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to Philadelphia. Woodbrid^eisahandsomeposttown; the country
about it i6 level, and seems toffee very, fertile, but psfntic»la*ly in
rich .meadows. Maidenhead, -which is .reckoned to be about t hir ty -
seven miles from Philadelphia, lias a very -val «able tract of meadow
land, of which the -rich ^a*den earthis said to be.in many parts six
foet in.depth. Erankfortvwhich.is aboutsi-xmilesfroin Philadelphia,
is.situated on .an eminence, at the bottom o f which a creek flows
into the Delaware^ thisjplace is very populous, the. houses aire handsome,
having very fine gardens adjoining them ; and the situation
is beautiful. Harmwgate is aboutifour;miles from Philadelphia,kthe
inhabitant of which , city make their excursions hither for pleasure.
A t this place is ».mineral spring, which is made use of both for
drinking and bathing.
Philadelphia is situated on the western bank of the Delaware,
which is here nearly a mile wide, and a hundred and. twenty mites
from the sea. The opposite side of the tow n is intended to be continued
to the Sckuylkil river. Though this city is well situated’far
inland trade, end its shops seem to be amply stocked, yetitscom-
merce has been, surpassed in latter limes by New York. The town
stands*on an extensive plain, and most of the streets "are vc^y regular,
many of them lined with trees, and the houses, whick aTe hand-
somely bu ilt with brick, .are mostly thuee stories high. There are
thirty meeting-houses here for public worship, viz..fiveifor Quakers,
sis for Presbyterians, three for Episcopalians, four for Roman Catholics,
three for Germans, two for Methodists, one for the Swedes,
one for Covenanters, one for Moravians, one for the Baptists, one
for XJmv.ersalists, one for the African blacks, and a Jewish synagogue.
J t is said that, not withstanding, all these religious divisions,
tlm.inhabitants Jive together in brotherly harmony.
The state house is a large building, and shews that Philadelphia,
in the yearl.734, when>it.was built, was of considerable importance,
and.its.architecture is considered as not indifferent.
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The bank of Pensyfvawia, however, is the handsomest building;
the exterior of this edifice is of white marble, which is got a few
miles' from the city near the river $cbuylkil $ the edifice is fei the
Grecian style, aradith© front is adorned with portico? of six columns
of the Ionic order. The architect was an American.
The bank of the Unbsed States' has in front a portico* of six white
marble pillars of the Corinthian“ order.
The building for supplying the town-with water is a most excellent
edifice; it? io built in a simple but elegant manner; it eonsists
e f a regular -sqhane of sixty féet, a dome, and a portico, o f which
the pillars are in the Doric orders •; is e»f brick, faced
with white marble; but the. reservoir is.entirely of the latter material:
St is said to be eapable of eontaining twenty thousand gallons
of water, the machinery for conducting which is worked, by a steam
éngine. This building is situated' on a square" planted with poplar
trees, intended for a public walk, but for which it is rather too
much confined; as, however, it fronts Market-street, it forms a fine
prospect for the principal-part of the town. The largest market is
situated-in this street, and is four hundred and nineteen ordinary
paces long, calculated at about a yard" each ^ It te divided- by fwo
streets; the' breadth of tie building is about five- foef in the elear;
its roof is-supported by pillars of brack, and the alley is- paved. The
town has also three other marketSsfornished-with plenty of ah kinds
of provisions; the good police and order observed here merits the
highest praise.
To the many beneficial public societies which are established inr
this city, the institution of tlie Philadelphia library is'deserving of
particular notice ; it is open- every .afternoon, Sunday excepted^ for
the use of the public, and those who will leave a proportionate- deposit
may read thé book at home.
The museum of Mr. Pèale, considering that ituis a private collect
tion, merits much praise. Government lias granted him apartments