priated for a city burying-ground. After that, a lot west of Ridge road, north of Coates street-about where Twentieth and Parrish now runs through. The latest is that on the Lamb Tavern road. Fifty years ago the North-west Square was generally used for this purpose.

The old graveyard on the west side of the Schuylkill above Market street, which was demolished by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, was assigned for use as a burying-ground to the Centre Square Friends' Meeting-House, about 1682. The latter not being maintained very long, the ground came to be considered a public one-a sort of potters' field-and was used without obstruction for many years. Afterward it was, with the approval and consent of the Society of Friends, assigned to the Guardians of the Poor as a free burying-place for the indigent poor. It was sold some years ago by virtue of an act of Assembly, about the constitutionality of which there may be considerable doubt.

Previous to the Revolution the dead were, for the most part, carried to the grave on a bier, according to the ancient custom. This, together with unpaved streets, rendered it a matter of no small difficulty to go with a funeral farther than Fifth or Sixth street, especially during inclement weather; consequently, we find most of the religious societies establishing their buryinggrounds within those limits, without due consideration for the natural increase of the population. One belonged to the Second Presbyterian Church, and extended from Arch to Cherry street above Fifth, on the north side, from which the dead have all been removed.

Truffles at "Laurel Hill."-The mansion-house in East Fairmount Park, with the peculiar octagonal extension, situate on the Schuylkill River a short distance below the Edgeley Concourse, belonged during the latter part of the last century to the Rawle family of Philadelphia, and was called "Laurel Hill" many years before the cemetery of the same name was laid out a mile or so above it. The house and grounds covered about thirty-one acres, and was left by the will of Francis Rawle in 1761 to his widow, who subsequently married Samuel Shoemaker, a prominent merchant of Philadelphia, who filled many offices in the city government, as well as sitting in the Provincial Assembly. Mr. Shoemaker was a pronounced loyalist, and in consequence of his distinguished zeal on the side of the Crown he became one of the many objects of enmity to the members of the Revolutionary city government, in consequence of which he was attainted of treason and his estates confiscated. His own property, as well as his life interest in his wife's, was accordingly sold at public sale. His life estate in Laurel Hill was sold on the 20th February, 1782, to one James Parr, who a few days afterward leased the property to the Chevalier de la Luzerne, the French minister, for the term

of five years. The latter went into occupation, and resided there during the balance of his stay in this country.

The chevalier of course had his French cook, and the French cook had his truffle-dog, which, in the pursuit of his vocation in life, discovered truffles in the grounds around the house, much to the astonishment and delight of his master. This is one of the few instances and it is believed the first-of the finding of the article in its natural state in this country.

Houses on Water street, p. 225.-Girard was one of the last to leave there-by death, on Water street above Market. His dwelling has been pulled down and stores erected by the city, which inherited his property.

Blacksmith-shops, p. 228.-Godfrey Gebler's shop was on Dock street, on the present site of the Merchant's Exchange.

AUCTION SALES.

In continuation of the account of the rivalry between the aspiring auctioneers of the time of 1783 and after (as given in Vol. I. 228), we give the following petition, against himself, of Robert Bell, which deserves reprinting for his liberal sentiments: "To the Honorable the Representatives of the Freemen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly

met:

"The Memorial and Petition of Robert Bell, of the city of Philadelphia, Printer, Book-Seller, and Book-Auctionier, "Respectfully sheweth,

"That your Petitioner being informed the Honorable House of Assembly have resolved to appoint an Auctionier of Books for the city of Philadelphia, your Petitioner having resided in, and continually employed a very considerable number of valuable Manufacturers, Paper-Makers, Printers, and Bookbinders in the Propagation of useful Literature, in said city, for the Space of Fifteen Years, may probably point him out as eligible for the department of Book-Auctionier, for the city of Philadelphia.

"That during the War, your Manufacturing Petitioner carried over-Land, at a very great Expence, several Tons of Books Manufactured in Pennsylvania, and sold them by Auction in the State of Massachusetts, to enable him to pay his Taxes to the State of Pennsylvania.

"Your Petitioner during the whole of the War, having paid all the Taxes, to a very great amount; and particularly, in the beginning of the year 1782 he paid above Thirty-Six Pounds, for that year only, will according to Probability give him some Pretensions to expect that Appointment.

"Liberal Governments, are so clearly convinced, that Monopolies, Embargoes, and Restrictions, cripple and destroy their own Manufactures, that they not only carefully guard against them; but to encourage diligence in Manufacturing, have frequently given large Premiums to industrious Manufacturers, towards the promotion and extension of the Trade of their Country.

"That your Petitioner still carries on a very considerable Manufacture of Books, and very frequently exports, transports, and circulates the Manufactures of Pennsylvania, throughout the most distant parts of the 13 United States, to the increase of Literature, and the emolument of the Manufacturers of Pennsylvania.

"Your Petitioner is persuaded that the most certain method to advance the interest of learning, which he is well informed, the Legislators of Pennsylvania are much in earnest to promote, is to leave the sale of Books by Auction, clear from every species of trammeling, free, entirely free, unrestrained, and unconfined as the circumambient Air, then Literature will flourish and abound, to the illumination of every benevolent Mind, who wishes for the attainment, and improvement of the rational Powers of Sentimentalism.

"Therefore, your Petitioner once more lifts up his Petition, to this most Honorable House, to beseech that no Man, nor number of Men, may be appointed, but in particular he most fervently prays, that Robert Bell, may not be appointed to the Office of Book-Auctioneer, notwithstanding his apparent pretensions to a preference.

"Because he is firmly determined, never to encourage so illegal, unreasonable, and injurious an encroachment, upon the general Liberty of every individual Citizen, and Manufacturer, of the State of Pennsylvania, whose Birth-right it is, to sell their Manufactures, either by Auction, or otherwise, without lett or hindrance, when and where they please, agreeable to the original and inherent rights of Free-Men, confirmed by the Constitution of the State of Pennsylvania, and by a resolve of the Honorable the American Congress,

"That Men still have a right, to Life, Liberty, and Property.' "Your Petitioner humbly hopes, that your Honors will take the Premises into Consideration, and that your Honorable House, will be pleased to determine this great affair, consistent with the enjoyment of Universal Liberty, which always ought to be preserved, and secured to every individual of the Community. "And your Petitioner as in Duty bound, will ever Pray. "ROBERT BELL.

It is believed that Robert Bell, an Englishman or a Scotch

man, who came to Philadelphia about 1772 or 1773, was the first person who kept a circulating library in this city. He had his place of business in Third street, below Walnut. He was also one of the first to establish book-auctions here, in which effort he met very serious opposition from the booksellers. He published several works prior to the Revolutionary War, but during that struggle he seems to have left the city. He died in Richmond, Virginia, September 16th, 1784. William Prichard succeeded Bell in the circulating library business. This trade was never very prosperous in Philadelphia, in consequence of the establishment of the Philadelphia Library, the Union Library, the Loganian, the Mercantile, and others.

Of the same name was Bell, the second-hand bookseller in Market street above Eleventh, whose sons, Thomas F. and Frederick, were both auctioneers. The former is pleasantly remembered by many of our readers who attend Thomas & Sons' sales. He was the best book-auctioneer ever in this city; he knew the value of books, and gained the esteem of his customers by his fairness and freedom from any of the usual "tricks of the trade."

The following pleasant sketch of early auctions is from the pen of "Lang Syne:"

"Auctions.-Looking over, the other day, the list of names of the twelve auctioneers now in commission in the city, and of the duties annexed, amounting to nearly one hundred and twenty thousand dollars, paid by them annually into the treasury of the state, the mind involuntarily glanced back to the time when neither Connelly, Footman, Fox, nor Yorke had been seen, as yet, wielding the auction-hammer; when the whole auction business of the city of Philadelphia, now so populous, was transacted by Colonel John Patton in a one-story brick house, No. 78 South Front street, assisted by his two clerks, Charles Patton and J. B.; also by Mr. Mitchell, 'crier,' salesman, and bell-ringer. It was a 'day of small things' comparatively, but of great importance at the time, and probably a few reminiscences relative to auctions in the olden time may not be unacceptable. Colonel John Patton, in his personal appearance from the stage, was a very fine, military-looking man, with red and powdered hair, and of middle age. He had the credit among the purchasers of being thought very dignified in his manner, yet very affable and civil in business or in superintending the stage during the sales. Charles Patton was a young Irish gentleman of fair complexion, with fine white teeth-all civility, gayety, and good-humor. J. B. was a fine, portly young English gentleman with dark red hair; he was spoken of as being very adroit and active in business, showing a hearty civility to every one, without flummery, but with a penetrating, interrogating eye. As was then the fashion for gentlemen, the colonel and his two aides wore

'clubbed hair,' deeply powdered every morning by the barber -that is to say, the hair had been first cultivated until it had become of extreme length, then separated into three parts, then powdered, twisted, and twined together into a kind of threestrand small cable, then doubled up and fastened by a riband. When looking to the right, the knot and club of hair rolled gradually toward the left shoulder, and vice versa when looking to the left, leaving the cape and all between the shoulders one complete mass of powdered grease. Possibly it may be ascribed to first impressions when it is asserted that these powdered 'clubs' of hair conferred a certain dignified appearance upon the owners not observable in the French Revolutionary Brutus crop.' Good handwriters being scarce, J. B. was celebrated for his writing rapidly in an elegant flowing hand. Though now they be as plenty as blackberries,' there was (as remembered) but one ornamental writer spoken of in the city-namely, William Kinnear. "Twas he who executed those holiday notices, framed no one knows where, but preserved carefully for antiquity's sake, and regularly suspended for a week before each holiday on the pillar within the Old Congress Bank.

"Mr. Mitchell, the 'crier' or salesman, was celebrated for his unparalleled despatch in sales, the brilliant finale of his once, twice, going-gone,' and the neat tap of his hammer. At that time catalogue sales of goods from England were unknown, being about the time of the arrival here of the 'Old Alliance,' after her first American voyage to Canton, amid the firing of cannon and huzzas from the citizens lining the wharves. There being but one City Auction,' and the hour of sale known to every one, the purchasers used to assemble early, as at a funeral, near the door. The 'crier' then came out with bell in hand, which he rung for a minute or so; then giving what he called one hard ring,' he proclaimed in his loudest tone of voice, 'We are just going to begin.' They did not hire a bell-man to keep the immediate neighborhood in irremediable distress by his interminable jingling, deafening din for an half hour together, without considering for a moment whether or no there might be in the vicinity some sick prostrated being with imploring eye and hand beseeching some one, in faint accents, to go and stop that dreadful bell.' The Northern Liberties Vendue,' by Christian Febiger, was held at No. 204 North Second street, above Vine; the vendue in Southwark by John Mease, at the south-east corner of Front and South streets. Trifling sales were sometimes made at Billy Cooper's in Jersey, and at the sign of the Fish over Schuylkill, beyond the High street 'floating bridge.' At the vendues in the Liberties sometimes one Breneise acted as 'crier,' and sometimes Charles Smith. Breneise was remarkable for his cogniac redness of face, his patient and smiling looks, his bellmetal tone of voice, and his untiring lungs during a long sale.