Philadelphia 



cultivated desert, inhabited by nothing but ravenous 

 beasts, and a savage people, must certainly be the 

 object of every one's wonder and admiration. It is 

 situated upon a tongue of land, a few miles above 

 the confluence of the Delaware and Schuylkill; and 

 contains about 3,000 houses, and 18 or 20,000 in- 

 habitants. It is built north and south upon the 

 banks of the Delaware; and is nearly two miles in 

 length, and three quarters of one in breadth. The 

 streets are laid out with great regularity in parallel 

 lines, intersected by others at right angles, and are 

 handsomely built: on each side there is a pavement 

 of broad stones for foot passengers; and in most of 

 them a causeway in the middle for carriages. Upon 

 dark nights it is well lighted, and watched by a 

 patrol: there are many fair houses, and public 

 edifices in it. The stadt-house is a large, handsome, 

 though heavy building; in this are held the councils, 

 the assemblies, and supreme courts; there are apart- 

 ments in it also for the accommodation of Indian 

 chiefs or sachems; likewise two libraries, one be- 

 longing to the province, the other to a society, which 

 was incorporated about ten years ago, and consists 

 of sixty members. Each member upon admission, 

 subscribed forty shillings; and afterward annually 

 ten. They can alienate their shares, by will or deed, 

 to any person approved by the society. They have 

 a small collection of medals and medallions, and a 

 few other curiosities, such as the skin of a rattle- 



