at the corner of Brewer's alley and Fourth street. Burges's place, and Mitchell's place, were in Campington. Two or three were out in Spring Garden, on the northern side of Pegg's run; Hamilton's place was at Bush-hill; Penn's place was close by, at Springetsbury; and lastly, Kinsey's place, where is now the Naval Asylum, and Turner's place, Wilton, was down near Girard's farm. All these were rather rarities than a common choice.

As population and wealth increased, new devices of pleasure were sought, and some inland watering places began to be visited, chiefly, however, at first, for the good they might be supposed to offer to the infirm. Next in order, came sea bathing, most generally used at first by the robust; by those who could rough it; such as could bear to reach the sea shore in a returning "Jersey wagon," and who depended on their own supply of "small stores," sheets, and blankets, &c. Increase of such company, in time, afforded sufficient motive to residents on the favourite beaches to make such provision for transient visiters, as could not conveniently make their own supply. Thus, yearly, such places of resort grew from little to greater, and by degrees to luxury and refinement. It is still, however, within the memory of several of the aged, when the concomitants of sea bathing, before the Revolution, were rough as its own surges, and for that very reason, produced better evidences of positive benefits to visiters in the increase of robust feelings, than they do now. But last in order, in the progress of luxury, came the last device of pleasure, in travelling excursions; now "boxing the compass" to every point. The astonishingly

increased facilities of communication have diminished distances. Steamboats transfer us to far distant places before we have fairly tried the varieties of a single day and night of their operation! Post coaches, and fleet horses, roll us as easy as on our couches; New England and northern tours occur; the grand canal and Niagara are sought; westward, we have Mount Carbon, and the line of new canals; and homeward, " round about," we have the wonders of Mauch Chunk, Carbondale, the Morris canal, Catskill mountain, and the everlasting battlements of the North river. In such excursions, much is seen to gratify the eye, and much to cheer the heart.

I proceed now to notice, historically, the only "Watering Places," known to our forefathers, placing them much in the order in which they occurred, to wit:

"The mineral water in the Great Valley," thirty miles from Philadelphia, was first announced, as a valuable discovery, in the year 1722. In the same year, great praise is bestowed on the newly discovered mineral water at " Bristol Spring."

In 1770, such was the decreased fame of the Yellow Springs, in Chester county, that it was deplored as a public evil, that it had been so deserted; although its efficacy of waters and charms of scenery and accommodation, were still undiminished, as at the beginning-(fifty years before.) It was stated, that from one hundred to five hundred persons, daily, had been accustomed to be found there in the summer months.

We think "Long Beach" and "Tucker's Beach," in point of earliest attraction, as a sea-shore resort for Philadelphians, must claim the precedence. They had

their visiters and distant admirers long before Squam, or Deal, or even Long Branch itself, had got their several fame. To those who chiefly desire to restore languid frames, and to find their nerves new braced and firmer strung, nothing can equal the invigorating surf and genial air. And what can more affect the eye and touch the best affections of the heart, than there to think of Him who made those great waves; stalking like so many giants to the shore,-tossing their white crests high against the everlasting strand, and calling to each other, in the deep toned moans of imprisoned spirits, struggling to be free! In the beautiful language of our countrywoman, Mrs. Sigourney, we may say,

"Thou speak'st a God, thou solemn, holy sea!
Alone upon thy shore, I rove and count
The crested billows in their ceaseless play;

And when dense darkness shrouds thy awful face,
I listen to thy voice and bow me down,

In all my nothingness, to Him whose eye
Beholds thy congregated world of waves
But as a noteless dew-drop!"

"Long Branch," last but greatest in fame, because the fashionables, who rule all things, have made it so, is still inferior as a surf, to those above named. It was held before the Revolution by Colonel White, a British officer and an inhabitant at New York. The small house which he owned and occupied as a summer retreat, is still existing in the clump now much enlarged by Renshaw. In consequence of the war, the place was confiscated and fell into other hands, and finally for the public good.

The table fare of those companies who first occupied

the house, consisted chiefly of fish, and such salted meats as the visiters could bring with them. All, then, was much in the rough style of bachelor's fare.

Prior to the above period, "Black Point" not far off, was the place of bathing. They had no surf there, and were content to bathe in a kind of water-house, covered; even Bingham's great house near there, indulged no idea of surf-bathing. The tavern entertainment at Black Point was quite rude, compared with present Long Branch luxuries; cocoa-nut pudding, and floating islands, &c., were delicacies not even known in our cities.

Indeed we cannot but see, that the most of former summer excursions were but for the men. They were generally deemed too distant and rough for female participation. But later improvement in roads, and a far more easy construction of spring-carriages, have since brought out their full proportion of ladies,-gladdening the company along the route by those feminine attractions which lessen our cares and double our joys. Thus giving an air of gaiety and courtesy to all the steamboats, stage-coaches, and inns, where they enter, and thus alluring us to become the greatest travellers in our summer excursions, to be found in the world! From these causes, country-seats, which were much resorted to after the year 1793, are fast falling into disuse, and probably will not again recover their former regard.

STEAM BOATS.

Against the wind, against the tide,

She breasts the wave with upright keel."

In the year 1788, the bosom of the Delaware was first ruffled by a steam boat. The projector at that early day was John Fitch, a watch and clockmaker by profession, and a resolved infidel in theology. He first conceived the design in 1785; and, being but poor in purse and rather limited in education, a multitude of difficulties, which he did not sufficiently foresee, occurred to render abortive every effort of his most persevering mind, to construct and float a steam boat.

Applying to congress for assistance, he was refused; and then, without success, offered his invention to the Spanish government for the purpose of navigating the Mississippi. He at last succeeded in forming a company, by the aid of whose funds he launched his first rude effort as a steam boat, in the year 1788. The idea of wheels had not occurred to Mr. Fitch; but oars, working in a frame, were used in place of them. The crude ideas which he entertained, and the want of experience, subjected this unfortunate man to difficulties of the most humbling character. Regarded by many as a mere visionary, his project was discouraged by those whose want of all motive for such a course rendered their opposition more barbarous; while those whose station in life placed it in their power to assist