Philadelphia—1793.
The prospects of Philadelphia were brightening up under the influence
enterprising men exercised over its commercial interest; and up to 1794
the manufactures, trade, and general business were rapidly extending and
improving. Mathew Carey, speaking of our city and prospects, in a
pamphlet published in 1793, says,—
“From the period of the adoption of the Federal Government, at which
time America was at the lowest ebb of distress, her situation had
progressively become more and more prosperous. Confidence, formerly
banished, was universally restored. Property of every kind rose to, and
in many instances beyond, its real value; and a few revolving years
exhibited the interesting spectacle of a young country with a new form
of government emerging from a state which had approached very near to
anarchy, and acquiring all the stability and nerve of the best-toned and
oldest nations.” In this prosperity, which revived the almost
extinguished hopes of four millions of people, Philadelphia participated
in an eminent degree. Numbers of new houses in almost every street,
built in a neat, elegant style, adorned, at the same time that they
greatly enlarged, the city. Its population was extending fast: even at
that period the number of vessels that entered the port was 1050.
Philadelphia still retained its predilection for old sites and
associations; for up to this period, and even long afterwards, the main
place of business was Front and Water Streets, extending along those
streets from Race down to Almond. Front Street below Market, extending
down to Walnut, was the great commercial centre of trade. It was here
Thomas Bradford, the root of the present generation of that name, was
prominent as an editor of the newspaper called “The True American:” his
office was on the west side of Front Street, below Market, No. 8. This
property was subsequently sold to John Moss, Esq., upon the site of
which he built a store especially for his business. Bradford sold out
“The True American” to Thomas T. Stiles.
In 1791 the post-office was at No. 7 South Front Street, on the east
side. Robert Patton was postmaster: he was appointed to that position
August 25, 1791. In 1793 it was removed to No. 36, in the very centre of
the trade and commerce of the city.
The building of the “Insurance Company of North America” stood at the
southeast corner of Front and Walnut Streets. Ebenezer Hazard, formerly
postmaster-general, was the Secretary. The custom-house was also on
Front Street near Walnut Street: it occupied seventy-six feet front, and
ran through to Water Street.
Much of the early prosperity of this city was due to Benjamin Franklin,
who early in life made it his dwelling-place. His business motto was
PROGRESS.
The fever of 1793, the most malignant scourge our city ever witnessed,
not excepting the cholera of 1832, threw a saddening gloom over all
things, paralyzing the energies of men and carrying terror among the
women and children. A writer of the time, speaking of it, says, “The
consternation of the people of Philadelphia at this period was carried
beyond all bounds. Dismay and affright were visible in almost every
person’s countenance. Most of those who could by any means make it
convenient fled from the city. Of those who remained, many shut
themselves up in their houses, being afraid to walk the streets.”
Business was at a stand, if not entirely suspended. That of the
post-office went on as usual. In September, however, the postmaster
informed the public that, in consequence of the indisposition of two of
the letter-carriers he deemed it necessary to request all those who
dwelt south of and in Chestnut Street, and in Front and Water Streets
and north of Market Street, to call or send for their letters for a few
days. Some of the postmasters in the different States used the
precaution to dip Philadelphia letters into vinegar with a pair of tongs
before they handled them! Several of the subscribers to Philadelphia
papers made their servants sprinkle them with vinegar and dry them at
the fire before they would venture to touch them.
One hundred years ago, Benjamin Franklin, seeing that Philadelphia was
gradually declining in the scale of progress, awoke the Rip Van Winkles
of Quakerdom by imparting to them new ideas, furnishing to their mental
view more enlarged notions of life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness, and inaugurating a system of education and philosophy which
has made his name famous in the world’s history.
His connection with the postal department placed it before the people in
a new and improved light, extending trade and commerce by its means to
such an extent that in the year 1810 Philadelphia was the leading
commercial city in the Union.
Philadelphia, however, lost sight of one important fact in connection
with her commercial interest, and that was (to use a speculating phrase)
“never to lose a trick” in the game of opposition with others. Thus,
while New York was studying the taste of the town in regard to fashions
of dress and works of art, for which European nations were then
celebrated, Philadelphia was engaged in looking after her manufacturing
interests. The consequence was that in the year 1811 New York, taking
advantage of her seaboard situation, took the lead in importations, and
her market became celebrated for its rich style of dress-goods, and her
stores equally so for their gorgeous display of Parisian finery.
Instantly that current of trade which had set in so favorably for
Philadelphia changed its course to her rival city, and merchants from
the South and West flocked there for what, we regret to say, our city
was unable to furnish to the extent its facilities afforded.
It seems as if Philadelphia succumbed at once to New York, and permitted
the Western and Southern trade to pass away from her without a struggle.
For years the commerce of Philadelphia had kept pace with the general
progress of the country, but in a moment of weakness, or from some local
or political cause, her merchants, whose industry and enterprise had
been proverbial in all countries, gave up their shipping interest to a
rival city, which the latter has successfully maintained ever since. _By
this act Philadelphia became an inland city._
If we neglected our shipping, it cannot be said we neglected our
manufacturers. They have had ample reason to be grateful for such
encouragement, as the city has the honor of being considered second to
none in the country,—at least in this department. We have surpassed New
York in many important branches of mechanics, and excelled every other
city in the Union, perhaps in the world, in manufacturing locomotives
and other essential auxiliaries to steamboats, railroads, &c.
_POST-OFFICE._
As trade and commerce progressed, the postal department extended its
operations, and the Philadelphia post-office was not behind those of
other cities in furthering the cause of the great postal institution of
the country.
The postal boundaries of our country extend over an area ten times
greater than those of England and France combined; three times as large
as the whole of France, Britain, Austria, Prussia, Spain, Portugal,
Belgium, Holland, and Denmark together; one and a half times larger than
the Russian Empire, and only one-sixth less than the area covered by
sixty states and empires of Europe. The entire area in 1853 was
2,983,153 square miles.
Claiming for Philadelphia, and justly, too, credit for its postal as
well as its commercial reputation, we will pass over some years and
bring our readers down to a later date. First, however, we annex a list
of postmasters of Philadelphia from 1791.
Perhaps no other city in the Union can boast of a list of names in their
postal department of men, both as regards character and business
qualifications, equal to those we furnish here, and who filled the
office with so much honor and credit. We are not, however, so clannish
in our notions of locality as to include all the names mentioned here as
being entitled to such credit: we make a few exceptions: those
exceptions and the reasons are a part of the secret history of
_post-offices_. Several of them have gone to that “bourn from whence no
traveller returns,” and those that still _live_ live honored and
respected.
_LIST OF PHILADELPHIA POSTMASTERS._
Robert Patton, appointed August 25, 1791.
Michael Leib, appointed February 14, 1814.
Richard Bache, appointed Feb. 26, 1819.
Thomas Sargeant, appointed April 16, 1828.
James Page, appointed April 11, 1833.