The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. III, Part 16

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1828
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ;
Number of Pages: 440

USA > Pennsylvania > The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. III > Part 16

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I then thought that this arch was composed of vapour, and that it might have received its light from the arch of the Aurora Borealis, then in the north. Any stream of cloud, mist or vapour, stretching across the sky from horizon to horizon, directly over our heads, must of ne- cessity appear in the form of a great arch. Any stream of cloud, mist or vapour, blown sideways by the winid, from horizon to horizon, from north to south, or from any point of the compass to an opposite point of it, must, as it advances towards us, appear to rise, and to assume more and more the form of an arch, until it be- comes vertical to us or reaches the zenith; and from the time it passes the zenith, it must as it goes from us ap- pear to descend, and gradually to lose more and more the form of an arch until it reaches the opposite horizon. This arch resembled an arch of vapour or cloud illu- mined by the brightest meridian sun, and rendered per- fectly white, and it formed and broke, dissolved and disappeared in the same manner as such arches form and break, and clouds of other forms dissolve and disappear.

In the morning of Wednesday, the twenty-ninth of August, there was a great arch of vapour or cloud, stretching from the south-west to the north east, and

PUBLIC CHARITIES' OF PHILADELPHIA.

1829.]

brightly illumined by the sun, and the clouds and va- pours for several days afterwards, continued to run in streams and stretch across the sky.

I now come to the third and last scene, and which was by far the most grand, and one of the most interest- ing spectacles I ever beheld. I have before described the position, extent, and appearance of the arch of the Aurora. Immediately under this arch, and apparently extending from the horizon to the under part of the arch, there was, as on Monday night, a dark thick cloud. In this arch, and immediately under it on the upper part of the dark cloud, where the arch and cloud seemed to touch each other, were several bright spots, from which a bright light seemed to issue, and to rise occasionally, but not to any great height, nor in any great quantity, until after eleven o'clock. About eleven o'clock, a dark thick cloud from the northwest, passed over or in front of the principal part of the arch, and as it passed along the arch, there appeared to be a considerable agitation in the cloud, or immediately behind the cloud, and about the arch, as if produced by the meeting or collision of different currents of wind. About this time I first perceived some gleaming of light a small distance above the cloud, or the thickest part of it, and a slight quivering motion in several places not far above the cloud, altogether different from any thing I had seen on Monday night.

Shortly after eleven o'clock, there appeared several bright spots near the extremities of the arch on the line where the arch and cloud seemed to touch each other, and one remarkably bright spot near the eastern extre- mity of the arch, and from which a large quantity of bright light of a circular form seemed to issue and to rise to a considerable height above the arch. About half past eleven o'clock a number of other spots of bright light appeared at various distances from one an- other all'along the arch, and from each of them a large quantity of bright light of a circular form seemed to issue and to extend to a considerable height above the arch through layers of dark, clouds of different degrees of density. The height, magnitude, and brightness of these columns, or continued streams of light, varied considerably. Sometimes those in and over the centre of the arch-and at other times, those in . and over the limbs of the arch, appeared to be the highest, largest, and brightest .. About the time when these columns of continued streams of bright light had first risen to a considerable height, strong gleams of light appeared in · the sky above these columns or streams. These gleams of light resembled the gleam produced by throwing suddenly a strong light upon an object capable of re- fleeting it, and instantly withdrawing the light or the source of it. These gleams all appeared to move up- svards, as if the source of them were below, and their motion was extremely rapid. There appeared at the same time to be a rapid quivering motion, produced pos- sibly by the agitation of the clouds or vapour on which the light seemed to strike. This quivering motion and gleaming bore. some resemblance to what is usually called sheet lightning, or the appearance of the flash of lightning in a cloud at a great distance; and it also seemed to me to bear some resemblance to the effect produced by the light of the moon, or of a lamp, or of any luminous body shining from a small ele- -vation obliquely on the water, when slightly agitated; but it did not exactly resemble either of those things.

This gleaming and quivering sometimes commenced over the centre, sometimes over the limbs, and some- times extended beyond the extremities of the arch, and rose almost as high as the North Star. On those occa- sions, the scene became grand beyond description. Near the horizon a bright arch resting on a dark cloud; on this cloud and arch, a colonnade of pillars of bright light, extending the whole length of the arch, and ris- ing perpendicularly through clouds and vapours. far above it. Above the arch and beyond its extremities, bright gleams of light ascending in rapid motion as

high as the North Star, and the whole northern section of the Sky below the Polar Star in a state of bright illu- mination, rapid motion, and extreme agitation.

These displays continued for nearly an hour, and un- til about half past twelve o'clock. There were some slight displays afterwards, but by one o'clock, the gleaming and motion had ceased; the pillars had sub- sided, the brightness of the arch had greatly diminished, and the bright cloud which had been under the arch the whole time, appeared to be rising and moving slow- ly to the eastward. It appeared to me that during the greater part, if not the whole of the time, there had been a considerable quantity of vapour or mist, along the horizon; and for some distance above it in the northern section of the sky, and after the light and movements of the Aurora had apparently ceased, the sky became møre clear, and the stars in that quarter became much brighter.

It has been said that the Aurora was visible in the same place about day light on Wednesday morning. As I supposed it had entirely ceased, and I retired about one o'clock, I saw nothing of it after that time. This Aurora Borealis appears to have been seen as far south and west as Washington and' Pittsburg, and to have been seen all over the northern and castern section of . the United States, where the weather permitted, and it was most probably visible, and might have been seen, all over the northern section of this continent, unless prevented by the state of the weather, It has been stated in some of the papers that a noise was heard by some person in Connecticut, which he ascribed to the Aurora. Captain Parry and Captain Franklin, were specially charged by the British government to investi- gate the cause of the Aurora, and particularly to ascer- tain whether it produced a noisc. Captain Franklin in- formed me the other day, on his passage through New York, that the Aurora had been seen by him and his party about three hundred and forty-eight times, and that they had never heard the slightest noise. Captain Parry, in his Journals, states, that it had been seen by him and his crew a great number of times, probably, at least, as often as seen by Captain Franklin and his party -and that it had never produced the slightest noise on any occasion. If this testimony be not sufficient to af- ford just ground for belief, that it does not produce a noise, it would be difficult to conceive what proof would be sufficient.

The Aurora Borealis has ever been considered a sub- ject of deep interest, and few subjects have given rise to a greater number of unsatisfactory theories. C. B.

PUBLIC CHARITIES.

Extracts from Essays on the Public Charities of Philadel- phia .- Respectfully addressed to the serious considera- tion of the benevolent, who have "hearts to feel and hands to bestow .- Dec. 29, 1828 .- No. 1I.

In order to ascertain with something like precision the correctness of the idea I have long entertained, of the scarcity of female employment, and the deleterious consequences, as to the happiness and morals of society, of the paltry rate of female wages, I addressed the fol- lowing letter to the Secretary of the Female Hospitable Society, who has had the best opportunities of forming correct opinions on the subject. .

Mrs. Margaret Silver,

MADAM,-Does or does not a large portion of the distress among the poor arise from the low rate of female wages?

2. What do you believe the highest wages a seam- stress can earn, who works at home on government work, or for tailors?

3. What is about the average?

4. Is the Female Hospitable Society able to furnish employment to all who require it?

5. If not, what proportion of those who request work, receive it? Yours, very respectfully,

MATHEW CAREY.

Philadelphia, Nov. 7, 1828.

PUBLIC CHARITIES OF PHILADELPHIA.

[JANUARY.

(REPLY.)

Respected Sir,

"In answer to your first question, the Managers of the. Female Hospitable Society state, that, in their opinion, a very large proportion of the distress amongst the indus- trious poor does originate in the low prices of women's wages, and the uncertainty of constant employment.

Second Question. The managers believe and know the most wages that can be earned by the closest appli- cation to work, either from government, societies, or tailors, will not average more than from one dollar to one dollar und a quarter per week.

Third. This Society never has been able to give _ work to one fourth of those who apply, even in the most flourishing state of its funds. Now, not more than one in ten receive any. This Society has 107 subscri- bers, at two dollars per annum, who paid last year .- Some pains have been taken to ascertain that two-thirds of these belong, some to three, some to four, and all to two other charitable institutions. We also had 204 dol- lars from a sermon, bread money, and other donations.

We hope Mr. Carey will not deem it foreign to the subject, to observe further, that the moral poor, either men or women, when out of work, especially if they have families, become cast down, out of heart, and dis- couraged. THEY ARE RELUCTANT TO BE A PUBLIC CHARGE, AND THUS SUFFER THE MOST SEVERE PRIVA- TIONS RATHER THAN DISCLOSE THEIR DISTRESS, OR DO VIOLENCE TO THE BEST FEELINGS OF THEIR NATURE BY OPEN COMPLAINT! To persons of this description, these private charitable societies are a source of support and comfort, and really mediums of moral good.

We most earnestly hope Mr. C. will combat the erro- neous idea which obtains so much at present, that these charities increase pauperism: on the contrary we do as- sure you, Sir, we feel clear in stating, that in the twenty years we have been active in this society, we can prove we have been instrumental by timcly aid, (or, to use their own phrase, 'a little help at a pinch,') in keeping hun- dreds out of the Alms-House,- thereby preserving that principle of honest industry, which is the mutual bond of civil society, and the everlasting barrier between vir- tue and vice.

We remain, Sir, respectfully, MARY A. SNYDER, Governess F. H. Soc. Mr. M. Carey. -M MARGARET SILVER, Secr'y." -

This letter demands the most serious consideration of the public, as it fully establishes the magnitude of the error which prevails with respect to benevolent institu- tions, which error, I repeat, operates most perniciously on the poor -- and I trust it will call forth the effective support of the wealthy and humane for institutions which have so direct an effect to prevent demoralization, and · mitigate human suffering, many of which institutions are in a languishing state for want of that support.

I also wrote to Dr. M. Anderson, who is in extensive practice in Southwark, from whose reply I annex an ex- tract :-

"To your query, 'Does or does not a large portion of the distress of the lower order of the working class arise from the low rate of female wages?' I state that the an- swer from all parts of our city and districts, must be in the affirmative. It is very clear, that when women were paid 25 cents for making a shirt, and so in proportion for every other article of their work, they could pur- chase more and live better than they now can, when, as I am told, they receive only 12} cents for a shirt, and so in proportion for every other article."

It may not be amiss to cast a glance at the mode in which these societies generally start into existence. A few persons of public spirit discover a want of an insti- tution for some particular object-and exert themselves to procure the co-operation of others of similar views. A constitution is formed-efforts are made to procure subscribers -- and as there is generally a considerable de-

gree of zeal in the commencement of all undertaking's, and as there are many persons in the city who never re- fuse their subscription to any benevolent object, 100, 200, or' 300 subscribers are procured, and the society goes into operation. It is uncommon to make efforts af- terwards, when the original zeal abates-and very few subscribers offer voluntarily, unless for objects of para- mount claims. Even if new efforts are made, they are generally attended with little success. Every year, death, removals, or resignations, thin the numbers-and, I feel persuaded, that at the present hour, the number of subscribers to all the charitable institutions in the city is not one-quarter of what it was at their commence- ment.

The Female Hospitable Society consisted originally of 700 subscribers. In 1827, there were only about 107. The Provident Society in 1823, consisted of 1015 sub- scribers. In 1827, there were but about 600 subscrip- tions received, including arrearages. The withdrawals from other Societies are much in the same proportion.

Their chief support arises from stocks purchased by donations and bequests of liberal minded citizens .- Without this resource, the most of them would sink into insignificance. Thus, of 452 dollars, received by the Northern Dispensary last year, $270, or sixty per cent. arose from the bequest of one individual, James Wills.

Institutions for the Promotion of Education.

The Infant School Society of the city of Philadelphia, was established in May 1827. It is under the manage" ment of a board of Ladies, of whom Mrs. Perrit is Pre- sident, and Miss Sparhawk, 'Secretary. The number of subscribers is about 380. The annual subscriptions last year were $720. Life subscriptions 800 dollars. Do- nations 928 dollars. Liberal as these contributions are, they are very inadequate to the support of the number of schools which would be requisite for the purpose of carrying into full operation the -benevolent object in view. Some of the subscribers have already withdrawn from the Society. The life subscriptions are invested as a permanent fund-and without further aid, the So- ciety will have to depend on the annual subscriptions, about 700 dollars; and interest of life subscriptions .- There are now three schools under the care of the So- ciety-one in Thirteenth street; one in College Avenue, .. and one for coloured infants at No. 60 Gaskill street.

Since the above Society was established, two others have been organized, one for the Northern Liberties and Kensington, the other for Southwark. The former lias three schools, and the latter, one. Thus in the. short space of sixteen or eighteen months, there have been established seven of those precious asylums, where- in there are from 7 to 900 children preserved from the turpitude and baseness almost inseparable from prowl- ing the streets, at that period of life when the seeds are sown which continue to germinate through life.

It may be continually asserted that there is no object in the wide range taken by beneficence in this city, in which so much substantial, permanent good can be done to society, in proportion to the expenditure, as by these infant schools. They call loudly for the support of the opulent.

The Society for the free instruction of female chil- dren, instituted in 1796, consists of eighteen ladies, of the Society of Friends, who employ two teachers, for the instruction of about 70 children .~ Their income last year was about 800 dollars.

The Philadelphia Society for the establishment and support of Charity Schools, received last year from 85 subscribers 196 dollars. The total income of the year was 2656 dollars. This institution is in a most flourish- ing condition, and reflects the highest honour on the city of Philadelphia, and on its liberal founders. It holds" in real estate and capital stock 37,110 dollars; 15,415 dollars of the former, and 21,695 dollars of the latter .- There are 450 scholars, male and female, under its care.

PUBLIC CHARITIES OF PHILADELPHIA.

1829.]

The Abolition Society has a fund for the education of coloured people, to which there are 15 subscribers. The annual subscription is five dollars. The receipts of last year were 341 dollars, of which 75 dollars were receiv- ed from subscribers, and the remaining 266 dollars for rent, dividends on stock, interest on bonds, &c. &c.

The Pennsylvania Society for the promotion of Public Schools consists of 93 members. The annual subscrip- tion is two dollars. Its receipts for the last year were 150 dollars. It has no funds.

"The Philadelphia Union Society for the education of poor female children," is incorporated, and has a school for the purpose. As its resources are by no means com- mensurate with its benevolence, it is obliged to limit its attentions to fifty scholars. The subscription is gene- rally one dollar. The annual subscriptions are not suffi- cient to defray more than half the expense. The re- mainder is borne by the interest on some legacies.

The Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb is supported chiefly by the state, which maintains forty- one of its pupils. The whole number there at present is 68, of whom three are supported by the state of New Jersey, two by Maryland, and there are besides 22, of whom 13 are paid for by their friends. The subscrip- tion is two dollars per annum. There are 170 subscri- bers, who paid last year 340 dollars. The receipts of the year, (including legacies to the amount of near five thousand dollars; the contribution of the state; and the payment by the states of New Jersey and Maryland) were 13,208 dollars.

There are 220 subscriber's to the Apprentices' Libra- ry. The subscription is two dollars per annum. The receipts from annual subscribers last year were 344 dol- lars-the total receipt 361 dollars.

Although the Institution for the support of Public Lancasterian Schools does not, strictly speaking, fall within my plan-I think it may not be amiss to devote a few lines to its details. It was organized in 1818 .-- There are at present 17 schools, 8 in the city, and 9 in the adjacent districts. About 30,000 children have been educated in them. The average number, at one time, is about 4000. The cost to the city and county averages about four dollars each per annum. The boys are received between the ages of 6 and 14-the girls between 5 and 13. The institution is governed by di- rectors and controllers chosen annually by the City Councils and the corporate authorities in the districts, who serve without compensation.

Nov. 10, 1828.

HAMILTON.

No. III. Societies for Reformation.

The Society for the support of the House of Refuge consists of 302 annual subscribers. The subscription is two dollars per annum. The receipts for annual sub- scriptions last year were 577 dollars; from life subscri- bers 1150 dollars; from donations 907 dollars. From the state treasury 5000 dollars; and from the county treasury 5000 dollars.

The Magdalen Society appears to have had in 1826 ninety subscribers. The number who paid their sub- scriptions last year was 66, at two dollars, 132 dollars.

The subscription to the Society for discouraging the , use of Ardent Spirits is only one dollar. The number who have paid this year is seventy-four, $74 !!!

Societies for the Relief of Physical Wants.

Among the charities that stand pre-eminent, are the dispensaries for relief of the sick poor. In a wealthy city with a population of probably 130,000 people, em- braeing a large portion of the poorer class of society, it might be reasonably supposed, that there would be at least a thousand annual contributors to these institutions; and that the annual contributions would be 3, 4, or 5000 dollars. Such a calculation, however plausible, is mi-ł which have occasionally partaken of his bounty.

serably falsified by the actual state of things. The whole number of paying subscribers to the three dispen- saries, is only about one hundred and eighty! Were it not for the interest on donations and bequests, their utili- ty would be reduced within very narrow limits, particu- larly that of the northern and southern.

There are 105 annual subscribers to the Philadelphia Dispensary, whose subscriptions last year, at five dollars each, amounted to 525 dollars. The gross receipts were 1817 dollars, of which nearly 1300 dollars were for in- terest, dividends, and house rent. There were 2962 pa- tients under the care of the institution last year, of whom 2756 recovered; 32 were relieved; 68 died; and some were dismissed.

The number of annual subscribers to the Northern Dispensary, as stated in their report, dated Dec. 25, 1827, is 117. But, strange to say, it appears that only about forty-two of them had paid their subscriptions,. three dollars per annum. The total of the receipts was 452 dollars, of which 126 was for annual subscriptions; 270 dollars the income of the legacy of James Wills- and the remainder for interest. It thus appears that this valuable institution, but for the bequest of Wills, quite a recent transaction, would have been obliged to limit its operations to the expenditure of 182 dollars, in one of the richest cities of the Union! The whole number of persons under the care of the institution last year, was 1040; of whom 986 recovered; 16 died; relieved and removed, 19; remaining under care, 19.

But the case of the Southern Dispensary is still more a subject of regret and wonder, as the persons in South- wark in want of the succour conferred by a dispensary, are far more numerous than in the Northern Liberties. It is really painful to cast an eye on the statement. The amount of annual subscriptions received last year was only 107 dollars! James Wills's legacy produced 270 dollars. - There is in the statement an item of accounts 182 dollars. The entire income of a dispensary, loca- ted in a place abounding in persons demanding its as- sistance, was only 559 dollars! The whole number of patients attended by the physicians last year, was 1017. The number this year, from the long continuance of fe- vers and agues, in the western part of the district, must be considerably greater. I have been informed that there were, at one time this fall, great numbers of per- sons lying sick in that part of the district, in some cases whole families, not one of them able to assist another. Whether any corresponding increase has taken place in the funds of the institution, I am unable to say.

The directors of the Northern and Southern Dispen- saries have not been wanting in the performance of the duty they owe those institutions, by repeated strong ap- peals to the beneficence and charity of their fellow citi- zens. They have answered no purpose.

The object of the Dorcas Societies, to furnish clothing to the destitute, is highly laudable. They literally com- ply with the precept "to clothe the naked." The Southern Dorcas Society distributed last year 701 gar- ments, principally to the aged, to the sick, and to chil- dren, in want of covering to shield them from the in- clemency of the weather. This Society, which ought to consist of at least 500 members, has only 60, although the annual contribution is but half a dollar! Their re- ceipts of last year were about 100 dollars !- of which one half was from the benevolent Robert Barclay,* of London, per Mrs. Chew and Dr. Parke! Besides their cash receipts, several charitable ladies and gentlemen furnished them with articles of clothing.

The subscription to the Female Episcopal Society is one dollar per annum-the number of subscribers is 145. The total receipts of last year were 217 dollars.

* This gentleman, a native of Philadelphia, but long settled in England, has contributed one hundred pounds sterling annually, above fifteen years, towards the sup- port of the charitable institutions in this city, most of

CANAL DOCUMENTS.

[JANUARY

"The Female Association of Philadelphia for the re- lief of women and children in reduced circumstances," was organized in 1800; and is incorporated by the state. Its aid is entirely confined to the relief of persons who have seen better days, and are prevented by laudable pride from depending on the pittance afforded by the- overseers of the poor. The Society is eminently bene- ficial to the community, as it preserves numbers fron sinking to that state of wretchedness whereby they be- come common paupers. It has a school, in which twen- ty children are taught.' The subscription is three dol- lars a year. The amount of annual subscription last year was 256 dollars; of course the number of subscri- bers is about 86. The total receipts were 408 dollars.

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The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. III, Part 16

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870 Publication date: 1828 Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ; Number of Pages: 440

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1828
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ;
Number of Pages: 440