rostrum fronting it, where the pupils were to exhibit. The rostrum was elevated even with the pulpit, the seats of the pupils were also raised even with the rostrum, so that they had only to rise and advance forward. On the opposite side of the rostrum from the audience, in full view, were placed large, long slates, four feet at least in length, and about eighteen inches wide. They were placed upright against the wall, upon these slates the pupils were to exhibit. In the first place, an eloquent and feeling oration was delivered, by whom I did not understand. Here was a sight indeed! More people than I ever saw within the walls of a house, every eye bent ypon the objects of their care, who from a state of wretchedness and ignorance, had become the delight of every eye. The orator; any man might have been eloquent upon an occasion like this; but he was more than eloquent. He seized upon every efficient argument to awaken sympathy or warm the heart, he laid hold of every advantage which language affords to enforce his arguments in favour of the objects before them, who looked up to them not only for instruction, but for food and raiment. Whilst the audience, wrapped in deep attention, seemed to enter into all the pathos of his feelings, he ran briefly over the principal incidents of the institution from its commencement, setting forth the difficulties, the patience and unwearied attention of the instructors, the astonishing success of the undertaking, and the benefit resulting from it. Having concluded his speech, the pupils, from four to six at a time, stood up to exhibit. The teacher gave out a sentence, first to the audience, and then by signs to the pupils, and in an instant, they wrote it on the slates, conjugating the verbs, and declining the nouns. After the grammar class had got through, examples in arithmetic were exhibited, then ancient and modern history, several gentlemen present putting questions in each, through the teachers. Two of them held a long conversation with each other about Gen. La Fayette, the teacher interpreting their signs and gestures, as they proceeded, word for word. One of them would ask the other who La Fayette was, how he came to this country, his services to the United States, and the

whole of his movements since his last arrival, the honors paid to him, in short, his whole history. The exhibition took up about three hours, but they were the pleasantest I ever spent. It must be a source of ineffable pleasure to the citizens of Philadelphia, to think, that they have given happiness to such a number of human beings, and what must be the feelings of those destitute orphans toward their benefactors! They regarded the audience with a look of calm composure: what gratitude must have warmed their bosoms! what emotions of tenderness and delight, must have filled the breasts of their benefactors! The female pupils, (with their matron sitting behind them, in her simple Quaker dress,) all modest and gentle, looked round upon the assembly, with that steady self-possession, which bespoke conscious worth and innocence. Of all the institutions of Philadelphia, this sheds the brightest lustre on its citizens. Great people! They must be emphatically such, who make the misfortunes of others their own.

My time being short in Philadelphia, I determined to employ it in seeing every thing worth seeing in the city; and amongst the rest, the form of worship used by differ ent sects, of which I had hitherto never had an opportunity. Accordingly, I attended the Jews' Synagogue one Saturday, which is their Sabbath. Here I found about twenty men, and not one female. They all had their hats on, and were standing, although there were seats convenient. Over their shoulders they wore a long linen scarf, in shape and size similar to those worn by ladies; it came down before, and each end was slung over the arm, as ladies wear them in summer. The service was begun when I entered; but one of them walked up to me and pointed out a place on the opposite side of the house where I could be seated. The service was nothing more than one of them dressed like the others standing at a desk, with a large Hebrew book open; out of which he read aloud as fast as his tongue could go, with a singing tone; and turning the leaves over with surprising rapidity; during all the time he was bowing his head up and down with such rapidity, that it kept pace with his tongue, or kept time with his song rather

Whilst he was thus engaged, the audience were walking to and fro, bowing in the same manner; now and then they would sing out right; but such, singing! I never heard any that had less melody. In the course of about three quarters of an hour he shut up the book, and walked to a closet, (I should call it,) opened the doors, and shut them instantly; walked about, and bowed, and sung awhile, and then approached the same place as before, and repeated the same ceremony. But what was contained in the place, I was (from the distance) unable to see. The service now broke up; and the party dispersed; and here ends the 1st chapter of the Jews.

Next day being Sunday, I went to hear the Quakers or Friends, as they are called. Here was a direct contrast to the preceding; nought but silence reigned; not a word was said; all was solemn as midnight. Amongst them were a number of the most fashionable people of Philadelphia, between whom and the Friends, appears to exist the greatest harmony. I had been at Quaker meetings before; in fact, I was reared a Quaker myself, but never saw such a display of beauty and dress. Nothing could exceed the richness and neatness of that of the young Quaker ladies. The richest silks and satins, so uniform, and made so exquisitely neat, mostly white; their plain small round crowned bonnets; their neat square handkerchiefs, of the finest muslin, gave them a celestial appearance, and fairly eclipsed their more fashionable neighbors. The church was amazingly large, and yet it was filled to overflowing; the men, that is the Quakers, all wear their hats. The elderly men and women sat at one end of the building upon elevated seats, and during the meeting seemed deeply engaged in thought. Their countenances bespoke minds wholly withdrawn from outward objects. After sitting in this manner nearly two hours, two of the old men shook. hands, the signal for breaking up; the noise which succeeded the signal, resembling distant thunder.

Besides these I heard one of the Episcopalians; and though disappointed in the oratorical powers of the preacher, I was abundantly compensated by the sound of the organ, the second I ever heard. The first of my

hearing those instruments was in Baltimore, which I for got to remark. I have often heard the organ applauded, and as often condemned, with that heat and violence which unfortunately distinguish religious disputes. Without any attempt to settle the point between them, 1 can only speak for myself, that it is the most heaven inspiring sound I ever heard; its soft, solemn, sweetly flowing melody, lifts the soul from earth to heaven; it for the moment shuts out every earthly thought, and is at once the most rational and pleasing of all devotions. The instrument consists of a number of brass pipes, or hollow tubes, from ten to twelve feet in length; the sound is conveyed through these by means of a bellows, which is worked by keys. It fronts the pulpit, on the opposite end of the church from the parson, upon a level with the first row of galleries, (the churches in these towns have double galleries.) The organ is accompanied by a choir of singers, both male and female, who make occasional pauses, which are filled by the sweet swelling sound of the organ.

Manners and Appearance. Respecting the manners and appearance of the people of Philadelphia, I can give but a very imperfect sketch, owing to the shortness of my visit, and the abridged opportunity had of mixing in society; my observations being entirely limited to meeting them in the streets, and a very few calls upon business. They have been accused of distance and reserve towards strangers. As respects the common acts of politeness I cannot concur in this particular. When accosted, the Philadelphians are polite and condescending, whether abroad or at home. I found them very easy of access, and always a ready admittance into their houses, as much so as in Baltimore, and much more so than in Washington. But in acts of benevolence (and I might add charity,) toward strangers, they are greatly behind either. In answer to a remark on this contradistinguishing trait in their character, I received the following reply:"That when they became thoroughly acquainted, they were very kind to strangers." This is a pitiful subterfuge for their want of charity and hospitality to strangers, one of the brightest of christian virtues.

particularly when thousands of dollars are spent here annually by strangers; it is an ungrateful exception to the example of a few warm-hearted yankees. In their appearance, they are rather taller than those of Baltimore, well made, and of delicate conformation; nor are they so active in their movements as the people farther south. Both men and women are very handsomely featured and have fair complexions. The ladies of Philadelphia are celebrated by travellers for their beauty. I would, however, make very little difference between them and those of Baltimore; the latter are not so fair, but they have more expression of countenance. As to dress and fashion, if I were to give an opinion at all, I should give it in favor of Baltimore. Baltimore has more splendor, Philadelphia more taste; but there is little difference; the difference as respects moral appearance was this, that there were more idlers, more blacks, and more trifling looking people, and more swearing in Baltimore than in Philadelphia, particularly on the wharves. These remarks are, however, the result of a few hasty observations.

Respecting the literati of Philadelphia, it is not in my power to say a word. Nothing would have been more gratifying to me than to have seen some, at least, of those eminent men, though, perhaps, I saw the greatest man in the city; I mean Mr. Cary. From the very limited opportunity I had of judging, I am inclined to think education does not receive that attention we might expect, in a city so devoted to the public good. The dialect of the citizens, particularly of the children, gave rise to this opinion; it is very defective, and the young misses are detestably affected in their manners, dress and dialect. I questioned a few on the subject of grammar, geography, and history, who were said to be engaged in these studies, and found them wretchedly defective. They have, withal, a whining tone in their speech, extremely disgusting; though the higher classes pronounce the English language with purity and even elegance.

Having mentioned Mr. Cary, that giant of the pen deserves some notice. Being slightly acquainted with his