see that Plunket Fleeson first manufactures American paper hangings at corner of Fourth and Chesnut street, and also paper mache or raised paper mouldings, in imitation of carving, either coloured or gilt. But although there was thus an offer to paper rooms, their introduction must have been extremely rare. The uncle of the present Joseph P. Norris, Esq. had his library or office room papered, but his parlours were wainscotted with oak and red cedar, unpainted, and polished with wax and robust rubbing. This was at his seat at Fairhill, built in 1717.

The use of stoves in families was not known in primitive times, neither in families nor in churches. Their fire-places were as large again as the present, with much plainer mantel-pieces. In lieu of marble plates round the sides and top of the fire-places, it was ornamented with china-dutch tile, pictured with sundry Scripture pieces. Doctor Franklin first invented the " open stove," called also "Franklin stove;" after which, as fuel became scarce, came in the better economy of the "ten plate stove."

When china was first introduced among us in the form of tea sets, it was quite a business to take in broken china to mend. It was done by cement in most cases; but generally the larger articles, like punch bowls, were done with silver rivets or wire. More than half the punch bowls you could see were so mended.

It is only of late years that the practice of veneering mahogany and other valuable wood has prevailed among us. All the old furniture was solid.

FAMILY EQUIPAGE.

There is scarcely any thing in Philadelphia which has undergone so great a change as the increased style and number of our travelling vehicles and equipage. I have seen aged persons who could name the few proprietors of every coach used in the whole province of Pennsylvania-a less number than are now enrolled on the books of some individual establishments among us for the mere hiring of coaches! Even since our war of independence, there were not more than ten or twelve in the city, and, rare as they were, every man's coach was known at sight by every body. A hack had not been heard of. Our progenitors did not deem a carriage a necessary appendage of wealth or respectability. Merchants and professional gentlemen were quite content to keep a one-horse chair; these had none of the present trappings of silver plate, nor were the chair bodies varnished; plain paint alone adorned them, and brass rings and buckles were all the ornaments found on the harness; the chairs were without springs, on leather bands such as could now be made for fifty dollars.

James Read, Esq., an aged gentleman who died in the fever of 1793, said he could remember when there were only eight four-wheeled carriages kept in all the province !

At the earliest period of the city, some two or three coaches are incidentally known. Thus William Penn, the founder, in his note to James Logan of 1700, says, "Let John (his black) have the coach, and horses put in it, for Pennsbury, from the city." In another, he

speaks of his "calash." He also requests the justices may place bridges over the Pennepack and other waters, for his carriage to pass.

The aged T. Matlack, Esq. before named, told me the first coach he remembered to have seen was that of Judge William Allen's, who lived in Water street, on the corner of the first alley below High street. His coachman, as a great whip, was imported from England. He drove a kind of landau with four black horses. To show his skill as a driver, he gave the judge a whirl round the shambles, which then stood where Jersey market is since built, and turned with such dashing science as to put the judge and the spectators in great concern. The tops of this carriage fell down front and back, and thus made an open carriage if required.

Mrs. Shoemaker, aged ninety-five, told me that pleasure carriages were very rare in her youth. She remembered that her grandfather had one, and that he used to say he was almost ashamed to appear abroad in it, although it was only a one horse chair, lest he should be thought effeminate and proud. She remembered old Richard Wistar had one also. When she was about twenty, Mr. Charles Willing, merchant, brought a calash coach with him from England. This and Judge William Allen's were the only ones she had ever seen. This Charles Willing was the father of the late aged Thomas Willing, Esq., president of the first Bank of the United States.

Even the character of the steeds used and preferred for riding and carriages, have undergone the change of fashion too. In old time, the horses most valued were pacers now so odious deemed! To this end, the breed

was propagated with care, and pace races were held in preference. The Narraganset racers of Rhode Island were in such repute, that they were sent for, at much trouble and expense, by some few who were choice in their selections.

NOTICES OF SUNDRY CHANGES AT PHILADELPHIA.

I INTRODUCE herein a few striking objects, formerly so different from the present, for the purpose of showing the changes effected, to wit:

BRIDGES.

It might justly surprise a modern Philadelphian, or a stranger visiting our present levelled city, to learn it was once crowded with bridges, having at least one dozen of them-the subjects of frequent mention and care. I shall herein chiefly notice such as have been disused. As many as six of them traversed Dock creek alone. The following occasional notices of them, on the records, will prove their existence, to wit:

In 1704, the grand jury present the bridge, going over the dock at the south end of the town, as insufficient, and endangers man and beast. It is also called "the bridge and causeway next to Thomas Budd's long row."

In 1706, the grand jury having viewed the place where the bridge going towards the Society Hill lately

was, (but then broken down and carried away by a storm,) do present a bridge as needful to be rebuilt.

In 1712, they present the passage down under the arch, (meaning at corner of Front and Arch street,) as not passable; and again they present that the same, to wit: "The arch in the Front street is very dangerous for children in the day-time, and strangers in the night; neither is it passable underneath for carriages."

In 1713, they present the bridge at the Dock mouth, and the causeway betwixt that and Society Hill, want repairs; so also, the bridge over the Dock and the Second street; also, the bridge in the Third street where the dock is.

In 1717, they present the bridge over the Dock in Walnut street, the breach of the arch whereof appears dangerous, and tending to ruin, which a timely repair may prevent. It was just built, too, by Samuel Powell.

In 1718, they present the great arch in Front street, the arch in Second street, the arch in Walnut street, as insufficient for man and beast to pass over. They recommend the removal of the great arch at Mulberry street, as desirable for affording a handsome prospect of the Front street. The Second street bridge was built of stone in 1720, by Edward Collins, for 125l.

In 1719, they present the arch in Chesnut street, between the house of Grace Townsend and the house of Edward Pleadwell, as part broken down. This refers to a bridge over Dock creek at Hudson's alley. At the same time the three bridges over the dock in the Front, Second, and Walnut streets, are all declared "unfinished and unsafe." The same year the inhabitants near the Chesnut street bridge petition the