Library of Congress America, historical, statistic, and descriptive. By J. S. Buckingham. AMERICA, HISTORICAL, STATISTIC, AND DESCRIPTIVE. BY JAMES SILK. BUCKINGHAM, ESQ. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. II. LC FISHER, SON, & CO. NEWGATE ST. LONDON; RUE ST. HONORÉ, PARIS. E 1841 Copy 2 E165 B92 Copy 2 1296 Exchange Western Ontarion U. 3/11/35 CONTENTS OF VOL. II CHAP. I. Origin of the settlement of Pennsylvania—Parentage and education of William Penn—Origin of the name of Pennsylvania—Arrival of the first emigrants in the Delaware —Publication of Penn's first “frame of government”—Treaty with the Indians for their lands—First design for the city of Philadelphia—Penn's return to England—Affectionate farewell to his settlement—First institution for the education of youth—Penn deprived of his government by royal warrant—Friendship of John Locke and Lord Somers—Restoration of Penn to his proprietary government—Illness and death of Penn—Cessation of the Quaker authority in Pennsylvania—Declaration of American Independence in Philadelphia —Progress of Pennsylvania in wealth and population—Description of the State, in its scenery and resources—Towns, manufactures, and public improvements 1 America, historical, statistic, and descriptive. By J. S. Buckingham. http://www.loc.gov/resource/lhbtn.6750b Library of Congress CHAP. II. Favourable site or position chosen for the city—Original plan of the founder, William Penn—Descriptions of the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers—Arrangement and names of the streets—Style of the private dwellings, exterior and interior—Shops, hotels, and boarding-houses—Public buildings of Philadelphia—Old State House, or Independence Hall—The merchants' exchange and post-office—The banks of Philadelphia as works of art—Bank of the United States, a copy of the Parthenon—Girard bank and Philadelphia bank, Corinthian—Mint of the United States—Ionic temple at Ilissus— University of Philadelphia, origin and progress—Anatomical museum, and philosophical apparatus—Girard College, origin and foundation, description of the building by the architect—The water-works at Fair Mount—Markets of Philadelphia, supplies—The Navy- yard—Line-of-battle ship, Pennsylvania—View of the city on approaching it by the river 25 CHAP. III. Prisons of reformation in Philadelphia—Visit to the prison of Moyamensing —State and condition of this establishment—Statistics of crime and disease—Personal inspection of the convicts at their labour—Effects of solitary confinement without labour —Benefits of solitary confinement with labour—The Eastern penitentiary, or state prison —Statistics of crime and disease there—Proportions of natives and foreigners, and white and coloured races—Churches of Philadelphia, old and new—Religious sects, and their comparative numbers—Establishments for education, public and private—Report on the state of education in Pennsylvania—Philosophical Society, and Athenæum—Historical relics in the Athenæum—Character of its secretary, Mr. John Vaughan—Characteristic letter of Benjamin Franklin—Tomb of Franklin in Philadelphia—Epitaph—Philadelphia library—Franklin institute—Academy of sciences—New museum—Musical-fund hall— Public concerts—Public squares for promenades—Newspapers—Periodicals—Book stores 50 CHAP. IV. Manufactures, trade, and commerce of Philadelphia—Municipal government, mayor, aldermen—Select and common councils—Legislation—Population, gradual increase from 1790—Proportion of white and coloured races—Proportion of males America, historical, statistic, and descriptive. By J. S. Buckingham. http://www.loc.gov/resource/lhbtn.6750b Library of Congress and females in each—Proportion of deaths to the whole numbers—Classes of society, aristocracy of birth and wealth—Middle class of general society—Dinner from the bar to the bench of Pennsylvania—General appearance of the inhabitants—Manners of Philadelphia society—Wretched condition of some labouring classes—Individual cases of extreme distress—Decline in the spirit of benevolence—Attributable to increasing wealth —Suggestion of a self-taxing society—Instances of munificent legacies—Contrast of the living and the dying 76 CHAP. V. Anti-abolition riot at Philadelphia—Opening of Pennsylvania Hall—Attack of the mob on the building—Demolition of the hall by fire—Statements of the public prints— Additional facts from private sources—Continued acts of riot and disorder—Public meeting of the firemen of Philadelphia—Apathy and tardiness of the public authorities—Opinions of the leading journals—Proclamations of the Mayor and Governor—Attempt of the mob on a printing-office—Arrest of one of the rioters of “respectable family”—Letter of David Paul Brown, the barrister—Wholesome “Thoughts upon Recent Events.” 92 CHAP. VI. Benevolent institutions of Philadelphia—School for the instruction of the blind —Munificent bequest of an Englishman—Description of the institution, and pupils— Proficiency in geography and music—Publication of the Blind Students Magazine—Effects' produced by this excellent work—Remarkable improvement of an idiot—Specimens of composition by the blind—Asylum for the deaf and dumb—Curious experiments in animal magnetism—Utility of the discoveries growing out of it—Production of certain dreams by magnetic influence—Dramatic effects on the mind of a dumb boy—Equally remarkable influence on young girls—Entire change of character in the conduct of one—Insensibility to pain during the magnetic sleep—Remarkable instance of nervous insensibility—Surgical operation performed without pain—Application of animal magnetism to surgery—New almshouse of Philadelphia—Beautiful situation of the building—Extent and completeness of the establishment—Statistics of the poor and lunatics—Cost of the institution and annual expense—Marine hospital for seamen—Plan and arrangement of the marine hospital—Seamen of England and America—Injustice done to the former by taxation— America, historical, statistic, and descriptive. By J. S. Buckingham. http://www.loc.gov/resource/lhbtn.6750b Library of Congress Superior benefits enjoyed by the latter—Comparison with Greenwich hospital—Distaste of sailors for inland situations 110 CHAP. VII. History and description of the Pennsylvania Hospital—Statistics of its patients and cures—Financial resources of the establishment—Treatment and condition of the insane 135 CHAP. VIII. The seaman's friend society—The Magdalen society—Contrast of Europe and America—Indigent widow's and single women's society—The Philadelphia orphan society—Hospital for the blind and lame—Union benevolent association—Society for promoting Christianity in China—Proposed new order of Missionaries—Testimony of Ellis's Polynesian researches—Letter of the Missionaries of Sandwich Islands—Labours of Mr. Gutzlaff in China—Reference to my proposed voyage round the globe—Theory of the new order of Missionaries—Healing the sick, and preaching the gospel—Success hitherto attending this union—Foundation of an ophthalmic hospital in China—Testimony of the Chinese who had been cured—Formation of a general dispensary in China—Suggestion of a medical Missionary society—Certain benefits of such an institution 146 CHAP. IX. Visit to the Eastern penitentiary of Philadelphia—Statistics of crime among its inmates—Chief sources of crime, ignorance and intemperance—English origin of the Pennsylvania system—Prisons of Gloucester, Glasgow, and Philadelphia—English, Prussian, Belgian, and French testimony—Report of Mr. Crawford on the penitentiary system—Objections answered by American authorities—Report to the State legislature of Pennsylvania—Corrupt picture of society ten years ago—Contrast of present tranquillity and order—Superior morality of the city of Philadelphia—Public discussion of the subject in Massachusetts—Opinions of the legislature of Ohio—Questions of religious instruction in prisons—Defects of this at Auburn and Sing-Sing—Superiority of this at the Philadelphia prison—Advantages of voluntary over coerced reform—Opinion of Mr. Surgeon, an English writer—Question of comparative expense in the systems—Disadvantages of America, historical, statistic, and descriptive. By J. S. Buckingham. http://www.loc.gov/resource/lhbtn.6750b Library of Congress prisoners' intercourse at Auburn—Advantages of prisoners' seclusion at Philadelphia— Concluding testimonies of De Toqueville and Crawford 167 CHAP. X. Environs of Philadelphia, and excursions—Wilmington, by the river Delaware —History of the state of Delaware—Population—White and coloured races—Agricultural and pastoral wealth—School-fund of the State and schools—Principal towns of the State —Great canal from the Delaware to the Chesapeake—Cemetery at Laurel Hill near Philadelphia—Inclined plane of the Great Western rail-road—Village of Manayunk on the Schuylkill 190 CHAP. XI. Traits of national manners in America—Pugilistic contest in the Congress— Opinions of the press on this affair—Acquittal of the Speaker of Arkansas—Justification of murder—Mockery of the law—Robbers and cut-throats at New Orleans—Horrible act of Lynch law at St. Louis—Outrages attributable to Slavery—Address of Judge Fox to the grand jury—Attempted abolition-riot at Boston—Scandalous scenes at weddings— Quack medicines and necromancy—Indications of mourning in families Tranquillity of the streets of Philadelphia—Musical sounds of the chimney-sweeps—Grand evening party, without wine—Lectures delivered in Philadelphia—Public meetings for benevolent objects —Experiments of Dr. Mitchell on carbonic acid gas—Freezing of mercury—Cold at 102° below zero—Production and properties of carbonic