agreeable, to be made acquainted with the sources whence he obtained the valuable reliques.-The fac-simile of the poet's writing, cannot fail of being acceptable to every reader: we understand that the gentleman, to whom the letter from which it was taken, is addressed, was the father of Mr. Wilkes of Newyork, who communicated it to the editor, for the present edition. It would be well if every medical man wrote so neat and legible a hand.

The life of Akenside, to which so little justice was done by the envious Johnson, is from the pen of Mr. Garnett, and is, what it ought to be, neat and perspicuous. He has very properly added the testimonies of Mr. Murphy, Dr. Darwin and Dr. Aikin (certainly good judges) in favour of the poetical merit of Dr. Akenside; and the essay by Mrs. Barbauld, will be found a very useful commentary on the principal poem.

The typographical execution does credit to the printer, and the general neatness of the whole edition, gives it an additional recommendation to the notice of the public. We reflect indeed with equal pleasure and surprise, that the credit of publishing the most complete edition of a popular English poet, should be reserved to the infant press of the United States.

EPISTOLARY-FOR THE PORT FOLIO.

MR. OLDSCHOOL,

As you have announced a desire of procuring, at all times, information with regard to American things, and men, and manners, so as, in some measure, to nationalize The Port Folio, and render it the depository of whatever relates to our country, I send you extracts from a correspondence between a gentleman of consideration in Philadelphia and his friends in England, between the years 1740 and 1763. The plan of your magazine excluding politics, all that occurs on this topic, in regard at least to party questions, which can be supposed to excite any sensation at the present day, is omitted, though a few characteristic sketches of men and times are retained.

VOL. I.

F

Yours, &c.

R. N.

"Philadelphia, January 20, 1741-2. "Our winter has been uncommonly mild and open. Nothing can show the severity and changeableness of our climate more than our river being in one night entirely frozen up, and in two days after, not the least appearance of its having been so.”

" Philadelphia, November 20, 1742.

"I should have observed to you, that an act for the choice of inspectors, expiring this year, the old custom was revived, which was, by the people passing from one side of the street to the other, to show their approbation of the person nominated. In order to counterbalance the number of Germans, who had no vote, it was proposed to bring a number of sailors, who, in logic, might be said to have an equal right with those who had no right at all. These soon appeared on the ground; but as sailors will be sailors, instead of answering the end proposed, they get drunk, fall upon the people with clubs and stones, and, without distinction, knock down friend and foe. In short, in three minutes High-street was completely cleared, nothing left but the stalls in the market, and many of them torn up with the hooks on them, as weapons against those who should oppose them. The scene, however, soon changes: for the sailors imagining they had won the day,"divide themselves. At this instant a number of Dutch, and even the Quakers themselves (for they will fight) armed with whole trees, fall upon the seamen. It was a horrid engagement, not unlike that of Don Quixote and the carriers. You might have seen a poor fellow struggling with five or six combatants, who were aiming blows at his head with poles they could scarcely rear, and at length bringing him to the ground in the most bloody manner. The remaining sailors soon give way, and fly to their ships, and even into the river itself, for refuge. The friends do not hesitate to say, that Mr. Allen and the rest of the gentlemen in town, nay even the governor himself, are at the bottom of it.

"The assembly have since sat, and made a strict inquiry into this affair, but have gained very little satisfaction. They have summoned Mr. Allen, Mr. Clement Plumsted, and Mr. Turner, to appear at the next session."t

This was governor George Thomas.

† An account of this affray is given by Mr. Proud in his History of Pennsylvania.

"Philadelphia, December 21, 1742.

"The privateers of this place have taken a very great prize, a Spanish register ship, and a settee of Barracoa, without the loss of one man. Several were killed on the side of the Spaniards, particularly the captains, and a lieutenant-colonel belonging to the Havanna. The two prizes are valued at 100,0007. sterling."

"Philadelphia, July 31, 1744.

"The privateer I mentioned in my last, that was to be lanched the 24th May, called the Tartar, captain Mackey, sunk in going down the bay. Above eighty people were drowned, among whom were Mr. Legate of Newcastle, captain M'Knight of this place, and captain Bodeman. She was a sharp built vessel, and out of all proportion, rigged and masted, and under ballasted. She overset in a moment, with but little wind, and went down instantly. Poor Ellison, a young fellow recommended by you to Mr. P., and by Mr. Samuel to myself, went out à volunteer in her and was lost."

"Philadelphia, February 27, 1744-5.

"I wish to God you were here to see the country, I hope your sons will live to see, and be one day masters of. Shall I tempt you with an account of some part of it, in the county of Bucks? Know then, that about fifty miles from town, lie the barrens of Macungie; from whence you have a prospect of twenty miles together, bounded at last by a variety of hills called Lehigh. Through these barrens falls one of the most beautiful trout streams in the province. The plains, which are equal to the heath of Newmarket for hunting, afford a vast plenty and variety of game. Wolves, foxes, deer, rabbits, turkies, pheasants, partridges, and heath-hens. These last are somewhat larger than the English hen-pheasant, and much alike in feather. I am positive I have seen 200 brace of them in a morning. I went up with a companion in January, and spent but a day and a half, when they were most shy. We had fine sport, killing 184 brace, which we brought to town with us, and which, with our own weight, I assure you, tired our horses completely. If I can spare time in

September next, I shall have the happiness to attend thither, the wisest, worthiest, and best natured man and companion in the world, I mean the governor."

"Philadelphia, December 10, 1745.

"Labour here is extravagant, consequently building and house rent at a high rate. No part of the continent has so plentiful a market. Fish and fowl of all kinds, from the partridge and chicken to the turkey, both wild and tame. Beef, pork, mutton, lamb, veal, as good as in England, from 3d. to 5d. per lb. A couple of chickens eight pence-a turkey or goose two shillings currency. The climate is too much on the extreme both of heat and cold. In summer I have known instances of people dying with heat, and in most winters our river is frozen overin a night's time.

"America is called the New World. Indeed, its climate seems scarcely to be put in order: for at Christmas, we have, sometimes, summer weather, and so on the contrary. It is now so warm as to set without a fire; the winds are hushed, the heavens serene, the sun in all his lustre."

"Philadelphia, February 3, 1747. "Since my last I am become a soldier, and have been honoured with the commission of lieutenant, in one of the companies of associates, a post in life I very little dreamed of, &c. Our device is a city walled round, with this motto: "The safety of the people is the supreme law." I wish our assembly thought so; who continue still deaf to our petitions, and obstinate against defence."

"Philadelphia, June 16, 1748.

"Our assembly have been called, but to no purpose, towards giving protection to either trade or province. People in general think very hard of it. The necessity the Otter sloop has for men, obliged her officers to a press, which last night occasioned a very great mob, armed with swords, &c. But the of

• Governor Thomas.

ficers escaped from the house wherein they were beset, and no mischief ensued."

"Philadelphia, July 19, 1750.

"I formerly attempted, I think, madam, to give you some idea of this city. It is situate on a plain between the two large rivers Delaware and Schuylkill. The streets are straight and spacious, intersecting each other at right angles, and consist of about 2000 houses, and must contain, according to the usual computation of 8 persons to a house, 16000 inhabitants.

"This province contains people of all persuasions; liberty of conscience being allowed of from the first settlement. To enumerate the different sects is almost impossible. One is apt to think with Hudibras-That divinity had catch'd the itch, on purpose to be scratch'd. The quakers are not a fourth part of the inhabitants, and yet are the ruling number among us.-Our winters are very severe, and our summers extremely hot. The best thermometers have been this month at 97; a degree of heat seldom known on your side the water. The extremes of heat and cold in this climate are very great, and I might add, it is unhealthy."

"Philadelphia, July 25, 1750.

"We have had, and it still continues, one of the driest summers ever known. Our pastures have entirely lost their verdure, and are become as brown as the hay they afforded."

"Philadelphia, April 5th, 1752. "To the followers of Whitfield, we owe that spacious building, the seat of one of the best seminaries on the continent, where the sciences, the learned languages, and our own, are taught to a number of youths, little short of three hundred. Another instance of our calmness is seen in the united disposition to contribute to this, and many other undertakings carrying on among us-such as a steeple to our church, a presbyterian meeting house, a hospital, besides bridges, wharves," &c.

"Philadelphia, March 2, 1756. "The province for some time past has had almost 1200 men in pay, and several forts are erected in the counties of York,