pied when he wished to retire, and very good naturedly took a cot on the floor, with some of the less fortunate of us.

The Connecticut steam-boat is as much inferior (though highly celebrated) to the New Swiftsure, on the St. Lawrence, in point of accommodation and style, as a provincial inn to a first-rate London hotel; and as an Englishman, I felt flattered by the comparison. I have just been to pay a morning call on my Charleston acquaintance, Col., who brings his family every year to spend the summer at their country residence near New York; they were preparing for their return to Charleston; and the young ladies talked of their journey of 800 miles as if it was a ride from a country-seat in one of our midland counties to the metropolis.

I am staying at the Mechanic Hall, where I find many Georgians and Carolinians, who are still deterred by the continued prevalence of the fever in the south from returning home.

Letter XXVII.

Philadelphia, 31st October, 1820.

I WROTE to you by the Hercules; and have since had the gratification of receiving, by the Ann Maria, after a very short passage, your letter of the 30th ult. with your "all well," of the 6th instant, as well as 's letter of the 4th instant, which has reached me on the banks of the Delaware, 27 days after it was written in Cheshire.

We set out from New York on the 20th; and on getting into the boat to cross the bay, I was glad to find my Salem friend, Mr. and the other two Massachusets' delegates to the Convention, which is sitting here to oppose the new tariff. He introduced me to all the party, who had fortunately brought their ladies with them. They filled one of the stages, which met us on the other side of the bay; but on reaching Bristol, about 60 miles from New York, we all went on board the same steam-boat, and arrived at Philadelphia at seven o'clock, 96 miles, in 13 hours.-Fare, 22s. 6d. each.

The boarding-house, where we proposed staying, being full,, (the Russian Minister and his suite were of the party there,) I came to Mrs. Carvers, in Fourth-street, a very pleasant house, where I found Mr. and Mrs.

and several southern planters, who filled the boarding-houses at present, being detained longer in the north than usual, by the continued prevalence of fever at home. Mr.B. is the Senator from

whom I met frequently at Washington, in the winter. They breakfast, dine, and drink tea, with the rest of the boarders. This house was formerly the residence of Mr. Dallas, the Secretary of the Treasury, and is close to that which was occupied by the late Dr. Rush. It is extremely well conducted; the only deficiency being that of private sitting-rooms. To a stranger, the system of boarding-houses is a very convenient and agreeable one, as it gives him an excellent opportunity of seeing society, and frequently the best society in the country. An introduction is sometimes required for admission; and they are often kept by ladies who have moved in very respectable circles. I have lately spent one or two mornings very agreeably, in visiting several country-seats in the neighbourhood. Those on the Schuykill, particularly, are very romantically situated, and

are frequently furnished expensively and in good taste. I dine out frequently. At several large dinner parties, I have met many of the most distinguished members of Congress. On these occasions, the conversation has generally been earnest, if not animated, and always directed to some topic of general interest. In an evening, I often meet with agreeable society at the house of Mr. where a lamp is lighted several nights in the week, as a sort of telegraphic signal that the family is at home. Mr. and Mrs. are remarkable for their hospitality, and for their liberal and excellent arrangements for entertaining strangers. On calling there the other evening, on my way home, I found a lady, who mentioned General Washington giving her his portrait; and I heard a gentleman describe, from memory, the last scene of the General's public life, when he resigned his office, and delivered his last speech from the State-house, which was within 200 yards of us the house in which the Declaration of Independence was first proclaimed. He repeated, what I have often been told, that much as General Washington rode and walked through the streets, during a residence of several years in Philadelphia, he seldom passed a window, without the party in the room rising to

!

look at him, although they might have been in his company the hour before.

Many of my friends here are Quakers; and at their houses I spend many agreeable hours. At one of them I recognized an old friend, in a representation of Warwick Castle, on some beautiful china cups and saucers; and on inquiry, learnt that they had obtained a drawing of this interesting castle, and sent it to China to be painted. As a city, Philadelphia is quite unique, and I admire it more and more every day. Indeed, when in its very centre, you can scarcely believe that you are in a city. The bustle of business is confined to the new street nearest to the Delaware; and the rest of the city gives you the idea of a genteel watering place.

The fine airy streets, one and a half to two miles long, cross each other at right angles, and at intervals, open into spacious squares, which are frequently ornamented with handsome trees. Those streets which run from east to west, are called 1st, 2nd, 3rd, &c. while those from north to south derive their names from trees, Chesnut, Walnut, Spruce, Pine, Cedar, Mulberry, &c. bearing some analogy to the name of the State. The door-cases and steps are of white marble: they are kept beautifully clean; and the effect is heightened by the substitution of