The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-01-28

ic aud somewhat autiquated character,
that may be properly styled, first things
in Philadelphia" In 1851 the first
parks laid out in North Amcrio', were
dedicated at the settlement Of this city.
Nine years afterwards, the first paper
mill in the country was built here. Feb
ruary 18th 169S, the first public school
in the American colonies was established
in this city The corporation was enti-
tied, the overscers OF tn "Publick
Schoole." Eight years afterwards, the
first Presbytery in the U. S., was organ
lied here. December l7l0 the Amer
lean Weekly Mercury" was issued at
Philadelphia, it being the first weekly
published in the country In 1880, the
"Marincrs Quadrant" was invented by
Thomas Godfrey of this city, whose hon
ored dust is now commingled with the
sacred soil of that most beautiful and pic
turesque of all Cemeteries--Laurel Hill
One year later, the first Library in Amer
lea, was founded one square from lnde-
pendencc Hall, by Benjamin Franklin,
Thomas Hopkinson, Thomas Cadwalader,
and Others la l743 the first Bible in a
European language, printed in North
America, was published in the Germln
language, by Christopher Saur Of this
town. In l746 the first religious M;ga-
zinc in North America was published by
the same author, and in the same IAN
guage Five years subsequently, the
Pennsylvania Hospital, for the relief Of
the sick and suffering, was chartered; it
being the first one in the country. June
18th 1852, the theory that lightning and
electricity were the same was demonstrat.
ed by Franklin, by drawing Lightning
from the clouds, by means Of kite. In
September in the same year, the first
lightning rod used in the world, for the
protection of building from danger Of
lightning, was set up by Benjamin Yr,nk-
lin at his dwelling house, south. east cor
ncr of Second and Race streets March
4th 1883 the first expedition fitted out in
North America for Arctic exploration,
and the discovery Ola northwest passage,
sailed from Philadelphia, in the Schooner
Argo, Capt. Charles Swainc. Nine years
later,the first school of Medicine and An.
atomy, was opened here by DR.. William
Ship2cn. In l76S the first Medical So.
ciety in the country we in existence, in
this city. In 1775 the first piano-forte,
in the country. was manufactured by John
Beherent, in Third street, below Brown.
Six years later, the bank Of North Amer
lea was established by resolution of Con-
gress, it being the first chartered banking
institution in the L s. In 1874, the
first daily newspaper was established here
that was published in the u. s.; called
the Pennsylvania Packet, or General Ad-
vertiser, by Dunlap & Claypolc. July
Goth 17S6, toe first vessel ever moved by
steam, was navigatod on the Delaware
River, abreast the now Mammoth CITY.
by John Fitch, being skiff fitted up for
the purpose. Thirteen months after
wards, steam boat forty.fve feet long,
navieatcd the Delaware, in the vicinity of
tho e;tg. 10 rrasonoa Of tho doleeoto1 TO
form q constitution of the u. s. by the
aforementioned John Fitch assisted by a
Mr.. Henry Noight. July l7SS, another
steamboat sixty feet long, was naviga.cd
from Philadelphia to Burlington, New
Jersey, by the valiant, and persevering
Capt. John Fitch. In December 1899 a
now steamboat was navigated in the wa
ters of the Delaware, by the inevitable
Capt John Fitch. This was eighteen
years before the "Ciearmou,," Robert
Fulton's first steamboat navigated the
Hudson River, so you see, Mr. Editor.
that Fulton was nowhere in point of
priority of time, as compared with our
redoubtable Capt. John Fitch. Many
more "frst things" might be mentioned,
and many more exploits of our old river
Captain, might be enumerated, bat per-
haps enough Of both for now
A State Constitutional Convention is
now in session in the city. They com.
menccd their sittings in Harrisburgh, but
adjourned to sit in town the corporation
having bought the Presbyterian church
on Spruce St, below Sixth, and remod-
died it, and covered tho hoor with new
Brussels carpetipg &c. How VIM. NJ.
Meredith, the eminent Jurist, and form
er Cabinet officer at Washington, is hon.
ored with the Presidency of the Conven-
ton. \ number of important amend
ments to the constitution have already
been proposed.
The number Of building permits issued
for 1872 in the city were 6422. Among
them were Is churches, and II factories.
$1,000 arrests for criminal offences and
disorderly conduct The Register re-
turns 81 1000 in round numbers, $40 Of
whom were taken to the "Mlorgue," and
laid on the marble slabs for indentitica.
tion-as the number that have cancelled
natures last debt or demand.
Although the weather has been regard
ed here as being cold the greater part oi
the time since the 20th of December, yet
the lowest point named in the Official
thermometrical record al the Merchants
Exchange, is five degrees above zero
notice that in Middlebury, and at many
other points in New Englanl, quite diff
fercnt numerals have prevailed rather cx-
tensively The idea Of a temperature be,
low zoro, causes a shrug of the shoulders
Of the native of Quakertown. Barnum
the renowned Snowman, was in town q
day or two since. not in search Of iirs
things" but of modern novelties, ant
signed bond to pay Mons. Eabei
$4,000 to exhibit his "talking machine
in his New York Museum thirty weeks
1t is said to articulate nearly as plainly
aud distinctly us the human voice.
Early on the morning Of the 18th. {
fire occurred in the mansion of the late
Edwin Forrest by which the entire
Shakesperian library of the late tragedian
was destroyed.
notice in the Register, the name o
A. A. Willis, announced as one Of thu
lectures in your course at Middlebury,
presume it is our Dr. Willets Of the Wes