1832.] been withdrawn. PROCEEDINGS OF COUNCILS. 331 A man they had received, for every day during which it had should itself be trusted with great reserve. conscious himself of integrity of purpose, should not The complicated character of the pecuniary opera-readily admit into his mind the belief that others are tions between the House of Thomas Biddle & Co. as brokers, and the bank, must also be remembered in considering the very large amount of their notes discounted at the bank. They might appear on the books of the bank indebted to it, for the amount of a million, when their real debt might not amount to a thousand dollars-the money for which they appeared indebted being only the sums requisite to pay for the bills purchased for the bank itself. reckless and unprincipled. Above all, does he believe that a man of honest and candid mind, who has been induced by false representations to admit and to countenance imputations upon the honour of another, owes him, when disabused by the evidence of unquestionable testimony, the signal reparation of a candid acknowledgment of error. He never, for a single instant, believed that those dishonourable imputations upon the president of the bank were founded in truth; but when he found them embodied in the positive declarations of a witness upon oath, and fortified by a bold exhibition of a contemporaneous memorandum, and a confident appeal to the books of the bank, he scarcely dared to indulge the expectation that this desperate lunge against a citizen of unsullied honour could have met so immediate and so total a discomfiture. To be Continued. In reviewing the whole investigation by the committee of the transaction between the Bank of the United States and the brokers, there is one consideration which most forcibly struck the mind of the subscriber, and which he thinks pre-eminently worthy of the consideration of Congress, and of the nation. The charge of favoritism to certain brokers, of connivance with them to speculate and prey upon public interest, for purposes of usury and extortion, formed a very prominent item in the original resolutions of the chairman of the committee upon which this investigation was instituted. It was one of those charges which, in its essential nature imported, not simple inadvertance and indiscretion, error of judgment or mismanagement in the president and directors of the bank, but the sordid pecu-petition praying that Locust street from Broad street to lations of a swindler. It was impossible that those charges should be true, if the President of the United States Bank, was a man of common honesty. From the Philadelphia Gazette. PROCEEDINGS OF COUNCILS. Thursday, May 3, 1832. SELECT COUNCIL.-Mr. WORRELL presented a Schuylkill Eighth street be paved, which was referred to the Paving Committee. Mr. PETTIT presented the annexed petition which was referred to the same committee. delphia. The memorial of the subscribers respectfully represents, That the present regulation of the wharves on Schuylkill, is well calculated for landing coal and heavy freight from boats, being a convenient height above high water mark, and whereas the regulation of the public streets below the Permanent Bridge, is considerably above the private wharves, consequently there will be much difficulty in gaining access to the pavement with loaded carts, and should it become necessary to raise the private wharves so as to correspond with Chesnut, Walnut and Locust streets, there will be much inconvenience and great loss sustained in the unloading of boats, and as uniformity in the landings on the Schuylkill would be not only a convenience but add much to the appearance, your memorialists beg the City Coun cils to take the subject into consideration and make such regulations in the streets above mentioned as will reduce them to the level of the private wharves. There was no sparing of commentary upon the scanty coincidence of facts which the proposer of the reso-To the Select and Common Councils of the City of Philalution was willing to consider as giving sufficient colour to the charge to entitle it to the honour of an inquiry. That there had been, and still were, large dealings between the brokers and the bank was sufficiently notorious. That the bank and the brokers had competitors, rivals, and enemies, whose rancor was sharpened by all the stimulants of avarice and ambition, was not less apparent. These passions never fail to have watchful observers in their train. Whispers it now appears, had been in circulation even from the year 1824, ripening for a term of seven years into rumours of combined and concerted frauds, and embezzlement of the funds of the bank to the private purposes of the president of the bank; and the principal brokers of Philadelphia. What was their foundation? Extensive dealings between the bank and the brokers-of course very large discounts to the brokers. Interest to the amount of a few hundred dollars once or twice allowed for the use of money by the bank to the brokers. Cash taken out of the bank by the brokers for a few days, upon deposit of stock left in its place. Enormous loans to the brokers, sometimes even at a rate of interest less than 6 per cent. a year. Superadded to all which the name of the president of the bank was Biddle. The name of the supposed accomplice broker was Biddle, and they were Gentlemen-The township of Moyamensing has made descended from one great grandfather. To the suspi- frequent attempts to obtain from the city of Philadelcions of awakened jealousy here were abundant ele-plaia a removal of the nuisance, that exists on Thirteenth ments for the most nauseous compound of fraud and street. corruption. The following communication from the Commissioners of Moyamensing was received, and was referred to the same committee. To the Select and Common Councils of the City of Philadelphia. The Commissioners of the township have applied to Secret communications are accordingly made to the your honourable bodies on more than one occasion; and proposer of the resolution for inquiry, and with a pre- the inhabitants residing on that street, in the neighbourdisposition of hostility to the bank, a plausible denunci- hood of Cedar street, have represented to you, that it is ation of guilt and dishonour on the part of the president often impassable, that their property is damaged, their of the bank, assumes the formidable aspect of a public cellars filled with water, and that their healths are inaccusation, and invokes the sanction of a legislative in-jured in consequence of the line of Thirteenth street vestigation. Had the reflection once occurred, that to being turned into a drain for the refuse water of the all these great operations, between the brokers and the city. bank, the government itself was a party though unseen, the mystery would have been explained, without needing a resort to the injurious suspicion that a man honored annually by a series of re elections to a station of high trust and confidence, was reducing himself to the level of a common counterfeiter of coins. The subscriber believes that suspicion, though a necessary auxiliary to the faithful discharge of a public trust, The Commissioners of Moyamensing would have applied some remedy for this grievance before this time, had they not been under the conviction that the city ought to provide for the discharge of her own surplus water. They were of opinion that as the city paved her streets, erected houses, and covered her whole plot with improvements, she would find the means of conveying away the water thus drained annexed communication which was referred to the com- into her gutters without incommoding her neighbours. They did not believe that the city would draw from her works erected on the Schuylkill large supplies of water, for furnishing the different manufac turing establishments, and others within her bounds, and after it has been used by them, and has been infused That on the twenty-fifth day of September, Anno The petition of the subscribers, respectfully sheweth, and corrupted with mineral and vegetable poisons, that Domini 1818, they entered into an Indenture of Lease she would throw it upon an adjoining district. But with the City Commissioners in behalf of the Mayor, there was another reason that induced the belief that Aldermen and Citizens of Philadelphia, for the use of the city would take charge of this water, and that was the fact, that the original plans of the heights and levels of Water street in the city of Philadelphia, bounded a certain public lot of ground, situate on the east side of the city have been changed, so that the point of inter-westward by Water street, southward by the Dock comsection of Thirteenth and Cedar streets is lowered by monly called the Horse Dock, and northward by ground the present regulation at least two feet, and thus the now owned by John Kern, containing fifteen feet on Waquantity of water which would naturally be thrown to ter street, and running eastward fifty feet, together with that point is greatly increased. For these reasons, the Commissioners of Moyamen- ed inter alia the following covenants, to wit:-"And it the appurtenances in which said Indenture are containsing have ever thought, and still feel confident, that the is further covenanted and agreed between the said parcity of Philadelphia will do what is just and right. ties, their executors and administrators, that at the exThey have therefore appointed the undersigned a committee to address your honourable bodies, and to re-provements so to be erected on said lot of ground shall piration of the said term of twenty-one years, the imquest you to appoint a committee to meet this commit-be justly and fairly valued, and each party furnished tee, for the purpose of devising some plan for carrying with a copy of such valuation, and the said Mayor, Aloff the water, which is at present the source of so much dermen and Citizens of Philadelphia covenant, promise evil and inconvenience. our-George A. Snyder, their executors, administrators and and agree to, and with the said Gabriel Kern, Jr. and With sentiments of much respect, we subscribe selves your ob't servants, April 26, 1832. JACOB THOMAS, Committee. The resolution attached to the report of the committee on Markets, which was passed by the Common Council at their last meeting, was concurred in by the Select Council. The ordinance which was passed by the Common Council was referred by the Select Council to the committee on the revised ordinances. Mr. JOHNSON offered the annexed resolution which was adopted. Resolved, by the Select and Common Councils, That the Mayor be, and he is hereby authorized to draw his warrant on the City Treasurer for the amount of taxes due on the estate of the late Stephen Girard, and for the amount of such expenses as he may have incurred, in relation to the said estate, and that the same be charg ed to the Girard fund. The Select Council did not concur with the Common Council in the amendment of the resolution attached to the report of the Library Committee, but adhered to it as originally reported, and appointed a committee of conference, and Messrs. Pettit and Massey were appointed the committee on behalf of the Select Council and Messrs Horn and Leiper on the part of the Common Council. The following resolution reported by the Girard committee at a previous meeting was adopted: assigns, that on such valuation and estimate being made and on their receiving a copy of the same, that they will pay or cause to be paid to the said Gabriel Kern, Jr. and George A. Snyder, or to the survivor of them or their executors, administrators or assigns of such survivor, at the end of the said term of twenty-one years, the sum so ascertained to be the value of the said improvements: Provided, that the said Mayor, Aldermen and Citizens of Philadelphia shall not in any event be liable to pay for the said improvements more than the sum of three thousand dollars." "And also that the said Gabriel Kern, Jr. and George A Snyder shall not nor will at any time during the continuance of the said term assign the hereby devised premises to any person or persons whomsoever, without the license and consent of the said Mayor, Aldermen and Citizens of Philadelphia in writing for that purpose first had and obtained." And that your petitioners have improved the said lot of ground agreeably to their contract in the said indenture mentioned, and have performed all other their covenants and agreements in the same mentioned since they have occupied the said lot of ground, and that they are desirous of parting with the residue of the term, in pursuance of which they respectfully beg leave to offer to Councils the said improvements and the residue of said term, upon the principles set forth in said lease, to wit, the appointment of appraisers to ascertain the value of the same. Your petitioners therefore pray Councils to adopt such mesasures as they may deem expedient and necessary, or in the alternative to allow your petitioners to dispose of the same to whomsoever they shall think proper, and your petitioners will ever pray. G. KERN, Jr. The committee on Girard's Legacy respectfully report, Resolved, by the Select and Common Councils of the city of Philadelphia, That the Executors of the late Stephen Girard be, and they are hereby authorized, in their capacity as executors, to cause the square of ground between High and Chesnut, and Eleventh and Twelfth streets, to be built upon and improved agreeably to the plan, contracts and arrangements of the testator; to employ and compensate all suitable agents, to contract for work and materials, and to pay for the same out of funds that may be in their hands as executors; That they have had under consideration the Resoluand that the receipts which they shall obtain, for all tion referred to them by the Common Council, on the payments made by them, in the prosecution of the said fourteenth day of February last, authorising and directimprovements, shall be accepted by "The Mayor, Al-ing the Mayor to have all the Real Estate of the late dermen, and Citizens of Philadelphia," as a part, of the Stephen Girard insured from loss or damage by fire. amount of said receipts, of the residuary estate devised and bequeathed by the said testator, to the said "The Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens of Philadelphia." COMMON COUNCIL.-Mr. SEXTON presented the The committee have ascertained that it was not the practice of the testator to insure any of his property against loss or damage by fire; and they believe that in declining to do so he proceeded upon just calculations 1831.] PROCEEDINGS OF COUNCILS. as to the chances of loss from that cause, compared with the great amount of premium which would be paid if insurance were effected. The committee therefore return the resolution committed to them to the possession of the Council, by which it was so referredtogether with the expression of the opinion of the committee that it would not be expedient to insure. When the resolution reported by the Girard committee, which was passed by the Select Council came up for concurrence, Mr. Baker called for the yeas and nays on the question, and was adopted. Yeas, Fearon, Lehman, Page, Hood, Horn, Mayberry, Moss, Okie, Ryan, Sexton, Sullivan, Wainwright, Wetherill,and Leiper, 14. Nays, Messrs. Baker, Fritz and Oldenburg, 3. SELECT COUNCIL. Thursday, May 10, 1832. Mr. PETTIT as Chairman of the Committee on the revised ordinances, reported the ordinance as passed by the Common Council without amendment, which was passed. Mr. NEFF as Chairman of the Committee to survey Water street, made the annexed report and resolution which were agreed to. 333 building on the west side of Water street, in a straight line to a point in the north line of Mulberry street, 4 feet 4 inches west of the eastern face of a building on the west side of Water street. Thence from a point in the south line of Mulberry street 4 feet 1 inch west of the eastern face of a building on the west side of Water street, in a straight line to a point 7 feet south of the south line of Stephen Girard's store, No. 26 North Water street, and 4 feet west of the eastern face of a building on the west side of Thence in a straight line to a point in Water street. the north line of High street, 4 feet 10 inches west of the eastern face of a building on the west side of Water street. Thence from a point in the south line of High street, 4 feet 6 inches west of the eastern face of a building on the west side of Water street, in a straight line to a point in the north line of Chestnut street, 4 feet 10 inches west of the eastern face of a building on the west side of Water street. Thence from a point in the south line of Chestnut street, 5 feet west of the eastern face of a building on the west side of Water street, in a straight line to a point opposite the middle of Tunn Alley, 5 feet 5 inchThe Committee appointed by the Select and Common es west of the eastern face of a building on the west Councils to cause Water street to be surveyed from side of Water street. Thence in a straight line to a Vine to Cedar street, and to prepare a plan for lay-point 8 feet north of a range with the north line of the ing the same out anew in conformity to the will of Mariners' Church, 4 feet 6 inches west of the eastern Stephen Girard, report: face of a building on the west side of Water street. Thence in a straight line to a point in the north line of Water street, 4 feet 6 inches west of the eastern face of a building on the west side of Water street. That they have attended to the subject in conjunction with the City Surveyor and after mature deliberation have agreed to recommend to Councils the adoption of a plan upon the principle, that the cartway in Water street shall be at least eighteen feet wide between the curb stone on the east and west sides of Water street, that being at present the established width from Vine to Dock street, and that the footways both on the east and west side of Water street shall be hereafter ten feet six inches in width which will make the whole width of Water street, within these limits thirty-nine feet, corresponding with the will of Stephen Girard, and as the same is fixed or nearly so before his late dwelling in North Water street, and his stores on the west side thereof. That part of Water street extending south from Dock street to Pine street is now fiftyfeet in width, and Penn street which is considered a continuation of Water street from Pine to Cedar street is also fifty feet in width, these streets to remain as they now are, except that the footways shall conform to the other footways in Water street, so as to have them an uniform width throughout from Vine to Cedar street of ten feet six inches. The committee submit also a description of Water street from Vine to Cedar street made out by Samuel Haines, City Surveyor, showing distinctly the various distances the buildings should recede from the stones in accordance with the intention of Stephen rard. Thence from a point in the south line of Walnut street, 5 feet 9 inches west of the eastern face of a building on the west side of Water street, in a straight line to a point 328 feet south of Walnut street, and 4 feet 10 inches west of the eastern face of a building on the west side of Water street. Thence in a straight line to a point 100 feet north of Dock street, 4 feet 6 inches west of the eastern face of a building on the west side of Water street-thence in a straight line parallel to Front street to a point in the north line of Dock street. Thence from a point in the north line of Dock street 39 feet east of the point last above mentioned, in a straight line to a point 100 feet north of Dock street, and 4 feet 6 inches east of the western face of a building on the east side of Water street. Thence in a straight line to a point 2 feet 6 inches east of the western face of a building on the east side of Water street. Thence in a straight line to a point in the south line of Walnut street, 10 feet 4 inches east of the western face of a building on the east side of Water street. Thence from a point in the north line of Walnut street 6 feet 4 inches east of the western face of a buildcurbing on the east side of Water street, in a straight line to Gi- a point 47 feet south of Tunn alley, and 3 feet 6 inches east of the western face of a building on the east side of Water street. Thence in a straight line to a point in the middle of Tunn alley, 3 feet 6 inches east of the range of the western face of a building on the south east corner of Water street and Tunn alley. Thence in a straight line to a point on the south line of Chesnut street, 5 feet east of the western face of a building on the east side of Water street. The committee offer the following resolution: Resolved, By the Select and Common Councils, That the committee be and they are hereby authorized to prepare a plan and an ordinance agreeably to the principles laid down in the preceding report and submit the same at the next meeting of Councils for their adop tion. The following is a description of Water street, as surveyed and laid out conformably to the will of the late Stephen Girard, Esq. under the direction of a Committee of Councils appointed for that purpose. Beginning at the south line of Vine street at the eastern face of the building on the west side of the said Water street, thence in a straight line to a point in the north line of Sassafras street 3 feet 10 inches, west of the eastern face of the building on the west side of Wa ter street. Thence from a point in the south line of Sassafras street 4 feet 5 inches, west of the eastern face of a Thence from a point in the north line of Chesnut street 4 feet 10 inches east of the western face of a building on the east side of Water street, in a straight line to a point in the south line of High street, 4 feet 6 inches east of the western face of a building on the cast side of Water street. Thence from a point in the north line of High street, 4 feet 6 inches east of the western face of a building on the east side of Water street, in a straight line to a point 7 feet south of a range with the south line of S. Girard's store, No. 26 north Water street, 8 inches west of the western face of a building on the east side of Water Mr. LIPPINCOTT, as chairman of the committee of Ways and Means, made the annual report, which was ordered to be printed. street. Thence in a straight line to a point in the south and that the plan and report be re-committed to the line of Mulberry street, 2 feet 6 inches east of the west-committee thus enlarged. ern face of a building on the east side of Water street. Thence from a point in the north line of Mulberry street 4 feet 4 inches east of the western face of a building on the east side of Water street, in a straight line to a point in the south line of Sassafras street, 1 foot 9 inches east of the western face of a building on the east side of Water street. Thence from a point in the north line of Sassafras street, 1 foot 10 inches east of the western face of a building on the east side of Water street, in a straight line to a point in the south line of Vine street, 6 inches east of the western face of a building on the east side of Water street. The above described lines are laid out parallel to the cartway in Water street, and at the distance of 10 feet 6 inches therefrom on each side of the street; the cartway is regularly 18 feet in breadth throughout the whole distance from Vine to Dock street. Water street formerly called Plumb street, from Dock to Pine street, is now open and in use, 50 feet wide, having a cartway 30 feet in breadth, and footways 10 feet in breadth, on each side. Penn street from Pine to Cedar street is now open and in use, 50 feet wide, having a cartway 30 feet wide, and footways each 10 feet wide from Pine to Lombard street alley-and a cartway 26th feet wide, and footways each 12 feet wide from Lombard street alley to Cedar street. Little Water street as it is usually called, extends from Lombard street alley to Cedar street, and east of Penn street, it has no communication with Penn or Water street, except along Lombard street alley, and therefore can hardly be considered as a part of Water street, intended to be widened and straightened conformably to the aforesaid will. Mr. PETTIT as chairman of the committee of conference relative to the report of the Library committee, made the following report and resolution, which were adopted. The committee of conference appointed to endeavor to effect a union of sentiment in relation to the resolution attached to the report of the Library committee on the subject of "HAZARD'S REGISTER," respectfully report: That they have carefully attended to the duty assigned to them, and have agreed to recommend the adoption of the following resolution, viz. Resolved, by the Select and Common Councils, that the Clerks of the Councils be instructed to purchase three copies of the volumes already published, of Hazard's Register of Pennsylvania; and that it shall be their duty to procure three copies of the subsequent volumes, as the same shall be respectively completed and published; and that one copy of said work be placed in the Select Council Chamber, one copy in the Common Council Chamber, and one copy in the May or's office. Mr. GROVES moved to take up for consideration, the report of the committee to improve Chesnut street wharf, on Schuylkill, which was agreed to, and he then offered the following resolution which was adopted, and Messrs. Groves, Massey, Sexton and Patterson were appointed the committee. Resolved, that the report of the committee appointed to report a plan for the improvement of the city property on the east side of the river Schuylkill, and south of the permanent bridge, be postponed for the present, and that two members be added to that committee from the Select and two members from the Common Council, Mr. MASSEY offered the annexed resolution, which was adopted, and Messrs. Massey, Neff, Horn and Oldenburg, were appointed that committee. Resolved, by the Select and Common Councils, that a committee of two members of each Council be appointed to cause to be surveyed, and a plan made for laying out a passage or street on the east part of the ci ty of Philadelphia, fronting the river Delaware, not less than twenty-one feet wide, and to be called Delaware Avenue, extending from South or Cedar street to Vine street, all along the east part of Water street squares, and western side of the logs which form the head of the docks or thereabouts, and that they be authorized to call to their aid the City Surveyor, and to employ such other qualified persons as they may judge proper Mr. GROVES offered the annexed resolution which was laid on the table. With the view of carrying into effect that part of the will of Stephen Girard, which makes it the duty of the corporation of the city of Philadelphia, to erect buildings suitable for a College on the place and in the manner described in the said will, therefore Resolved, by the Select and Common Councils, that a joint committee, consisting of members of each Council be appointed for the purpose of advertising for and procuring plans for the said college, and such outbuildings as may be necessary to accommodate 300 students, and that the said committee be authorized to offer a premium of dollars, for the plan which may be approved of, and dollars for the one next in point of merit, and for the third best plan dollars, which plans when received shall be reported to Councils, at a special meeting which shall be called for that purpose, who shall determine the premiums aforesaid. The Select Council adjourned to meet on Tuesday evening next. From the Philadelphia Ariel. A DAY IN CHESTER. We ventured to recommend the village of Chester to our readers, a few weeks ago, since which we have Leaving the city at seven in the morning, you land on again passed a day very pleasantly in the neighborhood. the pier at Chester in less than two hours, after breakfasting on board that floating palace, the William Penn, Besides the charm of cultivated society, to be met with by the historical associations which connect themselves in the village, the ground is rendered doubly interesting with it. At the distance of about a mile above Chester, imme diately on the bank of the creek, are extensive quarries, down the river in boats. Here they are shipped in larger where large quantities of stone are procured and sent vesels, and conveyed principally to the Breakwater, now constructing near the entrance to Delaware Bay. rough granite, consisting of an aggregation of quartz, The stone is obtained in large irregular masses, and is felspar and hornblende, irregularly combined. We observed traversing the quarries, an occasional vein of sulphuret of iron, or pyrites, of a fine gold lustre, but imperfect in its crystalization; and some tolerably good specimens of tourmalin, though the crystals were not large. A fine lamellated felspar, of a pale red color, is abundant, and in some places it is found of s green tinge. At this place we met Mr. W. C. Lytle, the son of the proprietor of the quarries, to whose polite attention we are indebted for much of the satisfac. tion resulting from our excursion. Leaving the quar ries, he conducted us by a wild romantic path, about a half mile farther up the creek, where near an old deserted saw-mill, we found the traces of an ancient mine. Two shafts appear to have been sunk here, which are yet visible, but filled with water, and overgrown by bushes and briers. A considerable quantity of the rubbish drawn from the mine is yet lying about the place, from an examination of which it is apparent that the shafts were sunk chiefly through a clear white quartz, containing veins of copper and molybdæna. 335 post office, 6 watch and silversmith shops, 9 millinery shops, 47 confectionary and huckster-shops, 6 saddler shops, 13 taverns, 2 book stores and 1 bookbinder, 3 tanneries, 3 currier shops, 15 shoe shops and 3 fancy shoe stores, 12 tailor shops, 6 tobacco and segar manufactories, 3 hatter shops, 5 barber shops 8 cooper shops, 2 rope manufactories, 2 candle and soap do., 2 stone cutters, 2 mill stone manufactories, 6 lumber yards, 9 cabinet and chair manufactories, 1 brush do. 5 tin and copThe ore of copper which we observed here in the per smiths, 3 bakeries, 7 butchers, 2 gunsmiths, 2 lock greatest quantity, is the yellow feruginous sulphuret, smiths, 8 blacksmiths, 21 carpenter shops, 5 mill wrights, though the green carbonate and several other varieties 10 coverlet weavers, 5 coach and wagon manufactories, may also be found. The sulphuret of molybdana is 1 pump-maker, 1 gilder, 3 brass and iron foundries, 3 abundant, and so nearly resembles graphite or plumba-livery stables, 8 merchant mills, 4 oil mills, 2 distilleries, go (vulgarly called black lead) as not to be easily dis- 2 breweries, and about 40 Durham boats, among others tinguished from it by mere external characters. The there are many brick and stone masons, plasterers, two minerals are, however, essentially distinct in their painters, boat builders, &c. &c. chemical composition; the plumbago being a carburet of iron, i. e. iron combined with a large proportion of carbon, while the other is the metal called molybdæna, combined with sulphur. It is a rare metal, and we are not aware that it has been applied to any use. Those persons who may desire specimens to add to their cabinet collections of minerals, may obtain them without difficulty at this place. We were informed by Mr. Edward Jackson, an intelligent old gentleman whom we met at the mine, that about thirty years ago, three assays were made of the copper ore obtained here; the average result of which was 53 per cent. of copper, with 48 ounces of silver in every 100 pounds, and as he says, one grain of gold in each ounce of the ore. Before any great depth had been obtained, the progress of the work was suspended, owing to the want of funds, and it has ever since been neglected. But from the awakened attention, manifested at present to the mineral treasures of our country, we venture to predict that the work at this place will be resumed at no very distant day. The strong probability of obtaining large quantities of rich ore by sinking the shaft to a greater depth, may induce some of our enterprising capitalists to make an attempt to render this mine productive. است From the Easton Whig. A SKETCH OF EASTON. Perhaps there are few places that possess more attractions and afford more pleasures than that of old romantic Easton, and I may add, that for few places has nature done more, or been more various in her gifts. A place blessed with peace and plenty, and producing girls that the state cannot vie with in point of beauty, sociability and refined manners. But to proceed, the site of Easton is upon a plain, situated on the west side of the river Delaware, and between the river Lehigh and the Bushkill creek, surrounded by hills, north, east, south and west, forming one of the most rich and picturesque appearances imaginable. Easton is incorporated into a borough, and is the seat of justice for the county of Northampton. It is about fifty-six miles north of Philadelphia, seventy-three miles south-west of New York, and twelve miles northeast from Bethlehem. Easton, contains, according to the census taken in 1830 a population of about 3700 souls; there are between 5 and 600 dwelling houses, one-third of which are brick. It has five buildings devoted to public worship, one of which has lately been erected by the Lutheran congregation of Easton. The interior is handsomely finished; during evening service it is brilliantly lighted by chandeliers and astral lamps and for neatness and durability its equal can scarcely be found-the exterior of the building is not y et finished; also, one court-house, 2 banks, 1 academy, 33 retail stores, 3 drug & medicine stores, one jail, one market house, one wholesale grocery and liquor store, 4 printing presses, from which issue five weekly papers, 1 There are 4 bridges, viz: the Delaware bridge, a stately structure, unites the Pennsylvania with the Jersey shore; the Lehigh bridge unites Easton with Wil liams township; the remaining 2 cross the Bushkill creek, and unite Easton with Butzville and Meixellville. There is one Library, a large and commodious building, containing upwards of 3000 volumes and manuscripts, together with an elegant and splendid cabinet of minerals, and many interesting natural curiosities. There are also several private schools where the different branches of languages and sciences are taught, together with embroidery, music, ornamental and plain needle work. Easton is advantageously supplied with fresh, pure water, conveyed in iron pipes from a spring about a mile from the borough, through all parts of the town, which renders it highly convenient, useful and important to the community. 2300 feet of hose, all of which are under the superinThere are 5 engines, 3 hose carriages, and about tendence of young men, who are active, vigilant and attentive-there are also 2 volunteer companies and one troop of horse, whose equal for the correctness of manual exercises, splendid equipage and soldier-like appearances, cannot be found in the State. Easton is well provided with professional gentlemen; there are no less than 5 divines, who are strong advocates of the sacred truths, 7 physicians, 13 lawyers, 5 justices of the peace, 3 constables, and one chief burgress, and all of whom are strict and zealous in the discharge of their duties. XERXES. From the American Sentinel. Messrs. Editors-Having seen a paragraph in one of the daily papers respecting the old sign of the Bull's Head, which recently hung for so many years in Strawberry street, and attributing it to the pencil of the late Sir Benjamin West, I beg leave through the columns of your paper to contradict the same, and likewise to give "honour to whom honour is due." The aforesaid sign was painted by one Bernard Wilton, an English artist who visited the country in the year 1760. He kept a small shop at the corner of Strawberry street and Chestnut, and followed the business of painting and glazing for several years after the tavern was established, when he returned to England with a considerable sum of money which he had acquired by untiring industry. I will relate an anecdote connected with the origin of this sign. Wilton was sitting one day in the tavern. previous to any sign being hung out, and was conversing with the landlord about a subject for one, when a bull furiously pushed his head through the window and broke several decanters and glasses. This little incident was immediately seized upon by the facetious painter, who humorously exclaimed, "I tell you what, landlord, that bull has been one of the best customers you have had to-day, and in respect to so worthy a patron, you ought always to keep him in remembrance." |