For the year 1824, up to the 1st of May, the exports, especially of domestic produce and manufactures, had greatly exceeded those of the corresponding months of last year.
The Delaware at Philadelphia is sufficiently deep to admit ships of the line ; at the navy yard, in Southwark a ship of 120 guns is now building. Substantial piers are erected near Chester, 14 miles below Philadelphia, for the protection of the shipping from storms, driving ice, &c. There are two floating lights in the river, and a lighthouse on Cape Henlopen. The port is defended by an extensive fortification on the Pea-patch 40 miles below Philadelphia, and a strong fort on Mud Island, near the confluence of the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers.
The wharves, docks, pilots, &c. are under care of a bour master and board of wardens.
The navigation of the river requires skill and practice. The pilots are obliged to serve an apprenticeship of six years, and are divided into three classes. The first are permitted to pilot vessels of any depth of water, the second those of 12 feet and under, the third those of 9 feet and under. After serving four years, if found qualified, a pilot may take a licence for the third class ; after one year more lie may take out a licence for the second class ; at the end of the sixth year, he may become a first rate pilot. Previously to granting a licence, the pilot must conduct a square rigged vessel twice up and down the river under the inspection of a pilot of the first class.
While speaking of the port of Philadelphia it may be proper to notice the navy yard, which is situated in South wark, and embraces an area of about fifteen or sixteen acres, and is subtantially walled in with brick on three sides, the fourth fronting the river Delaware. There are dwellings for the officers, barracks for the marines, and work-shops for the artificers, besides which, there are two large ship houses which answer all the purposes of a dry dock, and at the same time afford protection to the skip carpenters to work at all seasons, notwithstanding any in clemency of weather, being well lighted by windows. Here are all the conveniences necessary to construct vessels of the largest dimensions at the shortest possible notice.
Illanufactures.—Philadelphia has long been celebrated for her manufactures ; in extent, variety, and excellence they surpass those of any other town in the United States. The abundance of water power in the vicinity of the city, the free use of the steam engine, which was introduced at an early period, and the ease with which the raw materials are procured, all contribute to the permanency and in crease of her manufacturing prosperity. It will be impos sible,in the limited space allotted us, to enter into a minute detail of the various articles manufactured. We shall
therefore confine our attention to some of the most pro minent and extensive.
Their is no branch of her arts of which Philadelphia has more reason to be proud than of her ship building ; the vessels constructed in her yards have long been celebrat ed for their form, durability, elegance, and swiftness of sail ing, and always command the highest prices when offered for sale in foreign countries. In articles of luxury, such as carriages, furniture, jewelry and silver plate, her artificers display more skill and taste than those of any other place on the continent. Painting, engraving, and the publication of works of science and general literature, are more exten sively carried on than at any other town in the United States. There are at present from 40 to 50 printing of fices in operation. Philadelphia contains 14 breweries and several distilleries ; most of the breweries are large and ex tensive establishments. The malt liquor is much cele brated for its excellence, and exported in large quantities to other parts of the United States. There are upwards of 30 cotton and woollen factories in Philadelphia and its vicinity ; two glass houses, two manufactories of printing ink, two type founderies, one of them an extensive estab lishment, two factories of stereotype plates, two shot towers, five extensive iron founderies, and steam engine manufactories ; several extensive wire workers and manu facturers of machine and hand cards, one of them giving employment to about 500 persons; a manufactory of floor cloth and oil cloths generally, on a large scale, and several chemical laboratories. Paper and paper hangings are made in Philadelphia and vicinity in very large quantities. A vast amount of tobacco is manufactured, both for home consumption and exportation. Sugar refining is likewise carried on very extensively. In the working of different metals and the manufacture of fine cutlery the artificers of Philadelphia are very celebrated. It will not, however, be necessary to dilate further upon the manufactures of our city, but we cannot refrain making this concluding ob servation : That in general and professional intelligence, respectability of standing, and correctness of moral de portment, the mechanics of Philadelphia are not excelled by any others in the world. Same of her most useful and public spirited men are found in this class of her citizens. This superiority of character is derived in great measure from the cultivation of literature, and a devotion of the hours not appropriated to business to reading and the im provement of the intellectual faculties.