The Philadelphia Directory, 1793, Part 18

Author:
Publication date: 1785
Publisher: Philadelphia
Number of Pages: 256


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50


The Treafurer and Secretary


IIO


The Janitor


75


Dr William Smith's annuity to be 100


Incidental expences to be


100


The total amount is £.3900


From this eftimate, * in which, confidering the great expenfe of living in this city, the falaries propofed are undoubtedly very moderate ; and into which no expenditure is admitted but what is abfolutely neceffary ; it appears, that the funds are deficient, to a much greater degree than is generally apprehended. But this deficiency, it is not doubted, the legiflature will readily and chearfully fupply. That education is an object of great impor- tance; and that no nation can be qualified for the enjoyment of civil liberty, or can long continue to preferve it, the people of which are ignorant and unenlightened; are truths now well known and almoft nniverfally admitted. Neither indeed would it be con- fiftent with the dignity of the ftate, or with the honour of the le- giflature, to have an Univerfity, and to give it the ftyle of the Univerfity of Pennfylvania, and yet not allow to the profeffors and other teachers employed in it, what will enable them to live by their profeffion, with decency and comfort.


EPISCOPAL ACADEMY. The academy of the proteftant Epifcopal church was inftituted


* The Truftees flate fome other expenditures, which they could with th have it in their power to make, to the amount of three or four hundred pounds; which, as we confine ourfelves to the expenfe of doing business, as it is now actually done, we have here omitted.


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THE PHILADELPHIA REGISTER,


on the firft day of January 1785; a fubfcription having been opened for the purpofe in the end of the preceding year. The fundamental laws of the inftitution were enacted on the faid day, at a general meeting of the fubfcribers, and are ftill its con- ftitution, being recognifed and confirmed in the act of incorpo- ration granted by the legiflature, about two years after the efta- blifhment of the feminary.


This Inftitution, befides its free fchools, had three others ; one, for the Latin and Greek languages ; another, for arithmetic and the practical mathematics ; and the third, for the Englifh language. Thefe have been for fome time fufpended; and the only fchools now open are the free fchools ; confifting of about 80 boys and 40 girls : but the truftees have lately, by adver- tifement, fignified their intention of re-opening the other fchools, as foon as a fatisfactory mafter can be procured. The free fchools are kept at 62, Union St. that for the boys being under the care of John Barry, and that for the girls under the care of Mrs Barns. · The prefent truftees are


Right Rev. WILLIAM WHITE, D. D. prefident


Rev. Samuel Magaw, D. D. Rev. Robert Blackquell, D. D. Robert Morris, Thomas Willing, Edvard Shippen, Richard Peters, Abra- ham Markoe, Jofesh Swift, John Wilcocks, Alexander Wilcocks, Samuel Powel, Edward Tilghmas, Edward Stiles, David H. Co- nyngham, John Clement Stocker Efqs.


OF THE AFRICAN SCHOOLS.


WHILE the fociety of Friends, and the abolition fociety have been exerting themfelves, with fuccefs, to ameliorate the fituation of the unfortunate Africans, they have alfo extended their bene- volence to their children, for whofe education they have made ample provifion. About the year 1770, a fchool was inftituted by private fubfcription of the Friends, with a view to prepare that degraded race for a better fituation in civil life : but the will of Anthony Benezet, of benevolent memory, a confiderable donation from the fociety of Friends in England, and fome other charitable devices have provided funds nearly adequate to its fu- ture fupport ; fo that in a fhort time it will no longer be burthen- fom to individuals.


The fchool is kept in Willing's alley. The boys are taught by Daniel Britt, and the girls by his wife. The fchool is vifited once a month by a committee appointed by the three monthly meetings of Philadelphia : and it is pleafing to obferve that the progrefs of the pupils has hitherto anfwered the moft fanguine ex- pectations of its humane inftitutors.


There is alfo a fchool for the blacks fupported by the abolition fociety, in Cherry St. kept by Helena Harris, a black woman of' confiderable parts, who had been for feveral years employed as a teacher of white children in England.


2


200


THE PHILADELPHIA REGISTER.


OF THE OTHER SEMINARIES IN PHILADELPHIA.


ALMOST every religious fociety have one or more fchools under their immediate direction, for the education of their own youth of both fexes, as well of thofe who are able to pay, as of the poor, who are provided with books and ftationary gratis ; be- fides which there are a number of private fchools, under the di- rection of mafters and miftreffes, independent of any public bo- dy. There are alfo feveral academies for the tuition of young ladies in all the branches of polite literature, a particular de- fcription of which would be too lengthy for the prefent publica- tion. Let it therefore fuffice, that there is no individual, howe- ver poor, whofe children, on proper application, may not be ad- mitted into fome one of thefe fchools free of expence.


PHILADELPHIA LIBRARY. Tilth, between Chefnut and Walnut Streets.


. THE foundation of the prefent library was laid in the year 1731, a period when Philadelphia afforded little affiftance to the cagniries of the ftudious. A number of gentlemen having raifed the fum of one hundred pounds by fubfcription, a fmall library was formed upon principles the beft calculated to diffeminate · knowledge : the books were not, as in many of the public libra- ries of Europe, confined to the apartments, but the fubfcribers were allowed to carry them home for a reafonable fpace of time.


'The plan foon became popular ; acceffions to the number of members took place, and the flock of books was annually encrea- fed by purchafes at the company's expence, and liberal donations from perfons both at home and abroad. .


The then proprietaries of Pennfylvania appear to have taken a patriotic pleafure in the encouragement of the plan. Befides feveral valuable donations, they granted a charter of incorpora- tion in the year 1742.


A fpirit of literary improvement made its way among all claf- fes of people, and the philanthrophy of the great and amiable character * who fuggefted the plan, was gratified by tracing the books as well into the hands of the opulent, with whom litera- ture is fometimes no more than one of the ornaments of civil life, as among thofe to whom it renders a more fubftantial bene- fit. "Letters, while they employ the leifure of the artift, recon- cile him to his labour ; by removing groffer relaxations they promote his health, while they enlarge his mind; and prolong his life, while they teach him to enjoy it.


The refpectable and intelligent character of the latter clafs of people in Philadelphia and its environs, cannot be referred to a more probable caufe, than the habits of reading promoted by this inftitution.


The great utility and fuccefs of this meafure, occafioned the formation of other libraries upon fimilar principles. But as it


* Dr Franklin.


201


THE PHILADELPHIA REGISTER.


appeared more conducive to the interefts of literature, to be pof- feffed of one large, than of feveral fmaller collections of books, coalitions gradually took place among them, till the Amicable, the Affociation, and the Union Companies were blended with the Library Company of Philadelphia, the title conferred by the charter.


Since this event, which took place in the year 1769, the mem- bers and the property of the company have continued to encreafe ; the former being now between five and fix hundred in number. The number of volumes, at prefent, amounts to eight thoufand, the felection of which, has in general been calculated to promote the more important interefts of fociety. And the ftock of books is continually encreafed by occafional donations, annual impor- tations, and purchafes of every American production of merit.


Some valuable machines and apparatus for the purpofes of natural philofophy, &c. and a variety of curious artificial and na- tural productions alfo belong to the company, and are depofited in their apartments. In the catalogue heretofore publithed, particulars have not been inferted, but lifts are in the poffeffion of the librarian, who attends to fhow them at ftated times, ** and the directors, on proper occafions, permit the inftruments to be made ufe of.


Befides the collection, the perfonal property confifts of fome monies at intereft ; the fales of fhares, which fince the year 1768, have been fixed at ten pounds, t and the annual payment of ten fhillings from each member.


A houfe and lot of ground which belonged to the Union Com- pany ; two lots of ground (one the generous donation of the late Thomas Penn, Efq.) and feveral ground rents conftitute the real eftate.


The members hold the property as tenants in common, and difpofe of their fhares by will or deed ; but the affent of the di- rectors, as well in fuch cafes as in cafe of an original purchafe, is previoufly neceffary-a reftriction early adopted, in order, as much as poffible, to prevent improper perfons from having ac- cefs to a collection of a nature fo liable to injury.


Ten directors and a treafurer are annually elected by the members : the directors appoint a fecretary and a librarian.


William Rawle, Joseph Pajchall, Thomas Parke, Josiah Hewes,


Richard Wells, Mordecai Lewis, John Kaighn, Richard Witar, Benjamin Pou'tney, Samuel Mickle Fox, directors.


Tofep! Parker Norris, treafurer.


Benjamin R. Morgan, fécretary.


Zachariah Poulfon, jun. Jibrarian.


C c


* The prefent time is on Saturday mornings, from ten till twelve o'clock. t It is probable that the price of fhares will be fpeedily ra:fed, as a ge - neral meeting of the members has been fummoned to take that matter into confideration on Thurfday the firft of Auguft next.


202


THE PHILADELPHIA REGISTER.


LOGANIANLIBRARY,


Was infituted by the late James Logan, Efq. a gentleman of confuimmate literature who in the courfe of a long life had col- lected a number of the moft rare and curious books, in almoft all the ancient languages. He built a houfe for their reception and by deed executed in his life time, vefted the houfe and lot, toge- ther with the books and fome yearly rents for fupporting a li- brarian, and occasionally encreafing the catalogue, in truftees for the ufe of the public forever, under certain rules and regulations contained in the inftruments. Sometime afterwards he cancelled this deed, and prepared another, which he did not live to exe- cute ; this unfinifhed inftrument varied the regulations in fome refpects, and the funds for the fupport of the inftitution, but the ufes were the fame as in the firft. After his death, his children and refiduary devifees executed a deed conformable to that which had been prepared by him, vefting in the fame truftees the whole ellate intended by the founder, and the books were removed to a room prepared for them, arranged in neat order, and a catalogue printed. By the conflitution, William Logan the founder's el- deft fon, was the firft librarian, and the office was made heredita- ry in his family, with power to execute it by a deputy. The funds appointed for a librarian, &c. were originally fmall, but iffued from a very improving eftate ; they were fo referved as to increafe · at ftated periods, fo as to afford a very handfome income ; till one of thefe periods arrived they were not fufficient for the regu- lar fupport of a librarian, wherefore he attended a confiderable time to the duty in perfon, and whenever a man of letters could be procured upon terms within bounds, he was employed as de- puty. William Logan by his will, devifed a very handfome li- brary, collected partly by himfelf and partly by his uncle the late Doctor William Logan of Briftol in England to this inftitution, . amounting to about one thoufand volumes. After his death, which happened in 1776, the library was fhut for feveral years, owing to the death or abfence of all the truftees. In 1791, James Logan, the only furviving truftee, named in the grant, having had feveral previous confultations with Dr Franklin, the lateft decedent of them, and with a number of his fellow citizens, pre- fented a memorial to the legiflature, wherein he ftated the then prefent fituation of the inftitution, and prayed for their aid to put it into a way of anfwering the end of his father the founder. Whereupon an act was paffed, whereby the directors of the libra- ry company of Philadelphia, their fucceffors, &c. for the time be- ing, together with James Logan, or his heir and two truftees, whom he or his heir fhall appoint (a majority of the whole of whom thall be a quorum ) thall be truftees of the faid Loganian library. It is, however, provided, that the faid books and other property belonging to the Loganian library, together with fuch other pro- perty as may hereafter be acquired, fhall be for ever kept fepa-


203


THE PHILADELPHIA REGISTER.


rate from the books belonging to the library company of Phila- delphia, and that the faid library fhall be known by the name of The Loganian Library, agreeably to the intention of the donor. A large and commodious room has lately been built adjoining the Philadelphia library, for the purpofe of keeping the books of the Loganian library, which, it is expected, will be opened in a fhort time for the benefit of the citizens.


The prefent officers are,


James Logan, George Logan, James Smith, William Rawle, Joseph Pafchall, Thomas Parke, Fofiah Hewes, Richard Wells, Morde- cai Lewis, John Kaighn, Richard Wiftar, Benjamin Poultney, and Samuel Mickle Fox, truftees.


Samuel Coates, treafurer.


Benjamin R. Morgan, fecretary.


AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.


THE American philofophical fociety, for promoting ufeful knowledge, was formed in the year 1769, by the union of two focieties, which had been inftituted with fimilar views, viz. the advancemement of ufeful knowledge. One of thefe, filed The American philofophical fociety, was inftituted in the year 174-3, and at the time of their union confifted of 127 members ; the other, ftiled The American fociety for promoting and propaga- ting ufeful knowledge, held in Philadelphia, was inftituted in the year 1766, and at the time of their union confifted of 78 fellows and 69 correfponding members.


At the firft meeting of this united fociety, viz. on the 2d of Ja- nury, 1769, the following gentlemen were elected as officers for that year, viz.


BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, Efq. L. L. D. prefident


Dr. Thomas Cadwallader, Dr. Thomas Bond, Joseph Galloway, Efqs. vice prefidents


Philip Syrg, treafurer


Charles Thompfon, Rev. Dr. William Smith, Thomas Mifflin, Rev. John Exving, fecretaries


Dr. Adam Kubn, Dr. John Morgan, Lewis Nichola, curators.


By an act of the legiflature of Pennfylvania, paffed in the month of March, 1780, the fociety was incorporated, and the prefident of the executive council, (now governor of this com- monwealth ) made patron of the fociety.


In the year 1787 M. John Hyacinth de Magellan of London, prefented to the fociety a donation of two hundred guineas, to be by them vefted in a fecure and permanent fund, to the end that the intereft arifing therefrom fhould be annually difpofed of in premiums, to be adjudged by the fociety, to the author of the beft difcovery or moft ufeful invention relating to navigation, aftrono- my, or natural philofophy : The premium to confift of an oval Cc 2


204


THE PHILADELPHIA REGISTER.


plate of folid ftandard gold of the value of ten guineas, with fuitable devices engraved thereon.


Three of thefe premiums have, fince the eftablifhment of this fund, been awarded by the fociety, viz. one in the year 1790, and two in the year 1792.


The fociety have now publifhed three volumes of their tranf- actions. The firft volume was published in the year 1771, the fecond in the year 1786, and the third in the prefent year, 1793.


Aided by the liberal donations of a number of friends and pa- trons of philofophy, both in America and Europe, and efpecial- ly the legiflature of Pennsylvania, the fociety have been enabled to erest, on part of the flate-houfe fquare in fifth, between Chef- nut and Walnut Sts. a commodious, and not inelegant building, where they now hold their ftated meetings.


The officers of the fociety for the prefent year are,


THOMAS MIFFLIN, Efq. governor of the commonwealth for the time being, patron


David Rittenhouse, Efq. prefident


Thomas Jefferson, Efq. Rev. Dr. John Ewing, Rev. Dr. William Smith, vice prefidents


John Vaughan, treafurer


Dr. Benjamin Smith Barton, Dr. Cafper Wiftar, Charles W. Peale, curators


Dr. Adam Kuhn, Jared Ingerfoll, Efq. Andrew Ellicott, Dr. Samu- el P. Griffitts, Charles Pettit Efq. Rev. Dr. Nicholas Collin, Dr Benjamin Rufh, Rev. Dr. William White, Dr. William Thornton, Thomas M& Kean, Efq. William Barton Efq. Rev. Dr. Robert Blackwell, Dr. James Hutchinfon, councellors


Jonathan Williams, jun. Rev. Dr. Samuel Magaw, Robert Patter- fon, fecretaries.


PHILADELPHIA SOCIETY FOR PROMO. TING AGRICULTURE.


THIS fociety was formed in 1785, and has bee :: productive of confiderable benefit, not only from the labors of the members thereof, but alfo by having given birth to many fimilar inftitu- tions in this and the neighbouring ftates. They hold ftated meet- ings every two months, as well for the purpofe of receiving com- munications, a felection from which are immediately publithed, as for the general promotion of agriculture.


Premiums for actual experiments and improvements and for the beft pieces written on agricultural fubjects, are annually gi- ven. The fund for thefe and other neceffary expences, is raifed by an annual contribution of one dollar. The members are di- vided into refident and honorary.


The prefent officers are,


Samue! Powe!, prefident.


John Beale Bordley, vice prefident.


1


205


THE PHILADELPHIA REGISTER.


Timothy Pickering, fecretary.


Tench Francis, treafurer.


Samuel Powel, Robert Hare, George Clymer, Tench Francis, John F. Mifin, committee of correfpondence.


OF NATIONAL SOCIETIES.


When people fall into misfortunes in any part of the world, remote from the place of their nativity; it is natural for them to make their diftrefs firft known to thofe who were originally from the fame country. The prefumption in this cafe is, that the love of the native foil, which is infeparable from every human breaft, will make their countrymen more ready than others to adminif- ter to their relief; and that poffibly fome may be found among them, with whom they are connected by blood, who may have known fome of their relatives, or, at leaft who may have better opportunities of being affured from local circumftances that they are not impofto:s. No greater proof can be given of the utility of thefe inftitutions than that hundreds have been relieved by their charity who muft otherwife have confiderably fuffered in a place wherein they were ftrangers .- The national focieties in this city are.


ST ANDREW'S SOCIETY.


JAMES WILSON, L. L. D. Efq. prefident,


Rev. Dr William Smith,


-


James Craig, jun. vice prefidents,


John Shields, treafurer.


Rev. William Marfhall, chaplain,


William M. Smith, Efq. fecretary,


Thomas Leiper, Gavin Hamilton, jun. Dr Andrew Spence, Alexander Anderfon, Robert Smith, and Richard Lake, Efq. affiftants.


GERMAN INCORPORATED SOCIETY.


FREDERIC A. MUHLENBERG, Efq. prefident,


Lewis Farmer, vice prefident,


Andrew Geyer, Leonard Kubmley, fecretaries,


John Steinmetz, treafurer, Henry Kammerer, follicitor,


Conrad Haas, William Lehman, Peter Ozeas, John Stock, Christopher Kucher, Frederick Frayly, overfeers, John Ecky, deacon.


ST GEORGE'S SOCIETY.


ROBERT MORRIS, Efq, prefident,


Ifaac Hazlehurst, vice-pefident, Daniel Rundle, treafurer,


Afbeton Humphreys, fecretary,


George Ord, John Vaughan, Philip Nicklin, Bobert Bafs, Richard


206


THE PHILADELPHIA REGISTER.


Rundle, Fofiah Twamley, James Reynolds, and William Bell, ftewards,


HIBERNIAN SOCIETY.


THOMAS M'KEAN, L. L. D. prefident,


Major Gen Walter Stewart, vice-prefident,


Edward Fox, fecretary,


Alexander Henry, treafurer,


John Carfon and James Cunningham, phyficians,


Charles Heatley and Fafper Moylan, Efq. counfellers,


James M' Clure, John Mullowny, James Afh, Thomas Cuthbert, Red- mond Byrne, Joseph Magoffin, John Reed, David M' Cormick, John N& Elavee, Fofoph Brown, Alexander Lawrence, jun. and Andrew Kennedy, acting committee.


FRENCH BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.


JOHN TERNANT, prefident.


Anthony De la Forreft, vice-prefident.


Peter Le Maigre, treafurer.


Peter Stephen Du Porceau and Benjamin Armand, fecretaries.


Henry Elouis, Joseph Maifon, James Gardette, Joseph D. Hamelin, Benjamen Nones, Anthony Charden, Edmund Bureau, Auguflus Maf- fol, John Blanchard, Ferdinand Gourdon, Charles Homafel, Fran- cis Serre, Peter S. Du Ponceau, James Vanuxem, Ambrofe Vafe, Peter Le Maigre, acting committee.


POLITICAL SOCIETIES.


THERE are three reputable focieties lately eftablifhed in this city viz. the French Patriotic fociety, the German Republican fociety, and the Democratic fociety. To affift their countrymen with flour and other provifions, during their prefent arduous ftruggle for liberty and equality, appears to be the principal ob- ject with the firft. To cultivate a juft knowledge of rational li- liberty, to facilitate the enjoyment and exercife of civil rights, and to tranfmit to pofterity, unimpaired, a republican form of government, the object of the two laft.


FRENCH PATRIOTIC SOCIETY.


THE Officers of this fociety are not yet permanently eftablifh- ed.


GERMAN REPUBLICAN SOCIETY.


HENRY KAMMERER, prefident. Jacob Lawerfwiler, vice-prefident, Michael Leib and Andrew Geyer, fecretaries. Christopher Kucher, treafurer.


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THE PHILADELPHIA REGISTER.


DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY.


DAVID RITTENHOUSE, prefident.


William Coates and Charles Biddle, vice-prefidents.


James Hutchinfon, Alexander James Dallas, Michael Leib, Jo- nathan D. Serjeant, and David Jackfon, committee of corref- pondence. Ifrael Ifrael, treafurer.


J. Porter and Peter S. Du Ponceau, fecretaries.


THE CINNCINNATI SOCIETY.


IT is well known that the members of this fociety are compo- fed of the officers of the late American army ; and that it derives its name from Cincinnatus the celebrated Roman, who, after ha- ving fubdued the enemies of his country, retired from the thed- tre of public life to enjoy the fweets of domeftic retirement.


The officers for the prefent year are,


THOMAS MIFFLIN, Efq. governor of the ftate, prefident.


Thomas M' Kean, L. L. D. vice-prefident. Matthew M. Connel, treafurer.


Robert Patton, affiftant treafurer.


Jofiah Harmer, fecretary. Blackall IV. Ball, affiftant fecretary.


Walter Stewart, Francis Johnfon, Caleb North, Robert Morris, John Wigton, William Sproat, and Charles Biddle, ftanding committee.


N. B. The fociety meets on the 4th July annually, and the committee, as often as may be neceffary, for the purpose of grant- ing relief to the diftreffed members, widows, and orphans of the fociety.


MUTUAL BENEFIT SOCIEȚIES.


Ir being a duty incumbent on every good man while in health to endeavour to make fome provifion for himfelf and family againft the day of affliction, different focieties have been formed in this city with a view to raife funds for that purpofe ; and as the in- tention of thefe affociations is mutually to affift each other in ficknefs, and to make provifion for the widows and orphans of deceafed members, they are here called by the general appellation of mutual benefit focieties. The names and prefent officers of fuch as have come to the editor's knowledge are here inferted.


SHIPMASTERS' SOCIETY. MANAGERS, William Heyfham, Nathaniel Falconer, Sampfon Harvey, George Ord, Robert Bethell, John Woods, Charles Biddle, William Allibone, John Souder, John Lockton, Ste- phen Gerard, Nathaniel Gatt.


James Ring, treafurer.


T.


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THE PHILADELPHIA REGISTEK.


FRANKLIN SOCIETY, (PRINTERS) *. JOHN LANG, prefident. Robert Cochran and Richard Folwell, directors. Francis Wrigley, treafurer.


Jolın Doyle, fecretary.


CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.


THOMAS DOESON, prefident.


James Millegan, vice-prefident. John Gibb, fecretary.


Alexander Miln, treafurer.


UNION SOCIETY.


CHRISTOPHER STOTENSBURG, prefident.


Richard Morthewit, vice-prefident.


Bartholomew Baker, John Finch, John Donchue, John Dough- erty, ftewards.


FRIENDLY SOCIETY.


JACOB HOFFNER, fenior fteward. George Woods, junior do.


William Douglafs, clerk.


PROVIDENT SOCIETY.


JAMES HARDIE, prefident.


Hugh Robert Murray, fecretary.


John Vincent, treafurer.


John M&Ewen and Jeremiah Lawrenfon, ftewards.


A Lift of all the buildings appropriated to the worship of Almighty God, and where they are Situated, with the names of their respective paftors. BAPTIST CHURCH, in Second, between High and Mulberry ftreets, Rev. Thomas Uftick, A. M. paftor.


GERMAN CALVINIST CHURCH, corner of Saffafras and Fourth ftreets. Rev. Mr Winkhaufe, paftor. 1


PROTESTANT EFISCOPAL CHURCH. Chrift church in Second St. on the Weft fide, between High and Mulberry Sts. St Peter's church, South Weft corner of Third and Pine ftreets. Of thefe two united churches, Right Rev. Doctor White and Rev. Doctor Blackwell are paftors. St Paul's church, Third ftreet, on the Laft fide, between Walnut and Spruce ftrcets, Rev. Dr Magaw and Rev. Mr Jofeph Pilmore, paftors: 3




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