USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > The Philadelphia Directory, 1796 > Part 22
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The number of gentlemen who are enrolled as mem- bers, amount to about FIVE HUNDRED, among whom are fome of the firft characters in the United States.
The officers at prefent are ;-
Benj. Rufh, Prefident.
B. S. Barton, ? Vice Prefidents.
Geo. Pfeiffer,
William Currie, Correfponding Secretaries,
James Woodhoufe, S
Samuel-Cooper, Curator .:
Robert G. Davidion, Treafurer.
John C. Otto, Annual Secretary.
SOCIETY FOR THE INFORMA- TION AND ASSISTANCE OF EMIGRANTS ..
W HOEVER reflects upon the various caufes of emigration from Europe to the United States of Ame- rica, muft be convinced-whoever has the opportunity - of appealing to his own experience, muft know-that many of thofe who emigrate, although frequently en- : dowed with talents and virtues the moft valuable, ar- riving on an unknown fhore, bereft of the means of fup- port, and deftitute of friends to whom to apply for ad-
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A SHORT ACCOUNT
vice or affiftance, are loft, for a time, to fociety and themfelves.
With a view to leff'en or totally to obviate thefe in- conveniences ; - to render emigration as advantageous as poffible, both to the Emigrants themfelves, and to the country which affords them refuge; to give them every information and affiftance in our power ;- in fhort, to foften the afperities of the ftranger's fituation, at his firft outfet in a new country, we, the fubfcribers have affociated ourfelves under the title of
" THE PHILADELPHIA SOCIETY FOR: THE INFORMATION AND ASSIST- ANCE OF PERSONS EMIGRATING. FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES."
NAMES AND PLACES OF ABODE OF OFFICERS.
JOHN SWANWICK, Prefident, No. 237, So. Front St.
THOMAS NEWNHAM, Treafurer, corner of Callowhill & Second ftreet.
NAPHTHALI PHILLIPS, Secretary, No. 2297. North Second ftreet.
Dr. A. BLANEY, Phyfician, No. 158, South Se- cond ftreet.
HENRY A. HEINS, Regifter, No. 142, North Third Street.
. T. W. TALLMAN, 50, Race f .. ? Counfellers W. FRANKLIN, 70, So, Second ft. S.
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OF PHILADELPHIA.
The Treafurer, Secretary, Physician and Regifter, with the following eight members, compofe the Committee of Conference and Correspondence.
WILLIAM YOUNG BIRCH; No. 26, South Se. cond itreet.
JOSEPH WILLIAMS, No, 210, Market ftreet.
WILLIAM OLIVER, No. 147, North Third. ftreet.
CHARLES KENNY, City Tavern.
JAMES FUZE, No. 147, North Third ftreet. PHILIP JONES, jun. No. 84, Union ftreet. JOHN CUMMING, No. 65, Walnut ft.
BARTHOLOMEW. CONOLLY, No.' 48, Chef- nut ftreet.
4
The Committee meet at 6 o'clock every Mon- day evening ..
HEALTH OFFICE ..
MONG the many inftitutions of which Philadel -. phia has to boatt, that are calculated for the prefer ---- vatich and well-being of the citizens, that of a Healthy Office is among the firft. This has been for many years eftablifked by law ;, and. until the year. 1794),
A SHORT ACCOUNT
was deemed fully requifite for every purpofe intend- ed.to be executed by fuch inftitutions. The melan- choly fcene, however, which was acted in the city du- ring that autumn, in confequence of the prevalence of an epidemic, refembling in many of its fymptoms, the well known yellow fever of the Weft-Indies ; fiom which it was by many fuppofed to have been import- ed, have induced the Jegiflature to alter and confide- ably amend the lawsfor guarding the city from the in- troduction of contageous difeafes, which were before defective.
They have accordingly at their laft feffion, paffed a law, ordering a public hofpital, or peft houfe, (as it has hitherto been called) fituated upon State Ifland, five miles below the city, on the river Delaware, to be putin complete repair for the accommodation of the pa- tients that may be admitted ; and a refident phyfician, confulting phyfician, and health officer, to be appoint- ed by the Governor, the former of whom is to live con- ftantly at the hofpital. And the health officer, with a committee chofen monthly, are to refide in the city, to fuperintend the bufinefs of the inftitution. Every veffel that arrives (coafters from this ftate excepted) is ordered to be anchored oppofite to the health-office, in the ftream of the Delaware, until fhe is vifited by the refident phyfician, who examines every part of the veffel and makes every neceffary enquiry into the itate of the crews health ; that of the port or place from which the veffel comes ; the number of fick or deaths during the voyage ; rhe ftate of the cargo, whether infected or not, &c. And if he 'fees no caufe of de- taining the veffel from the prefence of ficknefs, or the cargo being infected with any contageous difeafe, (the fmall pox or meafles excepted) he is to give a bill of health, certifying the fame to the captain, who deli - vers it to the health officer in the city ; but fhould he find any fick on board or apprehends danger from fuf- fering the veffel to proceed to the city,' he removes fuch fick to the hofpital, and there attends them ; and alfo detains the veffel until he thinks it fafe for her to proceed, and has taken fuch meafures to purify her, and the cargo fuppofed to be infected, as he thinks pro- per.
, No veffel is fuffered to come nearer the city than the health office, nor no perfon or goods fuffered to be landed in any port or place within the Delaware, with a view of being conveyed into the flate, before
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OF PHILADELPHIA.
the examination of the refident phyfician, under very heavy penalties upon the pilot and mafter of the veffel, and perfon offending, and alfo upon any attempts to conceal ficknefs.
. The 'duty of the confulting phyfician is to afift the refident phyfician, in the attendance of the fick landed at the hofpital ; to vifit any veffel detained by the re- fident phyfician on account of ficknefs or infection on board; to remand any veffel back to the health office after her arrival at the city, in cafe of any difcovery of ficknefs, and to fuperintend with the refident phy- fician the fmoking or purifying any goods fuppofed to be infected, and landed at the health office."
The health officer is to keep his office open every day, for the reception of the bills of health granted by the refident phyfician, to captains of veffels ; to attend at the health office on State Ifland, when requefted by the refident phyfician ; and with the confulting phyfi- cian, to vifit fuch veffels as may be detained: or put in quarintine ; as alfo to affitt in the fmoking and puri- fying infected goods.
Twenty-four infpectors of thehealth office, are to be annually appointed by the mayor and corporation of the city ; and fix juftices of the Northern and Southern Liberties, out of the city and county, who are to, di- vide themfelves into four claffes, each confitting of fix infpećtors, who are to ferve monthly, and are vefted with all the powers of the health office; to regu- late the management of the health office, and the con- duct of the fteward, matron, nurfes, and other officers appointed by them : and are to make a report, with the refident phyfician, every month to the Governor, of the number and difeafes of the patients admitted into the hofpital. They are likewife to have the care of the health of the city, and do every thing that may tend to the prefervation of fo invaluable a bleffing. . A new hofpital is likewife to be erected over the river Schuylkill, to be under their directions ; for the pur- pofe of removing all perfons thereto, who may be hereafter affected with any contagious difeafe in the city.
This is a fhort abftract of a very lengthy and ex- cellent law, as far as it goes, for the regulation of the health office ; but it is yet imperfect in feveral parti- culars, which will no doubt, be amended at the next feffion of the legiflature: the moft beneficial confe- quences have however refulted from it;
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The law took place the beginning of laft May, aud is now in an active liate of operation; and it is, no doubt, owing to it, that the city enjoys its prefent Ln- common healthinefs.
When mentioning the regulations adopted by the legislature forthe purpose of preventing infectious dif- orders, it may not be improper to cbferve that the city" within a few years paßt, has experienced a very re- markable revolution, in refpest to the health of its in- habitants. T'he bill of mortality in every year (ex- cepting the year 7793, when the yellow fever fpread depopulation amongft us) proves that the number of deaths has confiderably decreafed during the laft ten years, notwithstanding the great increase of popula- tion.
This change in favour of life is afcribed by the phyficians to the co-operation of the following caufes,
1. The arching of the docks, whereby a very noxi- ous and offenfive nuifance was removed.
Il. Thecultivation of the lots adjoining and partly furrounding the city, whereby another extenfive fource of putrid exhalations is dried up.
Ill. Anincreafed care in cleaning the ftreets.
IV. An increafe of horticulture, and confequently of vegetable aliments.
V. The inftitution of the difpenfary, which has ex- tended medical aid to many hundreds in a year, who either perifhed for the want of it, or were facrificed by quacks.
VI. The more improved flate of phyfic, whence fe- veral difeafes formerly fatal are in moft initances oet- terunderstood and therefore more generally cared : and,
VII. From a general diffusion of knowledge amiong all. clafes of people, from our libraries, our numerous focieties and daily publications; whence the people at large are better acquainted than formerly with the means of preferving their health.
It is with pleafure we give this information from the beft authority, and it is to be hoped that the fame or other proximate caufes will continue this valuable bleffing-an increase of health to the inhabitants of Philadelphia.
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F
FIRST-DAY, OR SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
T HE 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 Li- berties," was inftituted early in the year 1791. The members then fermed a conftitution for their govern- maent, by which the fociety is to meet every three . months, in every year. The affairs of the inftitution in the recefs of the fociety are conducted by twelve of its members who are called Vifitors, three of whom forin a board to do bufinefs, who meet monthly, have the charge of the fchools and expenditure of mc- ney, &c.
The fociety is formed of all thofe perfons who fub- fcribe the constitution, and pay to the treafurer at the time of fubfcribing and annually afterwards one dollar; but ten dollars in one payment conftitutes a member during life, which fubfcriptions form a fund to defray the expences of the inftitution.
Three fchpols were opened in March 1791, fince which upwards of one thoufand fcholars have been ad- mitted, and have partaken of its advantages ; and there are at this time more than three hundred on the lift of attendance.
One of thefe febools 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 Street. The other under Thad- dœus Brown, in Front near Almond ftreet.
It is a particular rule with the fociety, that the fcholar's come clean to the fchools, and attend the pia- ces of worfhip to which they refpectively 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, ha- bituating themfelves to mifchief, are refcued from vice, and innured to habits of virtue and religion : and it is with great pleafure, that the board of vifitors have obferved that the improvement in reading and writing
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A SHORT ACCOUNT
made by the children of thefe fchools, anfwers their moít fanguine expectations.
OFFICERS of the SOCIETY.
.Bifhop William White, Prefident, 89, Walnut ftrect. Doctor Benjamin Say, Vice-prefident, 64, North Se- cond ftreet.
Charles Marfhall, Treafurer, 56, Chefnut ftre ... George Williams, Secretary.
THE ABOLITION SOCIETY,
INCORPORATED BY CHARTER.
T HE fociety for promoting the abolition of flavery, and the relief of free negroes unlawfully held in bon- dage, was firft inftituted in the year 1774, and after- wards enlarged both in its objects and members on the 23d of April, 1787. The zeal and activity of this fo- ciety have been crowned with uncommon fuccefs, and has given rife to many fimilar focieties in the other fates : and has alfo been inftrumental in fuggefting to the legiflature moft of thofe improvements in the laws which relate to the complete abolition of flavery, which have been enacted lince the memorable law of March Ift, 1780, which firft laid the axe to the root of this a- bominable cvil.
The preamble to this act fets forth, " That whereas " the condition of thefe perfons, who have heretofore "' been denominated negro and mulatto flares, has been " attended with circumstances which not only deprived " them of common bleffings to which they were en- " titled by nature, but has caft them into the deepeft " afflictions by an unnatural feparation and fale of " husband and wife from each other, and from their " children: an injury the greatnefs of which can only
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OF PHILADELPHIA.
t' be conceived by fuppofing that we were in the fame " unhappy cafe." In juftice, therefore, to perfons fo unhappily circumstanced, &c. it is enacted, That all perfons, as well negroes and mulattoes and others who fhall be born within this ftate, from and after the paff- ing of this act, fhall not be confidered as fervants for life, or flaves; and that all fervitude for life, or fla- very of children, in confequence of the flavery of their mothers, in the cafe of all children born within this ftate, from and after the paffing the act aforefaid, fhall be, and hereby is utterly taken away, extinguifhed, and a- bolihed for ever.
And it is farther enacted, That all fuch perfons as before the paffing of the act, would have been flaves for life, fhall only be fubjected to fervitude till they fhall have attained the age of twenty-eight years: in the fame manner and conditions, whereon fervants bound by indenture for four years, are or may be re- tained or holden.
This fociety has alfo been the happy means of pro- curing the emancipation of feveral thoufand blacks, who were detained in bondage contrary to the laws of the itate, and have even in many inftances, by legal procefs and otherwife, procured the reftitution of thofe who had been villainoufly kidnapped from feveral parts of the United States, and fent to the Weft Indies.
From a very extenfive and regular correfpondence, kept up between this fociety and thofe founded on fi- milar principles, not only in America, but alfo in Eu- rope, the friends to this oppreffed race of men are daily increafing :- the French convention have declared li- berty to all men without exception. Long debates have taken place on the fubject in the British parlia- ment, and the friends of humanity may exult in the profpect, that the period is not far diftant, when man- kind will wonder that their forefathers fhould ever have tolerated an enormity of fo great a magnitude, as the flavery of their fellow creatures.
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 this city. The bufinefs is conducted with great order and harmony. The great.Dr. Franklin was president of this fociety for feveral years before his death, and took great ples- fure in difcharging all the duties of that Aation. Each
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A SHORTACCOUNT
member pays Ios. a year towards the expences of the fociety. This money is employed chiefly in defraying the coft and other charges which are incurred by the emancipation of negroes unlawfully held in bondage. The fociety confifts of refident and correfponding members.
Prefident .- James Pemberton, 333, Market ftreet. Vice-prefidents .- William Rawle, 260, do. and William Rogers, 40, North Fourth itreet.
Treafurer .- John Evans, 58, North Second ftreet. Secretaries .- James Todd, 26, South Front ftreet, and Walter Franklin, 72, South Second ftreet.
Councellors .- William Rawle, William Lewis, Miers Fither, John D. Coxe, Jofeph Thomas, Samuel Sitgreaves, John Hallowell, Thomas Rofs, Abraham Chapman, George Fifher, Thomas Hartley, and Wil- liam Graham.
The fociety, at the time of its incorporation, viz. ' 8th December, 1789, confifted of 286 members, fince which period 286 members have been elected, and about 260 members refide in the city of Philadelphia and its fuburbs.
HUMANE SOCIETY.
T HIS inftitution took its rife in the year 1785, by the laudable and difinterested exertions of a few citi- zens-The object contemplated was to attempt the re- ftoration of apparent death from drowning .- In the year 1787, the fociery extended its ufefulnefs, by en- larging its objects fo far, as to give directions for pre- venting fudden death from various caufes, and to at- tempt a reftoration after apparent death had taken place, viz : from drinking cold liquids, the fumes of charcoal, damps of wells, &c.
Some inftitutions are calculated to alleviate, other's to prevent the miferies of human life. This Society goes farther, its object is to reftore fach as have appa-
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OF PHILADELPHIA.
rently been deprived of life itfelf, and who without the ufe of means, would forever have been loft to their families and friends. It muft afford exalted fatis- faction to every member thereof; to find that fo many are organized on the fame plan, in Europe, the Eaft and Weft-Indies, under whofe care, many thonfands have already been reftored to the general family of mankind. Every fubfcriber and donor, has in part con- tributed to reanimate fociety with fo many trophies of humanity, in whom life hid in the unknown and unfeen receffes of our nature, fummoned forth with fuch art, hath reaffumed its place, and filled fo many eyes with fight, and tears of joy, fo many hearts with life, and gratitude, to the inventors and contributors. Huf- bands have been reftored to their wives, wives to their hufbands, and parents to protect and provide for their children. The drooping and difconfolate father, or depending and inconfulable mother, in doubt torment- ed, and hopes tranfported, have at laft recognized the wifhed for life of the youth, on whom fupport and every comfort depended.
Twelve managers are annually chofen, who meet monthly, and fuperintend all the affairs of the fociety.
Dr. Benj. Say, Prefident.
Chriftopher Marfhall, jun. Treafurer.
MANAGERS.
Jofeph Crukfhank, 87, Market St. Charles Marthall, 56, Chefnut St. Thomas Greeves, 73, Walnut St. John Dorfey, 22, North Third St. Jacob Shoemaker, 29, No. Water St. Jofeph Lownes, 130, South Front St. Benjamin Say, 64, No. Second St. Cafpar Wiftar, 225, Market St. Robt. Parrifh, bet. 69 & 77, No. Fifth ft.
John S. Hopkins, 86, High St. Sam. Pancoaft, jun. 129, So. Third ft. William Young, 52, So. Second St.
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A SHORT ACCOUNT
INSURANCE COMPANY or NORTH AMERICA.
OFFICE 157, South Front St.
T. HIS refpectable company began bufinefs in De- cember 1792, and was incorporated by an act of the Legiflature, in April 1794. Its capital confifts of fix- ty thoufand fhares, of ten dollars each, amounting to 630,000 dollars, the whole of which, with the amount of premiums, is a fecurity to the perfons infured, in cafe of lofs.
The operations of this company were at firft con- fined to infurance on veffels and cargoes, and any va- Juable property gone or going by land or water; they are however now extended to different objects.
For the management of the company's affairs, the flockholders annually choofe twenty-five directors, who elect a prefident out of their own number, and the remaining twenty-four divide ihemfelves into eight committees, who, with the prefident, fit in week- ly rotation, at their office.
The directors declare dividends of their profits femi- annually.
The following Rules are to be obferved in tranfact- ing bufinei's at the company's office, viz.
I. All orders for infurance muft be given in writing, figned by the applicant : and as minute a defcription of the veffel is expected, as the perfon ordering the in- furance can give, refpecting her age, built, how found and fitted, and whether double or fingle decked.
II. All policies will be ready for delivery in twenty-four hours after the order for infurance is ac- cepted at the office, and the policy muft be taken up in ten days.
III. Notes, with an approved endorfer, forall pre- miums, muft be given in ten days, payable as fol- lows, viz.
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OF PHILADELPHIA.
1
For American and Weft-India rifques, in three. months after the date of the policy.
For European rifques, in fix months.
For China and Eaft-India rifques, in twelve months. For tifques by the year, in eight months.
For rifques for fix months, in four months.
And, for rifques for any leffer time, in three months. IV. Loffes will be paid in thirty days after proof and adjuftment ; but if the note given for the premi- um fhall not have become due within that time, the amount of it fhall neverthelefs be deducted from the lofs to be paid.
The Directors, have likewife iffued the following " Table of Rates of Annual Premiums," to be paid for affurance againft fire. The laying it before our re- ders, we truft will be acceptable.
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No. I. Upon common infurances, or hazards of the firft clafs, within the city of Philadelphia, and the Northern and Southern Liberties.
Brick or Stone houfes, or Stores.
Furniture or Merchandize not hereafter fpecified as extra hazardous, contained in Brick or Stone houfes.
For fums not exceeding 8000 dollars at and after the rate of 30 cents for every hundred dollars.
For fums not exceeding 16500 dollars at and after the rate of 45 cents for every hundred dollars.
For fums not exceeding 25000 dollars at and after the rate of 60 cents for every hundred dollars.
N. B. As the neighbourhood of framed buildings, or other circumftances; may render a rifque ineligible which is within the letter of thefe propofals, the com- pany referve a right to reject fuch an affurance at plea- fure.
No. 1I .- Upon hazards of the fecond clafs.
Houfes or Stores of which the walls are not wholly of brick or fone.
Furniture or merchandize, including extra hazard- nus goods, as Pitch, Tar, Turpentine, Wax, Hemp, . Oil, Tallow, Spirituous Liquors, contained in houfes or stores of which the walls are not wholly Brick or . Stone.
C. 2 ..
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A SHORT ACCOUNT
Thefe laft recited extra hazardous articles in any building whatfoever.
Ships whilft building ; the premifes and property therein contained of Carpenters, Joiners, Coopers, Ta- vernkeepers or Innholders, 'Stable keepers, Bakers, Ship Chandlers and Boat Builders, Malt Driers, Brew- ers, Tallow Chandlers, Sugar Bakers, Apothecaries, Chemifts, Diftillers, Printers, Oil and Colourmen, China. Glafs and Earthen ware Sellers.
Mills and Machinery ; Porcelain, Glafs and Pottery Wares in trade.
For fums not exceeding 8500 dollars, at and after the rate of 75 cents for every hundred dollars.
For fums not exceeding 16000 dollars, at and after the rate of 75 cents for every hundred dollars.
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CONDITIONS.
in. A written application muft be left at the Com-, pany's Office, itating the fum defired to be infured, by whom, and a defcription of the kind of property, whe- ther buildings or goods, what kind of goods, and how much upon each building, or the goods in each, where there are out houfes or ftores. When houfhold goods are intended to be infured, the application should fpe- cify as follows :
Dollars
On houfhold furniture & Linen
On wearing apparel On plate . On china and glafs On printed books On liquors
2. The primium muft be paid when the order is given and accepted, the infurance to commence the inftant it is paid, and to continue in force fo long as the payment fhall be annually made at the Office before 5 o'clock P. M. on the day when each revolution of the term is complete; or if that day fhall happen on a Sunday or 4th July, or any other holliday kept at the Afce, then on the day preceding.
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OF PHILADELPHIA.
3. If any other infurance fhall be exifting on the fame property, notice thereof muft be given with the order, otherwife the policy will be void.
4. Goods held in truft, or on commiffion, muft be declared to be fo held, otherwife the policy will not cover fuch property.
5. This company will not be accountable for any lofs or damage caufed by any foreign invafion, or by any milatary or ufurped force, or by reafon of any ci- vil commotion.
6. Bills of exchange, bonds, fecurities, title deeds, ready money, and bank and promiffory notes, are not included under any infurance. Paintings, medals, jewels, gems, antique curiofities, and mirrors, above iol. each, may be infured by fpecial agreement.
7. No infurance will be made for a lefs time than one year.
8. Perfons choofing to infure for feven years, fhall be allowed one year's premium by way of difcount; alfo one-third of a year's premium upon a triennial in- furance.
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