| Notes to Book First, Chapter First |
Annotation of The Quaker City is an ongoing project. I will periodically add new notes or update existing notes
and let the reader know when I do so on The Quaker City Blog.
and let the reader know when I do so on The Quaker City Blog.
"Chesnut street"
Lippard uses the older spelling, Chesnut, for Chestnut Street. Chesnut was William Penn's original spelling
when he renamed the street (formerly Wynn). The spelling varied over the decades, sometimes Chestnut,
sometimes Chesnut.
"statehouse"
Independence Hall on Chestnut between 6th and 5th Streets. The building was originally the seat of
government for the state of Pennsylvania, as well as, briefly, the newly formed United States of America. In
Lippard's time, the statehouse was not just a relic of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In the
wings attached to it, the mayor and other city officials had their offices and the city council held its sessions
which were open to the public. In Quaker City, Lippard returns again and again to the statehouse as the
stalwart symbol of liberty.
For more on the statehouse and other Philadelphia landmarks in Lippard's time, refer to the 1845 edition of
Philadelphia as it is: the stranger's guide to the public buildings, institutions, and other objects worthy of
attention in the city of Philadelphia and its environs at Penn State University's Digital Bookshelf.
"cachuca"
A Spanish dance similar to the bolero. It was very popular in the 19th century. "Dance a cachucha" from
Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers (1889).
"Miller the Prophet"
William Miller was a Baptist preacher who believed the second coming of Christ was not only at hand, but
would occur on March 21, 1843. When the apocalypse failed to happen, Miller recalculated his prophecy and
named October 22, 1844 as the day of Christ's second advent. This second failure to came to be known as the
"Great Disappointment." The Millerite organization was also known as the "Philadelphian Church," referring to
the Church of Philadelphia mentioned in the Book of Revelation (King James, 1:11 and 3:7). In Philadelphia,
PA on Oct 22, 1844, hundreds of people left their homes and workplaces, donned their white robes and
gathered in a field to await the coming of Christ.
While Miller lectured in Philadelphia in 1843, a near-riot was started by an "unruly boy." From Sketches of the
Christian Life and Public Labors of William Miller, by Elder James White:
"From the 21st to the 29th of January, 1843, Mr. Miller lectured in Bennington, Vt. He then went to
Philadelphia, Pa., and lectured in the large hall of the Chinese Museum, which was crowded to excess, from the
3d to the 10th of February. On the evening of the 7th, a gentleman arose and confessed that he had been an
infidel, but could now praise God for what he had done for his soul. Many others followed, bearing testimony to
God's pardoning mercy.
"The interest attending the lectures continued to increase from the first till the evening before their close. On that
evening the house was filled to overflowing at an early hour. When the lecture commenced, the crowd and
confusion were so great as to render it almost impossible to hear the speaker; and it was thought best, after
notifying the people what was to be done, and giving an opportunity for all who wished so to do to go out, to
close the doors, and thus secure silence. This was done, and the speaker proceeded to his subject. For about
half an hour there was profound silence, and deep interest was evinced by the immense audience, with the
exception of a few unruly boys. This would have undoubtedly continued had it not been for the circumstance of
a lady's fainting, and it becoming necessary to open the doors for her to go out. When the door was opened,
there was a rush of persons who stood outside for admittance. As soon as this was done, and a few had come
into the room, an unruly boy raised the cry of 'fire,' which threw the whole assembly into confusion, some crying
one thing, and some another. There did not appear to be any disposition on the part of the multitude to disturb
the meeting; but all came from the rush and cry. The disorder arose more from the excited fears of the people
than from any other cause. Order was again restored, and the speaker proceeded for a few moments, when
another rush was made, and the excitement became so great within as to render it expedient to dismiss the
meeting."
"Darley"
From David S. Reynolds' edition of The Quaker City
(University of Massachusetts Press, 1995):
"The Philadelphia illustrator Felix Octavius Carr Darley
(1822-88) rose to prominence in 1842, when his sketches
of the city's street life began to appear in popular periodicals.
In 1843, he produced a pictorial series entitled "Scenes in
Indian Life" as well as caricatures for Carey and Hart's
Library of American Humorous Works. He did an
illustration for the 1845 edition of The Quaker City"
webiste for FOC Darley
Lippard uses the older spelling, Chesnut, for Chestnut Street. Chesnut was William Penn's original spelling
when he renamed the street (formerly Wynn). The spelling varied over the decades, sometimes Chestnut,
sometimes Chesnut.
"statehouse"
Independence Hall on Chestnut between 6th and 5th Streets. The building was originally the seat of
government for the state of Pennsylvania, as well as, briefly, the newly formed United States of America. In
Lippard's time, the statehouse was not just a relic of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In the
wings attached to it, the mayor and other city officials had their offices and the city council held its sessions
which were open to the public. In Quaker City, Lippard returns again and again to the statehouse as the
stalwart symbol of liberty.
For more on the statehouse and other Philadelphia landmarks in Lippard's time, refer to the 1845 edition of
Philadelphia as it is: the stranger's guide to the public buildings, institutions, and other objects worthy of
attention in the city of Philadelphia and its environs at Penn State University's Digital Bookshelf.
"cachuca"
A Spanish dance similar to the bolero. It was very popular in the 19th century. "Dance a cachucha" from
Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers (1889).
"Miller the Prophet"
William Miller was a Baptist preacher who believed the second coming of Christ was not only at hand, but
would occur on March 21, 1843. When the apocalypse failed to happen, Miller recalculated his prophecy and
named October 22, 1844 as the day of Christ's second advent. This second failure to came to be known as the
"Great Disappointment." The Millerite organization was also known as the "Philadelphian Church," referring to
the Church of Philadelphia mentioned in the Book of Revelation (King James, 1:11 and 3:7). In Philadelphia,
PA on Oct 22, 1844, hundreds of people left their homes and workplaces, donned their white robes and
gathered in a field to await the coming of Christ.
While Miller lectured in Philadelphia in 1843, a near-riot was started by an "unruly boy." From Sketches of the
Christian Life and Public Labors of William Miller, by Elder James White:
"From the 21st to the 29th of January, 1843, Mr. Miller lectured in Bennington, Vt. He then went to
Philadelphia, Pa., and lectured in the large hall of the Chinese Museum, which was crowded to excess, from the
3d to the 10th of February. On the evening of the 7th, a gentleman arose and confessed that he had been an
infidel, but could now praise God for what he had done for his soul. Many others followed, bearing testimony to
God's pardoning mercy.
"The interest attending the lectures continued to increase from the first till the evening before their close. On that
evening the house was filled to overflowing at an early hour. When the lecture commenced, the crowd and
confusion were so great as to render it almost impossible to hear the speaker; and it was thought best, after
notifying the people what was to be done, and giving an opportunity for all who wished so to do to go out, to
close the doors, and thus secure silence. This was done, and the speaker proceeded to his subject. For about
half an hour there was profound silence, and deep interest was evinced by the immense audience, with the
exception of a few unruly boys. This would have undoubtedly continued had it not been for the circumstance of
a lady's fainting, and it becoming necessary to open the doors for her to go out. When the door was opened,
there was a rush of persons who stood outside for admittance. As soon as this was done, and a few had come
into the room, an unruly boy raised the cry of 'fire,' which threw the whole assembly into confusion, some crying
one thing, and some another. There did not appear to be any disposition on the part of the multitude to disturb
the meeting; but all came from the rush and cry. The disorder arose more from the excited fears of the people
than from any other cause. Order was again restored, and the speaker proceeded for a few moments, when
another rush was made, and the excitement became so great within as to render it expedient to dismiss the
meeting."
"Darley"
From David S. Reynolds' edition of The Quaker City
(University of Massachusetts Press, 1995):
"The Philadelphia illustrator Felix Octavius Carr Darley
(1822-88) rose to prominence in 1842, when his sketches
of the city's street life began to appear in popular periodicals.
In 1843, he produced a pictorial series entitled "Scenes in
Indian Life" as well as caricatures for Carey and Hart's
Library of American Humorous Works. He did an
illustration for the 1845 edition of The Quaker City"
webiste for FOC Darley
The corner of 6th and Chesnut Streets (Independence Hall is across the corner from
Durand's Drug Store)
Durand's Drug Store)
The Statehouse in 1840 (appropriately enough during the winter months, the setting of
Lippard's novel.
Lippard's novel.
F.O.C. Darley