Area History: Watson's Annals of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, 1857, Vol I: Superstitions and Popular Credulity Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by EVC. USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. ____________________________________________________________ WATSON'S ANNALS of PHILADELPHIA and PENNSYLVANIA Vol. I Written 1830 - 1850 Chapter 25. 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 !" Our 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 conjurors and pow-wows. Facts which have come down to our more enlightened times, can now no longer terrify; 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 their 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 vague 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 her 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". Governor Penn finally charged the Jury, who brought in a verdict sufficiently ambiguous and ineffective 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 behaviour for six months. A decision infinitely more wise than hanging or drowning ! They had each 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 exonerate us in part, and give some plea for the 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 act 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, in the presence of eighteen peers, including the great duke of Marlborough himself ! [ 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 1609 ! In 1634, Grandiere, a priest of Loudun, was burnt for bewitching a whole convent of nuns ! In 1654, twenty women were executed in Bretagne for their witcheries ! ] The superstition, such as it was, may have been deemed the common sin of the day. The enlightened Judge Hale himself fell into its belief. Soon after the English began to rule there, in 1664, a man and wife were arraigned as such, and a verdict found by the Jury 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 subjecting her to the trial of water, and the place at Walks' farm, near the ferry, is still called "witch dunk !" The Bible, it must be conceded, always countenanced these credences; but now, "a generation more refined" think it their boast to say "we have no hoofs nor horns in our religion !" 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. {Note: geomancy (geomantia) divination by means of figures or lines of geographic features} The Grand Jury also presented the following books as vicious, to wit : --- Hidson's Temples of Wisdom, which teaches geomanty. Stott's Discovery of Witchcraft, and Cornelius Agrippa's Teaching Negromancy --- another name probably for necromancy. The latter latinized name forcibly reminds one of those curious similar books of great value, (even of fifty thousand pieces of silver) destroyed before Paul at Ephesus --- "multi autum curiosa agentium, conferentes libros combusserunt coram 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 undefined our thoughts about these metaphysical mysteries, the more 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 sees and knows as harmless all the objects which surround him. Wherefore 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 sweetness, or the grace." We suppose some such views possessed the mind of the discriminating 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 skilled 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 fruitful 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 skillful in several diseases. When the cows and horses, and even persons, got strange diseases, such as baffled ordinary medicines, it was often a dernier resort to consult either of these persons for relief, and their prescriptions, without seeing the 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 elsewhere, 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 deposited 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 spook or ghost, or of having dreamed of it a plurality of times; thus creating a sufficient incentive to dig on the spot. "Dream after dream ensues; And still they dream that they shall succeed, And still they 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 credulity 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, happened to say, "Ah ! Thomas, if you and I could only find some of the money from 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 the dying testimony of one John Hendricks, executed at Tyburn for piracy, in which he stated that he had deposited a chest and pot of money at Cooper's Point in the Jerseys. This parchment he smoked, and gave it the appearance of antiquity; and calling on his German 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 prison. This he showed to the tailor as a precious paper which he could by no means lend out of his hand. This operated the desired effect. Soon after, the tailor called on Forrest with one Ambruster, 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 appointed to meet in an upper room of a public house in Philadelphia, by night, and the innkeeper was let into the secret by Forrest. By the 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 white dress on which were painted black eyed sockets, mouth, and bare ribs with dashes of black between them, the outside and inside of the legs and thighs blackened, so as to make the 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 were dismayed and fled, save Forrest the brave. After this, Ambruster, 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. Forrest, 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 handing 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 declared he had got the chest himself 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 play, (which I have seen printed) [ a copy is now in the Athenaeum, called "The Disappointment, or Force of Credulity, 2d edition, 1796".] which contained many incidence of this kind of superstition. It gave such offence to the parties represented, that it could not be exhibited on the stage. I remember some lines in it, for it had much of broken English, and German-English verses, to wit : "My dearest wife, in all my life Ich neber was so frighten'd, De spirit come and I did not run, '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 her stomach ! He made 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 burn you up by conjuration, and make your ghost to be pained and tell it out before your face. She made full confession, and the circumstance 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 anecdotes of the ancient day. Timothy Matlack, Esq., when 95 years of age, a close observer of passing events in his youth, 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 young man, a stranger of decent appearance from the south, (the rogues lived there in the ancient days, in the transport colonies of Maryland and Virginia) gave out he was sold to the devil ! and that unless 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 through the crowd of "there he comes ! he comes !" This instantly generated a general panic --- all fled, from fear, or from the rush of the crowd. When their fears a little subsided, and a calmer inquisition ensued, sure enough, the young man was actually gone, money and all ! I should have stated that the money was collected to pay the price; and it lay upon the table in the event of the demand ! Mr. Matlack assured me he fully believed these transactions occurred. The story was as popular a tale as the story of the "Paxtang boys". In confirmation he told me a fact which he witnessed. Michael H_____, Esq., well known in public life, who lived in Second street above Arch street, gave out (in a mental delirium it is hoped) that he had sold himself to the devil, and would be carried away at a certain time. At that time crowds actually assembled near the premises to witness the denouement and catastrophe ! There must have been truth in this relation, because I now see by the Gazette of 1749, a public notice of this public gathering as an offensive act to the family. I see that M. H. is vindicated from some malicious reports, which said he was distracted, &c., and witnesses appear before Judge Allen, and testify that he was then sane, &c. It was certainly on every side a strange affair ! Something like this subject occurred when I was a child. I remember very well to have been taken to a house on the south side of Race street, a few doors east of Second street, where was a black man, who was stated to have sold himself to the devil, and to have come from Delaware or Maryland peninsula, by the aid of the pious in Philadelphia, to procure his ransom or exemption. I can never forget his piteous and dejected countenance, as I saw him, in the midst of praying people, working fervently at his exorcism in an up stairs chamber. I heard him say he had signed an instrument of writing with his own blood. It was probably at black Allen's house, as he was among the praying ones. My mother told me since that hundreds went to see him. Among these were the Rev. Dr. Pilmore, who finally took him to his own house, where at last, I understood, he concluded from his habits that his greatest calamity was laziness. I conclude he escaped translation, as I never heard of that. {NOTE : translation : a change to a different form, appearance or substance} Several aged persons have occasionally pointed out to me the places where persons, to their knowledge, had dug for pirates' money. The small hill once on the north side of Coates street, near to Front street, was well remembered by John Brown as having been much dug. Col. A. J. Morris, since dead, has told me that in his early days very much was said of Blackbeard and the pirates, both by young and old. Tales were frequently current that this and that person had heard of some of his discovered treasure. Persons in the city were named as having profited by his depredations. But he thought those things were not true. T. Matlack,. Esq., told me he was once shown an oak tree, at the south end of Front street, which was marked KLP, at the foot of which was found a large sum of money. The stone which covered the treasure he saw at the door of the alleged finder, who said his ancestor was directed to it by a sailor in the hospital in England. He told me, too, that when his grandfather Burr died, they opened a chest which had been left by four sailors, "for a day or two", full twenty years before, which was found full of decayed silk goods. Samuel Richards and B. Graves confirmed to me what I had heard elsewhere, that at the sign of the Cock, in Spruce street, about forty-five years ago, there was found in a pot in the cellar a sum of money of about $5,000. The Cock inn was an old two story frame house, which stood on the site of the present easternmost house of B. Graves' row. A Mrs. Green owned and lived in the Cock inn, fifty to sixty years ago, and had sold it to Pegan, who found the money in attempting to deepen the cellar. It became a question to whom the money belonged, which it seems was readily settled between Mrs. Green and Pegan, on the pretext that Mrs. Green's husband had put it there ! But it must appear sufficiently improbable that Mrs. Green should have left such a treasure on the premises if she really knew of it when she sold the house. The greater probability is that neither of them had any conception how it got there, and they mutually agreed to support the story, so as to hush any other or more imposing inquiries. They admitted they found $5,000. It is quite as probable a story that the pirates had deposited it there before the location of the city. It was of course, on the margin of the natural harbour once formed there for vessels. In digging the cellar of the old house at the northeast corner of Second street and Fray's alley, they discovered a pot of money there; also some lately at Frankford creek. As late as the year 1792, the ship carpenters formed a party to dig for pirates' money on the Cohocksinc creek, northwest of the causeway, under a large tree. They got frightened off. And it came out afterwards that a waggish neighbour had enacted "Diabolus" to their discomfiture. In the year 1762, one Tristam Davies, of Bethlehem, advertises that he has discovered a sure means of ascertaining where any metals of any kind lay in the earth; for every metal, says he, has an attraction which he can feel after by his instruments. This shows some reason why so many were credulous in digging for concealed money and mines in former days. Haunted houses were subjects of frequent mention. Some of them were known even down to the time of my early days. On the northeast corner of Walnut and Fifth streets once stood a house very generally called "the haunted house", because of Mr. B. having there killed his wife. He gave the property to Hamilton, the Attorney General, to purge him from his sins by pleading his acquittal at the bar. It long remained empty from the dread of its invisible guest --- about ninety-five years ago. Such as I can still remember were these: Emlen's house, at the south west corner of Noble and Second streets; Naglee's house, far out Second street; near the rope-walk --- there a man was to be seen hanging without a head; a house out by the Centre Square, where "the five wheelbarrow men" committed the murder for which they were executed; the country - seat (in ruins) at Masters' place, where was lately Cook's farm, out North Fourth street, was another haunt of disturbed spirits. I have seen aged people who well remembered the town talk of the people about seeing a black coach driven about at midnight by an evil spirit, having therein one of our deceased rich citizens, who was deemed to have died with unkind feelings to one dependant upon him. I suppress names and circumstances; but there were people enough who were quite persuaded that they saw it ! This was before the Revolution. The good people of Caledonia have so long and exclusively engrossed the faculty of "second sight", that it may justly surprise many to learn that we also have been favoured with at least one case, as well attested as their own ! I refer to the instance of Eli Yarnall of Frankford. Whatever were his first peculiarities, he in time lost them. He fell into intemperate habits, became a wanderer, and died in Virginia, a young man. He was born in Chester county, and with his family emigrated to the neighbourhood of Pittsburg. There, when a child of seven years of age, he suddenly burst into a fit of laughter in the house, saying he then saw his father (then at a distance) running down the mountain side, trying to catch a jug of whiskey which he had let fall. He saw him overtake it, &c. When the father came in, he confirmed the whole story, to the great surprise of all. The boy, after this, excited much wonder and talk in the neighbourhood. Two or three years after this, the family was visited by Robert Verre', a Friend, and afterwards by Joseph Potts with other visiting Friends from Montgomery county. I have heard, in a very direct manner, from those who heard Verree's narrative, that he, to try the lad, asked him various questions about circumstances then occurring at his own house in Montgomery county; all of which he afterwards ascertained to have been really so at that precise time ! Some of the things mentioned were these viz : "I see your house is made partly of log and partly of stone; before the house is a pond which is now let out; in the porch sits a woman, and a man with gray hairs; in the house are several men", &c. When Verree' returned home, he ascertained that his mill pond before his house had just been let out to catch muskrats; that the man in the porch was his wife's brother Jonathan; that the men in the house were his mowers, who had all come in because of a shower of rain. In short, he said every iota was exactly realized. The habits of the boy, when he sought for such facts, was to sit down and hold his head downward -- his eyes often shut; and after some waiting declared what he saw in his visions. He has been found abroad in the fields, sitting on a stump, crying --- on being asked the reasons, he said he saw great destruction of human life by men in mortal combat. His descriptions answered exactly to sea fights and army battles, although he had never seen the sea, nor ships, nor cannon; all of which he fully described as an actual looker on. Some of the Friends who saw him became anxious for his future welfare, and deeming him possessed of a peculiar gift and a good spirit, desired to have the bringing of him up. He was therefore brought away by Joseph Potts, a public Friend, and committed to the mastery of Nathan Harper, a Friend, engaged in the business of tanning in Frankford. There he excited considerable conversation; and so many began to visit him as to be troublesome to his master, who did what he could to discourage the calls. Questions on his part were, therefore, shunned as much as he could. He lost his faculty by degrees, and fell into loose company, which of itself prevented serious people from having any farther wish to interrogate him. To instance the kind of inquiries which were usually presented to him it may be stated, that wives who had missed their husbands long, supposed by shipwreck for instance, would go to him and inquire. He would tell them (it is said) of some still alive, what they were then about, &c. Another case, was a man, for banter, went to him to inquire who stole his pocket book, and he was answered --- no one; but you stole one out of a man's pocket when at the vendue --- and it was so ! {Note : vendue = a public sale at auction} His mother would not allow him "to divine for money", lest he should thereby lose the gift, which she deemed heaven-derived. The idea is not novel, as may be seen in John Woolman's life, where he speaks of a rare gift of healing, which was lost by taking a reward. The minutes of Council of 1683, thus state the indictment against Margaret Mattson before named, for witchcraft, to wit : "Henry Drystreet said he was told twenty years before that she was a witch and that several cows were bewitched by her --- and James Saunderling's mother told him she had bewitched her cow, but was afterwards found not so." Charles Ashcom told that Anthony's wife, said she sold her cattle, because her mother had bewitched them -- having taken the witchcraft of Hendrick's cattle and put it on their oxen. Also that one night the daughter of Mrs. Mattson called him up hastily and she said there was a great light passed before, and that an old woman with a knife in her hand stood at her bed feet, and there cried out that John Symcock should take away his calves, or else she would sent them to hell. Amnakey Coolin attested that her husband took the heart of a calf that died by witchcraft and boiled it, and that then Mrs. M. came in and asked what they were at --- when she ridiculed it, by saying they had better boiled the bones, &c. The case of a strange woman, from whose breast were taken out pins. John Richards and his wife accused Robert Guard and his wife, as having bewitched her. The case being found trivial was dismissed. As late as the period of the Revolutionary war, the notion of witchcraft was still very prevalent, and especially in the country. It occurs to me, as the memory of the facts in the case are now so fast receding from present notice, to state sundry circumstances within my own knowledge, and which are withal a fair specimen at its general credulity. While writing, one cannot but wonder, at its general extinguishment now as a matter of belief or practice, and this without any known direct means to suppress it. I proceed to my relations, to wit : A respectable man, a farmer in Chester county --- and a religious professor, had a daughter, a young woman supposed to be affected with witchcraft. She would often be strangely shivered and agitated, without any heart sickness --- often she would scratch the walls, the floor, &c. The father was urged to go to Doctor Fraley, a witch doctor in Germantown; he was unbelieving and reluctant; he was, however, persuaded by the general voice of the neighbourhood --- he mounted a very fine steed horse, and put up one night on his way. The next morning he was amazed to find his horse, most strangely lank and jaded, as if the very witches had ridden him all night ! --- he however mounted him and rode onward; and was surprised to find him improve in appearance at every mile. Arrived at Doctor Fraley's, he assured him that the daughter was really bewitched, and his medicine would certainly cure her --- it was a black liquid contained in a bottle which she was to drink. He was told that she would utterly object to even tasting it. It was truly so; they had to force her; she was speedily and surprisingly cured. S. H. a Methodist minister, near Valley Forge, remembered perfectly the case of his brother, when a boy, he was strangely diseased, rapidly pining and wasting away, not able to stand up, his mother who was a pious Quaker woman, insisted that he must be bewitched, and that her husband must go with her to a "witch doctor" living at Chester Valley. They went, taking the child with them. He soon said he was bewitched, and that he could cause the witch to show herself. When he saw the child could not stand up, he said he could make him quickly, and he did so in the same moment by standing him on his bed --- as if that was a charmed place --- to the amazement of the parents. The mother declined seeing her ! but he said she would certainly visit their house once or more on an errand of "begging the loan of something", and that they must "be sure to lend or give her nothing" --- for if they did, the child would die ! but if they did not he would recover. Soon after they got home, an old woman, already bearing the fame and blame of a witch, came to beg an axe --- she was refused. She then begged a little rye meal to make a poultice. This she was also refused. A day or two afterwards she came to borrow a bag --- and not getting that, she finally asked for a drink of water, and was told that there was the well, and she might draw for herself. Finding herself wholly baffled, she desisted, and the child quickly recovered, and is now a man alive and well. About this same period of time, the reliance upon dreams, was very prevalent. It was a common practice in families and neighbourhoods to treasure them up in the memory for relation to one another. They had rules of interpretation, both in books and in traditionary practice. They believed in general that they forewarned and premonished. Many strange "true ones" as they called them, I have heard, and even now several families remain, in which, through the influence of early parental tales, they still give heed to their dreams. Chapter 26. SPORTS AND AMUSEMENTS "We, shifting for relief, would play the shapes Of frolic fancy --- call laughter forth, Deep shaking every nerve." It may help our conceptions of the olden time to be led into an acquaintance with the nature of their sports and amusements; to this end, the following facts may be contemplated with some advantage, to wit : The dances of the polite part of society were formal minuets. Country or contre dances, although understood, were of rarer occurrence. Hipsesaws and jigs were the common dances of the commonalty. It was long before dancing was encouraged in Philadelphia sufficiently to present a school for a dancing master. The aged Mrs. Shoemaker told me she supposed the first dancing master ever named in Philadelphia was one Bolton, who taught about eighty-five years ago. In the year 1730, Mrs. Ball in Laetitia court, advertises her school for French, playing on the spinet, and dancing, &c. When Whitfield laboured in Philadelphia, in 1739, such was the religious excitement of the time, that the dancing school, the assembly and concert room were shut up as inconsistent with the gospel. This was opposed by some others; so far so, that some of the gentlemen concerned broke open the doors, but no company went to the assembly room. In later time, however, the dancing assembly among the gentry had high vogue, partaking, before the Revolution, of the aristocratic feelings of a monarchial government --- excluding the families of mechanics, however wealthy. The subscription was 3 Pounds 15s.; admitting no gentleman under 21 years, nor lady under 18 years. The supper consisted of tea, chocolate, and rusk -- a simple cake, now never seen amidst the profusion of French confectionary. For then we had no spice of French in our institutions, and consequently did not know how to romp in cotillions, but moved with measured dignity in grave minuets or gayer country dances. Every thing was conducted by rule of six married managers, who distributed places by lot; and partners were engaged for the evening --- leaving nothing to the success of forwardness or favouritism. Gentlemen always drank tea with their partners the day after the assembly --- a sure means of producing a more lasting acquaintance, if mutually desirable. Fox hunting formerly formed the field exercise of some of our wealthy citizens, within the memory of several of the aged whom I have conversed with. There was a kennel of hounds kept by one Butler, for the company. It was situated then as out of town, but in a place now populous enough --- say on the brow of the hill north of Callowhill street, descending to Pegg's run, and at about sixty feet westward of Second street. Butler himself dwelt in the low brick house adjoining the northwest corner of Callowhill street on Second street. As population increased, their game decreased; so much so, that the establishment had to remove over to Gloucester, so as to make their hunts in the Jersey pines. At the same time the company provided for their old huntsman, Butler, by setting him up, in the year 1756, with the first public stage for New York. Old Captain Samuel Morris, dead about thirty years ago, was for many years the life and head of the club. I well remember to have seen the voracious and clamorous hounds in their kennel near Gloucester ferry. Horse races appear to have been of very early introduction, and bringing with them the usual evils --- hard to be controlled. They were, at an early period, performed out "Race street" --- so popularly called because of its being the street directly leading out to the race ground, cleared out for the purpose, through the forest trees, still long remaining there. As early as the year 1726, I see that the Grand Jury present, "that since the city has become so very populous, the usual custom of horse racing at fairs in the Sassafras street is very dangerous to life; also, it is an evil that they who erect the booths, &c., in that street, at the fairs do sell all sorts of liquors, &c." It is not improbable, from this description, that they then ran straight races along the line of the cleared street --- then a street but very little used for travelling. The late very aged T. Matlack, Esq., was passionately fond of races in his youth. He told me of his remembrances out Race street. In his early days the woods were in commons, having several straggling forest trees still remaining there, and the circular course ranging through those trees. He said all genteel horses were pacers. A trotting horse was deemed a base breed ! All these Race street races were mostly pace races. His father and others kept pacing studs for propagating the breed. Captain Graydon, in his Memoirs, says racing was a great passion of his young days. The race horses, in 1760, were kept at Mrs. Nicholls' stables, which extended down Fourth street, two-thirds of the way to Chestnut street, from the rear of her tavern then at the corner of High street. "The enthusiasm of the turf (says he) pervaded the Academy; and the most extravagant transport of that sport was transferred to the boys' foot races round the whole square in which the Academy stood --- stripped to the shirt, the head and waist bound up with handkerchiefs, and with the shoes off, they ran near half a mile at a heat ! " Thomas Bradford, Esq., telling me of his recollections of the races, says he was told that the earliest races were scrub and pace races, on the ground now used as Race street. But in his younger days they were run in a circular form on a ground from Arch or Race street down to Spruce street, and from Eighth street of Delaware to Schuylkill river --- making thus two miles for a heat. About the same time they also ran straight races of one mile, from Centre Square to Schuylkill, out High street. In the year 1761, I notice the first public advertisement of a race; wherein is stated the terms of running the intended races "at the centre race ground --- to run three times round the course each heat". The grounds themselves at the same time were familiarly called "the Governor's woods". At the Centre square the races used to be continued till the time of the war of 1775. None occurred there afterwards; and after the peace, they were made unlawful. The first equestrian feats performed in Philadelphia, was in 1771, by Faulks; he executed all his wonders alone --- himself riding from one to three horses at a time. Bull baiting and cock fighting were much countenanced. The late aged and respectable T.M. had once a great passion for the latter, so that some wags sometimes called him Tim Gaff; thereby affecting to slur a latin signature which he sometimes assumed as a political writer, of which T. G. were the initials of his two latin words. As respectable a person as Doctor William Shippen, in 1735, in writing to Doctor Gardiner, says, "I have sent you a young game cock, to be depended upon --- which I would advise you to put to a walk by himself with the hen I sent you before --- I have not sent an old cock --- our young cockers have contrived to kill and steal all I had." This is the same gentleman who speaks of "his beloved friend Mr. Whitfield, the Rev. preacher". Very aged persons have told me of a celebrated place of amusement out Third street by Vine street. It was the place of Charles Quinan's --- always pronounced Queen Ann's place. It stood on the site of Third street, not then opened; and was famous for alluring the citizens of middle life. There he kept "flying coaches and horses"; they were affixed to a whirligig frame. The women sat in boxes for coaches, and the men strode on wooden horses --- in those positions they were whirled around ! {Note : Merry-go-round ?} Aged persons inform that bullbaiting, bearbaiting, and horseracing, were much more frequent in old time than since the war of Independence. T. B., Esq., tells me that many men of rank and character, as well as the butchers, reared and kept dogs for the sport. John Ord, an Englishman, southeast corner of Second and High streets, kept a pair of bull-dogs for the purpose of the breed. In the days of my youth, the barbarous sport of bullbaiting was but too frequent on the commons in the Northern Liberties. Happily, however, they have been quite laid aside for the last thirty years. They were got up and supported by butchers --- a class of men much more ferocious and uncivilized than now. They were stopped by Squire Wharton --- our spirited mayor. He went out to the intended sport seemingly as a friendly observer --- and so they expected. When all was prepared for the onset of the dogs he stepped suddenly into the ring, and calling aloud, said he would, at the peril of his life, seize and commit the first man who should begin; at the same time, calling on names present to support him at their peril, he advanced to the bull and unloosed him from the stake. He then declared he would never desist from bringing future abettors of such exercises to condign punishments, for which we owe him many thanks ! {Note: condign = deserved} In the year 1724, slack rope and tight rope dancing by men and women is announced in the Gazette as to be exhibited for twenty evenings at the new booth on Society hill. This was of course then out of town --- somewhere near South and Front streets. They used to have a play at the time of the fairs, called "throwing at the joke". A leather cylinder, not unlike a high candlestick, was placed on the ground over a hole. The adventurers placed their coppers on the top of the joke, then retired to a distance and tossed a stick at it so as to knock the whole down. The pennies which fell in the pot were to belong to the thrower, those which fell out, to the owner of the joke. The leather was pliable and was easily bent to let the pennies drop. They played also at the fairs the wheel of fortune, nine holes, &c. In former days the streets were much filled with boys "skying a copper" --- a play to toss up pennies and guess heads or tails; "pitch penny", too was frequent --- to pitch at a white mark on the ground; they pitched also "chuckers" --- a kind of pewter pennies cast by the boys themselves. All these plays have been banished from our city walks by the increased pavements, and still more by the multitudes of walkers who disturb such plays. The game for shooters much more abounded before the Revolution than since. Fishing and fowling were once subjects of great recreation and success. Wild pigeons used to be innumerable, so also black birds, reed birds, and squirrels. As late as the year 1720, an act was passed, fining 5s. for shooting pigeons, doves, or partridges, or other fowl, (birds) in the streets of Philadelphia, or the gardens or orchards adjoining any houses within the said city ! In Penn's woods, westward of Broad street, used to be excellent pigeon shooting. The skaters of Philadelphia have long been pre-eminent. Graydon in his Memoirs has stated his reasons for thinking his countrymen are the most expert and graceful in the world ! quite surpassing the Dutch and English. He thinks them also the best swimmers to be found in the civilized world ! Mr. George Tyson, a broker of Philadelphia, weighing 180 to 190 pounds, is the greatest swimmer (save a companion, who swims with him) we have ever had, not excepting Doctor Franklin himself. He and that companion have swum from Philadelphia to Fort Mifflin and back without ever resting, save a little while floating off the fort to see it ! He says he never tires with swimming, and that he can float in perfect stillness, with his arms folded, by the hour. He deems his sensations at that time delightful. He went across the Delaware, drawn by a paper kite in the air. He is short and fat --- his fat and flesh aid his specific lightness, no doubt, in the water, and cause him readily to swim high out of the water. During the old fashioned winters, when about New Year's day, every one expected to see or hear of an "Ox Roast" on the Delaware, upon the thick ribbed ice, the river surface was filled with skaters. Of the very many varieties of skater of all colours and sizes mingled together, and darting about here and there "upward and downward, mingled and convolved" a few were at all times discernible as being decidedly superior to the rest for dexterity; power, and grace --- namely, William Tharpe, Doctor Foulke, Governor Mifflin, C.W. Peale, George Heyl, "Joe" Claypoole, and some others; not forgetting, by the way, a black Othello, who from the apparent muscle and powerful movement, might have sprung as did the noble Moor, from "men of royal siege". In swiftness he had no competitor; he outstripped the wind; the lay of his elbows in alternate movement with his "low gutter" skates, while darting forward and uttering occasionally a wild scream peculiar to the African race while in active exertion of body, was very imposing in appearance and effect. Of the gentlemen skaters before enumerated, and others held in general admiration by all, George Heyl took the lead in graceful skating, and in superior dexterity in cutting figures and "High Dutch" within limited space of smooth ice. On a lead field of glass, among others he might be seen moving about elegantly and at perfect ease, in curve lines, with folded arms, being dressed in red coat (as was the fashion), and buckskin "tights" his bright broad skates in an occasional round turn flashing upon the eye; then again to be pursued by others, he might be seen suddenly changing to the back and "heel forward" movement, offering them his hand, and at the same time eluding their grasp by his dexterous and instantaneous deviations to the right and left, leaving them to their hard work of "striking 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 quick in his speech and manner, but gentlemanly withal. C. W. Peale, as a skater, was only remarkable for using a remarkable gait of "gutter skates", with 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 without fear of molestation. The "Belsh Nichel" and St. Nicholas has been a time of Christmas 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 visitor ! The following 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 roll'd on my bed and was turning around, Down the chimney 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, then turned with a jerk; And laying his finger aside of his nose; And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle; And I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night !" In my youthful days it was a great sport with the boys to sled down hills in the city, on the snow in winter. Since the population and the wheel-carriages have increased, the danger of being run over more 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 puerilities; {Note : puerilities = childish behaviour} when they were being taught by Jonah Thompson, who was a man of good military port and aspect, 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 emblem) and having withal a little 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 pinhook to a cord, so attached it to his wig as to draw it up, leaving it suspended as if depending from the ceiling. At another time they combined at night to take to pieces a country wagon which they lifted on to a chimney wall 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 their 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 bigger clans of feds and anti - feds. They used to have, according to the streets, their regular night - battles with sticks and stones, making the panes 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 Chestnut street were frequently headed by one whose naval exploits, since that time, in the Mediterranean and on the Atlantic, have secured to him imperishable fame; also by his faithful friend and ardent admirer, well known since throughout the community for his suavity and exquisitely polished manners. They were the Achilles and the Patrocles of the "downtowners". The Northern 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 hinder them, as it was deemed an affair out of town. All of this spirit of rivalry and fighting was the product of the war of Independence. Their eyes, as boys, were filled with the echoes of battles lost or won. They felt their buoyant spirits inspired with martial ardor too, and having no real enemies to encounter, they invented them for the occasion. In this way the academy boys were accountred 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 !" Chapter 26A. THE CITY DANCING ASSEMBLY 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 separation, than now. It only professed to enroll and retain in its union, those who had ancestral bearings and associations. Some of the original MSS. lists of the day having been put into my hands, it may be curious at this time to here copy the record, and to furnish, to sundry of the descendants, this roll of remembrance of their ancestors --- to wit: "A list of subscribers for an assembly, appointed under the direction of Joseph Shippen, James Burd, Redmund Conyngham, and Joseph Sims, for the season (the year 1749). Each subscription to be 3 Pounds --- to be paid to any of the Directors at subscribing." The Governor Alexander Barclay William Allen James Young Archibald McCall Peter Bard Joseph Turner John Kidd Richard Peters William Bingham Adam Thompson Buckridge Sims Alexander Steadman John Swift Patrick Baird John Kearsley, junr. John Sober William Plumstead David Franks James Burd John Inglis William Franklin William Taylor Henry Harrison James Trotter Daniel Boyle Samson Levy Thomas White Linford Lardner John Lawrence Benjamin Price Thomas Graeme John Francis John Maland William Humphreys Mr. Venables Alexander Hamilton Thomas Cross Thomas Lawrence, junr. George Smith John Wallace Thomas Bond Phineas Bond Thomas Willing Joseph Shippen John Ross Samuel McCall, junr. Hugh Davey George McCall Daniel Roberdeau Edward Jones Joseph Marks Samuel McCall, senr. Christopher Carnan Redmund Conyngham John Hesselius Joseph Sims Robert Warren Thomas Lawrence, senr. Lawrence Deniedy David Mc Ilvaine William Mc Ilvaine John Wilcocks John Nelson Charles Steadman Lists of Belles and Dames of Philadelphia fashionables, of about the year 1757. An original list for the ball of the City Assembly. 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 McCall Mrs. Charles Steadman Mrs. Samuel McCall, senr. Mrs. Thomas White Mrs. Samuel McCall, junr. Mrs. Johnes Mrs. Swift Mrs. Warren Mrs. Sims Mrs. Oswald Mrs. Wilcocks Mrs. Thomas Bond Mrs. Lawrence, senr. Mrs. Davey Mrs. Lawrence, junr. Mrs. William Humphreys Mrs. Pennery Miss Sophia White Mrs. Henry Harrison Mrs. Venables Mrs. Bingham Miss Hyatt Mrs. Clymer Miss Betty Clifften Mrs. Wallace Miss Molly Dick Mrs. Ellis Miss Fanny Marks Mrs. Alexander Steadman Miss Peggy Oswald Mrs. Hopkinson Miss Betty Oswald Mrs. Hockley Miss Sally Woodrop Mrs. Marks Miss Molly Oswald Miss Molly Francis Mrs. Willing Miss Betty Francis Miss Nancy Willing Miss Osburn Miss Dolly Willing Miss Sober Mrs. Mc Ilvaine Miss Molly Lawrence`` Miss Betty Graydon Miss Kitty Lawrence Miss Sally Fishbourne Mrs. George Smith Miss Furnell Miss Nancy Hickman Isabella Cairnie Miss Sally Hunlock Miss Pennyfeather Miss Peggy Harding Miss Jenny Richardson Miss Molly McCall Mrs. Reilly Miss Peggy McCall Mrs. Graydon Mrs. Lardner Mrs. Ross Miss Patty Ellis Mrs. Peter Bard Miss Betty Plumstead Mrs. Franklin Miss Rebecca Davis Miss Lucy De Normondie Miss Jerry Greame Miss Phebe Winecoop Miss Nelly McCall Mrs. Harkly Miss Randolph I have also preserved a card of admission, of the year 1749, addressed to Mrs. Jeykell, a lady of pre-eminent fashion and beauty, the then leading lady of the ton. {Note : ton = Vogue; the prevailing fashion} She was the grand-daughter of the first Edward Shippen, a mayor, merchant, and a Quaker. She was 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 Shippens great house" in south Second street, where is now Nicholas Waln'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 country, and none but playing cards were imported for sale. I have seen, at least a variety of a dozen in number, addressed to this 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 army present their compliments to Mrs. 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 Revolution. And as a case in point he mentions that when squire Hillegas' daughter was married to 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 happened 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 !! Chapter 27. EDUCATION "Thus from the mind by use of alphabetic signs" It is greatly to the credit of our forefathers, that they showed an early and continually 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 arithmetic" 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, &c., &c., &c. 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 for 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 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 facts, forgotten as fast as learned, because above the capacity of the youthful mind to appreciate 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 away who never "committed" a page of dictionary learning in their lives, who as readily attained the common sense of words by use and reading, as any of their offspring now possess them by lessons painfully conned memoriter. {Note : Memoriter = emphasis on memorization} 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 reputation 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 sought 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 Pounds 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 Chestnut 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 augusti 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 served 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 tuition, that Thomas Lloyd, the deputy governor, preferred to send his younger daughters from Philadelphia to that place to finish their education. Our first most distinguished seminaries of learning began in the country before the academy in Philadelphia was instituted. The Rev. William Tennett, who came from Ireland, arrived at New York in 1718, and in 1721 removed to Bensalem in Bucks county; soon after he settled in a Presbyterian church, of small consideration, at "the forks of Neshamina", (he had been ordained a churchman) where he opened a school for teaching the languages, &c. 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 its 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 clergymen, well known to most readers, especially his sons Gilbert and William --- 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 side --- this to encourage him to prosecute his views and make his residence near us permanent. The early fare of Mr. Tennent accorded with the rude materials of his house and school; for, it appears from the correspondence of James Logan that he was obliged to procure and send him provisions, at his first settlement, from Philadelphia. Such was the proper "alma mater" of the chief scholars of 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 time he resided at Thunder Hill in Maryland, and there educated such men as Charles Thomson, George Reed, Thomas M'Kean, &c. --- men who were remarkable in our Revolutionary struggle for their abilities and attachment to the cause of their country. 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 Presbyterian church in High street, in occasionally serving his pulpit. He died in 1777, "full of honours and full of years". In 1750, about the time that the Philadelphia academy and college began to excite public interest and attention, the City Council expressed some sense of the subject on their minutes, to wit : A committee report on the advantages to be gained by the erection of an academy and public school, saying, "the youth would receive a good education at home, and be also under the eye of their friends; it would tend to raise able magistrates, &c. It would raise schoolmasters from among the poorer class, to be qualified to serve 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, 200 Pounds, also 50 Pounds per annum to charity schools, for the next five years; also 50 Pounds per annum, for five years, for the right 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 auspices of Doctor Franklin, was originally built for Whitfield's meeting house in 1741; the academy started with a subscription sum of 2600 Pounds. 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 academy, "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 little above Vine street; --- being two stories high on Front 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, neglected looking building, filled with numerous poor tenantry, 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 "academies" "seminaries", "lyceums", "institutes", &c., were perpetualy springing up in every quarter among us. Before those days "ladies' academies and Misses boarding schools" were unknown; 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 them 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. One of his scholars, 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 (ships) 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 Philadelphia Gazette --- his whole family and house were burnt. W. Kid had a large school at the old Maon's lodge. My school 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 beautiful --- 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 --- Never retraced --- yet never forgot ! My facetious friend, Lang Syne, had presented a lively picture of the "schoolmasters" in the days last referred to, when "preceptors" "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 prominent 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 but not least" in our remembrance, 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 until the arrival of the "master of scholars" John Todd, they were busily employed, every one, in finding his place, under the control for a time, of a short Irishman usher, named Jimmy M'Cue. On the entrance of the master, all shuffling of the feet, "scrougeing !" {Note : scrougeing = crowding; pressing} hitting 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 in 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 hearing the one standing near him --- a dead calm --- when suddenly 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 "growing 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, peculiar 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, gripped 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 { Note : nankeen: 1. a durable brownish yellow cotton fabric originally loomed by hand in China; 2. trousers made of 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 nankeen, 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 ! yes master, O ! 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 tonight --- 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 effect as if he had been thrashing a flour bag), almost breathless with rage, he once more appealed to the 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 protected 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, a few years ago, went deliberately out of his school to purchase a cow skin, with which, on his return, he extinguished his bitter revenge on a boy who had offended him. {Note : cow skin = cowhide : a coarse whip made of rawhide or braided leather} The age of chivalry preferred 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 together, it was a common practice to make the boys strip off 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 was 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 of February 1792. 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 music. Mr. Poor himself was a good singer of psalmody from New England, a member of the Presbyterian church. The incorporated academy had a good array of names, say in 1802 --- Rev. Samuel Magaw, President; Rev. Henry Helmuth, Vice president; James A. Neal, Principal; Benjamin Say, Secretary; and twelve trustees, six of whom were clergymen, the other six, laymen. It died at last, by what cause I know not; probably by too much rivalship, and a lessened support. The preceding intimation of vocal music as being, then, first 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, pianos 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. They 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 entertainment. This they might well cherish and require then --- for no singing was deemed "singing 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 the words and sense are to be strangled in the overwhelming execution ! For this morbid fashion and change for the worse, we are wholly indebted 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-taking, 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 better. 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 posterity. 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 sufficiently 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-professors, as a matter of course, have no claim or pretension, although equally citizens of the state, and in the opinion of many, most needing right education. All this is the obvious 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 with deference) are to be considered as charged, by virtue of their office and ministry "to raise up your future judges, legislators, lawyers, physicians, 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 thousands for the schools". It was not always so ! "So did not St. Paul". And, as early as the Blue Laws of Connecticut, it was there provided that "no minister should teach a school". They had, perhaps, seen with regret the union of church and state in their fatherland; 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, &c., with their fat livings; and how the chambers and forms were engrossed by the gentry and nobility, and their religious bias pledged to the dominant sect. It has been a commended practice of modern times, that the colleges can annually send out educated school masters to teach common schools, for short seasons, while they themselves are actually students to higher ulterior purposes. This, in its effect, is but a sadly retrograde motion. What care they for the advancement of the scholar, who are themselves only using them as stepping stones to higher aims? How can they give sufficient and efficient aid to heedless boys, who are themselves engrossed with other designs? We may set it down as true, that no elementary teachers should be ambitious and aspiring, nor even "liberally paid", as has been so often reiterated. Common education, to become general, should be low in price, and the places be occupied by patient, unambitious men, of peculiar minds --- such as most like retirement and freedom from business excitements, and who, for that cause, are well satisfied to content themselves with small things. There are such men --- and there were such men. The good Anthony Benezet taught his scholars at ten shillings a quarter; and we can remember the long and quiet lives of such school masters as Lyttle, Todd, Trip, Clark, Rankin, Yerkes, Gartly, and others, at the same terms. They acquired a little home in a long life --- were quite content --- and only aimed at most to qualify their children for more aspiring situations. They never thought of vacations and indulgences, wherein the pupils lost half as much by absence as they had acquired. They conceived, and conceived truly, that their business was to make their scholars good writers, good arithmeticians, good readers, and intelligent grammarians --- and then they justly inferred, that they were qualified by their own separate exertions, to improve themselves at home, if they would, in all manner of intellectual attainment, such as history, philosophy, belles lettres, &c. Now, teachers go upon the principle that children have no natural friends to look after their improvement when out of school, and they thus affect to take the exclusive charge of them, and to make their pupils learn memoritur, the very things which they might attain by their own unassisted powers, after they had learnt the first principles in the schools. So much is this the case, that even boys and girls are to be taught, at a charge, how they may romp and play, to preserve their health, under the name of Gymnastics, &c. {Note : memoritur = memoriter = by memory} On the whole, education is more perplexed, wearisome and annoying than it used to be, at far greater charge, and with less effect. It affects to teach boys and girls chemistry, astronomy, botany, and ornamental branches, and leaves them with much less of arithmetic, fine running hands, good spelling and grammatical composition. The teachers, in the mean time, affect to imitate colleges in their vacations --- a grant needful and well placed there, where the young men are deemed to be self-moved aspirants after fame and learning --- going there to finish their previous education, and being obliged to go home twice a year to distant places, to see relatives and friends, and to get new outfits. It is easy to believe that no day schools have any real occasion to become their imitators. Coincident with all these innovations is the unsettled variety of school books; so that every school seems to have its own class and order. Some grammars are so new and unlike those of the reading world, that after learning it, there is an occasion to learn the other, as a means to understand the ordinary terms of other men. Arithmetic, too, is changed from its fixed principles to be an affair of dexterity, formed to wonder-strike parents and guardians in examination days. It destroys all former progressive gradation of addition, multiplication, division, &c., and under the mixed up form of "mental arithmetic", and perplexing abstraction of tender minds, wears and tears our children to sickness or disgust. We hardly know whether we should ask pardon for so lengthened an article on schooling and school learning or not. Many parents, we feel persuaded, will understand the subject and agree with our frank animadversions. {Note : animadversion = adverse criticism} Some teachers, we fear, will feel aggrieved, and we are sincerely unwilling to offend any. At the same time, we do know, that there are sundry instructers who do really deprecate the use of all mode and fashion in the exercise of education, and who sincerely believe that all time occupied in committing to memory in schools, whether in history, chronology, astronomy, chemistry, mineralogy, botany, natural and moral philosophy, &c., and all teachings in those branches, told in forms which could be equally or better comprehended by mere reading when freed from schools, is all a waste of precious time. In all these things, they could trench themselves behind the warrant of the great Locke, who wisely said : ---"Let your rules be as few as possible --- else one or two things must happen, either to punish often for breaches which they cannot avoid, or else to overlook them, and so impair your authority and influence. But rather settle in them in a succession of practice, and this not by books, in abstract consideration, but by your personal explanation and help". Again, we have it from Lord Bacon, that "reading makes a full man, and thinking a correct man"; and Mr. J. O. Taylor has said, "if we will but give the people books, and this ability to read, they can educate themselves; and self-education is always the best education !" Will any consider? The youth of the present day have little or no conception of the great advance of agreeable and useful reading got up for their use, and especially by such an establishment as the Sunday School Union. In former days some half a dozen little popular works constituted their all. They were such as Goody Two Shoes, Tom Thumb, Jack the Giant Killer, Jack and Jill, Poor Richard, Gulliver, Robinson Crusoe, Baron Trenck, The Babes in the Wood ! "Sure you remember the Babes in the Wood !" These were read out of schools. It was called "New England", to contradistinguish it from the old England Primer, used in the colonial times. Little as was this six-penny book, it was a formidable concern to publish it. The extensive sale of it could alone sustain it as an undertaking, intended to compete with the imported copies. It was early undertaken by M. Carey and others of the trade, and in 1824 was stereotyped by Chandler & Co. Two or three of the various editions, now rare to be seen, are lying before me, from which I here make a few specimen extracts. I give them, under a conviction that, simple and rude as the work may seem, it will revive numerous grateful recollections in many of the present aged, who will thus be called back to the contemplation of their school days, when "With satchel and shining morning face, Creeping like snail --- unwillingly to school." The primer was entitled "easy lessons for attaining the true reading of English", beginning with a, b, c; and next followed by ba, be, bi, bo, bu. Lesson 12 says, "Billy, what do you think the world stands on? I don't know, says Harry, but our Tom says it stands on a great turtle". It was a great thing to get onward as far as the middle, where rude little marginal pictures, done in lead engravings, were affixed to short couplets in alphabetical order, thus, viz : --- A. In Adam's fall, ......................We sinned all. B. Thy life to mend, ..................This book attend. C. The Cat doth play, ................And after slay.* D. The Dog will bite, ..................The thief at night. E. An Eagle's flight, ...................Is out of sight. F. The idle Fool, ........................Is whipt at school. G. As runs the Glass, ................Man's life doth pass. H. My book and Heart, ...............Shall never part. J. Job feels the rod, ...................Yet blesses God. K. Britain's King in spleen, .........Lost States thirteen L. The Lion bold, .......................The Lamb doth hold. M. The Moon gives light, ............In time of night. N. Nightingales sing, .................In time of spring. O. The royal Oak was the tree ...That saved his royal majesty. P. Peter denies,.........................His Lord and cries. Q. Queen Esther comes in state.. To save the Jews from dismal fate. R. Rachel doth mourn, ...............For her first born. S. Samuel anoints, ....................Whom God appoints. T. Time cuts down all, ................Both great and small. U. Uriah's beautiful wife, ..............Made David seek his life. W. Whales in the sea, ................God's voice obey. X. Xerxes the great did die, ...........And so must you and I. Y. Youth forward slips,..................Death soonest nips.** Z. Zaccheus he did climb the tree,...His Lord to see. * The picture represents puss erect playing the fiddle, and the rat dancing to it. ** The picture shows a Death's anatomy, with his dart, in swift pursuit of a running boy. At the close of the whole, came the awful picture and history of the burning of Mr. John Rogers, minister of the gospel, the first martyr in the time of Queen Mary, accompanied by his wife with nine small children, and one at the breast. Then followed many mournful and pathetic verses of advice to his children, saying : "Give ear, my children, to my word, Whom God hath dearly bought, Lay up his laws within your heart, And print them in your thought. I leave you here a little book, For you to look upon, That you may see your father's face, When he is dead and gone. The picture and verses solemnized many a little heart, and were probably intended thus early to generate in protestant minds, an early and abiding aversion to papacy, once deemed an essential part of English education; and it may not escape notice, that Mr. Carey, who was himself a papist, was liberal enough to give it the passport of his imprint as a publisher. It was in keeping with his publishing afterwards, and selling numerous copies of the protestant Bible. The little book had also some little counsels and maxims, now none the worse for age, such as: All's well that ends well. You must not buy a pig in a poke. Time and tide wait for no man. As you brew so you must bake. When wine is in, wit is out. The more haste the worse speed. Out of sight, out of mind. Good children must Fear God all day, Love Christ alway, Parent's obey, In secret play, No false thing say, Mind little play, By no sin stray, Make no delay, in doing good. Next : PRIMITIVE COURTS AND TRIALS