In 1718, they present the arch at the east end of Mulberry street, as so much out of repair as to endanger life, and as injurious to the neighbourhood, by stopping the channels from descending to the river, and they therefore recommend, as most advantageous to the handsome prospect of the Front street, [of course it must have been high and conspicuous] to pull down the said arch, and to regulate the two streets

there.

In 1720-December-It was fully debated in Common Council whether to pull down the arch. The parties aggrieved being then again heard, and the charges of continual repairs considered, it is the opinion it will be for the general good to take it down-even to those who then petition against the same.

Year 1723--The Grand Jury present deep gullies from Front street, "where the arch stood, to the arch wharf." Thus intimating that the arch had been taken away.

In April, 1723, the Common Council in ordering the old prison to be sold, determine the money shall be applied to making good the Arch street and wharf as far as the same will go. They state as a reason that the end of Mulberry street, from the east side of the Front street to the river, since the arch was removed, had been very ruinous by reason of the late great rains, for want of a free passage for the water. It being thought impracticable then to lay a tax for that and other needful things, the Mayor, James Logan, with great liberality, (to prevent further damage) presented the corporation with 20 to be laid out there,-which was accepted with hearty thanks, and workmen to be ordered to pave the channel and to set posts, &c. The same generous Mayor invites the company of the board to a public dinner with him, provided at the Plume of Feathers.

In 1727, the Grand Jury present two ponds of water "in Arch street" [the first time I have seen it so named] between Front and Second streets. In 1736, a ship near Arch street wharf took fire within as they were burning her bottom without, occasioned by a flaw in one of her planks. This was not perhaps a ship-yard then, but used as a careening place.

The former high elevation of the grounds near "the arch" are even now peculiarly marked. The house No. 10, Arch street, on the south side, two doors west of Front street, presents a clear evidence that the second story was once the level of the street there, and that the present first story which goes up several steps, was originally so much cellar part under ground. It is proved by showing now the lines and marks in the second story of the side alley once there and afterwards filled up! J. P. Norris, Esq. told me it was so explained to him in his youth by aged persons who remembered the facts. The present three story house there was therefore originally but a two story house. The present north west corner house there had its door out of the present second story; the Friends' Meeting-house near there, though originally on a high level, was left on a bank of ten feet elevation, and we know, by an ordinance of 1713, that the gutters were then declared, by Jaw, as running from Arch street down to High street!

I had an opportunity in April, 1825, to witness unexpectedly a

relic of the primitive manner of topping the Water street bank side houses, as originally constructed, when intended not to intercept the view of the river from the Front street. The very ancient brick house in Water street (part of the block of two two story old frame houses on Front street above Arch street, No. 83 and 85,) has now the original flat roof with which it was originally covered. It has been well preserved by having since constructed over it, at one story additional elevation, a cedar roof,—by this act the first roof was made a floor of small descent. I found it made of two inch yellow pine plank, laid on white pine boards-the planks are caulked with oakum, with deep grooves near the seams to bear off the water, and the whole has now much remains of the original pitch which covered the whole. The elevation of this floor-roof is about eight feet above the present Front street, and as the street there has been cut down full six feet or more, it proves the former elevation of that roof. The general aged appearance of the premises, now about to be pulled down, indicate a very early structure. It is said there was once a ship-yard here about.

I have observed other curious facts in digging out the cellars of the two houses adjoining them on the northern side, to wit: No. 87 and 89.-In digging down to the level of Water street, in the Front street bank (which is of fine red gravel) they came, at about 12 feet from the line of Front street, to a regular stone wall of 16 inches thickness, 8 feet high, and of 12 feet square; (all this was below the former cellar there,) in a corner of the wall it appeared smoked, as if the remains of a chimney. I thought it indicated an original cave. The area of the square was nearly filled up with loose stones, a considerable part of which were of flat slabs of marble of one inch thick, smoothed on one surface, and broken into irregular fragments of one to two feet width. In clearing away these stones, they came to a grave head-stone, standing somewhat declined; on which were engraved "Anthony Wilkinson-London-died 1748."-The stone is about 14 inches by 24 feet high-[some small bones also found there.] On further inquiry I learn, that Anthony Wilkinson was an early and primitive settler on that spot. The Cuthbert family are descended from him, and one of them is now named Anthony Wilkinson Cuthbert. Mr. T. Latimer, merchant, near there, claims the head-stone, as a relative, and says old Mr. Cuthbert, who died when he was a boy, told him and others of the family, that old Anthony Wilkinson had his cabin once in this bank, which got blown up by a drunken Indian laying his pipe on some gunpowder in it.

SHIPPEN'S HOUSE.

[ILLUSTRATED BY A PLATE.]

THIS venerable edifice long bore the name of "the Governor's House." It was built in the early rise of the city-received then the name of "Shippey's Great House," while Shippen himself was proverbially distinguished for three great things-"the biggest person, the biggest house, and the biggest coach."

It was for many years after its construction beautifully situated, and surrounded with rural beauty, being originally on a small eminence, with a tall row of yellow pines in its rear, a full orchard of best fruit trees close by, overlooking the rising city beyond the Dock creek, and having on its front view a beautiful green lawn, gently sloping to the then pleasant Dock creek and Drawbridge, and the whole prospect unobstructed to the Delaware and the Jersey shore. It was indeed a princely place for that day, and caused the honest heart of Gabriel Thomas to overflow at its recollection, as he spoke of it in the year 1698, saying of it, that "Edward Shippey, who lives near the capital city, has an orchard and gardens adjoining to his great house that equals any I have ever seen, being a very famous and pleasant summer house, erected in the middle of his garden, and abounding with tulips, carnations, roses, lilies, &c. with many wild plants of the country besides."

Such was the place enjoyed by Edward Shippen, the first Mayor under the regular charter of the year 1700. Shippen was a Friend, from England, who had suffered for truth's and Friends' sake" at Boston by a public punishment from the misguided rulers there. Possessing such a mansion and the means to be hospitable, he made it the temporary residence of William Penn and his family, for about a month, when they arrived in 1699. About the year 1720 it was held by Governor Keith, and in 1756 it became the residence of Governor Denny. As it usually bore the name of "the Governor's house" in aftertimes, it was probably occupied by other rulers.

A minute of the City Council of the year 1720, while it shows the then residence of Sir William Keith on the premises, shows also the fact of keeping open and beautifying the prospect to the river, to wit: "The Governor having requested the Mayor to propose to the board the grant of the piece of ground on the south west side of the dock, over against the house he now lives in, for such term as the corporation shall think fit, and proposes to drain and ditch the same, this board agree the Governor may enjoy the same for the space of seven years, should he so long continue in the said house." It was probably during his term of use that the green