Philadelphia, whether as owner of real estate, merchant, trader, mechanic, or manufacturer, or as cultivator of the soil, which supplies our metropolis with provisions and other necessaries, ought to use all his energies to avert this catastrophe. There is nothing so well calculated to answer this important end, as to spread abroad sound views of the relative advantages and disadvantages of the two rival routes. This is one of the chief objects of the association. If the investigation of the subject be conducted with a due degree of zeal and diligence, the result cannot be doubtful.

To connect Lake Erie with the Alleghany river by means of a canal, has been found perfectly practicable. Two examinations of the country have been made; one by commissioners under the authority of the government of Pennsylvania, in 1823: the other by the United States' Engineers in 1824. This connexion may be accomplished by taking the canal along the Beaver river; or by descending from the Coneaut Lake, along the French Creek. The latter course would form the junction of the lake with the Alleghany at the French Creek, one hundred and thirty miles, by the river, above Pittsburg; and a canal along the river to that Birmingham of America, would be attended with no extraordinary difficulty. The canal by the Beaver would enter at the mouth of that river about fifty miles below Pittsburg, and almost on the extreme verge of Pennsylvania.

The most obvious channel of communication between the Ohio and the Chesapeake is by means of the Juniata, in connexion with the Alleghany. Another, and supposed to be a practicable and cheap route for a canal, is along Toby's Creek and its waters from the Alleghany river to the west branch of the Susquehanna. Either route would be one-half cheaper than the one contemplated by the Chesapeake and Ohio. And yet a map has been recently published by Mr. Shriver, which appears intended to forestal the question, as if it were fully decided by the proper authorities. It is entitled "Map of the country through which a canal to connect the waters of the Chesapeake and Ohio, is intended to pass." This direction of the proposed communication would be a fatal stroke to the prosperity of Pennsylvania.

Can it then be possible, that in the wealthy city of Philadelphia, there will be any difficulty in procuring the specified number of subscribers to an association, with such views, and

promising such copious harvests of national, state, and individual advantage? Surely not. To stimulate our citizens to patronize this undertaking, it may be sufficient to state, that to societies of this description, no small portion of the prosperity of Great Britain is due. In that country, men of wealth and influence are proud to distinguish themselves by their liberality in patronizing every undertaking, of which the object is to promote the public prosperity. We shall instance only one institution out of numbers which might be adduced. The society for the promotion of arts, manufactures and commerce,* composed of about 1740 members, of whom 286 are for life, with a subscription of twenty guineas, is a glorious monument of public spirit and genuine patriotism, which, by its beneficent efforts, does honour to the British nation. When will the United States behold such a society in operation? The day, we fear, is far distant; for it is a melancholy truth, which we deeply regret to state, that too many of our wealthy and influential citizens withdraw themselves wholly from the patronage of arts, sciences, literature, and every kind of public improvement.

There are, it is true, some honourable exceptions-but they are, alas! too few; for nine-tenths of all the contributions in this city for great public purposes, except where handsome dividends are expected, are derived from the members of the learned professions-and from those merchants, traders, and manufacturers, who form the middle classes of society. The great burden of these contributions falls on a very small number of persons, and to some of them is extremely oppressive, as it is too often beyond their means, and very far indeed beyond the just proportion of the claims of society on them for such purposes.

As soon as twenty subscribers are procured, it is intended to elect the officers, who shall be a president-vice-presidenttreasurer-secretary—and a committee of correspondence and

publication.

* It may serve as a stimulus to our citizens to follow the example of the illustrious society above mentioned, to state, that in the year 1821, it offered no less than 421 medals, of which 185 were gold, and 236 silver. The value of the gold medals varied from 20 to 100 guineas-of the silver from 10 to 15. Averaging the former at 35 guineas, and the latter at 12, the amount is 10,787 guineas, equal to above 40,000 dollars, offered as premiums in one year. What a source of laudable pride to an Englishman!

MISCELLANEA.

From the Port Folio, the Emporium, &c.

NAMES. I have been often struck with the absurdity displayed by many parents in christening their children. However extravagant the idea may seem, it really appears as if they were unacquainted with, or did not consider, what is the object of names, and that they are intended to distinguish one human being from another. This object is greatly neglected when Christian names of any particular kind are generally bestowed on persons of the same surname. When the surname is a very common one, as Taylor, Smith, Thompson, Johnson, &c. a very common Christian name, John, James, or Thomas, ought to be carefully avoided, as productive of inconvenience.

I have now before me the Philadelphia Directories, for 1796, 1798, and 1809, and the London Directory, for 1799; in the first, there are no less than seventeen John Smiths, nine Thomas Smiths, and ten John Thompsons. In the second there are likewise seventeen John Smiths, seven Thomas Smiths, and eight John Thompsons. In the Directory for this year, there are twenty-six John Smiths, eight Samuel Smiths, eighteen William Smiths, eight Thomas Smiths, and ten John Thompsons. In the London Directory, for 1799, there are fifty William Smiths, fifty-six Thomas Smiths, and no less than seventy John Smiths, exclusive of twenty-five J. Smiths, whom I pass over, as uncertain whether the abbreviated name is John, James or Joseph. It is easy to conceive what numerous errors and disadvantages must arise from the confusion of these names; how many letters must go to persons for whom they were not intended; how many family secrets must in consequence be revealed; how many mistakes must take place respecting notes and debts; and how extremely difficult it must be to guard against these mistakes.

I have known two instances of persons of respectable characters in this city, who had the misfortune to be namesakes to two men notorious for characters of a contrary description. The iniquities of the latter were frequently visited very vexatiously on the heads of the former.

In some parts of New England, where the paternal Christian name is perpetuated in the oldest son, and in the grandson, there is a mode of distinction, which I have never observed

elsewhere. Instead of annexing senior and junior, as we do, they add 2d, to the son's name; and, when the grandson is. grown up, they add to his name 3d. I have seen in a Connecticut paper, Jethro Allen, Jethro Allen 2d, and Jethro Allen 3d. This is a troublesome appendage, and arises from the absurd prejudice that so generally prevails with fathers to dignify their oldest sons with their own Christian names.

In certain parts of Maryland, there is a mode of distinction, peculiar, I believe, to that State. Where there are two persons of the same name, of different parents, they annex the paternal Christian name to the name of the son. Thus, William Hanson of William, and William Hanson of Frederic, mean, on supplying the ellipsis, William Hanson, son of William Hanson; and William Hanson, son of Frederic Hanson.

In the choice of Christian names there is a great diversity of tastes. Many persons, particularly in New England, prefer the Old Testament names, which are now less fashionable than they were formerly. They have Asas, Abrahams, Jonathans, Jonadabs, Jehoshaphats, Solomons, Elijahs, Deborahs, Sarahs, and Ruths. Novel-reading ladies deal largely in a totally dif ferent class of names, of a romantic cast. They flourish away with Clelias, Cecilias, Henriettas, Wilhelminas, &c. Goldsmith had such ladies in view, when he so formally introduced to notice among his dramatis personæ, the all-accomplished and incomparable Lady Carolina Wilhelmina Amelia Skeggs. Persons of plain common sense choose among a large class of names, which fall not within the two above described, and are certainly preferable to either. This class embraces the Georges, the Frederics, the Edwards, the Henrys, the Peters, the Charleses, the Williams, the Roberts, the Marias, the Elizas, the Ellens, &c. &c.

Some time since, there were two persons in New York, of the name of John Glover. Their letters were frequently and vexatiously delivered at cross purposes. They had an interview, to agree upon some distinction, to put an end to the inconvenience. They judged it eligible to insert a letter between the Christian and surname. But, strange to tell, they chose the two letters least adapted for their purpose, of any in the alphabet. One wrote his name John G. Glover, and the other John J. Glover. The distinction on paper, it is true, is strongly enough marked.

In Philadelphia, we had a case sometime since, not very dis

similar. There were two persons of the name of John Jones, who were as much harassed by mistakes of letters, &c. as the Messrs. Glover. They adopted the distinction of John Jones M. and John M. Jones-Port Folio, March, 1809, p. 251.

TITLES OF BOOKS.-Many a valuable work has been injured in its circulation, through the folly or affectation of the writer, in giving it a quaint name, not at all indicative of its contents. "The Diversions of Purley." Who could ever have supposed that this was a most valuable philological work, probably the most elaborate ever offered to the world? Surely no human being. One of the most interesting books I have ever read on Indian affairs, remained for a long time unnoticed and neglected, from the quaintness of its title. It is called "Indian Recreations." Numbers probably, as well as I, supposed it to be an account of the diversions of the Hindoos. Whereas, it is an account of their manners, customs, government, policy, and population; and possesses an uncommon degree of merit.Idem, p. 253.

VICAR OF WAKEFIFLD.-It may seem like literary heresy, to call in question the excellence of such a popular and interesting work, as the Vicar of Wakefield. Yet it has always appeared to me liable to very strong objections, which militate against the judgment of the writer. That it has many uncommonly brilliant passages, elegant descriptions, and just and appropriate sentiments, is beyond a doubt. And what is of infinitely more importance, it is equally true, that the moral is excellent. But can the warmest admirer of Goldsmith deny, that the character of Burchell is injudiciously drawn? that his conduct is radically wrong in one most important point, and in utter discordance with the beneficence ascribed to him? He sees a family, with whom he contemplates an alliance, beset by villany of the most flagrant kind; and tamely looks on, when, by raising his little finger in their defence, he could have saved them from destruction, and crushed their oppressor to the earth. The letter which he writes to put them on their guard, is so studiedly ambiguous, that it did not require the arrant delusion under which the ill-fated family laboured, to interpret its contents entirely to the prejudice of the writer. Indeed this is by