USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > The Philadelphia Directory, 1796 > Part 21
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The number of the ftreets, Janes and alleys, laid out by the ownersof the lots before they were built on, is too great to be enumerated here, there being fcarce a fquare that is not interfected by'one or more of them, fome of them continued in a right linc through feveral fquares fo fpacious as to be eafily miftaken for inain ftreets, others only through one fquare.
This city was firft incorporated by charter under the great feal of the province, in the year 1701 : before which period it was called the town of Philadelphia. By this charter William Penn nominated the firft ma- yor, recorder, aldermen and common councilmen, and granted them, amongit other privileges and franchifcs that of electing others to fupply vacancies, and even to increafe their own number at pleafure: The public
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OF PHILADELPHIA,
grounds were granted to them by the name of the ma- yor and commonalty of the city of Philadelphia, but the commonalty had no fhare in the government or ef- tate of the city, the whole body being felf-elective, and not accountable to the citizens in any refpect. It would be difficult to account for fo extraordinary a charter from the wifdom of William Penn, did not tra- dition inform us that among the firft fettlers were a confiderable number from the city of Bristol in Eng- land, whofe charter, granted at an early period before the rights of the commonalty were well underftood, had been familiarized by habit, which induced them to re- queft a fimilar one. A copy of the Briftol charter was accordingly procured, and with little variations adopt- ed. It was not long however before the commonalty began to be diffatisfied with it, and to make frequent complaints to the affembly, of the abnfes that were practifed under it ; many appear upon the minutes of the honfe. At an early period after the charter, the - legiflative powers of this corporation were very limit -. ed. They could not levy a fhilling by taxes, for any ufe whatever, and could employ the income of the city eftates only for the ufe and embellifhment of the city, here we fee few monuments raifed to preferve the me- mory of that corporation. Although men highly dif- tinguifhed for integrity and abilities were elected into the office of the body politic, yet fuch is the nature of unlimited power, not accountable to the people, that it will divert the beft men from purpofes, which, be- fore they were invefted with that power, they would have highly approved. The jealonfy which the citi- zens entertained of the corporation, pervaded the ge- neral affembly of the province, and when the lighting, watching and paving the city, became a defrrable ob- ject, the reprefentatives of the freemen would not en- Truft the corporation alone with the power of raifing or expending the money neceffary for thefe purpofes. They could not however caft fuch a reflection on the refpectable characters of which that body was com- pofed, as wholly to veft thefe powers with others : they purfued a middle line, and conftituted twa fepa- rate bodies by the names of the city wardens, and fireet commiffioners, to the former of whom the lighting and watching, and to the latter the paving of the ftreets . was committed. The mayer, or recorder, and four of
A 2
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A SHORT ACCOUNT
the aldermen concurring with each body, in laying the taxes and prefcribing the mode of expending them ; and thus the city legiflation for thefe purpofes became compounded of two branches. The wardens and com- miffioners . immediately elected by the people in the fame manner as their reprefentatives in affembly, con- ftituted the democratic, and the mayor and aldermen the ariftocratic branch. Thefe bodies thus compound- ed, conducted the bufinefs committed to them, with great harmony, nor is there the leaft recollection of any difagreement between them. The taxes were laid with equality, collected with moderation, and ex- pended for the real ufc and improvement of the city. One complaint only, had foundation which arofe from the nature, rather than any abufe of power ; the num- ber of wardens and ftreet commiffioners was fo great, as at very moderate wages, to render thofe boards too expenfive.
For the honour of the late corporation it ought not to be omitted, that the mayors court was always filled with an able lawyer for the recorder, and another for the profecution of criminal offences; and fuch was. the orderly and upright administration of juftice in it, that no court in the province, or perhaps in any other country exceeded it.
The prejudices under which the old corporation la- boured from its original conftitution, were fo ftrong. that upon the revolution, the general afembly declared by an act paffed during their firft feffion, " That the powers and jurifdiction hitherto exercifed .by the may- or, recorder and aldermen of the city of Philadelphia, were not founded on the authority of the people, and are therefore become nuil and void." Wherefore by that and feveral fubfecuent acts, the powers of the cor- poration were diftributed between the fupreme execu- tive council, the city magiftrates and the wardens and fireet commiffioners, who exercifed them from the year 1777, to 1789. The prejudices which had no foundati- on as againft corporations in general, but only againft the conftitutionof the late corporation of the city, were however fo ftrong, that it was with difficulty the people could be prevailed on to fulmit to a new incorporation of the city. The defects in the administration of juf- tice and governing the police of the city, at length be- came fo glaring, that they were feen by all claffes of
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OF PHILADELPHIA,
people, and their minds prepared for an act of incorpo- ration. The general affembly in the winter feffions of 1789, favoring the withes of the citizens, paffed an act entitled, an act to incorporate the city of Philadelphia, which with a fupplement paffed in 1790, conftitutes the prefentcity charter. By thefe acts
The magiftracy confifts of two branches : fifteen al- dermen are chofen by the freeholders to continue in office for feven years ; who chufe a recorder from the citizens at large for feven years, and a mayor from their own number for one year. Thirty common coun- cil-men are chofen by the citizens at large, enti- tled to vote for reprefentatives in affembly, to continue in office for three years; thefe were intended to form a balanced government upon the principle, that the choice by freeholders, and for a longer term would produce a more felect body of aldermen, and that the citizens at large would choofe characters fitter'to re- prefent and form the popular branch of city government. Eight aldermen and fixteen common council-men form a quoram or board to tranfact bulinefs, at which the mayor or recorder prefides ; they fit and deliberate 10- gether, but no act is legal, unleis a majority of the al- dermen, a majority of the common council men pre- fent, and the mayor or recorder concur.
That the gentlemen who have hitherto reprefented the citizens agreeably to this charter, have difcharged their duty with credit to themfelves and advantage to their conftituents, is not difputed. Their impartial and expeditious adminiftration of juftice, and the very im- portant improvements which have fo rapidly taken place in Philadelphia, reflect upon them the higheft honour ; and indeed it may perhaps with fafety be afferted, that under their direction, the police of the city has become equal, if not fuperior to that of any other on the con- tinent. Some uneafinefs has however, arifen in the breafts of many individuals, with refpeet to the mode of electing aldermen, which they reprefent, as being fub- vertive of republican principles-Every freeman fay they has the priviledge of voting for members of the common council, reprefentatives in the affembly and fenate of the ftate and even for the governor and re- prefentatives in Congrefs; why then should the right of electing aldermen be vefted in the free-holders alone }
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A SHORT ACCOUNT
How far this reafoning may be juft is not for us to determine. It may however, be added, that on this fubject a petition was during the laft feffion prefented to the legiflature ; and there is no doubt, that when it fhall finally be difcuffed, it will be decided in fuch a manner as to give general fatisfaction.
A city court is held by the mayor, recorder and al- dermen four times a year, and holds cognifance of all crimes and mifdemeanors committed within the city.
A court of aldermen having cognifance of debts above forty fhillings, and not exceeding twenty pounds, is held every week beginning on Monday morning, and fetting by adjournments until the bufinefs of the week is finifhed.
Each alderman has feparate cognifance of debts un- der forty fhillings.
The number of inhabitants, including the city and fuburbs (including the diftrict of Southwark and the compactly built part of the Northern Liberties, which to every purpofe but as their governments, are confi- dered as parts of the city ) is found by the late cenfus to be 42, 500 ; there was then about 7000 houfes, ftores and work-fhops. The number has now increafed to about gooo, and there are at prefent about 400 build- ing .- Hence if the number of inhabitants has increafed in the fame ratio as the houfes, which is at leaft high- ly probable, the number of citizens may be eftimated at about 55,000.
The buildings appropriated to public worfhip in the city and fuburbs are in number 28, and are as fol- lows, viz.
Of the Baptift church one, German Calvinift one, Proteftant Epifcopal church three, Friends meeting houfes five, of the German Lutherans two, Swedish Lutherans one, of the Hebrews one, of the Moravians one, of the Prefbyterians of different denominations fix, of the Roman Catholics three, and of the Univer- falifts one.
There are alfo lately ereSted two buildings by the blacks; the one denominated the African Proteftant Episcopal Church. The other is called the African Methodift Epifcopal Church.
In four of thefe places of worfhip divine fervice is in the German language, viz. in the German Calvinift
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OF PHILADELPHIA.
church, in the two German Lutheran churches, and in one of the Catholic churches.
The city is provided with a number of public and private charitable infritutions ; the principal of which are the Pennfylvania hofpital, the houfe of employ- .ment, commonly called the bettering houfe ; the Friends alms houfe ; Chrift church hofpital, and the difpenfary.
PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL.
TH HE defign of this hofpital was firft fuggefted by the late Dr. Thomas Bond, for the purpose of relieving the fick poor, whether afflicted in body or mind'.
As this benevolent plan was greatly approved of, ma- ny contributors appeared to fupport it.
"In 1752, it was firft eftablifhed. It was not, how- ever, till 1756, that any part of the prefent building was erected.
In 1773, they received about 12cool. from the un -- elaimed fhares of the Pennfylvania land company in London. For this act of the British parliament in their favour, they owe much to the unceafing labours of their great friends, the late Dr. John Fothergill, Syl- vanus Baven, Jacob Hagen, and others.
In the Fourth Month, 1776, the beginning of the late continental war, the capital ftock at interett amount- ed to 21,7851. 45. 6d. and the patients of one year pre- ceding were 533, of whom 312 were cured, and 37 re- lieved'; befides 198 out patients.
The active capital in 1793, was ftated at 170651. The unproductive eftate of the corporation confifts of' their buildings ; the ground on which they ftand; a grafs lot to the'eaftward, and half a lot to the weftward; a medical library, and a collection of the moft elegant anatomical preparations. The whole may be valued at 32,cool. In addition to their former aids the affem- bly has lately granted 10,000, out of certain loan of-
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A SHORT ACCOUNT)
fice fonds; to enable the managers to make additionga to their buildings in purfuance of the original plan; and to comprize a.lying-in and foundling hofpital, as foon as a fpecific fund can be raifed.
E
THE ALMS HOUSE.
HE alms houfe and houfe of employment is under the direction of a board of managers, and of the over- feeis. or gua dians of the poor. This is a fracions, con- ¿ venient building, where the poor of the city and liber- ties receive o comfortable maintenance ; and thofe who are able to work. are employed in fome coarfe ufeful manufactures. The mamasers of this honfe were in- corporated in the year 1766, and were authorized to impofe taxes to defray the necefary contingent ex- pences.
FRIENDS ALMS HOUSE, 1
S fituated in Walnut-ftreet, on the fouth fide, be- tween Third and Fourth-fireets.
The friends alins houfe is fuprorted by that fociety,. for the ufe of their own poor. It is divided into a num- ber of feparate houfes and rooms forfamilies, or finger perfons, who have fallen into decay, most of whom,; by their indufry, contribute to their own fupport, but are fupplied with whatever . nece.faries their induftry .. falls Short of procuring, by a committee of the focicty ; and thus live more comfortable . than many, who, in - full health, and unhurt by accident, provide . for their own fubfiftence.
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OF PHILADELPHIA.
CHRIST's CHURCH HOSPITAL,
11.4 No. III, ARCH-STREET,
.
IS an endowment for aged women of the Protefant Epifcopal church, made by, Dr. John Kearfly, former- ly an eminent phyfician in this city; who bequeathed for this purpose, an eftate chiefly landed, which-he Felted in the rector, church wardens, and veftrymen, . of the, united Epifcopal churches of Chrift Church and St. Peter's.
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Since the endowment of this inftitution, it has re- ceived a confiderable acceffion of property, by the gift of Mr. Jofephi Dobbins, a native of this city, now re- fiding in Carolina, fubject to an annuity during Mr. Dobbin's life.
Dr. Kearfly's will requires; that the women belong- ing to this inftitution, shall be fupplied with meat, drink, and lodging, with neceffary affiftance in phyfic and furgery. There are now 19 on the foundation.
· Ł
THE SOCIETY FOR ALLEVIATING THE
MISERIES OF PUBLIC PRISONS,
Was intituted in the month of May 1;87. . The ob- ject of the inttitution may be known from the duties of the acting committee, as laid down in the 7th article of the constitution, as follows.
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A SHORT ACCOUNT
" The acting committee fhall vifit the public prifons, or fuch other places of confinement or punifhment as are ordained by the law, at leaft once every week. They fhall inquire into the circumfrances of every perfon confined; they fhall report fuch abufes as they fhall difcover, to the officers of government, who are authorifed to redrefs them ; and fhall examine the influence of confinement or imprifonment upon the morals of the perfons who are the fubjeers of them.
The benefitsrefulting from this fociety may be com- preheaded under the following heads, viz.
I. Relief in money and provifion, afforded to fuf- fering prifoners ; which the fociety's committee have been enabled to accomplifh, to a confiderable extent ; partly by means of the annual contributions of the . members, and partly by directing the diftribution of what is occasionally 'given in ihoney and victuals. Under this head may be reckoned the fometimes pay- ing of fmall fees, when the cafe feemed to deferve it, and when the party would otherwife have been de- tained for them in-confinement.
II. Applications to the magiftracy for the enlarge - ment of perfons illegally confined, which has fometimes happened from the obfcurity and friendlefs conditions of the parties.
III. Complaints fuccefsfully made to the proper offi- cers of offences againft law, in the management of ite jail, cfpecially the fale of fpiritucus liquors, occafion- ing the corruption of young offenders, and the harden- ing of the old.
IV. Legiflative improvements of the penal law, in a great meafure is owing to the folicitations of the fo- ciety.
Since the legiflature's giving their attention to the making fuch improvements, and efpecially fince the appointment of a board of infpectors with legal pow- ers, compofed of members of this fociety, it was thought expedient to alter the conftitution,- limiting the meetings to once a year ; at which time a commit- tee is chofen, who ineet in the interval to tranfact all neceffary bufinefs.
As the fociety's exertions have confeffcdly had a con- fiderable effect in procuring the prefent improved fate of the public prifons, it may be proper to mention the evidences of improvements in the prohibition of fpiritu-
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OF PHILADELPHIA.
cus liquors, the feparation of the fexes, and cleanli- nefs of the apartments, and the employing of the pri- foners in ufeful labour. . In regard to the laft article, it is worthy of the public notice, that fome of the pri- foners, on the expiration of their terms, have received a balance due to them from their labours, after de- ducting for their maintenance. The punifhment of re- fractory criminals, is the fecluding 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 different religious denominations occasionally attend for the purpose of public prayer and preaching.
To the benevolent mind, the great and important improvements which have lately taken place in our penal codes in the ftate of Pennfylvania, muft afford the highest fatisfaction. By a law paffed in the year 1786, the following were declared to be the only capi- tal crimes, viz. murder, rape, treafon and arfon. All corporal punifhments for fmaller offences were abo- lifhed, as experience had fufficiently evinced that no great hopes of reformation could be rationally enter- tained from him who had once been difgraced with the difcipline of the cat, or any fuch infamous punifh- ment. The humane muft be much gratified by the fa- lutary effects which this act produced-The number of criminals were fo far from being multiplied, that they greatly decreafed, and many who according to the laws of any other countries would have been cut off as be- ing unworthy of exiftence amongft mankind, have been reclaime i from vice, and become ufeful members of fociety.
The limits of our plan will not admit of being more particular on this head. The humane will be pleafed to learn where they can receive more extenfive infor- mation.
At the laft feffion of the legiffature. the penal code was again amended. The preamble to the act declares that the defign of punifhment is to prevent the com- miffion of crimes, and to repair the injury that hath been done thereby to fociety or the individual. And that it hath been found by experience that thefe ob- jects are better obtained by moderate and- certain pe- nalties, 'than by fevere and exceflive punifhments, and that as it is the duty of every government to endes-
B
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, A SHORT ACCOUNT
your to reform rather than exterminate offenders, the punifhment of death ought never to be inflicted where it is not abfolutely neceffary ; therefore that punifh- ment is abolifhed in all cafes except for murder of the firft degree.
Murder which may be perpetrated by means of poi- fon, by lying in wait, or by any other kind of wilful, deliberate and premeditated killing, which fhall be committed, in the perpetration or attempt to perpe- trate any arfon, rape, robbery or burglary, is declared to be murder of the first degree. For all other crimes Hard labour and confinement are the means ufed to re- form offenders.
We fhall juft add that amongft the humane of every nation, it has long been a matter of concern that the rigour of punifhment was feldom in proportion to the guilt of the offender ; thus a petty fccundrel is often condemned to the gallows for a theft, a forgery of a few pounds, whereas a more cunning rafcal, after a few months, or perhaps weeks confinement, is fet at liberty with vaft property, which he has fwindled from thoufands, and again commences his devaitations on fociety.
In Pennfylvania things of this fort can no longer bap- pen : life can only be forfeited for life ; and it is pro- bable that the time is not far diftant, when mankind becoming more humanc, will even in this cafe not dare to deprive a fellow creature of that which God a- lone can give.
PHILADELPHIA DISPENSARY.
T HIS noble inftitution, which rivals all others of a Similar kind, in any part of the world, in regard to real and extenfive utility, was founded in the year 1786. A number of the friends of humanity, taking into confideration the evils which the poorer claffes or' the people laboured un ter, when afflicted with the fe-
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OF PHILADELPHIA.
verity of difeafe, held a meeting, and agreed upon certain determinate laws and regulations. ,
According to thefe laws, each lady or gentleman who pays into the hands of the treafurer one guinea, is entitled to the privilege of having two patients at one time attended by the phyficians; thofe who pay two guineas may have four, and fo on in the fame propor- tion, and thofe who fubfcribe ten guineas at once are entitled, during life, to have two patients attended at one time.
A board, confifting of twelve managers, are annual- Jy elected. Votes are given either in perfon or by proxy. Five managers conftitute a quorum.
Six attending, and four confulting phyficians and furgeons, a treafurer, an apothecary, with an afift- ant, and a fecretary, are annually elected.
The city of Philadelphia is divided into two parts, called the Northern and Southern Diftrict. A book is kept at the difpenfary, in which the names, ages, dif- eafes, &c. of the patients are entered.
The phyficians of each diftriet attend at the difpen- fary on alternate days ; thofe of the northern diftrict on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; thofe of the fouthern diftriet, on Tuefdays, Thurfdays, and Satur- days, between the hours of eleven and twelve o'clock, throughout the year ; when every patient who is able to go abroad is obliged to attend. Such as are unable to go out, are vifited at their own houfes.
The duty of the apothecary is to compound the me- dicines, as prefcribed by the phyficians.
The phyficians receive no recompenfe for their fer- vices, and yet ireither the heats of fummer, nor the · cold of winter, prevents them from doing their duty ; and while thus engaged in the caufe of humanity, their fole wifh is, that every fpecies of evil in the world could be deftroyed by a fimilar facrifice of felf in- tereft.
Near TEN THOUSAND PERSONS have received benefit from the inftitution, fince its foundation.
The difpenfary is at prefent kept in Lodge alley, op- pofite the Bank. of Pennfylvania.
The Managers are, Wm. White, Robt. Blackwell, Geo. Meade, Henry Hill, Samuel Pleafants, Law- rence Sickle, Henry Helmuth, John Field, Robt. Hare, Rob. Smith, Geo. Fox,' Sam. P. Griffiths.
Confulting Phyficians .- Ben. Rufh, Wm. Shippen, Adam Kuhn, Thos. Park.
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A SHORT ACCOUNT 1
Attending Phyficians .- Michael Lieb, John H. Gib- bons, John Porter, James Woodhoufe, Thos. C. James, John Cumming.
Treafurer .- Thomas Clifford.
Apothecary .- Ebenezer Hickling.
Afliftant Apothecary .- Ruffel Park.
Secretary to the Managers .- S. P. Griffiths.
PHILADELPHIA MEDICAL SOCIETY.
r N the year 1772, a number of the ftudents of medi- cine of the University of Pennfylvania, convinced of the advantages to be derived from a feciety, in which the opinions of the learned fhould be freely difcuffed, formed an affociation, which was called the American Medical Society. Meetings were occasionally held, and the bufinefs conducted in a proper manner, until interrupted by the late war. At the commencement of peace, the members were called together, and the fo- ciety increafed in reputation and utility.
In 1789, feveral medical gentlemen, contemplating a plan, on which butinefs fhould be tranfasted in a more extenfive manner, founded the Philadelphia Me- dical Society, which, in 1792, received an act of in- corporation.
In 1795, the members of each inftitution, defirous of . cultivating harmony, formed a junction ; the old fo- ciety relinquifhed their title, and acceded to that of the Philadelphia Medical Society.
The fociety convene in November, and adjourn in February.
Every perfon is confidered as a junior member, until he has attended the fociety two feafons, or takena de- gree in medicine, when he receives the title of hono- rary member.
Any perfon defirous of becoming a junior member, is obliged to write and defend a thefis on fome medi- cal fubject, or fome fubject connected with medicine,
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OF PHILADELPHIA.
on which he is examined for the fpace of one hour and a half.
When no candidates are propofed, each of the junior members, read and defend a differtation in rotation. .
This fociety correfponds and is connected with the Phyfical fociety of Edinburgh ; the members of one af- fociation, are confidered as members of the other, and hold the fame rank in both.
The Society dines together every year, and have an anniverfary oration.
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