Miscellaneous Essays, etc

Front matter

A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE ff ŒW^IKB WHICH PREVAILED IN PHILADELPHIA, IN THE YEAR 1793: WITH A Statement of tne 4)rocrclstu_.s THAT TOOK PLACE ON THE SUBJECT, IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES BY M. CAREY. FIFTH EDITION, IMPROVED. PHILADELPHIA: CLARK & RASER, PRINTERS, 33 CARTER'S ALLEY. 1830. At a meeting ofthe citizens of Philadelphia, the Northern Liberties, and District of Southwark, assembled on Saturday, the 22d day of March, 1794, at the City Hall, for the purpose of taking into consideration the report of their committee, appointed to prepare an instrument expressive of the most cordial, grateful, and fraternal thanks ofthe citizens of Philadelphia, to their Committee of Health, for the important, hazardous, and successful services by them rendered, during the calamity that lately afflicted the cily and liber ties, the following form was unanimously adopted and agreed to: Whereas it hath pleased the supreme Ruler and Governor of the Universe to permit, during tbe months of August, September, and October last, a most dreadful visitation or epidemic malady to afflict the city and liberties of Phi ladelphia, in such manner that it is supposed that not less than five thousand ofthe inhabitants thereof have fallen victims to the same: and whereas the following citizens of Philadelphia, as guardians ofthe poor, to wit, James Wil son, Jacob Jenkins, and William.

Sansom; and the following persons, as a committee of health, to wit, Matt ew Clarkson, Stephen Girard, John Letch worth, John Haworlh, Thomas Savery, Henry Deforest, Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant, Caleb Lowndes, Peter Helm, James Kcrr, James Swaine, Jacob Witman, John Connelly, Daniel Offtey, Thomas Wistar, Israel Israel, James Sharswood, Mathew Carey, Samuel Benge, Andrew Adgale, and Joseph Ins keep; and the following persons, members of the Assistant Committee of Health, in the Northern Liberties and district of Southwark, to wit, William. P. Spragues, William Gregory, John Burns, Jacob Winnemore, and Shubart Armitage ; totally disregarding their own personal preservation, and only in tent on arresting the progress of the malignant disorder, with a magnanimity and patriotism meriting the highest eulogiums, stood forth, and by every ge nerous and endearing exertion, preserved the lives of many of iheir fellow ci tizens from death, by conveying them to a suitable hospital which they had provided at Bushhill for their reception ; where, under the meritorious exer tions and peculiar care of Stephen Girard and Peter Helm, two ofthe citizens above named, every possible comfort was provided for the sick, and decent burial for those whom their efforts could not preserve from the ravages ofthe prevailing distemper.

In order, therefore, to perpetuate the memory of such distinguished usefulness to distant times, and to serve as an example and en couragement to others to emulate the like beneficent virtues, should it ever unfortunately again become necessary to practise them : — the citizens of Philadelphia, the districts of Southwark and Northern Liberties, do, by this instrument, present to the above named William Sansom, as a guardian of the poor; to the above named Matthew Clarkson, Caleb Lowndes, Thomas Wistar, Stephen Girard, Peter Helm, Israel Israel, John Letchworth, James Kerr, James Sharswood, John Haworth, James Swaine, Mathew Carey, Tho mas Savery, Jacob Witman, Samuel Benge, Henry Deforest, and John Con nelly, as a Committee of Health ; and to the above named William P. Spragues, William Gregory, Joseph Burns, Jacob Winnemore, and Shubart Armitage, as members of the Assistant Committee of Health; their most cordial, grateful, and fraternal thanks, for their benevolent and patriotic exer tions in relieving the miseries of suffering humanity on the late occasion.

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. There is, I believe, a great difference between the feelings of a writer, when he first determines on publication, and when his labours are completed, and he is about to submit them to the fiery ordeal of public examination, or perhaps, which is far worse, to public indifference. At the former period, the bright side of the prospect alone occupies his mind. His hopes of success far outweigh his fears of failure. But at the latter, a great reverse takes place. The terrors of rigid critics, many of whom delight in wounding the feelings of the object of their criticism — the efforts of secret enemies — and the con sequent probability of his labours "falling still-born from the press" arise in dread array before his mental vision— give him many an ague fit — and make him repent of his temerity, and wish he had otherwise employed his time.

Whether this be, as I suppose, correct with respect to other writers, it is literally true as regards myself. If I felt a few months since, as I now feel, on the subject, the materials which compose this volume would probably have remained, till my death, where some of them have lain twenty, thirty, forty and even fifty years. But " the Rubicon is passed." It is too late to regret the course pursued — and to whatever reception the volume may receive, I must submit. I make no attempt to deprecate criti cism, or to remove the apathy with which works of this miscellaneous character are generally received. I shall, however, be gratified, if certain portions of it be found to possess suffi cient interest in some degree to bear up and rescue from con demnation, the light and trivial portions. To chronological order attention ought perhaps to have been paid.

I regret that it has been wholly neglected. In consequence, some of the articles written forty, and one fifty years since, which ought to have begun the book, are placed at its very close.

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. The miscellaneous scraps are articles with which I used to relax from the fatigues of business, and which I furnished to the Port Folio, the Emporium, &c. On passing a cursory glance over them at present, I find that some of them are too trite and trifling, and ought not to have found a place in the volume. These I resign to their merited condemnation. Some of the various projects I have formed (I have been a great projector) for the public benefit, are introduced, although they have proved abortions — in the hope that some fortunate person may, perhaps when I am in the grave, attempt them under more favourable auspices. One, on the success of which I counted largely, and which would have been highly beneficial, is the plan for the republication, and distribution gratuitously, of English pamphlets (and of some American ones of too limit ed circulation) calculated to advance the best interests of so ciety, and promote human happiness.

(See page 401.) English pamphlets, whatever may be their merit, are scarcely ever — I might almost say nevei- — republished in this country, because pamphlets rarely defray their expenses. And booksellers are mere traders, who cannot in justice be expected to republish articles by which the chances of loss are as a hundred to one. I flattered myself I could find twenty persons in Boston, New York, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, who would patronize this plan. I was grievously mistaken. 1 found but four! It would excite the most profound astonishment and regret, were I to mention the names of several gentlemen of the first rank in so ciety, in point of wealth, acquired and acquiring — reputation — and influence, to whom the project was submitted, and by whom it was rejected, although the subscription was limited to twenty-five dollars per annum, and obligatory only for one year, if the parties disapproved its execution or results.

Some of the pamphlets contemplated would be infinitely beneficial to the country, and I think I might say worth their weight in gold. Works on religious controversy, politics, and political economy, were to have been entirely excluded. The failure of the plan of the Annals of Benevolence (page

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. V is more extraordinary. Tliis required no money from the parties addressed. They were published gratuitously, so far as they went, wholly at my expense, and would have been so continued, had I been furnished with materials, which I sought in vain from persons who could and ought to have supplied them copiously. And in an age, when— it is unhappily but too true — " the besetting sin" of the times is a thirst for wealth, the dissemination of illustrious instances of charity, generosity, liberality, and magnanimity, (of which, spite of the opposite current, numerous cases occur) could not fail to have a salutary effect by way of example. I have published three series, each of three numbers, in 1823, 1826, and 1829, and for the whole have not received as much matter as would fill three pages — and not a line for the last.

I have had to depend almost altogether on the newspapers, which, although they abound in instances of turpitude and atrocity — murders, rapes, and arsons — collected with industry, at home and abroad, and every where republished, forming a pestilential moral atmosphere — are too barren in cases calculated for the purpose of the Annals of Benevolence. The failure of the plan urged on the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, of republishing old and rare pamphlets and books respecting the antiquities of this country, (see page 246) which could have been accomplished without expense or risque to the Society, is, I think, to be regretted. Those important arti cles are becoming yearly more and more rare, and effectual means ought to be taken, as early as possible, for their preservation. I regret, likewise, the failure of the plan for preventing the spread of fires, (see page 289) which has three as strong re commendations as any plan ever had — it is simple, perfectly practicable, and would be completely effectual.

Philadelphia, November 13, 1830. N. B. Politics and political economy are wholly excluded from this volume, except two or three pages on the latter sub ject. CONTENTS. Page I. History of the Yellow Fever which prevailed in Philadelphia in the year 1793, containing a full account of its rise, progress, and termination ; with various Anecdotes illustrative of the State of Society ...... 9 II. Review of the Evidence of the pretended General Conspiracy of the Roman Catholics of Ireland, to massacre all the Protestants who would not join with them, on the 93d of October, 1641 98 III. Reflections on the subject of Emigration from Europe, with a view to a Settlement in the United States, containing a Brief Sketch of the Moral and Political Character of this Country 119 IV. Review of the Policy of the Founders of the Colonies of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, West Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and Carolina, as regards Liberty of Conscience . 147 V. Remarks on a Passage in Horace ..... 152 VI.

Essays on the Public Charities of Philadelphia, intended to vindicate the Benevolent Societies of this City from the charge of encouraging Idleness ; and to place in strong Relief, before an enlightened Public, the Sufferings and Oppression under which the greater part of the Females labour, who depend on their industry for a support for themselves and Children . . 153 VII. Thoughts on the Case of the Revolutionary Officers . . 204 VIII. Letter to James Barbour, Esq., Secretary of War, on the Subject of the Changes of Location of the Officers of the Army 211 IX. Essays on African Colonization ..... 214 X. Reflections on the Emancipation of the Slaves in the United States 222 XI. Essay on the Employment of Slave Labour in Manufactures . 232 XII. Essay on the Character and Merits of Junius . . . 235 XIII.

Remark on the Orthoepy of Theophrastus . . . 237 XIV. Essay on the Merits of, and Gratitude due to, Robert Fulton 238 XV. Circular to the Members of the American Philosophical Society 241 XVI. Circular to the Members of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania ........ 246 XVII. Circular to the Presidents and Directors of the different Banks of the City of Philadelphia, on the Suspension of Specie Payments ........ 248 XVIII. Preface to the Letters to the Directors of the Bank of Philadelphia, on the pernicious Consequences of the prevailing Sys tern of reducing the Amount of Bills Discounted 249 XIX. Essay on Banking ...... 254 XX. Circular to the Directors of the Bank of the United States, on the Operations of that Institution in the year 1819 . . 262 XXI. Report on Female Wages . ... 266 XXII.

Address to the Liberal and Humane . . . 272 XXIII. Address to the Public . . . 276 XXIV. Address to those Ladies in New York who have undertaken to establish a House of Employment .... 278 XXV. Address submitted for consideration to, and accepted by, the Impartial Humane Society of Baltimore . 282 XXVI. Address on the Condition of the Poor . . . 284 XXVII. On the Extinguishment of Fires . 289 XXVIII. Dedication of the Religious Olive Branch . 291 XXIX. Dedication of tho Vindiciæ Hibernicæ 292 XXX. Dedication of the New Olive Branch . . . 294 XXXI. Dedication of Letters on Religious Persecution 295 XXXII. Address on the Subject of the Groeks 297 XXXIII. Tho Case of the Greeks statod 3qq XXXIV. Final Address of the Greek Committee 306 XXXV. Thought, un Infant Schools 399 XXXVI The Philadelphia Infant Schools.

State of the CONTENTS. VII XXXVII. Reminiscences on the Subject of Intemperance . 317 XXXVIII. Thoughts on Emigration from Ireland, and Immigration into the United States ..... 321 XXXIX. Address on the Formation of a Society for tho Promotion of Internal Improvement ... 325 XL. The Crisis, August 24, 1814 . . .386 XLI. Memorial to Simon Snyder ..... 392 XLII. Some Notices of Kentucky, particularly of Lexington . 393 XLI1I. Circular on the Annals of Benevolence 399 XLIV. Circular addressed to the Printers of Daily Papers in Philadelphia . ...... 405 XLV. Circular on the Formation of a Society for the Republication of Valuable English Pamphlets .... 401 XLVI. Critical Examination of the Tragedy of Hamlet . 408 XLVII. Advice to Husbands and Wives .... 433 XLVIII. Vindication of Sterne against the Charge of Plagiarism 437 XLIX.

Advertisement of a Pamphlet on the Urgent Necessity of an Immediate Repeal of the Whole Penal Code against the Roman Catholics. Dublin, 1779 . .452 L. Essay on the Effects of Prosperity and Adversity . 448 LI. Essay on the Drama, and the Management of'tho Orchestra 403 LII. Extract from the Volunteers' Journal, 1784 . 453 LIII. Report on the Encouragement of Faithful Domestics 455 LIV. Memorial to the Legislature of Pennsylvania on tho Subject of Imprisonment for Debt ...... 457 LV. Extract from an Essay on tho Establishment of a College for English Literature, the Arts, &c. .... 459 LVI. Address to the Congregation of St. Mary's 463 LVII. Memorial to the Board of Controllers on the Support of Infant Schools ..... . 464 LVIII. Memorial to the Legislature of Pennsylvania on the same subject ....... 404 LIGHT READING— MISCELLANEOUS SCRAPS. 1.

On the Absurdity of Baptising Children with Names too Common 329 2. On Titles of Books . .... 331 3. On the Vicar ofWakefield . 331 4. On the Theatre ....... 332 5. Absurd Idea of Voltaire ..... 333 6. Biblical Note . . .334 7. On the Earthquake at Lisbon ..... 334 8. Horrible Refinement in Cruelty ..... 335 9. Rules respecting Unseated Lands .... 335 10. Education Epitomized ... 330 11. A cruel Fair One .... .337 12. A Striking Contrast . . .337 13. Difference between Sense and Understanding . . 338 14. Duelling . ...... 339 15. Tenacity of the Vital Principle . . .339 16. Legal Forms .... 340 17. Pay what thou owest .... 341 18. Conversation — Spirit of Contradiction . . 341 19. On the Revolutionary Merits of Thomas Paine . 344 20. On the Fallacy of History . .346 21. On the Merits of Richard Calef, in the times of the Salem Witchcraft ........ 347 22.

Savage Barbarity ;-...■ .348 23. Refined Amusement ...... 348 24. Free and Easy ....... 349 25. A Free Translation . . . 349 26. Too much and too little Reading ... 349 27. Epigram from the French . CONTENTS. VIII 28. Mineral Waters ... • • 530 29. French Leave ..... • 351 30. Geographical Illustration ...... 352 31. Men more susceptible of Flattery than Women . . . 352 32. Female Labour, April, 1810. 352 33. Hoaxing ....-••• 353 34. American Slaves ....••• 353 35. Twins 353 36. Sound Argument and Exemplary Urbanity . . 354 37. Egyptian Toleration and Kindness to Christians . . . 354 38. Elegant Fashions ...... 354 39. Let both speak at once ...... 354 40. Sound Advice worthy of the most serious attention . . 355 41. Dr. Johnson's Vertu ....-• 355 42. Tripolitan Fashion ...... 355 43. A Man of Taste ....... 355 44.

The Mountain in Labour ...... 356 45. A Neat Bull for a Learned Female .... 356 46. A Wonderful Tree 356 47. Dexterity . . ...... 356 48. A Nautical School 356 49. A Correct Style and Judicious Criticism .... 357 50. Newspaper Scurrility ...... 357 51. A Curious Question ...... 358 52. Idiocy, Extent of, in Barcelona . . • * . 358 53. A Mountain of Salt . . ■ • • .358 54. Leprosy, Extent of, in Spain ..... 358 55. Unparalleled Modesty . . • • • .359 56. Renovation of the Human System .... 359 57. Extraordinary Phenomenon ..... 359 58. Longevity ........ 360 59. Bachelors, Beware ! ...... 360 60. Wonderful Memory 360 61. A New Coat of Mail and Elegant Decorations . . .360 62. Misnomer . . ..... 361 63. Royal Clemency ....... 361 64. An Elegant Translation ... . 361 65. Female Energy ....... 361 66.

A Profile of Ambition ... . . . .304 67. A Sack full of Heads .364 68. A Man of Refinement ...... 364 C9. Religious Liberty ....... 365 70. Scruples of Conscience ...... 366 71. Stupendous Wickedness ...... 366 72. Humanity . . . . . . . . 366 73. Blasphemous Adulation ...... 3C7 74. Vanity and Folly ....... 367 75. A Dreary Wilderness ...... 368 76. " A Sailor's Life's a Life of Wo" . . . .369 77. Cogent and Benevolent Reasons of State .... 369 78. Cumberland's Memoirs ...... 369 79. Duncan M'lntoeh ....... 370 80. The Mohocks ....... 371 81. Jugglers, Extraordinary Feats of . . . . 372 82. Synonymous Words .... . 372 83. Premature Judgment ...... 374 84. Stage and Steamboat Travelling ..... 374 85. A miserable Prejudice — Yankee Tricks . . 376 86. Irish Impudence — a vile Libel . 378 87. Curious Forms of Expression . . 379 &c. &c. &c. SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE MALIGJfAXT FEVER, PREVALENT IN THE YEAR 1793, IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA.

PREFACE.

TO THE FIRST EDITION. i Philadelphia, November 13, 1793. The favourable reception given to the very imperfect account of the fever which I lately published, and the particular desire of some of my friends, have induced me to undertake a more satisfactory history of it, in order to collect together, while facts are recent, as many of the most interesting occurrences of this awful visitation as I could, for the information of the public. I have not attempted any embellishment or ornament of style; but have merely aimed at telling plain facts in plain language. I have taken every precaution to arrive at the truth; and hope the errors in the account will not be found numerous. For the desultory plan of some part of the pamphlet, I have to offer the following apology; many of the circumstances and reflections towards the conclusion, which appertained with more propriety to the beginning, did not occur, until some of the first half sheets were not only written, but printed.

I had no choice, therefore, but either to omit them, or place them somewhat out of order. I preferred the latter. » A large portion of the facts mentioned have fallen under my own observation. Those of a different description, I have been assiduous to collect from every person of credibility, possessed of information. Desirous of having this account correct and complete, I have printed off but a small number of copies of the present edition: and shall esteem myself most particularly obliged to any person who will be so kind to point out errors, to be corrected in, or X

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. suggest facts, to be added to, a new edition, which I propose to put to press very soon, and which will, I hope, be found more ample than the present one.

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TO THE SECOND EDITION.* November 23, 1793. When I published the first edition of this pamphlet, it was my intention to have greatly enlarged it for a second one, and to have new-modelled it, so as to preserve a connexion between its several parts, in which it is extremely deficient. But its speedy sale, and the demand for more copies, render it impossible for me to do more, at present, than make such corrections as the kindness of a few friends has led them to point out. In giving an account of the proceedings that took place on the subject of the disorder, throughout the union, I have sup pressed many a harsh comment, which was forcing itself on me; from the reflection, that in similar circumstances, we might perhaps have been equally severe. And to perpetuate animo sities, is performing a very unfriendly office.

They are easily generated; but their extinction is a work of time and difficulty. Let us, therefore, (especially when we " hold the mirror up to nature" at home,) not only forgive, but even forget, if possible, all the unpleasant treatment our citizens have experienced. I have heard more than one person object to the account of the shocking circumstances that occurred in Philadelphia, as portraying the manners of the people in an unfavourable light. If that be the case, the fault is not mine. I am conscious I have not exaggerated the matter. But I do not conceive it can have that effect; for it would be as unjust as injudicious to draw the character of Philadelphia from the proceedings of a period of horror and affright, when all the " mild charities of social life" were suppressed by regard for self, as to stamp eternal infamy on a nation, for the atrocities perpetrated in times of civil broils, when all the " angry passions" are roused into dreadful and ferocious activity. * A large portion of this edition was sent to Europo, chiefly by merchants and traders, to their correspondents, to justify, by the calamitous state of affairs and the consequent suspension of business, the failure of remittances Besides those sent with such views, numbers were sent to friends abroad for the gratification of their curiosity.

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. XI

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TO THE THIRD EDITION. November 30, 1793. This pamphlet comes before the public a third time, and, in wme measure, in a new form. I have reduced it to as me thodical a state, as in my power, but not as much so as I could wish, nor, I fear, as the reader may expect. To one merit only do I lay claim in the compilation; that is, of having meant well. If, on a fair perusal, the candid allow that claim, I shall be satisfied to have the execution censured with all the seve rity of which criticism is capable. However, I beg leave to inform the reader, that this day ends one month, since the writing of the pamphlet commenced. I know that the short ness of the time employed, is no justification of a bad perform ance ; but it may somewhat extenuate the defects of a mid dling one. I have found several objections made to parts of it.

Most of them I have removed. Some few, resting on the sentiments of individuals, directly contrary to my own judgment, I have passed over. For, until my reason is convinced, I cannot change my opinion for that of any person whatever. To those gentlemen who have been so kind to furnish me with facts to enlarge and improve the work, I profess myself under great obligations. I request them to continue their kindness ; as, if public favour should give this trifle a fourth edition, I shall add all that may be communicated in the in terim; otherwise I shall probably publish separately what may be worthy of the public eye.

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TO THE FOURTH EDITION. Jan. 16, 1794. The uncommon degree of favour which this pamphlet has experienced, has impressed me with lively sentiments of grati tude. As the only proper return in my power, I have, in each successive edition, used every endeavour to improve it. In the number of victims to the late calamity, there were many strangers, — among whom were probably some, by whose

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. death, estates have fallen to heirs at a distance. It being, there fore, of great importance to extend and improve the list of the dead, and to remedy the extreme inaccuracy of the sextons' returns, I employed suitable persons to go through the city and liberties, and make inquiry at every house, without exception, for the names and occupations of the dead. The disobliging temper of some, and the fears of others, that an improper use would be made of the information they could have given, have, in various instances, defeated my purpose. Imperfect, how ever, as the list still remains, I hope it will be found useful in removing anxious doubts, and conveying to persons in different countries, the melancholy information of the decease of rela tives, which, but for such a channel of communication, would, in many cases, be difficult, if not impossible to acquire for years to come.* * The list here referred to, contained nearly 2,500 names, but is omitted in this fifth edition as no longer necessary. March 1, 1830. A SHORT ACCOUNT, &c.

Chapter I

State of Philadelphia previous to the appearance of the Malignant Fever— with a few observations on some of the consequences of that calamity. Before I enter on the consideration of this disorder, it may not be improper to offer a few introductory remarks on the si tuation of Philadelphia previous to its commencement, which will reflect light on some of the circumstances mentioned in the course of the narrative. The manufactures, trade, and commerce of this city, had, for a considerable time, been improving and extending with great rapidity. From the period of the adoption of the federal go vernment, at which time America was at the lowest ebb of distress, her situation had progressively become more and more prosperous. Confidence, formerly banished, was universally restored. Property of every kind rose to, and in many instances beyond, its real value: and a few revolving years exhibited the interesting spectacle of a young country, with a new form of government, emerging from a state which had approached very near to anarchy, and acquiring all the stability and nerve of the best-toned and oldest nations.

In this prosperity, which revived the almost extinguished hopes of four millions of people, Philadelphia participated in an eminent degree. Numbers of new houses, in almost every street, built in a very neat, elegant style, adorned, at the same time that they greatly enlarged, the city. Its population was extending fast. House-rent had risen to an extravagant height; it was in many cases double, and in some treble what it had been a year or two before; and, as is generally the case, when a city is advancing in prosperity, it far exceeded the real in crease of trade. The number of applicants for houses, exceed ing the number of houses to be let, one bid over another; and affairs were in such a situation, that many people, though they 1793. 14 had a tolerable run of business, could hardly do more than clear their rents, and were, literally, toiling for their landlords alone.

Luxury, the usual, and perhaps inevitable concomitant of pros perity, was gaining ground in a manner very alarming to those who considered how far the virtue, the liberty, and the happiness of a nation depend on its temperance and sober manners. Many of our citizens had been, for some time, in the imprudent habit of regulating their expenses by prospects formed in sanguine hours, when every probability was caught at as a certainty, not by their actual profits, or income. The number of coaches, coachees, chairs, ike, lately set up by men in the mid dle rank of life, is hardly credible. Not to enter into a minute detail, let it suffice to remark, that extravagance, in various forms, was gradually eradicating the plain and wholesome ha bits of the city. However, from November, 1792, to the end of last June, the difficulties of Philadelphia were extreme.

The establishment of the Bank of Pennsylvania, in embryo for the most part of that time, had arrested in the two other banks such a quantity of the circulating specie, as embarrassed almost every kind of business ; to this was added the distress arising from the very numerous failures in England, which had extremely harassed several of our capital merchants. During this period, many men experienced as great difficulties as were ever known in this city.* But the commencement, in July, of the operations of the Bank of Pennsylvania, conducted on the most generous and enlarged principles, placed business on its former favoura ble footing. Every man looked forward to the coming autumn as likely to produce a vast extension of trade. But how fleeting are all human views ! how uncertain all plans founded on earthly appearances!

All these flattering prospects vanished " like the baseless fabric of a vision." In July, arrived the unfortunate fugitives from Cape Fran cois. And on this occasion, the liberality of Philadelphia was displayed in a most respectable point of light. Nearly 12,000 dollars were in a few days collected for their relief. Little * It is with great pleasure, I embrace this opportunity of declaring, that the very liberal conduct of the Bank of the United States, at this trying sea son, was the means of saving many a deserving and industrious man from ruin. No similar institution was ever conducted on a more favourable, and at the same time, prudent plan, than this bank adopted at the time here men tioned 1793. 15 alas! did many ofthe contributors, then in easy circumstances, imagine, that a few weeks would leave their wives and children dependent on public charity, as has since unfortunately happened: — an awful instance of the rapid and warning vicissitudes of affairs on this transitory stage.