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here in 1805. It was shortly after incorporated by the legislature, and a building was erected with suitable apartments for study and exhibition rooms. One of the apartments contains a few specimens of antique sculpture, and casts of most of the celebrated statues. Among the modern specimens is a bust of Washington by Canova, and one of West by Chantrey. The painting room is more richly stored, and can boast, if the catalogue is correct, of several paintings by the old masters; among these are three by Titian, one by Raphael, one by Correggio, which is said to have been executed for Charles III. of Spain, and was purchased for £340, three by Rubens, one by Dominichino, one by Teniers, one by Vandyke, one by Paul Veronese, one by Rembrandt, four by Murillo, and three by Salvator Rosa. These are but a few of the old paintings, and, amongst a crowd of moderns, are some of great merit by native artists, the chief of whom appear to be Allston and Lesslie From Allston's pencil, is a beautiful picture of the dead man raised to life by touching the bones of the prophet Elisha;

"A writer in the North American Review claims on behalf of his country the honour of having produced the first historical painter of the present day, and this rank he assigns to Mr. Allston. The modern school of painting,' says he, bids fair to flourish among us, and that not merely from flattering pretty faces and appealing to personal vanity, but in the historic department of the art. We hope we do not go out of our way to pay a compliment to our fellow citizen, who has now founded upon a series of works, that have stood the test of English and of American criticism, the reputa

and by Lesslie is a painting which I thought excellent, exhibiting William of Deloraine unhorsed and wounded by Lord Cranstoun. His goblin

attendant has seated himself on the warrior's helmet, and opened the mysterious book to devour its contents, while an airy phantom, like the spirit of the storm, stretching downwards behind him, extends his arm to prostrate the over-curious imp by the side of the bleeding mosstrooper.

Philadelphia possesses a valuable public library containing upwards of twenty thousand volumes, and another containing about four thousand. There is also an Athenæum, although on a much smaller scale than that of Boston; it is well supplied with British periodical publications, and I have spent several hours in it very agreeably, skimming the more interesting portions of the recent journals.

In a literary point of view Philadelphia enjoys a respectable rank among American cities, but as yet Boston is far before any other. I was not a little surprised to learn by the Picture of Philadelphia,'

tion of being the first historical painter living. We should be glad to have the work of Cammucini at Rome, or Girard at Paris, or David at Brussels, indicated, that deserves to be preferred to Mr. Allston's Uriel, Jacob's vision, or Jeremiah. In England certainly, he has left behind him no rival in this branch of his art.' North American Review, No. XXX. p. 181. This is a matter respecting which there will be no doubt a difference of opinion, but if Mr. Allston's pencil so far surpasses in power those of rival artists, by all means let his country and himself enjoy the honour of it.

PRINTING OFFICES-COLUMBIAN PRESS. 201 that in 1811 it contained fifty-one printing offices, employing one hundred and fifty-three presses, and I believe that since that period the number has increased. A considerable proportion of these must be supported by newspapers, of which there are no fewer than eight published daily, besides many once, twice, and three times a week; but after deducting what are necessary for these, there must remain a very respectable number devoted to literature of a more permanent and aspiring kind.

Philadelphia has produced the finest and most accurate specimens of typography that have yet appeared in America, and there is a decided superiority in most of the works printed here, to those executed either in Boston or New York. There are two letter foundries, and several printing press makers. The Columbian press, invented by a person of the name of Clymer a native of Philadelphia, appears to be in many respects very superior to any other that I have yet seen.8

Many periodical works have at various times been published here, some of which are still continued; and though their success has been in no instance equal to that which is at present enjoyed by

8 Mr. Clymer has subsequently come over to London, and obtained a British patent for his press, which has been extensively adopted and is universally approved of. The first of them that came to Scotland has now been at work for four years in our office, where we have presses on six different constructions, but though two or three of the kinds are excellent, our workmen consider the Columbian as decidedly the best they have ever pulled. (1823.)

the North American Review, yet some of them exhibit a large proportion of respectable talent. For reprints of the heavier British books, Philadelphia is quite famous. The Encyclopædia Britannica was begun in 1790, by Mr. Dobson, an enterprising countryman of ours. When the first half volume was published, of which 1000 were printed, he had but 246 subscribers; they increased how. ever so rapidly that of volume second 2000 were thrown off; the first was soon after reprinted, and in a short time he found it extremely difficult to procure a sufficient number of printers and engravers, to carry forward the work with sufficient rapidity. Dr. Rees' larger work, and that of Dr. Brewster are at present in progress. The Edinburgh and Quarterly Reviews are regularly reprinted at New York; and several of our other popular periodical works in different parts of the Union.

It is a mistake to suppose that books are cheaper in America than in Britain. The works of our modern authors, indeed, which at home are exclusive property, loaded with an enormous copy right, and which we can purchase only in the shape of handsome octavos or more elegant quartos, suffer here instantaneous transmutation into an humble

9 The Analectic Magazine, published in Philadelphia, was for a considerable time edited by the elegant author of the Sketch Book, and Bracebridge Hall. Some of the papers of the former work were first published in the Analectic.

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duodecimo, occasionally of most plebeian aspect, and for two dollars or less you may obtain the verbal contents of most of the Albemarle Street two guinea volumes; but in all books of which the copy right has expired, our British editions are superior in execution and accuracy and quite as low in price, as those which are published in

America.

In historical engraving I have seen no specimens of American art which are very superior. Westall's illustrations of our modern poets have nearly all been copied, but there is a harshness in the engraving which contrasts very disadvantageously with the productions of Heath. In the execution of bank notes, however, Philadelphia may challenge the world. Messrs. Murray, Draper, Fairman, & Co. have distinguished themselves by some remarkably ingenious discoveries, which have been applied with singular success to this branch of the art; and their notes, which you meet with in every quarter of the Union, are distinguished by an originality of style and delicacy of execution which much surpass those of our native country, and if they do not afford a perfect protection from forgery, must at least render it exceedingly difficult. 10

10 A more minute account of this inimitable style of engraving might have been given, but that its appearance is now familiar to all who take any interest in such subjects; and specimens from the London establishment of Messrs. Perkins and Heath, are to be met