The Chesapeak and Delaware canal is about fourteen miles in length; and from the nature of the soil through which it is cut, there was some difficulty attending the permanent security of the work.  On reaching the Delaware, we were again handed into a steamer, and so conducted to Philadelphia.  The merchant shipping, and the numerous pleasure and steam-boats, and craft of every variety, which are constantly moving on the broad bosom of the Delaware, present a gay and animated scene.

Philadelphia is a regular well-built city, and one of the handsomest in the states.  It lies in latitude 39 deg. 56’ north, and longitude, west of London, 75 deg. 8’; distant from the sea, 120 miles.  The city stands on an elevated piece of ground between the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers, about a mile broad from bank to bank, and six miles from their junction.  The Delaware is about a mile wide at Philadelphia, and ships of the largest tonnage can approach the wharf.  The city contains many fine buildings of Schuylkill marble.  The streets are well paved, and have broad trottoirs of hard red brick.  The police regulations are excellent, and cleanliness is much attended to, the kennels being washed daily during the summer months, with water from the reservoirs.  The markets, or shambles, extend half-a-mile in length, from the wharf up Market-street, in six divisions.  In addition to the shambles, farmers’ waggons, loaded with every kind of country produce for sale, line the street.

There are five banking establishments in the city:  the Bank of North America, the United States Bank, the Bank of Pennsylvania, the Bank of Philadelphia, and the Farmers’ Bank.

The principal institutions are, the Franklin library, which contains upwards of 20,000 volumes.  Strangers are admitted gratis, and are permitted to peruse any of the books.  The Americans should adopt this practice in all their national exhibitions, and rather copy the liberality of the French than the sordid churlishness of the English, who compel foreigners to pay even for seeing the property of the nation.  The other institutions are, the University of Pennsylvania, a College, Medical Theatre, College of Physicians, Philosophical Hall, Agricultural and Linnean Societies, Academy of Fine Arts, and the Cincinnati Society, which originated in an attempt to establish a sort of aristocracy.  The members were at its formation the surviving officers of the revolution; they wear an eagle, suspended by a ribbon, which, at their death, they have appointed to be taken by their eldest sons.  There are besides, the Academies of the Philadelphian Friends, and the German Lutherans; Sunday and Lancasterian schools; and, of course, divers Bible and Tract Societies, which are patronized by all the antiquated dames in the city, and superintended by the Methodist and Presbyterian parsons.  The Methodist parsons of this country have the character of being men of gallantry; and indeed, from the many instances I have heard of their propensity in this way, from young Americans, I should be a very sceptic to doubt the fact.