noble generofity, and the fimpleft of manners. His large family is univerfally efteemed; and in no quarter of the world is there any one more eftimable. I was received by him as a brother; and my heart is filled with fentiments of esteem, gratitude, and love. for him, that will go with me to the grave; and I hope he will pardon my expreffion of those fentiments in this place.

To name every one from whom I have received offices of kindnefs would be to trefpafs too much on my reader; and I must be satisfied with indulging myfelf with a remembrance of their friendship.

Notwithstanding the defective state of society in Philadelphia, this city is perhaps the most agrecable of the United States for a foreigner.. The refidence of the members of Congrefs will enable him to gather information on the different parts of this interesting country; and, in fact, to travel through its different ftates with great advantage to his enquiries. Although in Philadelphia, as throughout America, no one is fufficiently free from employment to give himself wholly to letters or the fciences, this city contains, more than any other, perfons who cultivate them, and whofe fociety is extremely interesting when thofe fubjects are difcuffed. There is a philofophical fociety here, and a large and valu

able

able library.

There is alfo a museum which

has an almost complete collection of the minerals and animals of North America. This fine collection is the property of Mr. PEALE. His intelligence, and indefatigable industry for twenty years in the forming this collection, have fupplied the want of means that a more ample fortune would have readily furnished, and entitle him to aid in his undertaking from the govern

ment.

The profufion and luxury of Philadelphia, on great days, at the tables of the wealthy, in their equipages, and the dreffes of their wives and daughters, are, as I have obferved, extreme. I have seen balls on the Prefident's birth-day where the fplendor of the rooms, and the variety and richness of the dreffes did not fuffer in comparifon with Europe; and it must be acknowledged, that the beauty of the American ladies has the advantage in the comparifon. The young women of Philadelphia are accomplished in different degrees, but beauty is general with them. They want the eafe and fashion of French women; but the brilliancy of their complexion is infinitely fuperior. Even when they grow old they are ftill handfome; and it would be no exaggeration to fay, in the numerous affemblies of Philadelphia it is impoffible to meet with what is

called

As to the young men,

called a plain woman.

they for the most part feem to belong to another fpecies.

Wealth makes all the distinction of claffes in Philadelphia. The great merchants, and the lawyers who are at the head of their profeffion, hold the first rank. Different claffes very rarely mingle together. The Quakers live among themfelves, and in a retired manner. But gay colours please the young Quaker-ladies; and are indeed great enemies of the fect. The toilette is the fubject of much uneafinefs to the old people, whether prohibited or tolerated by them. But whether prohibited or not, the young and handfome Quakergirls will facrifice to the toilette, and call themfelves Half-quakers; and, it must be confeffed, they are the greatest favourites with our fex. The

young men among the Quakers, who would make themselves agreeable to the female deferters, powder and shape their drefs accordingly; and the fect is continually lofing fome of those that fhould be its pillars by the effect of a ribband or gown.

Profufion is not confined to the higher ranks. It spreads among the fervants; and even reaches the negroes. Both one and the other give their balls, which are deftitute of the charming fimplicity of the fetes of our peafants. Variety of

refresh

refreshments, good fuppers, and fine dreffes; diftinguifh them. A female negro fervant, whofe wages are one dollar per week, will, at these balls, have a dress that cofts fixty dollars. They never go but in coaches to these balls, which are very frequent. On Sundays the public-houses in the environs of the city are crouded with labourers and little fhopkeepers, who frequently come in a chair, with their whole family, and will expend from three to four dollars for the day's entertainment. It is not to hoard that the Americans are rapacious; their improvidence has ftill all the character of colonists.

There is a theatre at Philadelphia, in despight of the many and vehement petitions presented against it by the Quakers and diffenting minifters. It is generally crouded; not that the actors are good, but it is a place where people can affemble and exhibit themfelves. There are from twenty to twenty-five ftage-coaches, that either go from or arrive at Philadelphia every day. They are mean and incommodious carriages; but are light, and travel very quickly. The horfes are good in Pennsylvania; and there are fets belonging to fome of the ftage-coaches that are not furpaffed by any in Europe.

The inhabitants of Philadelphia, like those of the whole State of Pennfylvania, are a mixture

of

of all the nations of Europe. The English are in the greatest number. The counties of Pennfylvania, beyond the Sufquehannah, and at a greater distance from Philadelphia than the reft, are little influenced by the political opinions of the capital, which, as I have faid, are in favor of England.

There are a great many newspapers published in Philadelphia; whence they are spread through all the state.

Twenty-eight places of worship hold the different fects of Philadelphia. The Quakers have fix. One of these belongs to the Free-quakers; a body expelled from the reft, for having carried arms, and accepted offices under the government of the State, or that of the Union, during the ftruggle for Independence. This body does not differ from the fect, except in a relaxation of ecclefiaftical difcipline. There is a place of worship called the African Church, fet apart for the negroes; who go, notwithstanding, to the other churches at their pleasure. The clergyman of the African church is himself a negroe. He is joined to the clergy on all occafions where they affemble in a body.

The Quakers have eftablished here two charity fchools for the negroes, where they are taught to read, write, and caft accounts. But

But among

the