142 
There was no man-of-war here in actual service, but a small 
steam-brig in ordinary, called the Sea Gull, which had returned 
a few months ago from the West Indies, where she had been 
cruising after the pirates; she was now condemned as unseawor¬ 
thy, and used as a receiving ship. Philadelphia is inhabited by 
many Germans and descendents of Germans; some respectable 
people among them have formed themselves into a German so¬ 
ciety, which has rendered great services, particularly to the un¬ 
fortunate Germans who arrived here some years ago in great 
numbers. When those gentlemen heard of my arrival, they in¬ 
vited me to a dinner, given in honour of me. It took place on 
the 15th October, in the Masonic Hall, a large building, erected 
by the freemasons of this place, whose basement story contains a 
very handsome hall, which serves for public entertainments. The 
table was set for seventy persons; every thing was splendid. 
Before dinner I was introduced to all the guests present; the 
descendants of Germans had almost forgotten their mother tongue; 
some of them were lawyers, some merchants, and some mechanics. 
At the dessert, several toasts were drank in honour of America 
and Germany, and also in honour of me; I of course thanked 
them in a short speech. Our waiters were blacks; even the music 
was performed by blacks, • because white musicians will never 
perform at public entertainments. After every toast the music 
struck up; but our virtuosi were only acquainted with two Ger¬ 
man pieces. After drinking my health, they played “ a dish 
and a song,” &c.; and after the toast was given of “the German 
Athens,” they played “ Oh thou dear Augustin,” &c. After the 
regular toasts by the president, Mr. Wampole, were finished, 
volunteer toasts were drank, ad infinitum. I soon retired to call 
upon Mr. Walsh, to whom I was introduced by letter. 
At Mr. Walsh’s I found a numerous assembly, mostly of sci¬ 
entific and literary gentlemen. This assembly is called “Wistar 
Party;” it is a small learned circle which owes its existence 
to a Quaker physician, Dr. Wistar, who assembled all the literati 
and public characters of Philadelphia at his house, every Saturday 
evening, where all well-recommended foreigners were introduced. 
After his death, the society was continued by his friends, under 
the above title, with this difference, that they now assemble alter¬ 
nately at the houses of t^e members. The conversation gene¬ 
rally relates to literary and scientific topics. I unexpectedly 
met Mr. E. Livingston in this assembly; I was also introduced 
to the mayor of the city, Mr. Watson, as well as most of the gen¬ 
tlemen present, whose interesting con versation afforded me much 
entertainment. 
Mr. Shoemaker accompanied us to a Quaker meeting. The 
Quakers, as is well known, have no parsons, but sit quietly as- 
