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John E. Hall, Esq. has published a sketch of the life of Joseph Dennie, from which we learn that he was born in Boston, on the 30th of August, 1768. His father was a respectable merchant of that city. In 1784 our au- thor was placed in a compting-house, which he soon
left, resumed his studies, and finally graduated at Har- vard in 1790., He left the Alma Mater with no very. kindly feelings, & we presume that there was but little congeniality between the austere discipline of a college, and the convivial propensities of Dennie. He commen- ced the study of the law at Charlestown, New Hamp- shire, the same year, and was duly admitted to the bar, but appears to have been disgusted at the outset, by a plain matter of fact judge, who could not discover the object of a speech which the young advocate pronoun- ced before him, so profusely were the flowers of rheto- ric scattered. This discomfiture,-and it is such as is encountered by most beginners, who attempt to soar beyond the regions of common sense-had an evident effect upon the delicate mind of Dennie, and he decla- red that it would be the last time that he would attempt to batter down a stone wall with roses. How long he re- mained at Charlestown is not known. He removed to Walpole, where he opened an office for a short time, and in the Spring of 1795 he went to Boston, and en- deavored to establish a weekly paper, under the title of the Tablet. This paper was first published on the 19th of May, and terminated on the 11th of August. Disap- pointed in this project, he returned to Walpole,& became the editor of the Farmer's Museum, in which he commen- ced his essays, entitled The Lay Preacher. He became dis- satisfied with the conduct of the proprietors of the Muse- um towards him, & in 1799 he removed to Philadelphia, in consequence of being appointed private secretary to Mr. Pickering, then Secretary of State. This station he held until the memorable dispute between the Pres- ident and his secretaries in the following year. His first care was. now to liquidate the debts which he owed, when he left New Hampshire. On the 3d of January, 1801, he issued the first number of the Port Folio, which, under his auspices, tended more to the dissemi- nation of a correct taste in literature, than any periodi- cal published on the continent of America at that peri- od. He died January 7; 1812, and "owed to friendship the last repose of his mortal remains," a striking illus- tration of his own humorous remark ;- "To study with a view of becoming an author by profession in America, is a prospect of no less flattering promise than to publish among the Esquimaux an essay on delicacy of taste, or to found an academy of sciences in Lapland." He was buried in the burial ground of St. Peter's Church in Philadelphia, and. John Quincy Adams wrote the in- scription for the monument over his grave. Few au- thors have been as fortunate in the acquisition of fame as Dennie; for when we examine upon how slight a se- curity it depends, the wonder arises how it was acqui- red. His literary labors may be briefly enumerated .- They consist of the Lay Preacher, about twelve num- bers of a paper,entitled the Farrago, and his editorial par- agraphs in the Port Folio, for he confined himself to paragraphs, and depended, in a great degree, on the contributions of correspondents, and foreign journals, to fill his pages. His reading was various but not pro- found, and, blest with a retentive memory, he did not soon forget what he read. He was a convivialist, possessed of a fine flow of animal spirits, and great col- loquial powers, by which means, all that he knew ap- peared to the best advantage.
Among the contributors to the Port Folio was Alex- ander Graydon, author of a delightful book, entitled "Memoirs of a Life, chiefly passed in Pennsylvania." -- He was an officer for a short time in the revolutionary army, and his book contains many graphic sketches of occurrences of that eventful period. He wrote with much pleasantry, and seldom fails to impress, in vivid colors, his pictures on the imagination of the reader .- Graydon was born on the 10th of April, 1752, in the vil- lage of Bristol. His father, who had been designed for the pulpit, left Ireland in 1730, and on his arrival in. America, directed his attention to mercantile pursuits, and afterwards to the law. In 1761 the subject of our notice lost his father, whose property being inadequate
1829.]
PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
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to the support of his widow, she removed to Philadel- phia, and established a boarding house. Mr. Graydon received the rudiments of the Latin language from Mr. Beveridge, and at the age of sixteen commenced the stu- dy of the law. During this probation he acquired some. knowledge of the French language. In January 1776, he received a captain's commission in the battalion un- der the command of Col. Cadwalader. In the Spring of the same year, his regiment was ordered to New York, and in November surrendered to the British, at Fort Washington.
It was not until the early part of 1778, that he was exchanged, and he did not. afterwards resume his sta- tion in the army. He now married; was admitted to the bar, and in 1785 was appointed prothonotary of the coun- ty of Dauphin, which office he held until the election of Governor M'Kean, when he was removed, on account of his political opinions. He makes use of unbecoming asperity of language, in his commentson certain gentle- men, at that time distinguished in the democratic party. His remarks are otherwise liberal, and indicative of a cultivated mind. His reading must have been exten- sive, and his desire to display it has sometimes the ap- pearance of pedantry. . He wrote political essays in Fen- no's Gazette, in 1797, and at different periods contribu- ted to the Port Folio .. He died in 1818, in Philadelphia, aged about sixty-five. In stature he was, bencath the common size, and in his youth remarkably active; pos- sessing an intelligent countenance, which became ani- mated in conversation. He has been thus described: "He was one of the few survivors of that old school of accomplished gentlemen, which flourished before our revolution; at a period. when the courtesy of society was not disturbed by insubordination in systems, nor vi- olated by laxity in sentiments. In his youth Mr. Gray- don was remarkable for the elegance of his person, and he retained that advantage in an uncommon degree, un- til his latest hour.". He had projected a revised and an enlarged edition of his Memoirs, but died before he had made much progress.
Samuel Ewing was one of the intimates of Dennie .- He was the son of Dr. Ewing; was born in Philadelphia, August 16, 1776, and educated under his father, while provost of the college. He was placed in the compting- house of John Swanwick, already mentioned, and made one voyage as supercargo, but to what port we know not. On his return he abandoned commercial pursuits, studied law with William Lewis, and was called to. the bar in the year 1800. In the early volumes of the Port Folio, he published some poetical pieces, entitled "Re- flections in Solitude," besides other writings, both in prose and verse. In 1809 he commenced the "Select Reviews, and Spirit of the Foreign Magazines," which he continued to edit about three years, when he sold his interest. He now devoted himself exclusively to his profession, and died February 8, 1825. R. P. S.
Phil. Monthly Mag.
REPORT ON WILLS' LEGACY.
Philadelphia, April 16, 1825.
The Subscribers, a Committee appointed by the Town Meeting of citizens of the city and county of Phil- adelphia, on the 31st ult. "to inquire into the state of the fund bequeathed by the late James Wills, to estab- lish an Asylum for the Lame and Blind Poor, and wheth- er any, and if any, what measures are proper to be pur- sued to secure a compliance with the views of the Tes- tator," beg leave to report-That upon application to the Executors of the will, and the counsel employed by the public authorities of the city, they find that the amount of the bequest is about ninety thousand dollars -- That owing to an informality or misnomer in the title of the city, the authorities of which were left, Trustees of the fund, a suit has been commenced by the heirs in the Supreme Court of the state, to determine whether the error vitiates the bequest; that a trial of the merits
of the case may be expected this year in the regular course of business-that the amount of the bequest was in due time invested in productive stocks-that the in- terest thereon, amounting to about a thousand dollars per quarter; is regularly invested in the same way un- der the direction of the Orphan's Court-that the com- mittee can devise no means whereby the appropriation of the money pursuant to the will of the Testator can be acelerated, and therefore, that the decision of the court must be awaited.
Comm'te MATHEW CAREY, J. R. COATES, ISAAC LEA, JOS. G. NANCREDE,
TRIBUTE OF RESPECT.
At a special meeting of the directors of the Athena- um of Philadelphia, the following resolutions were unan- imously adopted :
Athenæum, March 31st, 1829.
The Board having learned the melancholy intelli- gence of the decease of Wm. Lehman, one of its mem- bers, at Harrisburg, on the 29th inst. it was
Resolved, That while we deplore the event of his death as a public loss, we deem it due to his memory, to record our testimony of the high estimation in which we held his character as a member of this Board.
That this board feel deeply impressed with a sense of the great utility of his services to this state, by a steady and untiring perseverance, for a series of years, in de- veloping her resources, and in directing their efficient application to the perfection of a system of internal im- provement, eminently calculated to elevate the charac- ter, and promote the agricultural and manufacturing in- terest of the commonwealth.
At a meeting of the Directors held on the 20th April, the following resolution was adopted.
Whereas, the directors have received information that the sum of ten thousand dollars has been bequeath- ed to the Atheneum by their lamented associate the late William Lehman, Esq .. for the erection of a buil- ding:
Resolved, That the very liberal bequest of Mr. Leh- man to this institution, merits the warmest feelings of gratitude of the Board, and we pledge ourselves that no effort on our part shall be wanting to carry into effect the intention of the donor, at a suitable period, and to demonstrate to the public how highly we appreciate so laudable an example.
Resolved, That the above resolution be published.
WM. M'ILHENNEY, Sec'y.
PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
At the stated meeting held on Monday, the 6th April, various interesting products were brought forward, a- mong which the following deserve particular notice:
Mr, D'Arras exhibited-1. A Mespilus Japonica, with its beautiful yellow plums perfectly ripe. The plant, when in flower, was shown last autumn. 2. A shad- dock grown by himself, 17 inches in circumference.
Mr. M'Arran brought CASSIA SUAVEOLENS, in flower .; This plant is a native of New South Wales, and was in troduced by the late eminent botanist, Fred. Pursh, in the year 1803, and was first cultivated by the late W., Hamilton Esq. at the Woodlands.
Mr. A. Parker exhibited several beautiful daisies in flower.
Messrs. Landreth-1. Several magnificent plants of CAMELLIA JAPONICA, white, rose colored and white and red. 2. Heads of a very large and improved variety of early lettuce, the result of their own experiments and. skill. 3. Two bottles of white currant wine, sent them by John Prince, Esq. Jamaica Plains, near Boston, for the society in order to show that the opinion of the, report of the society's meetings held in November last,
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ANNALS OF PHILADELPHIA.
[APRIL
viz. that currant wine docs not improve by age, is not cor- rect. The impression that this description of wine does not improve beyond the third or fourth year, very gen- erally obtains. Mr. P. cultivates the white currant ex- tensively for wine, and uses no other wine. This spe- cies of currant, as mentioned in a former report, is so far preferable. that it ought to be substituted for the red, which is commonly used for making wine in the United States. The Society are duly sensible of Mr. Prince's attention, but candor requires it to be said, that his wine was thought to be slightly acid, and not equal to some specimens exhibited at the meeting of the society in No- vember last.
The Chairman, Dr. Mease, called the attention of the society to the delicious vegetable Sea-Kale, and urged the cultivation of it to the practical gardeners present. Although a standing dish, in season, at all tables in England, it is not known as an esculent in Pennsylvania. It has, however, been partially cultivated in Massachu- setts and Connecticut, and is highly deserving univer- sal culture. By many, it is preferred to asparagus. -- The late Mr. Curtis, of London, well known as an ex- cellent botanist and gardener, wrote a pamphlet-on the Sea-Kale, which may be had at Mrs. M'Mahon's seed store, South Second street. Directions for its culture are also given in M'Mahon's Gardener, in the Philadel- phia edition of Brewster's Edinburgh Encyclopedia, article Horticulture, and in the 5th volume of Memoirs of the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture. This last paper is by the Rev. Dr. Miller, of Princeton, New Jersey. No more difficulty attends the cultivation of this plant thanof asparagus; and it lasts many more years than this last named plant. Messrs. Landreth and Mrs. M'Mahon cultivate Sea-Kale for the seed.
The following resolution was adopted:
That a premium of ten dollars, or a gold medal of that value, be awarded to the person who shall bring to the Philadelphia Market in the year 1831, the greatest quantity (not less than 12 bunches of one pound each) and best quality of SEA-KALE, properly bleached. The secretary of the Society to be informed when the first parcel is offered for sale. Application for the premium to be made not later than the first Monday in July, 1831.
A committee was appointed to make arrangements for the first exhibition of horticultural products.
GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE ON CANAL BILL. To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Com- monwealth of Pennsylvania.
GENTLEMEN-The bill, entitled an act relative to the Pennsylvania Canal and Rail Road, has, since it was pre. sented to me, engaged my serious attention and deliber- ation. The result is that I feel an imperative obligation upon me to return it with objections to the house of representatives, where it originated.
This commonwealth may be considered as pledged to prosecute with energy the scheme of internal im- provement. She has commenced with a laudable spirit of enterprise, and a wise conception of her policy and interest; but while she is liberal in appropriating to its execution her resources, she looks to us, her servants, for a judicious and economical application of them. - And she is right in thus holding us responsible. Acting upon this recognised right on the one hand, and respon- sibility on the other, should we not, in authorising loans upon her credit, and for her use, have a watchful care, that we do not exceed the amount which, calculating from the largest expenditure of former years, will be amply sufficient to meet the demand of the present, and by that means avoid the payment of unnecessary in- terest upon an unnecessarily large principal. The last season was particularly favourable for constructing pub- lic works, and the sum required did not far exceed two millions, it is therefore not probable, that a sum much exceeding the loan of last year will be necessary the present season, for all the purposes of spirited and vig-
orous operations. If in your wisdom, you should deem it proper, in considering this bill, so to modify it as to make the loan the present year two millions two hundred thousand dollars, it will, be assured gentlemen, afford me great pleasure to unite and co-operate with you.
J. ANDREW SHULZE. Harrisburg, April 20th 1829.
ANNALS OF PHILADELPHIA. FROM THE RECOVERED MINUTES.
1770 The Water street draw-bridge fell in-the April 27. foundation giving way to the great danger and inconvenience of the inhabitants-who .. presented a petition praying relief. Agreed that the Mayor call a meeting of the magistrates and assessors of the city, to propose laying a tax for erecting a substantial stone bridge across the Dock in Water street.
May 28. Recorder reported to the Board that the ma- gistrates and assessors had a conference, and the latter refused to lay a tax, unless from an inspection into the state of the funds it should appear they were not sufficient to defray the expense of the bridge. The board " were clearly of opinion, that they were under no ob- . ligations to apply the funds of the Corporation to erecting the said bridge. The act of As- sembly expressly directing that the Magis- trates of the City, should, in conjunction with the Assessors, from time to time lay a tax on the inhabitants for such like public purposes .- That therefore the claim of the said Assessors to inspect the state of our funds was new and without any foundation in right." - Agreed to résume the consideration of the subject at a future time;and a committee appointed to have a fence put up to prevent personal danger.
July 31. The above subject resumed. Agreed to re- pair, build up, and put in good order the stone walls at the place where the wooden bridge stood. But on taking the question whether a bridge should also be built at the expense of the board, it was decided in the negative. A committee appointed to have the walls erect- ed, and draw on Treasurer for expense of it.
Oct. 2. Samuel Shoemaker elected Mayor, & James Allen, Joshua Howell, and - Fisher, Al- dermen.
The following Rents were paid for last year: Middle ferry on Schuylkill, £200; old ferry on Delaware at £30; a stand under the Court- house, £25; blue anchor landing, £30; new ferry, £30; Potter's field, £10; 26 stalls in Jer- sey Market at 80s .; 20 at 60s .; 66 at west end of Court-house, 60s.
1771 An address voted to Gov. Penn, on occasion April 27. of his going to England, in consequence of the death of his father, Richard Penn, in which they assure his honor that "they consider it not the least unfortunate circumstance atten- ding that event, that it will deprive us of a Governor, whose strict probity, mild administra- tion, and love of justice, have given him the universal esteem of the people over whom he has presided, and healed those unhappy di- visions which have too often disturbed our - public councils."
Sundry fines collected from persons in- dicted andconvicted of a riot and breaking di- vers public lamps, amounting to £105-agreed to "be generously given to the wardens, to be laid out for the use of the said city in lighting the public lamps, and supporting the nightly watch."
Oct. 1. John Gibson, elected Mayor.
Oct. 28. Address and entertainment voted to the new Governor, Richard Penn.
1829.]
ANNALS OF PHILADELPHIA.
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1772 "The Commissioners for clearing the river April 3. Delaware and removing obstructions to its nav- igation," apply for a sum of money to assist in carrying it on -- £300 voted for the purpose.
£500 voted towards opening, clearing; and making "the new Road lately laid out and or- dered to be opened by the Governor and Council, leading from the middle ferry on Schuylkill to the town of Strasburg, in Lan- caster county, provided £1000 be voted by the Assembly.
The Recorder and other gentlemen of the Law, (members of the board, ) desired to con- sider the propriety of making some ordinance to prevent the practice of buying and selling provisions, coming to the market, before the times of holding the said markets, whereby the price of provisions brought to market have been much increased.
Oct. 6.
"The new market at the south end of the city having not been regularly under the care of the Clerk of the market-it is now ordered, that for the future, the said Clerk take the proper care of that market, and receive the rents of the stalls.
J. Gibson, re-elected Mayor.
1773 Jan'y 26. A Committee of Assembly confer with the Board, stating the necessity of another Market- house. The Board agree to erect one at their own expense. The place to be hereafter de- cided.
Jan'y 29. The new Market agreed to be built in Market street, between 3d and 4th streets- Joseph Wood, Joseph Shippen, jr. and Ste- phen Carmick appointed a Committee to agree with workmen and superintend it.
A number of stalls to be also added to the Market in 2d near South.
May 1.
- A remonstrance presented by some of the in- habitants in the neighborhood, complaining that a Market in that place, (between 3d and 4th, ) would be an additional incumbrance to the street, and would greatly incommode them. A counter memorial was also present- ed, from inhabitants chiefly residing in the up- per end of Market street, urging the Board to proceed.' "The whole matter being taken in- to serious consideration, and the Board, altho' very averse to do any act which may incom- mode any number of the respectable inhabi- tants of the city, yet having pledged their faith to the Assembly of the Province, that the market should be built, and being themselves convinced of the necessity thereof, for the ac- commodation of the inhabitants, both of the country and city, and not being able to discov- er any other place so convenient for this pur- pose, came to the following Resolutions:
On the 1st question, Whether this Board is satisfied of their right to build the said Market in the middle of the street called High street, leaving a proper space on each side for the passage of carriages? carried in the affirma- tive.
On the 2d question whether the building the additional market resolved on at last meeting be immediately carried into execution-decid- ed in affirmative.
June 14.
The Mayor laid before the board an applis- cation in writing from some of the Inhabitants of the city residing or owning houses in Mar- ket street requesting the board would decline the immediate carrying into execution their resolution to erect market stalls in said street between 3d and 4th streets and that they would consent to the entering an amicable suit at law to try the right'of this corporation to erect
those stalls. The Board decided in the nega- tive. .
June 22. It being represented that the stones and lime prepared for building the addition to the market in High street have been violently taken and carried away from the ground where they were deposited and the lime house pull- ed down and destroyed. The Board taking the same into consideration-and the question being put whether this Board shall proceed to bring such actions to recover damages for the injury they have sustained, as the Law mem- bers of this Board shall think necessary and proper. Carried unanimously in the affirma- tive. .
And those Law members to be a committee to draw orders to- defray the expenses of car- rying on the suits.
The Board then took into consideration the propriety of proceeding in the work after the the suits shall be brought-and the question being put whether the committee shall be di- rected to desist for the present from prosecut- ing the work until this Board shall give furth- er directions therein.
Carried by a majority in the affirmative.
June 24. The Board having at their last meeting di- rected the committee for erecting the market to desist from prosecuting the work till they should receive the further directions of the Board: But many of the members having at that time expressed their desire that a meeting of the Corporation might soon be called to de- termine finally concerning that measure. It was therefore now proposed that as the last resolution was only temporary and the work- men were not ordered to be discharged, the Board should now give their final directions there-upon. On resuming the consideration of that matter and the question being put whether the Committee shall be directed to proceed in their work. Carried by a great majority in the affirmative.
It being represented that the Meal Market is become an offensive place, and that it is chiefly made use of by the Hucksters of Meal, and not by the Country people, for whose use, it was originally intended-an alteration was proposed and adopted, viz: to carry up piers in a line with the other piers of the market, to support the roof, and to take down the stand- ing walls so as to control the market and leave more space for the passage of carriages on the north, south, and west -- and that being so les- sened it might still be kept as a meal market for the use of the Country people.
It was proposed that the public scales for weighing of Hay, which the Board formerly re- solved on, be now immediately provided; and a Committee appointed to determine upon the proper plan, and to have one erected at the slip on Vine street, and another at the Blue Anchor.
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