History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 69

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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Anıl, closer view'd, you will find they are unwise."

Fennell was also the author of the plays entitled " The Wheel of Truth," "Lindor and Clare," " Pic- ture of Paris," and " The Face of Nature." Ile was for several years a resident of Philadelphia, and died in the city in June, 1861. He was born in London, took to the stage in 1787, was successful as a tra- gedian, and was considered a fine actor. He was eccentric, and about the time he published his " Apology" he had determined to leave the stage and establish salt-works near New London, Conn., which proved a failure. His autobiography was the first of a theatrical character published in this country.

Mary Brook published "Reasons for Silent Wait- ing" in 1816.

Rev. Ezra Stiles Ely, in 1815, published "The Journal of the Stated Preacher to the Hospital and Almshouse of the City of New York for 1811-15." This book was unfavorably criticised on account of the character of the revelations which it contained. These were stories of vice and wretchedness which, it was said, had a tendency to make the virtuous reader " familiar with sins of which hitherto he had no idea," and the influence was therefore declared to be bad.

Francis Shallus, who was an engraver and pro- prietor of a circulating library, published, in 1817, "Chronological Tables for Every Day in the Year, compiled from the most Authentic Doenments," etc. This digest, beside foreign and domestic references, contains dates of events in Philadelphia which were not to be obtained in any other way.

In 1817, Jesse Torrey published " A Portraiture of Domestic Slavery in the United States, including Facts on Kidnapping."

Dr. Adam Seybert was born in Philadelphia in 1773. Ile was educated for the medical profession, and pursued his studies at London, Edinburgh, Paris, and Göttingen. He took part in politics, and was a

member of Congress from Philadelphia, 1811-15 and 1817-19. llis writings were principally on medical subjects. He published, in 1818, " Statistical Annals of the United States of America from 1789 to 1818," which was extensively reviewed, and extraets from it were published in French. He wrote some papers on "Laod and Sea Air, and the Atmosphere of Marshes," which were published among the "Trans- actions of the Philosophical Society." He died in Paris, May 2, 1825, aged fifty-two years.

" The Mariner," a poem in two cantos, by Archi- bald Johnston, was published by Edward Earle, 1818. It was dedicated to Commodore Richard Dale.

John Agg, in 1819, published "The Ocean Harp," and some smaller pieces, with a monody on the death of Dr. John S. Dorsey.

Robert S. Coflin, a printer, who assumed the signa- ture of " The Boston Bard," worked at his trade in the principal Atlantic cities, and was for some time a contributor to Philadelphia newspapers and maga- zines. He was a native of Maine, and was at one period of his life a sailor. He died at Rowley, Mass., in May, 1827. His pieces were collected in a volume entitled "Miscellaneous Poems," published in 1818, and in another entitled "The Oriental Harp." The author dedicated his "Miscellaneous Poems" to the officers and members of the New England Society of Philadelphia. The volume contained over one hun- dred pieces, and took up one hundred and fifty-six pages, 16mo.

Richard Ferguson published in 1818 " Causes, Re- sults, and Remedies of Revenge and Unmercifulness ;" " Abaddon's Steam-Engine, Calumny, Delineated,- being an attempt to stop its deleterious effects on Society, the Church, and the State," etc.

William Grimshaw in 1819 published " A History of England, from the Invasion by Julius Cæsar to the Peace of Ghent." It was a condensed account, for the use of schools. Also " A History of the United States, from the First Settlement to the Peace of Ghent." He was also the author of histories of France, Greece, Rome, South America, and Mexico. He wrote " A Life of Napoleon," an "Etymological Dictionary," a "Lexicon for Gentlemen," and a "Lexicon for Ladies," and prepared a treatise on politeness, called "The American Chesterfield." He was a native of Greencastle, Ireland, and emigrated to America in 1815. In the Directory for 1824 he is set down as "anthor," living at No. 263 New Market Street. Ile died in 1852.

Ezekiel Sandford published in 1819 " A History of the United States before the Revolution, with Some Account of the Aborigines."

William B. Tappan, who was born in Beverly, Mass., in 1794, came to Philadelphia about 1817, and engaged in business as a clock- and watch-maker at No. 49 South Third Street, afterward at No. 3 South Third Street. About 1820 he gave up that business, and opened a school at No. 118 Chestnut Street. He |

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AUTHORS AND LITERATURE OF PHILADELPHIA.

was afterward associated with S. M. L. Staples in the management of a school at No. 2 Sansom Street. Subsequently he became the agent or manager of the American Sunday-School Union. Mr. Tappan de- lighted in poetry, and wrote copiously. He published at Philadelphia "New England and Other Poems," in 1819; "Songs of Judah," 1820; "Lyrics," 1822.

Dr. John K. Mitchell was born at Sheppardstown, Va., in 1798. He published in 1821 a poem entitled "St. Helena. By a Yankee." He graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1819, and married a daughter of Alexander Henry in 1821.

Matthias James O'Conway translated "The Knights-Templar," from the French of M. Ray- nouard, to which he added notes and prefixed a history of the origin and character of that order.

" The Maniac's Confession,-a Fragment of a Tale," by J. W. Simmons, author of "The Exile's Return," was published by Moses Thomas (J. Maxwell, printer) in 1821. "The Exile's Return," the author explains in the preface of "The Maniac's Confession," was written some time before the author was twenty years old; "The Maniac's Confession," at the com- mencement of his twentieth year; and " Observa- tions upon American Literature and upon Poetry in the Drama," before he had become of age. In the same preface he goes into a vindication of himself from a charge that he had taken his incidents from Maturin's " Bertram."

Robert Waln, Jr., who was born in Philadelphia in 1797, was a man of leisure and of literary tastes. His inclinations ran strongly toward satire. He was the author of the following : " The Hermit in Amer- ica on a Visit to Philadelphia ;" "Sisyphi Opus, or Touches at the Times ;" "The Hermit in Philadel- phia." Mr. Waln also wrote "Life of Marquis de Lafayette," 1824; and "Account of the Asylum for the Insane near Frankford," which was published after his death. He published in quarto numbers " A History of China," and assisted in the preparation of some of the biographies for Sanderson's " Signers of the Declaration." He died in 1824. All of these works were in prose, except "Sisyphi Opus" and " American Bards." The latter was an imitation of the " Pursuits of Literature," "English Bards and Scotch Reviewers," and other works of a satirical character.

William Rawle, the elder, devoted his attention more particularly to legal subjects. He was the author of an address before the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture, published in 1819; two addresses to members of the Philadelphia bar, 1824, and a View of the Constitution of the United States of America, 1825. David Paul Brown says that Mr. Rawle wrote several works on the subject of religion, which were never published. Among them were " Angelic Influences," "Original Sin, and the Virtne of Baptism," and " An Essay to show the Proof of the Truth of Christianity to be derived from the Parables of our Saviour alone."

Charles West Thomson, who was born in Philadel- phia in 1798, studied law, and was admitted to the bar. He afterward turned his attention to teaching, and had his school in Carpenter's Court in 1825. He subsequently obtained a position in the United States custom-house, and finally became a minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church. He commenced to write poetry at an early age. He published " The Limner," prose sketches, in 1822; "The Phantom Barge, and other Poems," in the same year; " Eleanor, and other Poems," 1826; "The Sylph," etc., 1828; " Love of Home," etc. He became a contributor to periodicals, and wrote for annuals and magazines.

Dr. John D. Godman, a native of Annapolis, Md., born Dec. 24, 1794, was bound as an apprentice to a printer at Baltimore; was a sailor in 1814, and par- ticipated with the defenders of Fort McHenry when it was bombarded by the British. After he left the navy he studied medicine, and obtained the degree of M.D. in February, 1818. He practiced at New Hol- 'land, on the Susquehanna, in Anne Arundel County, Md., and at Philadelphia. He became professor of Anatomy, in 1821, in the Medical College of Ohio, at Cincinnati ; resigned a few months afterward ; edited, in the mean while, the Western Quarterly Reporter, and came back to Philadelphia in the latter part of 1822. In 1823 he commenced his principal work, “ American Natural History," which was completed in 1828. He was a contributor to the American Quarterly Review.

Rev. William A. Muhlenberg, at one time rector of Christ Church, published, in 1823, "Church Poetry ; being portions of the Psalms and Verses and Hymns suited to the Fasts and Festivals of the Church." Dr. Muhlenberg was author of the well-known hymn, "I would not live alway."

Rev. Benjamin Allen, rector of St. Paul's Prot- estant Episcopal Church from 1821 to 1828, was moved by literary and patriotic ambition to publish, in 1811, a volume entitled "Miscellaneous Poems on Moral and Religious Subjects," by Osander, printed in New York ; "United We Stand, Divided We Fall," by Juba, New York, 1812; "Columbia's Naval Triumphs," New York, 1813; "Urania, or the True Use of Poesy," by B. Allen, Jr., Philadelphia, 1814; "The Phoenix, or the Battle of Valparaiso," by B. Allen, Jr., New York, 1814; "The Death of Abdallah," an Eastern tale, founded on the story of Abdallah and Sabat in Buchanan's "Christian Re- searches," New York, 1814; "The Palace of the Comet," a poem. He edited the Layman's Magazine, at Martinsburg, Va., in 1815. In Philadelphia, in 1822, he published a volume of sermons, entitled "Jesus Christ and Him Crucified," the subjects being "The Trinity," "The Divinity of Christ," and "The Atonement;" "Living Manners, or the True Secret of Happiness," Philadelphia, 1822; an abridgement of Burnet's "History of the Reforma- tion," Philadelphia, 1823; " History of the Church of Christ," Philadelphia, 1823 ; " A Narrative of the

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HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

Labors, Sufferings, and Final Triumphs of the Rev. William Eldred, late a Missionary of the Society for the Advancement of Christianity in Pennsylvania," 1828; "General Stevens, or the Fancy Ball," being the third part of "Living Manners," 1828; "The Church in the Fires of Persecution, or a History of the Sufferings of the Church from the Days of our Saviour," 1828. In 1828 he commenced the publica- tion of The Christian Warrior, a magazine published weekly, which had but a short life.

In 1822 was published " The Troubadour," " The Club, a Satire, and other Poems," by John C. McCall. He was a lawyer, and he wrote with taste and facility of expression. The following is an extract from Canto I. of "The Troubadonr :"

"The mists lay dreaming oa the mountain's breast, The lazy winde were sinking into rest, And, softly breathing as they died away, Sighed o'er the eplendors of departing Day ! In awful grandeur, 'mid a blaze of light That threw its conatless hues of colors bright O'er clouds and hills, o'er dells aad babbling streame, The sun of Even shed his crimson beame ! The hollow murmurs of the rushing rill, The mellow hora that sounded 'cross the bill, The nightly anthem of the feathered host, All golden sounds, and sober Evening'e boast, Mixed their sweet discords with seraphic skill, And held the wanderer list'aing at their will ! The lowing herds crept slowly 'long the vale, And distant echoes bore the hunter'e hail ; The curling smoke above the foliage flew, Fantastic wreathing as the zephyrs blew."

Thomas Green Fessenden, a wandering child of genius, who published at London "The Terrible Tractoration," a satirical poem which attracted much attention, was at Philadelphia in 1808-9, where he published " Pills-Poetical, Political, and Philosophi- cal ; Prescribed for the Purpose of Purging the Public of Piddling Philosophers, of Puny Poetasters, of Paltry Politicians and Petty Partisans. By Peter Pepper-Box, Poet and Physician. Philadelphia : Printed for the Author, 1809."

" No common medicines are fit For patient hy e mad dog bit ; Aad poison must, as Galen held, By couater-poison be expelled." -Paracelsus.

The subjects of the satire were the embargo, gun- boats, Governor Snyder, John Binns, Parson Hey, Dr. Leib, Commodore Truxton, and other themes. In 1808, Fessenden published "The Register of Arts, or a Compendinm of the most Useful Discoveries and Inventions." He afterward finished his life as a lawyer, political editor, and writer upon agricultural subjects.

" Facts and Arguments respecting the Great Utility of an Extensive Plan of Inland Navigation in Amer- ica, with a Map. By a Friend of National Industry." Printed by William Duane, No. 106 Market Street, 1805. This was issued anonymously, but in the Philadelphia Library catalogue it is ascribed to Turner Camac.

William Blodget in the same year published "The Utility of an Extensive Plan of Inland Navigation in America."

"An Apology for Silent Waiting upon God in Religions Assemblies." By Thomas Colley. Printed by Joseph Cruikshank, 1804. This was antagonized by the publication, in 1809, of " A Spiritual Discourse on Noise. Being a Plain Vindication of Sonorous Adoration." By Charles Giles. Printed by Abel Dickinson for the publisher (1809). The latter was evidently the production of a Methodist, and a defense "of a class of professing Christians who, in their transported moments being filled with heavenly joys, have clasped their hands, shouted aloud, and praised God in a vocal manner."

Messrs. L. A. Tarascon, Jr., and James Berthond & Co. published, in 1806, " An Address to the Citizens of Philadelphia on the Great Advantages which Arise from the Trade of the Western Country to the State of Pennsylvania at large, and the City of Philadel- phia in particular."

Charles Paleske wrote, in 1808, "Observations on the Application for a Law to Incorporate the Union Canal Company."

" An Account of the Languages, History, Manners, and Customs, etc., of the Indian Nations who once Inhabited Pennsylvania," by the Rev. John Hecke- welder, was published in 1819.

Robert W. Ewing paid considerable attention to dramatic affairs, and frequently appeared in the news- papers during the year 1825-26 as a critic of dramatic performances under the signature of "Jacques." He wrote several plays, among which were "Le Soli- taire," "Sponge Again," "The Frontier Maid," "The Highland Seer," "The Election," "Imperial Victim," "Lafayette,""Quentin Durward," "Exit in a Hurry," and " The Bride of Death."

"Juvenile Essays, a Collection of Poems," by Henry Pepper, was published without date. It prob- ably made its appearance abont the year 1815.

Dr. Joseph Priestley's last work was issned in 1803, and was entitled "Socrates and Jesus Christ Com- pared." This essay led to the publication of a reply by the Rev. J. Blair Linn, of the Presbyterian Church, and a rejoinder by Dr. Priestley. The latter died at Northumberland, Feb. 6, 1804.

" The Power of the Church Distinguished from the Power of Anti-Christ, the Man of Sin," by Emor Kimber, was published in 1823.

" Remarks on the Internal Evidence of the Truth of Revealed Religion," by F. Erskine, 1821.

"Salvation by Christ, to which is added Remarks upon the Salvation of Christ," by Job Scott, 1824. The same writer published in 1804 " War Inconsis- tent with the Doctrines of Jesus Christ."

In 1821 was published "The Vermin Destroyer; being a complete and necessary family book, etc., etc. By Dr. James Johnston." The title was very long, and was minutely descriptive of the contents. At the

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AUTHORS AND LITERATURE OF PHILADELPHIA.

same time Dr. Johnston published " A History of the Haunted Caverns of Magdalena, an Indian Queen of South America," etc., etc.

Benjamin Johnson in 1805 published " A Compen- dious History of the World, from the Earliest Times to the Coronation of Bonaparte," the latter part of which was announced to have been written by a citi- zen of Philadelphia. The same writer prepared " An Account of the Life and Writings of the great Apolo- gist for Quakerism, Robert Barclay." He edited " An Easy Grammar of Geography for the Use of Schools, by the Rev. J. Goldsmith," superintended the prepara- tion of " The Poems of Addison," and embodied in one volume the poetry of Dr. S. Johnson and William Collins.

Among the works of fiction published anonymously, and probably to be ascribed to inhabitants of Phila- delphia, were " Kelroy, by a Lady of Pennsylvania," 1812; " Bakhtier Nameh ; or, The Royal Foundling ; a Persian Story, exhibiting a Portraiture of Society in the East. Translated into the English by a citizen of Philadelphia," 1813; " Margaretta ; or, The Intri- cacies of the Heart, by a Lady of Philadelphia," 1821.

The following plays and pieces performed in Phil- adelphia, presented anonymously, were most proba- bly written by citizens or residents : "The Way to Keep Him; or, Virtue, Love, and Friendship," a comedy played at the South Street Theatre in 1801; "The Federal Oath," South Street Theatre, July 5, 1802; "The Enterprise; or, Wreath for American Tars," a drama, Chestnut Street Theatre, 1803; " The Tripolitan Prize ; or, Veteran Tars," Chestnut Street Theatre, 1804; " Blackbeard," a pantomime, brought out at the same house, 1804; " Count Benyowsky," a tragi-comedy, 1804; " American Tars in Tripoli," 1804; " The Impatient Lover," a comedy, translated by a citizen of Philadelphia, performed at the Olympic Theatre, 1812; " American Naval Pillar," Olympic Theatre, 1812; " Philadelphia Volunteers ; or, Who's Afraid ?" by a citizen of Philadelphia, acted at the Olympic Theatre, Oct. 5, 1812; " The Constitution ; or, American Tars Triumphant," and "Returned from a Cruise," Chestnut Street Theatre, 1812; " The Con- stitution ; or, More Laurels," Chestnut Street Theatre, 1813; " The Naval Frolic, a Tribute to American Tars," by a gentleman of Philadelphia, performed at the South Street Theatre, Jan. 1, 1812; " Heroes of the Lakes," played at the Chestnut Street Theatre, 1813; "The Author's Night," a farce, by a citizen of Philadelphia, Walnut Street Theatre, 1821.

William Francis, an actor of the Chestnut Street Theatre, brought out in 1803 a pantomime entitled " Harlequin in Prison ; or, the Genii of The Rocks."

Mrs. Melmoth, who was acting at the Chestnut Street Theatre, in 1807 produced at that house " The Generous Farmers, or Chedmella Faul Ronth," written by herself.

John Bray, an actor at the Chestnut Street Theatre, wrote some plays which were performed, namely,

" Who Pays the Piper ?" a comedy, 1809, and " The Toothache," a comedietta, 1814.

John Hodgkinson, comedian, who was at one time a manager of the South Street Theatre, in 1811 wrote "The Man of Fortitude," a melodrama.

Andrew Allen, an actor, was the author of "The Taking of Yorktown," a pantomime, brought out at the Olympic Theatre in 1812; " Proctor's Defeat by General Harrison," a play, 1813.

In 1823 there was performed at the Chestnut Street Theatre a farce called "The Phrenologist," which was translated from the German of Kotzebue by Francis J. Troubat, who afterward was a member of the bar. Charles Breck wrote, in 1806, a comedy entitled " The Fox Chase," which was performed at the Chest- nut Street Theatre in April of that year.

In the interests of science and education, and the branches of learning taught in schools and colleges, there was considerable activity among various writers.

Nicholas Gouin Dufief, a Frenchman, came to Philadelphia about the year 1800, and established himself at No. 68 South Fourth Street, as professor of French literature and bookseller. He published "Logic of Facts" in 1806, " A New Universal Pro- nouncing Dictionary of the French and English Lan- guages," in three volumes, in 1810, and set forth his principles of teaching in a treatise entitled "Nature Displayed in Her Mode of Teaching Language to Man; or, A New and Infallible Method of Acquiring a Language in the Shortest Time Possible. Deduced from an Analysis of the Human Mind." This work was in two volumes, and has reached, up to the pres- ent time, more than twenty-one editions. Mr. Du- fief's method received the approbation of the highest scholars of the period.

"Nature Explained. By D'Orlic : 1806." This was a controversial publication in regard to the merits of Dufief's plan of teaching French, and in opposition to that plan.

Peter A. Chazotte published, in 1817, " An Essay on the Best Method of Teaching Foreign Languages, as Applied with Extraordinary Success to the French Language." In 1819 he brought out " Metaphysics" and "Philology of Languages."

A rather curious treatise-being a Frenchman's directions to his countrymen how to speak English- was published by Moses Thomas in 1818. It was en- titled " Traité complet de la Prononciation de la Langue Anglaise, by Charles Carle, interpreter for the State of Pennsylvania, and professor of English and French in Philadelphia."

An " Abridgment of a French and English Gram- mar," by A. Texier de la Pommeraye, appeared in 1822, and a reader-"Lecteur Français Amusant et Instructif"-in 1826.

" Hispano-Anglo Grammar, containing the Defini- tions, Structure, Government, and Combination of the Various Classes of Words in the Spanish Lan-

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HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

guage ; also a Vocabulary and Index, by M. J. O'Con- way," was brought out in 1810.

Dufief's "Nature Displayed," adapted to the Span- ish by Don Manuel de Torrez and L. Hargous, was published in 1817.

Hugh Williamson, M.D., LL.D., statesman and man of letters, was born at West Nottingham, Pa., Dee. 5, 1835, graduated at the University of Pennsyl- vania, and died at New York May 22, 1819. IIe studied divinity, preached occasionally during two years, and in 1760-63 was professor of Mathematics in the University of Pennsylvania. He studied med- ieine in Edinburgh and Utrecht, where he took his degree, and on his return practiced successfully in Philadelphia. On Jan. 7, 1769, he was appointed one of a committee to the Philosophical Society to observe the transit of Venus, his account of which is in vol. i. of the Transactions of that society, which also contains a paper by him on the transit of Mercury, Nov. 9, 1769. After visiting the West Indies in 1772, he went to England to procure aid for an academy at Newark, N. J., and upon his return home entered into business at Charles- ton, S. C., and af- terward practiced medicine at Eden- ton, N. C., where he acquired great dis- tinction. He sub- sequently removed to New York, and was a frequent con- tributor to the Transactions of the learned societies of Europe and America. He published a series of essays upon paper currency in 1786 ; some fugitive pieces on languages and politics in the American Museum ; "Ob- servations on the Climate of America," 1811; "History of North Carolina," two volumes, Svo, 1812; " Obser- vations on Navigable Canals ;" and an essay on comets. In Is10 he delivered a discourse on the " Benefits of Civil History" before the New York IHistorical So- ciety.

Frederick David Schaeffer, a native of Frankfort- on-the-Main, emigrated and settled at Germantown, afterward at Frederick, Md., where he died in 1836. He was the author of (1) " Antwort auf eine Ver- theidigung der Methodisten," and (2) "Eine Herzliche

HUGH WILLIAMSON.

Anrede." Ilis son, Frederick Christian, D.D., who died in 1832, was author of (1) "The Blessed Refor- mation," (2) "Parables and Parabolic Sayings," and (3) "Sermon on Laying the Corner-Stone of St. Mat- thew's Church, New York." Another son, Charles Frederick, D.D., published (1) " Kurtz's Manual of Sacred History," (2) " Luther's Smaller Catechism, with Additions," |3) Antritts-Rede, gehalten am 16 April, 1856, zu Gettysburg ;" (4) "Discourse in the Memorial Volume of the Lutheran Evangelical Church of the Holy Trinity." A grandson, Charles William, was author of (I) "Discourse on the Fif- tieth Anniversary of the Lutheran Evangelical Church," (2) " Valedictory Discourse at Harrisburg," (3) "Dr. W. J. Mann's Exposition of Luther's Smaller Catechism," (4) " Early History of the Lutheran Church in Amer- ica," (5) Bogatzky's "Golden Treasury," (6) "Family Prayer- Book," (7) "Dis- course Delivered at the Opening of the Twentieth Conven- tion of the General Synod of the Evan- gelical Lutheran Church."

Charles Adams Smith published (1) " Parables from the German of Krum- macher," (2) " Cate- chumen's Guide," (3) " Commentary on Mark and John," (4) " Illustrations of Faith," (5) " Men of the Olden Time," also several single sermons.

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History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 69

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