deprived of this valuable animal, furnished for the food of an increasing population, by a wise and beneficent Providence; and praying for the passage of a law to prevent all persons, except actual residents or the holders of lands, houses, or tenements, in the county of Potter, from killing or destroying any deer therein, at any | period of the year whatsoever, under the same pains and penalties prescribed by the law for killing and destroy. ing of deer from January to August. pearances as to usefulness, and we do not think well of it. If a canal is made in Peg's Run, it will be about two and three quarter miles in length. The southern route passes from Fair Mount along the bank of the Schulkill, to a point between Spruce and Pine streets, thence following south-easterly up a small run, and by a deep cutting gain the declivity of ground toward the Delaware, and connect with it somewhere about Wharton or Reed street, below the Navy-Yard. This will be about four and a quarter miles in length. If a canal is made on the northern route, it must conform in width to circumstances in the bed of Peg's Run; and where stone or brick is used to form the sewer and sides of a canal it may be reduced in width to twentyfour feet water line. Although Mr. Hains, the city surveyor, has rendered us every assistance we could ask, still, as far as regards the northern route, we have not all the data necessary to We however can state the give you a correct estimate. facts near enough for a comparative view, and it will be in the power of Mr. Hains to correct such parts as he shall find erroneous, if further levels are taken. The western debouche of the canal on the northern route ought to be north of Fair Mount. In England, there are a great number of laws made for the security and preservation of game. The restric- On a full view of the objects and utility of this canal, tion laws relating to forests and game, were intro- and its connexion with other great improvements new duced into Europe, at the same time, and by the same going on and in contemplation, we should recommend people, who gave birth to the feudal system. It was the size of the canal to be twenty-four feet bottom, thirthe policy of every conquering general, when he van-ty-six feet top-water line, and four feet deep, and the quished a country, to bestow privileges upon his sol- locks to be seventy-five feet long between gates, and diers, for their military services, and especially to prohi- eight and a half feet wide. bit the natives from the use of arms. In order to this, it became necessary to prohibit hunting and sporting, and that the conqueror should reserve this right to himself, and such of his feudatories and barons, as he might think proper to bestow it upon. This exclusive privilege well suited the martial genius of those conquering troops who delighted in a sport which bore resemblance to war; and it is remarkable, that in those countries where the feudal policy remains the most uncorrupted, the forest, or game laws, continue in their greatest rigour. In France, all game was properly the kings; and in some parts of Germany, it is death for a peasant to be found hunting in the woods of the nobility. In England, the sole right of taking and destroying game, belongs to the king; founded originally, upon the princiAssuming the level of top-water line, on this route at ple, that the king is the ultimate proprietor of all the eighteen feet above Fair Mount Dam, we would make lands in the kingdom, all being held either mediately, three locks on the western declivity, as near the pond as or immediately, from and under him. But in this coun- they can be located, and have ponds between them of try, where the genius of the people and government are two hundred feet, or so formed by extra width, as that so widely different, restrictive laws would be illy adapt a lock full of water shall not reduce the pond more than ed. It is one of the blood bought privileges of this three or four inches. There would be then eighteen country, that the law recognises no order, distinction, or feet lockage on the western side, and thirty feet to low rank in society, other than intrinsic worth, or unassum-tide on the eastern: these thirty feet we should divide ing merit entitle the possessor to. By the constitution into five locks. and laws of the country, every man from the president to the lowest peasant, is entitled to equal privileges; and no admirer of a well regulated system of public freedom, could desire it should be otherwise. To give the residents, and land holders of Potter county, the sole and exclusive right of taking and destroying game within the limits of that county, your committee respectfully conceive, would be one step towards destroying that equality of privilege which it is the pride and boast of this country to enjoy. The committee were discharged from any further consideration of the subject. [Journal of Senate, 1827-8. SCHUYLKILL AND DELAWARE CANAL. In 1825, at the request of the Watering Committee, engineers were engaged to examine and ascertain the practicability and probable cost of making a canal be. tween the two rivers, to be supplied with water by means of the Fair Mount Dam. The following was their report. Joseph S. Lewis, Esq. Chairman of the Watering Committee, City of Philadelphia. Sir-Agreeably to your request, we have examined the ground between the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers, in company with Mr. Hains, city surveyor, upon two proposed routes for a canal between those rivers. Taking this data, the estimated expense may be set down thus: 200,000 cubic yards of excavation, at 16 cents $32,000 Rock excavation near Fair Mount, say 13,000 35 bridges, at 1000 dollars 35,000 48 feet of lockage 48,000 Sewers, masonry in Peg's Run, &c. say 52,800 8,540 $189,340 The supply of water for this canal, locking down as it does both ways, and providing for lockage, leakage, absorption, and evaporation, and assuming that great care will be used in puddling to prevent absorption, and assuming that twelve boats will pass every hour, and the locks kept in use at least twelve hours in twenty-four, the quantity of water cannot be less than one million two hundred and twelve thousand cubic feet for every twenty-four hours to give an adequate supply. The southern route may be stated thus. The plan, as before mentioned, is to carry the level of the Fair Mount Dam along the Schuylkill, to a point between Spruce and Pine streets, and thence by a deep cutting the Delaware, and there locate a lock, which at low wathrough the dividing ridge, carry on that level to near ter would have twelve feet lift. If a saving of water, and little more delay in passing, should be better, this might be divided into two locks. The examinations, to estimate the expense, have been more complete on this route than on the northern. The Both projects commence at the surface of water in the pond at Fair Mount. From thence the northern route passes near Callowhill street, and then through the Northern Liberties, following the bed of Peg's Run to the Delaware. Another debouche was examined, to fall into the Cohocksink, between Second and Third streets: this latter plan does not present favourable ap- 51,333 do. estimate we shall state thus: 514,136 cubic yards excavation, at 20 cts. $102,827 20 If only one lock is made at the Delaware, the quantity of water to supply lockage, leakage, absorption, and evaporation, is estimated at 835,200 feet for every twenty-four hours, assuming that 144 boats pass in that time; and should the one lock be divided into two, the quantity of supply would be reduced to about 500,000 cubicing the use of the hammer: from whence he obtained feet for every twenty-four hours. He was born in the city of New York, in 1684; was bound apprentice to a sea-faring man, who put him to school, in New York, to learn navigation: at which time he became intimate with a boy who worked at the whitesmith's trade, with whom he amused himself in acquira facility in working at plate work in the silver-smith's business. He followed the sea-faring life for thirty years, and then commenced the silver-smith's trade, without having served any apprenticeship to it; yet in Philadelphia he has been esteemed one of the best workmen at hollow work in that line of business; and there still are pieces of his work in this city much esteemed. He made a tumbler in silver, when he was ninety-four years It will be seen at one view, that if we take into considerntion the number of locks on the northern route, the expense of lock keepers, annual repairs, which ought to be set down as a capital of 25 or 30,000 dollars, and then add the expenses of raising water to supply the northern route, without estimating the value of water lost by this project, and without taking into view the injury which may be done by disturbing the water-pipes while carry-old. ing on the work, that a decided preference is given in our opinion to the southern route. Although the length of canal is greater, there is a gain of time in having no locks to pass until you reach the one on the Delaware; as the comparison is between the time in passing seven locks and in passing one and a half mile of canal, which is in favour of the latter. Through the course of a long and hazardous life, in various climes, he was always plain and temperate in his eating and drinking; and particularly avoided spirituous liquors; except in one instance. When he was lieutenant in a privateer, which sailed from Barbadoes in Queen Anne's wars, being on a cruise on the Spanish main, he with fifty or sixty men, made a descent on a village in intoxicated. And this rare instance of his conviviality, furnished a lesson, if not previously secured by natural temperance, to check it in future. For the Spaniards, taking advantage of this situation, got between them and the sea, and killed every man of his party, except one and himself, whom they made prisoners; and in his attempting to escape from this situation, by cutting out a sloop, he was detected, and again put in confinement, where he continued a considerable length of time. He married his first wife in New York, whose maiden name was Catharine Cheeseman, by whom he had eight children, twenty-five grand children, twenty-three great grand children, and 3 great great grand children. Of the importance and necessity of a connexion be-pillaging, and there he became, with most of the rest, tween the two rivers, no one can doubt that the time has arrived when such a connexion is required. The trade which the city of Philadelphia has heretofore enjoyed with the western country, has come to it by roads -a new era is about to commence. The Schuylkill Navigation Company have now nearly completed their works-an extension by the Union Canal will soon connect the Schuylkill and Susquehannah by canal-and the day is not far off when connexion will be formed by canal between the Susquehannah and Allegheny, and between the Allegheny and Lake Erie. When these works are completed, the products of a country west and north-west of Philadelphia, with a population which will soon arrive at several millions, will find its easiest and most natural connexion with the ocean by that city. This trade, coming as it will by water down the Schuylkill, will find great and beneficial advantages, by a ready and convenient connexion with the business part of the city. This connexion between the east and the west parts of the city, will give a stimulus and activity to those parts now stationary-will make a unity of interest between the east and west-will allay jealousies if they exist, and prevent them if they do not-and make the city united in all its great interests of trade and com merce. We cannot close without mentioning, that in making these estimates, we have affixed prices such as in our opinion would be the fair value of the labour, were it done in the country-being in the vicinity of the city will no doubt vary the cost of many items: and local advantages may and will have a very important bearing on the cost. This variation you will better understand than ourselves. We beg leave to refer you to the maps and profiles made by Mr. Hains, whose advice and good judgment have been very useful to us in this examination, and to whom we have explained more in detail our views and plans. Respectfully submitted, BENJAMIN WRIGHT, Philadelphia, June 25, 1825. At the age of fifty-one, he married his second wife in Philadelphia; her maiden name was Ann Vanlear, nineteen years old at the time of the marriage; by whom he had seventeen children, forty-one grand children, and fifteen great grand children. 8, of whom 7 are dead. 25, The state of his issue, at this time, according to the Total by first wife, 6 23, 3, 59, 13 17, of whom 12 are 41, 16 15, 4 73, 32 Total by the second wife, His second wife died in Philadelphia, 14th of Novemiber, 1788, aged 72. He never had a head ache; and has often said, that he thought himself in his prime of life, when at the age of sixty years. He has always been fond of fishing and fowling; and till his eighty-first year, he used to carry, in his hunting The Ohio river was five feet six inches above low wa- excursions, a heavy English musket. He was ever a ter mark at Pittsburg, on the 1st instant. quiet, temperate, and hard working man; is now very cheerful and good-humoured. He can hear, see, and walk about; has a good appetite, with no complaints whatever, except from the mere weakness of old age. In the early part of his life, he was on two scouts against the Indians. He used to tell, that in one of these excursions, they went out in the night-that they lifted up their feet high in stepping, to prevent a noise among the leaves-that they took an Indian woman prisoner, who led them to where the Indians lay-that they fired, and killed most of the Indians, before they could get to their arms, and a few only escaped. That the Indians came in, and made a peace before the scouting party returned. That he knew the noted pirate Teach, called Black Beard; that an act of oblivion had passed, which permitted all pirates to return to their allegiance; that Black Beard then came to Barbadoes, where he saw him. This was a short time before that pirate made his last cruize, and was killed in Carolina. His grand father by his mother's side, Mr. Arthur Strangeways, died at Boston, sitting in his chair, when at the age of one hundred and one years. His father, Mr. John Hutton, was born at Bermuda, in Scotland; where, it is said, there are many of the family now living.-[Amer. Museum. Philadelphia, Sept. 3, 1792. Died December 20, 1792. DENGUE FEVER. Some cases of this fever having occurred at the Lazaretto, and as this is a disease, respecting which but little appears to be known in this country, we give some extracts from a communication from Dr. Lehman, the Lazaretto Physician to the Board of Health. It is published at length in the last number of the American Journal of Medical Sciences. Account of the disease called Dengue, which has prevailed so extensively at Havana. By G. F. LEHMAN, M. D. Lazaretto Physician to the Port of Philadelphia. (Communicated to the Board of Health. In answer to the resolution of the Board of last even ing, requesting my opinion of the nature of the disease with which the men of the ship Columbia are affected, Irespectfully communicate the following facts. Henry Allen, seaman, had, while in Havana, the disease called by the natives Dengue, from which he entirely recovered upon warm lemonade, He continued in good health until the 20th of June, when he was seized with a high fever, and pains in all his bones, the violence of which, particularly in his head and back, was almost insupportable; a dose of calomel and jalap was administered to him, which had no effect. In three days the violence of the affection was over. He is now very weak, depressed in his spirits, has pains in his bones, and no appetite, but without any fever. I consider him, therefore, at present, as labouring under the effects of Dengue. red tongue, and a bright redness over the body. To day he is better.* From the conversations I have had with the passengers of the brig Pomona, some of whom have resided many years in Havana, and one of them had sixteen cases of Dengue in his own family, I am led to believe that the disease of the men of the ship Columbia is the same. It varies occasionally in all its symptoms, excepting the pains in the bones, which exist in all cases. The facts in support of my conclusions are now all before you. Two of these men have been sick before, and the other predisposed to the disease, which was probably excited into operation, by exposure to tempestuous and wet weather here. This disease, which appears to be a variety of bilious fever, depends no doubt on the extraordinary weather experienced for some months past on the Island of Cuba. No rain has fallen for six months, and the drought is severe beyond all recollection. When the rains begin to fall, the disease will no doubt, alter its complexion, and assume a different type. Lazaretto, July 3d, 1828. The person about to be affected, is usually attacked, (but not uniformly,) during the night, with a fever, pain in the head, back and limbs, and a soreness of the muscles to the touch. Sometimes the head alone suffers from pain; occasionally the severity is in the lower extremities, and indeed every part of the body is affected; but generally the head, back, and limbs are more or less disordered together. The first sensation of pain that Mrs. Vinas felt was in her wrist. Mr. Melizet, (a passenger of the brig Pomona,) was warned of his atSome are tack by a pain in the corn on his little toe. primarily affected in the extreme end of their fingers, and thus it varies in almost every case, but the disease advances, and falls on more important parts. From the violence of arterial excitement, delirium is no uncommon occurrence. At the expiration of three days, the morbid influence usually ceases, and the patient recovers with a voracious appetite, or a total loss of it for many days; the soreness of the joints and muscles continuing for some time, and eventually relieved by profuse perspiration. All are not attacked with equal severity. In many instances the disease is light, and terminates in forty or fifty hours. improper, and prepared to treat any cases that might I was early aware that powerful remedial agents were fall under my inspection agreeably to the Spanish plan. When the seamen of the ship Columbia were introduced into the hospital, I gave each of them half an ounce of them had an alvine dejection for forty-eight hours precastor oil, merely to open the primæ viæ, (neither of balm tea to be drunk, repeated pediluviums, and a light ceding,) and then directed warm weak chamomile and regimen. Two of them are now well, the other was very much debilitated when landed, and from previous neglect seems to labour under visceral obstructions. From its incipient symptoms, independent of other considerations, I am induced to consider Dengue as a bilious fever, modified by the prevailing weather of the Island of Cuba, and particularly the dryness. It presents to be sure a new face, but some of the old features are so strongly marked that its identity is tolerably certain. This conclusion I wish you to understand, is founded particularly on the observation of those under my care, and if they correspond with all others in symptoms, William M'Elwee, the blacksmith, was taken sick June 19th of a violent fever, excruciating pains in his back and head, and severe vomiting. He had alternate flushes of heat and cold shiverings, with a burning redness over the whole body. In a few days the cuticle desquamated. He now complains of pains in his joints, slight head ache, and occasional nausea. He took no James Simpson was perfectly well on the 7th inst. medicine, but drank freely of warm lemonade. This may be put down as a case of Dengue. James Simpson, seaman, states, that in the morning of June 30th, he had a chill while aloft-the next morning he felt well again. On the night of July 1st, he was seized by severe pains in his back and head, and thought he was dying. Yesterday morning I saw him. He had, in addition to the pains, considerable fever, with a fur but in consequence of running about too much at night, and exposing himself to the very heavy dews prevailing here, he had a relapse, with all his original symptoms, but not quite so violent. A moderate dose of castor oil with warm balm tea removed the complaint in fortyeight hours, and he is now (July 11th,) convalescent. Second attacks, or more properly speaking, perhaps relapses, are very common. &c. (of which my knowledge is from hearsay,) the inference is not far from the truth. I shall conclude with a brief outline of a few cases. They agree, in general, with all the others I have heard of, and only differ in the violence of the attack or some unimportant symptom. John Pleasants, passenger of the ship Hibernia, was sick in Havana. He states that he was attacked about twelve o'clock at night with fever, pains in his head, back, and lower extremities. He took a dose of calomel and jalap, which operated copiously. Afterwards he drank warm orange-water-threw a blanket over him which produced a free perspiration. In a few days he was well. Slight pains in his joints, and soreness of the muscles to the touch, continued for a short period after his convalescence. Captain Newton, of the brig Pomona, was seized about sunset with pains in the bones, and a little fever, with vomiting, which continued eight hours. The fever abated in twenty-four hours, but the pains continued for several days in the limbs. He drank orange-water cold, and took a dose of calomel and jalap, and several doses of oil during convalescence, and was nigh falling a sacrifice to the strong purgatives. His face and body were covered by red blotches. Mr. Astley Punton, passenger of the ship Hibernia, was taken sick in Havana, with pains in the head and fever, which continued thirty six hours. He drank warm orange-water, and had mustard cataplasms to the soles of his feet. He recovered in a few days with an impaired appetite. James Wetherly, carpenter of the ship Hibernia, had pain in the head, back, and limbs, nausea, but no vomiting; a dose of calomel and jalap was administered, and plenty of warm lemonade, and in three days he was well-covered with red blotches. Pimples similar to the prickly heat, and red spots on the cuticle, were very common during convalescence. Lazaretto, July 7th, 1828. Wheat Crop.-In the eastern sections, extending to Blue Ridge, the crop is in general abundant, and of fine quality, and with the exception of Northampton county, (where it was suffered to remain too long in the field) well secured. In the middle section, or Susquehanna country, and more particularly in Mifflin, Centre, and Huntingdon counties, very serious injury has been sustained by rust, and the crop reduced one-third to onehalf. On the west and north branches, the injury is believed not to be so serious. Delaware County.-George G. Leiper, of Ridley township, commenced his canal on Monday week last, and one lock is nearly completed. The length of the canal will be near a mile, and will be of great importance to this section of our country. It will be connected with Crum creek, which empties into the Delaware-and when completed, (which will be done as soon as possible) will have a tendency to enhance the value of property in that neighbourhood, as well as open a direct water communication between Philadelphia and the stone quarries belonging to Mr. Leiper. There are several mill seats near its location.-Upland Union. (From the Lycoming Gazette.) In the meadow of Mr. Philip Swisher, of Clinton township, Lycoming county, a few days since, while his hands were employed in making hay, they discovered a striped snake of about four feet in length, and of immense thickness, which being dissevered, was found to contain one hundred and eleven young ones of about five inches in length. I had often heard it said, these reptiles, on apprehension of danger, will expand their mouths, and receive their young into their bellies for protection, but had THE REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA. DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE. EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD, NO. 51, FILBERT STREET. VOL. II.-NO. 5. PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Report of the Committee appointed to inquire into the operation of the Poor Laws. Read, January 29th, 1825. MR. MEREDITH, Chairman. [Concluded.] NO. 33. 1814 1816 1817 The Orphan Asylum, instituted in the year 1824 Many more might, it is believed, easily be named, but enough has been said to prove that, notwithstanding the Your committee proceed now to the enquiries on the number of poor relieved at a vast expense from the the next head, whether the necessity for private charity public funds, there is still an increasing mass of unreliev has been done away by the operation of the public pro-ed pauperism, which is at last thrown upon the charity vision for the poor. of individuals, exerted either privately or through societies voluntarily formed for the purpose. Your committee, with these facts before them, can have no hesi tation in saying, decidedly, that the necessity for private charity, has been in no manner removed by the opera tion of the poor laws. The following estimate, formed in the year 1800, of the annual sums paid for the support and benefit of the poor, in London and its environs, is taken from an author well acquainted with the subject. (1) ESTIMATE. 1. Asylums for the relief of objects of charity and humanity, 2. Asylums and hospitals, for the sick, lame and diseased, 3. Institutions for benevolent, charitable, and humane purposes, 4. Private charities, 5. Charity schools for educating the poor, 6. Endowed establishments, for which the poor are chiefly indebted to our ances tors, Total sum spent in charity, exclusive of the legal assessments, 7. While the annual assessment for the poor rates paid by the inhabitants of London and its environs, amounted to no more than 3. Of those who are relieved by the public bounty, whether the greater portion are not composed of such as have been reduced to penury by vice or improvidence? The evidence on this head, is thought by your committee to be clear and irrefragable. It is the opinion of all who have diligently investigated the subject, in dif ferent parts of the Union, that the great mass of pauperism is produced by habits of dissipation and intemper A committee, appointed at the session of the general court of Massachusetts, in the year 1820, to take into consideration the pauper laws of that commonwealth, reported as a result, supported by the experience both of England and Massachusetts, and which might be adopted as a principle, "That of all causes of pauperism, intemperance in the use of spirituous liquors was the most powerful and universal." (1) The following passages, from the appendix to the same report, will 255,000 place this subject in a striking light. The extracts are taken from the returns made to the committee by the overseers of the different towns in Massachusetts, and contain the assertions of men who speak from their own So far then had the poor laws of England failed to re-observation, and whose official situation must have bro't the facts which they avouch within. their own personal move the necessity for private charity, that in the metropolis, when the poor rates stood at £255,000 the sum knowledge. spent annually for the relief of the poor, in other ways, amounted to 595,000l. It is believed that, in this state, the system has not been more effectual for this purpose than in England. (2) In the year 1821, notwithstanding the great number of poor, relieved by the public bounty, at a vast expense, in the city and county of Phi-vestigation of the subject, we are convinced that doladelphia, there existed in that city and county, at the the multiplied resorts of idleness and intemperance." mestic pauperism is generated and subsisted mostly in very least, one hundred and sixty charitable and beneficial societies, besides sixty-nine religious institutions, all of which, as is well known, have a fund for the relief of the poor of their own congregations. In addition to this, the sums given by individuals, in private charity, are estimated at a large amount;-and withal, when a year of great pressure occurs, collections are made throughout the city and liberties, and the money thus raised is applied to the immediate relief of the indigent, under the direction of a committee of the citizens. New societies, for charitable purposes, are also springing up from time to time. A few may be named, established within the last ten or eleven years. (1) Colquhoun, Pol. of the Met. p. 357. Rep. of Comm. on Pauperism, 1821-2. VOL. II. 11. for us to remark, that the cause of pauperage, in a very TOWNS.-Sutton.-"It may perhaps be totally useless large share of the instances on our list, may be traced to habits of intemperance." Charlestown. "By a recent and very particular in the 28 persons now in our alms house, there are but two West Cambridge. It is worthy of remark, that of who were not brought there, either directly or indirectly, by intemperance." Beverly."It may be confidently stated, that the chief sources of pauperism in this county, are idleness, impro vidence and intemperance. Intemperance is the most fruitful source of pauperism; more than half the adult persons who have been admitted to our work house, for sixteen years, have been addicted to the excessive use of ardent spirits." Heath."Under this system, the shiftless place themselves at ease; their friends use no exertions to induce (1) Rep. Comm. Mass. 1821. p. 9. |