History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 66

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 992

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We have already alluded to Mrs. Ferguson. There were other ladies whose influence was benignant to .literature in those early times, and who themselves were well known to possess talents of a high order, that only needed a more advanced state of publishing facilities to become widely known. One of these ladies was Susanna Wright, English-born, who came over with her parents when a girl. After some years spent at Philadelphia, the family removed to the banks of the Susquehanna, where they dwelt in close proximity to the Indians. The accomplishments of Miss Wright led her to make intimate acquaintance with many of the leading spirits of the province.

At that period, among other things that hindered development of literary talents to a high degree among women, besides the absence of magazines or other literary journals, was a diffidence that now fortunately no longer exists, founded upon the idea that writing and publishing of books might not be entirely con- Sistent with the preservation of a becoming degree of feminine modesty. Though Miss Wright was familiar with several European languages and some of the sciences, and though her letters to varions persons were greatly admired, yet we beheve none of these were printed. The specimens of her poetry that have been seen are described as exhibiting much warmth and delicacy of feeling, and evince the gift of a de- vout spirit of religions faith.

Another was Hannah Griffiths, who had in her veins the blood of the Plantagenets. She was great-grand- daughter, throngh Isaac Norris, of Thomas Lloyd, of Dolobran, who, as related in the chapter on the Bench and Bar, was a lineal descendant, through the Fair Maid of Kent, of King Edward III. Like Su- sannalı Wright, she never married, thongh being of excellent social position and moving actively in that society which had become already about the most cultivated and élite in the whole country. She is represented as being a woman " of excellent abilities, and distinguished for the ease and accuracy with which she expressed herself both in conversation and with her pen." Hler writings "were mainly devo- tional, or else in an elegiac strain on the death of her friends." "She was remarkable for the readiness of her wit and repartee, and for the ease and fluency of her conversation. In her a generous and lofty spirit was finely tempered by a Christian humility. She wrote a great deal, but was averse to her pieces ap- pearing in print, which they sometimes did, though without her knowledge." Joshna Francis Fisher ( Reg- ister of Pennsylvania, 1831)1 says, "Several of Hannah Griffiths' pieces are evidence of talents of a superior order. They all breathe a spirit of piety and purity that commands our love, and some of them rise to a high elevation of devotional sublimity. Her versifi- eation is easy and elegant, and her poetry generally reflects with added lustre the charming traits of her exalted and polished mind." Both these ladies lived to a great age. Miss Griffiths became totally blind at last, but supported this affliction with much forti- tude.

A person who was very prominent in his day in all circles was the Rev. Jacob Duché, rector of the united churches of Philadelphia, Christ and St. Peter's. He was a gentleman of excellent talents, education, and social position, and was particularly distinguished for being one of the most oratorical of the divines of the country, With his special abilities in this line, he was spoken of as a person variable aud flippant in conduet and opinions, which infirmity led him into serious difficulties. Hle affected the nom de plume of "Tamoc Caspipina," formed from the initial letters of his lengthened title of rector of the two churches. llis violent conduct in urging the people to resistance in the Stamp Act contests, and his alarm when he saw his advice accepted and likely to produce such dangerons results, greatly injured his standing. The list of his publications comprises the following: "Sermons," 1775; "Caspipina's Letters," Philadelphia, 1774, Bath, England, 1777; "Letter to General Washington on the Declaration of Independence," Bath, 1777 ; " Discourses on Vari- ous Subjects," London, 1779. The sermons of Dr. Duché were highly esteemed in England. The Lon- don Monthly Review praised them well. They, it said,

1 Early l'oets and Poetry of Pennsylvania.

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" have great warmth and spirit, and, at times, are in the strain of our old divines."

The good effects of the University were seen in reasonable time. Stephen Watts was an ardent admirer of Beveridge, the Latin poet, and con- tributed to his " Epistola Familiaris et Alia Qua- dam Miscellanea." When quite young he published an " Essay on the Advantages of a Perpetual Union between Great Britain and the Colonies," which was received with much éclat. It was not long, however, be- fore he left these fields, which were not remunerative. Having studied law, he removed to Louisiana, where he married the Governor's daughter and acquired a fortune. Another was Thomas Coombe, who, like Mr. Duché, was for resistance until the Declaration of Independence, and for submission afterward. Having been sent off to Virginia on account of his Tory sen- timents, after remaining a while, he left for England, and never returned. He had taken orders in the Church of England, and was assistant minister at Christ Church; he translated some of Beveridge's Latin poems. In 1775 he published, in London, a poem entitled "The Peasant of Auburn ; or, The Emi- grant," which was afterward republished in Phila- delphia by Enoch Story. It is dedicated to Gold- smith, and was apparently designed as a continuation of the poem of "The Deserted Village." Coombe takes his emigrant to the banks of the Ohio, where Indian atrocities seem to show that it would have been much better if the emigrant had not deserted Auburn, or had at least chosen some more favorable place of exile. The poem was said to have been written for the purpose of discouraging emigration to this country. At the same time was printed "The Unfortunate Lovers," and some other pieces that are quite inferior to his first production.

Philip Freneau, though not a native nor continuous resident of Philadelphia, yet had several of his works published before removal from New York thither. While a resident of New York he made the beginning of those patriotic poetical pieces that gave him repu- tation second to no other in that line of composition. In 1776 he made a voyage to the West Indies, where he wrote two of his poems,-"The House of Night," and "The Beauties of Santa Cruz." In 1781 he wrote (having first printed in the Freeman's Journal) "The Philosopher of the Forest." In 1782 he wrote, at Philadelphia, " A Short Discourse on Esquires, with a Short Narrative of His Honor, the President of the Debtors' Club." " A Journey from Philadelphia to New York by way of Burlington, via South Amboy," in verse, is easy and amusing. Bailey published in 1786 " The Poems of Philip Freneau, written chiefly during the late war." In 1788 was published "The Miscellaneous Works of Mr. Philip Freneau, con- taining his Essays and Additional Poems." In the National Gazette, while Freneau edited it, were satiri- cal poems against Washington, John Adams, Knox, and others, which were ascribed to his pen.

For some time he had the superintendence of The United States Magazine, published by Francis Bailey. He afterward removed to New York and started The Time-Piece and Literary Companion, which, though evincing excellent ability, soon fell through. A rest- less spirit, he was wandering alone, even to a great age, from place to place. In one of such excursions near the town of Freehold in New Jersey, when eighty years of age, he perished in a snow-storm. It is reported that Lord Jeffrey said of him, " The time will come when his poetry, like that of Hudibras, will command a commentator like Gray."

One of the most promising of the young poets of Philadelphia, whose early death (at twenty-two years of age) seemed to have prevented a very brilliant career, was John Wilcocks. He was a young man of fortune, the son of a gentleman from the West Indies, who died shortly after his advent to Philadelphia. He wrote, mainly for his own entertainment, fables, satires, epigrams, etc., and in spite of the haste and carelessness apparent in their composition some of them evince talent that, if sedulously cultivated, would have produced results of much value. These pieces were published along with those of his inti- mate friend, John Parke, who wrote what he styled " The Lyric Works of Horace, translated into Eng- lish Verse, to which are added a Number of Original Poems, by a Native of America.

"*Qui cupit optatam cursu contingere metam, Multa tulit fecitque puer.'

"Philadelphia : Printed by Eleazer Oswald, at the Coffee-House, 1786."

These were written in compliment to several lead- ing personages of the day, as Dr. Smith, Governor Mckean, Benjamin Franklin, and others. It was a pity that such uncommonly good classical attain- ments should have been put to uses so unsuited.

George Mason, Jr., a writer little known, seems to have occupied his muse in graceful subjects. An epithalamium was composed in allusion to the mar- riage of Rachel Pemberton to Dr. James Parke, Dec. 5, 1773.

Several compositions of this period have been pre- served, whose authors are unknown. Among them is one called " The Maid's Husband," found in Hazard's "Register," written about 1766, as is supposed by a lady. It possesses considerable merit.

To the poetry written by authors in the period thus far whose names are unknown may be added the fol- lowing : "Serious Reflections on the Times," a poem by a minister of the gospel, published by James Chattin, 1758 ; " America in Tears," a pastoral eulogy on the death of George II., published by Stewart, 1761; "A Panegyric," by Strephon, published by Dunlap, 1762; " An Ode on the Glorious Successes of his Majesty's Arms and the Present Greatness of the English Nation," William Dunlap, printer, 1762; "Pennsylvania," a poem, by a student of the College

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HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

of Philadelphia, printed (1766) by Benjamin Franklin and David Hall. This poem was considered, at the dred. time it was published, as a superior production. The theme was principally Braddock's defeat, and the efforts of the bard were intended to arouse the sons of Pennsylvania to meet the foe. "The Manners of the Times," a satire by Philadelphiensis, was printed by Dunlap in the year 1762. It is a light and an agreeable poem. Some of the hits are apparently intended to be personal.

In dramatic works, to "The Prince of Parthia," by Godfrey, there was added, in the year 1768, a piece called " The Disappointment," by Andrew Barton, which was announced for representation as an "opera" at the South Street Theatre, but which was never acted, in con- sequence of its personal allusions. Watson's " An- nals of Philadelphia" at- tributes this work to Col. Thomas Forrest. Con- cerning the "Siege of Quebec," which was per- formed at the South Street Theatre in 1770, the au- thorship is unknown. It was written in America, but whether by an Amer- ican or by a British officer, is left to conjecture.

The historian of this period was Robert Proud, an English Quaker, born at Yorkshire, England, May 10, 1728. Arriving in Philadelphia in Jan- uary. 1759, he taught Greek and Latin in a Quaker academy until the Revolution. Firm in his attachment to the crown, he believed that the Revo- lution would cause the de- cline of virtue and pros- perity in America. He wrote his " Ilistory of Penn- sylvania from 1681 till the year 1742." This work is one which evinces a great amount of study and re- search, and notwithstanding the frequent confusion and too great circumstantiality of details, has ever been regarded as a very important contribution to the history of the times. It was published in 1797-98, and the publication was said to have been attended with pecuniary loss to the author. Chancellor Kent says of the work. " This work is of great research, and abounds with valuable matter, but it is the most confused and tedions composition that ever tormented human pa- tience."

The number of works published in Philadelphia

before the war of the Revolution is about six hun-

Nicholas Baker Waters, M.D., a native of Mary- land, son-in-law to David Rittenhouse, published " A System of Surgery," 1790.

Samuel Brown Wylie, D.D., a native of Moylarg, County Antrim, Ireland, was pastor of the First Re- formed Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, Profes- sor of Ancient Languages in the University of Penn- sylvania, and Vice-Provost. He published (1) "The Faithful Witness of Magistraey and Ministry upon a Scriptural Basis," 1804; (2) "Covenanting," 1803; (3) "First Annual Address before the Historical Society ;" (4) " Greek Grammar ;" (5) " Life of Alex- ander McLeod, D.D." His rank among scholars and divines was very high.

Robert Brauch

James Peller Malcolm, who was a native of Phila- delphia, removed to Lon- don, where he became au- thor: (1) "An Ancient History and Modern Description of London," 1802; (2) "Excursions into the Counties of Kent and Gloucester," 1806; (3) "Anecdotes of the Manners and Customs of London during the Eigh- teenth Century," 1808; (4) ditto "From the Ro- man Invasion to the Year 1700," 1811; 5) "MIis- cellaneons Anecdotes," 1811; and (6 "Lives of Topographers and Anti- quaries."

Dr. Franklin, in his autobiography, speaks of Charles Brockden, the conveyancer who drew the papers for the estab- lishment of the first li- brary. The coming of this man to Philadelphia was owing to a singular accident. While a boy in the employ of a man in London, during the reign of Charles II., he hap- pened one day to overhear a conversation between his employer and other persons, who were plotting some- thing treasonable against the government. The plot- ters, on discovering that they had been overheard, debated whether they should murder the lad or ship him off. The latter alternative was finally determined upon, and he was sent to Philadelphia. Others of the family came on when the exile had grown prosperous, and one of his nephews was destined to become our first novelist.

John Edward Harwood, comedian, came to Phila-

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AUTHORS AND LITERATURE OF PHILADELPHIA.

delphia in 1793. He was a dashing man upon the stage. While in the city, in 1800, he married a daughter of Hartman Bache,-an alliance which was not well received by the members of the family. Har- wood wrote poetry. A collection of his fugitive pieces was published in 1809. Some of these are didactic, some sentimental. The following verses, from an "Ode to Indolence," will give an idea of Harwood's style :

"Goddess of Ease! whose all lethargic sway Io drowsy fetters hinde the senseless sonl, Whose magic power e'en mighty seas obey, And, touched by thee, in smoother billows roll; At thine approach, in summer's scorching heat, The cattle grazing on the fragrant plain To some kind shade direct their weary feet, T' enjoy sweet sleep beneath thy placid fane.

"Oh ! take me, goddess, to thy circling arme, And pour sweet visions o'er my langnid head ; O'er every thought infuse thy magic charms, And round my pillow all thy poppies spread. What time the wearying sun, no longer bright, Now paints the western sky with streaks of red; What time the moon extende her glimmering light, And dark'ning shades advise the tranquil bed;

" What time the shepherd's herde to quiet folds, And, weary, haste to pen their tardy sheep ; What time ' the air a solemn stillness holde,' And weary Nature welcomee halmy sleep. Oh ! waft me, goddess, to that peaceful chore Where drowsy Silence lulle the quiet miod, Where Strife's discordant voice is heard no more, And sadd'ning thoughte & putent opiate find."

Joseph Stansbury, dealer in china and crockery- ware, in Second Street, was one of the best writers upon the Tory side. He was witty and sarcastic. In gasconade and lampoon he could scarcely have been surpassed by any author on his side at the time of the Revolution. Several of his pieces have been noted and quoted heretofore. Winthrop Sargent printed many of his poems in "Loyal Verses," published in 1860. Stansbury was a native of England, who came to Philadelphia some years before the Revolution, and was committed to prison in 1776 for singing "God Save the King !" at the City Tavern. He neverthe- less remained in the city after his release, and was honored, upon the British occupation, with the ap- pointment, by Lord Howe, of commissioner for select- ing the city watch. He was elected a director of the Philadelphia Library Company in 1777. He was under arrest in 1780, and his personal property under seizure and threat of forfeiture. He was finally re- leased upon condition that he would, at New York, use his influence to obtain the release of two Amer- ican prisoners. He remained in New York while the British army had possession, when he removed to Nova Scotia. In 1785 he came back to Philadelphia, intending to re-establish himself in business; but, being warned to quit the city, and threatened with violence, he retired to New York, where he became secretary of an insurance company, and died in 1809.

Henry Archer, an Englishman, who came to Phila- delphia in October, 1778, was educated at a military

school in England, and, being enthusiastic in the cause of liberty, he sought to aid the patriot cause, and tendered his services as a volunteer. He was the author of "The Volunteer Boys," of which the fol- lowing is a copy :

" Hence with the lover who sighs o'er bie wine, Chloes and Phyllises toasting !

Hence with the slave who will whimper and whine,

Of ardor and constaocy boasting ! Hence with Love's joys, Follies and noise-

The toast that I give is The Volunteer Boys.

"Nobles and beauties, and such common tosets, Those who admire may drink, sir !

Fill up the glass to the volunteer hosts, Who never from danger will shrink, sir ! Let Mirth appear, Every heart cheer-

The toast that I give is the brave Volunteer !

" Here's to the Squiro who goes to parade ! Here's to the Citizen soldier !

Here's to the Merchant who fighte for bie trade, Whom danger, increasing, makee bolder ! Let Mirth appear , Union is here- The toast that I give is the brave Volunteer !"

Dramatic literature received much more attention after the Revolution than had previously been paid to it. At the South Street Theatre William Dunlap's comedy of "The Father; or, American Shandyism," was produced Jan. 26, 1791. From the pen of the same author was also produced, in 1798, a translation of Kotzebue's play of "The Stranger," and in the next year " Lovers' Vows." In 1800 " False Shame" and " The Wild-Goose Chase" were produced. Dun- lap was principally conspicuous in translations from the German.

Various opinions have been expressed as to the ability of Joseph Dennie, the original editor of the Portfolio. Allibone says of him,-

"He enjoyed great reputation as a writer during his life and for some years after his decease. Patriarchs of the lean and slippered pantaloon, who perhaps composed a part of the mob of ' gentlemen who wrote with ease' about the beginning of this century, still extol the melodione cadence and liquid flow of the essaye of the American Addi- Bon. We ourselves are so old-fashioned as to consider Dennie a charm- ing writer."

But Griswold, in the " Prose Writers of America," who was a stern and an exact critic, was of a differ- ent opinion. He says, --

" The 'Lay Preacher' of Dennie and his articles in the Portfolio seem to me feeble and affected, though occasionally marked by considerable excellence. It wae natural to overrate him, as in hie time we had very few writers with whom he could be compared. For several years after the death of Brockden Brown, I believe, he was the only man in the country who made literature a profession. . . . He was a great favorite in society, and his brilliant social qualities gave him a factitions reputa- tion as a man of letters. There is nothing in hie writings deserving of reputation."

After the death of Dennie, the editorship of the Portfolio passed under the direction of Nicholas Bid- dle, who had been an occasional writer before that time. Mr. Biddle was at the time twenty-five years of age, and was son of Charles Biddle, formerly Vice-

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HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

President of Pennsylvania. He had the happiness of Philadelphia about 1820. Although he received the having received a good education, which he finished diploma of a physician, he was not engaged in the practice of medicine, but devoted himself to litera- ture, and for some years was the keeper of a retail dry-goods store. His first literary work was "The Pleasures of Friendship," a poem, which was pub- Jished in the early part of 1822. In June, 1824, he brought out his novel of " Halloran." He also wrote "The Wilderness," a novel; "The Spectre of the Forest," a novel; and "The Insurgent Chief," a novel. "The Pleasures of Friendship" went to a second edition in 1835. In 1839, Dr. McHenry published "The Antediluvians; or, The World De- stroyed," a poem. He was a contributor to the Ameri- con Quarterly Review, a publication which was com- menced in 1837. at Princeton, in 1801. He then studied law in Phila- delphia for three years, and in 1804, receiving the appointment of secretary to Gen. Armstrong, minister to France, he went to that country, and resided in Europe until 1807. Ile was not all the time with Mr. Armstrong. He traveled in England, and while there became secretary to Mr. Monroe, then minister to England. He returned to America in 1807, and began the practice of the law, indulging in such literary amusement as brought him in connection with the Portfolio. Mr. Biddle wrote the concluding portion of the narrative of the American explorations of Lewis and Clarke, after the sudden death of Lewis, taking up the unfinished work by that traveler. Biddle wrote pleasantly and critically on the fine arts, was a pleasing versifier, and shone most excel- lently in humorous trifles, which were tasteful and amusing.

Harrison Hall assumed the publication of the Port- folio Jan. 1, 1816, while John E. Hall was the editor. The former kept a book-store at No. 136 Chestnut Street, while the latter had his office as a lawyer at the corner of Seventh and Sansom Streets.

John F. Hall was one of the writers for the Port- folio during Dennie's time. His mother, Mrs. Sarah Hall, was a daughter of the Rev. John Ewing, pro- vost of the university, and was herself a writer for the Portfolio. Jolin E. Hall was born in September, 1783. He was educated at Princeton, studied law under Joseph Hopkinson, and was admitted to the bar. He went to Maryland, practiced law in Balti- more, and during that time was elected professor of rhetoric and belles-lettres in the University of Mary- land. While in that city he edited Wirt's "Letters of a British Spy," was the author of the life of Dr. John Shaw, prefixed to his poems, and wrote the " Memoirs of Anacreon," published in the Portfolio,- a work to which he was incited, it is said, by the ap- proval of the poet Thomas Moore. The papers were a series of descriptions of Grecian manners and cus- toms, purporting to have been written by Critias of Athens. Mr. Hall established in Baltimore, in 1808, the American Law Journal, which was subsequently transferred to Philadelphia, and published until 1817. He commenced the publication of the Journal of Juris- prudence, a quarterly, in 1820.

James Hall, a brother of Harrison and John E. Hall, contributed to the Portfolio "Letters from the W'est," which were written in the character of a young man traveling for amusement.

Dr. Thomas Mitllin Hall, who belonged to the same family, was also a contributor to the Portfolio in the shape of poetry and scientifie articles.

On the Ist of January, 1824, Job Palmer published the first number of the American Monthly Magazine, which was edited by Dr. James Mellenry. Dr. Mc- JIenry was a native of Ireland, and probably came to

William Cliffton, Jr., was born in Philadelphia in 1772. He was the son of William Cliffton, black- smith, a resident of Southwark, who was a member of the Society of Friends. William the younger was of delicate constitution ; and although intended, perhaps, for his father's calling, he was unable to follow it. He found consolation in literature. His father was treasurer of the commissioners of South- wark. Some political reason, perhaps, led the son to the publication of a satirical poem called " The Group," which was pointed at some of the promi- nent members of the board. The commissioners highly resented this publication ; and being unable at the time to discover the name of the author, directed the prosecution of Stephens, the publisher, for libel. This poem was published in 1793. Cliffton afterward published " A Rhapsody on the Times," in Hudibrastic measure. He commenced a poem called "The Chimeriad," which was unfinished. He wrote " An Epistle to Gifford," the author of " The Baviad" and "The Maviad," which was considered elegant. His poems were collected and published by J. W. Fenno and G. & R. Waite, at New York, in 1800. Cliffton died on Dec. 17, 1799, at the early age of twenty-seven. As a specimen of the style of Cliffton, the opening of the "Epistle to Gifford" may be quoted :

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History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 66

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co. Number of Pages: 992

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 992