New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-10-29
NEW BOOKS IN PHILADELPHIA.
C,ueuonaencs Of The NJ Y. Tribune.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct u, 1So9
It's well remarked in . book privately printed
in this city lately and known to be from the pen of
he venerable Horace Binney, that
"Our city has one fault in common with all cities,
and with mankind in general; and another that Is
kes and at this day rather uncommon. And she has
70 many good qualities that she may bear to be told OF
her defects.
"Like al the world, she rushes to the notice Of
chat il new ard puts old merits aud services into the
valet which Shakespeare makes Ulysses say Time
hath at his back
Wherein he puts aims for oblivion,
pest.sired monwer OF ingatitudes
Those scraps good deeds pat, which are svoued
Az fast 90 they are made forgot as soon
As done
"The other is the more uncommon fault. 1t is not
10 be regretted that Mr. Ingersols day and that of
the really able men who were at bis side, was not IN
spy part Of our country the day that has since
dswped and it is hoped has got beyond it's meridian;
q day of putting and bsloohing of everybody and
thing, however little above the ordinary stature or
quality sometimes indeed, when it is below it. His
nav was dsy of becoming modesty and of some per.
sorsl dignity in all the professions, and nothing wiz
be gained by our days becoming otherwise. But
there Qualities furnish excuse to great city Tor In
difference to the really great talents that are sometimes
found in connection with them. And TINS Is the iauit
referred TO- that she has been hitherto and perhaps
mmemoraly Indifferent or Dsensble to the aDlhtes OF
her sors who have gained their hrN puonc consdsra-
ton ekewhere She is wanting in civic personality, or
what better phrase for the thought, family UNITY
or identity. She does not take, and she never has
taken satisfaction in habituay hoDorlng her distn.
eushed men her men, as men OF her opn family IL
the city that referred to, distinguished from the
rest Of the State. She has never done 1t In the
face of the world, as Charleston has done it. as Rich
mtpd has done it, as Baltimore has done it, as Now
York has done it, or at least did IN former times,
md 90 Boston did il. has done it, and will do II forever.
She il more Indifferent 10 her than che is to srsn
grs; AMI this perhaps may be the reason why other
parts of the State much more readily advance thsr
H. nd Asottn
How true these remarks are, and how deserved
The structures every Philadelphia can testify, and
aelauthors penetration has reached the TONS orgo
aoh:
"The fact has been often stated for sixty years past
but is not easy TO explain nor will l attempt to &C
count for IL with any confidence. Perhaps It grows
out Of her Quaker origin. 1t is certainly in harmony
9Th il to put nothing striking than drsbcOored
tess upon the who have done their best for her,
his in the key of Quaker manners OF old tmes-of
Quaker moderation and equability 1t may, TO some
,rent be result of the division Of parties in the
hcpretery time the country against the city, a. for
he most part sdherents of the Proprietary but with
minority In favor ofthe Assembly enough to break their
own people into disunon. To this day the country OF
lie against the city in every hing aud for no
s1s,iIg cause that be stated In recent years the
composition of the city gives the best explanation OF inc
bet; for while there is something Ike genera tenn
krsment in the life and manners OF the city, there 10
70 city whose significant population Is lees homoge-
l lsous We are by no means one, but very many, In
sein and education and not likely to have faml-
sheart to our distinguished men as either the South
i fthe East. .
"But. without explaining it, we may regret it. II
tbe modesty il is virtue that he's its inconvenience
here is no need certainly, OF putting everybody Oh
pod figure into scarlet, flame color, and sending
hem up by gas that they may be seen afar out IL
kh iuft to individuals and profitable to city TO give
hs really able men, in every profession or wax,
Sch pronir and decoration as VIII bring 70 DOM
lsns share of from the country az large
\ khelns the community and helps the lndlViduai.
spames him and draws him out, or disposes hlm 10
Ia drawn out. II gives him confidence, aud enlargss
I I'm both in power and productiveness'
II has always been the case IN Phlladelphla, mat
ke Oaskers, comprising large part OF the OLD ana
L Nh families. have kept to themselves, and looked
L s.o1 from the Worlds People" And it has
zen too much the case that the Episcopallans and
4. Pre,b,teIisns have constituted chques OF the
ssn. TLtu-and i is point not, perhaps, sufii-
sentlv dwelt up0n-a narrow jealousy OF strangers
1 srec,,lly Yankees, who, Notwithstanding, are
mono ir most valuable citizens has done much TO
ererethen provincial spirit unworthy OF city
shich was once the metropolis OF the United States
| Ind which, If there were more union and public
pirit here, might be 40 again. Let as hope that
he proud indifference which too much character
res our fair city may give way 10 more practical
Ind cOmmOp-sense view OF things.
| The book from which the extracts are taken II,
sfitten BY one of Pbadephia's greatest men, and
perhaps, on the whole the sblest lawyer, as he is
certainly one Of the most accomplished and cult
'aled men the country has ever produced: IL
satitled "1he Leaders of the Old Bar OF Pmadel.
lhs" and il contains biographical sketches and
"reminiscences of William Lewis, celebrated az
sarister during the latter part Of the last
nd the beginning Of the present; Edward liign-
nan, an eminent lawyer OF the pOst-Revolutionary
period, and Jared IDgersoll, my learned master
N the iaw," all honOred names, whose memory II
hshooyes Pbiladelphians of the present day TO
treasure.
Speaking Of Ipgersoll, the author tells the story
L d What be calls "the fret, and perhaps, the bes