USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > The Philadelphia Directory, 1793 > Part 17
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Samuel Powel Griffitts, Michael Leib, John H. Gibbons, John Pen- nington, John Porter, Philip S. Physick, attending phyficians and furgeons
William Shippen, jun. Adam Kuhn, Benjamin Rufh, Thomas Parke, confulting phyficians and furgeons
John Clifford, treafurer
Robert Johnfton, apothecary.
THE SOCIETY FOR ALLEVIATING THE MISERIES OF PUBLIC PRISONS,
Was inftituted in the month of May 1787. The object of the inftitution may be known from the duties of the acting commit- tee, as laid down in the 7th article of the conftitution, as fol- lows.
" The acting committee fhall vifit the public prifons, or fuch other places of confinement or punishment as are ordained by law, at leaft once every week. They fhall enquire into the cir- cumftances of the perfons confined ; they fhall report fuch abufes as they fhall difcover, to the officers of government, who are au- thorifed to redrefs them ; and fhall examine the influence of con-
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finement or imprifonment upon the morals of the perfons who are the fubjects of them."
The benefits refulting from this fociety may be comprehended under the following heads, viz.
I. Relief, in money and in provifion, afforded to fuffering prifoners ; which the fociety's committee have been enabled to accomplifh, to a confiderable extent ; partly by means of the an- nual contributions of the members, and partly by directing the diftribution of what is occafinally given in money and in victu- als. Under this head may be reckoned the fometimes paying of fmall fees, when the cafe feemed to deferve it, and when the party would otherwife have been detained for them in confine- ment.
II. Applications to the magiftracy for the enlargement of perfons illegally confined, which has fometimes happened from the obfcurity and friendlefs conditions of the parties.
III. Complaints fuccefsfully made to the proper officers, of offences againft law, in the management of the jail, efpecially the fale of fpirituous liquors, occafioning the corruption of young offenders, and the hardening of the old.
IV. Legiflative improvements in the penal laws, in a great meafure, is owing to the folicitations of the fociety.
Since the legiflature's giving their attention to the making of fuch improvements, and efpecially fince the appointment of a board of infpectors with legal powers, compofed of members of this fociety, it was thought expedient to alter the constitution, limiting the meetings to once a year ; at which time a commit- tee is chofen, who meet in the interval to tranfac all neceffary bufinefs.
As the fociety's exertions have confeffedly had a confiderable effect in producing the prefent improved ftate of the public pri- fon, it may be proper to mention the evidences of the improve- ment in the prohibition of fpirituous liquors, the feparation of the fexes, the cleanlinefs of the apartments, and the employing of the prifoners, in ufeful labor. In regard to the laft article, it is worthy of the public notice, that fome of the prifoners, on the expiration of their terms, have received a balance due to them from their labours, after deducting for their maintenance. The. punifhment of refractory criminals is the fecluding of them from fociety, in cells, elevated above the ground and not having a ground floor ; but without loading them with irons.
To aid the influence of thefe regulations, the clergy of diffe- rent religious denominations occafionally attend for the purpofes of public prayer and preaching.
The profent Officers of the Society are,
WILLIAM WHITE, prefident.
Nicholas Collin, Samuel M&Gaw, vice-prefidents.
Benjamin W. Morris, treafurer.
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THE PHILADELPHIA REGISTER.
Caleb Lownss, John M' Cree, fecretaries.
The prefident and two vice prefidents, Charles Marshall, Thomas Harrifon, Benjamin Shaw, John Mi-Cree, Ebenezer Large, Rich- ard Wiftar, Christopher Marfball, jun. William Lippencott, Joseph Budd, and James Jobfon, acting committee.
Thomas Harrijon, Ifaac Parrifh, James Whiteall, Benjamin Thacu, Andrew Geyer, John Kaighn, William Lippencott, Jacob Shoema- ker, Caleb Attmore, John M'Cree, Joseph Tatem, and Thomas Rodgers, electing committee.
THE HUMANE SOCIETY,
Was inftituted inthe year 1780, for the purpofe of recovering perfons fuppofed to be dead from drowning ; and confiderable benefit accrued from their laudable exertions. But either from the objects being too confined, or from the difficulty of conve- ning the members, (all of whom were to attend the meetings, ) or from the late war, the operations of the focicty were for a long time fufpended ; until the year 1787, when a number of the members again met, and concluded, that the bufinefs would be beft conducted by twelve, managers, chofen annually by the con- tributors, and that it would be of great importance to extend their objects, not only for the original purpofe of endeavouring to reftore to life thofe who were fuppofed dead from drowning ; but alfo fuch as were in the fame fituation from many other cir- cumftances ; fuch as expofure to heat or cold, drinking cold wa- ter, damps, lightening, fuffocation from charcoal, &c. It was accordingly agreed to embrace all thefe objects. The managers have therefore not only publifhed proper rules to be obferved in fuch cafes, but alfo placed the neceffary apparatus in different parts near the river, and given premiums to fuch perfons as have been inftrumental in faving the lives of their fellow creatures, expofed to accidents of this kind.
It is fincerely to be withed that, in imitation of the humane fo- ciety in Bofton, they may be enabled to provide for the relief of fhipwrecked feaman. The prefent funds arife out of a contribu- tion of one dollar annually, from each of the fubfcribers.
The prefent officers are,
Dr. Benjamin Rufh, Dr. Cafper Wiftar, Dr. Benjamin Say, Dr Pe- ter S. Glentworth, William Clarkfon, Robert Parrifb, Caleb Lownes, Joseph Lownes, Charles Marshall, John Hopkins, Joseph Cruk- Jbank, Samuel Parcoaft, jun. managers.
Christopher Marshall, jun. treafurer ..
Charles Mar/hall, fecretary.
The apparatus is depofited at the following places.
Į Grapple and I box at Britton's ferry
1 do. I do. Corporation ferry on Schuylkill.
I do. I do. Gray's ferry
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THE PHILADELPHIA REGISTER.
I grapple and I box at Samuel Cooper's ferry
I do.
I do. Daniel W . Cooper's ferry Jerfey.
I do.
I do. Jofhua Cooper's ferry
I do.
I do. Peter Brown
Kenfington.
I do. I do.
Samuel Cheefeman 5
I do.
I do.
Peter Knight,
I do.
I do.
Callowhill ferry,
I do.
I do.
Allibone & Paul's ftore Saffafras St.
I do.
I do. Mulberry St. ferry,
I do.
I do.
High St. ferry,
I do.
I do.
Thomas Humphreys Chefnut St.
I do.
I do.
Peter Evans, near Drawbridge,
I do.
I do.
Jofeph Ruffell, Pine St.
I do.
I do.
Jofhua Humphreys
Southwark.
I do.
I do.
Stephen Beazley
HOUSE OF EMPLOYMENT.
Is a large and commodious building, fituated in Spruce be- tween Tenth and Eleventh Sts. where the poor of the city and fome adjoining townhips are fupported and employed in fome coarfe manufactures to aid in defraying their expences under the care of the overfeers and guardiansof the poor, who are a corpo- rate body created for this purpofe by act of affembly, with power to lay taxes for its farther fupport.
Ifrael Pleafants, Andrew Douglas, Joseph Harper, Jonathan Jones, Joseph Marsh, jun. Alexander Fullerton, managers of the alms- houfe and houfe of employment.
Abijah Dawes, William Sanfom, Jacob Tomkins, Thomas Holland, James Wilfon, Alexander Cochran, David Pinkerton, Edward Du- nant, overfeers of the poor for the city,
Joseph Burns, William P. Spragues, William Gregory, for Northern Liberties, and
Shubert Armitage, William Spade, Jacob Winnimore, for Southwark.
FRIENDS' ALMS HOUSE
Is fituated in Walnut St. on the fouth fide, between Third and Fourth Sts.
The Friends alms houfe is fupported by that fociety for the ufe of their own poor. It is divided into a number of feparate houfes and rooms for families or fingle perfons who have fallen into decay, moft of whom by their induftry contribute to their own fupport, but are fupplied with whatever neceffaries their in- duftry falls fhort of procuring by a committee of the fociety ; and thus live more comfortably than many, who, in full health and unhurt by accident provide for their own fubfiftence.
COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS OF PHILADELPHIA.
IN the year 1787, the phyficians of this city affociated them- felves under this title, for the purpofe of extending medical know-
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THE PHILADELPHIA REGISTER.
ledge, and of promoting harmony and uniformity in the practice of phyfic.
In 1789, they obtained a charter of incorporation from the legiflature. 1
They hold ftated meetings on the firft Tuefday of every month, for the purpofes of their inftitution, and are about publithing the firft volume of their tranfactions. A foundation for a medical library is already begun, which is conftantly increafing. The college confitts of fellows (or refident members) and affociates.
The following are the prefent members of the college.
Fellows.
JOHN REDMAN, prefident.
William Shippen, jun. vice-prefident.
Adam Kuhn, Benjamin Rufh, Thomas Parke, James Hutchinfon, cenfors.
Samuel Porel Griffitts, fecretary.
Benjamin Say, treafurer.
Samuel Duffield, Robert Harris, Benjamin Duffield, John Foulke, Andrew Rofs, William Currie, John Carfon, Charles Moore, Caf- per Wiftar, James Cuningham, Nathan Dorfey, Michael Leib, John H. Gibbons, Nicholas B. Waters, Benjamin S. Barton, Tho- mas Redman, William M. Ilvaine, Plunket F. Glent worth.
FIRSTDAY OR SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
" THE fociety for the inftitution and fupport of Firft-day or Sunday fchools in the city of Philadelphia and the diftricts of Southwark and the Northern Liberties," was inftituted early in the year 1791. The members then formed a conftitution for their government, by which the fociety is to meet every three months, viz. on the fecond Third-day called Tuefday, in the months called January, April, July, and October, in every year. The affairs of the inftitution in the recefs of the fociety are con- ducted by twelve of its members, who are called Vifitors, three of whom form a board to do bufinefs, they meet monthly, have the charge of the fchools, the expenditure of money, &c.
The fociety is formed of all thofe perfons who fubfcribe the conftitution, and pay to the treafurer at the time of fubfcribing and annually afterwards one dollar; but ten dollars in one pay- ment conftitutes a member during life, which fubfcriptions form a fund to defray the expences of the inftitution.
Three fchools were opened in March 1791, fince which about nine hundred fcholars have been admitted, and have partaken of its advantages ; and there are at this time more than three hun. dred on the lift of attendance.
One of thefe fchools for girls is under the care of John Ely, in the rear of Mulberry ftreet meeting ; the two others for boys, one of which is under the care of John Poor in Cherry ftreet, the o- ther under Thaddeus Brown in Front near Almond ftreet.
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193
THE PHILADELPHIA REGISTER.
It is a particular rule with the fociety, that the fcholars come clean to the fchools, and attend the places of worfhip to which they refpetively belong.
By this benevolent inftitution the children of many of the poorer part of the community who would otherwife Have been running through the ftreets habituating themfelves to mifchief, are refcued from vice and inured to habits of virtue and religion ; and it is with great pleafure that the board of Vifitors have ob- ferved that the improvement in reading and writing made by the children in thefe fchools anfwers their moft fanguine expectations." From thefe favourable appearances the board have had it in con- templation to extend further the advantages of the inftitution by the eftablifhing of other fchools, but for this the funds are at prefent inadequate. Depending, however, on the well-known readinefs of their fellow-citizens to affift in every undertaking which has humanity for its object, they have appointed a com-, mittee of 24 to folicit fubfcriptions, and there is little doubt of the fociety being fpeedily able to render their plan more exten- fively ufeful.
Officers of the focicty.
Right Rev Dr. William White, Prefident.
George Meade, Vice Prefident.
Christopher Marfkall, Treafurer.
Peter Thomfon jun. Secretary.
Ellifton Perot, James Hardie, Jacob Shoemaker, Thomas Howard, Ellis Yarnall, Jeffe Sharplefs, Doctor Benjamin Say, Fofoph Budd, Joseph Shoemaker jun. Thomas Say Bartram, Joseph Sharplefs and . Jacob Tomkims jun. Board of Vifitors.
George Meade, Doctor Benjamin Say, John Perot, Nathaniel Fal- coner, John Mc Cree, Francis Bailey, Robert Ralfton, Jeffe Sharplefs, Thomas Armat, Samuel Scotten, George Williams, Peter Thomfon jun. Ebenezer Large, Thomas P. Cope, Jacob Tomkins jun. Jacob Cauff- man, Joseph Price, James Todd, Edward Pole, Joseph James, James Hardie, Jonathan Penroje, William Innis, Peter Barker, the commit -. tee appointed to folicit fubfcriptions.
ABOLITION SOCIETY.
THE fociety for promoting the abolition of flavery, and the . relief of free negroes unlawfully held in bondage, was firft in- ftituted in the year 1774, and afterwards enlarged both in its objects and members on the 23d of April 1787. The zeal and activity of this focicty have been crowned with uncommon fuc- cefs, and has given rife to many fimilar focieties in the other ftates; and has alfo been inftrumental in fuggefting to the legiflature moft of thofe improvements in the laws which relate to the complete abo- lition of flavery, which have been enacted fince the memorable law of March Ift, 1780, which firft laid the axe to the root of this abo,
Bh
194
THE PHILADELPHIA REGISTER.
minable evil ; and laftly, it has been the happy means of procu- ring the emancipation of feveral thoufand blacks, who were de- tained in bondage contrary to the laws of the ftate. The ftated meetings of the fociety are on the firft Mondays of January, April, July, and October, Thefe meetings are generally large, and compofed of perfons of all the different religious fects in the city. Bufinefs is conducted with great order and harmony. Dr Franklin was prefident of this fociety for feveral years before his death and took great pleafure in difcharging all the duties of that ftation. Each member pays 10 s. a-year towards the ex- pences of the fociety. This money is employed chiefly in defray- ing the coft and other charges which are incurred by the eman- cipation of negroes unlawfully held in bondage. The fociety confifts of refident and correfponding members.
The prefent officers of it are
JAMES PEMBERTON, prefident.
William Rogers, William Bingham, vice-prefidents.
John Evans, treafurer.
John M'Cree, James Todd, Secretaries.
William Lewis, Miers Fifber, John D. Coxe, Joseph Thomas, John Todd, jun. Thomas Rofs, councellors.
James Pemberton, William Rogers, Samuel P. Griffitts, John Kaighn, Fofeph Sanfom, Samue! M. Fox, and Robert Patterfon, commit- tee of correfpondence.
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
The hiftory of this feminary neceffarily involves in it the hifto- ry of two other feminaries ; now generally diftinguifhed by the names of the old college and the old univerfity.
The old college confifted of three parts ; the charitable fchools, the academy, and the college, ftrictly fo called. The charitable fchools, which were two in number, were intended ; the one, for the reception of thirty girls, to be taught reading, writing, and. fewing ; the other, for the reception of fixty boys, who were to be inftructed in reading, writing, and arithmetic. The Aca- demy comprehended three fchools ; an Englifh fchool, a fchool for arithmetic and the practical branches of the mathematics, and a Latin and Greek fchool. The college was divided into two fchools ; one, for teaching the philofophy of body, (i. e. phy- fics or natural philofophy ), in conjunction with the higher bran- ches of the mathematics ; another, for the philofophy of mind or fpirit, (i. c. natural theology, pfychology or the philofophy of the human mind, moral philofophy, and logic), in conjunc- tion with the higher claffics.
Thefe feveral parts were not all inftituted at the fame time. The charitable fchools and the academy were opened in the year 1750; under the direction of a board of truftees, confifting of twenty-four members, who however were not incorporated
195
THE PHILADELPHIA REGISTER.
until the year 1753. , Thefe being well conducted, and continu- ing to flourifh, the truftees were encouraged 10 extend their de- figns ftill further ; and, in 1754, opened the philofophical fchools. And as this addition to their plan rendered the charter which had been already granted them inadequate, they folicited, and in the following year obtained, a new one ; which put all the feveral parts abovementioned under the fame direction, and gave to the whole, the ftyle of The College, Academy, and Charitable Schools of the city of Philadelphia, in Pennfylvania.
After this, in the year 1765, were added the medical fchools ; confifting of four profefforthips : one of the theory and practice of phyfic ; another of anatomy ; another of botany and materia medica ; and another of chemiftry.
Such was the origin of this inftitution. Though intended for the benefit of the public in general, and though it could not be carried on but at a very confiderable expenfe, it was altogether the work of a few private citizens of Philadelphia : bnt among thefe was Dr Franklin ; by whom the defign was originally pro- jected, and the propofals for carrying it into execution drawn up and publifhed.
Soon after the revolution, however, in the year 1779, there paffed an act of the legiflature, entitled, " An act to confirm the eftates and interefts of the college, academy, and charitable fchools of the city of Philadelphia ; and to amend and alter the charters thereof, conformably to the revolution, and to the con- ftitution and government of this commonwealth ; and to erect the fame into an univerfity."
By virtue of this act, the feminary was placed under the direc- tion of a new board of truftees, a few of whom had been mem- bers of the old board ; the ftyle of it changed from that of The College, Academy, and Charitable Schools, &c. to that of The Univerfity of the ftate of Pennfylvania ; and the executive coun- cil authorifed to fet apart, for its ufe, fo many of the confifcated eftates as would produce an additional income of fifteen hundred pounds a year.
Hence arofe what is now called the Old Univerfity ; and from this era it's hiftory commences. It was the old college erected into an univerfity ; that is, it was the old college under a different name, and fubjected to fome new modifications. Nor did thefe modifications extend farther than to things merely external ; its truftees, its ftyle, its revenues, and its connection with the ftate. In itfelf it was ftill the fame : it had ftill the fame charitable fchools, the fame academical fchools, the fame philofophical fchools, and the fame medical fchools.
But the Truftees of the old college, and their Provoft, petitio- ning, that their charter, and the property which they had former- ly held, might be reftored to them; and the legiftature, in the year 1789, thinking fit to comply ; there began at length to ex-
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196 THE PHILADELPHIA REGISTER.
ift, what in the beginning had not been contemplated, two dif- tinct feminaries ; The University of the ftate of Pennfylvania, and, at the fame time, The College, Academy, and Charitable fchools of the city of Philadelphia.
Neither of thefe feminaries, however, being poffeffed of funds fufficient to defray the expenfe of conducting it ; and it not being likely that the legiflature would be prevailed on to grant the mo- ney of their conftituents, for the farther endowment of two femi- naries of general learning in the fame city, where, confeffedly, but one of them was wanting ; each party became every day ftill more and more convinced of the neceffity of an union. Conferences for this purpofe began to be held. And in the end it was mutually ågreed, that the two boards fhould, each of them, prefer to the le- giflature a fimilar petition ; praying, that, on certain conditions to be therein fpecified, both feminaries fbould be confolidated in- to one. Thefe conditions were, That each board fhould felect 12 of it's members to conftitute a new board ; of which the govern- or of the ftate for the time being fhould be prefident : and that, whatever might be the number of profeffors which this new board fhould think fit to eftablifh, fuch profeffors fhould be chofen equal- ly out of the two faculties, belonging, the one to the old college, and the other to the old univerfity ; unlefs the number to be thus eftablithed fhould be an odd number ; in which cafe the odd num- ber fhould be taken from either of the faculties indifcriminately.
Thefe petitions were prefented ; the legiflature approved of the propofal ; and accordingly, in, the year 1791, an act was paffed, entitled, " An act to unite the University of the fate of Pennfyl- vania, and the College, Academy, and Charitable fchools of Phi- ladelphia, in the commonwealth of Pennfylvania."
And thus was, in the end, erected the feminary, now called The Univerfity of Penniylvania; ftill confifting of the fame fchools of which the old college confifted .*
The prefent Truftees of this Seminary are.
THOMAS MIFFLIN, Governor of the ftate, Prefident ex officio.
William Bingham, Efq. Robert Blackwell, D. D. John Bleakly, Efq. Edward Burd, Efq. John Carfon, M. D. George Clymer, Efq. Mr David H. Conyngham, Thomas Fitzfimons, Efq. Ro- bert Hare, Eiq. Jared Ingerfoll, Efq. Major General James Irvine, David Jackfon, M. D. Frederick Kuhl, Efq. William Lewis, Efq. Thomas M' Kean Efq. L. L. D. Samuel Miles, Efq Charles Pettit, Efq. Samuel Powel, Efq. David Rittenhoufe, Efq. Jonathan D. Sergeant, Efq. Edward Shippen Efq. Jonathan B. Smith, Efq. JamesSproat, D. D. William White, D. D.
The Faculty are.
John Ewing, D. D. Provoft, and Protefor of Natural Philo- fophy.
* With the addition of three medical profefforthips.
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THE PHILADELPHIA REGISTER.
John Andrews, D. D. Vice Provof, and Profeffor of Moral Philofophy.
James Davidfon, A. M. Profeffor of the Latin and Greek lan- guages.
Robert Patterion, A. M. Profeffer of Mathematicks.
William Rogers, D. D. Profeffer of English and Belles Lettres. Henry Helmuth, D. D. Profeffor of the German language.
William Shippen, M. D. Profeffor of Anatomy, Surgery, and Midwifery.
Adam Kuhn, M. D. Profeffor of the Practice of Phyfic.
Benjamin Rufh, M. D. Profeffor of the Inftitutes, and of Cli- nical medicine.
James Hutchinfon, M. D. Profeffor of Chemiftry.
Cafper Wiftar, M. D. Adjunct Profelfor of Anatomy, &c. Samuel Powel Griffitts, M. D. Profeffor of the Materia Medica.
Benjamin S. Barton, M. D. Profeffor of Botany and Natural Hiftory. *
James Wilfon, L. L. D. Profeffor of Law. +
The Profeffor of the Latin and Greek languages is affifted by three tutors ;
Samuel Jones, A. B. Adam Boyd, A. B. and George Loch- man, A. M.
The Profeffor of Mathematicks by two ; David Shute, A. M. and Mr Samuel G. Clendenin. The Profeffor of English, by three ;
Mr Daniel Jodon, Chriftian F. L. Endrefs, A. B. and John Pat- terfon, A. B.
The teachers of the charitable fchools are, John Ramfey, mafter of the fchool for the boys,
Mary Robinfon, miftrefs of the fchool for the girls.
The number of fcholars in the Philofophical fchools is 61
in the Latin and Greek fchools 92
in the Englifh and Mathematical fchools 150
in the Charitable fchools 90
in the Medical fchools 120
In all 513
As to the income and expenditures of the University, the
· The medical fchools, as recited above, were, at the first inftitution of them, but four in number. They have fince heen encreafed to foven. But the laws do not make it neceffary, in order to a degree in medicine, that the ftudents fhould attend the lectures of the botanical profeffor.
t The law-profefforthip was firft inftituted, and Judge Wilfon elected! to the chair, by the Truftees of the Old College, in the year 1790 ; and. on the union of the two feminaries, the new board, refolving to continue it, Judge Wilfon was unanimously re-appointed.
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THE PHILADELPHIA REGISTER.'
Truftees, in an eftimate made and delivered in to the legiflature at their laft feffion, flate, that, after deducting the expenfe of collecting and various other expenfes, their feveral eftates are found to bring in an annual revenue of £. 1164 14 II And that, one year with another, the tuition
money amounts to
I200 O O
Total amount £. 2364 14 II
They ftate farther, that they would wifh to allow to their Provoft five hundred pounds a year ; to their Vice-Provoft, four hundred and fifty ; to their other Profeffors, four hundred each ; and to each of their Tutors, a hundred.
Suppofing then the Provoft to have £.500
The Vice-Provoft
450
Four other Profeffors 1600
Eight Tutors
800
The Mafter of the Charitable fchool
II5
The Miftrefs -
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