the power we have to contend with requires the most deliberate and united effort: yet they are obliged for the most part to meet in taverns in small numbers, and exposed to temptations which elsewhere would not be felt. Thus circumstanced, your petitioners ask that you would favour them with the use of the second floor of the State House, for the purpose of holding their meetings. The memorial was referred to the committee on the State House and Independence square. The committee to whom had been referred the communication of the constables, praying for remuneration of expenses incurred in holding the ward elections, made a report, concluding with a resolution requesting the mayor to draw his warrant on the city treasurer for the amount claimed. The resolution was adopted. The amount claimed is ninety dollars, or six dollars for each constable. A letter was received from E. Prescott, offering to furnish the city with curb stone. A member said that it was usual to make proposals of this kind to the city commissioners; but, on motion, the letter was referred to the Paving committee. Messrs. Miller, Hale, Thompson, Graff, Page, and Oldenbug, were appointed members of the committee on the sinking fund. The committee on unfinished business, report, That they have examined the minutes of the late council, and find the following items of business undisposed of, viz. parts thereof, and that such proposals be reported to councils, was adopted March 27, 1828. No. 10. A joint committee of two members of each council, was appointed May 19, 1828, to take measures for having the sloop sunk in the Delaware in August last raised and removed from the channel of the river. No. 11. A communication from the city commissioners informing that an application had been made by Mr. Saunders to lease the Public Lot, south-east corner of Vine and Schuylkill Front street, and requesting instructions on the subject was referred May 22d 1828, to a Joint committee of two members of each council. No. 12. A resolution "authorising and directing the city commissioners to advertise for proposals for leasing Sassafras street wharf for three years for steam boat or commercial purposes, and report to councils" was adopted June 3d, 1828. No. 13. A joint committee of three members of each council was appointed June 12, 1828, to confer with the commissioners of Spring Garden or any committee of that body appointed, or which may be appointed for the purpose, on the subject of the payment of their proportion of the cost of the sewer on Vine street, No. 14. A draft of an ordinance in relation to the width of wheels of carriages, &c. the title whereof is as follows, "An ordinance in relation to wagons, carts, drays, and carriages of burthen," was read and laid on the table, July 10, 1828. No. 15. A resolution instructing the Paving committee to inquire into the expediency of having those parts of Chesnut and Fifth and Sixth streets adjoining to the No. 1. A joint committee was appointed May 17, court room, laid with flag stones, or prepared in such a 1827, to inquire into the propriety of providing for pay- way as will prevent the noise which now renders the ing out of the city treasury, expenses incurred by citi- said rooms inconvenient for the transaction of the busizens, in consequence of alterations in established regu-ness of the courts, was adopted Aug. 5th, 1828. lations, (the same being item No. 6 of unfinished business, reported to the late council,) which was referred to a joint committee of two members of each council, November 8, 1827. No. 2. A petition for the removal of the Market House in Broad street, was presented June 12, 1827, read, and laid on the table. And July 12, 1827, a resolution directing the remoral was offered, read, and laid on the table. (The same being item No.10 of unfinished business reported to the late council,) and November 8, 1827, was postponed for the present. No. 3. A communication was received from the mayor, relative to the assize and sale of loaf bread, which was referred Nov. 8, 1827, to a joint committee of two members of each council. No. 4. A communication was received from the city commissioners, stating a difficulty they had in finding the owners of vacant lots, in order to collect the price of paving and curbing the footways; which was read Dec. 27, 1827, and laid on the table. No. 5. A resolution was passed Janaury 10, 1827, requesting the paving committee to inquire and report whether the interests of the city are likely to be affected by the regulation of ascents and descents about to be established in that part of the District of Spring Garden lying between Schuylkill Fourth and Broad streets, and between Vine street and Francis' lane. No. 6. A resolution directing that so much of the city commissioners' letter as relates to lighting the city, letting Spruce and Race street wharves on the Schuylkill, and purchasing cranes therefor, be referred to a joint committee of two members of each council, was adopted February 14, 1828, and referred to a joint committee of two members of each council. No. 7. A joint committee of three members of each council, was appointed Feb. 28, 1828, to inquire into the expediency of altering the names of the streets running from north to south, and lying west of Broad street. No. 8. A resolution requesting the committee on the Drawbridge Lot, to procure from the Recording Surveyor, an accurate plan of the dimensions of the said lot, and to advertise for proposals to purchase the same, or No. 16. A joint committee of three members of each council was appointed Aug. 14, 1828, to ascertain whether, and on what terms, Windmill island opposite the city of Philadelphia, or latterly known by the name of Smith's Island, can be purchased from its present holders, and to report upon the expediency thereof, as well as on all other matters in connection therewith, as may appear necessary. No. 17. A joint committee of two members of each council was appointed Aug. 14, 1828, to ascertain the expediency of having posts and rings placed along the side of the curb stone on stands for drays, at such distance as the owners of the drays can attach their horses to them, and thereby prevent the great danger and inconvenience attending the present manner of standing. No. 18. The committee appointed to consider and report what disposition should be made of the "old Reservoir" at Chesnut street and Schuylkill, made report, That in their opinion it was not a suitable time to make any disposition thereof, and recommended the subject to the consideration of the next council. Reported Sep. tember 25, 1828. No. 19. A resolution appropriating the sum of dollars to the use of the children of William Plunkett, who lost his life by falling from the Steeple of the State House, and requesting the chairman of the committee on the steeple to deposit the said sum in the Saving Fund, the interest whereof to be drawn by the widow for the use of the said children, and said sum to be charged to appropriation No. 21, was read and laid on the table Sept. 25, 1828. No. 20. A resolution referring the application of Mr. Trezivaloy, made through Mr. Cohen, relative to the Boudinot legacy, to the committee on said legacy, with power to act as they may think advisable, was adopted September 25, 1828. No. 21. The committee on the State House and Independence square, to whom was referred the petition of the Washington Grays, made report that the said petition be recommended to the consideration of the next councils, Oct. 9, 1828. No, 22. The committe on Fire companies, to whom was referred the petition of the Fire Association of Phi- Fort Pitt. In March, 1782, his active services were reladelphia, made report, submitting the draft of an ordi-warded with the commission of Major in Proctor's artilnance on the subject, entitled "an Ordinance for the lery regiment, which was conferred upon him by Conprotection of the apparatus of Fire Companies," which gress, and which gave him rank from the 7th of October, was called up for second reading, when on motion the 1781. further consideration thereof was postponed, October 9, 1828. WM. MASON WALMSLEY, Philadelphia, Nov. 13, 1828. No. 12 was referred to a joint committee of two members of each council,-No. 15, to the Paving committee,-No. 21, to the committee on the State House. The consideration of the other items waa deferred. Philad. Gaz. [From the Pittsburg Gazette, 1826.] The career of this distinguished citizen might be cited as an example, were others wanting, of the advantage afforded by our free institutions in fostering talent, alike regardless of the profession, nation, or pursuit of the individual who possesses it. The subject of our notice was born near Hillsborough, in the county of Down, in the kingdom of Ireland, in August, 1742. He emigrated to Philadelphia in 1768, where he pursued the occupation of a carpenter until 1775. It was then that, stimulated by the oppressive conduct of Britain towards his adopted country, he enrolled himself under the banners of struggling freedom, and devoted courage and genius to the service of America. From the Council of Safety of Pennsylvania, he received the appointment of a Lieutenant of Marines, and aided in the capture of several vessels laden with ammunition and military stores, thereby rendering an important service to the interest of the country, for whose armies such stores were then in great demand. - In the winter of 1785-6, he held the commission of Captain of Marines, on board the Andrew Doria, then commanded by the gallant and adventurous Captain Nicholas Biddle. This vessel formed part of a small squadron, which, under the command of Commodore Hopkins, in March 1776, took possession of the Island of New Providence, where the American force seized and brought away a large quantity of military stores, artillery, &c. Here ended his connexion with the navy.Another scene was now presented to him, and one better adapted to his peculiar talent. In December, 1776, Mr. Craig was appointed a captain in the regiment of artillery, under the command of Col. Thomas Proctor. This was the most gloomy period of the war;but it was his good fortune to be an actor in that scene which gave a new coloring to our revolutionary prospects. We allude to the capture of the Hessian troops at Trenton. Captain Craig bore a distinguished part in the battle of Princeton; and on the fields of Germantown and Brandywine performed his duty with unabated vigor and courage. The Indians and Tories having assembled in the Genesee country, in very considerable force, under the command of the Butlers and the Brandts, it was thought expedient, in 1779, to detach a force a gainst them, under the command of General Sullivan. The services of Captain Craig were thought necessary to the success of the expedition. They were promptly afforded, and usefully displayed in the battles of Newton and Chemung. With the Revolutionary War closed the military career of Major Craig. He n.arried in 1785, and became permanently resident at Pittsburg. An attempt was made in 1793 and 1794, to draw him again into public life by an offer of the station of Quarter Master General to Wayne's army. This offer he declined, choosing to enjoy that freedom he had aided in acquiring, in retiring and domestic felicity. As he was one of the earliest settlers, so he was one of the most useful and intelligent of our citizens. Carrying that industry and talent with him into private life, which had rendered his career so distinguished in public, he was amongst those who gave an impetus to the prosperity of the western country, which increased with his increasing years. He was one of the few remaining patriarchs of our land; one whose venerable form and silvered locks marked him as the pioneer of civilization and improvement to the rising generation. Strange as it may appear to those who know nothing of our gigantic growth, on the day of Major Craig's funeral, an engineer and his attendants were employed in finishing the location of an extensive canal at the very point which, on the day of his assuming the command at Pittsburg, resounded with the war-whoop of a savage enemy. It is to such men as he that we owe all we have of liberty. It is to such men that we are indebted for the wide spread of civilization and man ners, of virtue and religion. He has sunk to his grave in a ripe old age, leaving to his family that best of all inheritances, an honorable name; not to be traced on monumental marble, or depending on a parchment record, but inscribed by the pen of valor, on the fields of American glory, and as immortal as the freedom of his country. LAW CASES. [Reported for the United States Gazette.] Common Pleas Trials. MARGARET JONES vs. JNO. PARHAM.-Feigned issue to try the will of Mrs. Elizabeth Duche. The defendant having informed the commonwealth of an escheat, caveat to test its validity accordingly. He alleged that was surprised to find a will in the case, and entered a the testatrix was solely under the influence of plaintiff; unable in law to make a will. The plaintiff proved the was imbecile, insane, and out of her right mind, and entire sanity of the testatrix; her excellent state and explaintiff towards her; that J. Parham had used boistertraordinary strength of mind; the kind deportment of ous language in Mrs. Duche's chamber, in her dying moments, &c. Verdict for plaintiff, establishing the will. Kittera & J. Randall for plaintiff; T. S. Smith for defendant. ST. PAUL'S CHURCH US MARGARET REESE.-This was another will case, but of a totally different cast. Mrs. Matthews, the testatrix, procured her will to be drawn a few weeks before her death, in which she bequeathed the bulk of her property to St. Paul's church. After a formal execution of the instrument, she deposited it in a trunk under her bed-head, for safe keeping, and frequently conversed upon the subject of her affairs being settled, up to her death. The keys of the trunk were in the housekeeper's possession. The will cut out all her relations. The defendant was one of her nieces.The celebrated George Rogers Clark, a name so inti- Shortly before her death, she sent for plaintiff, intimamately connected with the early history of western ad-ting that she had something important to say to her, and venture and valor, having planned an expedition against she came accordingly. The demeanor of the deceased Detroit, Captain Craig, in 1780, descended the Ohio was kind towards her. She remained a few days after river, and joined him, having under his command two her death. Shortly after Mrs. M. died, the defendant companies of artillery. The expedition failed of execu- was in her bed chamber, and had the keys of the trunk. tion, on account of some disappointment not now recol- How long she tarried there was uncertain-a host of conlected, and Captain Craig returned with his command to tradicting witnesses testified on that point. A decent period after the death of Mrs. M. having elapsed, the trunk was searched for the will, but it could not be found any where, Suspicion lighted on different persons, but the defendant was most particularly pointed out by the plaintiff's counsel on the trial. Issues were formed between the parties, to submit the cause to a jury, to investigate the point whether the rough draft of the will, fortunately kept by the scrivener, was the last will of Mrs. M.; and if so, whether it was in existence, not destroyed, at the time of her death. The defendant's counsel alleged, that the testatrix had a mania for making wills-that she changed her mind repeatedly, and that this particular instrument never was destroyed; the fair inference being, that the old lady destroyed it herself, in order that the law might be her will. After a protracted investigation, the jury went out, and after being in deliberation 18 hours, were discharged, not being likely to agree. Kittera for plaintiff; Ingraham for defendant. GRIFFITH, &C. vs H. S. TANNER.-The plaintiff's were bricklayers, and claimed a bill against defendant for repairing one half of the wall between his property in Chesnut street, above Tenth, and the Academy of Fine Arts. He had already paid one half, and alledged that the Academy, upon the principle of party walls, should pay the other, their being reciprocity of benefit. Judge Hopkinson and Mr. Thackara were examined to prove that the defendant had made an application to the academy, as an incorporated institution, to pay one half the expense. Judge Hopkinson declined to assume the half, on behalf of the Academy, but made a verbal agreement, in part, with defendant, which was to have no bearing upon the workmen. Verdict for the plaintiffs the whole amount.-W. L. Hirst for plaintiff, Haly for defendant. PATTON US BROWN & AL-This action was brought to recover about $40 of defendants, owners of a small vessel, for merchandize, furnished the vessel at the request of the captain without the knowledge or consent of the owners. The vessel was owned by several, in shares; the defendants proved a custom existing in the port of Philadelphia, that where vessels were so owned, the captain alone was responsible for supplies furnished. Judge King charged the jury that the owner of a ship was always responsible for necessary repairs and supplies furnished by order of the captain, at this or any other port; the captain being considered the authorized agent of the owners to that extent. With regard to the special custom given in evidence, if the jury believed that the plaintiff knew it, and gave credit to the captain alone, never intending to look to the owners, then he could not recover, inasmuch as he waved the general principle of law in his favour, and consented to accept the special custom in its stead. American Grapes.-About two years ago, a gentleman of the name of Deininger, discovered on an island in the Susquehanna river, near the mouth of the Conestogo, some bunches of what he considered as very fine grapes. Some of these bunches he brought to this city, and after examination, they were pronounced, by all the gentlemen who had a knowledge of this kind of fruit, to be grapes of a very superior quality to any heretofore discovered in our country. This season Mr. Deininger brought several bunches of these grapes to this city, some of which weighed 2 pounds. They are of a purple colour, grow very close together, the stone or kernel is very small, the skin thin, and the juice of a most delicious taste, and are pronounced by judges to be equal if not superior, to any of the foreign kind introduced into our country, and being indigenous, have nothing to fear from our climate. Mr. Deininger, who has now removed to York county, has left a few roots of this grape, (now two years old) with Mr. Henry Keffer, of this city, where they can be obtained by the lovers of this kind of fruit, price 50 cents each.-Lancaster paper. PENNSYLVANIA CANAL. At the late canal letting in this place, there were forty five miles of canal sold, divided into sections of half a mile. The line of the canal from this town to Huntingdon keeps along the river bank, in most places so distant, however, as not to require a wall-The line is on the north side of the Juniata, to near Drake's ferry, where it crosses the river by an aqueduct, on which side it keeps for near three miles where it re-crosses the river. The amount of the canal sold will probably amount to three quarters of a million of dollars. Four hundred and nine packages were offered at the sale containing 2014 propositions. This was probably the greatest distance of canal ever sold at any one time in the United States. The average sales were something higher, it is believed, than at the former public lettings on this line.-Lewistown Gaz. PENNSYLVANIA ELECTORAL ELECTIONS. CITY. Upper Delaware South ward Northern Liberties. Locust Unitarian Church.-We understand that a public sale and letting of pews, was held in the new Church, corner of Tenth and Locust streets, last evening, Nov. 12. Biddings by way of premium for the choice of pews ran so high as $100 per pew, and the total of sums offered for these preferences amounted to $1500. About fifty pews were sold, at sums amounting together to $11,050, and a rent of eight per cent. on the purchase money.Besides this, a considerable number of pews were rented at from $30 to 7.50 per annum.-Dem.Press. City & Co. of Philadelphia | 12017 Chester Lancaster Delaware Montgomery Berks 6200 5817 3835 3535 300 5186 3719 1467 953 1164 3341 2311 1030 4585 894 3689 Semi-Annual Bank Dividends, Nov. 1828. Bank of the Northern Liberties, 5 per cent. Mechanics' Bank, 41 do. 211 Southwark Bank, 5 do. Schuylkill Bank, 34 do. Farmers' & Mechanic' Bank, 3 do. The Lehigh chain bridge, at Allentown, after the damage which it sustained from the late fire, being repair. ed so as to render it passable, has again been broken down. The Mauch Chunk Company in the excavation of their canal, were blasting rocks in the vicinity of the bridge, when a large fragment which had been thrown into the air, fell on one of the chains and broke it. The bridge being without a support on the one side, of course gave way. Active preparations, we are informed, have already been made once more to rebuild it, and we have no doubt it will soon be in a good condition for crossing. Easton Cen. A Buck weighing 193 pounds, was shot, a few days ago, near Fannettsburg, Pa. by Mr. James M'Connell. Printed every Saturday morning by William F. Geddes, No. 59 Locust street, Philadelphia; where, and at the Editor's residence, in North 12th st. 3d door south of Cherry st. subscriptions will be thankfully received. Price five dollars per annum payable in six months after the commencement of publication-and annually, there after, by subscribers resident in or near the city, or where there is an agent. Other subscribers pay in advance. THE REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA. DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE. VOL. II.-NO. 20. EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD. PHILADELPHIA, NOV. 29, 1828. REPORT ON EDUCATION. Report on the subject of Education, read in the Senate of man. Pursuant to sundry resolutions, on the subject of Education, adopted by the Senate, the Committee on Education report That from various documents collected by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and by the Chairman of the Committee on Education, in the Senate, during the last session of the Legislature, they have gleaned a number of facts, which they respectfully submit, together with such other matter, called for by the resolutions, as the sources of information, open to the committee, have enabled them to collect. 1. UNIVERSITIES. NO. 48. under the name of "The University of Pennsylvania,’ and have so continued to the present time. By the act of 1779, the Supreme Executive Council were directed to reserve and appropriate to the use of the University, so many of the confiscated estates, as might be necessary to yield to it a yearly income, not exceeding £1500, computing wheat at ten shillings per bushel; such reservations and appropriations to be from time to time laid before the General Assembly for their approbation and confirmation. In pursuance of this direction, the Supreme Executive Council set over to the Trustees, certain estates, rated by the Council at the gross sum of £25,000; and the same having been laid before the General Assembly, an act was passed in 1785 "to confirm them to the Trustees of the University.” Several of these estates, however, were subsequently claimed by individuals, whose rights were not affected by the confirming act of 1785, and the trustees were The committee find but one seminary of learning of evicted by due course of law. Hence the intended this grade, in actual operation, within the Common- grant of £1500 per annum, has actually amounted to wealth. That is "The University of Pennsylvania" not more than about £1200 per annum, with the incon"located" in the city of Philadelphia. This institution venience and expense consequent upon a disputed title. had its origin in an academy, founded in that city in the This, together with $3000, given to aid in the purchase year 1749, by a few distinguished and public spirited of ground for a botanical garden, is "the amount of apindividuals, among whom is found the name of Benja-propriations made by the Commonwealth" to “The Uni min Franklin. To this laudable object, that great man versity of Pennsylvania." and his coadjutors appear to have been stimulated by a conviction, that unless effectual measures were taken to increase the means, which then existed, of educating the youth of Pennsylvania, they were in danger, to use their own language on the occasion, "not only of wanting a succession of fit persons for the public stations of life, but even of degenerating into the greatest ignorance." In 1750, an English, Latin, and Mathematical school was opened in the academy. The institution, thus created by individual enterprise and liberality, continued to flourish, and in 1753, the trustees were incorporated by the "Proprietaries of Pennsylvania." In order to In this seminary, there are at this time, 3 Professors extend its sphere of usefulness, a new charter was granted in 1755, by the provisions of which a college in the department of Arts, a Provost, Vice Provost, and was grafted upon the former academy; and after the ad- a Professor of Languages; six Professors of Medical Scidition of this new department, the institution was deno-ence, two teachers of the Grammar School, and a teach"The branches of learning minated "The College, Academy, and Charitable School er of the Charitable School. 66 the institution," laid before the Legislature, during the America. of Philadelphia, in the Province of Pennsylvania." In taught" in the Department of Arts, are the following. 1779, probably under the influence of feelings excited by By the professor of Languages, the Latin and Greek the revolutionary struggle, the General Assembly pass-carried through a course of the most approved classic languages; in the acquisition of which, the student is ed an act annulling the charters above mentioned, modelling the seminary upon its present form, under the authors. By the Professor of Natural Philosophy, (the name of "The University of the State of Pennsylvania," present vice provost) algebra, Euclid's elements, practiand vesting in the trustees of this new corporation, all cal geometry, trigonometry, mensuration, spherics, use the franchises and estates of "The trustees of the Col- of the maps, dialling, conic sections, fluxions, chemislege, Academy, and Charitable School of Philadelphia, try, natural philosophy and astronomy. By the Provost, in the Province of Pennsylvania." But in 1789, the Le- or Professor of Moral Philosophy; history, rhetoric, logislature, conceiving the act of 1779 to be repugnant logy. To this course, is added, by the Provost, lectures gic, metaphysics, moral philosophy and natural theoto justice, a violation of the constitution of the Commonwealth, and dangerous in its precedent to all incorpo- upon the science of the human mind, delivered once a rated bodies," repealed so much thereof " as effected in week, during the whole term; and by the Vice Provost, any way the ancient corporation of The trustees of a series of lectures upon natural philosophy. In the the College, Academy, and Charitable School of Phila- Grammar School, the pupil passes through a course of delphia, in the Province of Pennsylvania,' and the rights studies preparatory to the higher branches of science. and property of that corporation were again restored. By the act of 1791, however, the two institutions, by agreement and request of their respective trustees, were once more united on the terms mentioned in the act, VOL H. 38 "The number of students," who have usually been receiving their education at this seminary, taking all its See Register, pp. 118. 197 |