USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > Annals of Philadelphia, and Pennsylvania in the olden time; being a collection of the memoirs, anecdotes, and incidents of the earliest settlements of the inland part of Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 66
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Peter Kalm, was a professor of Botany, born in 1715 in Sweden, who visited our Swedish settlers in 1748, and remained among us three years; he published his travels among us, in an English translation in 1770,-died in 1779, much distinguished as a Botanist.
In 1796, the Rev. George Acrelius published at Stockholm, " A description of the present and former state at the Swedish con- gregations in New Sweden," which was translated by Nicholas Collin, D. D., of Swedes' Church, Philadelphia. Acrelius had been a ministerat the Christiana Church in Delaware, for several years. He returned to Sweden in 1756, and lived at Fallinsborc in Sweden, when his book was published.
The Wissahiccon.
This romantic Creek and scenery, now so much visited and familiar to many, was not long since an extremely wild unvisited place-to illustrate which, I give these facts, to wit: Enoch and Jacob Rittenhouse, residents there, told me in 1845, that when they were boys the place had many pheasants, that they snared a hundred of them in a season-they also got many partridges. The creek had many excellent fish-such as large sunfish and perch. The summer wild ducks came there regularly, and were shot often-also, some winter ducks. They then had no visitors from the city, and only occasionally from Germantown. There they lived quietly and retired-now all is public and bustling- all is changed.
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John S. Hutton, of Philadelphia, aged 109 years.
Longevity, and List of Names and Ages.
The frosts of ninety years have passed Upon this aged head- It seems a fine old relic cast From days that long have fled.
Mrs. Betsey Frantham, died at Maury county, North Carolina, on the 10th January, 1834, aged 154 years! She was a native of Germany, and arrived at North Carolina in 1710. At the age of 120 her eyesight became almost extinct; but during the last twenty years of her life, she could see as well as when 20 years of age! She had come out in 1710 among a number of German emigrants, to whom Gov. Lynte was directed to give 100 acres of land severally, as motives to settlement. She wasfor several years unable to walk, and it was their practice for several years to keep her lying between two feather beds, to keep up the essential temperature to the preservation of her life. She had lost the sense of taste and hearing, for some time before her death.
Died at New Brunswick, N. J., (Aug. 1834,) Hugh Hender- son, aged 104 years; a native of the Highlands of Scotland. He could take long walks, and enjoyed his health and spirits till February last, when he broke his leg by a fall on the ice. His bones were set and reunited firmly.
Died in Chester county, 1831, Nathaniel Mercer, of that county, aged 101 years.
Died at New York, September, 1834, of Cholera, a poor coloured woman, aged 109 years. She lived and died in Orange street. There is now living in Washington street a coloured man who is aged 104 years.
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Joice Heth, a negro slave, is exhibited alive at Pittsburgh, aged 161 years! She retains a vivid recollection of the scenes of her youth, and is to be brought on to Philadelphia, New York, &c. It is said that she once belonged to General Washington's father, and had been the nurse of the General. A post mortem examination in 1835-6, seems to prove her to be not more than 90 years old.
Col. W. Drake, died at New Haven, on the 11 Sept. 1796, in the 100th year of his age, and having his faculties sound to the last.
Wm. Butler died at Philadelphia in May, 1838, aged 108, " the oldest inhabitant of Philadelphia."
Died at Fairfield, S. C., 3 Jan., 1835, Jennings Allen, aged 117 years, had served with Braddock, and also in the Revolution.
General Washington, his providential preservation.
Sundry circumstances in the early life of Washington, while a Colonel in the western wilderness, have not been sufficiently noticed, as marking him even from the beginning, as " the man of destiny," as one providentially preserved for the subsequent salvation of his country. For instance, in the case of his expo- sure of person in the battle of Braddock's defeat. His letter to his mother of 18 July, 1755-says, "The Virginian troops"-to which he belonged-" showed a great deal of bravery, and were nearly all killed. I luckily escaped without a wound, though I had four bullets through my coat, and had two horses shot under me. The general's two aids being early wounded, I was the only person then left to distribute the general's orders. At the same time he requests to inform his brother John, that he has not been killed, as had been before reported in a circumstantial account. He added, "By the all powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation, while death was levelling my companions on every side." Such remarkable perils, and such acknowledg- ments of a divine protection therein, are things which should be impressively considered.
Besides the foregoing, it came to pass afterwards, when Washington was out in Ohio in 1770, to explore some wild lands near the Kenawha river, he there met an aged Indian chief who told him, that during the battle in Braddock's field, he had singled him out at several times to bring him down with his rifle, and ordered his young warriors to do the same; but none of the balls took effect! He was then convinced that the young hero was under some special guardianship of the Great Spirit, and he had therefore desisted from firing. He had now come a long way to pay his homage to so peculiar a man-as one saved by Heaven ! Surely, if the poor Indian, could thus discern the protection from above, much more readily should we, who pro- fess to understand a God "who rules in the affairs of men."
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In the year 1753, Major Washington, returning from his visi. to Fort Le Bœuf, roughing it all the way like a perfect woods- man, urging his lonely way through the depths of the forests, in the depth of the winter, fell into a fearful dilemma, which ordi- narily would have cost the life of any other individual. He had left his horse and heavy baggage, and for the sake of greater dispatch, had undertaken to foot his way, with his friend Mr. Gist, for his companion. Being tied up in his watch coat, with his better clothes off, and his papers and provisions tied in a pack slung to his back, (think of that, for the great General Washington, afterwards President of the United States;) they urged their lonely way through the woods, each with gun in hand and momentarily exposed to Indian surprise. That sur- prise came from a party of French Indians laying in wait- one of them fired upon them not fifteen steps off but missed, and then they seized him, (mark it, that they were too humane to kill an enemy in possession !) and at night let him go; they in mean while walking all night, as their best security for get- ting beyond the reach of the party on the morrow. They then continued walking all next day-when they reached the river two miles above Shannopins-which they had hoped to have found frozen, from the keenness of the cold which they had braved. The ice there, however, was drifting in vast quantities, and they had no way to pass it but on a raft, which they them- selves were obliged to construct, with only one poor hatchet. In such a necessary and hurried work, they were diligently em- ployed all day-exposed to cold in their persons; and with continued apprehensions from the pursuing Indians, probably near them ! On such an occasion did Washington, probably, remember the prayers which he may have been taught by a mother's care in his youth. Can we suppose that he did not ejaculate something from the heart, for Divine support and pro- tection ! He was protected. For soon after they had embarked on their frail log structure, "they got jammed up in the ice, and momentarily expected their raft to sink, and themselves to perish !" Just at their extremity, when Washington was setting his pole to save his position, he was jerked out into 10 feet water! They had then no alternative, but to make their way to an island, leaving their raft to its fate. There they had to pass the whole night in mid-winter !- their clothes soaked with iced water and stifly frozen ;- so frozen, that his companion, Mr. Gist, had all of his fingers and some of his toes frozen! Mark the providence! Washington though equally, or more exposed, was not frozen; and the very severity of the freezing made them a formidable bridge of ice, by which they safely passed over to the main land on the next morning, and soon after reached the wigwam of Queen Allaquippa, where they were refreshed ! Surely as many of us as may regard Washington as bestowed
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upon us, as a nation's deliverer, must herein see and confess the hand divine, which led his footsteps in his youth, and guided him in future years, through a long, perilous and eminent life. We know of nothing in the whole career of Washington, which has been to us such moving cause of emotion, as the contempla- tion of these earliest scenes of Washington. Scenes, however, which have been least noticed by others. We can't think of his rugged and severe backwood struggles-his exertions for life and honour, without thinking how little he then could have dreamed of his country's Independence, and himself the appointed Leader ! We row backward when we go ahead! So dark and mysterious are the counsels which sometimes lead and rule in the affairs of men!
It may be imputed to the good tact and good sense of Gov. Dinwiddie who came out to Virginia in 1752, to have first brought out the proper estimation of the talents of young Wash- ington; and still more are we indebted to the discernment of the Rev. Samuel Davis, (afterwards President of Princeton College,) who at his sermon preached the 17 Aug., 1755, before the Hanover volunteers of Capt. Overton's command, to excite them to the war, just after the defeat of Braddock-He says, "shall these savages go on unchecked, and must our unhappy brethern on our frontiers go unassisted and unpitied? No! No! Thank God, he has been pleased to diffuse some sparks of the martial fire through our country-in you it begins to kindle, and may I not produce you, my brethern, who are engaged in this volunteer expedition as instances of it?" He then gives as an episode or note, saying, "I may point out to the public, that heroic youth, Col. Washington, whom I cannot but hope Providence has hitherto preserved in so signal a manner for some important service to his country." Doct. Davis' text, in the foregoing sermon, was from 2d Saml. x. 12. "Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the Lord do that which seemeth him good."-See Davis' Sermoms, vol. 5. Edn. 1818.
Passing Changes of Men and Manners.
We have been sometimes urged to bring out another volume, wherein we should so dispose of facts of changes passed and pass- ing upon society, as should by emphasis of remark, arouse the indolent or inconsiderate reader to a due sense of the real im- portance of the changes produced. We feel that we have done enough ; and the reader, therefore, by his own reflections and notices, must supply needful amplifications.
We, however, think of sundry prevalent and modish actions of society, such as did not, and could not, formerly, find toleration. They are just so special and striking as to form a proper and closing chapter to these Annals. Not for the sake of censorship,
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or objection, but as marking an era, in " the progress of enlight ened civilization," to be remembered.
The generation of elderly ladies have not yet passed away, whc made a part of that society which could not behold such things as cpera-dances and waltzes with complacency. They felt, as females, an instinctive, inherent modesty, precluding them from such publicity. The encroachments upon female modesty have been progressive, and may continue.
The first most effective inroad upon the instinctive modesty of the sex-as is still remembered by them, was the modish introduc- tion of man-midwifery. Against its practice we urge no com- plaint : nevertheless, it is remembered as of record, that Mrs. Lydia Robinson of New London, Conn., who died in 1769 at the age of 70 years, had been for 35 years a successful female midwife for 1,200 children, and never lost one. After the change of such practice, to male hands, women felt a hardihood, which prepared them to permit other influences upon female character.
Such came latterly, in the form of opera dancing, waltzing, and circus riding, wherein performers in the display of limbs and in- dividual symmetry, had the countenance of society ; and yet we have among us still, many who can well remember their first emotions of confusion and blushes, at first seeing some of these spectacles. In time, they also fell in with the fashion of the times, and subdued their scruples.
To what they did eventually submit, and bring themselves to witness, we may portray form such exhibitions as Perrot, and the figurante Taglioni, could display. If it were not so graceful it would be indecent; but they understood the philosophy of their art, it was to throw around sensuality such a colouring of refine ment as might divest it of its grossness. Look! there she comes from the back of the stage, turning round and round with the speed of a teetotum, in indescribable and fascinating grace-she pirouettes-she springs and vaults, her scanty drapery flying up- wards, discloses to her enraptured admirers, among the young men, the beauty of her limbs. See! she now rests before the foot-lights, on the very point of her toe, the other limb highly elevated, depressing and elevating her body with infinite grace and ease, and smiling and looking modest as an angel-mean- while, affording to enraptured male beholders, the opportunity of scrutinizing the grace and proportions of her figure. Next, see the impersonation of Perrot, he comes and leaps about as if his feet were made of India rubber, and spins around upon the point of his toe like a top. He joins the figurante, and they twirl away and glide along, holding eloquent discourse with their pliant limbs, after the manner of waltzing. He, wonderful for grace and beauty of person, is as much the idol of the ladies, as is the other the goddess of the gentlemen. The applause on all sides is deafening, save from some few youthful innocent girls
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who have never beheld the like before. Look at some of them who have come with their friends to see something new-un defined, vague, glimmering and wonderful-
-"Oh ! the joy Of young ideas painted on the mind Of objects not yet known, when all is new !"
It is a "Ballet"-a thing which rank and fashion has counte- nanced and sustained. Their conductors and companions are persons of unblemished reputation and virtue, and therefore cannot be wrong. Look at any one of these novices-the face betrays that she has seen enough to crimson the visage and neck with the blush of shame-she instinctively hides her head from a sight which has shocked her former sense of decency. There is no affectation here. It is nature out, and comes without bidding. While thus confused she hears the enraptured plaudits of all around her, and begins almost to feel ashamed that she has felt confused. She almost fears that her emotions might be imputed to awkwardness-to prudery-to anything else than the truth, she therefore labours to arrive at such mastery over self as the manners of society impose.
The exhibition of figure, grace, &c., having thus found public favour, came in time to give idea to the exhibition of living models, as statuary subjects for artists, amatuers, &c. To show forth from life, selected individuals of both sexes, as models of perfection in bodily configuration,-veiled only, with invisible or flesh colour tissue. They found for a while some spectators of both sexes, others thought it too gross, and the curtain was dropt. Whether posterity will raise it again, they shall see. The time was, when, even real statuary-dead cold marble, with its vacant eye, could not be exposed where females were to be met or seen; and the same influence is measurably so still. But while circus riders, of both sexes, can be tolerated to appear in seeming nakedness of limb and bodily form, the nudities of images, as in Italy and France, may come to be a future common exhibition.
With the operas have come in, a new style of singing, such as our forefathers knew not. It does not profess to be natural but highly artificial, measuring its excellence by its difficulty of exe- cution. Its prevalence, so far, has changed all manner of singing now heard in social intercourse, it aims at anything but sweet melody, and seems like an affectation of something else. But all are not thus disposed, for those who judge of music and its charms, from natural instinct, adhere earnestly to nature's dictates, and therefore give all favour to coloured ministrels, who profess to follow nature's mode. They teach harmony to natural ears and tastes, and successfully burlesque the operas, with all their exalted screams, trills and intonations. That some opera singers should get into choirs of some churches is another inno- vation of the age; and with it comes the other innovation, with
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some, of singing, what should be praying responses, . meekly kneeling on the knees." This we are bound to say, was not always so.
One most obvious and most embarrassing change, which has " come over the face of our affairs,," is the increased and increas- ing difficulty of providing acceptable employment for growing. up sons-of such as aim at what they deem genteel occupation. They find the Bar and medical profession, already surcharged; and if they aim at wholesale stores and business houses, they find them scarce, and few and far between. The result is, that young men are not, and cannot be, prepared for early marriage, and settlement, or else they seek to find fortunes where they should not. Too many are therefore driven to live upon con- tingencies and chance, and are liable to be seduced into criminal stratagems, at a rate of number never before so witnessed. A time must therefore come, when men of sense will educate and train their surplus sons to husbandry, and others to mechanic arts requiring skill and education. Architecture, for instance, in houses and ship construction, can open many avenues for further employment, and the elaboration of metals can be carried out into many channels of elevated and enlightened mechanicism. Gentlemen, by combination, could so determine to place their sons, and thus elevate the standard of character, just as readily as the same class, could determine recently, to make what was free schools for poor children, common schools to themselves and all other tax prayers. Make it the fashion that young men should be so disposed of, and the object is attained. Men, who by elevation lead society, may in this matter set the example of so disposing of their sons, and not forcibly constrain them into positions where society draws another way, and affects to ex- clude them. It is not the labour, but the exclusion, which operates on their minds. Our forefathers, when society, was more equalized, experienced no such difficulties in the acceptable disposal of their sons. They found readily places for all posi- tions where their education and training inclined them.
It is thus, by comparing the present and the past, we arrive at some apprehension of what our forefathers did in former times, and at some appreciation of the changes which may be induced in the future. We are thus pleased and satisfied in proportion to the images which can be created for our contemplation-while facts can be educed for consideration, the imagination and the heart must be affected. What the world will come to hereafter we may all know, as being within the compass of all past history Society moves in a circle of changes. If we are in pride, pride will bring arrogance and war-War will produce poverty- Poverty humiliation and Peace-Humiliation will induce Re- pentance and Reform-Reform, economy and wealth, as at the beginning, &c.
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The Revolutionary Navy.
Where so much has been done for the glory of our country, in the times which tried men's souls-it is desirable to say a few words-to wit.
We have many reasons for believing that the officers of our first, or revolutionary navy, were in many respects different from the pre- sent-different, we should say, in dress, manners, and mind. Their habits were simpler-their manners plain, and their intercourse frank and familiar. In their dress, there was little aim at show and grandeur. They wore small cocked hats without lace-hair powdered and cued-coats with ample skirts, and foul-anchor buttons-small clothes-hose and shoes. Their dignity and sternness, when they aimed at any, was not before their country- men, but before the enemy. In that relation, they showed them- selves men of great tact, and of most indomitable spirit and courage. They had all been practical seamen, in the merchants' service and thus came out in their new relation, for the occasion. Indeed our earliest officers for our subsequent navy, which produced officers such as we have seen to earn a fame for themselves and their coun- try by their gallantry, in actions since the revolution, had also been drawn from the mercantile marine .- Such were Bainbridge, Porter, Chauncey, Hull, Perry, Preble, &c. They had not been originally bred for drawing-rooms and courtly display ; but they had no deficiency in polished circles, when called to the exercise of their rules and usages.
Army Officers.
The speaking of navy officers above, stimulates me to say a few words of army officers, such as they were down to the year 1800, while the seat of government was at Philadelphia. They were fre- quently seen abroad in the streets, and always in their uniform. It was less expensive and splendid than now, and thus made an easier affair of daily wear. They arrived, generally from the west, on horseback, with a servant, and their baggage under a bear skin, on another horse. It was gratifying then to the citizens, to see military men thus willing to show their colours-and it gives a hint to similar professional men to do the same now.
American Scenery.
Willis has well told wherein our American scenery differs from European; and since the scenery has been depicted by Bartlett, and put upon steel plates, we cannot but perceive how equally grand and imposing are many of our river and lake scenes, compared with the best of the European -- "having no parallel in Europe or on earth." " It strikes the European traveller (says Willis) at the first burst of the scenery of America on his eye, that the new world of VOL. II .- 3
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Columbus is also a new world from the hand of the Creator-the vegetation is so wondrously lavish, and the outlines and minor features are struck out with so bold a freshness. The Minerva- like birth of the republic-its sudden rise to independence, wealth and power, and its continued and marvellous increase in popula- tion and prosperity, strike him with the same surprise, and leave the same impression of a new scale of existence, and a fresher and faster law of growth and accomplishment." Travellers, who have exhausted the unchanging countries of Europe, now turn their steps to the novel scenery and evershifting aspects of this. It is in river scenery, however, that America exceeds all other lands; and "here (says Bartlett) the artist's labour is not as in Europe, to embellish and idealize the reality; he finds it difficult to come up to it." Let this concession be considered and remembered by Americans !
The Credit System.
It has been said that "to the system of bills of credit, Pennsyl- vania owed more of her provincial prosperity than to any other cause-it gave her a facility in effecting exchanges not otherwise attainable." The mother country opposed this system, and when the colonial assembly had passed acts for such emissions, they were negatived by the crown as soon as the acts permitted-say in two years. To meet this obstacle the assemblies restricted their acts to two years at a time, and thus managed to make the emissions continual. Since then we have often effected great and lasting good by the credit system-accomplishing numerous great enter- prises. All this while it was held under wholesome restrictions and restraints. We have also greatly abused it when used as a means of excessive stock-jobbing, and extravagant speculations. Like fire and water, which are so useful and necessary in their legitimate use, they can be mismanaged to a tremendous amount of evil. Benjamin Franklin, in his early days, was the first per- son in Philadelphia who wrote and published in favour of creating paper money; and he says, that he was strenuously opposed by all the monied men; but they continued to discuss it in the junta, and it carried with the people-and after the first trial in was sc liked, as to make calls for more.
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