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house extraordinary cleanliness is observed. To the melancholy, 
every species of employment is permitted, provided it does not 
interfere with their own safety or that of other patients. Some 
worked in the garden, two were occupied as cabinet-makers, and 
a lock-maker from Darmstadt was engaged two years in making a 
musket, for which he has prepared a colossal lock of wire and tin. 
When I returned from this remarkable institution, I received 
a visit from a literary gentleman from Leipzic, Mr. Rivinus. 
This young man had already been two years in this city, collect¬ 
ing observations on America, to make known in Germany. I 
was much interested by him. He appeared to me well suited to 
gather information concerning the new world and to present it to 
the old; perhaps he may contribute to make German literature 
known to the Americans. 
Mr. Vaux had the politeness to accompany me to some literary 
institutions. We went first to the Franklin Library; this collec¬ 
tion, which amounts to thirty thousand volumes, was established 
by voluntary subscriptions, and is supported by the same means. 
The subscribers have the right to take books home with them; 
the library contains likewise a large collection of copperplates, 
and amongst others a handsome edition of Hogarth’s prints. The 
library is arranged in two great halls, and as a curiosity they 
show Dr. Franklin’s library chair. The statue of this famous 
man stands in a niche over the entrance of the house, and was 
presented, as the inscription says, by Mr. Bingham, the merito¬ 
rious father of Mr. Bingham of Montreal. After that we went 
to the Philosophical Society, which also owns a building, and 
possesses a rich library and cabinet.* The librarian, Mr. John 
Vaughan, a venerable gentleman, equally esteemed for his bene¬ 
volence and urbanity, performed the honours. He showed us 
the handwriting of several celebrated individuals of the revolu¬ 
tion. The cabinet contains, amongst other things, a mineralogical 
cabinet, a collection of shells, &c. Finally, we went to the State 
House, and saw the plain and not very large hall in which the 
Declaration of Independence was signed on the 4th of July, 1776. 
This hall is decorated with a wooden statue, the size of life of 
President Washington; on the pedestal is the following in¬ 
scription: u First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his 
countrymen.” 
* [The library of the American Philosophical Society is one of the most 
valuable collections in the United States, and is richer in the Transactions of 
other learned societies than any in our country. The Duke states in the original 
that books are not lent from this library, which is so erroneous that we have not 
repeated it in the translation. Members of the society enjoy a free use of the 
books, and literary men properly recommended are always able to obtain ad¬ 
vantageous access to the library.]— Trans. 
