Tells of arrival in Philadelphia & impressions of the city

Postmark:Philadelphia
           Oct 17
            10

                             Maj James T Gleaves
                                 Buffalo Ford
                                    Wythe City
                                         Va
Mail

                                                                             Phila
                                                                                    Oct 13^th /46

 Dear Father
     I arrived last Sunday morning-in a steam boat from Baltimore my passage was very unpleasant owing to a heavy gale in the Chesapeake, I stopped at Congress Hall & stayed there until I fortunately came across Mr Le French, which was on Monday - I then went with him to Mrs Rowe on Arch St 200 where we are at present boarding -the house is medium, people poor, though kind & generous.  Our room is very comfortable, and large enough for three, We are giving $4.00 per week for board but as soon as the session commences we will have another room mate which will reduce the board to about 3.50 or 3.75  It was my object to get boarding as cheap as possible to be respectable & find it is nearly impossible to get it cheaper-
     We will have to give about 50¢ for washing per day- I have attended several lectures & find that I am much better read than I thought, it is true there are new ideas advanced but the-

general principle I am pretty well acquainted 
     I can't say I like Philadelphia well - the manners, customs & regulations are so - different there you would readily suppose you was in another world.  The ladies are not as handsome here, as they are in Baltimore-manners are pretty good, there is more intimacy on the part of Ladies to gentlemen than you would suppose  For instance a Lady let her be ever so strange won’t think nothing of going with a gentleman to any part of her house & sitting for hours
     Rev George Painter made a true remark when he said the Ladies had large feet for they have broad square feet   But I will put them against any in the world for - dressing - & sweetest voices I ever heard.
     There was considerable excitement on yesterday as it was the day for electing the mayor.  There is a continual alarm of fire & so like [  ] that no one speaks I suppose I hadn't arrived more than a few hours when a gentleman steped in the Hotel and sayed "they are about to have a fire" another answered "I hope they will succeed"  at the same time some valuable building burning.

     Miss Elizabeth St Clair is in our City I have call on her yet.  I don't know how long she intends staying.  I want you to write as when convenient.
                                             Yours respectfully
                                                    S. C. Gleaves
J. T. Gleaves
   (PS)  It  cost me nearly $40 to get here
                          SCG