a water promenade under a continued line of trees, the whole length of the river-front. A well paved straight street could be effected along the wharves, by extending some of the present docks, and thereby giving room for ranging the fronts of (lie stores and trees on the western side in a direct and uniform line, and suffering no kind of buildings in their front. Since the first publication of ihe Annals, a writer in Poulson's paper says, that " the proposition of the late Mr. Girard to restore, so far as possible, the spoiled river-front, is so like the suggestion made in Watson's Annals, that it may be curious, now that the subject is likely to invite much public attention, to give your readers an extract from that book. I remember well, when reading it, that I thought, " shall we indeed, ever find persons to adopt the hint," and now, be- hold, we have the measure endorsed by a bequest of half a million to effect the desirable object!" He then quotes the passcige in the pieceding paragraph, as matter in point. In September 1832, the Cholera physicians of Philadelphia put forth a memorial to the City Council, urging the advantage of taldng down the city front along the river, both for health and beauty. Soon after there appeared several articles in Poulson's Gazette, recommending and arguing upon the advantages of such a measure, by Philadelphus, Civis, S. P., and others — and finally, in July, 1833, we saw a hint to this effect, saying, " now that we have Committees appointed to consider and report upon the matter of the " Delaware Avenue," we think the time is favourable to introduce the original design of the open River-Front — a topic which has already been under notice in the public prints." Finally — this thing, we are glad to say, has been partially attended to in the will of Stephen Girard — it is not all that was desired, bul it is siill an improvement — so far as it goes. It has already cost 200,000 dollars, and would be much improved by a line of trees. Rioer -front Bank. 109 The progress of Peiia's dissatisfaction at his agent's management, and his own reluctant compliances, may be further noticed in James Logan's letter of 1702, and Penn's reply of 1703-4. James Logan says, " For this past year, we have sold but 165 feet of the banks, [perhaps a fact evincing its unpopularity] of which good part is yet unpaid according to thy concession, who, under thy hand, granted two years for the latter moiety. This backwardness was foolishly occasioned by P. Parmiter a few days after thy departure, who affirmed that ihy right extended no further than to tlie edge of the river. This discouraged many." In another place he says, "The bank does in no way answer to sell out; — only two patents granted."* In 1703-4, William Penn writes, saying, " I will have no more bank lots disposed of, nor keys yet made into the river, without my special and fresh leave, for reasons justifiable." And this he con- firms soon after, by saying, " Till further orders, I will have no bank lots sold, and never the 20 shilling per lot, on any account. Pra}^ tnind this. I have good reasons for it at present." Among the early favoured persons, who had the indulgence of the bank lots, was Thomas Masters, who, in the year 1702, built "a stately house, five stories from the lower street and three the upper, at the corner of High and Front Streets." And soon after, says James Logan, " T. Masters has built another stately house, the inost sub- stantial in town, on Laetitia's Bank Lot, which, for the improve- ment of the place, was sold him for ^190 sterling, including the re- version." In the year 1705, the bank lot owners being required to regulate King Street, their fewness of names and number are only these, to wit: Hugh Codderey, Michael Isbern, Isaac Norris, Edward Ship- pen, Henry Badcock, Smith Carpenter, Isaac Norris, Abraham Buckley, Samuel Powell, Thomas Tresse, Joseph Pidgeon. From the vague manner in which those few names " are required to enter into measures to regulate King Street" (the present Water Street,) T think we can form a guess how we came to have so ill- concerted and contracted a thoroughfare. With such abundance of earth as they had in the bank lots, it was easy to have determined upon and made a wide and straight street; but the selfish policy which first started the expedient of spoiling the river-front for private aims, conducted the primitive leaders in their measures to the shortest means of personal benefit. Where " all did what was right in their own eyes" only, it was easy to suit themselves for the occasion with a narrow street, and those who came after them had to follow it. The subject presents no point in which we can be il'ratified, or yield our commendation. We shall now conclude with some notices of occurrences at or near the bank in early days, to wit: * In 1701, a letter of Penn's inquired : — " Wliat if I had 12 pence per foot to low water mark forever !" Vol. 1 -W 15 17U River -from Bank. In 1701, the Grand Juiy present High Street hill "as a great nuisance, and a place of great danger in passing Front Street, and to the utter ruin of said street and public landing there; and, whereas there are also other breaches, places and landings within the town which require repair, the Governor and Council order that =£"500 be assessed on the inhabitants for effecting the same." In 1712, they present the well at the end of High Street near the river — the same wants to be covered, — and King Street, at the same place, to be made cartable. Thus showing, that if the well be near ihe river, and at the same time on King Street, (Water Street) the river shore was then close to the hill or bank. We know, in proof of this, that the house of Donaldson, at the northeast corner of Water and High Streets, was, for many years after it was built, subject to water in its cellars in tiines of freshets. In 1720, an invasion of water " on the common shore," as made into King Street, is noticed : and the Grand Jury present as " a nui- sance, a great breach in the bank, and passing into Front Street above Mulberry Street and below Griffith's new wall," — meaning his wall to keep up the river bank. In 1721, the Grand Jury present, as out of repair and dangerous the " Crooked Billet steps," above Chestnut Street. In 1723, the Grand Jury present " deep gullies from Front Street, where the arch stood, to the arch wharf," — meaning at the east end of Mulberry Street. In 1725, the Grand Jury present " the east end of Sassafras Street, the bank being washed away almost across the Front Street; also the Front Street, against the houses late of John Jones, deceased, [now end of Combes' Alley] as hardly passable for horse or cart." They also present " the wall on the comiTion shore in the High Street for want of a better covering." A. J. Morris, Esq., when 90 years of age, told me that the bank side of Front Street was unbuilt in several places in his youth. He used, like John Brown, to sled down the open hill, opposite to Combes' Alley. From High Street to Arch Street was very open, especially from the bank steps at Clifford's, northward. Below High Street it was full built up; but from Arch up to Vine Street, many places were still open. The east side of Water Street was gene- rally built up, and the best families were living there. In my youth, I saw the only remaining original shore of the city unwharfed; it was called Taylor's Dock, above Vine Street; there numerous horses were daily sent to be swam out and washed. It was a place of considerable width. At the Dock Bridge too, north side, was a similar dock, used for like puiposes. At both places shallops brought loads of stone and street pebbles, which they un- loaded into the carts, as the carts backed into the water along side of the vessels. liiiiiiliiilllillijJltJili ,*'•' jillffTl" 'tf, T/ie Caves ITl THE CAVES. Most Pliiladelphians have had some vague conceptions of the laves and cabins in which the primitive settlers made their tempo- lary residence. The caves were generally formed by digging into (he ground, near the verge of the river-front bank, about three feet in depth; thus making half their chamber under ground; and the remaining half above ground was formed of sods of earth, or earth and brush combined. The roofs were formed of layers of limbs, or split pieces of trees, over-laid with sod or bark, river rushes, &,c. The chimneys were of stones and river pebbles, modared together with clay and grass, or river reeds. The following facts may illus- trate this subject, to wit: An original paper is in John Johnson's family, of the year 1683, which is an instrument concerning a division of certain lands, and " executed and witnessed in the cave of Francis Daniel Pastorius, Esq." On the 17th of 9 mo. 1685, it was ordered by the provincial execu- tive Council, that all families living in caves should appear before the Council. What a group they must have made! This order was occasioned by the representations of the magistrates of Philadel- phia, and enforced by a letter they had received from Governor Penn, in England. No one, however, thought proper to obey the order. The Council gave " further notice" that the Governor's orders re- lating to the caves will be put in execution in one month's time. In 1685, the Grand Jury present Joseph Knight, for suffering drunkenness and evil orders in his cave; and several drinking houses to debauch persons are also presented. They also present all the empty caves that do stand in the Front Street, " which is to be sixty feet wide," wherefore, the court orders that they forthwith " be pulled down," by the constables, and " demolished ;" [terms intimating they were in part above ground,] and upon request of John Barnes and Patrick Robinson, [the Clerk of Council,] who asked one month to pull down their respective caves, it was granted, on ^.ohclition that they fill up the hole in the street. On another occasion, they are called Caves, or " Cabins," on the king's high way. The interesting story concerning the cave at the Crooked Billet, at which the ancestors of Deborah Morris dwelt, has been told under the article " Primitive Settlement." Mrs. Hannah Speakraan, when aged 75, told me that she wed remembered having seen and often played at an original cave, called "Owen's Cave." It was in " Townsend's Court," on the south side of Spruce Street, west of Second Street, on a shelving bank 172 Habits and Slate of Society. It was dug into the hill — had grass growing upon the roof part, which was itself formed of close-laid timber. The same man who had once inhabited it was still alive, and dwelt in a small frame house near it. Near the cave stood a large apple tree, and close by, on " Bar- clay's place," so called, she often gathered filberts and hickory nuts. The whole was an unimproved place only 80 years ago; it being, from some cause, suffered to lay waste by the Barclay heirs. John Brown, and others, told me that the original cave of the Coates' Family, in the Northern Liberties, was preserved in some foim in the cellar of the family mansion, which remained till ] 830. at the southwest corner of Green and Front Streets. HABITS AND STATE OF SOCIETY. Not to know what has been transacted in former times, is always to remain a child ! ClCEIlO. It is our intention (so far as facts will enable us) to raise some conceptions of the men and things as they existed in former years, r.l iefly such as they were when every thing partook of colonial sub- mission and simplicity — when we had not learnt to aspire to great things. To this end we shall here dispose our collections from " narrative old age," and show the state of the past " glimmering through the dream of things that were." Gabriel Thomas, in his account, of 1698, of the primitive state of society, speaks of great encouragements and ready pay given to all conditions of tradesmen and working men. None need stand idle. Of lawyers and physicians he remarks he will say little, save that their services were little required, as all were peaceable and healthy. Women's wages he speaks of as peculiarly high, for two reasons : the sex was not numerous, which tended to make them in demand, and therefore to raise the price. Besides, as these married by the time they were twenty years of age, they sought to procure a maid-servant for themselves in turn. Old maids were not to be met with, neither jealousy of husbands. The children were generally well favoured and beautiful to behold. He says he never knew any with the least blemish. William Penn also made the remark, on his arrival, that all the houses of the Dutch and Swedes he found eveiy where filled with a lusty and fine looking race of children. Numerous traditionary accounts attest the fact, that there was al- ways among the early settlers a frank and generous hospitality. Their entertainments were devoid of glare and show, but always abundant Habits and State of Society. 173 and good Mr. Kalm, when here in 1748, expressed his great sur- prise at the universal freedom with which travellers were every where accustomed to leap over the hedges and lake the fiuit from the orchards, even while the owners were lodging on, without refusal Fine peaches, he says, were thus taken from the orchards of the poorest peasants, such as could only be enjoyed, as he said, by the nobility in his own country! What a golden age it must have ap- peared to him and others! William Fishbourne, in his MS. narrative of about die same time, says, " Thus Providence caused the country to flourish and to increase in wealth, to the admiration of all people, — the soil being fruitful and the people industrious. For many years there subsisted a good concord and benevolent disposition among the people of all denomi- nations, each delighting to be reciprocally helpful and kind in acts of friendship for one another." Moral as the people generally were, and well disposed to cherish a proper regard for religious principles, it became a matter of easy attainment to the celebrated Whitfield and his coadjutors, Teiinant, Davenport, (fee, to gain a great ascendency over the minds of many of the people. The excitements wrought among I firm were very considerable. He procured in Philadelphia !o be built for him one of the largest churches then in the colonies, and his helper, Tennant. anolher. It is manifest enough now that the ardour of success gene- rated considerable of fanaticism and its consequent reproach.* Whitfield, in 1739, preached to a crowd of IS.OUO persons on So- ciety Hill. About the same time he so far succeeded to repress the usual public amusements as that the dancing-school was discontinued, and the ball and concert room were shut up, as inconsistent with the requisitions of the gospel. No less than fourteen sermons were preached on Society Hill in open air, in one week, during the ses- sion of the Presbyterian Church ; and the Gazette of the day, in noticing the fact, says, " The change to religion here is altogether surprising, through the influence of Whitfield — no books sell but religious, and such is the general conversation." Doctor Franklin, describing the slate of the people about the year 17.52, says they were all loyal and submiited willingly to the govern- ment of the crown, or paid for defence cheerfully. " They were led by a thread. They not only had a respect, but an aflfection for Great Britain, for its laws, its customs, and its manners, and even a fondness for its fashions," — 7iot yet subsided. Natives of Great Britain were always treated with particular regard; and to be "an Old England man" gave a kind of rank and respect among us." The old people all testify that the young of their youth were much • This is manifest by numerous publications of the day. Rev. Mr. Cummings of Christ Chnrch, and Rev. E. Kinnersly, Professor, among others, published against them. Both "Whitfield and Tennant lived long enough afterwards to make their confessions of interaperat* zeal. ]5* 1 74 Habits and State of Society. more reserved, and held under much more restraint in the presence of their elders and parents, than now. Bashfulness and modesty in the young were then regarded as virtues; and the present freedom before the aged was not then countenanced. Young lovers then listened and took side-long glances when before their parents or elders. Mrs. Susan N , who lived to be 80 years of age, told me it was the custom of her early days for the young part of the family, and especially of the female part, to dress tip neatly towards the close of the day and sit in the street porch. It was customary to go from porch to porch in neighbourhoods and sit and converse. Young gentlemen in passing, used to affect to say, that while they admired the charms of the fair who thus occupied them, they found it a se- vere ordeal, as they thought they might become the subject of re- mark. This, however, was a mere banter. Those days were really (•ery agreeable and sociable. To be so easily gratified with a sight of the whole city population, must have been peculiarly grateful to every travelling stranger. Jn truth, we have never seen a citizen who remembered the former easy exhibition of families, who did not regret its present exclusive and reserved substitute. The same lady told me it was a common occurrence to see gen- teel men after a fall of snow shovelling it away from their several doors. She has told me the names of several who would not now suffer their children to do the same. The late aged John Warder, Esq., told me that in his younger days lie never knew of more than five or six persons at most, in the whole city, who did not live on the same spot where they pursued their business, — a convenience and benefit now so generally departed from by the general class of traders. Then wives and daughters very often served in the stores of their parents, and the retail dry goods business was mostly in the hands of widows or maiden ladies. Mrs. S. N. also informed me that she remembers having been at houses when tea was a rarity, and has seen the quantity measured oui for the lea pot in small hand-scales. This was to apportion the strength with accuracy. In her early days, if a citizen failed in business it was a cause of general and deep regiet. Every man who met his neighbour spoke of his chagrin. It was a rare occurrence, because honesty and tem- perance in trade was then universal ; and none embarked then with- out a previous means adapted to their business. Another lady, Mrs. H.,who saw things before the war of Inde- pendence, says she is often amused with the exclamation of her young friends, as she points them now to houses of a second or third rate tradesman, and says, " in that house such and such a distin- guished man held his banquets." Dinners and suppers went the round of every social circle at Christmas, and they who partoiik of the former were also expected to remain for the supper. Aftemoon visits were made, not at night, as now, but at so early an hour as tc permit matrons to go home and see their children put to bed. Habits and State of Society 175 I have often heard aged citizens say, that decent citizens had a universal speaking acquaintance with each other, and every body promptly recognised a stranger in the streets. A simple, or idiot person, was known to the whole population. Every body knew Bobby Fox, and habitually jested with him as they met him. Michael Weaders, too, was an aged idiot, whom ail knew and esteemed; so much so, that they actually engraved his portrait as a remembrancer of his be- nignant and simple face. See a copy in my MS. Annals in the City Library, page 284. Doctor Franklin has said, that before the war of Independence " to be an Old England man gave a kind of rank and respect among us." I introduce this remark for the sake of observing, that for many years after that war, even till nearly down to the present day, I can remember that we seemed to concede to English gentlemen a claim, which they were not backward to arrogate, that they were a superior race of men ; this, too, from their having been familiar at home with superior displays of grandeur, more conveniences of living, higher perfections in the arts, (fcc, and, above all, as having among them a renowned race of authors, poets, &.c. Their assumptions, in conse- quence, were sometimes arrogant or offensive. And I remember to have felt with others some disparagement in the comparison. If it were only to speak of their grand navy, we felt diminutive when we heard big tales of their " Royal George" — the grandeur of their " great fleet," &c., — we who had never seen more among us than a single frigate. But the time is now passing off, — we have in turn become renowned and great. Our navy has become respectable ; our entertainments have become splendid and costly. I have lived withal, to find that even we, who before cowered, have taken our turn of being lordly ; which we manifest in the offensive deport- ment of a mother countiy to our numerous colonies in the west, (fcc. I only " speak what I do know" when I say, I have seen Philadel- phians and New Yorkers, as metropolitans, assuming airs of im- portance at Washington City, at Pittsburg, at Cincinnati, at New Orleans, &c. Those pretensions of our vanity formerly in those places will subside and pass away ; already they will scarcely be ob- served there, and could hardly have been believed but for this re- membrancer, which shows, indeed, the general state of rising society in this new country. The tradesmen before the Revolution (I mention these facts with all good feeling ) were an entirely different generation of men from the present. They did not then, as now, present the appearance in dress of gentlemen. Between them and what were deemed the hereditary gentlemen there was a marked difference. " The gentry tfiink scorn of leather aprons," said Shakspeare. In truth, the aristocracy of the gentlemen then was noticed, if not felt, and it was to check any undue assumption of ascendency in them, that the others invented the rallying name of " the Leather Apron Clul),'^ — a name with which they were familiar before Franklin's "junta" 1 76 Habits and State of Society. was formed, and received that other name. In that day the trades- men and their families had far less pride than now. While at theii work, or in going abroad on weekdays, all such as followed rough trades, such as carpenters, masons, coopers, blacksmiths, &c., uni- versally wore a leathern apron before ihem, and covering all their vest. Dingy buckskin breeches, once yellow, and check shirts and a red flannel jacket was the common wear of most working men ; and all men and boys from the coiintiy were seen in ihe streets in leather breeches and aprons, and would have been deemed out of character wilhout ihem. In those days, tailors, shoemakers and hatters waited on customers to take their measures, and afterwards called wi(h garments to fit them on before finished. One of (he remadcable incidents of our republican principles of equality, is, that hirelings, vvho in times before ihe war of Inde- pendence were accustomed to accept the name of servants, and to be dressed according lo their condition, will now no longer suffer the former appellation; and all aflfect the dress and (he air, when abroad, of genteeler people than their business warrants. Those, therefore, who from affluence have many such dependants, find it a constant subject of peiplexity to manage their pride and assumption. In the olden time all the hired women wore short-gowns and linsey-woolsey or worsted petticoats. Some are still alive who used to call master and mistress, who will no longer do it. These facts have been noticed by the L,ondon Quarterly Review, which instances a case highly characteristic of their high indepen- dence ; A lady, who had a large gala [larty, having rung somewhat passionate!}' at the bell to call a domestic, was answered by a girl opening the saloon door, saying, " the more you ring the more I won't come," and so withdrew ! Now all hired girls appear abroad in the same style of dress as their ladies ; for, " Excess, the scrofulous and itchy plague 'J'hai seizes first the opitlent, tlescends To the next rank contagious ! and in time Taints downwards all the graduated scale." So true it is that every condition of society is now changed from the plain and tinatfected state of our forefathers, — all are " Infected with the manners and the modes They knew not once !" Before the Revolution no hired man or woman wore any shoes so fine as calf skin ; coarse neat's leather was their every day wear. Men and women then hired by the year, — men got .^"16 to 20, and a servant woman £8 to 10. Out of that it was their custom to lay up money, to buy before their marriage a bed and bedding, silvei teaspoons, and a spinning-wheel, &c. A lady of my acquaintance, Mrs. H., familiar with those things as they were before the Revolution, has thus expressed her sense of ■hem, viz. In the olden time domestic comfort was not every day Habits and State of Society. 1 77 interrupted by the pride and the profligacy of servants. There were then but few hired, — black slaves, and German and Irish re- deraptioners made up the mass. Personal liberty is, unquestionably, the inherent right of every human creature ; but the slaves of Phila- delphia y/ere a happier class of people than the free blacks now, who exhibit every sort of wretchedness and profligacy in their dwell- ings. The former felt themselves to be an integral part of the family to which they belonged ; they were faithful and contented, and affected no equality in dress or manners with those who ruled them ; every kindness was extended to them in return. Among the rough amusements of men might be mentioned, shoot ing, fishing, and sailing parties. These were frequent, as also glutton clubs, fishing-house and country parties were much in- dulged in by respectable citizens. Great sociabihty prevailed among all classes of citizens until the strife with Great Britain sent " every man to his own ways ;" then discord and acrimony ensued, and the previously general friendly intercourse never returned. We after- wards grew another and enlarged people. Our girls in the day-time, as told me by T. B.,used to attend to the work of the family, and in the evening paraded in their porch at the door. Some of them, however, even then read novels and walked without business abroad. Those who had not housework employed themselves in their accomplishments, such as making shell work, comucopiaes, working of pocket books with a close strong-stitched needle work Our present young ladies have scarcely a conception of the pains- taking and patient industry of their grandmothers in their shell work and other accomplishments. To give only one instance of illustra- tion : the present Mrs. Susan Eckard, (daughter of Col. James Read,) has now m her possession such shell work done by her mother before the Revolutionary war. It purports to show a flower- garden wiih persons therein. It is contained in a glass framed work, as large as a small bureau. There is also,done by the same hand, an exhibition of flowers, formed wholly from small silk-cuttings, the whole comprised in a long glass case, to cover the whole length of the mantelpiece. With the same lady is a needle-worked sampler of the year 1752, done in silk and golden thread. She has also the fans in fine preservation, which were those of her grandmother and mother, at their several weddings; also the high heeled satin shoes. All these are preserved (with several other family relics, such as lockets, rings, coral balls, plate, (fee.,) as so many links of union, con- necting the" present with past family respect and regard. The ladies, eighty years ago, were much accustomed to ride on horseback for recreation. It was quite common to see genteel ladies riding with jockey caps. Boarding schools for girls were not known in Philadelphia until about the time of the Revolution, nor had they any separate schools for writing and cyphering, but were taught in common with boys. Vol I.— X 178 Habits and State of Society. The ornamental parts of female education were bestowed, hut geography and grammar were never regarded for them, until a certain Mr. Horton — thanks to his name ! — proposed to teach those sciences to young ladies. Similar institutions afterwards grew into favour. It was usual in the Gazettes of 1760 to '70 to announce marriages in words like these, to wit : " Miss Betsey Laurence, or Miss EUza Oaton, a most agreeable lady, with a large or a handsome fortune !" In still earlier times maniages had to be promulged by affixing the intentions of the parties on the Court House or Meeting House door; and when the act was solemnized they should have at least twelve subscribing witnesses. The act which imposed it was passed in 1700. The wedding entertainments of olden times were very expen- sive and harassing to the wedded. The house of the parent would be filled with company to dine ; the same company would stay to tea and to supper. For two days punch was dealt out in profusion. The gentlemen saw the groom on the first floor, and then ascended to the second floor, where they saw the bride ; there every gentle- man, even to one hundred in a day, kissed her ! Even the plain Friends submitted to these things. I have known rich families which had 120 persons to dine — the same who had signed their certificate of marriage at the Monthly Meeting ; these also partook of tea and supper. As they formally passed the Meeting twice, the same entertainment was repeated. Two days the male friends would call and take punch ; and eJI would kiss the hride. Besides this, the married pair for two weeks saw large tea parties at their home, having in attendeuice every night the groomsman and bridesmaids. To avoid expense and trouble, Friends have since made it sufiicient to pass but one Meeting. When these marriage entertainments were made, it was expected also that punch, cakes and meats should be sent out very generally in the neighbourhood even to those who were not visiters in the family ! It was much the vogue of the times of the year 1760, and there- abouts, to " crack the satiric thong" on the offenders of the day by caricatuies. R. J. Dove,of that day, a teacher in the Academy, and a satirist, was the author of several articles in that way. He was encountered in turn by one Isaac Hunt, who went afterwards to England and became a clergyman there. Two such engraved can catures and some poetry I have preserved in my MS. Annals in the City Library, pages 273-4 : One is " the attempt to wash the black- amoor white," meaning Judge Moor ; the other is a caricature of Friends, intended to asperse them as promoting Indian ravages in the time of their " association for preserving peace." I have also two other engraved articles and poetry called " The Medley" and " The Counter Medley," intended for electioneering squibs and slurring the leaders. The late Judge Peters, who had been Dove's pupil, described him as ' a sarcEistical and ill-tempered doggerelizer, who was bu' Habits and State of Society. 1 79 ironically Dove ; for his temper was that of a hawk, dud his pen the beEilc of a falcon pouncing on innocent prey." It may surprise some of the present generation to learn that some of those aged persons whom they may now meet, have teeth which were originally in the heads of others ! I have seen a printei. advertisement of the year 1784, wherein Doctor Le Mayeur, dentist, proposes to the citizens of Philadelphia to transplant teeth ; stating therein, that he has successfully transplanted 123 teeth in the pre- ceding six months! At the same time he offers (wo guineas for every tooth which may be offered to him by " persons disposed to sell their front teeth or any of them !" This was quite a novelty in Philadelphia ; the present care of the teeth was ill understood then.* He had, however, great success in Philadelphia, and went off with a great deal of our patricians' money. Several respectable ladies had them implanted. 1 remember some curious anecdotes of some cases. One of the Meschianza belles had such teeth. They were, in some cases, two months before they could eat with them. One lady told me she knew of sixteen cases of such persons among her acquaintance. Doctor Baker, who preceded Le Mayeur, was the first person ever known as a dentist in Philadelphia. Tooth-brushes were not even known, and the genteelest then were content to rub the teeth with a chalked rag or with snuff. Some even deemed it an effemi- nacy in men to be seen cleaning the teeth at all. Of articles and rules of diet, so far as it differed from ours in the earliest time, we may mention coffee aa a beverage, was used but rarely ; chocolate for morning and evening, or thickened milk for children. Cookeiy in general was plainer than now. In the country, morning and evening repasts were generally made of milk, having bread boiled therein, or else thickened with pop-robbins, — things made up of flour and eggs into a batter, and so dropped in with the boiling milk. We shall give the reader some little notice of a strange state of our society about the years 1793 to 1798, when the phrenzy of the French Revolution possessed and maddened the boys, without any check or restraint from men half as puerile then as themselves in the delusive politics of the day. About the year 1793 to '94, there was an extravagant and im politic affection for France, and hostihty to every thing British, in our countiy generally. It required all the prudence of Washington and his cabinet to stem the torrent of passion which flowed in favour of France to the prejudice of our neutrality. Now the event is passed we may thus soberly speak of its character. This remark is made for the sake of introducing the fact, that the patriotic mania was so high that it caught the feelings of the boys of Philadelphia ! • Indeed, dentists were few then even in Paris and London. 180 Habits and State of Society. I remember with what joy we ran to the wharves at the report ol cannon to see the arrivals of the Frenchmen's prizes, — we were so pleased to see the British union down ! When we met French mariners or officers in the streets, we would cry " Vive la Repub- lique." Although most of us understood no French, we had caught many national airs, and the streets, by day and night, re- sounded with the songs of boys, such as these : " Allons, enfans de la patrie, le joiir de gioire est arrive !"&c. — " Dansons le carmagnole, vive le sang ! vive le sang !" &c. — " A g'ira, §'ira," (fee. Several verses of each of these and others were thus sung. All of us, too, put on the national cockade. Some, whose parents had more dis- cretion, resisted this boyis'h parade of patriotism for a doubtful revo- lution, and then they wore their cockade on the inside of their hat. I remember several boyish processions; and on one occasion the girls, dressed in white and in French tri-coloured ribbons, formed a procession too. There was a great Liberty Pole, with a red cap at top, erected at Adet's or Fauchet's house ; (now Girard's Square, up High Street) and there I and one hundred others, taking hold of hands and forming a ring round the same, made triumphant leapings singing the national airs. There was a band of music to lead the airs. I remember that among the grave and elderly men, who gave the impulse and prompted the revellings, was a burly, gouty old gentleman, Blair M'Clenahan, Esq., (famed in the democratic ranks of that day) and with him, and the white misses at our head, we marched down the middle of the dusty street, and when arrived opposite to Mr. Hammond's, the British minister's house, (High, above Eighth Street, Hunter's house, I believe,) there were several signs of disrespect manifested to his house. All the facts of thai day, as I now contemplate them as among the earliest impressions of my youth, seem something like the remembrance of a splendid dream. I hope never to see such an enthusiasm for any foreigners again, however merited. It was a time, when, as it seems to me, that Philadelphia boys usurped the attributes of manhood ; and the men, who should have chastened us, had themselves become very puerile ! It was a period in Philadelphia, when reason and sobriety of thought had lost their wonted operation on our citizens. They were fine feelings to ensure the success of a war actually begun, but bad affections for any nation, whose interests lay in peace and neutrality. Washington bravely submitted to become unpopular to allay and repress this dangerous foreign attachment. I confirm the above by further notices by Lang Syne, to wit: " About the time when, in Paris, the head of Louis, " our august ally," had rolled into the basket; when it had been pronounced be- fore the Convention, " Lyons is no more;" when the Abbe Sieyes had placed in his pigeon holes (until called for) Constitutions for every State in Europe; when our Mr. Monroe had exhibited to Europe " a strange spectacle;" when the three grinning wolves of Habits a7id State of Society. 181 Paris had begun to lap French blood ; while Lieutenant Bonaparte, of the artillery, was warming his scabbard in the ante-chamber of Barras; when the straw-blaze of civil liberty, enkindled in France by a " spark from the altar of '76," (which only sufficiently illumi- nated the suiTounding gloom of despotism, as to render the " dark- ness 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 negroes in Poit 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 subjects of civil rights and forms of government, by the square and rule of reason and argument, and the " rules of the sciiools," began to be broken in upon by the new enthusiasm of O'ira and Carmagnole. French boarding-houses (pension Frangaise,) multiphed in every street. The one at the southeast corner of Race and Second Streets, having some 40 windows, was filled with colonial French to the garret windows, whisding and jumping about, fiddling and singing, as fancy seemed to suggest, like so many crickets and grass- hoppers. 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, jabber- ing away, " talkers and no hearers." Mestizo ladies, with com- plexions 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 pavement by white French gentlemen, both dressed in West India fashion, and of the richest materials ; coal black negresses, in flowing white dresses, and turbans of " muchoii de Madras," exhibiting their ivory dominos, in social walk with a white or Creole ; — altogether, forming a contrast to the native Ameri- cans, 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 shoestring, and " Brutus Crop." The " Courier des Dames," of both, daily ogling and "sighing like a furnace," bowing a la distance — dangling in doorways 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 de- lightful 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 16 182 Habits and State of Society. sung by the citizens every where, to which they added the American song of "Hail Liberty Supreme Deh'ght." Instrumental music abounded in the city every where, by day as well as by night, from French gentlemen, (may be) amateurs, of the hautboy, violin and clarionet, exquisitely played — and seemingly intended to catch the attention of neighbouring fair ones, at opposite windows." The gentleman who wrote the articles " Lang Syne," which ap- peared occasionally, in Poulson's Advertiser in ] 828— 9, several of which are used in this work, WEis the late William McKoy, first teller of the Bank of North America. Though scarcely known to the public as a writer^ he bad peculiar qualifications for setting down the impress of his mind. Being a thinking and reading man, he had resources in himself for enriching and enlarging every topic he touched. His mind was full of poetic associations and metaphorical imagery. Besides the articles of " Lang Syne," to some of which I had stimulated his pen, — he had written two books of " Characteristics" of his contemporaries who were remarkable for character. His re- marks possessed much harmless humour — a humour which was peculiar to himself. That' they were not published, in his lifetime, must have been wholly imputable to his cautious, and insiinctive aversion to inflicting any possible pain on others; of them, he said, in a letter now before me, " the humour being only local., is only to be relished within our walls; — besides this, the things, though truly told, and to be recognised as such by all observers, yet as Hamlet says, " it might be slander to have it thus set down." — There may be hazard, to throw towards a hornet's nest." I once used to know every face belonging to Philadelphia, and of course, was able to discern all strangers ; but now I don't know Philadelphians as such, in any mixed assembly — all seem to me another, and an unknown generation. I am now amused and in- terested in seeing the changes on all former known faces and persons, as they now have grown older — the former middle-aged are now aged, and all the former young, now give different aspects from what they formerly did ; persons that were thin, become fat or gross, while some that were gross, now become spare and flaccid. I might extend my remarks also to the changes in houses and public edifices : — and here, I may say that I individually feel obliged and entertained, as I pass along sundry streets, with the efforts made ai their expense^ to interest and entertain my eye, with their new inven tions all to please and engross my regard. I can feel something likt, a patriarch among his children, in witnessing their change to what is indicative of their advancement and prosperity. In this way, I have the pleasure to feel, that I have an interest in all I behold, and the :ity in its rising beauty and grandeur, becomes a portion of my own demesne. Do not others, who like myself arepa^se, feel this? Finally, as a specimen of the luxurious state of society as now seen in contrast with the simple manners of the past," we had HEAD-DRESS FASHIONS FOB 1800.— Page 183, Ajiparel. I S3 gathered a few articles of considerable length, intended to show modern life in its fashionable features; bat (hey are necessarily ex- cluded by our wish to restrict the volume to moderate bounds. They were such tales in picturesque character as we wished to see some day deduced from the materials gathered in this work, to wit: " Winter Parties," — " Going into the Country," and " Leghorn Bonnets." Vide pages 487, 489 and 512, in my MS. Annals in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. APPAREL. " We run through every change, which fancy At the loom has genius to supply." There is a very marked and wide difference between our moderns and the ancients in their several views of appropriate dress. The latter, in our judgment of them, were always stiff and formal, unchanging in their cut and fit in the gentry, or negligent and rough in texture in the commonalty ; whereas, the moderns, casting off all former modes and forms, and inventing every new device which fancy can supply, just please the wearers " while the fashion is at full." It will much help our just conceptions of our forefathers, and their good dames, to know what were their personal appearances. To this end, some facts illustrative of their attire will be given. Such as it was among the gentiy, was a constrained and pains- taking service, presenting nothing of ease and gracefulness in the use. While we may wonder at its adoption and long continuance, we will hope never again to see it return ! But who can hope to check or restrain fashion if it should chance — again to set that way; or, who can foresee that the next generation may not be even more stiff and formal than any which has passed, since we see, even now, our late graceful and easy habits of both sexes already partially sup- planted by " monstrous novelty and strange disguise !" — men and women stiffly corsetted — another name for stays of yore, long un- natural-looking waists, shoulders stuffed and deformed as Richard's, and artificial hips — protruding garments of as ample folds as claimed the ton when senseless hoops prevailed ! Our forefathers were excusable for their former cut, since, know- ing no changes in the mode, every child was like its sire, resting in°" the still of despotism," to which every mind by education and habit was settled ; but no such apology exists for us, who have wit- lessed better things. We have been freed from their servitude ; 1 84 Apparel. and now to attempt to go back to their strange bondage, deserves the severest lash of satire, and should be resisted by every satirist and humourist who writes for public reform. In all these things, however, we must be subject to female control ; for, reason as we will, and scout at monstrous novelties as we may, female attractions will eventually win and seduce our sex to their attachment, "as the loveliest of creation," in whatever form they may choose to array. As " it is not good for man to be alone," they will be sure to follow through every giddy maze which fashion runs. We know, indeed, that ladies themselves are in bondage to their milliners, and often submit to their new imported modes with lively sense of dissatisfaction, even while they commit themselves to the general current, and float along with the multitude. Our forefathers were occasionally fine practical satirists on offensive innovations in dress — they lost no time in paraphrastic verbiage which might or might not effect its aim, but with most effective appeal to the populace, they quickly carried their point, by making it the scoff and derision of the town ! On one occasion, when the ladies were going astray after a passion for long red cloaks, to which their lords had no affections, they succeeded to ruin their reputa- tion, by concerting with the executioners to have a female felon hung in a cloak of the best ton ! On another occasion, in the time of the Revolution, when the " tower" head-gear of the ladies was ascending. Babel-like, to the skies, the growing enormity was effectually repressed, by the parade through the streets of a tall, male figure, in ladies' attire, decorated with the odious tower-gear, and preceded by a drum ! At an earlier period, one of the intended dresses, called a trollopee, (probably from the word trollop) became a subject of offence. The satirists, who guarded and framed the sumptuary code of the town, procured the wife of Daniel Pettitteau the hangman, to be arrayed in full dress trollopee, &.C., and to parade the town, with rude music ! Nothing could stand the derision of the populace ! Delicacy and modesty shrunk from the gaze and sneers of the multitude ! And the trollopee, like the others, was abandoned ! Mr. B , a gentleman of 90 years of age, has given me his recollections of the costumes of his early days in Philadelphia, to this effect, t(> wit : Men wore three-square or cocked hats, and wigs, coats with large cuffs, big skirts, lined and stiffened with buckram. None ever saw a crown higher than the head. The coat of a beau had three or four large plaits in the skirts, wadding almost like a coverlet to keep them smooth, cuffs, very large, up to the elbows, open below and inclined down, with lead therein ; the capes were thin and low, so as readily to expose the close plaited neck-stock of fine linen cambric, and the large silver stock-buckle on the back of the neck, shirts with hand ruffles, sleeves finely plaited, breeches close fitted, with silver, stone or paste gem buckles, shoes or pum])8 with silver buckles of various sizes and patterns, thread, worsted and Apparel. 185 Bilk stockings ; the pooret class wore sheep and buckskin breeches close set to the limbs. Gold and silver sleeve buttons, set with stones or paste, of various colours and kinds, adorned the wrists of the shirts of all classes. The veiy boys often wore wigs, and their dresses in general were similar to that of the men. The odious use of wigs was never disturbed till after the return of Braddock's broken army. They appeared in Philadelphia, wealing only their natural hair — a mode well adapted to the mili- tary, and thence adopted by our citizens. The king of England too, about this time, having cast off his wig malgre the will of the people, and the petitions and remonstrances of the periwig makers of Londan, this confirmed the change of fashion here, and com- pleted the ruin of our wig maimers.* The women wore caps, (a bare head was never seen !) stiff stays, hoops from six inches to two feet on each side, so that a full dressed lady entered a door like a crab, pointing her obtruding flanks end foremost, high heeled shoes of black stuff with white silk or thread stockings; and in the miry times of winter they wore clogs, galo- shes, or pattens. The days of stiff coats, sometimes wire-framed, and of large hoops, was also stiff and formal in manners at set balls and assem- blages. The dances of that day among the politer class were minuets, and sometimes country dances ; among the lower order hipsesaw was every thing. As soon as the wigs were abandoned and the natural hair was cherished, it became the mode to dress it by plaiting it, by queuing and clubbing, or by wearing it in a black silk sack or bag, adorned with a large black rose. In time the powder, with which wigs and the natural hair had been severally adorned, was run into disrespute only about thirty-eight to forty years ago, by the then strange innovation of " Brutus heads ;" not only then discarding the long cherished powder and perfume and tortured frizzle- work, but also literally becoming " Round heads," by cropping off all the pendant graces of ties, bobs, clubs, queues, &c. ! The hardy beaux who first encountered public opinion by appearing abroad unpowdered and cropt, had many starers. The old men for a time obstinately persisted in adherence to the old regime, but death thinned their ranks, and use and prevalence of numbers at length gave countenance to modern usage. Another aged gentleman, Colonel M. states, of the recollections of his youth, that young men of the highest fashion wore swords — so frequent it was as to excite no surprise when seen. Men as old as forty so arrayed themselves. They wore also gold laced cocked hats, and similar lace on their scarlet vests. Their coat-skirts were stiffened with wire or buckram and lapped each other at the lower end in • The use of wigs must have been peculiarly an English fashion here, as I find Ksim U 1749, speaks of the French gentlemen then as wearing their own hair, in Canaila. Vol. I.— Y 16* 186 Apparel. walking. In that day no man wore drawers, but their bieeches (sc called unreservedly then) were lined in winter, and were tightly fitled. Very few then could get coals to set in at the back. From various reminiscents we glean, that laced ruffles, depending over the hand, was a mark of indispensable gentility. The coat and breeches were generally desirable of the same material — of " broad cloth" for winter, and of silk camlet for summer. No kind r.r cotton fabrics were then in use or known ; hose were, therefore, of thread or silk in summer, and of fine worsted in winter ; sho^s were square-toed and were often " double channelled." To these succeeded sharp toes as peaked as possible. When wigs were uni- versally worn, gray wigs were powdered, and for that purpose sent in a wooden box frequently to the barber to be dressed on his block head. But " brown wigs," so called, were exempted from the white disguise. Coats of red cloth, even by boys, were considerably worn, and plush breeches and plush vests of various colours, shining and slipping, were in common use. Everlasting, made of worsted, was a fabric of great use for breeches and sometimes for vests. The vest had great depending pocket-flaps, and the breeches were very short above the stride, because the art of suspending them by sus- penders was unknown. It was then the test of a well formed man, that he could by his natural form readily keep his breeches above his hips, and his stockings, without gartering, above the calf of the leg. With the queues belonged frizzled sidelocks, and toupes formed of the natural hair, or, in defect of a long tie, a splice was added to it. Such was the general passion for the longest possible whip of hair, that sailors and boatmen, to make it grow, used to tie theirs in eel skins to aid its growth. Nothing like surtouts were Known ; but they had coating or cloth great coats, or blue cloth and brown camlet cloaks, with green baize lining to the latter. In the time of the American war, many of the American officers in- troduced the use of Dutch blankets for great coats. The sailors in the olden time used to wear hats of glazed leather or of wooller thrumbs, called chapeaux, closely woven, and looking like a rough knap ; and their " small clothes," as we would say now, were im- mense wide petticoat-breeches, wide open at the knees, and no longer. About eighty years ago our workingmen in the country wore the same, having no falling flaps but slits in front ; they were so full and free in girth, that they ordinarily changed the rear to the front when the seat became prematurely worn out. In sailors and common people, big silver brooches in the bosom were displayed, and long quartered shoes with extreme big buckles on the extreme front. Gentlemen in the olden time used to carry mufftees in winter It was in effect a little woollen muff of various colours, just big enough to admit both hands, and long enough to screen the wrists which were then more exposed than now ; for they then wore short sleeves to their coats purposely to display their fine linen and plaited phirt sleeves with their gold buttons and sometimes laced ruffles. The Apparel. 187 sleeve-cuffs were very vsride, and hung down depressed with leads in them. In the summer season, men very often wore cahco morning- gowns at all times of the day and abroad in the streets. A damask banyan was much the same thing by another name. Poor labour- ing men wore ticklenberg linen for shirts, and striped ticken breeches; they wore gray duroy-coats in winter; men and boys always wore leather breeches. Leather aprons were used by all tradesmen and workmen. Some of the peculiarities of the female dress was to the following effect, to wit: Ancient ladies are still alive who have told me diat they often had their hair tortured for four hours at a sitting in getting the proper crisped curls of a hair curler. Some who designed to be inimitably captivating, not knowing they could be sure of profes- sional services where so many hours were occupied upon one gay head, have actually had the operation performed the day before it was required, then have slept all night in a sitting posture to prevent the derangement of their frizzle and curls ! This is a real fact, and we could, if questioned, name cases. They were, of course, rare occurrences, proceeding from some extra occasions, when there were several to serve, and but few such refined hair dressers in the place. This formidable head work was succeeded by rollers over which the hair was combed back from the forehead. These eigain were super- seded by cushions and artificial curled work, which could be sent out to the barber's block, like a wig, to be dressed, leaving the lady at home to pursue other objects — thus producing a grand reforma- tion in the economy of time, and an exemption too from former durance vile. The dress of the day was not captivating to all, as the following lines may show, viz. : Give Chloe a bushel of horse hair and wool, Of paste and pomatum a pound. Ten yards of gay ribbon lo deck her sweet skull. And gauze to encompass it round. Let her flags fly behind for a yard at the least, Let her curls meet just under her chin. Let these curls be supported, to keep up the jest. With an hundred — instead of one pin. Let her gown be tuck'd up to the hip on each side. Shoes too high for to walk or to jump. And to deck the sweet creature complete for a bride Let the cork -cutter make her a rump. Thus finish'd in taste, while on Chloe you gaze. You may take the dear charmer for life. But never undress her — for, out of her stays You'll find you have lost half your wife ! When the ladies first began to lay off their cumbrous hoops, thej supplied their place with successive succedaneums, such as these, to 188 Apparel. wit : First came bisjops— a thing stuffed or padded with horse hair ; then succeeded a smallei aflfaJT under the name of cue de Paris, also padded with horse hair! How it abates our admiration to con- template the lovely sex as bearing a roll of horse hair or a cut of cork under their garments ! Next they supplied their place with silk or calimanco, or russell thickly quilted and inlaid with wool, made into petticoats; then these were supplanted by a substitute of half a dozen of petticoats. No wonder such ladies needed fans in a sultrj- summer, and at a time when parasols were unknown, to keep off the solar rays! I knew a lady going to a gala parly who had so large a hoop that when she sat in the chaise she so filled it up, that the person who drove it (it had no top) stood up behind the box and directed the reins ! Some of those ancient belles, who thus sweltered under the weight of six petticoats, have lived to see their posterity, not long since, go so thin and transparent, a la Francaise, especially when between the beholder and a declining sun, as to make a modest eye sometimes instinctively avert its gaze ! Among some other articles of female wear we may name the following, to wit: Once they wore "a skimmer hat," made of a fabric which shone like silver tinsel ; it was of a very small flat crown and big brim, not unlike the late Leghorn flats. Another hat, not unlike it in shape, was made of woven horse hair, wove in flowers, and called " horse hair bonnets," — an article which might be again usefully introduced for children's wear as an enduring hat for long service. I have seen what was called a bath bonnet, made of black satin, and so constructed to l&y in folds that it could be set upon like a chapeau bras, — a good article now for travelling ladies ! " The musk melon" bonnet, used before the Revolution, had numerous whalebone stiffeners in the crown, set at an inch apart in parallel lines and presenting ridges to the eye, between the bones. The next bonnet was the " whalebone bonnet," having only the bones in the front ss stifieners. " A calash bonnet" was always formed of green silk; it weis worn abroad, covering the head, but when in rooms it could fall back in folds like the springs of a calash or gig top; to keep it up over the head it was drawn up by a cord always held in the hand of the wearer. The " wagon bonnet," always of black silk, was an article exclusively in use among the Friends, was deemed to look, on the head, not unhke the top of the Jersey wagons, and having a pendent piece of like silk hanging from the bonnet and covering the shoulders. The only straw wear was that called the " straw beehive bonnet," worn generally by old people. The ladies once wore " hollow breasted stays," which were ex- ploded as injurious to the health. Then came the use of straight stays. Even little girls wore such stays. At one time (he gowns wom had no fronts; the design was to display a finely quilted Marseilles, silk or satin petticoat, and a bare stomacher on the waist. En other dresses a white apron was the mode ; all were large peckets Apparel. 189 ander their gowns. Among the caps was the " queen's nightcap," — the same always worn by Lady Washington. The " cushion nead dress" was of gauze stiffened out in cylindrical forai with white spiral wire. The border of the cap was called the balcony. A lady of my acquaintance thus describes the recollections of her early days preceding the war of Independence. — Dress was discrimi- native and appropriate, both as regarded the season and the character of the wearer. Ladies never wore the same dresses at work and on visits ; they sat at home, or went out in the morning, in chints ; brocades, satins, and raantuas, were reserved for evening or dinner parties. Robes, or negligees, as they were called, were always worn in full dress. Muslins were not worn at all. Little misses at a dancing school ball (for these were almost the only fetes that fell to their share in the days of discrimination) were dressed in frocks of lawn or cambric. Worsted was then thought dress enough for common days. As a universal fact, it may be remarked that no other colour than black was ever made for ladies' bonnets when formed of silk or satin. Fancy colours were unknown, and white bonnets of silk fabric had never been seen. The first innovation remembered, was the bring- ing in of blue bonnets. The time was, when the plainest women among the Friends (now so averse to fancy colours) wore their coloured silk aprons, say, of green, blue, &c. This was at a time when the gay wore white aprons. In time, white aprons were disused by the gentry, and then the Friends left off their coloured ones and used the white ! The same old ladies, among Friends whom we can remember as wearers of the white aprons, wore also large white beaver hats, with scarcely the sign of a crown, and which was, indeed, confined to the head by silk cords tied under the chin. Eight dollars would buy such a hat, when beaver fur was more plentiful. They lasted such ladies almost a whole life of wear. They showed no fur. Very decent women went abroad and to churches with check aprons. I have seen those, who kept their coach in my time to bear them to church, who told me they went on foot with a check apron to the Arch Street Presbyterian meeting in their youth. Then all hired women wore shortgowns and petticoats of domestic fabric, and could be instanUy known as such whenever seen abroad. In the former days it was not imcommon to see aged persons with large silver buttons to their coats and vests — it was a mark of wealth. Some had the initials of their names engraved on each button. Sometimes they were made out of real quarter dollars, with the coinage impression still retained, — these were used for the coats, and the eleven-penny-bits for vests and breeches. My father wore an entire suit decorated with conch shell buttons, silver mounted. An aged gentleman, O. J., Esq., told me of seemg one of the most 1 90 Apparel. respectable gentlemen going to the ball room in Lodge Alley, in an sntire suit of drab cloth richly laced with silver. On the subject of wigs, I have noticed the following special facts, \o wit: They were as generally worn by genteel Friends as bj any other people. This was the more surprising as they religiously professed to exclude all superfluities, and yet nothing could have been offered to the mind as so essentially useless.* In the year 1685, William Penn writes to his steward, James Harrison, requesting him to allow the Governor, Lloyd, his deputy the use of his wigs in his absence. In the year 1719, Jonathan Dickinson, a Friend, in writing to London for his clothes, says, " I W8int for myself and my three sons, each a wig — light good bobs." In 1730, I see a public advertisement to this effect in the Gazette, to wit : " A good price will be given for good clean white horse hair, by William Crossthwaite, perukemaker." Thus showing of what materials our forefathers got their white wigs ! In 1737, the perukes of the day as then sold, were thus described, to wit: " Tyes, bobs, majors, spencers, foxtails and twists, together vith curls or tates (tetes) for the ladies." In the year 1765, another perukemaker advertises prepared hair ."or judges' full bottomed wigs, tyes for gentlemen of the bar to wear over their hair, brigadiers' dress bobs, bags, cues, scratches, cut ivigs, - - - . 7 75 (.year $11 k 123 1811 11 00 1812 (War) 10 50 1813 do. U 00 1814 do. 9 25 1815 do. 8 00 1816 9 00 1817 13 50 1818 ■ 10 00 1819 9 00 1820 - - 6 00 1821 4 00 1822 6 25 1823 7 00 1824 6 00 1825 - - 4 87 1826 - - 4 75 1827 5 75 1828 5 00 1829 8 50 1830 4 62 1831 6 12 1832 5 50 1833 5 75 1834 5 25 1835 4 87 1836 6 50 1837 II 00 February. March, 13 50 15 00 10 00 10 00 8 50 8 50 9 50 9 25 11 25 11 50 7 00 7 00 6 50 6 50 7 50 7 00 12 25 13 00 7 50 7 00 7 50 7 50 5 75 5 50 7 00 7 00 8 00 8 25 10 50 10 50 10 12i 9 75 10 00 9 50 8 25 8 00 8 00 7 75 9 00 8 00 13 75 14 25 10 75 10 50 8 75 8 25 5 50 5 00 4 00 3 75 6 25 6 25 6 75 7 00 6 00 6 12 5 12 5 12 4 62 4 50 6 00 5 75 4 87 4 75 8 25 8 00 4 50 4 50 6 25 7 00 5 50 5 50 5 00 5 50 5 00 5 87 5 00 5 00 6 62 6 75 11 00 11 00 Changes in Prices of Diet, i^'c. 263 At and after the period of the Revoluiion, when wheat was 5s. n bushel, the price of labom- in the harvest time was 2s. 6d., and for boys, Is. 3d. a day. I have seen wealthy men, in Chester county who had, m their boyhood, worked many days at reaping for is. 3d a day, and afterwards, in manhood, at 2s. 6d. The sons of such men won't now labour at all! There were no two prices in stores and markets in Philadelphia, until after the introduction of the French from St. Domingo ;— they would insist, in all cases, upon abatement, and they and the public generally, in time, found themselves accommodated accordingly ! Changes in Prices of Land. — In such a growing city it was to be expected that the occasional changes in the value of lots and pro- perty would be very great. To begin with Gabriel Thomas' account of 1698, he says, within th^e compass of twelve years that which might have been bought for 15 or 18 shillings, is now sold for J'80 in ready silver, and some other lots, that might have been purchased for ^3, within the space of two years were sold for =^100 a piece, and likewise some land that lies near the city, that sixteen years ago might have been pur- chased for 6 or J'S the hundred acres, cannot now be bought under 150 or ^"200. The ancient Mrs. Shoemaker, told me that her grandfather, James liOwnes, was ofTered for £20, the whole square from High street to Arch street, and from Front to Second street, by William Penn himself. He declined it, saying, how long shall I wait to see my money returned in profit. The aged Owen Jones, Esq., informed me that he had heard at several times that William Penn offered his hired man, a coachman, &c., the whole of the square of ground included between Chestnut and Walnut, and Front and Second streets, in lieu of one year's wages — probably of £\5. Mr. Abel James, the father of the late Doctor James, used to tell him that one Moon, of Bucks county, a Friend, was the person above alluded to, and that he used to visit Mr. James' family, and told him he had chosen a moderate tract of land in Bucks county in preference to the above mentioned square.* The same Mr. Owen Jones said the greatest rise of city plots he had ever known, were the sales of proprietaries' city lots after the sales of their estate. They rising, in hundreds of instances, he said, to have ground rents at more than double the price of the first purchase. He related to me what he heard from the grandson of the first or second Samuel Powell, that he bought the two whole squares in- * I might mention, that I used to hear a tradition that Perm's coachman had been oifered the square on which Lsetitia court is located ; as that was hut half a square it is the most probuliie story. And possibly the offer to Lownes was the same square also, and mistold in a lapse of years. The other squares were soon out of Penn's disposal, as oelonging to purchasers and drawn by lot. 264 Changes in Prices of Diet, ^c. eluded between Spruce and Pine streets, and Fifth and Seventh streets, foe jSoQ each — a rise of more than one thousand for one ! Even when he gave those prices he bought reluctantly and at two or three several times — for he afterwards, 1 believe, added, at the same terms, the square from Fourth to Third street. This was originally the properly of the " Free Society of Traders," and is certainly one evidence how ill they managed their interests for their eventual good, Powell, on the contrary, by holding on, realized a great for time for his posterity from such slender occasion. The aged Colonel Morris informed me that he heard old Tratnal say, that Governor Palmer offered him a great extent of Kensington lots, fronting on the river street, at six pence per foot ground rent forever. Anthony Duche, a respectable Protestant refugee from France, ancestor of the well known Parson Duche, came with his wife over to Pennsylvania in the same ship with William Penn, who had bor- rowed a small sum of about ^30 from him. After the arrival Penn offered him, in lieu of the return of the money, " a good bargain," as he said — a square between Third and Fourth streets, with only the exception of the burial ground occupied by Friends on Mulberry and Fourth streets,* the proprietor observing (hat he knew the lot was cheap, but that he had a mind to favour him, in return for his kindness. Mr. Duche replied, " You are very good, Mr. Penn, and the offer might prove advantageous, but the money would suit me better." " Blockhead !" (rejoined the proprietor, provoked at his overlooking the intended benefit,) " Well, well, thou shall have thy money, but canst thou not see that this will be a very great city in a veiy short time?" "So I was paid," said Duche, who told this story, " and have ever since repented my own folly !" The above anecdote was told by Charles Thomson, Esq., to Mrs. D. Logan, and to her brother, J. P. Norris, at different times, saying he had received it from the son of Duch^. During the whole time of the carrying trade in the Revolutionary war of France, our city and landed property near it constantly rose in value — as men got rich in trade and desired to invest funds in buildings, ifcc. In this state of things, John Kearney con- tracted with Mr. Lyle lo buy the estate called Hamilton's wharf and stores, near the Drawbridge, for $50,000. He gave $20,000 in part payment, built |ll, 000 additional buildings thereon, and after aL chose to forfeit the whole rather than pay the remaining $20,000 ! This was, indeed, an extraordinary case; but it shows the great re- duction of value after the peace. The same James Lyle, as agent, sold the Bush hill estate of two hundred acres to General Cadwallader and associates, for the laying Dut of a town. They were to give a perpetual ground rent of nearly iflOO daily — say .f 3 6 000 per annum, and after actually pay- ing in $200,000 they surrendered back the whole! * It was first offered to Thomas Lloyd, whose wife was the first person interred then. Supersiitions and Popular Credulity. 265 SUPERSTITIONS AND POPULAR CREDULITY. " Well attested, and as well believ'd, Heard solemn, goes the goblin story round, Till superstitious horror creeps o'er all !" OoR forefathers (the ruder part) brought with them much of the superstition of their " father land," and here it found much to cherish and sustain it, in the credulity of the Dutch and Swedes, nor less from the Indians, who always abounded in marvellous relations, much incited by their conjurers and pow-wows. Facts which have come down to our more enlightened times, can now no longer tenify ; but may often amuse, as Cowper says, " There's something in that ancient superstition, Which, erring as it is, our fancy loves !" From the provincial executive minutes, preserved at Harrisburg, we learn the curious fact of an actual trial for witchcraft. On the 27th of 12 mo., 1683, Margaret Mattson and Yeshro Hendrickson, (Swedish women) who had been accused as witches on the 7th inst. were cited to their trial ; on which occasion there were present, as their judges. Governor William Penn and his council, James Harrison. William Biles, Lasse Cock, William Haigne, C. Taylor, William Clayton and Thomas Holmes. The Governor having given the Grand Jury their charge, they found the bill ! The testimony of the witnesses before the Petit Jury is recorded. Such of the Jury as were absent were fined forty shillings each. Margaret Mattson being arraigned, " she pleads not guilty, and will be tried by the country." Sundry witnesses were sworn, and many va^ue stories told — as that she bewitched calves, geese, &c., &c. — that oxen were rather above her malignant powers, but which reached all other cattle. The daughter of Margaret Mattson was said to have expressed hei convictions of her mother being a witch. And the reported say-so's of the daughter were given in evidence. The dame Mattson " denieth Charles Ashcom's attestation at her soul, and saith where is my daughter ? let her come and say so," — " the prisoner denieth all things, and saith that the witness speaks only by hear say." Go- vernor Penn finally charged the Jury, who brought in a verdict sufficiently ambiguous and ineflfective for such a dubious offence, saying they find her " guilty of having the common fame of a witch, but not guilty in the manner and form as she stands indicted.'' They, however, take care to defend the good people from their future malfaisance by exacting from each of them security for good be- VoL. L— 2 i 23 266 Superstitions and Popular Credulity. liaviovir for six monlhs. A decision infinitely more wise than bang- ing or drowning ! Tliey had eacli of them husbands, and Lasse Cock served as interpreter for Mrs. Mattson. The whole of this trial may be seen in detail in my MS. Annals, page 506, in the Historical Society. By this judicious verdict we as Pennsylvanians have probably escaped the odium of Salem. It is not, however, to be concealed that we. had a law standing against witches; and it may possibly exone- rate us in part, and give some plea for (he trial itself, to say it was from a precedent by statute of King James I. That act was held to be part of our law by an act of our provincial Assembly, entitled " an fict against conjuration, witchcraft and dealing with evil and wicked spirits." It says therein, that the act of King James I. " shall be put in execution in this province, and be of like force and effect as if the same were here repeated and enacted!" So solemnly and gravely sanctioned as was that act of the king, what could we as colonists do! Our act as above was confirmed in all its parts, by the dignified council of George II., in the next year after its passage here, m the presence of eighteen peers, including the great duke of Marlborough himself!* The superstition, such as it was, may have been deemed the com- mon sin of the day. The enlightened Judge Hale himself fell into its belief. Our sister city. New "York, had also her troubles with her witches. Soon after the English began to rule there, in 1664, a man and wife were arraigned as such, and a verdict found by the Juiy against one of them ; and in 1672, the people of West Chester complained to the British governor, of a witch among them. A similar complaint, made next year to the Dutch governor, Colve was dismissed as groundless. The Virginians too, lax as we may have deemed them then in religious sentiments, had also their trial of Grace Sherwood, in Princess Ann county — as the records still there may show. The populace also seconded the court, by sub- jecting her to the trial of water, and the place at Walks' farm, near the ferry, is still called " witch duck!" The Bible, it must be con- ceded, always counienanced these credences ; but now, " a genera- tion more refined" think it their boast to say " we have no hoofs nor horns in our religion I" An old record of the province, of 1695, states the case of Robert Reman, presented at Chester for practising geomanty, and divining by a stick. The Grand Jury also presented the following books as vicious, to wit: — Hidson's Temple of Wisdom, which teaches geo- manty. Stott's Discovery of Witchcraft, and Cornelius Agrippa's Teaching Negromancy — another name probably for necromancy. • Nor was the dread of witchcraft an English failing only. We may find enough of it in France also ; for six hundred persons were executed there for that alleged crime in 1509! In 1634, Grandiere, a priest of Loudun, was burnt for bewitching a whole convent of nuns! In 1654, twenty women were executed in I)rpta!);ne for theii witcheries • Superstitions and Popular Credulity. 267 The latter latinized name forcibly reminds one of those curious similar boolvs of great value, (even of fifty thousand pieces of suver,) destroyed before Paul at F^phesus — "multi autum curiosa agentium, ojnferentes libros combusserunt eorara omnibus." Superstition has been called the " seminal principle of religion," because it undoubtedly has its origin in the dread of a spiritual world of which God is the supreme. The more vague and unde- firied our thoughts about these metaphysical mysteries, the mure our minds are disposed to the legends of the nursery. As the man who walks in the dark, not seeing nor knowing his way, must feel increase of fear at possible dangers he cannot define, so he who goes abroad in the broad light of day proceeds fearlessly, because he see? and knows as harmless all the objects which surround him. Where- fore we infer, that if we have less terror of imagination now, it is ascribable to our superior light and general diffusion of intelligence, thereby setting the mind at rest in many of these things. In the mean time there is a class who will cherish their own distresses. They intend religious dread, but from misconceptions of its real beneficence and " good will to men," they, — " Draw a wrong copy of the Christian face Without the smile, the sveetness, or the grace." We suppose some such views possessed the mind of the discrimi- nating Burke, when he incidentally gave in his suffrage in their favour, saying, " Superstition is the religion of feeble minds, and they must be tolerated in an intermixture of it in some shape or other, else you deprive weak minds of a resource, found necessary to the strongest." Dean Swift has called it " the spleen of the soul." Doctor Christopher Witt, born in England in 1675, came to this country in 1704, and died at Germantown in 1765, at the age of 90. He was a skilful physician, and a learned religious man. He was reputed a magus or diviner, or in grosser terms, a conjurer. He was a student and a believer in all the learned absurdities and marvellous pretensions of the Rosicrucian philosophy. The Germans of that day, and many of the English, practised the casting of nativities. As this required mathematical and astronomical learning, it often followed that such a competent scholar was called a "fortuneteller." Doctor Witt cast nativities for reward, and was called a conjurer, while his friend Christopher Lehman, who could do the same, and actually cast the nativities of his own children, (which I have seen,) was called a scholar and a gentleman. Germantown was certainly very fiuitful in credulity, and gave support to some three regular professors in the mysterious arts of hocus pocus and divination. Besides the Doctor before named, there was his disciple and once his inmate, Mr. Fraily — sometimes dubbed doctor also, though not possessed of learning. He was, however, pretty skilful in several diseases. When the cows and horses, and "ven persons, got strange diseases, such as baffled ordinary medi 268 Superstitions and Popular Credulity. cities, it was often a dernier resort to consult either of these persons for rehef, and their prescriptions, without seeing tiie patients, were often given under the idea of witchcraft somehow, and the cure was effected ! " Old Shrunk," as he was called, lived to the age of 80, and was also a great conjurer. Numerous persons from Philadelphia and ilsevhere, some even from Jersey, went often to him to find out stolen goods and to get their fortunes told. They used to consult him, to learn where to go and dig for money. Several persons, whose names I suppress, used to go and dig for hidden treasures of nights. On such occasions, if any one "spoke" while digging, or ran from terror without " the magic ring," previously made with incantation round the place, the whole influence of the spell was lost. An idea was once very prevalent, especially near to the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, that the pirates of Blackbeard's day had de- posited treasure in the earth. The conceit was, that sometimes they killed a prisoner, and interred him with it, to make his ghost keep his vigils there as a guard " walking his weary round." Hence it was not rare to hear of persons having seen a shpook or ghost, or of having dreamed of it a plurality of times; thus creating a sufficient incentive to dig on the spot. "Dream after dreamf ensues r And still they dream that they shall succeed, And still are disappointed !" To procure the aid of a professor in the black art was called hexing; and Shrunk in particular had great fame therein. He affected to use a diviner's rod, (a hazel switch) with a peculiar angle in it, which was to be self-turned while held in the two hands when approached to any subterrane minerals. Some still use the same kind of hazel rods to feel for hidden waters, so as thereby to dig in right places for wells. Colonel Thomas Forrest, who died in 1828, at the age of 83, had been in his early days a youth of much frolic and fun, always well disposed to give time and application to forward a joke. He found much to amuse himself in the creduhty of some of the German families. I have heard him relate some of his anecdotes of the prestigious kind with much humour. When he was about 21 years of age_ a tailor who was measuring him for a suit of clothes, hap- pened to SDy, "Ah ! Thomas, if you and I could only find some of the money of the sea robbers, (the pirates) we might drive our coach for life!" The sincerity and simplicity with which he uttered this, caught the attention of young Forrest, and when he went home he began to devise some scheme to be amused with his credulity and superstition. There was a prevailing belief that the pirates had hidden many sums of money and much of treasure about the banks of the Delaware. Forrest got an old parchment, on which he wrote '.he dying testimony of one John Hendricks, executed at Tyburn foi Superstitions and Popular Credulity. 269 piracy, in which he slated that he had deposited a chest and pot of money at Cooper's Point in the Jerseys. This parchment he smoked, and gave to it the appearance of antiquity ; and calling on his Ger- man tailor, he told him he had found it among his father's papers, who had got it in England from the prisoner, whom he visited in pri- son. This he showed to the tailor as a precious paper which he could by no means lend out of his hand. This operated ihe desired effect. Soon after the tailor called on Forrest with one Arabruster, a printer, whom he introduced as capable of " printing any spirit out of hell," by his knowledge of the black art. He asked to show him the parchment ; he was delighted with it, and confidently said he could conjure Hendricks to give up the money. A time was ap- pointed to meet in an upper room of a public house in Philadelphia, by night, and the innkeeper was let into the secret by Fonest. By die night appointed, they had prepared by a closet, a communication with a room above their sitting room, so as to lower down by a pulley, the invoked ghost, who was represented by a young man entirely sewed up in a close while dress on which were painted black eyed sockets, mouth, and bare ribs with dashes of black between ihem, the outside and inside of the legs and thighs blackened, so as to make white bones conspicuous there. About twelve persons met in all, seated around a table. Ambruster shuffled and read out cards, on which were inscribed the names of the New Testament saints, telling them he should bring Hendricks to encompass the table, visible or invisible he could not tell. At the words "John Hendricks, du verfluchter cum heraus" the pulley was heard to reel, the closet door to fly open, and John Hendricks with ghastly appearance to stand forth. The whole v.'ere dismayed and fled, save Forrest the brave. After this, Arnbruster, on whom they all depended, declared that he had by spells got permission to take up the money. A day was therefore appointed to visit the Jersey shore and to dig there by night. The parchment said it lay between two great stones. For- rest, therefore, prepared two black men to be entirely naked except white petticoat breeches ; and these were to jump each on the stone whenever they came to the pot, which had been previously put there. These frightened off the company for a little. When they next essayed they were assailed by cats tied two and two, to whose tails were spiral papers of gunpowder, which illuminated and whizzed, while the cats whawled. The pot was at length got up, and brought in great triumph to Philadelphia wharf: but oh, sad disaster! while helping it out of the boat, Forrest, who managed it, and was hand- mg it up to the tailor, trod upon the gunnel and filled the boat, and holding on to the pot, dragged the tailor into the river — it was lost! For years afterwards they reproached Forrest for that loss, and de- clared he had got the chest hiinself and was enriched thereby. He favoured the conceit, until at last they actually sued him on a writ of treasure trove ; but their lawyer was persuaded to give it up as idle. Some years afterwards Mr. Forrest wrote a very humorous 23* 270 Supeystitions mid Popular Credulity. play, (which I have seen printed)* which contained many incidents of this kind of superstition. It gave such offence to the parties re- presented, that it could not be exhibited on the stage. I remember some lines in it, for it had much of broken English and German- Rnglish verses, to wit: « My dearest wife, in all my life Ich neber was so frighten'd, De spirit come and I did ran, 'Twas juste like tunder mit lightning." For many years he had great reputation for hexing, [conjuring.] He always kept a hazel rod, scraped and smoked, with which to divine where money was hid. Once he lent it to a man, who for its use gave a cart load of potatoes to the poor house. A decent storekeeper once got him to hex for his wife, who had conceited that an old Mrs. Wiggand had bewitched her, and made her to swallow a piece of linsey woolsey. He cured her by strong emetics, and a piece of woolsey, which he showed dripping wet came out of hei stomach ! He imade his Dutch girl give up some stolen money, by touching her with cow itch, and after laying down on his couch and groaning, &c., till she began to itch and scratch, he seemed to be enraged, and said, now I am putting fire into your flesh, and if you do not immediately tell how and when you took my money, I'll bum you up by conjuration, and make your ghost to be pained and tell it out before your face. She made full confession, and the cir- cumstance got abroad, and added still more to his fame. He has told me he has been gravely told many times where ghosts have been seen, and invited to come with his hazel rod and feel if the money was not there. All this superstition has now subsided, and can be laughed at by the present generation as harmless and amusing anec- dotes of the ancient day. Timothy Matlack,Esq., when 9.5 years of age, a close observer of passing events in his you*h, has assured me there was much more of superstition prevalent in olden time than now : wherefore, fortune- telling, conjuration, and money digging, were frequent in his youth. He declared it was a fact, before his time, that a yoimg man, a stranger of decent appearance from the south, (the rogues lived there in the ancient days, in the transport colonies of Maryland and Vir- ginia) gave out he was sold to the devil 1 and that anless the price was raised for his redemption by the pious, he would be borne off at midday by the purchaser in person! He took his lodgings at the inn in Laetitia court, and at the eventful day he was surrounded, and the house too, by the people, among whom were several clergymen. Prayers and pious services of worship were performed, and as the moment approached for execution, when all were on tiptoe, some expecting the verification, and several discrediting it, a murmur ran • A copy is now in the AtheniEum, called " The Disappointment, or Force of Cre.iking out" after him with all their might and main. 'The next very best skater, and at the same time the most noted surgeon of the day, was Doctor Foulke, in Front street, opposite Elfreth's alley. Skating " High Dutch," and being able to cut the letters of his own name at one flourish, constituted the Doctor's fame as a skater. In the way of business, the Doctor was off-hand, and juick in his speech and manner, but gentlemanly withal. C. W. Peale, as a skater, was only remarkable for using a re- markable pair of " gutter skates," v/ith a remarkable prong, capped and curved backwards, with which he moved leisurely about in curve lines. They looked as though they might have been brought to him from somewhere about the German ocean, as a subject for his Museum. " May-days" were much more regarded formerly than now. All young people went out into the country on foot, to walk and gather flowers. The lads too, when the woods abounded, would put up as many as fifty poles of their own cutting, procured by them with- out any fear of molestation. The " Belsh Nichel" and St. Nicholas has been a time of Christ- mas amusement from time immemorial among us; brought in, it is supposed, among the sportive frolics of the Germans. It is the same also observed in New York, under the Dutch name of St. Claes. "Belsh Nichel," in high German, expresses " Nicholas in his fur" or sheep-skin clothing. He is always supposed to bring good things at night to good children, and a rod for those who are bad. Every father in his turn remembers the excitements of his youth in Belsh- nichel and Christ-kinkle nights, and his amusements also when a father, at seeing how his own children expressed their feelings on their expectations of gifts from the mysterious visiter! The follow ing fine poetry upon the subject must gratify the reader: It was the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; When what in the air to my eyes should appear. But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer; With a little old driver so lively and quick, I knew in a moment, it must be Saint Nick ! Soon, on to the house top, his coursers, they flew. With the sleigh full of toys and Saint Nicholas too — As I roU'd orTmy bed and was turning around, Down the chinnney Saint Nicholas came with a bound! He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot. And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot: The stump of a pipe he held fast in his teeth. And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a broad face and a little round belly. That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly; He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work: Soon filled all the stockings, thpn turned with a jerk; Vol. I.— 2 L 24* 882 Spo7'is mid Amusetnents. And laying his finger aside of his iiose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle And away ihey all flew like the down of a thistle; And I heard hirn exclaim, ere he drove out of sights " Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night! In my youthful days it was a great sport with the boys to sled jown hills in the city, on the snow in winter. Since the population and the wheel-carriages have increased, the danger of being run over mote than formerly, and the rarity of the snow, has made boys leave it off for some years. Thirty to forty boys and sleds could be seen running down each of the streets descending from Front street to the river. There was also much sledding down the streets and hills descending to Pegg's run. The boys at Friends' school in south Fourth street were formerly (although gravely disciplined) as mischievous and sportive as others. Some still alive may be amused to be reminded of their puerili- ties; when they were taught by Jonah Thonnpson, who was a man of good military port and Eispect, accustomed to walk at the head of his corps of scholars to week-day meetings in a long line of " two and two." On such occasion the town was surprised to see them so marching with wooden guns, (a kind of received Quaker eiT^blem) and having withal a litde flag! These they had succeeded to take up as they walked out of school without the knowledge of their chieftain, who had preceded them without deigning to look back on their array. On another occasion, when Robert Proud, the historian, was their teacher, and was remarkable for retaining his large bush-wig, long after others had disused them, they bored a hole through the ceiling over his sitting place, and by suspending a pin- hook to a cord, so attached it to his wig as to draw it up, leaving it suspended as if depending from the ceihng. At another lime they combined at night to take to pieces a country wagon which they lifted on to a chimney wail then building, there replacing the wheels, awning, &c., to the astonishment of the owner and the diversion of the populace. Some of those urchins lived, notwithstanding iheit misapplied talents and ingenuity, to make very grave and exemplary members of society. Youth is the season of levity and mirth, and although we must chide its wanton aberrations, we may yet feel sensations of indulgence, knowing what we ourselves have been, and to what they with ourselves must come, — " When cherish'd fancies one by one Shall slowly fade from day to day ;— And then from weary sun to sun They will not have the heart to play '." The time was when the " uptown" and " downtown boys" were rival clans, as well understood in the city precincts as the biggei clans of feds and anti-feds. They used to have, according to the ritreets, their regular night-battles with sticks and stones, making the The City Dancing Assembly. 283 [janes of glass to jingle occasionally. But the appearance of "old Carlisle" and the famous West (the constable) would scatter them into all the hiding-places — peeping out from holes and corners when the coast was clear. Those from the south of Ciieslnut street were frequently headed by one whose naval exploits, since that time, in the Mediterranean and on the Atlantic, have secured to hiin impe- rishable fame; also by his faithful friend and ardent admirer, well known since thioughout the community for his suavity and exqui- sitely polished manners. They were the Achilles and the Patrocles of the " downtowners." The Northerrx Liberties about Camptown and Pegg's run used to be in agitation almost every Saturday night by the regular clans of " rough and tumble" fighting, between the ship-carpenters from Kensington, and the butchers from Spring Garden — the public authority not even attempting to iiinder them, as it was deemed an affair out of town. All this spirit of rivalry and fighting was the product of the war of Independence. Their ears, as boys, were filled with the echoes of battles lost or won. They felt their buoyant spirits inspired with martial ardour too, and having no real enemies to encounter, ihey invented them for the occasion. In this way the academy boys were accoutred as young soldiers, and they much piqued themselves as the rivals of another class of school-boys. Each had their officers, and all of them some emblems a la militaire — all aspiring to the marks and influence of manhood ; burning to get through their minority, and to take their chances in the world before them: " Then passions wild and dark and strong, And hopes and powers and feelings high, Ere manhood's thoughts, a rushing throng, Shall sink the cheek and dim the eye !" THE CITY DANCING A.SSEMBLY. This association in its time — like another Almacks, embodied the exclusives of the day. The elite and fashionables of the city then were far more peculiarly marked by its metes and bounds of separa tion, than now. It only professed to enroll and retain in its union those who had ancestral bearings and associations. Sorne of the original MSS. lisis of the day having been put into my hands, it may be curious at this time to here copy tlie record, and to furnish to sundry of the descendants this roll of remembrance of their ancestors — to wit: 284 The City Dancing Assembly. "A list of subscribers for an assembly, appoinled under l!ic direc- tion of Joseph Sliippen, James Burd, Redmund Conyngiiam, and Joseph Sims, for the season (the year 1749). Each subscription to be 0^3 — to be paid to any of the Directors at subscribing." The Governor, paid. John Kidd, paid William Allen, paid. William Bingham, paid Archibald M'Call, paid. Buckridge Sims, Joseph Turner, John Swift, JB Richard Peters, paid. John Kearsley, junr. Adam Thompson, paid. William Plumsted, paid Alexander Sleadman, paid. James Burd, paid Patrick Baird, paid. William Franklin, paid John Sober, Henry Harrison, paid. David Franks, JB. Daniel Boyle, paid John In^lis, Thomas While, paid. William" Taylor, paid. John Lawrence, James Trotler, JB. Thomas Graeme, Samson Levy, JB. John Maland, paid Linford Lardner, Alexander Barclay, paid. Benjamin Price, paid. James Young, JB. John Francis, paid. Peter Bard, William Humphreys, paid. Mr. Venables, Alexander Hamilton, paid. Thomas Cross, paid. Thomas Lawrence, junr. paid. George Smith, paid. John Wallace, paid. Thomas Bond, paid. Phineas Bond, Thomas Willing, J. Shippen, Joseph Shippen John Ross, pai-d Samuel M'Call, junr. JB. Hugh Davey, paid. George M'Call, Daniel Roberdeau, paid Edward Jones, Joseph Marks, JB Samuel M'Call, senr. paid. Christopher Carnan, paid. Redmund Conyngham, John Hesselius, paid. Joseph Sims, paid. Robert Warren, paid Thomas Lawrence, senr. paid. Lawrence Deniedy, paid. David M'llvaine, paid. William M'llvaine, John Wilcocks, paid. John Nelson, JB. Charles Steadman, paid. List of Belles and Dames of Philadelphia fashionables, of aboui llie year 1757. An original list for the ball of the City Assenibl}'. Mrs. Allen, Mrs. Robertson, Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. Francis, Mrs. Hamilton, Mrs. Greame, Mrs. Brotherson, Mrs. Joseph Shippen, Mrs. Inglis, Mrs. Dolgreen, Mrs. Jeykell, Mrs. Phineas Bond, Mrs. Franks, Mrs. Burd, Mrs. Lydia M'Call, Mrs. Charles Steadman, Mrs. Samuel M'Call, senr. Mrs. Thomas White, Mrs. Samuel M'Call, junr. Mrs. Johnes, Mrs. Swift, Mrs. Warren, Mrs. Sims, Mrs. Oswald, Mrs. Willcocks, Mrs. Thomas Bond, Mrs. Lawrence, senr. Mrs. Davpy, Mrs. Lawrence, junr. Mrs. William Hurnijhrev* Tlie City Dancing Assembly. 2S,^ Mrs. Pennery, Mrs. Henry Harrison, Mrs. Bingham, Mrs. Clynier, Mrs. Wallace, Mrs. Ellis, Mrs. Alexander Steadman, Mrs. Hopkinson, Mrs. Hockley, Mrs Marks, Miss Molly Francis, Miss Betty Francis, Miss Osburn, Miss Sober, Miss Molly Lawrence, Miss Kitty Lawrence, Mrs. George Smith, Miss Nancy Hickman, Miss Sally Hunlock, Miss Peggy Harding, Miss Molly M'Call, Miss Peggy M'Call, Mrs. Lardner, Miss Patty Ellis, Miss Betty Plumstead, Miss Rebecca Davis, Miss Jeany Greame, Miss Nelly M'Call, Miss Randolph, Miss Sophia White, Mrs. Venables, Miss Hyatt, Miss Betty Clifften, Miss Molly Dick, Miss Fanny Jeykell, Miss Fanny Marks, Miss Peggy Oswald, Miss Betty Oswald, Miss Sally Woodrop, Miss Molly Oswald, Mrs. Willing, Miss Nancy Willing, Miss Dolly Willing, Mrs. M'llvaine, Miss Betty Grayden, Miss Sally Fishbourn, Miss Furnell, Miss Isabella Cairnie, Miss Pennyfaither, Miss Jeany Richardson, Mrs. Reily, Mrs. Graydon, Mrs. Ross, Mrs. Peter Bard, Mrs. Franklin, Miss Lucy De Normondie, Miss Phebe Winecoop, Mrs. Harkly. I have also preserved a card of admission, of the year 1749, addressed to Mrs. Jeykell, a lady of pre-eminent fashion and beauly, the then leading lady of the ton. She was the grand- daughter of ihe first Edward Shippen, a mayor, merchant, and Q,uaker. She wtis married to the brother of Sir Joseph Jeykell, the secretary of Queen Anne ; and when in her glory in Philadelphia, she dwelt in and owned the house next southward of " Edward Shippen's great house" in south Second street, where is now Nicholas Wain's row. It is worthy of remark, now that we have such elegant devices in the form of visiting and admission cards, that this card^ and all the cards of that day, were written or printed upon common playing cards ; this from the circumstance that blank cards were not then in the countiy, and none but playing cards were imported for sale. I have seen, at least a variety of a dozen in nvunber, addressed to (his same lady. One of them, from a leading gentleman of that day, contained on the back, the glaring effigy of a queen of clubs! One of the cards to her of the year 1755, was a printed one upon a playing card, and read thus, to wit : " The gentlemen of the Arrny present their compliments to MtB. Jeykell, and beg the favour of her company to a ball at the State house on Monday next. Saturday, September 20, 1755." An elderly gentleman informs me that the aristocratic feelings continued to prevail in their full force, down to the time of the 286 Education. Revolution. And as a case in point he mentions that when squire Hillegas' daughter was married lo John A — , an extensive goldsmith and jeweller, in High street, she was no longer admitted to her former place in the " old city assembly." About the same time there was another assembly not so fastidious — and when it so hap- pened that General Washington was invited to both balls on the same night on some special public occasion, he went to the latter and danced with a mechanic's daughter. " I tell the story as it was told to me." At one time, it was proposed to give, (in ill nature, it is presumed,) the genealogy of the old city assembly. The same old gentleman told me that he saw part of it in poetic MSS., and thinks it still exists. It quoted documents and records, to blur, so far as it might, " the vellum of pedigree." One of the really honourables of the colonial days has told me of his mother (the wife of the chief justice) going to a great ball in Water street, in her youthful days, to Hamilton's stores on the wharf, on Water street next to the drawbridge — she going to the same in her full dress on horseback ! EDUCATION. " Thus form the mind by use of alphabetic signs." It is greatly to the credit of our forefathers, that they showed an early and continued regard to the education of their posterity. They were men of too much practical wisdom not to foresee the abiding advantages of proper instruction to the rising generation. What they aimed to impart was solid and substantial. If it in general bore the plain appellation of " reading, writing and aritb metic" only, it gave these so effectively as to make many of their pupils persons of first rate consequence and wisdom in the early annals of our country. With such gifts in their possession, many of them were enabled from suitable books, to become their self-instructers in numerous branches of science and belles-lettres studies. In that day they made no glaring display, under imposing names and high charges, of teaching youth geography, use of maps and globes, dictionary, history, chronology, composition, (fcc. &c. (fcc. All these came as matter of course, by mere readings at home, when the mind was matured and the school acquirements were finished. They then learned to read on purpose to be able to pursue such branches of inquiry /or themselves ; and having the means in possession, the end as certainly followed without the school bill charge as with it. They thus acquired, when the mind was old enough fondly to enlist Education. 287 in the inquiry, all they read " by heart," because, as it was mental treasure of their own seeking and attainment, it was valued in the affection : They therefore did not perplex their youth by " getting" lessons by head or dint of memory — of mere facls, forgotten as fast as learned, because above the capacity of the youthful mind to ap- preciate and keep for future service. All they taught was practical ; and, so far as it went, every lesson was efficient and good. The generation has not yet passed nway who never " committed" a page of dictionary learning in their lives, who as readily attained the common sense of words b}' use and reading, as any of their offspring now possess them by lessons painfully conned memoriter. It is gratifying to add that the mass of our forefathers were also an instructed and reading community. A letter of Mr. Jefferson's, of the year 1785, well sustains this assertion, saying, " In science the mass of the people in Europe is two centuries behind ours ; their literati is half a dozen years before us. Books, really good, acquire just repu- tation in that time, and so become known to us. In the mean time, we are out of reach of that swarm of nonsense which issues from a thousand presses and perishes almost in issuing." But since then solid reading is less sougiit after^" the press must be kept going" even as abroad. The ephemera of England flutter across the ocean and breathe once more a short-lived existence ere they finally perish. As early as 1683, Enoch Flower opened the first English school. The prices were moderate — to read English 4s., to write 6s., and to read, write, and cast accounts 8s., and for teaching, lodging and diet =^10 per annum. A curious autograph letter from his ancestor is preserved in my MS. Annals, page 334, in the Historical Society. In 1689, the Friends originated the Friends' public school in Philadelphia — the same which now stands in Fourth below Chesnut street. It was to be a grammar school, and to teach the learned languages. George Keith, a Scotch Friend and public preacher, (afterwards an Episcopal clergyman and a bitter foe to Friends!) became the first teacher, assisted by Thomas Makin, who in the next year became the principal. This Makin was called "a good latinist;" we have the remains of his ability in that way in his long latin poem "descriptive of Pennsylvania in 1729." His life was simple, and probably fettered by the " res angusti domi ;" for his death occurred, in 1733, in a manner indicative of his pains-taking domestic concerns. In the Mercury of November, 1733, it is thus announced: "Last Tuesday night Mr. Thomas Makin, a very ancient man, who for many years was a schoolmaster in this city, stooping over a wharf end to get a pail of water, unhappily fell in and was drowned." He appears to have passed Meeting with Sarah Rich in 1700, the same year in which he became principal to the academy or school. During the same time he sen'ed as the clerk of the Assembly. At this early period of time, so much had the little Lewistown at our southern cape the pre-eminence in female tui'ion, that Thomas 288 Education. Lloyd, the depuly governor, prefened to send his younger daughters Iron) Phihidelphia to that place to finish their education. Our first njost distinguished seminaries of learning began in tho country before the academy in Philadelphia was instituted. The Rev. William Tennent. who came from Ireland, arrived at Now York in 1718, and in 1721 removed to Bensalem in Bucks county; soon after he settled in a Presbyterian church, of small consideration, at " (he forks of Neshamina," (he had been ordained a churchman) where he opened a school for teaching the languages, (fee. There he formed many of the youth of early renown ; and many of the early clergymen of the Presbyterian church, among whom we may name, Rowland, Campbell, Lawrence, Beatty, Robinson, Blair. From ita celebrity among us, it received the popular name of the "Log college." He died in 1743, and was buried there. His four sons all became clerg3anen, well known to most readers, especially his sons Gilbert and WiUian] — the former was remarkable for his ardour in Whitfield's cause and the schism he formed in the first Presbyterian church in Philadelphia, which led to the secession and the building of the church on the northwest corner of Third and Arch streets. In connexion with this subject we are to introduce the name of James Logan, Esq., already so favourably known to the public as the patron of learning in his valuable gift of our public library. As early as 1728, we find him the patron and endower of this " Log college;" for he then bestows fifty acres of his land there to the above named Rev. William Tennent, his cousin by his mother's sid-;! — this to encourage him to prosecute his views and make his reb, dence near us permanent. The early fare of Mr. Tennent accorded with the rude materials of his house and school ; for, it appearii from the correspondence of James Logan, that he was obliged to procure and send him provisions, at his first settlement, from Phila- delphia. Such was the proper alma mater of the chief scholars oi that early day. The next school of pre-eminence was that of the Rev. Francis Allison, another Irishman, who came to this country in 1735, and in 1741, opened his school at New London, in Chester county, where he taught the languages, &c. Several clergymen, of subsequent reputation, were educated there. He was zealous and benevolent; and educated some young ministers gratuitously. At one lime he resided at Thunder Hill in Maryland, and there educated such men as Charles Thotnson, George Reed, Thomas M'Kean, (fee. — men who were remarkable in our Revolutionary struggle for their abilities and attachment to the cause of their countiy. In later life, Mr. Allison became the provost of the college of Philadelphia, and was, when there, accustomed to assist his pupil Doctor Ewing, the pastor of the first Piesbyterian church in High street, in occasionally serv- mg his pulpit. He died in 1777, " full of honours and full of years." In 17.50, about the time that the Philadelphia academy and college began to excite public interest and attention, the Ciiy Education. 289 Council expressed some sense of the subject on their minmes, to wit: A committee report on the advantaiges to be gained by the erection of an academy and public school, saying, " the youth woula receive a good education at home, and be also under the eye of theit friends ; it would tend to raise able magistrates, &c. It would raise schoolmasters from among the poorer class, to be qualified to serve as such in the country under recommendation from the academy, and thus_ prevent the employment of unknown characters, who often prove to be vicious imported servants, or concealed papists — often corrupting the morals of the children." Upon the reading of this report, the board decided, unanimously, to present the trustees towards such a school J'200, also J'SO per annum to charity schools, for the next five years ; also J'50 per annum, for five years, for the nght of sending one scholar yearly from the charity school to be taught in all the branches of learning taught in said academy. The city academy, began in 1750, under the exertions and aus- pices of Doctor Franklin, was originally built for Whitfield's meeting house in 1741 ; the academy started with a subscription sum of J'2600 In 1753, it was created a "college," and in 1779, "the university." For further facts concerning " the academy," see that article. In 1770, a Mr. Griscom advertises his private academjr, "free from the noise of the city," at the north end. It may surprise some to learn that this was a long stone building on Front and Water streets a litile above Vine street; — being two stories high on From street, and three stories on Water street, once beautifully situated, when no population was crowded near it, and having a full and open view to the river; it afterwards stood a desolate, neglectea looking building, filled with numerous poor tenanlry, until a few years ago, bearing with its inmates, the name of " the College," although they had long lost the cause of such a name. This Mr. Griscom may be regarded as the first individual among us who ventured to assume the title of "Academy" to any private institution. The simple, unassuming appellation of "school" was the universal name till about the year 1795 ; after that time "acade- mies," "seminaries," " lyceums," "institutes," (fee, were per- petually springing up in every quarter among us. Before those days " ladies' academies and Misses boarding schools" were un- known ; boys and girls were accustomed to go to the same schools. Mr. Horton first started the idea of a separate school for girls, and with it the idea of instructing thera in grammar and other learning; and about the year 1795, Poor's " academy for young ladies," in Cherry street, became a place of proud distinction to " finished" females; and their annual " commencement days" and exhibition in the great churches, was an affair of great interest and street parade. Old Mr. Smith taught for Friends, at Pine street meeting. After he got very old, he was allowed, as an indulgence, to keep it at his own house, in the third story, in Walnut street near Front street. Vol I.— 2 M 25 290 Education. One of his sfholars, now in years and grave enough, tells me that it was his custom to have them all stand up to read from the Bible, while he set copies and made pens. He did not perceive that for three or four months we always read, " Nebuchednezar, the king, set up an image of gold." When prizes arrived they would fire, then the boys" would contrive to slip off and bring in the news! The names of all the privateers and captains were quite familiar to them. Andrew Brown was a noted teacher after the peace, at the northwest corner of Third and Vine streets. He began the Phila- delphia Gazette — his whole family and house were burnt. W. Kid had a large school at the old Mason's lodge. My scliool boy days — my school boy days, Oh ! how they flit across the mind, With all their little gairish plays, Like some bright vision, far behind. How beautifuI-7-how fresh — how fair — How purely vivid every scene : Life*s very newness printed there, With scarce a shade to intervene. Yes — there they stand — life's greatest spot>-^ INever retraced — yet never forgot! My facetious friend, Lang Syne, has presented a lively picture of the "schoolmasters" in the days last referred to, when "precep- tors," " principals, &c.," were yet unnamed. Those who can recollect those instructers which he describes, in connexion with their own boyhood and school discipline, will feel the force of many interesting associations — long forgotten emotions will revive in the mind as they look on the painted picture so feelingly touched to the life, to wit : About that time there were no boarding schools, nor " didactic seminaries" in the city. The young ladies' academy, by Mr. Poor, used to hold its commencement in the Moravian meeting house. The old academy on Fourth street was the only one (as such) in the city for young gentlemen. The principal of the academy, in person, was middle size, round, and strongly built, habited as a clergyman, in parson's gray suit, cocked hat, and full bottomed powdered wig — with an imperturbable stare, and promi- nent gray eyes. Of single schools, Lyttle, Gartly, and Yerkes, were the only ones remembered. What is now known as " Friends' Academy," in Fourth, below Chestnut, was at that time occupied by four different masters. The west room, down stairs, by Robert Proud, Latin master; the one above him, by William Waring, teacher of astronomy and mathematics ; the east room, up stairs, by Jeremiah Paul; and the one below, "last not least in our" re- membrance, by J. Todd, — severe he was. The State house clock, being at the time visible from the school pavement, gave to the eye full notice when to break off marble and plug top, hastily collect the "stakes," and bundle in, pell mell, to the school room, where, unii) the arrival of the " master of scholars," John Todd, they \i'ere busih jbUducation. 291 fcinploj^ed, every one, in finding Jiis place, under die control, for ll)« time, of a short Irishman, usher, named Jimmy M'Cue. On the entrance of the master, all shuffling of the feet, "scrougeing!" Lilting of elbows, and whispering disputes, were hastily adjusted, leaving a silence which might be felt, " not a mouse stirring." He, Todd, dressed after the plainest manner of Friends, but of the richest material, with looped cocked hat, was at all times remarkably nice and clean ip his person — a man of about 60 years, square built, and well sustained by bone and muscle. After an hour, may be, of quiet time, every thing going smoothly on— boys at their tasks — no sound, but from the master's voice, while bearing the one standing near him — a dead calm — when sud- denly a brisk slap on the ear or face, for something or for nothing, gave " dreadful note" that an irruption of the lava was now about to take place — next thing to be seen was "strap in full play over the head and shoulders of Pilgarlic. The passion of the master " grow- ing by what it fed on," and wanting elbow room, the chair would be quickly thrust on one side, when, with sudden gripe, he was to be seen dragging his struggling suppliant to the flogging ground, in the centre of the room — having placed his left foot upon the end of a bench, he then, with a patent jerk, pecuhar to himself, would have the boy completely horsed across his knee, with his left elbow on the back of his neck, to keep him securely on. In the hurry of the moment he would bring his long pen with him, griped between his strong teeth, (visible the while,) causing the both ends to descend to a parallel with his chin, and adding much to the terror of the scene. His face would assume a deep claret colour — his little bob of hair would disengage itself, and stand out, each " particular hair," as it were, " up in arms, and eager for the fray." Having his victim thus completely at command, and all useless drapery drawn up to a bunch above the waistband, and the rotundity and the nankeen in the closest affinity possible for them to be, then, once more to the " staring crew," would be exhibited the dexterity of master and strap. By long practice he had arrived at such perfection in the exercise, that, moving in quick time, the fifteen inches of bridle rein (alias strap) would be seen, after every cut, elevated to a perpendicular above his head ; from whence it descended like a flail upon the stretched nan- keen, leaving, "on the place beneath," a fiery red streak at every slash. It was customary with him to address the sufferer at intervals as follows: — Does it hurt? — (O I yes master, ! don't, master,) then I'll make it hurt thee more — I'll make thy flesh creep — thou sha'n't want a warming pan to night — intolerable being ! — -Nothing in nature is able to prevail upon thee, but my strap. He had one boy named George Fudge, who usually wore leather breeches, with which he put strap and its master at defiance. He would never acknowledge pain — he would not "sing out." He seized him one day, and having gone through the evolutions of strapping, (as useless in efl'ect as if he had been thrashing a flour bag,) almost breathless Wilh rage, 292 Education. lie once more appealed to ihe feelings of the " reprobate," by saying- Does it not hurt? The astonishment of the school and the master was completed on hearing him sing out No ! — Hurray for Leather Crackers ! He was thrown off immediately, sprawling on the floor, with the benediction as follows: Intolerable being! Get out of my school — nothing in nature is able to prevail upon thee — not even my strap ! 'Twas not his " love of learning was in fault," so much as the old British system of introducing learning and discipline into the brains of boys and soldiers by dint of punishment. The system of flogging on all occasions, in schools, for something or for nothing, being pro- tected by law, gives free play to the passions of the master, which he, for one, exercised with great severity. The writer has at this moment in his " memory" a schoolmaster, then of this city, who, Ti few years ago, went deliberately out of his school to purchase a cow skin, with which, on his return, he extinguished his bitter re- venge on a boy who had offended him. The age of chivalry pre- ferred ignorance in its sons, to having them subjected to the fear of a pedagogue — believing that a boy who had quailed under the eye of the schoolmaster, would never face the enemy with boldness on the field of battle ; which, it must be allowed, is a " swing of the pendulum" too far the other way. A good writer says: " We do not harden the wax to receive the impression ! — wherefore, the teacher seems himself most in need of correction! — for he, unfit to teach, is making them unfit to be taught !" I have been told by an aged gentleman, that in the days of his boyhood, sixty-five years ago, when boys and girls were schooled to- gether, it was a common practice to make the boys strip ofl^ their jackets, and loose the trousers' band, preparatory to hoisting them upon a boy's back, so as to get his whipping, with only the linen between the flesh and the strap. The girls too, — we pity them! were obliged to take off their stays to receive their floggings with equal sensibility. He named one distinguished lady, since., who wiis so treated, among others, in his school. All the teachers then were from England or Ireland, and brought with them the rigorous principles, which had before been whipped into themselves at home. " Young Ladies^ Academy, No. 9 Cherry Street." — I see this so noticed in the City Directory of 1802, saying of it then, that " this is the only incorporated institution for young ladies in the United States, and is now in a very flourishing state." It was incorporated the 2d February, 1792, (see the act.) The same, I believe, called also " Mr. Poor's Academy," which professed to teach " reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar, geography, with the use of the maps and globes ; rhetoric and vocal mtisic. Mr. Poor himself was a good singer of psalmody from New England, a member of the Presbyte- rian church. The incorporated academy had a good array of names, say in 1802, — Rev. Samuel Mngaw, President; Rev. Henry Hel- muth. Vice president; James A. Neal, Principal ; Benjamin Say Education. 293 Secretary ; and twelve trustees, six of whom were clergymen, the other six, laymen. It died at last, by what cause I know not; pro- bably by too much rivalship, and a lessened support. The preceding intimation of vocal music as being, then, Jirst so taught, as a part of female accomplishment, brings up to the memory much of the recollections of the past concerning young ladies. At that time, jdianos were just beginning to be introduced, slowly and discouragingly to the teachers. They were just then beginning to supersede the former occasional use of the harpsicord and spinet, and sometimes the guitar. It may possibly surprise the present race of young ladies, to learn that their dames and grand-dames, with far less painful drilling and practice, much surpassed them in agreeable and touching singing. Tiiey not only sang far more natural and in character with their sex, but the sense and fitness of the subject, were considered with far more good sense and solid e7itertainment. This they might well cherish and require then, — for no singing was deem- ed " sifiging for company," which did not distinctly give the sense. None then had heard or dreamed of a singing which was to be screamed, secundum artem, in alto voices, or shivered into trills of thirty-two demisemiquavers in a breath, — and, in which tlie ivoi-ds and sense are to be strangled in the overwhelming execution ! For this morbid fashion and change for the worse, we are wholly in- debted to " the band of foreign artistes." It comes, indeed, from art and contrivance, and can only please those who may themselves have experienced the abundance of pains-laking, which it must have cost the performer to be thus, as far as possible, removed from the proper excellence " of the human voice divine." One can hardly write upon the subject of education, looking at the present and thinking of the past, without a disposition to go out of our usual track, and give a passing notice of things as they are. We talk of the march of mind, and please ourselves with the notion, that "the school master is abroad," — and thence, easily slide into the belief that we are effecting great and useful changes for the bet- ter. But is it really so? Let us look a little at facts, for we are all deeply interested — first for our own children, and next for their pos- terity. The constitution has provided for the general education, and our legislators, too willing to leave to others what should be faithfully managed by the state, make grant after grant to endow sectarian establishments. They give up to a few dominant churches to rule and engross — not suflSciently considering, that although it may be popular with the ascendant beneficiaries, it is not in its nature, like a liberal provision, equally and alike for the whole. Even those who are benefited, as things now operate, would not be well pleased to see the same measures of assistance extended to Papists, Unitarians, Universalists, and others. And at this time, the Friends, Moravians, Papists, Lutherans, Swedenborgians, Jews, &.c., have no portion or share in the matter, whilst Deists and non-pro- fe-ssors, as a matter of course, have no claim or pretension, although 25* 294 Education. equplly citij.ens of the state, and in the opinion of many, most needing right education. All this is the olvious result of sectarian legislation, and may be considered as its natural consequence, when it is conceded, as it has been, that the clergy, as a class (we speak it wiih deference,) are to be considered as charged, by virtue of their office and ministiy, " to raise up your future judges, legislators, law- yers, pliysicians, and school masters;" "to provide for the future career of the rising generation, by giving them the aid of science and literature ;" — and, " to instruct the people, and send out teachers by ihwcisanas for tne schools." It was not always so ! " So did not St. Paul." And, as early as the Blue Laws of Connecticut, it was (here provided that " no minister should teach a school."' They had, per- haps, seen with regret the union of church and state in their father- land ; and had witnessed how the two great colleges in England, originally endowed for poor scholars, had come to be possessed by chancellors, vice-chancellors, pro-vice-chancellors, proctors, hiladelphia, 10 th of 1st mo. 1682-3. Some cases which I deem most curious I here preserve, to wit : At the first court held 11 January, 1682 — the list of the Juries were thus : Henry Lewis, John Goodson, Patrick Robinson, Thomas Crosse, Thomas Bowman, Henry Waddy, Thomas Livesy, William Howel, Erick Mulleker, GRAND JURY. WoUis Swenson, Andrew Swenson, Gunner Rambo, John Stiller, Mounts Cock, Andrew Binkson, Richard Wall, senr. John Cock, John Parsons. PETIT JURY. Charles Pickering, (foreman.) Thomas Phillips, Samuel Buckley, John Tibby, Charles Lee, Andrew Grissman,* Erick Cock, Christian Thomas, Peter Dalbow, Evan Oliver, Lacy Anderson, Nehera. Michel. The Grand Jury present, to wit : 1st. That the swamps coming into the Blue anchor (Dock creek,) be forthwith made passable for footmen. 2d. That Coquenakar [Pegg's Run] creek, at the north end of the city, be made also pas- sable for footmen. 3d. That the creek called Coawarew [Coacksink," going 10 Shakamaxon be bridged, or cannowed [passed bj' canoes." 4lh. That the creek at Tankanney [Takony] and Gunner Rambo's be bridged or cannowed. 5th. That the king's road from Scuilkill (Schuylkill) through Philadelphia to Neshemeney creek may be marked out and made passable, for horses and carts, where needful, and to ascertain, with Chester and Bucks, lohere to fix the femes • Spelt Andrew Grescome. Primitive Courts and Trials. 299 of those creeks, the Scuilkill and Nesheineney. 6lh. We present the want of ;i county court house. In the said first court, appeared sundry Swedes, Finns and Dutch, to be naturalized, by their petitions for allegiance, according to an order of Assembly, held at Chester the 7th of 10th mo. 1682, to wit: Lacy Cock, Peter Rambo, Swan Swanson, Andrew SwansoQ, Wollis SwanaoQ, Lacy Anderson, Mounts Cock, Erick Cock, Gunner Ramho, Peter Nelson, Christian Thomes, Erick MuUoker,* Peter Cock, jun. John Bowles, Andrew Galena, John Stiller, [now Stille.] Lacy Dalbo. The examination of the evidence of Christian Closses' dead child is stated to this effect, the 22d of 10th mo. 1682. It is signed by ten names, examiners on jury, and by Doctors Thomas Wynne and John Goodson, and by John Longhurst, as justice. The child was found dead — had black and blue spots, and a crooked leg. It was proved the mother had a quarrel in the harvest field, with her hus- band, and that she got then bruised in the same places generally. The two physicians thus certify, that " they found it much after the manner that the witnesses proved." The Grand Jury — -mark it " "ve finde not." At the second court, held 7th February 1682, I see among names of the Petit Jury, to wit : William Warner, senr. Thomas Phillips, Peter Yoakum, Matthias Underhille, John Warner, James Kite, Richard Tucker, Nathaniel Allen, Nathaniel Harden, Jonas Nelson. GRAND JURY NAMES, (some.) Patrick Robinson, (foreman.) Thomas Crosse, Jonathan Fisher, William Cobb, John Stiller, (Stille.) John Matson, Kinder Peterson. Among the presentments, I read: stumps in the streets to be removed. The want of a bridge on Chooxunck (Tomamamby) near Shackamaxon ; a bridge or ferry over Takonie, Pomobem, Pootquessing, Neshainaneh, &c. That Mr. Jacobus Fabritius, (fcc. hath broken the ceremony of their own church, by making John Skeetch and Mary Smith believe they were married, and causing them to lie together, which is unseemly. They present that men do come armed with swords and guns, and especially one young man name unknown — [on a side slip, the above Indian names are [* Is not this the name of Mulliker's hill, N. J.] 300 Primitive Courts and TVials. plainer spelled thus: Cooxen, Tamaramaniing, Tackaney Pema pecka, now Pennepack.] Benja.Cliaiubeis is Sheriff. John Cock constable, for lower part of county, and Nathaniel Harden, for upper part of county. — The indictment against said Skeetch, said he had before two wives in Bristol, England ; and had now taken Mrs. Smith here to wife — "not found." His petition was filed praying to be stocked, rather than to be beaten with twenty lashes; J. Fabrilius signed their mar- riage as " pastor," ^ne river, so that those who went up and down Fiont street went ovei it. At a Common Council held at " the Coffy House," December, 1704, a comraiiiee was appointed to view the arch in the Front street, and to report how to repair the same, (fee, — found to be ^^^"12; whereupon it was ordered that the ground on each side of the arch, fronting King street, (Water street now) be built upon by such per- sons as shall be willing to take the same on ground-rent. In the year 1712, the Grand Jury present " that it is highly necessary to repair the arch, by paving the same, and fencing it on either side above." Another Grand Jury, at the next session, pre- sent the passEige down under the arch, for that it is worn in holes and gullies, and is not passable — it wants a fence upon the walls of the said arch — it being dangerous in the night both to man and beast. At another session, they present the want of walls to secure the street in the going down to the arch, also two fences (palisades) on the top of it to secure people from falling down. In 1713, they again present the arch in the Front street, for that it is very dangerous for children in the day time, and for strangers in the night; neither is it passable underneath for carriages. In 1717, the Grand Jury present "the great arch" in the Front street, — the arch in Second street — as insufficient for man and beast to pass over. The pump at the great arch, being now out of use and standing much in the street, ought to be removed. King street, lis a cart-way, the}' recommend to be kept thirty feet wide. In 1718 they present the arch at the east end of Mulberry street, as so much out of repair as to endanger life, and as injurious to the neighbourhood, by slopping the channels from descending to the river; and they therefore recommend, as most advantageous to the handsome prospect of the Front street, [of course it must have been high and conspicuous,] to pull down the said arch, and to regulate the two streets there. In 1720, December, it was fully debated in Common Council whether to pull down the arch. The parties aggrieved being then again heard, and the charges of continual repairs considered, it is the opinion it will be for the general good to take it down — even to those who then petition against the same. In 1723 the Grand Jury present deep gullies from Front street, " where the arch stood, to the arch wharf." Thus intimating that the arch had been taken away. In April, 1723, the Common Council, in ordering the old prison to be sold, determine the money shall be applied to making good the Arch street and wharf, as far as the same will go. They state as a reason, that the end of Mulberry street, from the east side of the Front street to the river, since the arch was removed, had been very ruinous, by reason of the late great rains, for want of a free passage for the water. It being thought impracticable then to lay a tax for that and other needful things, the Mayor, James Logan, with great The Arch Street Bridge at Front Street. 367 liberality, (to prevent furtiier damage,) presented the corporytion with J'20, to be laid out there, — which was accepted with hearty thanks, and workmen to be ordered to pave the channel and to set posts, &c. The same generous Mayor invites the company of the board to a public dinner with him, provided at the Plume of Feathers. In 1727, the Grand Jury present two ponds of water " in Arch street," [the first time I have seen it so named,] between Front and Second streets. In 1736 a ship near Arch street wharf took fire within, as they were burning her bottom without, occasioned by a flaw in one of her planks. This was not perhaps a ship-yard then, but used as a careening place. The former high elevation of the grounds near " the arch" are even now peculiarly marked. The house No. 10, Arch street, on the south side, two doors west of Front street, presents a clear evi- dence that the second story vifas once the level of the street there, and that the present first story, which goes up several steps, was originally so much cellar part under ground. It is proved by show- ing now the lines and marks in the second story of the side alley once there, and afterwards filled up! J. P. Norris, Esq., told me it was so explained to him in his youth, by aged persons who remem- bered the facts. The present three-story house there was, therefore, originally but a two-story house. The present north-west corner house there had ils door out of the present second story; the Friend's Meeting House near there, though originally on a high level, was left on a bank of ten feet elevation ; and we know, b)^ an ordinance of 1713, that the gutters were then declared, by law, as running from Arch street down to High stieet ! I had an opportunity in April, 1825, to witness unexpectedly a relic of the primitive manner of topping the Water street bank side houses, as originally constructed, when intended not to intercept the view of the river from the Front street. The very ancient brick house in Water street (part of the block of two two-story old frame houses on Front street above Arch street, Nos. 83 and 85,) has now the original flat roof with which it was originally covered. It has been well preserved, by having since constructed over it, at one story additional elevation, a cedar roof, — by this act the first roof was made a floor of small descent. I found it made of two inch yellow pine plank, laid on white pine boards — the planks are caulked with oakum, with deep grooves near the seams to bear olT the water, and the whole has now much remains of the original pitch which covered the whole. The elevation of this floor roof is about eight feet above the present Front street ; and as the street there has been cut down full six feet or more, it proves the former elevation of that roof. The general aged appearance of the pre- mises, now about to be pulled down, indicate a very early structure It is said there was once a ship-yard here about. 368 Shippeii's House. I have observed other curious facts in digging out iJie cellars of the two houses adjoining them on the northern side, to wit : No. 87 and 89. In digging down to the level of Water street, in the Front street bank, (which is of fine red gravel,) they came, at about twelve feet from the line of Front street, to a regular stone wall of sixteen inches thickness, eight feet high, and of twelve feet square ; (all this was below the former cellar there,) in a corner of the wall it appeared smoked, as if the remains of a chimney. I thought it indicated an original cave. The area of the square was nearly filled ap with loose stones, a considerable part of which were of flat slabs of marble one inch thick, smoothed on one surface, and broken into irregular fragments of one to two feet width. In clearing away these stones, they came to a grave head-stone, standing somewhat declined; on which were engraved, "Anthony Wilkinson — Lon- don — died 1748." The stone is about fourteen inches by two and a half feet high — [some small bones also found there.] On further inquiry I learn, that Anthony Wilkinson was an early and primitive settler on that spot. The Cuihbert family are descended from him, and one of them is now named Anthony Wilkinson Cuthbert. Mr. T. Latimer, merchant, near there, claims the hend- stone, as a relative, and sa3's old Mr. Cuthbert, who died when hei was a boy, told him and others of the fantiily, that old Anthony Wil- kinson had his cabin once in this bank, which got blown up by t. drunken Indian laying his pipe on some gunpowder in it. SHIPPEN'S HOUSE. This venerable edifice long bore the name of " the Governor's House." It was built in the early rise of the city — received then the name of " Shippey's Great House," while Shippen himself was proverbially distinguished for three great things — " the biggest per- son, the biggest house, and the biggest coach." It was for many years after its construction beautifully situated, and surrounded with rural beauty, being originally on a small emi- nence, with a row of tall yellow pines in its rear, a full orchard of best fmit trees close by, overlooking the rising city beyond the Dock creek, and having on its front view a beautiful green lawn, gendy sloping to the then pleasant Dock creek and Drawbridge, and the whole prospect unobstructed to the IDelaware and the Jersey shore. It was indeed a princely place for that day, and caused the honest heart of Gabriel Thomas to overflow at its recollection, as he spoke of it in the year 1698, saying of it, that " Edward Shippey, who THE AEOH STREET BEIDGB AT FKONT STREET.— Page 364. SHIPPEN'S HOUSE.— Page 368. Shij}j)en^s House. 3(39 tiyes near the capital city, has an orchard and gardens adjoining (o his great house that equals any I have ever seen, being a very famous and pleasant summer house, erected in the middle of his garden, and abounding with tuUps, carnations, roses, lilies,