SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING VACCINATION. 343 Petty, two The late William Carter, and of the early inhabitants of Philadelphia, left one hundred dollars each, to be laid out in bread, to be annually distributed to the poor of the city, by the board of guardians. An additional provision for a supply of bread to the poor, arises from a donation of the late John Thompson, of two hundred dollars, which sum is to be equally divided every year between the "Female Society for the employment of the poor;" and the " Female Hospitable Society." The following was omitted to be noticed among the charitable societies: Society for Promoting Vaccination among the Poor. On the 10th of March, 1809, a number of persons had a meeting, and declared by the following minute, "That the object of their assembling, was to consider of the expediency of establishing a society for promoting vaccination, a preventive of the small pox, especially among the poorer class of society." On the 29th of the same month, a constitution was proposed and adopted, which provides for the appointment of an acting committee of twelve members, a clerk, treasurer, and six physicians; it also directs that each individual admitted into membership shall pay two dollars, and an annual subscription. The members of the society are divided into committees, and suitable districts of the city and liberties, being assigned to them, it is their duty to seek for objects recognised by the association, and report them to the physicians, who call at their respective dwellings, and vaccinate them free of expense. The physicians are paid by the society for their professional services. The association is encouraged to persevere in its labours, having already had about three thousand persons vaccinated. Tours in the Vicinity of Philadelphia. No city in the United States affords so many diversified rides in its immediate vicinity, as Philadelphia. Almost every street leads to a new route, which after a short distance, is crossed by other roads that lead back to the city, so that the ride may at any time be shortened at pleasure, without the necessity of returning by the same route that you took when going out. you come to the lux The following tours are in particular worth notice. Proceeding down Fifth street, you enter the Passyunk road, and pass numerous gardens that supply the Philadelphia markets with vegetables; and several cross roads that lead to the Gloucester point road, and to the lower bridge on Schuylkill. At the distance of about three miles, by turning off to the left at the "Blue ball tavern,' uriant meadows of Schuylkill point or Greenwich, where a practical farmer, or an amateur, will be highly gratified by viewing grass fields, in the highest possible state of cultivation, and covered with noble cattle. These meadows form the neck of land between the Delaware and Schuylkill, the inroads of which, on the exposed part, are defended by a strong bank, faced with stone.* Returning from those charming fields, to the main road, we pass many natural meadows, extending to the Schuylkill, upon crossing which, we land on State island. Turning the eye to the left, on the Delaware * The owners of those meadows are incorporated by law, and support the banks out of a common fund. sh We as fr fo th fo S S a 0 shore, we see two rows of buildings, part of which were erected at an early period, and used until 1801, as a lazaretto, for the reception of sick persons arriving from sea. Here the peaceable French settlers from Nova Scotia, were landed, and accommodated for some time, after being cruelly shipped off, and their settlement destroyed, by an English naval force, about the year 1756. To the south east and beyond these buildings, the flag at Fort Mifflin is seen. Persons desirous of viewing that interesting spot, may readily find a conveyance by inquiring at the ferry tavern. State island is the great resort of snipes and woodcocks, and on that account much frequented by our sportsmen. Proceeding down through an immense extent of meadows, equal in richness and produce to any in the world, for about a mile and a half, the road turns off to the right, and comes out at the "Blue bell inn," on the Chester road,* or if a greater extent of ride be desired, after having proceeded along the right hand road a small distance, the first road to thic left, at the south end of " Boon's dam," may be taken; this leads through extensive natural meadows to Darby creek. The distance is about five miles, and the road level. In sight of the creek, on the Delaware, are the new Lazaretto, and the buildings connected with that establishment. Crossing the creek, in a scow, you come shortly into the southern post road, at the eleven mile stone; turning to the left, you are within four miles of the town of Chester. At the first creek, from the turn off, on this road, is the tan yard of Messrs. M'Ilvains, where the curious may see the various manipulations in tanning leather, per * The spade and shovel manufactory, at the Bell, will afford amusement to those who have not seen the process of making those common tools. formed by means of mechanical contrivances, which greatly diminish the labour of the process. Chester is the seat of justice of Delaware county, and in the early settlement of the province was a place of considerable note. The Swedes who first settled in the town and adjacent land, named it "Upland," after a province in their own country. It was here that the first English settlers landed, and that Penn assembled the first representatives, and held the first court of justice. The house, in which the legislature sat, was standing a few years since. In the church yard, upon the back of a dark stone, raised beneath an old elm, is the following inscription. In Barbarian bondage After this mercy brought me To my country fair At last I drowned was In river Delaware. On the other side is the following inscription: Aged 50 years. If a more distant excursion, or a view of the celebrated flour mills on Brandywine, be desirable, the main road to Wilmington may be taken. The mills are thickly placed on each side the stream; and at one, or more of them, may be seen the various operations of the manufacture of flour, from the hoisting up of the grain from the shallop, to the packing of the flour in a barrel, performed by the ingenious ma chinery of our countryman, and self taught genius, OLIVER EVANS. Proceeding to the westward, by way of High street, the first object that strikes the attention is the bridge, over the Schuylkill; designed by that original and self taught genius TIMOTHY PALMER, of Newburyport. From the middle of this bridge, especially if the tide be up, the eye will be gratified by a fine prospect of both shores, some handsome country seats being on the bank, and the land agreeably undulated: the United States arsenal is seen in a south-eastern direction, distant about two miles. Proceeding over the river, and ascending the hill, we come to the board-yard of Messrs. M'Ilvains, where a few minutes may be agreeably passed away in viewing an expeditious contrivance to dress shingles, by knives fixed in a wheel, which is connected with a shaft, and turned by a horse. A man and boy will readily dress, carry out and pile away two thousand in a day, but by attaching the works to a water wheel, the same hands could finish three thousand shingles daily. Two sets of hands might be employed on the same machine. The turnpike, leading to Lancaster, takes to the right: the road due west, leads through the village of Hamilton, in sight, to West Chester, distant twenty-three miles. The great southern post road passes to the left: proceeding down it, you have a fine view of the city; and on the right are seen the progressive inclosures and improvements of land, which, after the woods. had been cut down, was suffered to grow up into a thicket, almost impenetrable, until the recent sale of the lots; and in a few years the land will be covered * For a particular account of the bridge, see the Memoirs of the Agricultural Society, Philadelphia. Vol. I. |