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. XII, Part 6

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1828
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ;
Number of Pages: 438

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. XII > Part 6

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GREAT FLOOD .- About midnight of Thursday last it commenced raining and continued without much inter- mission until about 10 o'clock on Friday morning. Af- ter day- light it appeared to come down in torrents, which caused the streams in this vicinity to swell to an unprecedented height. About 12 o'clock the Nesha- mony, where the Philadelphia Road crosses it, 2 miles below Doylestown, was higher than at any former period within the recollection of the oldest inhabitants. The arches of the large stone bridge were filled within a few inches of the top and the flood swept with great fury around the Eastern abutment, filling the first floor of the mill, and completely inundating the shops which stand between the road and the stream. Rails, logs,

Hay, &c. floated down in vast quantities, and the torrent of water seemed to take every thing in its course. The amount of damage to meadows, mills, milldams, fences and fields in flat places is immense and scarcely a bridge has escaped without more or less injury. Among the most extensive losses that we have heard of, are-the Mill of Mr. Parry at New Hope, part of which is carried away, and about 2,000 Bushels of wheat belonging to Mr. Thomas the miller.

Mr. Carver's Mill in Buckingham near Pineville is much damaged. Part of the wood work of the bridge across Neshamony on the road to Norristown, a small bridge on the Philadelphia road at Bridgepoint, the stone bridge across little Neshamony on the Philadelphia road 6 miles below Doylestown, are considerably injur- ed.

The Stage came from Easton to this place without much interruption; but was unable to cross Neshamony on the Easton Road. It succeeded in getting across at the Bridge on the York Road. 'The stage from Philadel- phia was stopped at the same place and remained with the passengers and mail at Fretz Valley, until the wa- ters subsided. It succeeded in getting to Doylestown about 5 o'clock in the afternoon; but the driver of the team which goes on from this place had started about two hours before. The mail was forwarded express by Mr. Snyder the Post Master, the passengers being oblig- ed to remain .- Doylestown Intel. June 24.

DOYLESTOWN, June 11, 1833.

DESTRUCTIVE STORM .- One of the most destructive storms, which has ever visited our county, occurred on Sunday afternoon the 2d inst. passing through several of the lower townships in this county, and laying waste ever thing over which it passed. We have not learned the extent of it, nor the injury done, but it must be great: The grain fields over which it passed have been destroyed, and in many places, whole orchards of fruit trees are destroyed, in some of which not one was left standing, and near Attleborough, we are told it took off and destroyed a large body of timber, twisting off huge oaks, and carrying the tops the distance of five hun- dred yards. One individual, whose name we have for- gotten, had his buildings nearly all destroyed-his loss is said to be about $500, and a number had their barns blown down or unrooted, and their fences carried off. The extent of the whirlwind was several miles in length and about three hundred yards wide. We cannot give any estimate of the damage done, but it must be very great. No lives were lost, although several persons narrowly escaped destruction.

Schuylkill County Poor House, May 24th, 1833.

The following number of persons were admitted, since April 15, 1833, to this day, from each borough and township, to wit.

Persons. Males. Females.

Orwigsburg, none.

Pottsville,

Brunswig township,

Lower Mahantango, do.

Manheim,

Norwegian,

Wayne,

Upper Mahantango,

Pinegrove,

Schuylkill, none.

Rush, none.

West Penn, none.

Barry, none.

Union, none.

Total,

Seven are out-door paupers-22 are natives, or Am- erican-23 foreigners-12 Irish, 3 English, 1 Welsh, 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

[JULY

Germans-2 persons of color, of whom 1 died. Dis- charged, 10. BENJ. BECKER, Steward.

Aurora Borealis .- We mentioned on Saturday morn- ing, the appearance of an Aurora Borealis, on the pre- ceding evening. After that paragraph was written, the phenomenon assumed a new shape, and drew into the streets many thousand people with upturned visages. The broad blaze of the Aurora having the usual resem- blance of a fine summer morning a few minutes before sunrise, extending from east to west, its greatest lati- tude in the north about 25 degrees ; it was considerably mottled by broken clouds that rested on that side of the horizon, but still its light was strong and beautiful. About ten o'clock a white flimsy ribbon shaped band shot up from the south east, and extended in a semicir- cular shape, quite across the horizon, reaching the Au- rora Borealis at the north-western edge. The band was about three degrees wide and transparent, and be- fore it was covered by a cloud, its centre rested some 4 or 5 degrees south of our zenith .- Philad'a. U. S. Gaz.

RATTLESNAKES .- Tworattlesnakes have recently been killed in Robinson township, Berks county, having each 23 rattles.

THE CANAL .- We learn that a large breach was made in the canal at New Hope, by the late flood, and that, in some other places, large quantities of dirt has been washed into it. - Doylestown Democrat.

STEAM ENGINE .- The North American Company, we understand, have received a steam engine which is to be employed in their mining operations, being the second introduced for this purpose into the coal region of this neighborhood. The result of the experiment will be interesting to all, and we trust, advantageous to the Company .-- Pottsville.

The Crawford Messenger says: "The fish in Conneant Lake are said to be dying in great numbers-the shores of the Lake are represented as being "white with them."

COAL MINE ON FIRE .- The singular spectacle of a coal vein on fire, is to be seen in the neighborhood of Port Carbon, at no great distance from the Schuylkill Valley Rail-road. It is supposed that fire was commu- nicated to the coal vein some years ago, since which it has been in a state of ignition, smoke having been seen at different periods issuing from the ground in various places. The fire is distinctly visible from the surface of the ground by means of a shaft .- Miners Journal.

THE REGISTER.

PHILADELPHIA, JULY 6, 1833.

The fourth instant was celebrated in this city, with less military parade than usual, but tbe observance of the day was not however neglected. " The Philadel- phia Association for Celebrating the Fourth of July, without distinction of party, formed a procession at the Adelphi, and passed up Fifth to Chesnut, up Chesnut to Seventh, up Seventh to Arch, and down Arch to the Se- cond Presbyterian church, corner of Third street, where after prayer by the Rev. Mr. Breckenbridge, an oration was delivered by J.M.Scott, Esq. Several pieces of music were also performed. From the church, the Association returned by a different route to the Adelphi to dine.

The friends of the American System and of the city

administration, partook of a dinner at Harding's, at which in the absence of the Hon. John Sergeant, Ma- thew Carey, Esq. presided.

The Independent Democratic Citizens of the county, dined at Kockersperger's Hotel, near Bush hill, where Bela Badger, Esq. presided. The Declaration of Inde- pendence was read by C. J. Wolbert, Esq.

The Society of Cincinnati, as usual, met and dined together.

There were numerous other assemblages for the purpose of celebrating the day, of which we have not the particulars. We understand orations were deliver- edby G. M. Dallas, Antony Laussat, Geo. L. Ashmead and Robert F. Conrad, Esqs.

But the most interesting and important event, in its consequences, was the celebration of laying the corner stone of the Girard College, at Peel Hall. On the 3nd of June, ground was broken; and the excavation for the foundation having been completed, the Mayor, Al- dermen, Members of Councils, and the different Com- mittees, &c. connected with the Girard Trust, together with a large collection of citizens, attended at an early hour, on the fourth instant. Precisely at meridian the ceremony commenced, and after depositing the corner stone, which was a large block of hewn marble, in its place at the north east corner of the proposed building, a very chaste and appropriate address was delivered by Nicholas Biddle, Esq. President of the Trustees, which we hope hereafter to be enabled to present to our rea- ders, together with some further details of the day. Af- ter partaking of a cold collation prepared for the occa- sion, the company dispersed. Among the articles de- posited in the corner stone, was a remarkably good like- ness of Mr Girard, cut upon a piece of very white mar- ble, by a lad apparently about fifteen years of age; his name is D. G. Wilson. The extraordinary talent in this way, thus manifested, excited the attention of the company, and a general opinion seemed to pre- vail that it ought to be developed more fully by suitable encouragement and opportunities.

The city was unusually quiet all day, and we have heard of no unpleasant occurrences.

The following is the section of the act passed April 9th, "to abolish imprisonment for debt," which went into operation on the fourth instant.

Section 4th. "And be it enacted, &c. That from and after the passage of this act, no person shall be impri- soned for any debt or sum of money, due on contract, contracted from and after the fourth of July next, where the debt demanded, or judgment obtained, is less than five dollars and thirty-four cents, exclusive of costs."

Printed every SATURDAY MORNING by WILLIAM F. GED. DES, No. 9 Library Street. Philadelphia; where, and at the PUB- LICATION OFFICE, NO. 17 FRANKLIN PLACE, subscriptions will be thankfully received. Price FIVE DOLLARS per annum, payable annually by subscribers residing in or near the city, or where there is an agent. Other subscribers pay in advance.

HAZARD'S REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE.

EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD.

VOI .. XII .- NO. 2. PHILADELPHIA, JULY 13, 1833. NO. 289.

From the United States Gazette. LAYING THE CORNER STONE OF THE GIRARD COLLEGE FOR ORPHANS.

The Committee of City Councils appointed to super intend the building of the GIRARD COLLEGE FOF OR- PHANS, having completed their preliminary arrange- ments, determined to lay the corner stone of that edi- fice, dedicated to the public good, on the anniversary of the nation's independence. Notices were therefore issued to all the city officers, members of Councils and many other citizens, to join in the interesting ceremo- nies.

On Thursday 1 st, the 4th instant, in compliance with special or general invitations, between 11 o'clock A. M. and noon, a large concourse of citizens assembled at the site of the College, and in due time the committee of arrangements called the people to order, and the work which constituted the attraction of the occasion com- inenced. The immense block of marble called the corner stone, was raised by means of sheers, and lower- ed into its appointed place. The architect, Thomas U. Walters, and the superintendent, Jacob Souders, an- nounced that it was in its proper position. The deposits were then made, and a large slab of marble was placed upon the corner stone, and the two carefully cemented. The architect then announced to the building commit- tee that the corner stone of the College was duly placed.

John Gilder, Esq. chairman of the building committee, announced in an appropriate manner the completion of the work to the city authorities, and to the trustees of the college. Mr. Gilder then made the following all- nunciation to the citizens.

We have deposited in this corner stone a copy of the will of Stephen Girard, the coins of the United States, one 5 and one 10 dollar note of Stephen Girard's Bank, bearing his signature; the newspapers of the day, and a scroll containing the following

INSCRIPTION:

This Corner Stone of the Girard College for Orphans was laid on the 4th day of July, 1833, at meridian, in presence of the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, the Select and Common Councils of the City of Philadelphia, and the 'Trustees of the Girard College for Orphans, by the Building Committee, consisting of

John Gilder, Chairman,

Joshua Lippincott,

John R. Neff, Dennis McCredy, Joseph Worrell,

John Byerly, Ephraim Ilaines, and Samuel V. Merrick,

The architect, Thomas U. Walters, and the general superintendent, Jacob Souder; Findley Highlands being superintendent of the marble work, and John P. Binns, clerk of the works.

Corporation of the city of Philadelphia.

Mayor,

Recorder, Joseph M'Ilvaine.

Aldermen.

John Binns, William Milnor, Thomas MeKean, Andrew Geyer, 3

Samuel Badger, Peter Christian, William Duane, Joseph Watson,

Joseph Burden, Jonathan K. Hassinger, and Michael W. Aslı.

Select Council.

Joseph R. Ingersoll, President.

Daniel Groves,

Henry Toland,

Joshua Lippincott,

John P. Wetherill,

Manuel Eyre,

John R. Neff,

Charles Massey, Jr.

Lawrence Lewis, and

Joseph Worrell,

Dennis M'Credy.

Common Council.

Henry Troth, President.

Jolın Gilder, Robert M'Mullin,

Samuel V. Merrick,

Jolın J. Borie,

Ephraim Haines,

John Maitland,

Henry Sailor, Samuel P. Wetherill, Isaac Elliott,

Joseph R. Chandler,

James Gowen, Thomas W. Morris,

Robert M. Houston,

John Byerly,

Joseph Aken,

Joseph B. Smith,

David Lapsley, Jr. and

Benjamin H. Yarnall,

Robert Toland,

Trustees of the College. Nicholas Biddle, President.

John Swift,

Charles Bird,

Joseph R. Ingersoll,

Joseph M'Ilvaine,

Henry Troth,

George W. Toland,

George B. Wood,

John M. Keagy,

Thomas M'Euen,

William M. Meredith,

William H. Keating,

Algernon S. Roberts,

Richard Price,

Benjamin W. Richards,

Thomas Dunlap,

John C. Stocker.

George Wolf, Governor of the state of Pennsylva- nia.

Andrew Jackson, President of the United States.

Stephen Girard was born at Bordeaux, in France, on the 24th day of May, 1750; his 'first landing in the United States was at the port of New York; the seat of his residence and successful enterprizes was the city of Philadelphia, where he died on the 26th day of Decem- ber, 1831, devising, for the benefit of society, the most splendid donation that philanthropy had ever devoted.

This College, a portion of the beneficence of Stephen Girard, for the education of poor male orphans, was en- dowed by him with two millions of dollars.

When the work was completed, and the completion formally announced, the company listened with admira- tion to the following

ADDRESS, BY NICHOLAS BIDDLE, EsQ.

Chairman of the Trustees of the Girard College for Or- phans, pronounced by request of the Building Com- mittee, on the occasion of laying the corner stone of the edifice, July 4th, 1833.

FELLOW CITIZENS :- We have now witnessed the laying of the corner stone of the Girard College for Or- ) phans. That stone, simple, massive and enduring, fit

John Steele, and

John Swift,

Robert Wharton, John Inskeep, Andrew Pettit, George Bartram, VOL. XII.

ADDRESS OF NICHOLAS BIDDLE, ESQ.

[JULY

emblem of the structure to be reared from it, and of the man whose name it bears, has been deposited in its final resting place. The earth received it. To-morrow the earth will cover it. Ours are the last eyes which shall look upon it, and hereafter it will lie in its silent repose, unmoved by all the revolutions of the changing world above it.

And yet from out that depth is to rise the spirit which may more influence the destiny of ourselves and our children, than all else the world now contains. The seed that has been planted is of the tree of knowledge -that growth which gives to existence all that renders it attractive-flowers for our early youth-fruits in ma- turer life, and shelter for declining years. It is that knowledge, which trampling down in its progress the dominion of brutal force, and giving to intellect its just ascendency, has at length become the master power of the world. No people can now be distinguished or prosperous, or truly great, but by the diffusion of know- ledge-and in the stirring competition of the roused spirits of our time, the first glory and the highest suc cess must be assigned to the best educated nation. If this be true in our relations abroad, it is far more true at home. Our institutions have boldly ventured to place the whole power of our country in the hands of the people at large, freed from all the great restraints which in other countries were deemed necessary. In doing this, their reliance is entirely on the general intelligence and education of the community, without which, such institutions can have neither permanence nor value. Their brilliant success has hitherto justified that confi- dence, but as our population becomes concentrated into denser masses, with more excited passions and keener wants, the corrective influence of instruction becomes daily more essential. The education then of the people, which elsewhere is desirable or useful, becomes with us essential to the enjoyment, as well as to the safety of our institutions. Our general equality of rights would be unavailing without the intelligence to understand and to defend them-our general equality of power would be dangerous, if it enabled an ignorant mass to triumph by numerical force over the superior intelli- gence which it envied-our universal right to political distinction, unless the people are qualified for it by ed- ucation, becomes a mere abstraction, exciting only an abortive ambition. While therefore, to be uneducated and ignorant, is in other countries a private misfortune, in ours it is a public wrong; and the great object to which statesmen should direct their efforts is to ele- vate the standard of public instruction to the level, --- the high table land-of our institutions. It is thus that this day has been appropriately chosen for the present solemnity.

It is fit that the anniversary of that day when our an- cestors laid the broad foundation of our public liberties -on that day when our countrymen, throughout this prosperous empire, are enjoying the blessings which these institutions confer, -we, in our sphere of duty, should commence this great work, so eminently adapt- ed to secure and perpetuate them.

This truth no man felt with a deeper conviction than our distinguished fellow citizen, whose history, and whose design in founding this institution, may aptly oc- cupy, for a few moments, our attention.

Of these, now that the tomb has dissipated all the il - lusion which once surrounded them, we can speak with the impartiality of history; and here, on this chosen spot, the scene of his future fame, we may freely bestow on his memory the homage which his unassuming nature would have shunned while living.

in impelling and regulating the multiplied occupations of which he was the centre, -- whose very relaxation was only variety of labor, he passed from youth to manhood and finally to extreme old age, the same unchanged, un- varying model of judicious and successful enterprize. At length, men began to gaze with wonder on this mys- terious being, who, without any of the ordinary stimu- lants to exertion, urged by neither his own wants, nor the wants of others, with riches already beyond the hopes of avarice, yet persevered in this unceasing scheme of accumulation; and possessing so much, strove to possess more as anxiously as if he possessed nothing. They did not know that under this cold exterior, and aloof in that stern solitude of his mind, with all that seeming indifference to the world and the world's opin- ions, he still felt the deepest sympathy for human afflic- tion, and nursed a stronger, yet a far nobler and wiser ambition to benefit mankind, than ever animated the most devoted follower of that world's applause. His death first revealed, that all this accumulation of his la- borious and prolonged existence, was to be the inheri- tance of us and of our children,-that for our and their comfort, the city of his adoption was to be improved and embellished, and above all, that for their advance- ment in science, and in morals, were to be dedicated the fruits of his long years of toil.

It required the self-denial of no common mind, to re- sist the temptation of being himself the witness and the administrator of this bounty, and to have abstained from enjoying the applause of his grateful countrymen, who would have acknowledged with affectionate respect, the benefits which they derived from him. Yet even this secret and prospective munificence must have had its charm for a mind like his; and we may well imagine that the deep and retired stillness of his spirit was often soothed with the visions of the lasting good, and per- haps, too, of the posthumous glory, which he was pre- paring. Such contemplations he might well indulge, for to few have they been so fully realized. From the moment that foundation stone touched the earth, the name of Girard was beyond the reach of oblivion. From this hour, that name is destined to survive to the latest posterity, and while letters and the arts exist, be will be cited as the man who, with a generous spirit and a sagacious foresight, bequeathed, for the improve- ment of his fellow men, the accumulated earnings of his life. He will be remembered in all future times by the emphatic title with which he chose to be designated and with which he commences his will -- a title by which we ourselves may proudly recognize him as "Stephen Girard of the city of Philadelphia, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Merchant and Mari- ner" -- the author of a more munificent act of enlight- ened charity than was ever performed by any other human being.

His, will indeed be the most durable basis of all hu- man distinction-a wise benevolence in the cause of letters. The ordinary charity which feeds or clothes the distressed, estimable as it is, relieves only the phy- sical wants of the sufferer. But the enlightened bene. ficence which looks deeper into the wants of our nal- ture-which not merely prolongs existence, but renders that existence a blessing, by pouring into these recesses of sorrow the radiance of moral and intellectual culti- vation-this it is which forms the world's truest bene- factor, and confers the most enduring of all fame. His glory is the more secure, because the very objects of that benevolence are enabled to repay with fame, the kindness which sustains them.

It is not unreasonable to conjecture that in all future times, there will probably be in existence many thou- sand men who will owe to Girard the greatest of all blessings, a virtuous education; men who will have been rescued from want and perhaps from vice, and armed with power to rise to wealth and distinction. Among them will be found some of the best educated

We all remember, and most of us knew him. Plain in appearance, simple in manners, frugal in all his habits, his long life was one unbroken succession of in- tense and untiring industry. Wealthy, yet without in- dulging in the ordinary luxuries which wealth may pro- cure-a stranger to the social circle-indifferent to poli- tical distinction-with no apparent enjoyment except | citizens, accomplished scholars, intelligent mechanics,

ADDRESS OF NICHOLAS BIDDLE, ESQ.

1833.]

distinguished artists, and the most prominent statesmen. In the midst of their prosperity, such men can never forget the source of it, nor will they ever cease to min- gle with their prayers and to commemorate with their labors, the name of their great benefactor. What hu- man being can be insensible to the happiness of having caused such a succession of good through remote ages, or not feel that such applause is more grateful than all the shouts which ever rose from the bloodiest field of battle, and worth all the vulgar fame of a hundred con- quests!

The general design and the resources of the institu- tion are proportioned to its purposes, and characteristic of him who did nothing which he did not do well.

After the building shall have been completed, there will remain the annual income from two millions of dol- lars, now yielding $102,000, and if these funds should be inadequate for all the orphans applying for admission, the income of nearly all the remainder of the estate is to be appropriated to the erection of as many new build- ings as his square in the city would have contained. So that, in general, it may be stated with reasonable confi- dence, that when all the buildings are ready for the re- ception of the pupils, there will be available for the maintenance of the institution, an income of not less than one hundred thousand dollars, which may be in- creased to at least two hundred and twenty thousand dollars.

These ample funds are to be devoted to the mainte- nance and education of "poor male white orphan chil- dren." Of all the classes of human indigence there are none more helpless and none more entitled to our sym- pathies than these children of misfortune. They have lost their natural protectors. The arms which have hitherto embraced and sustained them, have been fold- ed in death. They began life in comfort, perhaps in affluence; but now they stand alone, abandoned and helpless, to struggle against the world's coldness, with precarious means of subsistence, with no means of in- struction, and treading on that narrow and slippery verge which too often separates want from crime. From this friendless condition, they are rescued by the benevo- lence of Girard, who not merely provides the means of subsistence, but redressing the wrongs of fortune, raises them at once in the scale of being, and qualifies them to be useful members of that society which they would otherwise disturb or corrupt.

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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. XII, Part 6

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870 Publication date: 1828 Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ; Number of Pages: 438

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1828
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ;
Number of Pages: 438