this illustrious physician, last, but by no means the least, among the medical writers of Pennsylvania. For many years Professor of Materia Medica and Theory and Practice of Medicine in the University of Pennsylvania, -a man to whom the profession in America is probably more indebted for valuable medical literature than to any other writer. Among his works are "The Dispensatory of the United States," "Treatise on the Practice of Mèdicine," "Treatise on Therapeutics, and Pharmacology or Materia Medica," "Lectures and Addresses on Medical Subjects before the Classes of the University of Pennsylvania," "Biographical Memoirs, Addresses," &c.

JOURNALS AND JOURNALISTS.

From 1719 and 1728, when the "AMERICAN WEEKLY MERCURY, THE INSTRUCTOR IN ALL ARTS AND SCIENCES," and "PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE," the first two papers ever published in this Commonwealth, the last named edited by Benjamin Franklin-from that day to this, Pennsylvania has been fortunate in her journals and journalists. While it might be pleasing and instructive to give the names of all the newspapers and their editors, that have ever been published in this State, the limits of our history confine us to some of those of the present time; nor, indeed, can we give more than the names of many of these.

"The North American and United States Gazette" is perhaps the oldest as well as the largest newspaper in Philadelphia. Its archives are stored with much of the newspaper talent that has existed in our city. To turn over its numerous volumes, and read its enormous pages, is to become acquainted, not only with the local news of the City and State, but also with the vast transactions of our Nation. It is always dignified and decorous, never light and trifling. Its integrity and substantiality always remind us of the Golden Age of the Republic; and we rarely scan its vigorous columns without recalling the names of Washington, Jefferson, and other patriotic fathers of the nation. Hon. Morton McMichael, one of the best mayors of Philadelphia, and who has honorably filled many offices of trust in the State and the Nation, is the editor and publisher,

combining in one person both offices, as did Franklin, his illustrious predecessor. Our readers can have the daily for ten dollars a year.

"The PUBLIC LEDGER" (and "Daily Transcript"). In describing this paper, we are naturally led back to the period when the first penny paper of our city was started, about 1830. Dr. Christopher C. Conwell published a small sheet, entitled "LE CENT." He was an educated, enthusiastic young man, and a better poet than editor. His paper soon shared the fate which hundreds of others have since; viz., it failed. In 1835 William L. Duane, as he said, "for the purpose of feeling the pulse of the public on the subject of a daily penny paper," published a few numbers of "The Daily Transcript." March 25, 1836, Messrs. Swain, Abell, and Simmons published the first number of "The Public Ledger." This paper, though small in size, was bold in purpose, and from its first issue seemed to say, "I have come to stay." The gentlemen just named employed Mr. Russell Jarvis, a native of Massachusetts. He possessed every qualification necessary for a successful editor. He probed every sore in the city, uncovered every corrupt fountain, and opened its contents to the public gaze. In a single week after its birth, the "Ledger" had shown its teeth to such an extent, that a "villanous and cowardly attack was made upon its office, demolishing several panes of glass, and inflicting somewhat more serious injury to the interior." In a word, its independence has made "The Public Ledger" what it is, the most popular paper, if we take into account its vast circulation, perhaps in America. If a man were arrested for the murder of his paramour, and through family influence and bribery went "unwhipped of justice;" if medical students became uproarious in the street, and committed deeds of atrocity at which desperadoes ought to tremble; if peaceable men could not assemble, and quietly discuss the subject of slavery, without having the building torn down over their heads by mobocratic violence; if Native Americans must be set upon by the minions of Popery; and if Catholic churches were to be burned by a mob, that vengeance might be reaped upon the transgressors, in each and all of these misdemeanors, "The Ledger" publicly denounced the

mockery of justice, the heinousness of crime under college patronage, the insecurity of law-abiding citizens, and the total failure of our civilization.

Thus, from the start, "The Public Ledger" was a success; but under the ownership and supervision of George W. Childs, whose life has been so graphically described by Col. J. W. Forney, it was enlarged, expurgated of its objectionable advertisements, and every way improved, until it has become one of the most veritable and successful organs of the present age, as demonstrated by its daily circulation of a hundred and twentyfive thousand copies, the employment of three hundred and nine persons in its establishment (exclusive of the newsboys), and the erection of the splendid edifice, as seen in the accompanying illustration. Everybody bears testimony to the kindness, good character, enterprise, and success of George William Childs. No better proof can be given of the truth of this statement than is to be gathered from the fact that Col. Forney, the publisher of a newspaper in the same city (where too often, in such cases, rivalship shows itself in bitter words), paid the following tribute to him: "In his fifteenth year he came to Philadelphia, like Benjamin Franklin, without a friend or a dollar. His only capital was industry, perseverance, and a stout heart; and with these resistless weapons he fought his way through inconceivable obstacles, until he has become the living illustration of that noble characteristic, so rare among men of affluence, the accumulation of riches, not for himself alone, but to make others happy during and after his life. No charity appeals to Childs in vain,—no object of patriotism, no great enterprise, no sufferer from misfortune, whether the ex-Confederate or the stricken foreigner. He made his money himself, not by speculation or office, and got none by inheritance. He coins money like a magician, and spends it like a man of heart. He likes society, and lives like a gentleman. He is as temperate as ever Horace Greely was, and yet he never denies his friends a generous glass of wine. His habits are as simple as Abraham Lincoln's; and yet his residence is a gem bright with exquisite decorations, and rich in every variety of art. He gives a Christmas dinner to newsboys and bootblacks, and dines trav

elling dukes and earls with equal ease and familiarity. He never seems to be at work, goes everywhere, sees everybody, helps everybody; and yet his great machine moves like a clock under his constant supervision."

FORNEY'S PRESS. Col. John W. Forney, a native of Lancaster, was born in 1817. He seems to have been born an editor and a politician, and has been equally successful in both of these professions. He first edited a newspaper in his native city, in 1838. In 1845 he removed to Philadelphia, where he edited the PENNSYLVANIAN, a daily Democratic journal. In 1857 he established the PRESS in this city. As Minerva came forth full grown from the brain of Jupiter, so this paper burst forth upon the community in full-orbed strength and vigor. During the late war, no newspaper in the city was more eagerly sought after, or more eagerly and carefully perused, than the PRESS. Col. Forney also established the CHRONICLE, an enterprising and successful paper, in Washington, D.C. As a writer, his style is lucid and strong: his biographical sketches exhibit great keenness and insight, and vivid description of character. His "Anecdotes of Public Men" are so amusing and instructive, that they have been, and will continue to be, read with zest and pleasure by coming generations. His personal appearance is fine, his eye bright and piercing, and his conversational powers admirable. As a political man, he has held many offices of trust and emolument, and always discharged the duties of them creditably to himself, and satisfactorily to the public.

The PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER is one of the old established, highly respectable papers of the city. William W. Harding is the editor and publisher; and its price is six dollars per annum. Under Mr. Harding's management, it has become so much improved, that the readers of the original specimens would scarcely be able to recognize their old friend and companion.

The AGE, the old and tried friend of the Democrats, fills the place in their families which the "Press" and the "North American" occupy among the Republicans, over whom it keeps a sharp watch.

The BULLETIN, the oldest of the evening papers, has enjoyed