Area History: Chapter 42: Vol II - Watson's Annals of Philadelphia And Pennsylvania, 1857 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. ____________________________________________________________ ANNALS of PHILADELPHIA AND PENNSYLVANIA, VOL. II ______________________________________________ Chapter 42 FINAL APPENDIX of the YEAR 1856. NOTES and REFLECTIONS on SOCIAL CHANGES and PROGRESS IN GENERAL "Now other men and other manners reign." Since the publication of the preceding pages fourteen years ago (in 1842) showing the State of Society in Olden time -- and considering now, the wonderful changes continually passing upon men and things in the course of "Progress", it seems to become a needful comment on the past, to bring up to the notice of the present entering generation, some of the leading changeful features of the present day -- i.e. "the Progress of Social life" -- as said Daniel Webster, -- "a history of our Firesides and the changes -- from age to age of our homes". We shall therefore aim to present to our readers -- by way of contrast, such comparisons of the present and the past, as shall best exhibit the points in which the measures of change and progress have been most conspicuously manifested -- and which are indeed, so strikingly wonderful, when told, as should -- if duly considered -- make us a wonder unto ourselves. Without such an Expose, we cannot but believe that the mass of the people -- so familiar and cognisant in every-day things now -- could not realise the position from which they have been taken. They are but too prone to think that the life that now is, is the life that has always been. In these matters, we might say with Sidney Smith on a like occasion -- "It is of some importance at what period a man is born. A young man alive at this period hardly knows to what changes and improvements of human life he has been introduced" -- And with Macauley's recent history say "We are to consider that the history of such a given past epoch is no longer the history of the country, as we now see it". Let us therefore to facts; Such as will be shown under the following heads to wit : General remarks on our changes It is pleasing to see -- amidst such passing events, that there is a growing interest in preserving the Annals and Reminiscences of the past. The great changes of the present, compared with the past, adds to their picturesqueness; and from this cause it is, that those who discard the use of all past modes and forms -- and who habitually supercede them by new things -- are nevertheless gratified in reading the record of their preservation in books. We have received many written notices of these facts from various correspondents -- and as a proof in point, we here extract from one such letter, received from the author of the History of Norwich, Connecticut : -- saying "A new and fascinating department of literature is growing up amongst us, having for its basis, not merely bare facts and dates of our domestic history, genealogy and biography, but also, all that is instructive, beautiful and shadowy of the past -- for ":posterity (as said John W. Adams) delights in details -- such as your Annals have so vividly displayed -- Truly, I sympathise with you, and every one who like you, is engaged in reviving and keeping fresh the deeds and memorials of our forefathers". What wonderful things do we now behold "not before dreamt of in our philosophy!" Rail Roads and Cars -- annihilating space -- Telegraphic wires, conversing at unlimited distances -- Steamers traversing every Sea -- Steam-Engines and power adapted to all kinds of manufactures -- Inventions of machinery (in the Patent office ) to supercede almost every kind of former labor -- Stereotyping everything on paper -- Daguerreotypes cheapening the likenesses of every body. Chemical developments, for the supply of every thing required in the arts, and opening the arcana of nature to the use of all -- ascertaining the elements of combinations in nature -- and so seperating the parts, as to show new sources of power and profit -- forecasting the fact, that in time, Water may be used as a Fire ! In the mean time, the ingenuity and devices of Crime, becoming more and more apparent -- and compeling new efforts of counteraction from all those who regard the progress of Religion and Virtue in the world. We see too, the great exaltation of the Anglo Saxon race as a species destined to carry out civilization and christianity to all the dark corners of the globe -- The conquest of Mexico, by us -- the opening trade of California and Oregon -- the discovery of gold and quick Silver -- the Commerce of the Pacific and the access there to China -- the opening of a Rail Road across the Isthmus, and a great Rail Road across our Continent, all tend to open some grand developments of Providence, in the coming half Century -- they who shall succeed us, shall behold still greater wonders ! The parade and success of Foreign Artistes, become more and more astounding -- So much of our money contributed to their reward ! All kinds of new devices for making money -- It is new to make public readings of Shakespeare, as introduced by Mrs. Fanny Kemble -- Operas are now fostered -- supplanting natural music -- Immodest exposure of female limbs in dancing Polkas and the like -- our mothers and grand mothers were too modest to behold such things -- Circuses, Menageries, and human Models (libidinous) find favour -- Riders and Beasts, multiply in all our cities &c., Our People are fast changing. From being once a domestic, quiet people, content to rest in their fireside comforts and indoor society -- they are being all drawn abroad to seek for spectacles and public wonders ! Now there are puffing advertisements to draw abroad every night and day in the week -- and this is not all -- the whole must be indulged at so much expense : -- One sees that it is working a serious evil -- but who knows how to stay it ! It is changing and corrupting society here, and is alluring from abroad all manner of foreign artistes -- to batten on, and impose themselves upon our credulity, prodigality and habits of display. The temptations to employ means for such occasions is what must demoralize the mass. The aged among us perceive and deplore these things -- but the young, who never saw our former golden age of moderation and virtue, feel that we are in their way -- as a grave incumbrance, and earnestly wish us off the Stage ! Posterity shall see and consider ! To all this add : the rivalship of grandeur in houses -- expensive furniture -- immense and luxurious hotels -- elegance and costs of Passenger vessels -- and Passenger Cars -- costly carriages -- costly dresses for ladies and jewelry. -- Pride and not comfort give favour to immense hotels, as some think. I should also say as evidences of our fast changing character -- That the whole aspect of society as I now see it is different from what I saw it everywhere in my earlier life. All is now self-exalted and going upon stilts. It all comes from foreign influence -- our addictedness to imitate what is foreign and modish. The big Cities on the Sea board set the pattern and example -- and the inland Towns follow. No wonder we are thus enslaved to foreign views, when we consider the propensity of our big Cities to arrogate to themselves the right to dictate and control. -- Take for instance the practice of New York, as "The Empire City and State" -- and consider now the appalling fact that the late City census there, gives nearly the half of the whole City population as foreigners ! How can such a state of Society claim to be an American City ! Say 237,000 foreigners -- against 278,000 Americans ! There is another remark on this subject -- Every one as old as myself, sees and notices the general clatter from crowds of people and confusion now along the streets -- no room now to turn or look about -- once it was peaceful -- pleasant and safe to walk the streets -- now tall houses are crowded with numerous working tenants -- formerly, they were in smaller houses and in bye places. -- 'Tis terrible now to sicken and die at crowded streets, where the rattle of omnibuses is unceasing. We have become an excitable people. One cannot but notice the great change in this matter, that has come over us as a people -- we are wholly different now from what we were half a century ago. The noticed changes have been growing upon us ever since the introduction by the Press of "every day's report of wrongs and outrage" -- The readers of the daily Press usually look first to Police reports, at home and abroad, for something strange, revolting or wonderful -- Even quite aged persons, so seek for something new or exciting -- and if nothing or nearly so is presented in that department, they regard the papers as "dull or uninteresting". It is not a healthy condition of the mind, we are sure -- And much it needs some remedy. -- At present it manifestly "grows on what it feeds" -- It is a failing which is perpetually stimulated, by individuals, and by cliques and parties, for selfish aims and purposes -- Advertisers, and sundry Monopolists, work the machinery with striking effect. Americans are being "puffed" out of their common sense. One feels vexed and jaded to see how the people are managed and jilted out of their money "at auction prices" for Jenny Lind, and her vocal wonders ! To sell choice seats (if such there are) at auction, might pass, but to sell "Promenade tickets" where all must stand, and all on common ground, has no reason for an advanced price; and especially to sell all such tickets to one or two Speculators, who may again raise them at their pleasure, on the people ! If the people would only combine, by Town meeting, and buy no such tickets, it would be but a just rebuke. But where is the Press, that would allow such a suggestion to appear in their columns, while the advertisers pay so well for "puffs" of a counter character -- and having at one concert "seventy free seats, for the gentlemen of the Press". The Press is, indeed, a mighty engine for Weal or Woe ! Our anti-social character. We can perceive that we are fast growing into this characteristic -- There is scarcely anything now as it once was -- It is mainly produced by the vanity of doing all things upon a great and grand scale. If it is by travelling vehicles, the people must go by hundreds where they can only stare at and scan each other without speaking -- When located at places, it must be in big Hotels and Palaces -- where all must keep aloof, and look askance at each other. Look at houses like Astor's, Girard's, Tremont's -- they only serve till they can be surpassed by others still greater. Think of the Cape May Mansion house, the Mount Vernon -- there people were expected to give up all things like home and quiet, and to congregate into masses of three thousand at a house -- wheu ! People going under pretence of seeking health and the free breath of Heaven and its glorious sea air, to breathe in the surroundings of perpetual cookings -- and the discharged atmosphere of three thousand lungs, in little bed-chambers. One house presents at Table, one Salmon from Boston, at a cost of 41 dollars and puts it in the paper ! My countrymen pay for all this unblessed extravagance. Are we not scandalized by all such apings of Royal magnificence and prodigality, as avowed equalizers of Republicanism ? Would the vain of expensive renown, instead of congregating in Palace Hotels, think of the numerous boarding houses, of many suffering widows, as in former times, how different would be their reward ? Changes of houses. At this time, I am called to the consideration of the fact that Philadelphia (like New York) is now taking quite a changed aspect in its buildings. The former good houses, are so fast passing away along the several principal streets, and are so numerously supplied by new, and taller structures of another style; as to very visibly efface the appearance of what before was. To my eye, the whole aspect is changing. It is indeed, already, another City -- A city building on the top of the former ! All the houses now, above three stories -- present an elevation so manifest as to displease the eye -- and particularly where several go up, so exalted as to beak the former line of equality, and beauty. Even such edifices lately constructed, as the Banks of North America, Philadelphia and Western Bank, are struck down by the still later, towering business houses and hotels &c. near them. The next generation will see nothing of Philadelphia as I saw it, generally in the year 1800, and subsequently. Another remark belonging to this subject is -- that young married people, and without family, must have their houses as large, or even larger, then their parents had, when full of children ! All go now on stilts ! Nothing so much attracts the notice of Europeans visiting our country, as the general newness and freshness of the architecture of all our cities and towns. All seem to them new in aspect, and bright and gleaming. Indeed our own passion for change -- "to pull down and build greater" -- seems likely to preserve nothing which now might be called old and venerable. The rust of antiquity, so much embodied in foreign literature, is not a thing that is, with us. We must add years to our progress, before we begin to environ our localities with poetry and tale. Improvement is our motto now !! Our great cities. Our great cities are fast realising the characteristics of "great deserts". This fact is imposed upon our notice continually. Formerly, the greatest houses among us intimated families of superior grade; and all who dwelt in such were deemed as exempt from the care and bustling strife of business. They were essentially genteel, by education, affluence, and long-standing family consideration. Now we see far more expensive and showy edifices, the result of fortunate persuits. The inmates aim at more show and grandeur -- one sees readily, how they aim to surpass and eclipse each other. In the meantime, store-keepers are everywhere, buying up and driving out the long planted respectable residences -- leaving no place for retired, quiet grandeur -- but turning the whole city into a great city mart of trade, bustle, display and rivalship. They seem to push out and exclude from cities any really dignified residences for really dignified aristocracy. These in time, will have to contrive country homes, of centralized localities, where trade and its sequences may not annoy them or invade their own desired exclusiveness -- Who shall see this ? Change of market supplies &c., Philadelphia -- once so famous for its abundance, cheapness and excellence of marketing, is wonderfully changed. Formerly, every one going to market could have his choice of all manner of poultry, country meats and butter &c. Not so now -- the hucksters now go far into the country and buy up all manner of supplies. Country men are agreed to this traffic -- at less prices, because of the increased difficulty of getting their wagons and horses in proper places for safety and care in the city. The success of great hotels and eating houses now ingross the first and best supplies in market -- and speculators go there and buy largely for New York markets, to send on by railroads &c. Formerly, none but real country farmers sold their productions in our markets -- now the stalls are very much held by hucksters. Many now go into the country, and buy up the whole productions of farms -- others buy up by contract, all their butter, milk, potatoes -- poultry, calves &c. Housekeepers feel perniciously this great change for worse ! Extravagance of living and prices. There is much to interest the philosophic mind -- fond of unriddling the characteristics of our nature -- in looking into the actions of men -- to consider the why and wherefore, of so many becoming the willing victims of imposition, practised upon vanity. See how readily men go to highest charges -- for table-diet -- for board -- for carriages -- display for clothing -- for show and display in everything. See at watering places, how readily they submit to exalted prices for alleged Champaigne, made of Cider of Wines adorned with blue strings and gilded labels -- and sold at four prices as forty years old -- So too of Brandies, made of our whiskey, and marked Bordeaux Vintage of 1830 -- and finally of Alleghany whiskey, selling by wholesale at thirty-five to forty cents -- marked very old and very good, at two to three dollars a gallon. How those who profit by the imposition must laugh in their sleeve, to see the success of their craft upon the credulity and vanity of those who live for show. Some lookers on, see and know these things, while such submissives to practised frauds spoil and enhance the price of everything "to everybody"! As some confirmation to the preceding, we here annex an article from the "Pennsylvania Inquirer" of the thirtieth of June, 1855. "There is another form of extravagance to which public attention ought to be directed, for which the ladies are not so much responsible. It is seen in the present style of our public steamboats and hotels. It is neither necessary nor expedient for any of the substantial purposes of the travelling community, that our steamboats should be floating palaces, and that every person who dines at a hotel, should be made to pay for a sumptuous feast, involving all attainable luxuries, whether he wishes them or not. It would be of great public advantage if our hotels should adopt the European plan of furnishing only what should be specially ordered. There is a manifest absurdity, as all will grant, in making every person who dines at a public table pay for wine which he does not use; but no greater than in making every guest pay the cost of a sumptuous meal, while he partakes only of the plainest dishes, and desires no other." "Another evil of this system is that at these public tables, the example of luxury and extravagance is set which promotes the same in private life. This is one of the many forms in which habits of luxury are gaining upon our people, and from which we must be reformed, or be ruined. The innocent in such a case suffer with the guilty. If the extravagant only beggared themselves, the evil were less to be deplored. But their habits are the source of those great commercial disasters which press most heavily upon the poor, who are thus thrown out of employment, and cut off from the means of earning their bread. Such extravagance is one of the forms of public wrong, of injury to the Commonwealth, of violence to the general humanity; and every sentiment and precept of Christianity is against it." Travelling now-a-day. The mass of the travelling public now, have no conception of the things they have lost by the modern means of going by Railways. They go too rapidly for country observation, and pass too, through low grounds, and avoid going through towns &c., -- whereas, formerly going by Stage they saw all of the best Villages, Inns &c. The passengers too, not exceeding a dozen at a time, became sociable in the route -- were feasted and lodged at Inns, by the way. There was then much to interest, by sight-seeing; but now, they go to Boston, or to Niagara &c., and find all between places an entire blank. Changes on Ocean voyages -- now present a new era Now we build vessels of 3,000 tons (and even of 5,000 !) to traverse between our coasts and Europe -- as Packets &c. In 1818, Jeremiah Thompson of New York built Packets of 300 tons -- and in 1821 he added one of 500 tons, which was disused as too large for the then trade ! In former years, when the influence of the Gulph Stream as a warmer of the atmosphere was less known and understood, vessels leaving England were used to go South to the coast of Africa, to take trade winds and make across to Charleston, South Carolina -- making it a necessary intermediate place -- Vessels too, arriving off the coast of New York in winter, if the ice and frost were severe, used to put back to Charleston or the West Indies, there to thaw and to stand out till Spring. But now, vessels only put off to the Gulph Stream and there loosen their icy fetters, and return back to New York &c. Log books of 100 years ago, show that the average rate of sailing, (so says Lieut. Maury) between New York and the West Indies, did not exceed one mile per hour -- because the action of the Stream Currents were so powerful and little known -- Doctor Franklin is said to have first suggested the idea of avoiding the action of the stream against vessels -- in 1748, when Kalm, the Swedish naturalist, visited our country, he came from Gravesend, August 15, and arrived 41 days, and called that, "the shortest passage ever known" ! Steamers now are in full operation every where ! What changes in thirty years of time ! -- Even I have seen two ages, with more of strange passes than has been before witnessed ! Wonderful is the progress of Steam Vessels -- only take a few facts of the past to compare with things now and progressing ! Previous to the year 1800, some eight or ten keel boats of 20 to 25 tons performed the carrying trade between Cincinnati and Pittsburg. In 1802 the first government vessel appeared on Lake Erie -- In 1811 the first Steam boat (the Orleans) was launched at Pittsburg -- Previous to 1817, about twenty barges of about 100 tons constituted the force of transport -- from Orleans, along the River up to Louisville and Cincinnati -- They made but one trip a year -- From the Falls (Louisville) up to Pittsburg, about 150 keel boats of about thirty tons did the carriage of freight &c., about 1814-17. They used six or seven weeks in making the passage to and fro. In 1818 the first Steam boat ("Walk in the water") was built on Lake Erie -- In 1826, the water of Michigan was first ploughed by a Steam boat visit -- Now what are Steam vessels doing ? A wonderful change is latterly effected of having ships as Packets and Steamers to sail certainly on a given day -- Such accuracy was never before aimed at, or expected -- Another great change is, that ships come and go from wharves, without noise, oaths and curses -- Formerly, Captains had to be full of passion and bustle -- And very often when they came up to the wharf, there was to be a crush of something -- to be afterwards repaired. Lately, too, it is found out, that Seamen can sail without grog and drunkenness -- and that it is not indispensable to their usefulness and service that they should be ignominiously flogged ! Too long they have been treated as dogs -- henceforth as men ! Change in Postal concerns. This is a great affair for all the people -- Mails passing with such celerity and at so little of charge. This is something that everybody feels, and rejoices in. A letter, big enough for two of former letters (Half an oz.) going all the way to California and Oregon, for only ten cents ! No one now-a-days has occasion to encumber a private conveyance anywhere. To contrast those easy means of intercourse, with what the men of the Revolutionary period experienced, is indeed a wonderful change. Then the conveyances by mail was hazardous -- infrequent and expensive. Families then, seperated by the War and living in the country, reserved themselves almost exclusively to private chances -- and scarcely aimed to exchange letters but about once in a year. Nothing was more common than for men in the public service to write someone two or three times before even one would be received. Not long since, when postage was twenty-five cents per letter to towns in the West or to New Orleans -- the last occupying a month in transit-- the tax of postage was a heavy item, when all outside of one sheet was taxed double -- Now double letters can pass as single to those who will write without useless Envelopes. Formerly it was deemed of real importance, in case of needed proof of identity, to secure to each letter the Post mark of date and place. [Mrs. Barker, of Philadelphia, saved 80,000 Dollars in Court, by such mark !] A time may be expected to occur when the absence of such Post marks may be found of much moment in some court trial. I have never yet used an Envelope. News Papers, now so universally scattered every where, and so grateful in remote places, was in the past times almost wholly unknown -- They went out to Publishers, for their use in republications of Local Journals. There are no people on the earth who have such chances of general knowledge -- To this we may add, that the editorials and communications are generally of superior composition and style. A man who reads much, is necessarily inducted into an improved style of writing, by what he reads. The Progress of the Daily Press. In April 1775, there were thirty-seven newspapers in the colonies. Of this number, only eight of them were devoted to the home government. Of these which did not take sides, five of them went over to the Tory party during the war. The five States of Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia, taken together, had but one more newspaper than Pennsylvania, and only three more than Massachusetts. In the year 1798, there were two hundred newspapers in all the United States. Of these 178 or 180 supported the Washington and Adams' administrations -- The twenty others were mostly under the control or influence of aliens and opposed to the leading measures of the Executive -- chiefly by French merchants -- strongly biased to French interests abroad. The Daily Penny Press --- Nothing is like this rapid improvement in offering cheap information to the People. It was deemed a perilous adventure, when the Ledger first began its career fourteen years ago -- Then all the daily papers of Philadelphia printed by 7000 copies to subscribers -- now the Ledger alone prints off 40,000 impressions -- Other cities now have well-supported penny papers. To this, add the fact, that all our youth are to be educated at the public expense, and surely we shall become the greatest readers in the world ! Our once Wooden Country. Not long since, our woods were so abundant as to be deemed an incumbrance -- It sold in the cities at low rates for fuel -- And Mulberry and Maple for use for furniture was scarcely looked at or regarded -- Now pine for combustion, and white pine for all kinds of construction, are rising in prices and alarmingly becoming scarcer and scarcer -- Iron is beginning to supply the place of many things formerly used in white pine -- Coal is supplying the place of fire wood, a happy discovery in a needed time -- Rags and paper having become scarce, we have now discovered fibrous plants and wood as a capital substitute. Truly, the human mind, enlightened, is competent to provide for all its actual wants. Our heaviest inconvenience is provision for our luxuries -- These give us constant annoyances -- in inflated expenditures -- adverse "balances of trade" &c. The world is made up of wrong doers -- And the proud, as well as the poor, are always with us. Politics. Politics as a profession and employment steadily advances -- It is seized as the road to advancement. It is looked to by active men as a means of living and support. They aim to divide us as a people, and to keep us in opposition, that they may severally divide the spoils. There needs some great, national, cheap paper, sustained by disinterested, able and patriotic men, to show us truth, and to show the sinister designs of all selfish politicians -- Such a measure, can only be effected by a combination of able, disinterested men -- Men free from the tramels of party and nobly aiming at the good of the whole. Shall we not yet see this ? The press as it now operates, will not publish anything against those who are liberal contributors for advertisements &c. They are not willing to disoblige such. Elections -- These are now made affairs of display and excitement, wholly different from the quiet of former times -- They had no music, placards or banners as now ; and no such thing as omnibuses to pick up voters -- No taverns for assembling in wards -- and no stump orators, travelling round districts to win proselytes and partizans -- We are worked upon by every contrivance -- which selfishness, if not patriotism, can devise ! Luxury and Wealth. Are daily presenting new forms of display -- in furniture, dress, equipages and table indulgence. All old forms are passing away. Nothing of the revered past is allowed to remain. Think of ladies dresses now costing 1200 to 1500 dollars ! and the wives of Commoners, having jewelry to the amount of 15,000 to 20,000 dollars and more. Evening parties, too, among such, to be boastfully paraded at an expense of 1.000 dollars for a night ! We are certainly a fast changing people. Whether for weal or woe, posterity shall judge. It is often observed that the young, in fashionable life, are far more arrogant and assuming in companies of display and exhibition than they used to be -- They are far less reverent to the aged than in former times -- pushing them aside from counsel or control. Former shame-facedness of youth is regarded as awkward "mauvaise honte" and not to be tolerated in "good society" so called. Europeans even now among us, wonder at the unrestrained freedom of talk and action of our young females -- They now have their social Soirees to themselves -- all young together. The increase of Wealth produces an abundant overshare of Professional men -- in Law, Physic, Army and Navy. It is greatly needed to exalt the character of Tradesmen (so called) so as to lead many of good means to enter therein -- especially to elevate the class of architects -- of carpenters and shipwrights -- manufacturers of metals -- of machinery &c. -- great room now exists for educated Farmers. -- The clergy serve by call. Extravagance in Dress. At this time a fashionable dry good store advertises a lace scarf for 1500 dollars ! Another has a bridal dress for 1,200 dollars -- Bonnets at 200 dollars are also sold. Cashmeres from 300 dollars and upwards are seen by dozens along Broadway. And 100 dollars is quite a common price for a silk gown -- Think of such a scale of prices for "un-ideaed" American women ! Can the pampering of such vanities elevate the character of our women ? Alas ! the women who live for such displays -- who give their whole attention to diamonds and dress, are fast becoming unfitted for wives or mothers -- and are operating the ruin of husbands and parents -- Do we not greatly need voluntary sumptuary laws and restraints ! History records that when the Roman matrons fell into similar extravagances, the Empire itself felt the deterioration, and fast fell into its decline. Will any consider ! Our serious consideration is that prudent thoughtful men cannot engage in matrimonial alliances -- In this, the ladies themselves will become sufferers : -- And men themselves, driven from hopeful marriages, will be induced (several of them) to resort to concubinage. What a fearful extremity for the future ! Let the really elite of "upper tendom" reform this thing, as a patriotic measure, and all the lower world will follow -- Who will consider ? At Christmas, in New York, an Opal breast pin, set in a circle of diamonds, was bought for a lady for 4,500 dollars ! A leader, in the Pennsylvania Inquirer, and the Public Ledger of the eighth of November 1856 are strongly confirmatory of all these remarks. The Pennsylvania Inquirer, of the thirtieth of June 1855, thus notices "Popular Extravagance" : "Our Christianity and our love of Country should put us upon fitting remedies for some of the alarming habits of extravagance which prevails among us. One of the sources of this manifold evil has been fairly put in the following remarks of a wholesale merchant and importer, as given in the Annual report of "The American Woman's Education Society" : "You have got hold of a great matter, sir, I hope you will succeed. The women are wrong, sir. They are not educated rightly. They are going to bankrupt the country unless there is a change -- More is thought of show than substance. We pay scores of millions annually for ladies ornaments, which are of no use. We cannot afford it. It is worse than sinking the gold in the sea ! We are paying more duties on artificial flowers than on railroad iron ! God help you to elevate the position and the aim of woman." "The fact that a store in this city, employed in the sale of laces and other superfluities in that line, pays a rent of ten thousand dollars a year, is a significant comment upon this speech. There is no cure for such an evil, though it threatens ruin to the country, and greater ruin to Christian character, but in something that shall divert the ambition of the female mind to something better worthy of rational and immortal beings than this rivalry in expensive dress and outward show." Hoops Again ! We had hoped that our ladies would never again be brought to use such ill-looking, useless and deforming appendages to their dresses -- They are, as seen along our streets, a Misdemeanor. They are so suggestive of immodest thoughts, both while worn and also when seen dangling from stores along the streets, just like so many paraschutes. One feels as if they must be scanning them, to conjecture how and where the limbs therein could be found ! They are too, so annoying and engrossing of place and room in omnibuses -- Rail Cars, and in church pews and aisles -- and why all this; but as spellbound subserviants to some foreign spell -- one feels scandalized for "the Land of the Free" ! Nor is this all -- Ladies who profess to be christians and communicants too, pledged "to renounce the vain pomp and vanities of the world, and not to be led thereby" go up to the sacramental altar, showing before the eyes of all beholders -- an unseemly vanity ! When we think of "the human form divine", as fashioned in the purposes of the Creator -- when he gave us also our abiding appreciation and sense of the beautiful, so fully expressed in the Grecian models, so universally adopted by all subseqeuent Sculptors and Artists : And think also of that same human form as prevalent in the year 1800 and afterwards, and as then universally approved by the whole Beau Monde. What must be the feelings of the former beaux and other beholders now, at this modern expose of a "monstrous novelty and strange disguise" ! Women then, presented as they ever should, specific notices of individual figure -- such as Heaven made and designed them; and the present artificial rotundity and expansiveness were just the kind of personages, who then carried themselves at a discount -- Don't many remember ? Presents at Weddings. This has lately come up, as a fashionable extravagance, to the amount of many thousands of dollars. The practice now is, for the Bride to have them set off for display in a guest room, where the articles are paraded for exhibition with appended notices from the Donors -- Both the bride and the Donors obtain their shares of renown and report on such occasions -- All of the invited very naturally become contributors, and some feel the tax thus imposed, somewhat unwelcome -- on some ultra occasions, 15,000 to 20,000 dollars are said to have been contributed -- But after that comes the reaction ; -- for those thus cheered by benefactors, must come in their turns to disburse all the gains in equally ambitious gifts to after marriages in their circles. (Some of these are shrewdly suspected of being loaned from jewellers at high fees !) Wearing of Beards. Looking at numbers of men who now wear beards, and seeing, of course, their countenance with many, one cannot but look back upon a time in our youth when not worn by any citizens; one cannot but remember a time, when the Tunkards and Mennonists of inland Pennsylvania used to come to the city, wearing their beards -- They were then a repulsive spectacle to boys and ladies universally -- and it required no little resolution in the wearers to bear them as they then did for Christian profession sake -- Now others do the same thing cordially for fashion's sake ! "Les fous font les modes". Opera Music Opera music such as men once used with human voice, is greatly altered -- natural voices and tones such as nature impressed, are passing away for unnatural efforts making strange display -- such as proceeds from Opera singing by strained efforts. All of our singers, in social circles, now show much of affectation. That it is not according to man's nature and bias, is abundantly proved by the plaudits every where bestowed upon Public Singers who burlesque the others, and sing with good voices, natural airs -- Such as the Virginia and Orleans Minstrels -- the Hutchinson family &c. Some itching ears have even introduced affected singing into churches ! So did not Luther, who was himself a good musician -- he adapted all his tunes to their subjects -- Solemn, grave, severe, or gay, Tho' musical I am -- I never could Fall into rapture o'er Italian singing; Songs without words I never understood, Tho' soft and sweet as "harp of houris stringing" -- Nor would I ask a lady for a song Unless the poetry has beauty in it. Our artificial Music, considered -- We having before stated how much we spoil our music by artificial refinement, we have set down a confirmation given by another hand -- to wit : "All music that paints nothing is only noise ! and were it not for fashion, which unnatures every thing, it would excite no more pleasure than a sequel of harmonious and finely sounding words without any order or connection" -- "Those airs which paint images -- and called speaking airs, will always surpass the most labored refinement of art -- such as 'Roys wife', 'John Anderson &c' -- fascinate the soul because they are melodies of nature". Mr. Barnum has created a new era in public excitability -- He uses the press with such dexterity to puff himself and his exhibitions, as to make himself the focus of all that is popular; -- all to make his own fortune ! -- None but himself could have ventured on such a great amount of money to Jenny Lind for her visit -- Think of so much being awarded for staging ! Is it possible that it is, indeed, so super-human and exalted as to be readily worth the contribution -- or is it excited phrenzy ! The very splendor of her reception at New York is to forestall public opinion, and to come eventually out of the peoples' pockets ! See her at Irving house having there for herself, a parlor, drawing-room, dining room, and two bedrooms -- all newly fitted up in a most gorgeous style at a cost of 7,000 dollars ! One really sighs at such extravagance in republicans -- 225 dollars is bid for an admission ticket ! and at Boston, the first ticket bid off at 625 dollars, and her suite of rooms cost for decorations 13,000 dollars !" Our Manufactures -- of all kinds. Our improvements and inventions, in all things needed for our use and comfort, is boundless -- Formerly we depended for every thing upon importation. Now we fabricate every thing needed for clothing in cotton and wool, -- and all kinds of metallic implements and iron-mongery. In chemical, and articles of materia medica, the quantity home made is wonderful -- our productions in glass, iron and metallic substances are very great and very perfect. The changes already effected would fill a volume in enumeration. Now we make Wall papers, carpets, paints -- (See a book now published by Freedly on this subject.) The Chemical productions -- as now got up by our manufacturers, would if told in extension, make a curious and interesting work -- They have so cheapened the prices of drugs, paints and colours, before imported, and had so many obstacles to surmount to gain favour and beat down prejudice, that their history in popular style would be quite entertaining. -- Almost everything in this department was formerly imported. I have myself endeavored to procure facts, but those concerned now make money too fast to spare time for detail, for my use and notice ! The Casting of Iron is undergoing vast improvements -- from once being extremely rough and unsightly, we now see beauty of castings in all forms. -- Our Pine woods are used far beyond reproduction -- other woods must hereafter supply -- The Pines of North Carolina &c., are now using for camphine fluids for lamps &c. The formation of gas -- for lighting streets and houses, is a modern affair ; -- and it is supposed that water will some day be found to supply its place ! The introduction of the use of India rubber and Caoutouche, for all manner of things -- as for clothing &c., is wholly a new affair of wonder. Necromancy and Magnetism, &c. Necromancy, Fortune-telling &c., by advertising men, professing to be philosophers and proceeding by Nativities &c., is a new affair and seems to find employers -- Slight of hand, by Blitz -- the man of Ava &c., are new and very successful enterprises -- "wondering for their bread !" They are really wonderful in concealment and deception; but by their honest confessions of illusion, serve to do away former conceptions of Demoniacizm. Witchcraft is gone -- exploded, and the nearest approach and illustration of former deceptions, seem now developed in animal magnetism; and the powers possessed, by manipulation and passes, to influence the actions of others, compelling them to sit, stand, walk and do, according to the will of the operator. Operators, too, working from powers in nature, and used by honest men, on other men, -- sincere and true as themselves. Increase of Wrong and Outrage. Really, my country is so much increased in crime of all kinds and characters, it makes me feel heart-sick to think of its progress and the state of society to which I am to leave my heirs. It really makes life of far less value to live it -- and almost makes one sigh for a change into another and better world. Combinations of Wicked Boys -- These combinations of lawless lads in the cities of Philadelphia and New York, under indicative names signifying outlawry and mischief -- is wholly a new manifestation of progress -- Such as have made "houses of Refuge" indispensable for the security of Society against their crimes and encroachments. The good people of the Olden time, had no such disturbers of their peace -- All boys worked at something useful in their times. Cheap Theatres and Comic allurements, are now their visited night schools. "Because inquiry shall abound The love of many shall wax cold," The year 1852 has been a season of most appalling crime -- so many gross murders -- rapes -- cruelties. See the book, "Hot Corn " of New York. Excessive destruction of life, by "Accidents" &c., -- One who fears God, may well fear his judgement -- unless we repent and turn. There has been a morbid sensibility for criminals -- a desire to screen them from the merited gallows -- This encourages wickedness -- Religion itself, seems not to have the same hold and influence on the mass -- Men grow up by example to forget God. Objections to Capital punishment is a new thought, gaining ground fast. It is made an affair of religious obligation. It may be expected to prevail for awhile -- but probably not permanantly -- because its tendancy will be to encourage crime. God, who is unchanging, once declared that -- "thine eye shall not spare or pity the murderer" and the new Testament said, "the sword of justice was not used in vain", and St. Paul said, "he was willing to die, if he committed things worthy of death" meaning thereby, that some offences were so regarded by him. Legislators exempt from death (by executions), even while they fine our sons for not serving in military duty to kill our enemies -- So inconsistent are we ! A better rule is -- "Society shall shake its encumbered lap, grown weary of the load !" It is a weary load to find imprisoned homes for lawless criminals. Will not another age restore Capital punishment? What became of John Fitch. The above is the heading of an article and letter in the Journal of the Franklin Institute of March 1853; as given in the following words -- which go to confirm, what I had before published -- to wit : Letter from Alexander M. McDowell -- Demopolis, Alabama, July 6, 1852. As it is to this day an unsettled point, of what city of the East had the glory of being the birth place of Homer, so it has been equally undetermined as to the place in the great West, where the mortal remains of one greater than Homer have their resting place -- I mean the great embodied genius of Steam; -- the indigent, friendless machinist John Fitch -- the co-worker and adviser of Rumsay and Fulton, &c.,&c.,&c. The writer of this having occasion some twenty-five years ago to bury a little nepehew at Bardstown, Nelson County, Kentucky -- and having discovered in the crowded little protestant graveyard near the County jail, an open space of twenty or thirty feet square, not occupied by graves, commenced digging the nephew's grave there; when he was stopped by the aged sexton Mr. Alexander McKeown, who said that spot 'contained the bones of John Fitch, the great Steam man' -- and that the space was left thus large to build a monument to his memory by the State of Kentucky. The Hon. Ben Hardin and Doctor Burr Harrison, of whom inquiry was made, corroborated the statement of Mr. McKeown, and states that a resolution to erect a monument over Fitch had passed the Legislature of Kentucky, of which they had been members, but that no appropriation had ever been made to carry the resolution into effect. The aged Sexton must long since have passed from earth, and it is probable there are now few, even in Bardstown, who could point out the grave of John Fitch. Signed, Alexander M. McDowell. Such are the facts as given by McDowell, and it frets me while I write, to think how little the public will give heed to what we have severally written to bring the remains to storied, monumental fame -- President making, and Foreign Artistes are more engrossing ! -- McDowell would doubtless like to know what I have done in the same object. I wrote to him per mail and heard nothing -- Romanist Religion among us. The Romanists are, at the present, establishing themselves throughout our whole land, and we mean to state the fact as it is without reproach. This is done by erecting churches, schools, and nuneries, (by aid of Foreign funds) in all places. Many are disturbed by their presence. But the press will be too free and expansive to allow them to take undue ascendency and domination, and will urge their conductors also to divest themselves of many of their assumptions and pageantries as fostered and indulged in foreign countries. Romanist people here cannot be governed with absoluteness, as abroad. The result may be that Romanism will be improved, and true Religion, among themselves, will be better diffused. It may come to take the type of "Puseyizm" (a new thing) and both together may catch the affections of those who desire pomp and circumstance in splendid Religion, and love the imagination to be exercised in "decent ceremonials", dramatic displays, Opera singing and music, &c. The Treaty Elm. There was taken as a scion from the treaty tree, by S. Contes, a young tree, which sprung up from the roots of the fallen tree, which he planted in the grass lot, Westward of the Hospital Wall on Ninth street. It there grew to be a large tree, (high as the three storied house) -- but when they opened Clinton street, it left that tree standing out in the street two feet beyond the curb -- At my request of the lot owners it stood there awhile after the pebble pavement was made -- but now I see they have cut it down as an incumbrance, alas ! how little many care for our antiquities ! It is vain to argue with money interests -- It stood about the sixth house, North side, from Ninth St. -- I have just learned from Mr. S.D. Bowers, that there is now alive a large Elm tree, upwards of sixty years of age, standing on the street at the place long known as the dwelling house and ship yard of his father -- taken by his father, Samuel, when a young man, sixty-five years ago, as a shoot from the celebrated Treaty tree -- There he nursed and cherished it, during all his life-time, and at this time, it is now in full vigour. Long may it survive, as a grateful historical remembrance ! It is indeed strange, to be so little generally known. It stands a little South of where the British had their River battery in the Revolutionary War, and on the river street "Penn" as then there. (Samuel Bower died in 1834, at seventy-five years of age.) The tree stands on the West side, fronting Rowland & Co -- Iron works -- and is midway between Maiden on the North, and March or Poplar on the South. Before the death of Samuel Bower -- a limb of fifty feet across the street got broken by a storm -- It was strengthened and stood a few years, when another storm broke it off -- The tree now spreads sixty feet. Consolidation of Philadelphia. This is indeed, a wonderful event -- effected by mutual concessions of various included towns and districts -- It will be a very beneficial improvement. By working as a Unit hereafter, it will unite many former seperate interests. The full history of the means used by which the measure has been effected, would make a book of itself. -- Even political parties, laid aside, for the occasion all of their local interests; and patriotism and disinterestedness was allowed for the special occasion, to govern for the good of the whole ! The men of my youth, never looked forward to such a growth of their city -- It is a wonder ! Germantown Changes and Improvements When I had succeeded to influence many to plaster the fronts of their houses, I next came to stimulate lot owners to pave their footways. I began this article to say that we are indebted to Robert H. Thomas for the impulse, first given by him, to increase the houses and population of the place. He proved, by his own success in laying out new streets and selling lots and building cottage houses, that he had a power to attract business men, and men of money, to seek a residence for Country air &c. He began his first operations some twelve years ago along Centre street; next he bought and laid out the lots on Kelly's farm. His example set the two Prices -- Eli and Philip -- to buy the grounds of Wunder and to lay out Price street -- where I live. Germantown now is no longer Germantown as it was! It now goes on in building fancy cottages for city business men &c. Germantown once the the seat of Government of the United States ! In the year 1789, a Resolution passed the House of Representatives then in session in New York, that the permanent seat of government ought to be on the banks of the Susquehanna in Pennsylvania; but it was amended in the Senate by fixing upon Germantown as the site. Upon being returned to the House, the amendment was approved and sent back again in the Senate for a slight amendment providing that Pennsylvania laws should continue in force, in such Federal district, until Congress should legislate otherwise. Thereupon, the subject was postponed until the next Session -- and thus, our old Germantown, after being thus fixed upon by both houses, was wholly laid aside ! The influence of Robert Morris, the Financier, was said to have led to its being fixed in Philadelphia City -- where it settled at the S.E. corner of Sixth and Chestnut streets. The same now occupied as Court Rooms. We well remember to have seen, in our boyhood, a caricature published by the New Yorkers who were averse to its removal from that city -- wherein Robert Morris was shown in the foreground, drawing with a rope the Congress to Philadelphia ! To our young mind it was a queer picture ! What a picture might not a fruitful imagination now construct, of possibilities now, if such a location had been so settled. Things would have been so very different now both in Washington city -- the city of distances-- and the present granite heights of cottage-embellished Germantown ! Washington itself, at some future day, may be removed more to the centre of population -- and St. Louis itself, become the seat of the American Empire ! We are all in a state of Progress ! Germantown and its old grave stone --- In May 1856, there was found, four feet below the surface, at the rear of Charles Waiss' Coal yard, a marble flat laid stone indicating the place of burial of Godfried Lehman, and beneath it his bones. The stone inscribed him as dying in his sixty-eighth year, in the year 1756 (one hundred years ago) -- as born in Germany -- and as being buried in his own garden. He was the head of the present Lehman family in Germantown -- and Benjamin Lehman conveyed the remains and marble stone to the Tunker's grave ground -- It arrested considerable attention. Log Prison and ancient group of houses in Germantown -- The picture which we have given of the last of the oldest houses still remaining in Germantown, now belonging to the family of John Green, present a very picturesque group and stand in interesting contrast with many modern houses built there. They would seem to have been built at several intervening periods. The front house on the right of the picture, now faced with white mortar is the original Log house. It was brought and placed there as the dwelling house of John Adams Hogermoed, who had before passed a night in it -- for some occasion of intemperence -- while it occupied the Market square as the Prison. When it was afterwards sold, the same Hogermoed became the owner. One of the higher houses in the rear, it may be seen, is diagonally boarded -- The whole groupe seems to be formed of four different constructions -- a part is of stone. All such remains of the primitive times are fast fading from the things that be ! Germantown Railroad -- This now popular Road, was originated about the year 1830, by Jesse Torrey, then a temporary resident of the place. It was sustained at the time by sundry Essays in Mr. Freas' paper. An act was soon after procured for its Charter, and met with a ready subscription, especially from sundry City Brokers -- with whom the Scrip found a ready advance of price. Some time after the whole concern met with a severe depression, by the defalcation of its President -- It lingered on a great while, while shares sold often as low as one dollar. An Act was procured in February 1847 for the relief of its creditors, whereby stock owners and creditors agreed to consolidate their claims at from thirty-five to eighty per cent reduction, according to their class -- After which, the Road, including Norristown, went on progressively rising, till it has risen above par, and has given twelve per cent Dividend. [Note : Defalcation = the act or an instance of embezzling.} Brother Jonathan. This name as a personation and name of our countrymen of New England -- and sometimes abroad -- for all Americans is a designation said to have been first used by General Washington as the appellation he gave to his friend Jonathan Trumbull -- the Governor of Connecticut -- in the period of the Revolution. When upon an occasion of importance, Washington said "We must consult brother Jonathan first" -- officers present came to use it as a bye word -- and as the phrase circulated more and more -- it came eventually to be the pass word of the people, generally. Great Fire. On the ninth of July 1850 at four P.M. occurred the greatest fire ever witnessed in Philadelphia, commencing near Vine St. on Water St. and burning up to the East side of Second, and from New St. to Callowhill -- no house escaping. Among the houses, were some of the most respectable residences of the olden time -- say Friends meeting House in New St. (Keys Alley) -- Wests' House, N.W. corner of Vine and Front St. -- and at that N. W. corner, the Two respectable houses of the Messers. Whitehead, John and James, brothers -- The corner house was once the residence of our Governor Mifflin, and in the War of the Revolution it was the residence of Col. Abercrombie of the British Army -- afterwards General Abercrombie who was killed in Egypt. -- Up Front St. -- West side, was the residence of Col. Coperthwaite and other respectable men of the Revolution. Old Furniture. A modern freak of fashion, began at Boston and brought here, has been the revival of old furniture found in garrets and lofts -- by the art of varnishing, they have been brought out with display. The gathering of such, came in time to such a demand, as to call for new-making much of chairs &c., in imitation. It is queer that those who thus profess to venerate such old family articles, are the same class who before scouted them from sight. Even now, the class, are not those who read "Annals of Olden Time" -- They go for them, because the fashion is so ! very well. Walnut wood, as used for Cabinet furniture, has now become a fashion -- just because it is getting scarce and dearer, and withall looks so like Rose wood. But in former days Walnut was the common furniture wood -- as being second to Mahogany. As men got more wealthy it was discarded -- it became cheaper and cheaper, and was sold as common fuel in my time. But now, it is again a wood of luxury -- as is also curled Maple and Birch. This improvement comes from the use of Varnish, which helps the display of the grain. General Education. General Education for all the people is a new affair -- taxing all the people therefor. Before this time, it was held ungenteel to accept of free education. But when men of large estate saw how heavily they were taxed to pay for the children of others, and for schools of such elevation and excellence as the High Schools, sundry of the upper class combined in a resolution to send their children to the same schools; then everybody aimed to include their children. The result is, that Americans are coming to be the most generally instructed people in the world. This advantage, with cheap news papers and cheap printing and book-making, seem destined to so free our minds as to enable us to forever hereafter surmount all assumptions of future power to debase and enthral the human mind, whether in church or state. Education now, is the same up-hill work it ever was, with very little reform -- save the non use of the strap and lash -- but some day they will reverse the order of acquiring languages, and will learn words -- words, first, and afterwards Grammar. Nature says so. They will also say it is enough for common schools to teach only reading, writing, arithmetic and grammar. Pins, what becomes of them ? Considering the millions made every day -- the people wonder what becomes of them ! This subject brings to mind their state in a former age, when they were all imported and cost more than now. It was a consideration to save them all by picking them up when seen. This was a peculiar operation of the boys -- Two special reasons concurred with them : they were their capital for the play of the game of push pin, and for their surplus they could get pennies, at home. It was a common sight to see boys with a line of pins stuck in their sleeve cuffs. Men too, always had a place for some, stuck in a line at the head of the lapels of their coats. It showed how far we were once a frugal, conservative people. It was of the same characteristic as that of wearing Clothes over again, by turning garments. Family Stockings and Shirts. Now stockings are made too cheaply to permit of knitting them; but in former times, mothers and daughters were always busy at their knitting, while sitting in attention to calls from visitors. They not only were proud to knit their own wear well, but they also made coarser ones for the boys and servants -- made of thread and woollen yarn -- and if in large families they could not do all, they hired women helps to do them. Young ladies then, truly could not get time for Pianos, Opera, Theatre and spectacles. Stores for sale of shirts and drawers is a modern affair. Such a thing would not have succeeded when females, universally, in families worked out such articles. Now females, very genteel, have not the time ! Land of the Swen Family. "A grant was issued on the third of May 1671, by Francis Lovelance, Esq., Governor General under the Duke of York, confirming to the family (as granted by the Dutch governor) the former grant from Queen Christina, bearing before then the names of Swen Gunderson, Swen Swanson, Ole Swanson and Andries Swanson, the Wiccocoe Tract containing eight hundred acres, at a quit rent of eight bushels of Winter wheat to his Majesty. Its boundary is as follows, to wit : -- Beginning on the Delaware, a short distance North of Shippen St.; -- thence Westward, verging towards Cedar street, striking it between eighth and ninth streets; thence along the South side of Cedar street to a point about six perches East of Shippen Lane; thence Southward, parrellel with Shippen Lane, to a corner a short distance South of Federal, and West of twelfth street -- probably the N.W. corner of the parade-ground lot; thence along the said Creek to the Delaware; and thence to the place of beginning." The Eastern portion of the tract, bounded by the Passyunk was erected into the district of Southwark, March 26 1762. -- Think of such a tract of eight hundred acres -- to one family once -- and now no exalted heirs! Schoolkill River. The origin of this name has never been satisfactorily explained -- It has been referred to Dutch, as expressive of hidden river -- But I have an original idea, that it was from the beginning of English form and origin -- It was a combined word -- having 'kill' -- for creek or river; because it was a common English manner once to call all the small waters, 'kill', from the early Dutch settlers. School was added to express the peculiar place where schools of emigrating fish, resorted up its waters to spawn their young. Thither went every summer the shad and herrings to its source -- and in that river was always the greatest fisheries known in our waters -- far surpassing the Delaware itself. Its waters were colder than the Delaware, and therefore it allured thereto the finest, earliest and largest fish. Original Shore of the Delaware. At present, there is no longer any evidence or view of the original shore -- and wharves being everywhere extended out into the river -- the passage to Smith's Island &c., is now much abridged. But I have seen the original shore at several places, down to the year 1800. It came up to the east side of Water street, so I saw it at Poole's Bridge -- at Taylor's dock below Callowhill St. -- at the North side of Dock St. creek -- and at the end of the street North of Swedes church. British Defences of Philadelphia. British Defences at Philadelphia in the Life of General John Lamb pp. one hundred and ninety-one, are described -- to wit : Because of the increase of Washington's army at White Marsh in November '77, they began to fear some attack from him. Richard Platts letter to General Lamb, says : "They have thrown up very strong lines across -- from River to river -- besides these, ten or twelve very strong redoubts, ditched, friezed, picketed and abbatised; every one of which cross fire and flank their lines." "Judge then, if any attacks will be made by our army this winter" -- [I suppose these were made so strong after the Battle of Germantown, fourth of October '77. A picture of the same is here given.] Conventions and Congresses. It is a fact but very little considered, that the idea of these came not up at first as an invention of the Revolutionary War. It was only the renewal of similar gatherings on other previous colonial associations. So many colonies speaking the same language, and subject to the same Parent authority, naturally felt sympathies and mutual interests though of different constitutions; and when occurrences from the French and Indians produced mutual dangers, they instinctively called Conventions to consider their proper and harmonious action, even for the benefit of the Crown. While these meetings were congenial to its interests, the officers of the crown, both in America and England, looked on complacently. There were several of such calls of the Colonies before the Revolution. Sleds, Sleighs and Skates. These are now quite altered affairs. Sleds were once made of boards and low, but now they are all set on runners like little sleighs. Their skates now have iron foot rests (formerly of wood) and all with turn up, high fronts -- not very safe in case of breaking through ice. Formerly, the skates were called Dumps -- having the irons no longer than the foot. With this notice, we might notice the numerous little wheel carriages made by Bushnel -- so that little folks have now something ornamental. The Boys formerly had far rougher things. Sleighs -- are far more showy than in days of olden time. The small affairs called jumpers -- such for two persons, with their curved upward fronts, present appearances of cost far beyond the general former straightly boarded sides -- and triangular fronts for the stand of the upright driver of the times now bygone. Then they were made for whole families, with woolen, gay coverlids for the backs. Now they pass well for courting vehicles and tete-a-tetes. Name of Egg Harbour. I think, I ascertained at Absecum beach [called Atlantic City now] from "the oldest inhabitants" why we have had the name of Egg-Harbour for the long sea coast of Jersey. It meant the Egg-shelter -- a place of pre-eminent security for Birds and their eggs. Many kinds of large birds, as seen there only thirty years ago, built their nests in the tops of the numerous trees once growing along the front beaches of the whole New Jersey Coast -- so that an individual standing on the top of the front line of sand mounts (cast up by the winds) could look into the nests and see many large eggs good for eating. These, and the grape vines hanging to every tree, made the region of Sea coast -- both the place of Eggs -- and also, as the Northmen called it, the "vinland". The former big birds and their eggs are now greatly gone - the Mud hens were once very numerous throughout the whole area of marsh grass in the Sound, being seven miles over in width. There the hens raised piles of Mud -- two feet high -- in the tops of which they laid their eggs. But now the hens and nests are rarely found. What a time must once have been for the "poor Indian" to have been gatherers of such cheap and ready food ! -- and how ready there for their use, oysters, clams, crabs, fish. Alas, poor Indian now westward driven ! such their destiny -- such an inheritance now ! One cannot reflect upon the vast changes affecting, without emotions of wonder ! What cannot enlightened man effect ! By and bye, we shall see Railroads traversing our continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific -- How much wiser to preserve Peace relations for benefitting mankind, than to exhaust all of our means in senseless wars ! A hundred millions wasted in War would build Railroads across our Continent ! Let us sedulously cultivate and preserve peace. Such was my spontaneous reflections while standing on the Sand hills of great Egg Harbour. Cold and Snow of January, 1856. This month, it is alleged in the Inquirer, has been the coldest for thirty-four years preceeding, say January 1821 -- then ten degrees below zero, by the records of the Thermometers. The mean temperature of January, as kept by J. McAllister has been twenty-eight degrees -- and is far ahead of its predecessors. The snow, too, which began about the fourth or fifth, has continued for sleighing all through the month and into February. The thermometer was down to ten degrees below zero some two or three times at night. The ice, and skating and sliding on the Delaware was continued also. Doctor Rush had published that in his life he had not seen more than four degrees below zero. I have not seen any degrees of cold set down to the memorable hard winters of 1740 and `80 ; but we saw then more mention of injuries by cold to cattle, swine, squirrels, Birds, Deer &c. The ice in the western waters and down the whole length of the Mississippi go beyond all former years. The deep snow of the fourteenth and fifteenth of January 1831 caused good sleighing till the middle of February. The present sleighing lasted till the end of February also -- and began the fourth and fifth of January -- of course the longest snow. The Year 1856 -- Annus Mirabilis -- This year has been wonderful -- as stated in the "Evening Bulletin" -- the last winter so cold; this summer so hot and dry -- So many calamities -- of Ocean, Flood and Land; -- Such accidents of Steamers and Railroads -- A year of the terrible and effective. "Who Reads an American Book ?" This sneer uttered in England a few years ago, is now well answered in the annexed article -- as stated in 1856 -- at Crystal Palace, New York. "BOOK PUBLISHING IN THIS COUNTRY" -- The Secretary of the Book Publishers' Asssociation, in his valuable address at the Crystal Palace, said : `Let it be remembered that the aggregate number of the new books first manufactured in a single year is not less than two millions four hundred thousand. Putting aside school books, Bibles and society publications, the number of volumes printed and reprinted will reach eight millions ! The school-books alone will swell the number twelve millions more. The number of volumes issued yearly from the gigantic establishment of the Messrs. Harper alone has been estimated at more than a million of volumes ; and the Philadelphia house of Lippincott sends forth books at an average of fifty cases per day, the year round. And consider, besides, the enormous bulk of reading matter issue by our 200 periodicals, and 2,000 newspapers ! Think of the 18,000 double or 36,000 single reams of paper required yearly for a single magazine which courses over the country, unprecedented in cheapness and attraction, at the rate of 150,000 per month. The wildest imagining at home or abroad, twenty years ago, would not have stretched so far as this. Why sir, the sheets from our book-presses alone in a single year would reach nearly twice round the globe, and if we add the periodicals and newspapers, the issue of our presses in about eighteen months would make a belt two feet wide, printed on both sides, and which would stretch from New York to the moon !'"