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.

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.

SAMUEL ARCHER.

BY WILLIAM D. LEWIS.

SAMUEL ARCHER was born at or near Columbus, in Burlington County, New Jersey, in the spring of the year 1771. He came to Philadelphia about the year 1800, and entered into the retail dry goods business; at length he became one of the largest importers and shipping merchants, and one of the great pioneers of the immense trade Philadelphia enjoys.

He was the senior partner of the firm of Samuel Archer & Co. (Robert L. Pittfield being the copartner), and of Archer & Bispham . (Stacey B. Bispham having come in on the retirement of Mr. Pittfield). The business of the house, for that day, was immense, having reached in a single year over two millions of dollars in amount. The most of the Calcutta and China trade was then transacted in Philadelphia, and Samuel Archer & Co. were one of our largest importers of muslins and other fabrics of the East Indies, none of which were then manufactured in this country, and extensive importers of China goods. The net profits of the establishment, as shown by the profit and loss account at the close of the business for a single year, was one hundred and twenty thousand dollars, and for another year, to one hundred and eighty thousand dollars! The war of 1812, however, put a stop to importations; and the large business Mr. Archer by this time was doing as an importer of British manufactures, as well as the manufactures and products of the East, was of course suspended.

Samuel Archer, in connection with the late Robert Ralston, gave to that noble charity, the Orphans' Asylum, the lot of ground upon which the building at the corner of Cherry and Eighteenth Streets is erected.

There is an old maxim which says: "Fortune knocks once at least at every man's door." This was clearly so with respect to Samuel Archer, for he made fortunes as easily as he lost them, but his great error was,-placing too much confidence in others.

He