PHILADELPHIA, the largest city in the United is situated in the county of Philadelphia, state of Pennsylvania, between the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, five miles above their confluence, in 39° 57' of North lati tude, and 8' of Longitude west from London. It is about 120 miles distant from the ocean by the course of the river, and 60 in a direct line. The city as originally laid out was a paralellogram, extending west from the Delaware to the Schuylkill about two miles, and north and south rather more than one mile. As the trade and commerce of the place increased, the buildings have ex tended along the Delaware near 4 miles, and along market from one river to the other. The streets running north and south amount to 23 in number, those from east to west to 14 in the city proper. In the city and suburbs, including the Northern Liberties, part of Penn Township and Southwark, there are 222 streets, 165 alleys, 153 courts, 18 lanes, and 6 avenues. The streets of the city, with the exception of Dock street, cross each other at right angles. The same regularity is not, however, extended to those of the liberties. In the latter, they in most instances intersect each other with more or less ob liquity. The streets vary considerably in width ; Broad street is 113 feet wide, High or Market street 100 feet, Mulberry or Al ch street 66 feet ; the others are generally 50 feet in width. They are paved with round pebbles, and have foot walks of brick on each side, faced with curb stones, and elevated about 9 inches above the carriage way. Common sewers have been formed under some of the principal streets, to convey the surplus water into the Delaware, and greatly tend to promote the convenience of the inhabitants. Care is taken to cleanse the streets, and remove all offensive matter, to which the abundant supply of water with which the city is furnished mate rially contributes.
The City and Liberties are well lighted by Imps, placed upon posts at suitable distances from each other along the front of the foot walk. To enable the reader to have a more clear and succinct view of the various ob jects of interest, we shall treat of the Population, Public Buildings, Commerce, Manufactures, Police, Literary and Benevolent Institutions, Ste. under separate heads.
Population.—Few cities have increased in size, popu lation, and importance, more rapidly than Philadelphia. In the first year after its foundation by the celebrated William Penn (1683) it contained 80 houses and about 600 inhabitants ; in 1700, 700 buildings had been erected, and the population increased to between 3 and 4000; in 1776 the number of houses was 5460, and the population near 30,000; in 1800 there were 10,000 houses, and 70,287 inhabitants. In the returns of the census of 1810, the buildings were computed at 15,814, and the popula tion of the City and Liberties at 96,594. In 1820, the estimated number of buildings was above 20,000, and of inhabitants, rather more than 114,000, including 11,000 persons of colour. From the official statement of the Health office for the year 1822, it appears that there were 3591 deaths, and 5722 births ; 953 of the deaths were in fants under 1 year of age, and 488 of consumption of the lungs. In 1823, there were 4600 deaths and 5813 births; of the deaths 1082 were under I one year of age, 536 of consumption of the lungs, and 652 of bilious, remittent, and intermittent fevers, which in the suburbs of the city were unusually prevalent during the year.
Public Buildings.—With the exception of Washington, no city in the United States can vie with Philadelphia in the number, neatness, and simple elegance of its public buildings. The first which claims our notice is the ve nerable State House, the scene of many of the most in teresting acts of the first congress of the United States It is a plain edifice of brick, consisting of a main centre building connected with rows of public offices, and flank ed by two large wings. In the eastern room on the ground floor, the declaration of Independence was signed, and from the steps this celebrated instrument was first read to the people. The upper rooms are occupied by the Philadelphia Museum. The lower, and those in the wings, by the different city, county, and state courts. The ground in the rear of the State House is surrounded with an iron railing, planted with trees, and laid out with grass plots and gravelled walks.