History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 68

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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Robert Walsh, a native of the city of Baltimore, was born in 1784, and was educated at the Catholic College at Baltimore and the Jesuit College at George- town, D.C. He went to Europe, and remained abroad until about 1809, having studied law in the mean- while with Robert Goodloe Harper. He came to Philadelphia toward the beginning of the year 1810, and was admitted to the bar on the 7th of April of that year. He intended to devote himself to the practice of the law ; but deafness, which was increas-

ing upon him, obliged him to withdraw from that pursuit, and be returned to literature. He com- menced to write for the Portfolio. In December, 1809, he published "A Letter on the Genius and Disposition of the French Government. Including a View of the Taxation of the French Empire. By an American recently returned from Europe." This pamphlet was published in Philadelphia, in Balti- more, and in London. In the latter city the " Letter" reached a twelfth edition. In 1811, Mr. Walsh com- menced the editorship of the " American Review of

William Duane withdrew from the Aurora news- paper in 1822, went to South America, and traveled through the new republics in that portion of the world. He embodied an account of his observations in " A Visit to Colombia," 1822-23, which was pub- lished in 1826. Mr. Duane found some leisure amid the distractions of partisan politics to employ his pen upon useful topics. He wrote a pamphlet in 1803, entitled "The Mississippi Question," and in 1811 "An Epitome of the Arts and Sciences." Having from an early period been connected with the military organizations of the city, he paid some attention to tactics,-his interest in which was increased by important appointments, one of which was lieutenant-colonel of rifles, conferred by Jeffer- son in 1808, and the other adjutant-general, with the rank of colonel, in 1813. His military works were: "A Military Dictionary," 1810; "Handbook for Riflemen," 1813; " Handbook for Infantry," 1813; " American Military Library," 1819. Mr. Duane was appointed prothonotary of the Supreme Court, April 23, 1829, and held that office up to the time of his death, Nov. 24, 1835.

William J. Duane, a son of the above, was born at Clonmel, Ireland, on the 9th of May, 1780, and as-

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HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

sisted his father, who was a reporter of Parliamentary debates for the General Advertiser at London, and was brought by the latter to America. He had some knowledge of the printing trade, and was employed in his seventeenth year in the office of the True American, then published by Samuel F. Bradford. He afterward became a elerk in the office of the Au- Tora, when his father joined that establishment. He married Deborah Bache, the sixth child and third daughter of Richard and Sarah Bache, and grand- daughter of Benjamin Franklin, on the last day of the year 1805. His mother-in-law, Margaret Hart- man, was the widow of Benjamin Franklin Bache, and was married a second time to William Duane, father of William J. Duane.

Benjamin F. Bache, a grandson of Franklin, was brother to the wife of William J. Duane. The latter became a paper merchant, but subsequently studied law, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1815, his studies having been conducted in the office of Joseph Hopkinson. Mr. Duane wrote " The Law of Nations Investigated in a Popular Manner, Addressed to the Farmers of the United States," 1809; "Letters to the People of Pennsylvania on Internal Improve- ments," 1811 ; "Observations on the Importance of Improving the Navigation of the River Schuylkill, for the Purpose of Connecting it with the Susque- hanna," 1818.

Samuel Ewing was a son of Rev. Dr. John Ewing, for many years pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, and provost of the University of Pennsyl- vania. Ile studied at the University, and was in- tended for the business of a merchant, being placed in the counting-house of John Swanwick. When that gentleman failed Mr. Ewing took one voyage as a supercargo. Ile subsequently studied law in the office of William Lewis, and was admitted to the bar in 1800. An acquaintance with Joseph Dennie in- duced him to become one of the correspondents of the Portfolio. He wrote various papers under the signature of "Jacques." Among his productions were " Reflections in Solitude," in blank verse. In 1809 he projected a monthly miscellany entitled Select Reviews and Spirit of the Foreign Magazines, which was kept up for three years. Subsequently the demands of his profession withdrew Mr. Ewing from the pursuits of literature, and he enjoyed a good practice. He died on the 8th of February, 1825, aged forty-nine years.

A pleasing example of the humor and gayety of Ewing is to be found in the "Mammoth Feast," written in 1-02, in reference to the collation which Rembrandt Peale and twelve other gentlemen par- took of within the breast of the skeleton of the mammoth, which he was about to take to Europe for exhibition.

Rev. Dr. James Patriot Wilson, of the First Pres- byterian Church, published, in 1810, " Lectures on some of the Parables and Historical Passages in the

New Testament," "Easy Introduction to Hebrew" 1812), "Essay on Grammar" (1817). He edited "Sermons of Rev. John Ewing, with a Life," pub- lished at Easton, in 1812, and "Ridgley's Body of Divinity, with Notes" (1816).

In 1810 was published " Moral aud Political Truth ; or, Reflections Suggested by Reading History and Biography. A Poem. By Jacob Franklin Heston." This he dedicated to Thomas Jefferson.

John Davis, an Englishman, came to America about 1799, and traveled chiefly on foot. He pub- lished "Travels of Four and a Half Years in the United States," at London, in 1803, and an abridg- ment was published in 1817. Davis settled down in Philadelphia as keeper of a juvenile book-store in 1804.

Rev. Dr. William White, bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church, published " Lectures on the Cate- chism" (1813), " Comparative View of the Contro- versy between the Calvinists and Arminians," two volumes (1817), " Memoirs of the Protestant Episco- pal Church in the United States of America" (1820), with a continuation issued in New York in 1835,- a valuable contribution to church history.

Dr. James Abercrombie published in 1812 "The Mourner Comforted : A Selection of Extracts Con- solatory on the Death of Friends. From Writings of the most uoted Divines and Others; with Prayers suited to the various instances of Mortality." He proposed, before the breaking out of the war with Great Britain, to publish a complete edition of the works of Dr. Samuel Johnson by subscription. The project, which was suspended by the events of the war, was revived in 1815.

Jesse Kersey, a preacher of the Society of Friends, published in 1814 " A Treatise on the Fundamental Doctrines of the Christian Religion; in which are Illustrated the Profession, Ministry, and Faith of the Society of Friends."

John Watson published in 1810 " Observations on the Customary Use of Spiritnous Liquors. Partieu- larly Addressed to the Inhabitants of Pennsylvania."

In 1808, William Christie published " A Disserta- tion on the Unity of God and the Membership of Christ."

John Parrish published in 1806 " Remarks on the Slavery of the Black People, to the Citizens of the United States."

In 1810, Thomas S. Manning, printer, at No. 148 South Fourth Street, printed a serial publication en- titled "The Savage. By Piomingo, Ilead Man and Warrior of the Muscogulgee Nation." These papers, which were mostly didactic, were written by John Robinson, a native of the Holston River settlements in Washington County, Va., where he was born about the year 1795.

Clement C. Biddle was a son of Col. Clement Bid- dle, and was born in Philadelphia on October 24, 1784. He received his education at the University

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AUTHORS AND LITERATURE OF PHILADELPHIA.

of Pennsylvania, then under the superintendence of Rev. James Davidson. His literary work was con- fined to the editing of a treatise on political economy by John Baptiste Say, which had been translated into English. Mr. Biddle added a translation of the intro- ductory essay and notes. He also wrote in the news- papers on political subjects and on political economy.

Alexander Graydon, a native of Bristol, Bucks Co., where he was born April 10, 1752, was a nephew of Dr. John de Normandie. He came to Philadelphia when young, was educated principally at the Quaker school, and studied law, but he was not admitted to the bar. He volunteered in the American army at the outbreak of the Revolution, and served until the capture of Fort Washington, on Long Island, where he was taken prisoner, being captain of a company. Graydon is the anthor of one of the most delightful books connected with our early history. It was called " Memoirs of a Life Chiefly Passed in Pennsylvania within the Last Sixty Years; with Casual Remarks upon the General Occurrences, Character, and Spirit of that Eventful Period. Harrisburg. Published 1811." Graydon's descriptions of life in Philadel- phia before the Revolution, and of the noted persons of whom he had knowledge, are lively and agreeable. He was a frequent contributor, after the year 1800, to the Portfolio, in a series of papers entitled "Notes of a Desultory Reader," which are criticisms upon the works of favorite authors. He was a highly culti- vated man, and wrote easily and delightfully. One of his contributions to the Portfolio is a translation of the Latin epigram, --

" Avulsa e ramo, frons o miseranda, viventi, Marcida quo vadis ?- Quo vadam, uascio-Quercum Maternum columanqua meum atravare procallæ. Inda mihi illudit Zephyrua, Boreasve; vagamqua Montibus ad valles, sylvia me volvit ad agros: Nac contra nitor. Quo tandunt omDia tando; Quo fertur pariter folium lauri roaæque."

The translation runs thus :

"Torn from thy maturing brauch, poor fallan leaf, What hapleaa lot awaits thy witharing form ? Alaa! I know not, but I mourn in chief, Thy parent oak laid proatrate by the atorm.

" Hance doomed tha aport of avary vagrant hreeza, I'm hurriad up the mount, then down again ; Ona while I mildew under ahading trees, Now, whirled afield, I bleach upon the plain.

" In abort, I go where all things earthly tand, And unresiating meet my waating foes, For oaka and bramble have one commou end, The foliage of the laurel and the roaa."

These verses, we think, evinced uncommon talent. Peter Markoe published a volume of miscellaneous poems in 1787; "The Times," a poem, in 1788; "The Patriot Chief," a tragedy ; and " Reconcilia- tion," an opera. He was a son of John Markoe, a native of the Danish West Indies, who was first captain of the Philadelphia Troop of Light-Horse. Peter Markoe was supposed to have been the author of "The Algerine Spy." He died in 1792.

Joseph Hutton published, in 1812, "Leisure Hours; or, Poetic Effusions." He was the author of several plays,-"Cuffy and Duffy," "The School for Prodi- gals," "Modern Honor," "The Wounded Hussar," "The Orphan of Prague," " Fashionable Follies." He was for some time an actor, but for the greater part of his life was more quietly engaged in the per- formance of the duties of a school-master. He kept his school in Lombard Street, near Third, in 1816.

Thomas Clark, in 1813-14, published "Sketches of the Naval History of the United States from the Commencement of the Revolution up to the Present Time." This work was the foundation on which J. Fenimore Cooper wrote his "Naval History." Clark was a native of Pennsylvania. In 1813 he was ap- pointed a lieutenant of artillery in the regular army, and attained the rank of captain of topographical engineers. He left the army when the war of 1812 closed.

A treatise entitled "The Philanthropist; or, Insti- tutions of Benevolence," by Dr. Thomas D. Mitchell, was published by Isaac Pierce in 1813. He suggested a plan for the establishment of free schools, advocated improvements in the management of the almshouse and hospitals, provisions for disabled soldiers, and the establishment of a national asylum for soldiers, sailors, and their orphan children, and, in view of the diseases of infants and the mortality of children from summer sicknesses, proposed that means should be taken to insure to young children the benefit of fresh air in summer-time. He thought that the City Hos- pital, in Coates Street, might be used for that purpose. This essay probably led to the foundation of "The Society for Securing the Benefits of Fresh Air to Children in Summer."

John Sanderson, who was born in Carlisle in 1783, studied the classics with a clergyman living some six or seven miles from his home, and in 1806 came to Philadelphia to study law. His means were strait- ened, and, not being able to support himself while following his studies, he was compelled by necessity to give np his intention, and he became a teacher in Clermont Seminary, which was established near Frankford, the principal of which was John T. Carré. Afterward Sanderson married a daughter of Mr. Carré's, and became a partner in the manage- ment of the school. He was a contributor to the Portfolio. In 1820 was published at Philadelphia "The Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of In- dependence," which was the first attempt to combine their biographies. The first and second volumes of this book were written by John Sanderson. The remaining seven volumes are attributed to Robert Waln, Jr., Henry D. Gilpin, and others. Mr. San- derson published in 1826 " Remarks on the Plan of a College to Exclude the Latin and Greek Languages." His views were adverse to the establishment of such an institution. After the death of Stephen Girard he advocated, in accordance with those opinions, the

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HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

introduction of the languages in the course of studies at Girard College. These arguments were enforced through the medium of the press in a series of letters signed " Roberjot." He went to Paris in 1835, and remained there one year. His impressions were given to the world in "Sketches of Paris, in Familiar Let- ters to his Friends, by an American Gentleman," two volumes, 1838; "The American in Paris," two vol- umes, 1838. These are light, agreeable, and abound- ing in wit and humor. Theodore Hook suggested the publication of this book in England. Jules Janin translated it into French, and it was published in 1843. He commenced a work to be entitled "The American in Paris," portions of which were pub- lished in the Knickerbocker Magazine. He was made professor of Greek and Latin in the Philadelphia High School on his return from Europe in 1836, and died in 1844.

Elias Boudinot, who had been member of Congress and director of the mint, republished, in 1801, "The Age of Revelation, or the Age of Reason shown to be an Age of Infidelity," which had been originally published in 1790; "The Second Advent of the Mes- siah," 1815; and " A Star in the West, or an humble attempt to discover the long-lost Ten Tribes of Israel preparatory to their return to their beloved city, Jerusalem." The last-named was published at Tren- ton, in 1816, and the object was to show that the Indians were descendants of the ten tribes.

Alexander James Dallas devoted his peu princi- pally to the science of the law, statutory and adjudi- cated. Among his miscellaneons productions were: " Features of Jay's Treaty," 1795; "Speeches on the Trial of Blount and the Impeachment of the Judge;" " Exposition of the Character and Causes of the Late War," 1815. Mr. Dallas, at his death, in 1817, left unpublished some unfinished sketches of a history of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Robert Hlare, who was born in Philadelphia, Jan. 17, 1781, devoted the best part of his life to sci- ence, and wrote frequently. Hle published, in 1810, a pamphlet entitled " A Brief Review of the Policy and Resources of the United States."

Dr. James Mcase edited and revised the fourteen volumes of a compilation entitled "The Wonders of Nature and Art," by Rev. Thomas Smith, 1806. He published " A Geographical Account of the United States, ' 1807; "Picture of Philadelphia," 1810; "Description of Some of the Medals struck in North Amerien, ' 1×21.

John Mellish was a native of Scotland, and came to Plnladelphia in 1809, dying December 30, 1822, aged fifty-two years, lle was anthor of "Travels in the I'nited States in 1806 '7 '9 '10 '11," which was published in two volumes in 1812. He wrote several pamphlets connected with his business of engraver of maps. Among these were: "A Description of the Roads," ete., 1814: "Travellers' Directory," 1815; map of Pennsylvania and the United States, and

"A Geographical Description of the United States," 1816; "Universal School Geography and Atlas," 1818; "Necessity of Protecting Mannfactures," 1818; and " Information to Emigrants," 1819.

Dr. Charles Caldwell, whose career is closely con- nected with the history of the medical profession in Philadelphia, indulged somewhat in literature apart from that pertaining to medicine and surgery. His contributions to the Portfolio, during the editorship of Dennie, obtained from him the editorship of that magazine, which he held until he went to Kentucky, in 1818. He was an industrious writer, and in his " Autobiography" he gives a list of nearly two hun- dred essays, treatises, eritieisms, biographies, etc., of which he was the author, a large number of which are upon medieal subjects. Many of his literary efforts were published in the Portfolio, and embrace biographies, reviews, etc. Probably one of his earliest efforts was "An Elegiac Poem on the Death of Washington," written in 1800. " An Essay on the Variety, Complexion, and Figure of the Human Species" occupied ninety pages of that periodical. He was the author of "Lives of Distinguished Americans," published in 1816, and of " A Life of Gen. Greene," four hundred and fifty-two pages, pub- lished in 1819. He left Philadelphia in the previous year, becoming connected with the medical depart- ment of the University of Transylvania, and died at Louisville, on the 9th of July, 1853.

James Nelson Barker was son of Gen. John Barker, who was mayor of the city of Philadelphia in 1808-9 and 1812-13, and sheriff of the county from 1803 to 1807. He was the author of " Tears and Smiles," a comedy produced at the Philadelphia Theatre in March, 1807; "The Travelers," an operatic play, in the same month; "The Indian Princess; or, La Belle Sauvage," played April 6, 1808; "The Em- bargo; or, What News?" March 16, 1808; " Attila," a tragedy ; "How to Try a Lover," 1817; " Marmion ; or, the Battle of Flodden Field," dramatized from Sir Walter Scott's poem, Jan. 1, 1813; " The Armorer's Escape," March 21, 1817; "Superstition," a tragedy, the scene of which is laid in New England, and the principal character of which is Goff, the regicide, March 17, 1824. He wrote some fugitive pieces of poetry, was a frequent contributor to journals on political subjects, and delivered an address on " The Early Settlements on the Delaware" before the His- torical Society of Pennsylvania, which contained some valuable information.

Richard Biddle, brother of Nicholas Biddle, was born in Philadelphia on the 25th of March, 1796, and spent the early part of his life in Philadelphia. He was a volunteer in 1813 in the troops that were sent to Delaware. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar March 25, 1817. He was in practice as a lawyer in the city until about 1820, when he removed to Pittsburgh. His principal literary work was " A Life of Sebastian Cabot," which has been considered

AUTHORS AND LITERATURE OF PHILADELPHIA.

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by writers to be a most elaborate and successful biography, introducing from obscure and forgotten sources new and important information on the history of maritime discovery in America. He also wrote a review of Capt. Basil Hall's "Travels in North America," in 1827-28. He was elected to Congress in 1837, served a single term, and died at Pittsburgh, July 6, 1847.

Mathew Carey, being devoted to the business of bookselling in 1800, became, as years advanced, in consequence of ease and the acquisition of wealthi, a prolific writer. His subjects were solid. He gave no time to the elegancies of literature or fiction. He was born in Dublin, Ireland, Jan. 28, 1760, and came to Philadelphia in November, 1784. By the aid of Lafayette, who sent him four hundred dollars, he es- tablished the Pennsylvania Herald, Jan. 25, 1785. In a duel with Col. Elcazer Oswald, Jan. 21, 1786, he received a wound which confined him to his house for sixteen months. He was subsequently connec- ted with the Columbian Magazine and the American Museum. He took an ac- tive part in charitable en- terprises, and every fort- night dispensed food and other necessaries of life to hundreds of poor widows. In 1793 he founded the Hi- bernian Society. In 1796- 98 he had a controversy with William Cobbett, which he closed with " The Porenpiniad, a Hudibras- tic Poem." In 1830, under the title of " Miscellaneous Essays," he republished se- lections from his writings. There are fifty-eight pa- pers, essays, and longer compositions, and two hun- dred pieces collected under the heading of "Light Reading." "The History of the Yellow Fever of 1793" takes up a portion of the volume, and among the other pieces are "Essays on the Benevolent Charities of Philadelphia," fifty-one pages ; "Review of the Policies of the Founders of the Colonies of Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Pennsyl- vania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, as regards Liberty of Conscience," twenty-eight pages, and numerous papers of more interest when written than when republished. In 1810 he published "Let- ters and Reflections on the United States Bank." In 1814 he published " The Olive Branch; or, Faults on both Sides, Federal and Democratic. An Appeal to the good sense of the political parties of the day to

MATHEW CAREY.

lay aside their differences during the pendency of the existing war with Great Britain." It passed through ten editions, circulating ten thousand copies. In 1818 he published " Vindicia Hibernicæ," which was a refutation of charges made against the Catholics of Ireland of butchering Protestants in the insurrec- tion of 1640. In 1820 he published "The New Olive Branch," which was in favor of protection to Amer- ican industry. In 1822 he published "Essays on Political Economy," which were also in favor of protection. He also advocated the system of internal improvements to which Pennsylvania is so much in- debted. He died in Philadelphia Sept. 16, 1839.

Mason L. Weems, an Episcopal clergyman, and a native of Virginia, who had some time officiated at Pohick Church, near Mount Vernon, became in later life a book agent or can- vasser for Mathew Carey, and most frequently was solicitor for the sale of his own productions. As a writer he was very prolific. When not traveling, he was chiefly a resident of Philadelphia. His themes were biographical, patri- otic, or moral and religious. He was author of a " Life of George Washington," published in 1800, which contains the auecdote of little George, the cherry- tree, and the hatchet. He wrote lives of Gen. Francis Marion, Benjamin Frank- lin, and William Penn. These publications had an immense circulation. More than forty editions of the " Life of Washington" were disposed of, and the book is one which still meets with a sale. The same may be said of his other biographies. He also wrote " The Philanthropist," " The Old Bachelor," "The Drunk- ard's Looking-Glass," and was the author of "An Oration on True Patriotism," and of many other tracts and essays,

"Sketches in Verse" were printed for C. & A. Conrad & Co., Philadelphia, by Smith & Maxwell, in 1810. In the introduction to these pieces it was said that the most of the sketches appeared in the Portfolio, and were signed "R. H. R." In this vol- ume is the ode "To a Market Street Gutter," which was a parody on the "Ode to the Raritan." The ode " To a Market Street Gutter" was a provocation which led to retaliation in the production of "The Pursuits of Philadelphia Literature," in which John Davis took a part. Dr. Robert H. Rose, of Silver

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HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

Lake, Susquehanna Co., was the author of " Sketches in Verse."

In 1811 was published "The Maniac, and Other Poems," by John Lawson, who seems to have been a citizen of Philadelphia. The directories of that year and of the year following give the name of "Jobn Lawson, sea-captain, No. 119 Callowhill Street," but whether that person was the author of those poems cannot now be determined. Lawson's poems are introduced by a poetic address, signed T. L. Me- Kinney, dated May 5, 1811, and another by Joseph Ilutton, both of which are highly complimentary. Beside " The Maniae," which is in three parts, the volume contains "The Hour-Glass," and ten other miscellaneous pieces.

Moses Thomas, in 1814, published " An Apology for the Life of James Fennell," written by himself, with the self-accusing motto :

" Look into those they call unfortunate,

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History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 68

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