s man such as Mr. Kelly was, it is with small
anticipation of rendering a satisfactory return, that any one can
undertake to sketch the principal events of his life.

It is, perhaps, a matter for felicitation that Mr. Kelly has been his
own autobiographer. His narratives and recitals are nearly all personal.
They are mostly the results of his own observation and experience; and
those who, in accordance with a practice we fear now too little attended
to, read the Preface before the body of the work, will, we trust,
understand that the stories in which "Falconbridge" claims to have been
an actor, are to be received with as much confidence as truthful
accounts, as if some Boswell treasured them up with care, and minutely
detailed them for the admiration of those who should follow after him.

Jonathan F. Kelly was born in Philadelphia, on the 14th day of August,
A. D. 1817. Young Jonathan was, at the proper age, placed at school,
where he acquired the rudiments of a plain English education, sufficient
to enable him, with the practice and experience to be gained in the
world, to improve the advantages derived from his tuition. He was, while
yet a boy, placed for a time in a grocery store, and subsequently was
employed by Lewis W. Glenn, a perfumer, whose place of business was then
in Third street above Walnut.

In 1837, Jonathan, being of the age of nineteen years, determined to go
out into the world to seek adventure and fortune. He accordingly set out
for that great region to which attention was then turned--the Western
country. Having but slight means to pay the expenses of traveling, he
walked nearly the whole of the journey. At Chillicothe, in Ohio, his
wanderings were for a time ended. The exposure to which he had been
subjected, caused a very severe attack of pleurisy. It happened most
fortunately for him that a kind farmer, Mr. John A. Harris, pitied the
boy; whose sprightliness, social accomplishments, and good conduct, had
made a favorable impression. He was taken into Mr. Harris' family, and
assiduously nursed during an indisposition which lasted more than two
months. This circumstance appeased his roving disposition for a time,
and he remained upon the farm of his good friend, Mr. Harris, for two
years, making himself practically acquainted with the life and toils of
an agriculturist. In 1839, he concluded to return to Philadelphia, where
he remained for a time with his family. But the spirit of adventure
retur