PENSYLVANIA 61 



honor of the inventor), a sort of iron affair, half stove, 

 half fire-place. This is a longish, rectangular apparatus 

 made of cast-iron plates and stands off from the wall, 

 the front being open, in every respect a detached, 

 movable fire-place.* + The comfortable sight of the 

 open fire is thus enjoyed, and the good ventilation is 

 healthful ; moreover, the iron plates warm a room at 

 less expense of fuel than is possible with the wall fire- 

 place, from which most of the heat is lost. 



In so warm a climate the inconveniences arising from 

 the narrowness of the streets were felt at this time and 

 must be whenever the weather is hot. During three 

 days, June 23, 24, 25, Fahrenheit's thermometer stood 

 constantly at 93-95 degrees. The city is so far inland 

 that no wind from the sea brings coolness ; round about 

 is a dry, sandy soil ; and in addition narrow streets, 

 houses and footways of brick strongly reflecting the 

 sun's rays everything makes for a high degree of 

 dead heat in the city. During these three days, not 

 less than 30 sudden deaths were announced in the 

 Philadelphia newspapers, martyrs to the heat by the 

 coroners' returns, and also, very probably, victims of 

 an indiscreet imbibition of cold drinks. But as every- 

 where else, not until after the event, were the people 

 warned by public proclamation to keep clear of cold 

 drinks. 



The number of the inhabitants was placed at 20,000 

 as early as 1766, before the war at 30,000, and at pres- 

 ent (counting strangers) is fixed at 30-40,000 with 

 what certainty I am not prepared to say. On account 



* Description and drawing of which, to be found in Dr. 

 Franklin's Collected Works; there is a German translation. 



