bare mention of a few of them will be sufficient to convey an idea of the importance of this city:---The statehouse, with the court-houses and philosophical hall adjoining, the dispensary, alms-house, hospital, jail, carpenter's-hall, college, academy, library, two theatres, and four banks. The quakers, baptists, episcopalians, and Roman catholics, have each four houses for public worship; the German Lutherans six, presbyterians five, methodists three, black methodists two, and the Swedish Lutherans, Moravians, covenanters, universalists, unitarians, independents, Jews, and black episcopalians, one each; in all, forty; being six less than in the city of New York.

The state-house, in Chesnut-street, is remarkable as being the place from whence the independence of the United States was first proclaimed; and, previous to the year 1800, when Philadelphia was the seat of the general government, the legislature of the Union held their meetings in the adjoining buildings. While the legislature of Pennsylvania continued in this city, they assembled in the state-house; but Lancaster having been appointed the seat of government, that building now contains Peale's museum, a very extensive collection of natural and other curiosities.

There are three market-houses in the city, the principal of which is in High-street, and is perhaps exceeded by none in the world, in the abundance, neatness, and variety of provisions, which are exposed for sale every Wednesday and Saturday. The market-hours are from day-light to two o'clock from the 1st of April to the 1st of September, and from day-light to three o'clock the remainder of the year. The prices of different articles in English money may be taken as under: flour, 458. per barrel of 196 lb.; beef (best quality) and veal, 5d. per lb.; mutton, 41d.; pork, 5d. to 7d.; bacon, 8d.; fowls, 18. 5d. to 28. 2d. each; ducks, 1s. 8d. to 2s. 3d.; geese, 38. 41d. to 4s. 6d.; turkeys, 58. 6d. ; fish, 3d. to 6d. per lb. ; butter, (fresh) 18. 4 d. to 1s. 7d.; American cheese, 9d.; English do. 1s. 4d.; potatoes and apples, 3s. 4 d. per bushel; onions, 18. 2d. per peck; cabbages, 21d. each; tea, 4s. 6d. to 98. per lb. ; coffee, (raw) 10d. to 18. 2d. ; chocolate, 18. to 18. 9d.; moist sugar, 7d. to 9d.; lump do., ls. to 1s. 4d.; dipt candles, 10d.; mould do. 12d.; soap, 7d. to 9d. ; salt, from England, 3s. 4 d. per bushel.

House rent is at least one-fourth lower than in New York. Mechanics board and lodging the same as in that city, with superior accommodations; but many of them board and lodge with their employers. Labourers are

paid 4s. 6d. to 5s. 73d. a day; female servants, 4s. 6d. to 98. a week, with their board; men servants, 54s. to 67s. 6d. per month; house carpenters earn 31s. 6d. to 40s. 6d. per week, working hours from sun-rise to sun-set; cabinet. makers, 368. to 40s. 6d., working generally by the piece; bricklayers, 31s. 6d. to 458.; tinmen, 278. to 458.; shoemakers, 31s. 6d. to 40s. 6d. ; saddiers, 31s. 6d. to 45s.; coachmakers, the same; tailors, 31s. 6d. to 40s. 6d.; printers, (compositors and pressmen,) 31s. 6d. to 40s. 6d.; employment uncertain, the greater part of the work being done by apprentices. The printing business, though rendered nugatory to the workmen by the cupidity and avarice of their employers, is yet better established here than in any other place in the United States; and gives employment to a great number of paper-mills, and alt classes connected with the book trade: printers, typefounders, engravers, bookbinders, booksellers, &c,

Wearing apparel does not differ materially from the New York prices, stated in page 371. A superfine cloth coat costs £8 28.; a surtout ditto, £11 4s.; trowsers, 45s. to 54s.; waistcoats, 26s. ; but clothes of an inferior quality may be had from ope-fourth to one-half lower. Shoes are from 138. 6d. to 158. 9d. a pair; Wellington boots, 388. to 458.; Hessian ditto, from 42s. 6d. to 458.; jockey ditto. 678. 6d. ; ladies' shoes, 4s. 6d. to 5s. 7d.; the best beaver hats are 40s. 6d. India and French silks, China crapes for ladies' dresses, and India handkerchiefs are one half cheaper than in England. Other articles of wearing apparel, and almost every thing used in domestic economy are imported from Great Britain.

The manufactures of Philadelphia are rising into great importance; the principal of which are, leather of every description, a great variety of wood and iron work, particularly bar iron and steel in large quantities, fermented and distilled liquors, earthenware, tinplate, hats, hosiery, a vast variety of cloths, ropes, and ships to a large extent. The frame of a 74-gun ship has been put up in the spring of 1819, and the frames of another line of battle ship and a frigate are collecting in the same place, where there are considerable deposits of timber, copper, iron, and other naval stores.

This city is under great obligations to the friends, or quakers, who have given a happy bent to the manners of the people, different from what is to be found in most other places of equal extent. The citizens are industrious and sober, and though sufficiently commercial, they do not conduct their business in the same ostentatiqua

style that is done by the merchants of some other cities; but confine themselves within reasonable bounds, and endeavour to secure what they gain. Education is on an excellent footing; besides the larger seminaries already noticed, there are numerous academies and schools throughout the city: the arts and sciences have been long cultivated. A philosophical society was established in 1769, and they have published several volumes of their transactions. The Philadelphia library was commenced as early as 1731, by Dr. Franklin; in 1742, it was incorporated, since which time the collection of books has been greatly augmented. This excellent institution, which consists of many thousand volumes, besides a valuable philosophical apparatus, and a museum, is open to all strangers who have a taste for reading. The library is furnished with tables and seats; and a stranger, without any introduction, may call for any book he pleases, and sit down and peruse it as long as he thinks proper. The other societies of greatest importance are, the college of physicians, instituted for the purpose of promoting medical, anatomical, and chemical knowledge; the Pennsylvanian society for promoting the abolition of slavery, and the relief of free negroes unlawfully held in bondage; the academy of fine arts; the agricultural society; preminm society; society for alleviating the misery of public prisons; humane society; marine benevolent society; St. Andrew's society; Scots thistle society; St. Patrick's society; Hibernian society; St. George's society; Welsh society; French benevolent society; the Philadelphia society for the information and assistance of emigrants, and two other societies of the same kind, one for the relief of German, and another for the relief of Irish emigrants; and various other charitable societies. The grand lodge of Pennsylvania is established here, and there are fifteen or sixteen subordinate lodges of free-masons.

The police of this city is said to be better regulated than that of any other in the United States; it appears, indeed, to be much better than New York. There are a number of well-paid public scavengers, who clean the streets at regular periods; and, as has been already observed, the side-pavements are generally washed every morning. The city is elevated fifty or sixty feet above. the river, in consequence of which there is an ample descent for the water; and the streets being well supplied with common sewers, all the filth is completely carried off, and they are kept sweet by the supply of fresh water from the water-works, which is constantly pouring into

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them from every quarter. This water also keeps the streets pure, by running along the gutters; so that almost every street has a little stream on each side of it; which, in a large city, must be highly conducive to health and cleanliness. The city is supplied with water by contract, and the contractor is obliged to supply three millions of gallons daily, if required. The annual expense is 6,000 dollars for 1,000,000 of gallons per day, and for any additional quantity up to 2,000,000, the expense is at the rate of half that sum. The engine is forty horse power, and can raise, if necessary, 4,500,000 gallons per day, so that the supply must be abundant for every purpose. The building which contains the reservoir of the water-works stands upon the most elevated ground in the city. It occupies a square of sixty feet, and from the centre arises a circular tower, forty feetlin diameter and sixty feet high; and this tower is terminated by a dome, which gives it a very handsome appearance. The water is conveyed to this building from the Schuylkill, a distance of nearly a mile, through a circular brick tunnel of six feet diameter, having a fall of six inches towards the river. It is first received into a substantial bason and canal, and from thence is raised by a steam engine to the level of the aqueduct, which conveys it to the Centre-square. It is there received into another bason, and thence by an other steam engine is elevated to the circular tower, from whence it issues through wooden pipes, in all directions, to supply the city. The whole expense of these works was about £33,750 sterling; the fund for which was raised by the corporation, partly by a tax, and partly by loan, allowing the lenders six per cent. interest for their money, and the use of the water free for three years for every 100 dollars subscribed.

The state prison of Pennsylvania, which owes its origin to the enlightened citizens of Philadelphia, deserves particular notice in this place. Its object is to receive the vicious, and, if possible, to reclaim them to virtue; and is an admirable contrast to the cruel punishments of the European governments, who, for even pecuniary offences, send the offenders off to the other world to be reclaimed there. Criminals are not admitted into this place of confinement till after conviction, when they are received from the different parts of the state: it is hence called the state prison. When a convict is received, his name is taken down, or, in other words, he becomes a partner in the concern, and an account is opened with him in the books. Inquiry is then made what he can do:

if he can work at any trade, he is taken to the apartment where that branch is earried on, and has his task assigned him. If he can work at no trade, he is sent to saw marble. As an inducement to industry, the prisoners get credit in the books for the value of their labour, and are charged with the amount of their food and clothing; which, however, are not expensive, as every thing is conducted with great economy: when they are released, should their earnings be more than the expense of their maintenance, the balance is duly paid to them. Almost every trade is carried on in the prison; and the institution is so organized, that the necessaries of life are attended to by the convicts themselves, such as baking, cooking, scrubbing the rooms, &c.; and every thing is kept remarkably clean. The food is wholesome and nutritive, consisting of Indian flour, bread, and flesh meat; the drink is treacle and water, no spirituous liquors being admitted within the walls of the prison. There are separate apartments for the reception of female convicts, where the various parts of female labour are carried on, and it is otherwise under the same system of management as that for the males.

This jail is inspected twice every week by twelve per sons, chosen annually from amongst the citizens of Philadelphia; and these men act voluntarily without any reward whatever. From their report to the general inspectors, an opinion is formed of the conduct of each individual prisoner, and, with the consent of the judges, his treatment is regulated accordingly. This is varied according to his crime, and to his subsequent repentance, Solitary confinement in a dark cell is considered the severest punishment; next, solitary confinement in a cell with the admission of light; next, confinement in a cell where the prisoner is allowed to work; lastly, labour in company with others. The longest period of confinement is for a rape, which is not to be less than ten years, but not to exceed twenty-one. For high treason, the length of confinement is not to be less than six nor more than twelve years. No crime is punishable with death except premeditated murder.

Objections may be made to the mildness of the punishments in Pennsylvania, as not being sufficient to atone for a very atrocious offence, and especially as they are not inflicted in public. But on a close examination they will be found to be very severe, and better calculated to prevent crime than any other that could be adopted. If any public punishment could strike terror into the wicked,