In the year 1728, I perceive by the Gazette, that one Thomas Skelton advertises that he has got 66 a fourwheeled chaise, in Chestnut street, to be hired. His prices are thus appointed: "For four persons to Germin-town, 12 shillings and 6 pence; to Frankford, 10 shillings; and to Gray's Ferry, 7 shillings and 6 pence to 10 shillings."

In the year 1746, Mr. Abram Carpenter, a cooper, in Dock street, near the Golden Fleece, makes his advertisement, to hire two chairs and some saddle horses, to this effect, to wit:

"Two handsome chairs,

With very good geers,
With horses, or without,
To carry friends about.

Likewise, saddle horses, if gentlemen please,
To carry them handsomely, much at their ease,
Is to be hired by Abram Carpenter, cooper

Well known as a very good cask-hooper."

In October, 1751, a MS. letter of Doctor William Shippen, to John Godman, in London, wrote to discourage him from sending out two chairs or chaises for sale here, saying, they are dull sale.

The most splendid looking carriage ever in Philadelphia, at that time, was that used by General Washington, while President. There was in it, at least to my young mind, a greater air of stately grandeur than I have ever seen since. It was very large, so much so, as to make four horses an indispensable appendage. It had been previously imported for Governor Richard Penn. It was of a cream colour, with much more of gilded carvings in the frame than is since used. Its strongest attractions were the relief ornaments on the pannels, they being painted medallion pictures of playing cupids or naked children. That carriage I afterwards saw, in 1804-5, in my store yard at New Orleans, where it lay an outcast in the weather!-the result of a bad speculation in a certain Doctor Young, who had bought it at public sale, took it out to Orleans for sale, and could find none to buy it, where all were content with plain volantes! A far better speculation would have been to have taken it to the Marquis of Lansdown, or other admirers of Washington in England.*

Even the character of the steeds used and preferred for riding and carriages, have undergone the change of fashion too. In old time, the horses most valued were pacers-now so odious deemed! To this end, the breed was propagated with care, and pace races were held in preference! The Narraganset racers of Rhode Island were in such repute that they were sent for, at much trouble and expense, by some few who were choice in their selections. It may amuse the present generation to peruse the history of one such

It became in time a kind of outhouse, in which fowls roosted; and in the great battle of New Orleans it stood between the co:nbatants, and was greatly shot-ridden ! Its gooseneck crane, has been laid aside for me.

horse, spoken of in the letter of Rip Van Dam, of New York, of the year 1711, to Jonathan Dickinson of Philadelphia. It states the fact of the trouble he had taken to procure him a horse. He was shipped from Rhode Island in a sloop, from which he jumped overboard and swam ashore to his former home! He arrived at New York in fourteen days passage much reduced in flesh and spirit. He cost 32. and his freight 50 shillings. From New York he was sent inland to Philadelphia "by the next post," i. e., postman. He shows therein, that the same postrider rode through the whole route from city to city! He says of the pacer, he is no beauty although "so high priced," save in his legs; says "he always plays and acts; will never stand still; will take a glass of wine, beer, or cider, and probably would drink a dram in a cold moming!" This writer, Rip Van Dam, was a great personage, he having been President of the Council in 1731, and, on the death of Governor Montgomery, that year was ex-officio Governor of New York. His mural monument is in St. Paul's church in that city.

A letter of Doctor William Shippen, of 1745, which I have seen, thus writes to George Barney, (celebrated for procuring good horses,) saying, "I want a genteel carriage horse of about fifteen hands high, round bodied, full of courage, close ribbed, dark chesnut, not a swift pacer, if that must much enhance his price. I much liked the pacer you procured for James Logan."

Formerly, livery stables and hacks (things of modern introduction,) were not in use. Those who kept horses and vehicles were much restricted to those only whose establishments embraced their own stables. The few who kept their horses without such appendages placed them at the taverns. They who depended upon hire were accustomed to procure them of such persons as had frequent uses for a horse to labour in their business, who, to diminish their expense, occasionally hired them in the circle of their acquaintance. In this way, many who were merchants (the ancestors of those who have now a horse and gig for almost every son,) were fain to get their draymen to exempt a horse from his usual drudgery for the benefit of his employers for a country airing. A drayman who kept two or three such horses for porterage, usually kept a plain chair to meet such occasions. If the vehicles were homelier than now, they were sure to be drawn by better horses. and looked in all respects more like the suitable equipments of substantial livers than the hired and glaring fripperies of the livery-fineries of the present sumptuous days. Then ladies took long walks to the miry grounds of the South street Theatre, without the chance of calling for hacks for their conveyance. There is a slight recollection of a solitary hack which used to stand before the Conestoga Inn, in High street-an unproductive concern, which could only obtain an occasional call from the strangers visiting the inn, for a ride out of town. To have rode in town would have been regarded as gross affectation,-practically reasoning,

that as our limbs were bestowed before hacks were devised, they should be used and worn out first, before the others were encouraged.

CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS IN PUBLIC AND DOMESTIC COMFORTS AND CONVENIENCES.

AN attention to the following notices of the alterations and improvements of our city in its streets, houses, &c., for the purpose of increasing public and individual conveniences and comforts, or for facilitating business and trade, will much aid our right conception of things as they once were, and of the means and times used to produce the alterations which we now witness.

Wells and Pumps.-The conveniences of pumps were rarely seen for many years in the primitive city. Even wells for the use of families were generally public and in the streets. Aged persons have told me of their recollections of such wells even in their time. They became the frequent subject of presentments of the Grand Juries. As early as the year 1723, they present "two old and very deep wells lying open at Centre Square," also a pump at Pewterplatter alley. They urge, too, that a pump at the great arch, (Arch street) standing out much into the street, ought to be removed. They recommend to fill up the well in the middle of the footpath in Second street, near Thomas Rutter's. The well in the common shore in High street is noticed as a nuisance "for want of a better covering." In 1741, they present an open well in Second street at William Fishbourne's, and another in Third street at Enoch Story's. In 1735, it is publicly stated in the Gazette, as manifest, that "some public pumps are wanting," and in 1744, the Union Fire Company show their care of them by advertising a reward of £5, " for apprehending the persons who stole the nozles from High street, and other streets." When Kalm was here in 1748, he says there was a well to every house, and several in the streets. The water he praised much, as very good and clear.

Watchmen, Lamps, and Constables.-Aged persons have told me that in their early days there were no watchmen: and that in lieu of them the constables went round every night, before going to rest, to see that all was well. Even the constables were originally citizens, serving for a period by necessity. In the year 1750, the Grand Jury represent the great need of watchmen and paved streets, saying of the former, they would "repress nightly insults," and of the latter, "frequent complaints are made by strangers and others of the

extreme dirtiness of the streets for want of paving." The next year (1751) an act is passed for "a nightly watch and for enlightening the city." As early as the year 1742, the Grand Jury had before presented the need of "a stated watch and watch house, and not to be conducted by the citizens as formerly." In 1749, the Grand Jury particularly notice the defect of the nightly watch, as very defective for so great a city, containing 2000 or 3000 houses and 15,000 inhabitants. Only five or six men (they say) are employed, who go their rounds in company. I have seen by a MS. Journal of John Smith, Esq., that he notes on the 20th of 9 mo. 1749, that "he called at the tavern where the owners of lamps (in the streets) were met to consult on methods for better lighting them." There, says he, we agreed with a man, each of us to pay him 3 shillings and 9 pence per month, to light them nightly." When the duties of watchmen and constables were imposed upon the citizens, some, to avoid the onerous service, fell under the vigilance of the Grand Juries. For instance, in 1704, "Gyles Green and William Morris, are presented as not serving their tour of duty as watchmen when nominated thereto." They were nominated in each ward by the constables. In 1706, several instances occur of citizens fined £5, each," for neglect to serve as constables." Among the respectable citizens thus fined, I noticed the names of Joseph Shippen, Abram Carpenter, George Claypole, Henry Preston. The constables of that day, I perceive, were charged to notify to the Grand Juries the nuisances occurring in their several wards.

Pavements. Our present excellent streets and foot-pavements, for which our city is distinguished, is a work mostly executed within the memory of some of the remaining ancients. They have told me the streets were once alternately miry or dusty. The foot-pavements were but partially done, having a narrow footwalk of bricks and the remainder filled in with gravel, or the whole with gravel only. In those times galoshes and pattens were necessary and resorted to by the ladies. The venerable Charles Thomson, Esq., told me that Second street from High to Chestnut street, used to be very muddy and was often a matter of complaint. At last an accident determined that a pavement should be made there. One of the Whartons, being on horseback, was mired there, thrown from his horse and broke his leg. Thomson and others made a subscription forthwith and had that street paved,-it being, as I understood, the first regularly paved street in the city. This first enterprise, being an affair of some moment in the moderate resources of the city, became first a subject of discussion in the Junto or Leathern Apron Club, and their wishes being favourable to the measure, it had their patronage, and was executed at an expense of only 4 shillings and 6 pence per cart load of pebbles delivered at the

* On the 3d of October, the same year, the Gazette announces that on Monday last the treets began to be illuminated with lamps according to the act.

shallops. It was on that occasion of paving that a Mr. Purdon became distinguished and useful as a pavier. The first workmen employed were awkward, and Purdon, who was then a British soldier on duty in the city, smiling to see their incapacity from inexperience, interfered to show them a better example. His skill was so manifest he was sought after, and, at the interest of the city officers, was released from the army by a substitute. He was a relative of John Purdon, a respectable storekeeper in Front street, and who used to advertise in verse.

I perceive, as early as the year 1719, from a letter of Jonathan Dickinson to his brother, that some foot-pavements and crossing places in the mid streets were about making, to wit: "As to bricks, we have been upon regulating the pavements of our streets,-the footway with bricks, and the cartway with stone, which has made our bricks dear." The Minutes of the City Council about the same time state, that as several of the inhabitants have voluntarily paved from the kennel (gutter) to the middle of the street with pebbles, and others are levelling and following their example, they recommend an ordinance to restrain the weights of loaded carriages passing over them. In 1750 the Grand Jury represent the great need of paved streets, so as to remedy "the extreme dirtiness and miry state of the streets." Very little of a general effort to pave the mid streets was attempted before the year 1761-2. And even then, the first endeavours were limited to the means produced by lotteries-so Second street, north of High street to Race street, was effected; and then every good citizen did what he could to help the sale of the tickets for the general good. In 1762 the act was passed "regulating, pitching, paving and cleansing the highways, streets, lanes and alleys, &c., within the settled parts of Philadelphia." In the regulations which ensued from this act, the streets extending westward, lying south of High street, were thrown from three to five feet more south than before, and occasioned some strange looking encroachments of some houses on the south sides of the streets, and some less obvious recession of others on the northern sides of the same streets. Thus an old brick house, on the southwest corner of Fifth and Walnut streets, so projected into the street as to leave no footwalk. An old inn and other buildings, once on the southwest corner of Chestnut and Fourth streets, were also left so far in the street as to leave but about two feet of footwalk there; while the old houses generally, on the northern side, were thrown back behind the general line of the foot-pavement. Norris' house, built in 1755 on the site of the late Bank of the United States, originally placed three feet back from the line of the pavement, came, in time, (probably in 1766,) to be considered six to eight inches on the footwalk.

The late aged Mr. Pearson, who served a long life as City Surveyor, had great influence in effecting his own views as a City Regulator, and withal, a perverse taste in the opinion of many, in