Page:American History Told by Contemporaries, v2.djvu/103

No. 28] better built, after the English Manner. The chief are Broad-street, King-street, and High-street, tho' there are several other handsome Streets that take their Names from the Productions of the Country ; as Mulberry, Walnut, Beech, Sassafras, Cedar, Vine, Ash, and Chesnut Streets. From these Streets run great Numbers of Courts, Yards, and Allies, with well-built Houses in 'em. There are several Coves and Docks where large Ships are built ; and by a moderate Computation, there has been launch'd from the Stocks of this City in forty Year, near 300 Sail of Ships, besides Small-Craft, which may in some sort give us an Idea of the Opulency of the Place. Many of their Merchants keep their Coaches, and the Tradesmens Shops and Streets are well frequented. All Religions are tolerated here, which is one Means to increase the Riches of the Place. The People of the Church of England as by Law establish d, have a neat, well-built Church, founded in the Year 1695, and I am inform'd the Foundation is laid for another. The Quakers (who are the major Part of the Inhabitants) have several Meetings. There is a Swedish reform'd Church, Mr. Rudman the Incumbent, a Man of singular Learning and Piety ; who is as much follow'd by the Quakers, when he preaches, as the Protestants. I shall beg leave to give one Instance of his Humility and Piety. When Subscriptions were taking in to build the Church, he subscrib'd a considerable Sum ; but when call'd upon for the Money, he had it not in his Power to pay it ; yet to keep his Word, he contracted with the Master- Builder for so much a-day, to carry the Hod, till he had work d his Subscription-Money out. This was an Instance of his Piety and Zeal for Religion ; and I fancy if Churches were to be built after the same Manner in a certain Island, the Work would go but slowly on. There are single Houses upon the Key that have cost 6000 l. the Building. Mr. Badcock's Brewhouse is a noble, large Building, and has in it one single Vessel that will hold eight Ton of Liquor.

In this City is held the Courts of the Province, and the Assembly meet here, which is in the nature of a dependant Parliament, as in those Cities of France that are distant from the Capital. There are three Fairs in the Year, and every Week two Markets. In time of the Fairs the City is so throng'd, as well as the adjacent Plantations, that it is hard to find a Lodging. . ..

. . . The Number of the Inhabitants is generally suppos'd to be upwards of 15000, besides Slaves. There is hardly any Trade in England but the same may be met with in Philadelphia ; and every Mechanick