all in Fourth or Fifth street. When they began to open here and there in those streets, the general surprise was "how can they think to succeed!" Wholesale grocery stores were once so exclusivelv in Water street, that when the first attempts at such in High street were made, it was regarded as a wonder. The western world has so rapidly increased as to make a great increase of all kinds of stores in the western part of the city necessary for their demands. When General Washington and Robert Morris, dignitaries of the nation, lived in the houses in High street, east of Sixth street, only little more than forty years ago, no stores, save Sheaff's wine store, were near them; and probably not an inhabitant could then have been found to guess that that square, and to the westward of it to Broad street, would ever become a street of trade! So limited were the western wagons then in High street, that none appeared above Fifth street, and few or none thought of seeing more! Ofices of the United States Government at Philadelphia. When the Government came from New York to Philadelphia in 1791, the departments were located in private houses, to wit: The State department was on the north side of High street a few doors east of Sixth street, (a moderate sized three story house) and was afterwards removed into Arch street two doors east of Sixth street. The General Post Office was on the east side of Water street, a few doors below High street!-the same house which had before been the residence of the Chief Justice. The location of other offices is already told elsewhere. It may serve to show the early attachment to Water street as a place of residence and genteel business, to state a few of the facts in the case. The earliest newspapers show, by their advertisements, that much of the goods for retail for gentlemen and ladies' wear, were sold in that street. As early as 1737, Mrs. Fishbourne, living in Water street, below Walnut street, advertises a full store of ladies' goods for sale at her store on the wharf, back of her house! In 1755, at Sims' house in Water street, above Pine street, is advertised all sorts of men and women's wear, by retail, &c. When the present house, No. 12 North Third street, nearly opposite Church alley, was built there by the father of the late John Warder, say about seventyfive years ago, it was then matter of surprise that he should go so far out of town! In the day in which it was built, it was deemed of superior elevation and finish; but now it is surpassed by thousands in exterior show. As late as the year 1762, Mr. Duché had a clay mill and pottery, with a well of water, on Chestnut street, at the house afterwards known as Dickinson's old house, a few doors eastward of Fifth street, where Girard has now built his row. Tanyards. It is within the last forty-five years that two or three tanyards, such as Howell's, Hudson's, &c., were extended from Fourth street, south of the Friends' school, down to the rear of Girard's bank, and within forty years, two or three were situated with Israel's stables on the northeast section of Dock and Third streets. A great fire at this latter place cleared off several lots, and made room for some good houses which since occupy their place. In early times the tanyards were ranged along the line of the Dock creek, and their tan did much to fill it up. They were often subjects of complaint. The Pennsylvania Gazette of October, 1739, No. 566, contains remarks thereon. In 1699, there were but two tanyards in the city, to wit: Hudson's and Lambert's, on Dock creek. Rope Walks were once much nearer than at present. One once stood along the line of Cable lane, giving origin to that name of the street. Another began at Vine and Third streets, before Third street was opened there, and extended in a northwestern direction. Another used to stand nearthe Old Theatre in Cedar street, by Fifth street, and thence extended westward. Another, a little south of it, ran towards the Delaware. Ship Yards.-These, in early days, were much nigher the city. than we might now imagine without the facts to assist us. For instance, in 1723, Michael Royll advertises for sale a new sloop on the stocks at the Drawbridge. The activity of ship building was very great when materials were so much lower. West had great ship yards at Vine street. The late aged John Brown saw a ship launched from the yard near the present Old Ferry. His father, Parrock, had his ship yards at Race street. The late William West, Esq.,(when aged about 73,) told me the ship yards were numerous in his youth from Vine street down to Race street. Many of the vessels built, were sold as fast as built, for English and Irish houses abroad. Seventy years ago a ship or brig was built a little below Race street; and stranger still, a small vessel was built in Lombard street, east of Second street, and was conveyed on rollers to the river. Blacksmith Shops.-It shows the change of times, to state that seventy to eighty years ago, William Bissell had his blacksmith shop at the northeast corner of Elbow lane and Third street, and that at the northeast corner of Third and High streets, John Rouse had a large frame for his blacksmith shop, and adjoining to the prison, on the south side of High street above Third street, stood blacksmiths and wheelwrights' sheds. All these were seen and remembered by Mrs. S., an aged lady, who told me of them. Auctions. Some of us of the present day complain of the great evil of having so many auction rooms-taking the business out of the regular stores, &c. As early as the year 1770, they were considered as a great nuisance to the shopkeepers, and then every man set up for himself wherever he pleased. The Northern Liberties and Southwark were then full of them. They paid no duties to the government, and it was solicited that they might be taxed five per cent. to restrain them. Sometimes public sale was then called "by public cant," and by "public outcry." At an earlier period the public vendue was held under the northwest corner of the court house in Second street, and on the vacation of the office in 1742, John Clifton offered £100, and Reese Meredith £110 per annum to the Corporation, to be privileged to become the successor. After the peace of 1783, the rivalship of auctioneers became great, being limited to a few for the city; others set up in the Liberties, and such was the allurements to draw customers after them as might excite our wonder now. Carriages were provided to carry purchasers gratis out to the auction held across the Schuylkill at the Upper ferry, and ferriages were paid for those who went across the Delaware to an auction held at Cooper's ferry. In confirmation, I add a short article from the reminiscences of my friend Mr. P., to wit: In the year 1789, and previous, there were but three auctioneers allowed by law for the City, Northern Liberties and Southwark; and the restriction extended to within two miles of the State house. Several persons were desirous of following that business, but could not obtain appointments from the supreme executive council, and came to the determination of carrying on the same beyond the prescribed limits, and where goods could be sold at auction without being subject to the State duty. The first person who commenced was Jonas Phillips, who held his auction in the large brick house on the rising ground over the middle ferry of Schuylkill. He was followed by John Chaloner, who held his sales in one of the stone stables at the upper ferry kept by Elijah Weed. The sales were always in the afternoon, the mornings being occupied in transporting the goods on drays to the respective auction rooms; where they were displayed on the shelves. The company being conveyed out and home, in the large old fashioned stages, which were in attendance at the houses of the respective auctioneers precisely at one o'clock, P. M., for that purpose. After the sale, the goods were repacked in trunks and cases, brought to the city and delivered to the purchasers next morning at the residence of the auctioneer. Phillips resided opposite the old Jersey market, south side, and Chaloner in Chestnut street, a few doors east of the sign of the Cross Keys, kept by Israel Israel, corner of Third street. Board Yards.-It is only within the last thirty-five years that board yards and wood yards have been opened in the western part of the city. In former times they were universally confined to the wharves above Vine street. When the first two or three persons opened board yards The north in the west, it excited surprise and distrust of their success. side of Pine street, from Fifth to Sixth street, was once a large board yard, and another was on the south side of Spruce street in the same square. These were among the first inland yards. There was a large board yard on the lot of Ross's store, in Front below Walnut street. There was also the board yard of McCulloch & Patterson on the wharf between Walnut and Spruce streets, in 1785. • When the City Council rented it to Patrick Baird, in 1730, he paid for the room there only £8 per annum, and not to sell any goods in one lot under the value of 50 shillings. 20 Chestnut street has, within a few years, become the chief street in Philadelphia, as a fashionable walk. High street once had the preference. Circumstances may yet deprive even Chestnut street of its present pre-eminence. In the mean time its claims to favour and renown have been set forth in song, to the following effect, to wit In vain may Bond street, or the Parks, And our own Broadway, too, will sink While Chestnut's fav'rite street will stand LOCAL CHANGES IN STREETS AND PLACES. IN these pages, concerning the changes effected in various sections in and about the city, the aged will often be reminded of their former play grounds, then waste and rugged, now ruined to such purposes by the alleged improvements and the stately edifices erected thereon. To be reminded of such localities as they saw them in their joyous youth, is to fill the mind with pleasing images. "Scenes that sooth'd Or charm'd me young, no longer young, I find At no period since the origin of Philadelphia has its extension, improvements and changes been so great as within the last forty-five years. It may be truly said that from the peace of 1783, which completed the first century of its existence as a city, it has trebled its buildings and population. That peace gave an immediate impulse to trade and commerce, and these brought the means to make extensive improvements. But the circumstance which peculiarly aided the prosperity and increase of Philadelphia, together with every other city and place in the United States, was the war in Europe and in their colonies, brought on by the French Revolution, and making us, on that emergency, the general carriers of the trade of Europe. It not only diffused general riches among the people, and changed the aspect of the city, but even the habits and manners of the people themselves. From the year 1790, therefore, ve may remember a constant change of the former waste grounds of the city, the demolition of old buildings or of inconvenient ones, and the erection of more stately and modernized houses in their places. So far as these notices may have to record recent circumstances, I am aware they can afford but little present interest; but, by the same rule, whereby we of the present day can be interested in the doings of our forefathers in times and things which we never saw, so the time is coming when the generations which shall succeed us may feel some of the gratifications, in reading some of these recent facts, which I have felt in collecting those of the past inhabitants. Man naturally desires to know the rise and progress of things around him. The Governor's Woods was a body of forest trees, which stood till the time of the Revolution, called also Centre Woods, lying between High street and South street, and Broad street and the river Schuylkill. They received their name from being a part of the proprietary's estate. There was an old consequential German, named Adam Poth, (whom the aged may still remember,) who had some care of them, and who used to take on a magisterial air of authority when trespasses were made by wandering boys or poor people. When the British came, and needed fuel, it was found more expedient to cut them down and sell to them what they could, than to leave them to help themselves as conquerors. An aged lady, now alive, tells me that she and other girls deemed it a great frolic to go out to the woods-she usually went out Spruce street. Between Seventh and Eighth streets they gathered wild strawberries; they entered the woods opposite the Hospital, and proceeded through them out to the Schuylkill. The road leading through them was very narrow, and the trees very lofty and thrifty. Old George Warner, who died in 1810, spoke with lively recollection of the state of the woods out High street, saying they were of great growth, especially from beyond the Centre Square to the then romantic and picturesque banks of the Schuylkill. In going, in the year 1726, from the Swedes' church to the Blue-house tavern, on the corner of Ninth and South streets, he saw nothing but lofty forests and swamps, and abundance of game. An aged lady, Mrs. N., says the woods out High street began as far eastward as Eighth street, and that the walk out High street used to be a complete shade of forest trees, cooling and refreshing the whole road to Schuylkill. At about Sixth street used to be a long bench under a shade, to afford rest to the city travellers. Hudson's Orchard and Neighbourhood.-On the north side of High street, from thence to Arch street, and from Fifth to Sixth street, was Hudson's orchard of apple trees. When the late Timothy Matlack was a young man, he rented the whole enclosure for eight dollars per annum for his horse pasture. At about sixty feet from the northwest corner of Fifth and High streets, in a northwest direction, there was a considerable pond of water, of four feet depth, on which it was the custom of the city boys to skate in |