The early history of Philadelphia is fruitful of materiel for the historian. Penn, the founder of this State, may be considered to be common property. He is not merely known as the benevolent founder of Pennsylvania, but his history is identified as much with England. The brilliant history of Lord Macaulay, has given a new impetus to historical inquiry about this celebrated personage. The noble historian has made many grave and serious charges against Penn, which have as freely been denied by Janney, Dixon, and Paget, and which have again, in a later edition of Macaulay's England, been reiterated. Whether the charges are true or false, Penn will ever live in the hearts of Pennsylvanians as the most wise and benevolent founder of this commonwealth. If all the conquests that have been made by the Europeans had been characterized by the same justice, charity, fair dealing, integrity, and downright honesty, much less would have been said about cruelty and oppression.

But this city is rich in historical associations. We have the celebrated Rittenhouse, whose astronomical observations have gained him European renown. Godfrey, immortalized by his invention of the quadrant. Franklin's life and labors are identified with the history of this city; it was here that he first drew lightning from the heavens; and it was here, through the press, that he first made his name known to the world. The greatest historical painter that has yet flourished in England hails from this goodly city. Benjamin West was justly appreciated by George III; and though critics may now find fault with the coloring of West, and decry him in many ways, what painter has England yet produced that has painted anything equal to the "Death of Wolf," "Cromwell," "The Raising of Lazarus, "Death on the Pale Horse?" None. The efforts of Maclise, Ward, and others, fall far short of that grandeur and energy which West has embodied in many of his pictures. Critics may attempt to place West on the shelves, but his "Death of Wolf" will ever rank him as an historical painter of the first class, and decidedly the first historical painter that England can point to, though a Philadelphian by birth. The history of medical science in this city will have for its starting-point the name of Dr. Rush; and who so worthy? He has shed lustre on letters as well as science. The name of Fulton is known from the confines of Siberia to Mexico. The present commercial activity of the world is to a very great extent indebted to the introduction of steamships. It has advanced the progress of the world some centuries, and no one at this day can form any idea of the immense advantages the application of steam to ships has given to the world. In this discovery, as indeed in most of others, there is a great amount of controversy in this case as to whether John Fitch or Fulton first applied steam to vessels.

Thompson Westcott, in his recent Life of Fitch, strongly maintains that Fitch first applied steam, and if dates are reliable, he certainly makes

out a strong case. But whether it was Fulton or Fitch, for our purpose it is the same; we proudly inscribe them on the scroll of Philadelphia fame, and the world has already given them full credit. Bishop White, though not so well known in Europe, yet there are but few Americans who do not know his worth, and his connection with the Revolution. Bishop White's name will always stand as the first ecclesiastical landmark in the history of this country since the Revolution. Charles Brockden Brown is unanimously admitted to be the first American novelist. He was not only the first, but if a lasting reputation be proof of his genius, he is still the best. Brown's novels have been published several times, and a neat uniform edition has just appeared in this city, and they still continue to be read, and will ever do so. The greatest of all grammarians, of which Philadelphians are proud, is Lindley Murray. He not only was a great man, but a good one. His works have been published by the million, both in this country and England, and still are, and probably will continue so for years to come. General Mifflin and General Williams are familiar to all readers of the American Revolution. Commodore Decatur is known to every boy and girl in the country, and his heroism is a household word.

The Cadwaladers are well known for the distinguished military services they have rendered to their country in the hour of need. Robert Morris, the great financier of the Revolution, is well and deservedly known; without such men the sinews of war would not have been supplied. The Biddles, from the Revolution down to Nicholas, have been actively engaged both in military and commercial matters. The beneficence of Stephen Girard is raising monuments every day, and thousands of gladsome hearts will ere long call him "blessed."

We have thus given a synopsis of the claims which Philadelphians have in history, and it is earnestly submitted-Can any city in the Union equal this in such an array of distinguished names? From Penn down to Girard, we can truly say that, in Europe, Eminent Philadelphians are better known than those of any other city in the United States. If nature has not given us commercial advantages so great as some of our sister cities, yet in historic lore we have been, and will ever be, universally known.

W. BROTHERHEAD.

EMINENT PHILADELPHIANS.

JAMES ABERCROMBIE, D.D.

DR. ABERCROMBIE was a learned and eloquent clergyman of the American Protestant Episcopal Church, and was born about the year 1758. During a part of his life, at least, he performed the double duty of a classical teacher and of a parish priest, to enable him to support a large and growing family. For many years he was one of the associated rectors of Christ Church, St. Peter's, and St. James's. In classical literature and impressive eloquence he had few superiors, perhaps none, among his brethren. As a teacher of youth, and as a preacher, he was widely known. He was twice married. He died at Philadelphia, the home of his long life, June 26th, 1841, in his eighty-fourth year.

ROBERT AIKEN.

ROBERT AIKEN was a printer of Philadelphia, and a highly respectable citizen thereof. In September, 1782, the demand for Bibles being great, and the price of them high, in consequence of the war, he published the first American edition of it; and Congress having appointed the Rev. Dr. William White, afterwards

the Right Reverend Bishop, and the Rev. Dr. Duffield, to examine it, they reported favorably, and recommended his edition of that holy book to the people of the United States; but peace taking place soon afterwards, Mr. Aiken sustained considerable pecuniary loss by his undertaking.

WILLIAM ALLEN.

MR. ALLEN was Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, and was the son of William Allen, an eminent merchant of Philadelphia, who died in 1725. On the approach of the Revolution he retired to England, where he died in September, 1780. His wife was a daughter of Andrew Hamilton, whom he succeeded as Recorder of Philadelphia in 1741. He was much distinguished as a friend of literature. He patronized Sir Benjamin West, the painter. By his counsels and exertions, Dr. Franklin was much assisted in establishing the College in Philadelphia. He published the American Crisis, London, 1774; in which he suggests a plan "for restoring the dependence of America to a state of perfection." His principles seem to have been not a little arbitrary. On his resignation of the office of Chief Justice, to which he had been appointed in 1750, he was succeeded, till the Revolution, by Mr. Chew, Attorney-General, and Mr. Chew by his son, Andrew Allen. This son died in London, March 7th, 1825, aged eighty-five years. At the close of 1776, he put himself under the protection of General Howe, at Trenton, with his brothers John and William. He had been a member of Congress and of the Committee of Safety; and William a lieutenant-colonel in the Continental service; but in 1778, he attempted to raise a regiment of tories.

JOHN ANDREWS, D.D.-CAPTAIN SAMUEL ANGUS.

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JOHN ANDREWS, D.D.

DR. ANDREWS, Provost of the University of Pennsylvania, was born in Cecil County, Maryland, April 4th, 1746, and educated at Philadelphia. After receiving Episcopal ordination in London, February, 1767, he was three years a missionary at Lewiston, Maryland, and then a missionary at Yorktown, and a rector in Queen Anne's County, Maryland. Not partaking of the patriotic spirit of the times, he was induced to quit Maryland for many years. In 1785, he was placed at the head of the Episcopal Academy in Philadelphia, and in 1789, appointed Professor of Moral Philosophy in the College. In 1810, he succeeded Dr. McDowell as provost. He died March 29th, 1813, aged sixty-seven years. As a scholar he was very distinguished. He published a sermon on the Parable of the Unjust Steward, 1789; and Elements of Logic.

CAPTAIN SAMUEL ANGUS.

CAPTAIN SAMUEL ANGUS, of the United States Navy, was born at Philadelphia, in 1784. He entered the service when at the age of fifteen; in 1807, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant; in 1813, to that of master-commandant; and in 1818, to that of captain. He was several times severely wounded; in 1800, in an action between the Constellation and French frigate La Vengeance; soon after, in the action between the schooner Enterprise and a French lugger; in 1812, in an attack upon the English opposite to Black Rock; and afterwards while commanding the flotilla on Delaware Bay. He was selected by Messrs. Adams and Clay, as Commissioners for forming a treaty, to carry them to Ghent. Owing to injuries he had received when in the service, the mind as well as the health of Captain Angus became impaired, and he was ultimately dismissed from the navy. He died at Geneva, in New York, May 29th, 1840, aged fifty-six years.