Signers of the Declaration
Content
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THE
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1876
1776
Of THE S
OF THE
DECLARATION OF HBlPllBlNlft
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ILLUSTRATIONS,
PORTRAITS, ETC.,
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THE
CENTENNIAL
BOOK OF THE SIGNERS
BEINC.
FAC-SIMILE LETTERS
OF EACH SIGNER
OF THE
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
Illustrated with
One Hundred Engravings
oy
PORTRAITS, VIEWS,
ETC.,
INCLUDING THIRTEEN ORIGINAL DESIGNS, COLORED KY HAND:
A HISTORICAL
MONOGRAPH AND A HISTORY OF THE
CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION.
BY W. BROTHERHEAD,
n
LIBRARIAN,
AUTHOR OF THE
"BOOK
OF THK
SIGNERS,"
PHILADELPHIA
J.
M.
STODDART
ETC., ETC.
i
& CO.
?
Entered
according to Act of Congress in
WM. BROTHERHEAD
;
In the Office of the Librarian
of Congress at
Washington.
Stcr( t
and Printed
i?
NQUIRER PR
INT AND PuB C
yP<:d
,
.
Lancaster, Pa.
VOLUME
THIS
Is
respectfully Dedicated to
FERDINAND J. DREER,
ROBERT COULTON DAVIS,
AND SIMON GRATZ,
ESQUIRES,
Because of their
LOVE AND TRUE APPRECIATION OF BOOK-LORE,
Especially for
AMERICAN HISTORY,
all
ITS
matters relating to
AUTOGRAPHS, COINS, BOOKS,
AND PICTORIAL ILLUSTRATIONS.
THANKS
for the use of many Letters
of the Signers, used in this Volume.
Are tendered
to
them
W.
BROTHERHEAD.
Philadelphia, August 15, 1875.
723528
PREFACE.
The author has determined
most national character,
shall
work worthy of the occasion, and of the
do honor to the Signers.
In this work are
that a
of each Signer, thirteen colored original national designs, a
of
each
of
the original thirteen states, a brief biography of each Signer,
history
a history of the Hall in which the Declaration was signed, a copious catalogue
fac-simile letters
of the portraits of the Signers, a history of the development of the Centennial
Exhibition, with numerous appropriate illustrations and various views of a
historical and national interest, comprising monuments, residences, etc.
Such
are the distinctive features, and, though no special claim is made for recondite
research in the national archives, which a Bancroft has exhausted, yet it is
modestly asserted by the author that he has collected together from many
matter which is illustrative of the history of the country,
and which has never before appeared in such a form. Several portraits appear
sources, valuable
work
they are copied from photographs taken from the
It is intended as a vade mecum for those
Independence Hall.
take an interest in all matters relating to the founders of our Republic.
is there amongst us that, at least, does not revere all matters connected
in this
for the first
time
;
portraits in the
who
Who
with
the
of
birth
exhibitions
to
his
We
country?
do
not refer
but to
"
spread-eagle-isms"
the
to
steadfast
the
love
4th of July
of country
and gives soul and means to prevent
This silent leverage
its
destruction.
society, though despised by the
boisterous politician, is, in all societies, a conservative element whose value
some great emergency calls it into activity. This element
is unknown until
in our society is, year by year, becoming more powerful by its very silence.
It has no organization, it does not boast of newspaper
organs, it has no
kind
it
of
no
in
"wire-puller"
any
patiently and
Washington,
power
and
when
action is
of
events
current
the
watches
by
year,
year
silently
from
Maine
to California, without
in
act
instincts
its
harmony,
necessary,
any visible preconcerted unison of action; and recognizing neither Republican
nor Democrat, it throws its influence into the ballot-box, and awaits calmly
that,
the hour of need, banishes
in
self,
of
A
the results.
will
country possessing
never cease to exist.
The
whose
writer
names
herewith
are
His Worst
Enemy,"
Philadelphia,
Anglo-Saxon conservative element,
thanks to various friends for assistance, many of
appended to the fac-simile letters; but are especially
to his son, Alfred P. Brotherhead, author of
Himself
tenders
tendered
this
April,
his
"
for valuable
1875.
assistance
rendered.
CONTENTS.
Preface,
Contents,
..
...
2
1-8
9-27
27-34
34-42
42-44
44-46
40-49
49~5
Literature in 1776 and 1876,
....
......
......
Theology,
"
History,
Novels
Humorous
"
Poetry
Fiction
S~S
......
.....
General Literature,
Law
.
.
S
.
.
l
l
~S 2
52
5 2 "54
Arts and Sciences,
Brief History of the Thirteen Original States, 55-91
Declaration
Biography of the Signers of the
92-120
of Independence
Declaration of Independence in Congress, 121-131
Where was the Declaration of Independ
"
.
....
i3 2 -!37
138-14
Written,
two
History of Independence Hall with
142-145
views,
ence Written?
Declaration
The
Where
.
.
......
.....
The Old Square,
The Old Bell, Illustration,
The Interior
145-146
146-14?
147-15
.......
Views of the
.
.
.
Centennial Buildings,
five
with Descriptive Matter,
151-160
Letter, with Views of
John Hancock
His Residence, the Desk on which the
Declaration of Independence was signed
161
and three of the Signers Chairs,
New Hampshire, Colored view of Ports
163
mouth,
165
Josiah Bartlett, Letter and Portrait,
and
Gen l. Wm. Whipple, Letter
Residence,
167
Matthew Thornton,
169
.
.
.
.
......
.
Massachusetts
Colored View of Boston,
Samuel Adams, Letter and
John Adams,
Portrait,
171
173
.
also
"
"
"
View
"
"
"
.......
and
of the liirthplace of
"
"
....
.
.
.
.
.
.
....
....
Oliver Walcott, Letter, with Portrait and
View of Residence,
New York Colored view of New York,
William Floyd,
Phil. Livingston,
Letter
"
and
"
Portrait,
.
"
.
Francis Lewis,
.
Lewis Morris,
New Jersey Colored View of Trenton,
Richard Stockton, Letter, with View of
his Residence,
John Witherspoon, Letter, with View of
"
"
"
"
"
"
.
....
195
197
199
201
203
205
207
209
.....
211212
Hopkinson, Letter, with Portrait
and View of his Residence,
John Hart, Letter, with Monument,
213
215
his
Residence,
Francis
.
Phil
219
.
.
Robert Morris, Letter, with Views of his
Mansion, also that of Washington,
Benjamin Rush, Letter, with View of the
Shippen Mansion,"
Benjamin Franklin, Letter, with View of
"
.
.
.
his Burial Place
227
229
Residence,
James Smith, Letter, with View of Resi
dence
George Taylor, Letter, with View of Resi
dence
James Wilson, Letter, with View of Res
231-232
233
idence, also, Signature of IS. Franklin,
Geo. Ross, Letter, with View of Residence,
Delaware Colored View of Wilmington,
Crcsar Rodney, Letter, with View of Res
235
237
238
......
.....
G. Read, Letter, with
View
239
of Residence
and Portrait,
Gov. Thomas McKean, Letter, with View
241
....
of Residence,
Maryland Colored View of Baltimore,
Samuel Chase, Letter, with View of Resi
243
245
.
......
247
249
dence,
Paca, Letter, with View of Residence,
Thos. Stone,
Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, Letter, with
Portrait and View of Residence,
Virginia Colored View of the City of
Wm
"
"
"
"
"
251
253
.
Norfolk,.
....
Letter, with Portrait and
of Residence,
Richard II. Lee, with View of the Birth
George Wythe,
View
place of R.
223
225
John Morton, Letter, with View of his
Residence
George Clymer, Letter, with View of his
idence,
221
H. and
255
257
F. L. I.ee,
Thomas Jefferson, Letter, with View of
Monticello," and the House in which
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration
259
of Independence,
Benjamin Harrison, Letter, with Portrait
and view of Residence,
261
.
"
J. Q.
J.
Adams
175-176
Robert Treat Paine, Letter and Portrait,
1/7
Elbridge Gerry,
also View of his Residence, Elmwood,
179
181
Rhode Island Colored View of Newport,
with
Portrait
Letter,
Stephen Hopkins,
and Monument,
183
William Ellery Letter, with Portrait,
185
Connecticut ColoredView of New Haven,
187
Roger Sherman, Letter, with Portrait and
View of Residence,
.
189-190
Samuel Huntington, Letter, with Portrait
and View of Residence,
191
William Williams, Letter, with View of
his Residence,
193
"
217
.
.
of
adelphia
Essays on Portraits,
History of Centennial Exhibition,
General,
Historical Monograph
Domestic Condition in 1776 and 1876,
"
A. Clark, Letter, with Portrait,
Pennsylvania Colored View
...
.
*
.
.
......
......
......
Thomas Nelson,
Residence,
F. Lightfoot Lee, Letter, with
idence,
Carter Braxton, Letter, with
idence,
View
View
of
.
......
......
.....
P^jtledge,
Letter, with
View
I
ley ward, Jr., Letter, with
279
281
View
of Residence,
Thomas Lynch,
273
275
277
of
Residence,
Thomas
269
271
.
Hooper, Letter, with View of Residence,
Joseph Hewes, Letter, with Portrait,
John Penn, Letter. withView of Residence,
South Carolina Colored View of Charles
ton,
267
Res
\V.
Edward
265
of Res
Colored View of Wil
North Carolina
mington,
263
with View of
Jr., Letter,
Letter, with Portrait,
Arthur Middleton, Letter, with Residence,
Georgia Colored View of Savannah,
Jr.,
.
......
Button Gwinnett, Document, with Duel
Scene,
Lyman Hall, Letter, with Portrait,
George Walton, Letter, with View,
Charles Thomson, Secretary to Congress,
.
Leiter, with View and Portrait,
283
285-286
287
290
.
291
293
295
,
297
.
PORTRAITS OF THE SIGNERS.
PORTRAITS OF THE SIGNERS.
Much
the
discussion
has taken
place,
and
will
no
doubt continue,
relative
The committee for the
restoration of Independence Hall have given much time and attention to
the matter, and are in a fair way of becoming the means of
restoring and
collecting together either the original portraits of many of the Signers, or at
to
genuineness
of
many
of
the
portraits.
We
shall place our views on record, and
copies from such originals.
endeavor, at least, to classify such evidences as cannot easily be thrown aside,
least
and which
will tend to prove that the portraits of the
Signers which we
the
Hall
of
are
as
possess
Independence
certainly genuine as are most of
the portraits under similar conditions, and which conditions, in the cases speci
fied have never been denied.
It is an historic fact, that Trumbull was authorized
in
by Congress, in 1817, to fill four compartments of the Rotunda in the Capitol
at Washington; each compartment is 18 by 12 feet.
In one of those com
Trumbull spent several
partments is "The Declaration of Independence."
In the autumn
years of his life in England, and was a pupil of B. West.
of 1789 he returned to America to procure likenesses of distinguished patriots
"
a contemplated series of national pictures, commemorating the principal
of the Revolutionary struggle; and, while thus engaged, he painted
several portraits of Washington, one of which, full length and in uniform,
for
events
is
in
the collection of
his
the
corporation
object, he went,
plished
the American
in
When
Minister.
of
New York
city.
Having accom
as
1794,
England,
secretary to Mr. Jay,
the Congress, in 1817, authorized Trumbull
to
the four pictures, they knew of his ability as an artist, and were
cognizant of his European reputation. There can also be little doubt but that
to paint
Congress knew that his object in returning from Europe in 1789 to his own
country was to collect as many portraits of living actors in the past Rev
olution as he possibly could.
Congress, therefore, felt itself justified in
By referring to the dates of the deaths of
entrusting him with its orders.
the Signers, it will be seen that the following died prior to 1789: Button
Gwinnet, of whom there is no portrait; John Hart, of whom there is no por
Thomas Lynch, of whom there is a portrait, as it is promised, we presume
of the family, to the Hall of Independence
one
John Penn and Csesar
by
R.
of
whom
there
are
there is a portrait,
of
whom
Stockton,
portraits;
Rodney,
in
the
and
W.
of
whom there is
after
Hall;
Connaroe,
Whipple,
trait;
;
,
PORTRAITS OF THE SIGNERS.
vi
a
Gwinnet and
Button
portrait.
John
Mart arc not
Trumbull
in
s
"Decla
The portrait of Thomas
Eight others are.
we do not learn who is the painter.
Hall
Lynch,
Robert
There
are
Stockton s is in the Hall, painted by Connaroe, after
Declaration of Independence" which could not have
six portraits on the
been taken from life by Trumbull in 1789, because the men were deceased
Then how are we to solve the problem, even though it be
before that time.
ration of Independence."
is
Jr.,
promised to the
;
"
narrowed down to so
Is
not
it
fair
to
fine
a point
?
assume that an
artist
of Trumbull
s
reputation,
bearing
conscientious man?
pictures painted by him, was a
could
his
in
which
are
that
the
and
pictures, though they
eight portraits
the
in
from
from
were
not have been taken
possession
portraits
life,
copied
either of the existing families or from friends ?
Might there not have been
some rambling artist like the French St. Memin, who was here about that
in
mind various other
We assert that
persons?
Trumbull could not afford to affix a falsehood to such a national picture,
when hundreds, living at the time he painted it, knew the whole of the eight
Have we any
persons and could have been able to identify all of them.
time,
and
executed
silhouettes
of
hundreds
of
If so, it
contemporary protest against the untruthfulness of the portraits?
has not yet come within our knowledge.
Edmund Savage engraved Washington s portrait in 1789.
portrait
painter of the name of Smith, and one of the name of Polke, painted Wash
A
Robert Edge Pine is well known as a portrait painter. He
ington s portrait.
had a similar project to that of Trumbull, and painted the portrait of Thomas
Hopkinson also the portraits of General Gates, Charles Carroll, Baron Steuben
;
;
and he remained several weeks at Mount Vernon, and painted the portrait of
Such other artists as Sharpless, Westmuller, Martin Gallagher,
Washington.
Malcolm Earle were portrait painters.
Robertson, Belzoni Roberts, and
Mathew
of
Pratt,
1788, and
streets,
in
1788, painted the prominent members of the Convention
they figured as a sign at the corner of Chestnut and Fourth
Philadelphia, and the portraits were
See Historical Magazine 1859-60.
spectators.
a
identified
by
Edward Wright
all
crowds
of
also
painted
of Washington.
C. W. Peale is well known.
John Hazlitt also
T. Earle painted portraits in Connecticut in 1775, and
portraits.
portrait
painted
He studied with West, and
painted portraits of many distinguished persons.
returned to this country in 1786, and painted Roger Sherman, and probably
He painted Mr. Alexander Hamilton in
well-known
In the
author, also painted portraits.
1787.
summer of 1783 he painted the portrait of Washington. The portraits which
he painted are numerous.
Robert Fulton, the first who successfully applied
steam to vessels, also was a portrait painter in New York, in 1785.
The above were all portrait painters contemporaries of one or more, if
many
other statesmen of that time.
W. Dunlap,
the
PORTRAITS OF THE SIGNERS.
not of
vii
the Signers
hence, is it not in accordance with the character and
of
Trumbull
to
assume that what portraits he had not got of the
position
all
Signers were in the possession of the artists named, and were given to
him to use for such a grand national
To assume they did not,
object?
would be contrary to our knowledge of the customs and courtesies one
artist extends to another.
The name of Gilbert Stuart is a household word.
Trumbull, in his autobiography, makes clear many points which would
otherwise be of little weight. At page 147, he writes:
resumed my labors,
however, and went on with my studies of other subjects of the history of
"I
the
Revolution, arranged carefully the composition for the
Declaration of
Independence, and prepared it for receiving the portraits as I met with the
distinguished men who were present at that illustrious scene." Again, page
May, went to Philadelphia, where I obtained some portraits
* * *
work.
In September I went into the country, passed some
my great
time with my family, then went on to Boston and New
Hampshire, obtained
heads of several statesmen and military officers for my great work, and in
144:
1790:
"In
for
Boston received a handsome addition to my list of subscribers. I returned
through Connecticut to Philadelphia, to which place Congress had adjourned
from New York. In February I went to Charleston, South Carolina, and there
obtained
portraits of the
Rutledges, Pinckncys, Middleton, Laurcns, HeyOn the I7th
ward, etc., and a handsome addition to my list of subscribers.
of April, I sailed for Yorktown in Virginia, and there made a drawing of
the
spot where
dered
Wythc
in
1781
the
Philadelphia,
British
army,
commanded by Lord
November
the
to
Cornwallis,
surren
rode to Williamsburg and obtained a drawing of Mr.
Declaration.
General Washington, in a letter written in
then
"
2ist,
1791,
wrote
to
forward the plans of Trumbull
"Declaration of
Independence :"-" His
desiring him
of
;
for
the
General
Lafayette, in Paris,
publishing his engraving
so far as they are
piect>s,
in
executed, meet the approval of all who have seen them. The greatness of
the design, and the masterly execution of the work, interest equally the man
of capacious mind, and the approving eye of the connoisseur." Yale College
purchased a very large number of duplicate paintings which he had made
This catalogue
and they published a catalogue of them many years ago.
It is
is published in the appendix to Trumbull s autobiography, page 408.
All saw the correctness of the portraits (Declaration of Independ
stated
Many knew the accuracy of the countenances recorded." During the
ence).
have found but one record of one
investigation relative to this subject, we
"
of the portraits that of B. Harrison, of Virginia where there can be any doubt.
In page 367 of his autobiography, in a letter written to General Harrison,
New York, February i8th, 1818, he states: "Dear Sir: Since I wrote to you
have inquired of Mr. Peale, and have received
sesses no portrait of your father in his museum.
last,
I-
for
My
answer that he pos
sole
reliance
must,
PORTRAITS OF THE SIGNERS.
VI 11
be on such description as you and his friend, Colonel Meade, of
Kentucky, can furnish me." Trumbull seems to have been a man of system
and as this mention of B. Harrison s portrait is the only one among the fortysix he included in his picture, it is but fair and logical to assume that he did
therefore,
;
not meet with any material obstacle
certainly, as in the preceding
found.
may be
It
license
indulged
items concerning
the
Declaration
the collection of the rest of the portraits,
records of such obstacles would be
in
or
case,
had he chosen
just to assume, that,
by some
in
Harrison
"
of
s
artists,
The
portrait.
Independence,"
tion
of him had been obtained
that
a drawing based upon
to take the too
he would have omitted
it
is
common
altogether
the
Harrison being in
portrait
assumed that a personal descrip
of
from General
Harrison and
Colonel
Meade;
such description was submitted to them, and by
In the case of the death of a person, we know that this
them approved.
unsatisfactory method
we should have
none
has been adopted frequently and is it not better that
a portrait of Harrison under these conditions than
have
;
In court, the evidence adduced that Trumbull s
portraits of
were trustworthy would be not only fully admitted, but would
prove that, with the exception of Harrison s, they were either from life by
himself, or copied from reliable portraits; and had he designed to palm off
the
at
all?
Signers
or
fictitious
relative
to
evidence
ideal
the
ones, he
would not have written the record which he
portrait specially referred to.
that any
have great weight
This statement
allegations
in
ever
any
court.
we
trust,
will,
the
against
their
of
did,
contemporary
genuineness would
be the means of placing an unqualified
proof
the genuineness of the portraits in the
honesty of Trumbull, and
"Declaration of Independence."
as to
existed
The absence
CENTENNIAL
BOOK OF THE
SIGNERS.
HISTORY OF
THE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION.
Under
1851,
the
auspices of Prince Albert, in England, in
fairly be asserted that the era of great national
may
it
was
exhibitions
inaugurated.
expression of a modern
arms
Such
world
civilization which,
s
fairs
are
the
in its
embracing
mankind, furthers incalculably the progress of that
wide humanity which has but one word for Patagonian and
all
for
Esquimaux
African,
Asiatic
and
Europeanholy
brother.
Prior
to
and
other
smaller
greeting,
1851,
:f;xhJbitions were instituted in various parts of both Europe
and America, but that of London is entitled to rank as the
t<i.e
,
of any paramount national importance.
The number
of exhibitors exceeded 17,000, and the exhibition was open
first
sum
number of visitors
was 6,170,000, averaging 4,356 per dion. The sum total of
the receipts for admission was 505, 107
($25,025,535), and,
during 144 days;
the
total
of
the
/.
after
the deduction of
all
expenses, the net proceeds were
150,0007. ($750,000.)
In
land,
1852, similar exhibitions
and
In
1855,
in
Paris,
to
this
bitions
our
in
were held also
in
Cork, Ire
metropolis of New York.
instituted her first universal exhibition
own
France
meeting with great and merited success;
also, prior
period, various important, though not universal, exhi
had been arranged in that country, and tended
efficiently
to
her resources.
increase
her
internal
commerce and extend
:
HISTORY OF THE
2
The London Universal Exhibition
of 1862 was conducted
on a grand and liberal scale, and throughout its manage
kindred
ment and duration reflected great credit on our
The exhibition in Vienna, in 1873, was
the sea.
beyond
a spirit, and conducted in a manner, worthy
originated in
as it
of Austria in her palmiest days; but, magnificiently
to sundry causes political and finan
was
developed owing
cialthe splendid scheme was a
partial
failure,
and did not
a justly deserved pecuniary success.
thor
America, ever onward in her swift march, believing
of all things, confident in her
in the
bring in
its
train
oughly
perfectibility
and
vast.- .-purposes
sh e
..wisfi.HsolVed that
;>
v
aMvofki s
.fair
reflection,
>
too, wil1
America has
hold a universal exhibition-
commence May loth, 1876, and ter
How few, save
following November loth.
may
even a glimmer
catch
of
Some
few with whose acquaintance
are old enough to have seen Washington
days?
like-
that shall
minate on the
by
resources
illimitable
we
in
the
by-gone
are honored
the streets of
and can remember, as it were, the echoes ema
nating from the debates of the First Congress, held here
during the troublous times from 1776 to 1783. Our Cen
this
city,
tennial
Exhibition
is
to
of that Liberty which
teen States,
is
be held
the
and here we
in
this
daughter of
the Birth-place
each of the Thir
city,
shall gladly enter a short
record
The origination
steady growth.
of the idea is claimed, with more or less justness, by many
zealous persons; this, however being simply a synoptical
of
its
conception and
record of
its
its
existence in a material form,
is
not the place for
the registration of personal controversy.
The first record, in 1871, of an official character,
is
the
CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION.
3
request of the councils of Philadelphia, also of the legisla
ture of Pennsylvania, to
the Government at Washington,
to take action in the matter; which
body, after mature
deliberation, passed
the
following
laws:
NATIONAL AUTHORITY.
The
gress
duties
following preamble and section of an act of Con
indicates the character of this Commission and its
:
THE ACT CREATING THE UNITED STATES CENTENNIAL
COMMISSION.
AN ACT
to
provide
for
of American
One Hundredth
the
celebrating
by holding an
International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures, and Pro
ducts of the Soil and Mine, in the city of Philadelphia,
Anniversary
Independence,
and State of Pennsylvania,
and seventy-six.
WHEREAS,
The
in the
Declaration
of
year eighteen
hundred
of
Independence
the
United States of America was prepared, signed, and pro
mulgated in the year seventeen hundred and seventy-six,
in
the city
people of
of Philadelphia; and whereas, it behooves the
the United States to celebrate, by appropriate
ceremonies, the centennial anniversary of this memorable and
decisive event, which constituted the fourth day of July,
Anno
Domini,
birthday of
that
the
the
seventeen
nation;
of
hundred
and whereas,
the
first
and
it
seventy-six,
is
deemed
century of
completion
existence shall be commemorated by an
our
exhibition
the
fitting
national
of
the
HISTORY OF THE
4
natural resources of the country
and
their
development, and
progress in those arts which benefit mankind in com
parison with those of older nations; and whereas, no place
is so
appropriate for such an exhibition as the city in which
of
its
designed to commemorate; and
whereas, as the exhibition should be a national celebration,
occurred
in
it
event
the
it
is
which the people of the whole country should participate,
should have the sanction of the Congress of the United
States: therefore,
Be
enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of America in Congress
assembled, That an exhibition of American and foreign
arts,
o
SECTION
i.
it
products and manufactures shall be held, under the auspices
of the government of the United States, in the
city of
Philadelphia, in the year
eighteen
hundred and seventy-six.
The
following proclamation of the President
national character of the exhibition:
the
PROCLAMATION
indicates
:
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
WHEREAS, by
the Act of Congress
approved
March
third,
eighteen hundred and seventy-one, providing for a National
Celebration of the one hundredth
anniversary of the Inde
pendence of the United
national
Exhibition
by the holding of an Inter
Manufactures, and Products of
States,
of Arts,
and Mine, in the City of
Philadelphia, in the year
eighteen hundred and seventy-six, it is provided as follows:
That, whenever the President shall be informed
by the
Governor of the State of
that
the Soil
"
Pennsylvania
provision
has
CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION.
been made
for
purpose, and
herein
dent
the
for
provided
shall,
of
erection
the exclusive
of the
for
through the
suitable
5
buildings
for
the
by the Commission
control
proposed Exhibition, the Presi
Department of
mation of the same, setting
State,
procla
time at which
the
forth
make
the
Exhibition will open, and the place at which it will be held,
and he shall communicate to the
diplomatic representatives
of all nations copies of the same,
together with such reg
ulations
as
may be adopted
publication in their respective
the
by
commissioners,
for
countries;"
And
whereas, His Excellency the Governor of the said
State of Pennsylvania did, on the
twenty-fourth day of
June, eighteen hundred and seventy-three, inform me that
provision has been made for the erection of said buildings
and
for
by the Commission provided
in the said act of the proposed Exhibition;
And whereas, the President of the United States Cen
the exclusive control
for
Commission has officially informed me of the dates
for the opening and closing of the said Exhibition, and
tennial
fixed
the
at
Now,
which
be held:
it
is
to
therefore, be
it
known
place
that
I,
ULYSSES
S.
GRANT,
President of the United
conformity with the pro
visions of the act of Congress aforesaid, do hereby declare
and proclaim that there will be held, at the city of Phila
States, in
International
Pennsylvania, an
Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures and Products of the Soil
and Mine, to be opened on the tenth day of May, Anno
Domini, eighteen hundred and seventy-six, and to be closed
delphia,
in
the
State
of
on the tenth day of November,
And
in the
interests
in
the
same
year.
of peace, civilization, and domestic
HISTORY OF THE
6
I commend the
and international friendship and intercourse,
of the United
Celebration and Exhibition to the people
I
and in behalf of this government and people,
States;
cordially
commend them
to
all
nations
who may be
pleased
to take part therein.
hand
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done
at the city
of Washington, this
third
and
day of
one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three,
an d of the Independence of the United States the
U. S. GRANT.
ninety-seventh.
July,
By
the President:
HAMILTON
FISH,
Secretary of State.
The message above
to
the
referred to
by President Grant
relates
providing means for the purpose of erecting
Hall, toward which the sum of $1,000,000 was
State
Memorial
grants of money
made by the city of Philadelphia, which, in all, has appropri
ated $1,650,000; the sum of $75,000 was expended in order
to meet the expenses of the Centennial Commission; the
granted,
and
relates
also
to
the
various
have subscribed $1,000,000. Weigh
a national and an American spirit, it is
citizens of Philadelphia
ing
each word in
be keenly regretted that the Government at Washington
should have manifested a spirit of such coldness and indif
to
ference
to
an
object
reject all appeals
for
of
such universal
importance as to
pecuniary assistance in forwarding- the
But a government, even though loyal to true
principles and a fair exponent of its people s creed, somenoble work.
CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION.
times
behind, sometimes
falls
hours of
stern
7
75 and
In the
leaps in advance.
even the popular conventions
76,
were not swayed incessantly by that invincible resolve which
ever animated the body of the people
again and again
be over
to
fearing
rash,
or
to
outstep their
constituents,
In our
they were unintentionally false to the general wish.
day too, though, God be thanked, in less fearful times, and
with another and less grave matter in hand, the leaders
once more the people gave
oneness of feeling testified that
hesitated;
ican
ceased
to
teach,
the
voice
of
the
Our over-ocean brethren
right.
call
its
voice,
as
many
and Amer
Jefferson
the
is
never
voice
of
us a congress of states;
a many-limbed creature
a rope of sand devoid of tenuity;
This is a merited,
devoid of the principles of true unity.
a just reproach where measures not affecting the real life
of the nation
young
boy,
are concerned;
shown
we have
yet, within
the
to
the
memory
of a
wondering world
an
example, the unparalleled example, of a oneness of will
which would brook no boundaries narrower than the Atlantic
and the
Pacific, the lakes
petulance apart,
New York
to
we
San
and the Gulf of Mexico.
are as
A
state,
have responded heartily to any call,
relative to an object of such genuine impor
tance, as a Universal
whom
American Exhibition.
alas!
we
to
simulant, et Bacchanalia vimint;
like
Now,
guide our helm, have only politicians
the line of Juvenal may well apply:
Qtii Curios
have not statesmen
live
Florida, from
years ago, would
from any
to
to
knowledge of the past
a senate and congress which sat
Francisco.
warrants the assertion that
forty
one from Maine
Brotherly
Bacchanals.
Yet,
who
memory
affect to
of
be Curii and
days gone by and
HISTORY OF THE
8
days at hand, plucks from us the ability to render to them
e en this woful praise; rather, they scorn the affectation
of
being Curii, and outride every Bacchanal.
well,
despite
But
all
unnational spirit of the government: the
responded, and success looms greater with
the
people have
each offering from our sister
states.
ORGANIZATION.
President:
JOSEPH
R.
HAWLEY.
Vice-Presidents :
ALFRED
JOHN
D.
T.
is
ORESTES CLEVELAND,
ROBERT LOWRY,
ROBERT MALLORY.
GOSHORN,
CREIGH,
Director General:
ALFRED
T.
GOSHORN.
Secretary
JOHN
L.
:
CAMPBELL.
Assistant Secretary:
DORSEY GARDNER.
Counselor
JOHN
L.
and
Solicitor:
SHOEMAKER.
1
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
THE
sketch
following
IN condition
of the
it
colonies
is
purposed
previous
to
portray the
outbreak of
the
to
revolution and during its progress; also, to contrast it
with the present condition of those states and twenty-five of
their children.
No more opportune moment could possibly
the
such an essay than does the approaching Cen
tennial Celebration which is to take place in this city, the
offer itself for
birthplace of
American
and ending the
The
commencing May
following November loth.
liberty,
loth,
1876,
and character of a people are pro
ducts of slow growth, and to the Saxon and Anglo-Saxon
this remark applies more forcibly and peculiarly than to the
habits, customs,
more mercurial
Comparatively speaking, the records of
history exhibit distinctly and unmistakably the phlegm and
dormancy of the former races; the impulsiveness and vol
atility
of the
whether
in
Celt.
latter.
Germany,
A
rapid glance
or where her
toward Saxon annals,
sons
have
emigrated,
leveling and iconoclastic
age, certain modes of thought, certain customs and charac
teristics which crop out, as it were, through sheer instinct.
enables
Man
with
all
us to detect, even
is
in
this
by nature a conservative animal;
the animal conditions of
life fulfilled,
if left
unassailed
he cares
little for
revolutions or social innovations; dreading changes,
no matter in what form or guise. Like our contemporaries,
political
the
wandering Koraks of
Siberia, he
neither
knows nor
is
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
io
This people, although living under
desirous of a change.
the government of Russia, and brought almost daily under its
influence; although living in the
most primitive manner, with
the reindeer as a companion; although suffering from exposure
and
privations
over
all
country where cold
a
in
paramount
reigns
where the thermometer marks seventy degrees below
zero in winter; although living in huts so rudely constructed
that ingress is obtained at the top;
yet cannot be forced or
abandon
to
persuaded
its
will
ancestral usages;
not yield
its
conservatism, even under the powerful influences of the strong
has been roughly
It
government which rules over them.
men
asserted that
in
their
heads;
s
brains are oftener in their stomachs than
though by no means
existence of a certain
the
amount
flattering to
of truth
in
humanity,
the assertion
must be conceded.
That great revolutions have proceeded
more
physical
directly
from
needs
than
from
a
desire
to
apparent to merit any contradic
tion that those physical needs have, in nearly all cases, been
the ripeners of germs of thought from Confucius to the pre
develop the
aesthetic, is too
;
The
not readily be denied by the scholar.
immediate causes of all the great battles that have been
fought, from Marathon to Waterloo, may be traced more
sent era,
will
directly to
an
ambitious craving for
wealth, than to the offspring of
portion
real
have been composed of
lutely forced to
combat against
As
far
vital
men have
that the armies
nation.
and
power and
want.
That
generally been the cause of the
of famous frays will scarcely be denied, or
but few ambitious
major
any
increased
men who were
their feelings
and
back as the sixteenth century, the
abso
their incli
men who
colonized this country were, in the majority of cases, political
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
or
malcontents, or those
religious
11
who suffered under the
The wealthier adventurers
displeasure of their governments.
brought with them their servants, and at once entered upon
an agricultural
Loving
life.
ever bound by
their fatherland,
and
they found their
In the
chief glory in being Englishmen and English subjects.
subsequent erection of their governments they brooded over
the strong ties of veneration
no Utopian
tions,
ideas, and, far
from desiring independent jurisdic
asked no more than to find shelter within the shadow
of that
The
they loved so well and steadfastly.
different charters were granted under the sanction of
home power
the crown,
and
respectively,
and
affection,
the various laws, established
were constructed
spirit of
those
documents.
thousand miles Englishmen
in
England struck hands, while
in
by the colonies
accordance with the
letter
Across the chasm of three
America and Englishmen
each
heart
beat
in
in
unison,
The haughty and
responding to each act of parliament.
wealthy aristocrat, who, ostracised at home for political or
other offences, trod upon the virgin soil of the west, stamped
his hauteur and his pride.
ineffaceably upon the whole country
His life-purpose was
fect them in order to
He
subordinated
brought over
his
develop his peculiar ideas and per
love of wealth.
gratify his ambition and
to
He
not only
own vassals, treating them as such were
but also purchased negroes, and availed
all
things
to
that purpose.
treated in England,
himself of Indian labor
in
the elaboration of the views with
Increased power kept pace with his
increase of needs; and, proprietor of entire counties and abso
lute lord over several hundreds of servitors, he rapidly became
which he had
as
set forth.
one of the old-time feudal barons.
If austere
in
his per-
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
12
sonal
habits,
toward
and
nal,
his
he was, as a
to a certain extent,
his
deportment
government was pater
it was
patriarchal in its character,
While
dependants.
kindly in
rule,
his
based on that love and veneration for justice which has ever
been admired both in England and America.
Thus wrote George Mason,
of
Bill
Rights
gentleman here
for
is
of Virginia, in 1773: "Every
Practised in acts of
born a petty tyrant.
the
despotism and cruelty,
humanity and
all
the distinguished author of the
state
we become
callous to the dictates of
the finer feelings of the soul.
regard a part of our
own
species in the
Taught to
most abject and con
temptible degree below us, we love that idea of the dignity
of man which the hand of nature hath planted in us for great
and
useful
A
purposes."
"
Emigrants in the
edited by John Camden Hotten, from MSS.
years 1600-1700,"
in her Majesty s Public Record Office, published in 1874,
will
reference to the
Original
Lists of
of the present families of
Virginia are intimately connected with those early sojourners
in America.
The first historian of Virginia, Ralph Homer,
exhibit clearly the fact that
is
of
there recorded as
servants.
among
Twenty-one
many
the emigrants, with a large retinue
counties in Virginia,
comprising
nearly a quarter of the state, are said to have once belonged
to one family
that of Fairfax: but
during the revolution,
because of loyalty to Great Britain, every acre was confiscated.
This
a very suggestive one,
showing, as it does, con
siderable numbers of wealthy men of
high standing in Eng
list
is
land arriving in Virginia with from fifty to over one hundred
dependants attached to their households. The decadence, in
England, of feudalism may be said fairly to have been well
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
13
represented by those emigrants
by the vast retinues of servi
tors
although it had long ago ceased to be legal in England.
This feudalism, which was fast giving way in
England to the
force
and power of modern thought, received
in the colonies
a fresh impetus by the introduction of s4aves by the Dutch
in 1619.
That act will forever stand as a blot upon the page
of Virginia s history; although at that time the
usage of
modern nations was her justification, and even continued so
during two subsequent centuries.
As the habits and customs of nations are slow
in
their
growth, so are these nations slow in throwing off what has been
the product of centuries and it is but fair to presume that those
;
landed gentry of England had all the desire of power fostered
by their forefathers, which is an instinct of the Anglo-Saxon
race.
It
is
difficult to
draw the
power begins and where
where the proper use of
line
should end.
it
As
a general axiom,
cannot be denied that the abuse of power is more frequent
than its proper use.
The history of all nations, whether
written or unwritten, hold this indisputable.
Nor can we
it
draw too
on those men, born and educated to use
was an heirloom in the family, even if it
tight a line
power as though it
was too harshly exercised.
gentry of England
mode
of
The white
became
power exercised by
servants of those landed
impregnated with the use and
their masters;
and, in the course
of them, either by industry or superior ability,
of time,
many
pressed
themselves forward
;
and,
gaining higher positions,
became personages of importance like unto their former mas
Thus the colonies became established and increased
ters.
;
their populations so largely, that the
careful parental control over
u
them
for
mother country exercised
a great
number of
years,
i
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
4
loved England more than did the colonists:
that affection, and almost passionate
nay, distance increased
The literature of England was their mental
love for her.
No Englishman
and Shakespeare, her Bacon and Milton,
sacred as the Bible, and were inexhaustible
food; her Chaucer
were
to
them
as
fountains of pure knowledge and intellectual grandeur which
no nation of ancient or modern times has ever equaled. No
on this subject
greater tribute was ever offered to England
than that paid by one of the noble, though singular and erratic,
sons of Virginia, John Randolph, of Roanoke.
It
was not
only the general literature of England of which the colonists
were proud, but the laws of England were to them the incar
The influence of
nation of the greatest wisdom of the age.
Magna Charta, with the great privileges which were wrung
from a proud king its trial by jury, habeas corpus, and Bill
of Rights all those great acts made them proud as citizens
of the colonies that had been founded by their fatherland.
Some among them knew, and
appreciated the fact, that
the birth of their Anglo-Saxonism dated markedly from the
period when the conqueror of Harold William of Normandy
power over England. From that epoch the
intermixture of the races became more general, although
recognizable traces of such an intermingling may be detected
established his
previous to, and at the time of the invasion of Julius Caesar.
They foresaw the future glory that would accrue to England
from the rapid colonization of
this
country
ment of her other dependencies, and
the Thirteen Colonies, are
the
full
;
and the develop
the records of each of
of loyal outpourings which, in
eloquent pages of Bancroft, testify amply to their filial
attachment. The mode of government of the colonies was by
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
no means
15
accordance with the republicanism of this age.
In the southern provinces it was patriarchal and paternal in
in
both form and
spirit,
while in the middle and northern colo
was stamped with intolerance and bigotry.
New England: this section was peculiar in
nies
it
of
acteristics
first
its
The
colonists.
religious
the
char
tyranny and
persecution then leveled against the Puritans and Indepen
dents, in England, was so severe that, rather than endure the
galling yoke, many of these resolved, after receiving news
of the success of the southern colonies, that they would league
themselves into a band, and seek a haven
The
"Mayflower"
was the
first
the
new
ship that carried this
Puritans to the sterile shores of
be forgotten
in
New
that, at that period, the
England.
It
human mind had
world.
band of
will
not
not the
embrace the wide-spread knowledge which
literature, science, and art now amplify,
permitting broader
and more exact ideas of the power and relations of things.
opportunity to
The
religious element at this date was the governing power
of nations, and its reflex accompanied all who were brought
under
influence; hence, to
its
condemn
too straitly the
dogma
tism of the early New England puritans would ill harmonize
Puritanism
with the broad and philosophic maxims of to-day.
being an offshoot of the Episcopal church of England, itself
an offshoot of the Roman church, whose persecutions were,
during many centuries, tolerated by the Christian world,
it could
scarcely be expected that what had been instilled,
during so
many
greater or
less
years, into the public mind, should not, to a
extent, be
imitated
by those Puritans when
balance of power.
Accordingly, as
their strength increased with the lapse of time, their laws and
they,
in
turn,
held
the
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
16
to
deferential regard
generally with
the laws of England, and the privileges of their charters,
were strongly tinged with over-nice theological leanings, bor
The
narrowness and injustice.
dering not seldom upon
statutes,
constructed
Laws of Connecticut, is a striking case in point.
Rhode Island, another example, had declared in
so-called Blue
Even
after
favor of confederation, a
was embodied
held
its
England
in
clause
disfranchising
her constitution, and
place in that document.
the conservatism of the
the Catholics
some time
for
after
whole history of
Anglo-Saxon was never
In
the
than in the deportment of her American
which took the hues of their English surroundings,
colonies;
and which, in all their acts, bore the unmistakable impress
better exemplified
of her character.
The southern
colonies
were,
in
their
religious
general
character, Church of England people; and the aggregate tenor
of their laws was favorable to the perpetuation of the Episco
tenets.
palian
Says Bancroft,
vol. ix. p. 275:
"Let
not the
philosopher hear with scorn, that their constitutions were so
completely the offspring of the past, and not the phantasms
them required some sort of
for office.
In Maryland and
of theories, that at least seven of
religious test as a qualification
Massachusetts,
Christian
it
religion
was
;
sufficient
to
declare
belief
in
the
South Carolina and Georgia, in the
and the divine authority of the old and
in
Protestant religion,
new testaments
in Pennsylvania, the test was
a belief in
God, the creator and governor of the universe, the rewarder
;
good and punisher of the wicked
acknowledgement, Delaware required the
of the
faith
in
;
besides this last
officer
to
God, the father, Jesus Christ his only son,
profess
and the
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
Holy Ghost, one God
element
blessed
forever
more."
17
The
pious
the constitutions of the Thirteen States, took
in all
high rank among the subsequent leading issues, and varied
but little from the spirit of the previous eentury. When the
members of the continental congress sat in this city in 1776,
and appointed a committee
draw up a declaration of inde
pendence, that pious element which had formerly pervaded
those constitutions was almost entirely eliminated.
In the
"Declaration"
can be
to
found
no
nor
word,
which
phrase,
with the tolerant and all-embracing liberality of its
This "declaration" marks a beneficent
great scope and aim.
era in the progress of modern thought, and evinces with
interferes
admirable clearness the strong desire permeating the political
and moral sentiment of that age.
Not that religion
was to
o
o
be ignored, nor yet made subservient to politics and morals,
but to assert the true and distinctive position of each one
relatively to the other.
This
asra
1776 was as
of
was a grand
Had England been more
untrammeled thought, as
stamp
act
was the
type, the
wise, had
fruitless
onward
for
free,
political victory for all
it
humanity.
from the enforcement of those
a victory
splendid
she turned
claims of which the
stride of progress
been greatly hampered with the
Further:
colonial system and charters.
have
would
preservation of
it
is
apparent to
the
all
students of history that, heavy as had been their burdens, the
great majority of the people, especially the wealthier colonists,
would have rather borne their ills, than have pursued that
needed course in which were so many frays and perils. Had
it
not been for the self-sacrificing
was the
E
first
to
recognize the
spirit
"United
of Washington, who
rather than
States,"
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
i8
that
supposition is tenable
to found a
failure might have been the result of the effort
here to ignore the valiant
It is not intended
free state.
a
of
"Confederacy
States,"
the
so
fought so well, suffered
much; but apparent limitations prevent any elaborate detail,
and permit but a reference to the most important fact: that
struggles
of
soldiers
the
who
was voluntarily
hands of Washington, in whose ability
placed by them in the
In
and patriotism they placed great and merited reliance.
the collective military
power of
the
patriots
to a certain extent, like a
important revolutions man is,
child that looks only for succor and help to its mother: as
all
history exhibits,
man must worship some
idol
some one
of
companions who, by the strength of his own greatness,
Alex
has exemplified to him his will and power to rule.
ander, Hannibal, Cromwell, and Napoleon, were the leaders
his
Rome, Carthage, England, and France; and Washington in
America. Washington tempered power with mercy: if he or
dered the execution of an Andre, he sacrificed his humaneness
of
to his sense of
duty:
when
his
army was
retiring to winter
quarters at Valley Forge, his heart yearned with pity, causing
him inexpressible mental anguish; when the soldiers, filing
before
him
in rags
and
squalor,
many
stockingless
and shoe
tramping wearily over snow and ice, leaving their tracks
crimsoned with blood, he was hurt with sore pain and woe.
less
His every desire prompted him peremptorily to make a public
and decided demand on congress for his suffering troops;
but his duty as a true patriot consisted in making this appeal
quietly; and with an entire suppression of all unnecessary
publicity; otherwise, the knowledge of the general want and
destitution being
made known
to his
army, might have pre-
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
19
mutiny, and occasioned widespread despondency.
He knew of the cabals against him and knew too that his
brother patriot, John Adams, was under the influence of those
cipitated
who
same who once declared
a gentleman, he would shake hands
but he was in that house his superior."
called his policy
in
congress that
with the chieftain,
"
Fabian
"
the
"as
Notwithstanding the exertions of Gates, Conway, Mifflin, and
others, he ever pursued a straightforward and patriotic
policy
disgracing the members of the cabal,
himself countless honors and renown.
In 1776 he
that, ultimately,
won
for
was
the
who asked
congress for a "United States army;"
and besought them not to continue the struggle with irregular
squads of men destined to be transiently incorporated with
first
officer
the general army,
militia.
He saw
material, there
ated
demands
general a collection of orderless
with such a heterogeneous mass of raw
itself in
that,
was small prospect of success; and
finally
induced congress to grant
his reiter
his constantly
preferred request.
This was a most
important innovation in states rights,
which was watched with marked jealousy by nearly every
member of the continental congress. The conservation of
their peculiar political
was one of
their
watchwords;
be attacked, by the first
man in the country, was a blow that fell upon them with
startling effect; but the stern logic of events necessitated
the measure, and withdrawal was impossible.
It should be
and, for this
rights
almost sacred right
carefully borne in
mind
to
that Virginians
were prouder of being
Virginians than Americans.
every colony; and,
the importance
of
this
This sectional pride pervaded
understood, it is easy to comprehend
the revolution effected
by Washington
HIS 7 ORICAL MONOGRAPH.
20
when, from
organize a
reluctant
a
States
"United
drew
he
congress,
army."
the
to
power
That conquest over a
in its remoter effects on
cherished principle should, especially
the republic, be ranked as one of the grandest measures passed
of the earliest germs of
by the continental congress, one
national growth. It struck a deathblow to colonial despotism
;
and
it
was
this
measure
that,
within the century, rendered the
American, one to which
title
was
it
necessary
to
concede
respect and admiration.
After this act of congress, the prejudices of the colonies
received a shock from which it could never again recover.
The
would not bend
in
seemed implacable
logic of events
line of the
stern
any manner
could
not
The
recede.
progress of the Anglo-Saxon is irrevo
cable: the eye looks not back again, nor does the hand falter.
Once a Magna Charta extorted, trial by jury, habeas corpus,
forward
stride
in
declaration of independence, abolition of slavery in the Eng
the abolition of
lish colonies, the war of secession, and
slavery
in
the
United
once
States,
accomplished,
forever
No Englishman, no American, however much
accomplished.
he may have been opposed to the measures, ever now dreams
of
reinstating
those
relics
of
the
Those important
fully redeem the
past.
events took place, after centuries apart, that
race of their originators from the charge of either rashness
in
action, or
that,
to
the
apparent, that
peculiar
life,
even
volatility of
readers of this
its
qualities
object
of
the
is
It is
temperament.
essay, it will be
to
point out and
Anglo-Saxon
even when clashed with the
Celt.
one of the great springs of human
believed
palpable
and
generalize the
his
struggle for
This pride of race is
in
action,
and through
its
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
influences
nations
character.
Truth
was
originally
are
modified, or
materially
will not
colonized
be injured by
by the
21
changed
illustration.
French,
and
the
in
Canada
brilliant
pages of Parkman can be read with interest and profit; the
stern and inflexible Jesuit Laval being there painted with
her rigid and merciless decrees the church
moulded the aboriginals to her will on several occasions the
masterly
skill.
By
;
temporal power of the crown made some progress, but, gen
erally, the ecclesiastical influence carried away all obstacles.
This reign of the church in Canada continued until its
Thereafter the
conquest and annexation by the English.
province lived a new life. English emigrants arrived, bearers
of religious views in direct and deadly antagonism with
the resident Catholic element.
The genius and learning of
Bacon, Milton, Locke, and others, had so thoroughly impreg
nated the minds of those Anglo-Saxons that it tended to
isolate
them
completely from the French occupants; and,
their hard labor and practical common sense, to
through
work out their own salvation.
A
comparison of the French
portion of the people of Montreal will to-day reveal a marked
distinction in national character existing in their surroundings.
The former people, notwithstanding that they are surrounded
by modernized thought in
and forms, are, to this day,
all
its
even
various and varying phases
in
Montreal, in their section
changed from what they were a century ago.
In the inner agricultural portions of French Canada, where
the attrition of thought and physical actions are feebler and
of the
less
city,
potent,
Champlain,
little
the people are essentially unchanged.
Nay, if
or Laval, were to revisit those parts, either would
in either the original mind, or
perceive scarcely any change
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
22
matter, of their fellow countrymen.
The
application of this
with great force even to
that country is overrun daily with
agricultural France; though
It is not even
tourists from all parts of the civilized world.
idea, strange as
it
may
necessary to penetrate
seem,
into the interior;
far
any one landing
a few hours there, will observe the
who may spend
at Calais,
fits
costume of centuries ago
sounds paradoxical when
still
it
This
worn by the peasant.
considered
is
acknowledged modeler of fashions
that Paris
is
for the civilized world,
the
but
cannot be gainsaid. This vitality of action in Paris, and
in the larger cities, is caused by the frequent attritions of force
This idea could
brought into action by resident foreigners.
be amplified with abundance of citations and evidence, but
facts
it
would not come within the scope of
very
far
out of our
own
this
essay to travel
country.
The signers of the Declaration of Independence were a
composite of nationalities: two were Englishmen, Robert
Morris and
Button Gwinnett;
three
were
Irishmen, James
Matthew Thornton; two were
Scotchmen, James Wilson and John Witherspoon; one was
a Welshman, Francis Lewis: the remaining forty-eight were
Smith, George Taylor, and
A
glance at the names will at once
convince every one of the Anglo-Saxon origin of the whole.
The names of the three Irishmen are purely Anglo-Saxon;
all
born
in the colonies.
and a genealogical analyzation of
a
perfect
accordance with
the
their origin
position
probable exception of Charles Carroll.
would
claimed,
result in
with
The members
the
of the
continental congress will, in intellectual
strength and ability
compare favorably with the most favored legislators during
any period of
history, or in
any portion of the world.
The
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
23
statesmen of the commonwealth under Cromwell were
gener
ally men of rare merit and ability; but if England had then
her Cromwell, we had afterward our
if she
Washington;
had her Hampden, we had
John Adams; if a Pym, there
was our Franklin; if Sir John Elliot, there was our
Jefferson;
the Earl of Stratford, Charles Carroll of Carrollton;
for
Sir
Henry Vane, our Robert Morris; and
there was John Hancock.
The apposition
not expected to stand a
for
of
for
Henry Marten
these names is
mental analysis, but simply
to illustrate
positions, in a certain relative manner, as members
of two great legislatures.
The assembly over which Robe
critical
hand possessed a Mirabeau,
a Desmoulins, and others of
sparkling and flaming genius
but what a sad commentary on human nature! Again, take
spierre ruled with a sanguinary
;
the
parliament which sat under George III., while he was
aiming at the utter submission of the colonies, and compare
elements with those of the continental congress.
It had
a Pitt, a Fox, and a Burke, a trio of men resplendent for
their genius
a galaxy that would honor the most favored
its
How
nations.
their
powerful eloquence pleaded for the
colonies against the tyranny of an imbecile king and worse
administration! What comfort and joy their stirring words
produced
field
in the heart
in the legislatures
of the soldier on
or stockings, and
in
the
rags
camping ground, without shoes
of
all
this,
form but a very remote and limited
congress did not produce a Fox, a
venture to assert,
its
collective
superior, to that parliament of
Among
the
of the farmer in his
signers of the
we can
If the
idea.
Pitt,
this
time
continental
or a Burke, yet,
wisdom was
George
at
equal,
if
we
not
III.
Declaration of Independence
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
24
were twenty-four lawyers, fourteen farmers, nine
merchants,
four physicians, one
Gospel minister, three who were educated
lor
the
ministry, but
manufacturer.
those
of
the
who chose
other avocations, and
If the
pages of Hansard were compared with
"Debates
in the Conventions
one might
"
admire more the eloquence of Pitt the
electrifying
Fox, or the stately periods of Burke; but, in
m
one
effects
practical
sound common sense,
in
actions
city
with treason and
by day and by night
their honor too, were
all
method,
the calmness which characterized
when driven by
their
of
the king s
army from
city to
its
consequences, following them
when their lives and fortunes, if not
who would not discern the
greatest qualities which adorn human nature?
True, those
men had faults inseparable from human
nature, but in the
at
stake
congress they sought to subordinate
Some
all
to the
general
good.
and good men were with -that
body who could
not agree with all its actions, and
thought the measures were
talented
extreme: John Dickinson was the
most distinguished
)seph Galloway stood upon the same
while
common ground
Dickinson was deprived of his
rights as an American citizen
Dut
these
were
subsequently
restored to him.
The Loyalists
of the Revolution were a
numerous and influential
body of
men; from the state of Massachusetts
alone, after the evacuaof Boston
by the royal army, upward of eleven hundred
those adherents to the crown
retired with it
In "Sabine s
the American
Loyalists
Revolution," is found the
following:
Th 1S number
includes, of course, men, women and
children
the men,
however, were many persons of
distinguished
rank and consideration. Of
members of the council, commis
sioners, officers of the customs, and
other officials there were
:ion
m
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
25
one hundred and two; of clergymen, eighteen; of inhabitants
of country towns, one hundred and five; of merchants and
other
who
persons
resided
in
Boston,
two
hundred
thirteen; of farmers, mechanics, and tradesmen, three
*
*
*
* *
and
Unless
eighty-two.
and
Galloway
hundred
a
name
appear in this work was mistaken, the Loyalists
of the middle colonies were ready to enter the
military service
often
to
for the
crown
William
in large
Howe
New
that city, in
camp
to
repaired
and
Jersey,
embodied quite 5,000;
to his
when
issued a proclamation
men would have
3,500
His statement
numbers.
that
his
New
in
upward of
to offer their services in
in
under Sir William
in
arms
P-
25.
had Sir
Philadelphia,
standard;
that
in
York, he could have
fifty
gentlemen went
disarming the disaffected,
but failing to obtain even an interview, retired
that,
that
is
in disgust;
and
s
successor, 5,000 actually appeared
for the defence of the city of New York."
Vol. I.,
In order to appreciate
still
further the trials
and
difficulties,
Congress of Freemen had to encounter, see page 34 of
Col. Joseph Reed, of Pennsyl
the above-mentioned work.
is
said:, the Virginians are so alarmed
vania, writes:
this
"It
with
idea of
the
independence
that
they have
sent
Mr.
Braxton on purpose to turn the vote of that colony [Virginia]
if
any question on that subject should come before congress."
Again,
but a
p.
35,
little
Sabine
correspondence occurred
more than three months previous to the time
when congress
As
"This
actually declared the Thirteen Colonies to be
and independent
free
states:
States."
course of inquiry proceeds, the collective talent,
of the congress of 1774
1776 rises
integrity, and wisdom
G
this
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
26
higher and brighter in comparison with any known similar
When it is further considered that this was the
assembly.
first attempt
in
all
history
feudalism or Caesarism
ence
more
devout
to
found a republic
free
from
our respect grows
deeper, our rever
for
this
rare
assembly
of
men.
No
precedent in Greek or Roman republics could be found on
which to base the natural
rights of man which were so
eloquently expounded by Paine, in his "Common Sense,"
and
"Rights
"Oceana"
of
Man: "--The
"Republic"
of Harrington;
of
Plato;
the
the
of More; the
"Utopia"
grand
and comprehensive wisdom of Bacon and
Milton were doubtwell read and
digested by Jefferson, John Adams,
and
Rutledge,
others, but it was
necessary to eliminate such
portions
of
wisdom
order of things.
difficult
as
might well suit the then existing
That task was rendered more and
more
by the jealousies necessarily inseparable from the
previous relative positions of the colonies who feared
lest the
new order of things
might take away or annul those
rights
which
they deemed unalterable.
These serious difficulties
with
the
coupled
Loyalist troubles produced grave
questions
an
ultimate settlement.
-edmg
As time is
now mellowing
vn the political differences which
caused the war of seces
sion, an illustration of some
points from it will show more
that
the
same trend of undercurrents never
learly
cease to
who have lived
through the unparalleled war
ch ravaged and struck at the
whole country, from 1861 to
B6 4 when
nearly 500,000 men were in arms, which
We
,
paralyzed
smess and commerce, and made men
fear for the
safety of
Amenca-we marveled at the
strength of our own power
th and south, to do and act
as we
did.
During the
last
DOMESTIC CONDITION.
27
year of the conflict, the sufferings and privations of those in
the southern army bore a strong resemblance to the manifold
troubles sustained by the
army
of Washington.
The
grit,
the
courage, and
race, is
long continued suffering and obstinacy of the
as encouraging as ever.
In the midst of that lament
we
thought that greater and nobler qualities
had been developed than upon any former occasion; but, if
able conflict,
all
take a cool and unimpassioned view of things, and com
pare what was done by the continental congress and army,
we observe the presence of greater qualities for abstract right
we
than can be credited
the
war of the
rebellion
physical victories in
on land;
to
men
either
party in
the
last
For
war.
we may
indisputably claim greater
and in armaments, both on sea and
but, in victories that, in the abstract, are to
be classed
with the highest and most profound statesmanship victories
of the creative order, where men showed they were not only
the
the creatures of circumstances, but the creators of them
men
of the revolution of
1776 are as yet unequaled
in
the
highest qualities of statesmanship.
DOMESTIC CONDITION IN 1776 AND
1876.
This part of our subject is so wide and varied that a
The domestic
synoptical view alone must necessarily suffice.
lives of the
lution
were,
colonists previous
as
are
those
of
order.
to,
all
and long
agricultural
after,
the revo
peoples,
of a
The country was
sparsely
be
occasional
visits
could
made; and,
only
populated, so that
as a natural result, the cultivation of many wants was not
comparatively primitive
fostered.
than our
In our present state our wants are much greater
The southern colonies aimed at a much
needs.
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
28
scale than the eastern and middle colonies.
Virginia
higher
o
a
in
measure,
led the way in aristocratic pretensions; and,
looked with a degree of derision on her northern sisters.
author
It is not many years since W. Gilmore Simms, the
of
many
made
valuable historical American romances,
the
it
idea always to choose the gentlemen from the south;
and from the north, the boors and clowns. In the middle of
rulino-
gatherings were not frequent.
of American Society," states,
the last century, social
Ellet
her
in
have
assembly said
1748, had its subscription
first
"The
"Queens
to
dancing
Mrs.
15:
p.
been held
in
list mostly filled
Philadelphia, in
with names of English families, attached to the Church of
The list was under the direction of John Inglis
England.
and other gentlemen, and each subscription was forty shillings.
The custom was universal among men of wearing the hair
up with ribbon, in a long bunch, in a form called a queue.
Gentlemen s coats were made of cloth or velvet, of all colors;
tied
the collar being sometimes of a different
In
the
scarlet
silk
supreme court the judges,
faced
gowns."
with black velvet;
Again,
28:
p.
dinner given at Washington
arrival, as
dent
s
the least
table.
of mutton.
The
showy
and led the way
in
"Mr.
winter,
the
wore robes of
summer,
Wingate
coat.
full
black
describes
the
house, the day after his wife s
of any he ever saw at the Presi
s
and dined on boiled leg
one glass of wine was offered to
chief said grace,
After dessert,
each guest; and,
in
hue from the
when
it
to the
had been drunk, the President rose
drawing room.
Mrs. Washington held her
first
Two
days afterward
levee; the President continu
Mrs.
ing to receive every Tuesday afternoon.
received from eight to ten every Friday evening.
Washington
The
levees
DOMESTIC CONDITION.
were
attended
numerously
elegant, or refined
in
by
society; but
all
that
"there
was
fashionable,
were no places
the intrusion of the rabble in crowds; or for the
and boisterous
29
for
more coarse
partisan, the vulgar electioneer, or
the
impu
dent place-hunter, with boots, frockcoats, or roundabouts, or
with patched knees and holes at the elbows. On the
contrary,
they were select and more courtly than have been given by
Mrs. Washington was
any of the President s successors.
careful
in
knew
she
her drawing room to exact those courtesies to which
her husband entitled."
This picture of society contrasts very strongly with the
customs of our day.
The cheapness and simplicity of the
President s table would scarcely be tolerated by the first class
mechanic of to-day.
There are very few, if any, respectable
asked out even to dine, would not con
people now, who, if
sider themselves very meanly and scurvily treated, if proffered
the same fare.
But a levee? and to dine thus in the Presi
dent
s
house!
The
heads in horror!
plebeians of this age would hold up their
But how grand this noble simplicity! how
becoming in the conduct of a president of a country that knew
and valued the simplicity of republicanism! Washington knew
that while he was in the presidential chair, he was expected
to sacrifice his inclinations
now, as he had sacrificed them
many
times before, for the general benefit of the country. The dig
nity and form of government must be held and reverenced
with the highest respect; and he was the. head of that govern
ment, which he knew also was an experiment in the annals
of
mankind;
that
its
incipient
great prudence and foresight.
civilized
H
stages
He knew
world were looking to
this
required
from him
that the eyes of the
country with envy and
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
30
and trying with
scorn,
obstacle in
all
its
throw every kind of
enforce respect from other
to
might
way. In order to
governments, he felt that his government must respect itself
by a due observance of those forms and courtesies which
society
its
demanded.
his general
conduct,
Washington,
was the true
if
proud and aristocratic
reflex of his
age;
from that standard we must view his
The
life.
this
age regret deeply that plebeianism has
of nature s true
Had we less
aristocracy.
as
it
is
understood
habits
were
reflected
in
it
thinkers
taken the
is
of
place
rampant democracy,
to-day, and
more natural
society would not be so degraded.
unexpensive
and
in
of
aristocracy,
The
primitive simplicity
people, in the colonies,
the
a very impressive
manner by
the
members
of the continental
In the southern states
congress.
many
houses yet remain which
the
silently express
solid, but not
showy, manners-in which lived the
people who suffered so
iuch in
this
building up
Their homes were
republic.
open
and that kind of
-11,
is
not
even
hospitality
yet entirely
The beggar was never turned adrift
without
the
nstance;
wanderer was
kindly entertained, and the
gn traveler was especially provided for. The dress
of
th men and women was
not of that
adopted; the few wealthy
however
forty or fifty
the present
for
men had
years;
yards of
silk
costly style at present
their
"court"
dress; which
the ladies did
not, as now, wear
or satin in one
dress; nor, as is
mode, load themselves with
laces and furbelows
expensive rings glittering with
diamonds, opals, and all
ds of
precious stones.
Nay, fortunes of hundreds of
thousands of dollars are
very frequently displayed on the
person in the balls and soir.es
given at many of ou
DOMESTIC CONDITION.
palatial
houses.
which
fare
was
may now
cities
of
Instead
served
at
boast of
the
Washington
many
s
carved woods, frescoed
solid,
the
table,
with
of
largest
palaces
embellished with
dollars,
picture galleries-
ceilings,
of which contain the clicf cTcettvres of rare
masters; libraries
bill
whose
millionaires
their
have cost hundreds of thousands of
costliest
but
plain,
31
European
books, tables
groaning
under massive silverware, viands rarest of the rare, wines
of numerous kinds and choicest qualities, tropical fruits,
confectionery
filled
made by
costly
French
music most charming; all
But political
fascinating.
this
waiters
cooks,
makes up a
economists
decided which of the two pictures
is
in
livery,
picture certainly
not, as
yet,
have
more
the
desirable in
one thing self-evident, that all are trying to
rise to the highest position which wealth can give; if wealth
can be used to elevate society, and not to pander to low
and groveling tastes, then, and then only, has wealth its true
However one may admire the social
and noble mission.
There
society.
is
and domestic condition of
denied that
the
it
colonists,
we have made many
(
yet cannot be
additions to our domestic
The
debarred the enjoyment.
happiness of which they were
value and benefit of many things are often not appreciated
Water, that indispensable supporter
save by their absence.
of
the
life,
was
houses
days of the colonists, brought into
Bath tubs, with
circulated through every room.
not,
in
hot and cold water
the
in
the house, were to
them unattainable
one can appreciate such things at their true
value unless they have once enjoyed them, and then been
There
in a position where they could not be obtained.
blessings.
No
placed
are
women
living
in
almost every
city
who
can remember
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
32
forced to go to the pump, or
having, every morning, been
the well, and draw the water as it was required for family
No matter where the thermometer was below zero, or
use.
work demanded its prompt accom
fair to assume, that however desirous were
be cleanly in their habits, they had not the
the nineties
among
It is
plishment.
our ancestors to
their
we, through the medium of our water
in every
arrangements, have to cleanse ourselves thoroughly
next to godliness."
"Cleanliness,"
says Wesley,
opportunities, which
"is
respect.
we have ample means to be the godliest people in the
world.
What could we do with our servants at this day
were they compelled either to pump the water, or to carry it
We fear to answer the question. Even
in from the well?
If so,
with
of
the conveniences
all
the
we
have, this help question
most serious of the day.
is
Tallow candles and
one
oil
only mediums of light in those colonial times.
Now, any city or town of a few thousands of people have
The old
the comfort and blessings of unstinted gas-light.
were
the
method of procuring
fire
was
flint
and
steel
:
now we
possess the lucifer match, and who can enumerate its benefits
In the winter, when all nature was
to the world at large?
robed in snow
his
the
of ice
grip
feet
and the
from
rivers
shoes of to-day. If
caused them to travel, what
to
encounter!
in the cold
shoes could
not protect
and cold so effectually as do our gum
their necessities, or duties, or pleasures,
colonist s
damp
and lakes bound
leather
difficulties
they were necessitated
There are many living
that
remember
the
ponderous and ungainly Conestoga wagon that traveled
from this city to the east and west, and many also that have
traveled
in
stage
coaches
hence to
New
York,
the
time
LITERATURE.
now
requiring three days, and
many hours! The
that
33
place
is
reached
in
as
lumbering family carriages of the richer
would
colonists
bring a smile
the
to
face
of
the
present
generation, accustomed to the fairy-like vehicles of to-day.
No
mind, howsoever imaginative, could have foreseen, in those
the
days,
with
the
transit
rapid
most
the
now
cars
palatial
constructed
recherche
steam
upholstering, heated with
lighted with gas, furnished with lounges rivaling eastern otto
mans,
beds
luxurious
that
will
lull
ice-water served in cut-glass goblets
and newspapers, sold on every train.
would appear
to
sleep the weariest,
with books, magazines,
Could they of olden
a dream
more than
time but see
this,
realizing the
gorgeous imagery of the Arabian Nights.
it
like
The
ancient post-office was a very conservative institution.
If, dur
ing the last century, a letter was sent to Europe from any part
of the colonies, the sender scarcely expected a response before
termination
the
of three
months.
Now, a
may be
letter
sent thither, and a reply received in one month!
certainly great and valuable revolutions; but
These are
how
when compared
with the marvels of the telegraph!
trate the acceleration of thought through these two
inferior
To
illus
mediums
would require a generalizing mind greater even than Bacon
We
can only partially conceive the various benefits to
s.
man
kind of the telegraph, by reflecting for a moment how many
much money, would have been saved to this
lives, how
country and England, during the revolutionary war, and that
of 1812. All are aware that weeks intervened between the
declaring of peace, and the making it known on this side
How much would the colonists have given,
of the ocean.
if
they
i
could
have
communicated
with
a
sick
father,
or
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
34
mother, or
son,
to appreciate;
its
by
aid,
possess.
to
1866, the
Such blessings are
life
Thousands
still
that
scarcely cognizant of the joys
living will
remember
were served
newspapers
our breakfast tables, were
on
difficult
and we, who are daily enjoying such benefits
pass through
we
laid
or daughter!
at
that, prior
our doors, and
eagerly conned for the
steamers with foreign news. Now,
by the Atlantic
each
cables,
morning we read the news of the day! Truly,
how great is man, to render the elements subservient to his
arrival of
purposes
the
in
conducting of thought!
LITERATURE
This
it
is
IN
1776
AND
1876.
a theme to which, even with the widest
expansion,
difficult to do entire
a
justice.
Motley,
Bancroft, an
is
A
Irving, could justly fill many volumes relative to the
subject;
and yet be wholly free from the
of
Minu
charge
we must
some twenty
tiae
"padding."
generalize we shall attempt.
Until
the
years ago,
poverty of American literature
was a by-word: the
Quarterly Review put the memorable
question- "Who reads an American book?" In the
avoid;
to
question
was more truth than
impertinence.
Literature, in the
of
colonial times, was
early period
nearly all of English
-in
fact the mother
origin:
country so devised the Taws
there
regulating her dependencies, as to repress, rather than foster
^oth
printing and literary efforts; and
prevent also the rise
any species of manufacture. It was her
policy so to act
was deemed
that
the
necessary
interests of the manu
factures of
should
England
reign paramount over all other
considerations.
of
exacting
The mother
country demanded,
severity,
that
her
children,
in
wherever
a spirit
situated
LITERATURE.
should
act
her
in
solely
behalf.
35
this
Through
partially
necessary tyranny, she made herself "the envy of the world,
and the admiration of
The simile of
surrounding nations."
a family which is, in its
every day acts, modified by peculiar
circumstances, was by English statesmen carried out
very
But
letter.
imperceptible
wants was
gressed
year by year,
demand
felt
of the
to
one of the
earliest
efforts,
certain
satisfy
by ingenious men, and
spite of prohibitory laws.
in
an almost
day by day
means
manufactures
skill,
daily
pro
was made
In printing
by mechanical
book printed
the
to
to
meet the
The first
in America was
growing needs.
"The Psalms in
Metre, faithfully translated for the Use, Edi
fication, and Comfort of the Saints in Public and in Private,
New
especially
in
in
by Thomas Wclde, of
Richard Mather, of Dorchester, and John Elliot,
1640.
England:"
printed
at
Cambridge, Mass.,
That version was made
Roxbury;
famous apostle
the
The
the Indians.
Bible translated by
the latter, from the English into the Indian dialect, is one of
the most extraordinary works of which this country can boast.
to
This valuable book,
$800.
and
in
Mrs. Bradstreet
their
quaint
and
s
American
literature,
has
sold
for
poems were
peculiar
published, also, in 1640;
style renders them, to all
bibliopoles, the choicest of the choice.
One of the greatest minds that the seventeenth century
produced in New England was Cotton Mather.
in the "Poets and Poetry of America,"
wold
was once revered
as a saint,
and
is
still
Says Grisp.
21:
regarded as a
"He
man
of
and profound and universal learning.
It is true that he had much of what is called scholarship; he
could read many languages; and his attainments, curious
good
natural
abilities
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
36
rather
than valuable,
chine,
which,
duces
only bubble
He was
all
Americana
*
except by
is
of dogmatic theology.
and
It
bigotry of
year, pro
in
the
sun.
his
The Magnalia
a curiosity,
as
literature of
to
ma
382 printed works,
His minor works are nearly
*
antiquaries."
preserved
The
authority.
beside
and,
manuscripts.
forgotten
a complicate
by the water from year
and spray, and rainbows
industrious;
many
left
turned
made him resemble
rather
Christi
than as
an
New England
was
the
consisted chiefly
tinctured with all the intol
protestants in Europe.
Witches were frequently burned at the stake no opinion was
erance
tolerated
in
"Blue
puritan doctrines.
result of their severe polities; and their
antagonism
were the
Laws"
early
to
their
ordinances were executed with a rigid exactitude that religi
ous biogtry alone can sanction. If their religious views were
productive of the
to
human
the
most serious calamities that can
race,
happen
we cannot but admire the stern and
unbending principles which
have developed
more eminent
have appeared in any other section of our
land. Jonathan Edwards had a vigorous and powerful mind
and his works are admired and valued in Europe among
thinkers
than
;
His work on the "Will,"
theologians as of the first rank.
is one
of the best known books on the subject; and has
given birth to more controversial works, relating to this sub
The
ject, than has any other book in the English language.
struggles of truth to free itself from sectarian fetters have
been
and
severe
progress be
slow, its march of distances being scarcely perceptible, save
nevertheless its mission is sure of ultimate
by decades
protracted
accomplishment.
;
The southern
but,
though
its
colonies were established on
LITERATURE.
37
a more liberal religious basis; and
chiefly adopted the articles
of the English established church.
are not inclined to
We
there were not
assert that
any religious frays and persecu
there were not a Salem witchcraft tragedy
tions; but, at least,
and Blue Laws. It can scarcely be presumed that the liberal
and learned John Locke, that heralder of truth which startled
would
kings, and struck awe into contemporary bigotry,
not have been permitted to draw up the fundamental laws
Carolina had not religious toleration reigned. By states
men and scholars those laws are ranked with Plato s
for
Republic,
More
s
Utopia,
or
Harrington
s
Oceana.
It
has
been wisely said that history teaches philosophy by example
-hence
generalizers
of
The
deductions drawn.
are
responsible only for
literary productions of the southern
history
though their wealthy men
poor and scanty
and in belles-lettres were superior to
were well educated
colonies were
the
same
class
the northern provinces; yet they failed to
in
add any works of merit
strange,
when we
to colonial
reflect,
that
the
literature.
wealthier
This appears
planters
often
despatched their sons to Europe for the easier acquirement
of a thorough education.
They were of the same race as
those
in
the
north
students abroad.
It
whose works were the admiration of
is evident that it was not for want of
want of proper culture and develop
ment. May not the warm, glowing sun of the south have
rendered them inert? This is the only philosophical view
capacity,
we
nor
for
can take of
the
it,
and, to
a great
extent
even now,
(like
causes are producing like effects. (Climate means race-variety;
Northern
therefore, differentiation of powers and capabilities.)
men who
K
have, either from choice or necessity, spent a few
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
38
admit that, yearly, their energies
years in the south, invariably
were on the wane. Nay we, in the north, during the sum
mer months, admit
listless
in
anything.
the
our
habits
But
if
same
we become
fact
inert
and
have scarcely nerve enough to do
lacked
the south
in
literary
productions,
and in Congress,
it was
eminently conspicuous on the forum;
where ability and eloquence were needful. The stimulus of
seemed capable of bringing out the latent
genius which was intermittently displayed so brilliantly by
southern men in the senate, and at the bar. A glance over
politics
alone
names
senate and
the
the
of
those
men from
south that
the
the house of representatives at
government
settled
there,
until
exhibit the fact that for eloquence,
classical learning,
and
for able
states.
statesmanship,
The newspapers, during
were but very feeble agents
course of
public
opinion.
years
of strength,
excelled, scarcely equaled, in the aggregate,
from other
the
Washington, since
thirty
full
graced
ago,
will
fire
and
they were not
by the members
the colonial times,
modeling, or changing, the
This now formidable power is
in
to-day a new estate in the world. The two-page folio newssheets of the last century dwindle into insignificance when
Their
compared with our present comprehensive journals.
was apparently accomplished in the presenting of a
bare record of small items and news, picked up here and
object
with a few advertisements of runaway slaves, goods
for sale, and the arrival of vessels in the various ports.
The
there,
was not then a recognized agent of the government;
it was conducted
in a crude and simple manner by printers
and merchants, not by professional scholars. The calm and
press
stable opinions of society
were not
in
the slightest
degree
LITERA TURE.
39
by any "leading" article; no flaming captions at the
head of the columns sent any quickening impulses through
ruffled
eager minds; all was calm as a summer s day. By degrees,
the press of Europe began a new life; its effects were soon
apparent here; men of letters and of business saw that they
must be up and doing; a new
power had sprung into
existence.
In the latter part of the last century, Benjamin
Franklin was among the most distinguished of newspaper
men, and his "Gazette," among the pioneers of the new era
The
America.
for
influence
creative
of
the
press
may be
said
to
about the beginning of
here.
century; and that influence soon made itself felt
have begun
this
The
to
of
publication
relating
of VV.
disclose
fully
books,
itself
with
the
exception of works
The issues from the press
dogmatic theology.
an energetic man who figured among
Bradford,
to
latter por
leading spirits of Pennsylvania during the
tion of the seventeenth century,
during the last decade
the
moved
a
in
appeared
"Historical
is
York.
His
and a
first
issues,
controversial
and
of those publications,
valuable to the bibliomaniac alone, can be seen in the
others,
now
New
to
fair
1685,
Magazine."
starting
point
full
list
The commencement
of this century
from which national
literature
can
The famous
though in a faint degree.
have scarcely excelled, in beauty
printing firms of Europe
fine calendered paper
form
of
good black ink-
be traced
distinctly,
typical
the Bible, in
volumes, printed by A. Small, of Phila
That was not the first Bible printed in America;
delphia.
two
folio
one was printed by Robert Aitkin of Philadelphia, by order
of congress, 1782, in i8mo., and this was the only Bible ever
printed
in
this
country under
official sanction.
Occasionally,
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
40
bound in volume, and again in two
American English Bible bearing the
parts, and is the first
But in 1752, Kneeland and Greene
American imprint.
Bible
this
is
Boston
in
printed
found
a
Bible
To
Baskett, Lond.: small quarto, 1752.
imprint of
the
bearing
the
American
Mark
critical
student the collection of the American editions of the Bible
and the
is
who once
took great in
terest in collecting them, refers with pleasure to the valuable
and unrivaled collection of James Lenox, Esq., of New
one of great
interest,
writer,
The
York.
progress of the states in solid wealth, after peace
was declared, was very rapid; the liberals of Europe, from
England
especially,
flocked
America as the country
to
which freedom of thought, and a
free
scope for their physical
One of the most notable
energies, was each man s birthright.
of English immigrants was Thomas
America
in
His sterling
1774.
in
Paine,
abilities
who
arrived
were, through
in
the
patronage of Benjamin Franklin, quickly and fully
recognized he contributed to the newspapers and magazines,
helpful
:
-and
his
"Common
power was soon
Sense"
appeared,
it
people so instantaneously that
every house, and
to the
into
and
felt
went
It
every camp.
When
on the minds of the
acted
it
appreciated.
like
wildfire
through
gave encouragement
new vigor to
continental congress
elasticity to the movements of
and
cheered
both officer and soldier who were
officials;
solace to the
despairing
doubting
fering in
the
the
suf
their comfortless
quarters
during the severe winter.
Paine s logical and
convincing arguments couched in sweet
will ever render this
colloquial English
pamphlet one of
the
most notable
"Rights
of
efforts in
Man,"
American
"Letters,"
etc.,
literature.
His
1
"Crisis,
though ably written, and
LITERATURE.
41
productive of much good, arc secondary, in many points, to
the first-named masterpiece.
It has struck the writer with
deep regret that Paine, who contributed so much toward the
independence of this country, and produced works of mas
skill
terly
should
in
which rank with the best
very meagerly
authors will not
be
cases
many
mentioned.
in
omitted,
Let
the future
in
efforts
us
and
in
the language,
other
hope
places
American
that
pass over so summarily the
genius of that great man; but, giving to him the honor due
his merits, reflect increased honor upon the land of his
The English government,
adoption.
in the early part of this
our shores
century, drove thousands of her best citizens to
and religious tyranny which it exercised
the
by
political
over them.
Many
her worthiest sons,
of
who
loved
freedom of speech and action which we enjoy, placed
that
their
the service of the nascent republic.
of these, devoted to literature, embarked the means
fortunes
Many
and
abilities at
the
they possessed in
nearly
every
case,
publication
were
reprints
of
books; and
from
the
best
these,
in
English
From
editions.
1824 the issues of the various pub
in all respects, equal to those of the
lishing houses were,
were put forth in the
cases
In
houses.
1800 to
many
they
similar type, on excel
with
same number of volumes, printed
As a general rule,
lent paper, and with good black ink.
our foremost publishers do not now equal those issues
from 1800 to 1824 in regard to either paper, or press- work.
The National Library at Washington could establish this
as it relates to our social and
important historical fact
The works of C. Brockden Brown mark a
mental
English
new
progress.
era, in the
L
production of
the first
American novels.
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
42
Their
their
American
priority, in
There
merits.
where cropping
is
out, in
a weird and
rivalled, in
Mecanqtie
first
tesque."
As we have
"the
Home
relief;
or Davis.
Nathaniel
his
of the
translation
day would
this
said of
it,
when
idea savoured of the gigan-
particularized,
most prominent
the
fancy, every
have out-
La Place, even in
London Quarterly Review
history, during the
now
bold
in
volume appeared:
classification,
even
than
he would
of
Celeste,
merit what the
the
spiritualists,
their fantasies,
Bowditch stands out
wayward
known
had he but lived amid
his fictions;
surroundings of our
the
better
literature, is
without
epochs
in
relation
our
fifty years of this century,
treat of classes rather than
persons.
first
to
literary
we
shall
THEOLOGY.
In another part of this
essay
we have made some
general
remarks concerning theological writers.
It is
only in this
of
literature that it can be
department
alleged that we have
not made any decided
progress over the writers of the
colonial
period.
It
may
truly be said
Cotton Mather, a John Elliott, or a
be found. Europe knows of the
that
an Edwards, a
Newman, may not now
plain, child-like simplicity of
Albert
Barnes
s
of ministers, teachers,
hours
on the Scriptures; and thousands
and students have spent
many happy
"Notes"
arguing over his common sense commentaries. The
name of Alexander is revered
among his admirers his depth
of thought and
logicalness of reasoning won for him high
fame.
Timothy Dwight holds a prominent position both
in
;
here and in Europe; his
writings are reprinted in England.
Yale College has added other
bright stars to the galaxy of
THEOLOGY,
national
authors
who
43
on her teachings.
Hodge has written many profound works on theology,
which are admired abroad for the
thorough learning and
reflect
credit
great
Dr.
critical
acumen
evinced.
and Bishop Hughes, of
as
men
Bush s
Bishop England, of South Carolina,
New York, rank high in their church
both of great ability and profound
learning.
critical
eminent
and
in biblical
for
his
are
characterized
masterly
illustrative
writings
on
the
George
Bible
and Bishop Hopkins
literature;
controversial
articles.
Dr. Jarvis
are
is
famed
s
works
with
deep biblical learning and sterling
criticism.
The travels and researches of Dr. Robinson, in
the Holy L and, will ever be referred to by the biblical
student as an inexhaustible fountain of knowledge.
Moses
Stuart, as
a
Hebrew
not easily be forgotten.
Dr. McClintock s great biblical work bids fair to stand com
Other writers are
parison with the ablest European works.
student, will
numerous, all of whom are
enumeration of colonial and
presumed,
will
show,
men
of varied
abilities.
The
on theology, it is
department, that no very
later writers
in this special
marked additions are made that outrival the earlier writers.
But the progress of modern thought has raised many barriers,
in opposition to the doctrines of religion, of
which the writers
of the colonial period had no knowledge.
Dogmatical the
ology is not progressive; it is the same now as it was during
the
days of the early fathers of the
church.
No
one can
appreciate the blessings of liberty, unless he has to a certain
extent suffered under the oppressions of the opposite state.
Those who are living, and have passed through fifty years
of life, and who have been interested in the progress and
development of the mind, remember well how much courage
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
44
it
avow any
to
required
doctrines
with the
clashed
that
orthodox views of the day. Within the last forty years, in
for selling Shel
England, men have been thrown into prison
ley s
Mab,"
"Queen
Paine
s
"Age
of
and other
Reason,"
we cannot find instances in
this country, during that period, of men having been impris
oned for their religious opinions, yet many of us know that
books of a similar nature.
to
the
scale
to
attempt
If
invisible
of
barricades
religious
would have brought upon the hardy adventurer a
an ostracisement from society, which often
tabooing
prejudice,
social
carries with
of
blessings
now
a
religious
true,
liberty,
and
free
as
fearless,
it
are joys which the colonists of old could not foresee
is,
free,
tries;
The
both loss of business and of character.
it
unshackled mind
and the care
take to guard
it,
that
is
the
boon of but few
coun
free
and future generations, should
this,
should never cease.
>
HISTORY.
To have
which are requisite
genius
to
the
the scholarly acquirements,
lot
of any
an
The
may now
nation.
a single historian that
Most of the colonies had
Homer and
for
their
and the
historian, falls
talent
but seldom
not produce
take his place as a classic.
did
colonists
local
Smith; Pennsylvania, Proud;
historians:
New
Virginia,
Jersey, Smith;
Massachusetts, Hutchinson, and Hubbard, and Prince;
Island, Callender;
New
cially
valuable
only
to
as
Rhode
York, Denton and Cadwallader;
Hampshire (in the colonial period
Belknap; South Carolina, Ramsey.
known
or
part
of
These
New
Massachusetts),
writers
are
spe
and the antiquary; and are
records of bare facts.
The charms of
the
historian
HISTORY.
45
the graces of composition
picturesque and eloquent
with
the power of correctly
expression
massing facts and
In this
masterly generalizations, are but feebly displayed.
style
province of literature
gress.
states:
in
we have made
great and glorious pro
Frederick von Raumer, the eminent
German
and Sparks, have effected so much
composition that no living European historian
"Bancroft,
historical
Prescott,
can take precedence of them, but rather might
and grateful to be admitted as a companion."
forty years since that eloquent tribute
we have added
that period
to the list
Parkman and a Ticknor.
American
historians
as their themes,
"Ferdinand
historian,
and
It
should
is
was
feel
It
proud
is over
and since
offered,
a Motley, a Draper, a
a noticeable fact that three
have chosen
and made them
classic.
and
European history
Prescott s
"Charles
"Peru,"
pre
sent the most lucid and picturesque account that history can
relate.
Ticknor s "History of the Spanish Literature" does
Isabella,"
"Philip
II."
V.,"
not admit of the scope and variety of treatment of a history
of a people; but it is a monument of industry and learning
creditable to himself and to his country.
Motley s Histories
of the
"Dutch
Barneveld,"
Republic,"
and the
the
though wanting
"Netherlands,"
terseness and
and
"John
perspicacity
of Prescott, are yet, in historical portraiture, massively and
at least, he
finely drawn; while in philosophical generalizing,
Let us hope that Motley will live to finish
surpasses him.
his galaxy of Netherland heroes, in his forthcoming work,
"The
History of the Thirty Years War." Draper s "History
of
civilization
in
Europe,"
is
ranked
among
thinkers as not inferior to Buckle s great work.
"History
M
of
the
United
States,"
now
finished,
scholars
and
Brancroft
has
s
earned
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
46
its
title
as a classic.
New
schoolisms of
occasionally tinctured with the
Though
England, which tend
injustice to various personages,
it
to
and do
injure
stands without a
still
rival.
sentences and occasional defective phraseology,
Many weak
with slip-shod writing, detract slightly from its merits, faults
which the public ought not to expect, when several years
between
have elapsed
honorable
he
If
place.
charming style
and admired.
of note, and
the
lacks
acumen of
philosophical
the
of
Prescott
always cause his
Many other admirable
reflecting credit
power and
his
Motley,
histories
will
take an
may
generalizing
and
volumes.
several
Goldsmith of America,
Irving, the
Washington
issues
the
clear,
be read
to
histories, well
worthy
on the writers and honor on
have appeared; but limited space prevents here
even the most summary mention of them.
their country,
NOVELS.
Fiction,
over
during
the
During
society.
colonial
the
times,
latter
and the early part of the eighteenth
part
had
of
little
the
centuries,
it
influence
seventeenth,
was, indeed,
home production. Fiction first arose
in England as almost a new element in society, under the
Some few previous puerile efforts
genius of Richardson.
entirely
may
unknown
as a
be found --but
Richardson to
and thence
it
fairly
they were abortive.
start
this
reacted with the
new joy
in
It
was
left
to
English society;
same vigor on
the colonists.
When
Macaulay, with his splendid genius, read these works
throughout fifteen different times, their merit must be greater
than
that
is
acknowledged by the present generation.
may
be,
it
cannot be denied that
"Pamela,"
However
"Sir
Charles
NOVELS.
and
Grandison,"
"Clarissa,"
47
created the most marked sensa
a longer period of time than did
subsequently any
other novels prior to the
of
Sir
Walter Scott.
conceptions
tion
for
The touching
drew
forth
pathos,
tears
involuntary
they had
Plot
and sweet, overflowing sentimentality,
hundreds
the
that
and
may
him.
but
The
Richardson
springs of nature by
novels cropped out, as
outrival
most successful of
Jones,"
readers.
we now understand novels
form was the medium employed.
success
to try
of
none, as
narrative in epistolary
touching of the hidden
won such
thousands
from
were, by
Miss Burney ranks with
that age; but to
it
Fielding, in
"Tom
justly be ascribed the origin of the construction
modern novel.
Smollet and others followed in quick succession, until this
new literary institution became permanently amalgamated
with the whole frame of society. The influence arising from
of the
those works of fiction has undoubtedly greatly aided in the
In another part of this
formation of national character.
essay,
it
is
American
mentioned
novelists;
rushed into the
field,
Brockden Brown was the
that
first of
years later our native authors
and gave us also a national reputation.
not
many
even as compared with the
His
sea-novelists of England, he stands second to none.
Leather Stocking Tales are among the most popular of
Cooper ranks highest of
all
although his Indians are too much idealized.
writings
There is a naturalness in his style, independent, and holding
itself aloof from the over-nice canons of criticism,
giving to
his
all
the
productions a distinctive and national
that has placed
first American novelist
his
impression on his writings.
We
wish
flavor.
an
to place
He
is
American
upon record
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
48
having
that,
our professional
a basis
as
as
experience
a
and taking an average of fifteen years, where one
book of any other American author is read, Cooper s works
his
are read ten times oftener.
Bird, Kennedy, and Hoffman,
librarian,
contemporaries,
a
few
now
living
who
of
humor
too
striking
certain extent, the
full
much
that but occasionally,
them
read
Paulding s novels, though
peculiarities, are
and
are read only,
in
by
their
younger days.
of natural spirit and marked
they have a breadth
Miss Sedgwick is, to a
neglected;
and congenial.
The
Miss Edgeworth of America.
Hawthorne stand preeminent
There is a weirdness
literature.
of
in
stories
American
in
his
imaginative
creations, and a
metaphysical subtlety pervading the whole atmosphere
combined with ease and clearness of style that insure him
His works are published in England in various
immortality.
and, judging
styles
appreciation
from the number
manifested
for
his
sold,
powers, there
and
is
the
high
probably a
quantity of his productions annually disposed of.
Edgar A. Poe, that most original and most brilliant of all
American imaginative writers, how various in his works!
greater
how
erratic
in
his
life!
If
America had
Hawthorne and a Poe, she could
produced but
a
few to surpass them
in that peculiar field of English literature.
The Tale of the
Morgue and other sketches are the creations of a mind of
find
and singular power. He had the genius to invent plots
of the most startling nature
point them with a pre-Raphaelite minuteness that made them sparkle with mosaics of
rare
and with such a strong resemblance to truth, that
all the scenes seem to be actual.
In mental
psychological
distances
both
he
effects,
George Walker and Anne Radthought
HUMOROUS
found
the highest walks of English literature that equal
As a poet, his "Raven," and
powers of analysis.
in
Lee,"
Village,"
or
ductions
of the
Poe
s
all
immortal
"Elegy."
we
Works.
One
is
In
Goldsmith
as
book of
"Deserted
of the
most superb pro
a fine
illustrated
the
consider that Poe
Stowe s
Uncle
rare merit.
It
Mrs.
s
edition
highest conception of
stands alone in Amer
Tom s
Cabin must be
has been translated into
modern languages.
the
and
as a
as
English press
Poetical
literature.
named
are
Gray s
creative genius
ican
are to be
in
"Annabel
of
49
Few minds
Maria Roche and Mrs. Crowe.
cliffe,
him
FICTION.
Howell, Hale, Higginson, Warner,
others, have written pleasant books but without
many
special characterization.
any
HUMOROUS
America cannot add
If
many names
humorists
as
of
Hood,
Jerrold,
lustier
in
Cambridge,
its
who
land
it
galaxy of
maintain
day,
cordially admit that
to the
she can, at
England
this
FICTION.
is
least,
her
If
fame as
with her peculiar
ground.
We
may
not so refined as that of Hook,
Thackeray, or Dickens;
nature.
fictional
it
lacks
the
it
is
flavor
broader and
of Oxford
or
has the flavor of our people who toil on the
build cities in a few weeks who make railroads
it
and disturb more virgin soil than all
Such a state of
the other nations of the world combined.
and
creates more devices
society wakens more energies
across the continent
throws out a heterogeneous mass of things, which creates a
on the character
peculiar grotesqueness that reflects itself
of the people.
more
fully
N
in
This humorous vein of society can be seen
"Burton s
Cyclopedia of American Wit and
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
50
than in any other book published. Artemus Ward
seems to have opened a new vein, not even recognized
His humor is of the grotesque, without
before in Europe.
His manner of speaking, before the public,
refined.
Humor,"
being
more humorous than his written matter. He had a
which is almost lost
quaint and droll manner of expression,
in his books.
Josh Billings is a reflex of the same school
was
far
Mark
sayings are more replete with wisdom.
Twain does not depend on the grotesqueness of his spelling
but a ready dash of
like Ward and Billings,
of words,
but
his
His
genuine humor flavored with genuine Americanisms.
drolleries are his chief qualities; his very extravagancies are
The "Innocents Abroad" will
laughable and enjoyable.
be
always
an
inexhaustible
fund
works are somewhat weaker; and
will rank as
Innocents Abroad
of
it
laughter;
Bret
Harte
Twain
s,
idealized
s
and
probable that the
is,
"
"
his
other
his
ablest
production.
humor, though of the western type-like Mark
flavored
and moves
in
with
California
life
a narrower circle.
is
The
more
yet
"Heathen
by its peculiar, dry, Californian humor, has taken
a permanent position in English humorous poetry.
Many
miserable imitations have appeared, but have sunk into
Chinee,"
,
oblivion.
POETRY.
Mention has already been made of some of the earlier
but none have earned a
poems of the colonial period
;
prominent rank
in
the poetic annals of the
type of poetry, the epic and
country not yet found a creditable
highest
country.
dramatic, has in
exponent
Poe
The
this
and
GENERAL LITERATURE.
Longfellow merit the highest niche
Bryrant
temple.
beauty,
is
pervading
charming
to
American poetic
"
s
in
Thanatopsis,"
to
difficult
the
the
in
51
surpass.
whole
read.
of
his
There
descriptive
is
that
poems
pastoral
a grace and beauty
will
always
be
Holmes, Saxe, and
whose works have grati
Lowell,
Whittier,
Stoddard, are men of varied talents
fied thousands.
The song writers of America are but few.
John Howard Payne, struggling with poverty and adversity,
wrote "Home, Sweet Home," in a garret in Paris. Russell,
though living in London, has added many sweet and lively
songs.
GENERAL LITERATURE.
In
but
what
little
is
of any merit.
names appear
found
understood as
that
During
reflect
observation.
belles lettres the colonists
Dr.
this
extensive
Channing,
century
added
many eminent
scholarship with pro
though a minister, is
more distinguished for his essays than his sermons. Edward
Everett is one of the most refined of our scholars; his style
is
copious and chaste, but not ornate.
Hugh S. Legare is
one of the most vigorous and chaste of writers. John C. Calhoun possessed a powerful and analytic mind; his "Essays
on
very best of their class.
The Adams family from John to Charles Francis Adams are
all
Daniel Webster, the
distinguished as men of great views.
orator and great expounder of the constitution, will ever
Government"
are
among
the
rank as one of the noblest sons of America.
in six
volumes, will always be a text book
Ralph Waldo Emerson
He is read more
age.
Charles
Sumner s
is
in
abilities
the
most
His
"Works,"
for the statesman.
original
essayist of
his
England than in his own country.
are more ornate than profound.
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
52
The
dictionary of
great
Noah Webster
is
a
monument
of
are many other names deserv
learning and industry. There
forbids us to dwell upon.
ing of mention which our space
LAW.
There were but few inducements
to the colonists to
study
aw their habits did not create many causes for its defence.
The commencement of the Revolution brought into public
view the men who had studied colonial law, and they
l
became
the
most famous advocates
in
the continental con
Henry and John Adams, were among the
most eloquent of its members. The works on jurisprudence
Learned and able treatises, on
are marked with great ability.
of
every branch of the law are very numerous. The authority
gress.
Patrick
Kent, Story, Livingston
known
are well
in
Greenleaf, Bouvier, and others, are
American reports regularly sold
Europe.
been
England, and the decisions of the bench have often
praised by the English Bar for clearness and profundity.
in
ARTS AND SCIENCES.
The development of science and art under the colonists
was almost nil. The habits of society were rural and not
scientific.
No marked
era can be found previous to Godfrey,
Rittenhouse, Oliver Evans, and Robert Fulton.
Previous to
1776 no authentic record exists of there being more than
two steam-engines in the thirteen colonies; one at Passaic,
N. J.; the other at Philadelphia. But the industrial interests
of the
states,
were
fairly
put in motion after the peace of
and Fulton were making experiments to apply
vessels.
These experiments may not have been
1783.
Fitch,
steam
to
ARTS AND
the
which were made
first
SCIENCES.
but they
made
53
the
first
success
This was a great revolution, and the attention
of the world became more and more centred on America.
ful
steamers.
everywhere here so numerous, are
one. So
generally of that practical nature which benefits every
common are the inventions of Americans that they find their
The
inventions
that are
way over the Atlantic and
The reaping machine was
are
dubbed
"Yankee
inventions."
brought to perfection here.
Patents for agricultural implements of every kind can be
counted by the thousands. The sewing machine, that greatest
of all domestic blessings, was invented by Howe, and many
since made by others have been subsequently
first
improvements
adopted.
The
comfort
and joy which
this
invention
has
The telegraph
describe.
given to families none can fully
an American invention, and its world-wide application
is
and
The name of Morse is
are daily experienced.
various and important additions have been made
benefits
immortal;
messages by Wheatstone, of
but the most important mode
England, and other electricians,
called the quadruplex
is. that just invented by T. E. Elison,
to
his
mode
machine.
It
of
will
transmitting
send
messages simultaneously over
This is
the original invention.
four
one wire, thus quadrupling
a marvel of science and its benefits to the world are at
once apparent. Among the numerous great men which this
has added to the roll of science, Agassiz, David Dale
country
Owen, Leidy and Silliman
are
prominent.
This continent
California and
further discoveries.
opens the widest field for
other states have yielded millions of dollars worth of gold
and silver. The silver in Nevada is practically inexhausti
The
the most boundless hope.
ble, and the future is full of
o
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
54
Pennsylvania have yielded their millions of
The coal
gallons, and thus far without sensible diminution.
and iron of Pennsylvania will always class this state as one
wells
oil
of
Our medical
of the richest in the Union.
parts of the
colleges in various
Union have won a world-wide
We
have
the
world, the
reputation.
briefly touched upon nearly all topics connected
with our past condition, and endeavored to show that, during
the progress of the century in which liberty was proclaimed
to
far
government.
will
still
these
further
be shown.
to
principles
has been
the
Our prayer and hope
institutions, still
will
of
general interests of humanity and
eclipsed any other nation under any other form of
more conducive
have
outgrowth
prove
greater
to
is
the world
progress,
and
that
that,
still
the
year 1976
under republican
greater benefits
THE
A BRIEF HISTORY OF
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
NEW
HAMPSHIRE.
POPULATION.
In 1876, nearly 325,000
1776, nearly 140,000 inhabitants.
Present area
inhabitants.
total wealth, $260,000,000.
The
and
square
maple
Present
miles, 9,280.
Average wealth, $800.
Dartmouth
principal collegiate institutions are that of
Phillips s
ducts,
in
Exeter Academy.
In farm and orchard
sugar, live stock, wool, butter, cheese;
her cotton and woolen factories;
New Hampshire
pro
also in
finds
her
wealth and prosperity.
In
1614
New
and, in
explorers;
Portsmouth.
Hampshire was
1623, the
Several
visited
by European
settlement was
made near
times the district was connected with
Massachusetts; in 1679 was
was again joined
first
first
made
a royal province; in 1689
Massachusetts; and subsequently was,
for a short period, attached to New York.
Finally, in 1741,
it
became a separate province; and thus remained until
the
dawning of the revolutionary war.
obtained
possession of
incessantly
In 1689, a
of
to
the
Canada, the
Before the English
pioneer
settlers
were
and
severely harassed by the hostile Indians.
band of savages attacked Dover, massacred many
inhabitants,
and
burnt several
houses.
During an
55
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
56
extended period of time, the settlements of New Hampshire
were gradually extended westwardly, and further than the
original
by her patents; and,
limits prescribed
was generally supposed
Vermont formed
were made in that
in
until
1764,
it
that the territory at present included
of land
part of the province, and grants
New York
direction by the authorities.
advocated her claim to the disputed district; and a "vexatious
lasted until the independence of
controversy" ensued, which
Vermont was acknowledged
76,
men s
in
In
1790.
tried
succinctly,
souls,
of
New
temporary government, to continue
a
established
On
news of
termination of the
conflict.
Lexington, twelve
hundred men marched
the
the
the
until
battle
to
instantly
of
the
Boston; the temporary constitution was hurriedly
of
but ably formed, and
the royal governor obliged
month previous
the general
And
to
resign
it
be here repeated,
to the declaration of
independence by
his functions as chief magistrate.
that a
days
Hampshire, boldly and
made a public declaration of independence, and
which
relief
those
let
congress, the
general assembly of the province
appointed a committee to make a draft of a declaration, in
favor of an entire separation from Great Britain.
One of
the
most
brilliant
of the war was fought at BenStark, an officer of this state, with a
actions
nington, by General
body of militia, in part from
battles of Stillwater,
Saratoga,
farmers and
laurels;
thirteen
so
backwoodsmen
and
Hampshire.
Monmouth,
of that state
won
At
the
the
hardy
imperishable
and aided greatly in sustaining the cause of the
united colonies; and few of the states contributed
many men,
port of
New
the
in proportion to their
population, to the
war.
When
peace was
finally
sup
established, the
MASSACHUSETTS.
of
people
this
occasioned
debts,
borne
province,
by
their
down
generous
57
with
overwhelming
expenditures
in
the
previous years, and obliged to sustain the weight of extra
ordinary taxes, became gloomy and disaffected; and a body
of
armed men even invaded
the legislature in
its
halls;
but
rigorous measures of Governor Sullivan immediately
repressed the insurrection, and restored the peace of the
the
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, and Matthew Thorn
ton were the three whose signatures attested their devotion
state.
America; who, representing the spirit of their fellow citi
zens, set their hands to the irrevocable deed.
Truly did
not less in the grandeur and
the Switzerland of America,
diversity of her scenery, than in the dauntless energy which
to
made
name
of Swiss a proverb in the old world,
uphold
the justness of her reputation; and gave to time the theme
which, bursting into music, echoed throughout the universe
the
her valor and
the
formation
was
the
renown.
January
5th,
1776,
is
the
date
of
government; but not till June, 1783,
instrument" formed, which was established
of the
"perfect
in the following October.
MASSACHUSETTS.
POPULATION.
1776: nearly 300,000 inhabitants.
inhabitants.
1876: nearly
1,600,000
Present area, in square miles, 7,800.
Present
Average wealth, $1,500.
The principal colleges are Harvard, at Cambridge; Wil
Amherst, at Amherst; Holy Cross,
liams, at Williamstown
total wealth, $2,200,000,000.
;
at
Worcester; and Tufts,
p
at
Medford.
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
58
The
Indian
products are wheat,
with apples and pears.
agricultural
corn,
rye,
In manufacturing
oats, potatoes,
all the states;
industry, Massachusetts stands at the head of
while the condition of her operatives, and their moral and
etc.
no
character, has
intellectual
The import and
districts.
parallel
in other
export trade
is
manufacturing
and
flourishing
extensive.
Bartholomew
Gosnold, directing a colonizing
expedition of 32 persons, made the land in Massachusetts
Bay; passed and named Cape Cod, and Martha s Vineyard
(now No Man s Land), and landed at Elizabeth Island (now
In
1602,
Cuttyhunk).
chusetts,
English settlement in Massa
entirely broken up and abandoned.
the
This,
was soon
first
after
Martin Pring, or Prynne, subsequently tarried in Edgartown
and
1605-1606 sundry French expeditions visited the
in
George Waymouth,
in
made a
;
coast.
fruitless
voyage
two
inhospitable
great colonizing
were
and
the
and
steadfast exiles
formed;
companies
pious
of Leyden, resolving to seek for freedom in the new world,
obtained from the Virginia company a patent for lands
to
also,
coast.
the
1605,
Later the
which they were not fated to occupy. July 22d, 1620, the
Pilgrims embarked at Delft Haven, in the Speedwell; and,
upon arriving at Southampton, found the Mayflower; and
the two vessels, August 5th, turned their
prows toward the
land
far-off
stricken
went
with
of
hope.
fear,
forth alone,
But
turned
the
back;
freighted with
master of the
Speedwell,
and
Mayflower
the
little
102 indomitable souls.
A
tedious voyage of 63 days was
safely accomplished, when
made
the
land
off
they
Cape Cod, and November nth, were
anchored in the roadstead of the present Provincetown. Grave
MASSACHUSETTS.
59
poetry have made commonplaces of
the noble endurance, and sublime fortitude of those dauntless
history,
and
peerless
and pious Puritans;
marvelous annals need no repe
their
tition here.
Their
efforts
to
obtain
a
patent from
the
crown were
and the Plymouth colonists were therefore obliged,
to carry on their government, without the royal sanction.
As events proved, "God s hand was in it evidently." The
expedition of John Endicott reached Salem in 1628, and as
unavailing,
a consequence, a royal patent was
Company of the Massachusetts Bay.
finally
obtained for the
When
news from home
reached them, intimating the probable early appointment of
a "general governor/ their reply chorded harmoniously with
those principles, which from the days of the gallant Carver to
the final struggle, spurred them on to wondrous deeds: "We
ought not to accept him, but defend our lawful possessions,
if we were able, otherwise to avoid or protract."
This, from
a handful of exiles to the invincible England of the seven
In 1662, a commission sent to England,
century!
obtained a confirmation from the king of the previously
teenth
endangered
charter.
In
1664, Massachusetts baffled the per
sistent efforts of the royal
her
sacred
"meddling
Philip s
rights,
and
commissioners
liberties,"
of envious and officious
war,
1675-1676,
hundred colonists were
thirteen
slain,
and
"sent
set
at
and over
were
six
trifle
naught
with
the
During King
courtiers."
towns
to
ravaged, six
hundred houses
with
Subsequently ensued the incessant bickerings
the king, which ultimately effected the loss of the cherished
of Dudley and
charter, and the unwelcome governments
burnt.
Andros.
In
1692 was given a
new
charter,
by which Ply-
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
60
mouth was united to Massachusetts, which had jurisdiction
Then occurred the
also over Maine and other territory.
memorable episode in the history of the colony the witchcraft
delusion, so pregnant in its near and remote consequences,
In
1703-1704 the province
suffered greatly from the French and Indians; and in 1722,
and the latter part of 1725. In 1745 Massachusetts con
so
rife
with
horrid
incidents.
tributed largely to the expedition which captured Louisburg,
and co-operated efficiently in the plans for the conquest
of
Canada,
operations
and
until
vigorously in other military
conclusion of peace between France
participating
the
In the subsequent renewal of hos
she again proved a valuable ally until 1760.
In
tilities
the just resistance to oppressive measures of the English
and England
in
1748.
parliament, Massachusetts stood first and foremost, and vol
untarily made herself the anvil for embittered hammers.
The Boston massacre
in
1770, the
destruction of the tea in
and the Port Bill in the following year, are a few of
the memorable incidents which heralded the approach of the
Revolution; at Lexington and Concord was made the issue,
and the sons of the Pilgrims fired the first gun in the faces
1773,
of
an
obstinate
and
From
despotism.
enviable reputation
and
first
for
king and an oligarchical
Massachusetts sustained her
tyrannical
to
last,
pious
patriotism,
and
public
spirit,
every tongue, in prose and in verse, may be found
the chronicle of her wise counselors, her inflexible soldiers
and
in
self-denying
women.
Samuel Adams, John
Adams,
Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge
Gerry hallowed names, to be
spoken in reverence and love, for they are the names of
those men that
signed that Declaration which startled the
RHODE
old world
hood.
from
The
ISLAND.
61
lethargy and added a nobility to
constitution of the state was framed in
its
man
Sep
tember, 1779, and went into effect in 1780.
RHODE
ISLAND.
POPULATION.
nearly 65,000 inhabitants.
inhabitants.
Present area in square
1776,
total wealth, $300,000,000.
Brown
University, in
1876,
miles,
Average wealth,
Providence,
is
nearly
1,306.
250,000
Present
$1,400.
the principal collegiate
institution.
Indian corn, rye and oats are the principal cereals; the
sheep raising interests are of extended value, and those of
the
manufacturing
and
coasting
trade
are
thriving
and
important.
Originally
gansett
Rhode
Indians,
possession of
it,
In
Europeans.
Island
was the abode of the Narra-
a large and
powerful
tribe,
who
retained
the later irruption of the conquering
1524, as is currently believed, Verrazano
until
entered Narragansett Bay, and anchored in the fine harbor of
The first settlement was made in Providence,
Newport.
by Roger Williams, a refugee from New England;
later he was followed by William Coddington and others,
and in 1642 came the party under John Greene and Samuel
in
1636,
same year a patent, which, however, was
not accepted until 1647, was obtained from England, for the
united government of Providence, Newport and Portsmouth.
Gorton.
In
In
the
1663,
colony of
the
new
"Rhode
charter of Charles
Island and
II.,
Providence
incorporating
the
Plantations,"
was
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
62
and
secured,
this
continued
in
force
for
179 years, being
The pro
1842 by the existing constitution.
vince suffered extremely from the Indian wars which broke
superseded
out
in
in
June,
1675,
and
also
in
the
subsequent
struggles
abrogated the
In 1686-7, Andros
Narragansetts.
charter, but in 1688 the revolution broke forth
and the governor, after a short imprisonment,
with the
England.
ganized
and
France
for
empire
numbers of troops
large
England,
was sent
to
In February, 1689-90, the general assembly reor
Rhode Island
the government under the charter.
in the struggle
participated prominently
tain
in
for
in
between Great Bri
America.
She
furnished
the expeditions against
Louis-
Cape Breton, Crown Point, Oswego and Canada. In
1756 she had fifty privateers at sea, manned by upward of
These private men-of-war cruised
men.
fifteen hundred
among the West India islands, and along the coast, making
burg,
During the Revolutionary contest
important captures.
she also rendered effective service, by sea as well as on
many
important engagements and sus
taining effectively the cause in which she was so heartily
interested.
The first naval squadron sent against the enemy
land, taking part in
many
out and sailed from Providence, under command
of Commodore, or "Admiral" Hopkins.
Paul Jones, sub
sequently so celebrated, acted as a lieutenant in this fleet;
was
fitted
Commodores Talbot and Whipple,
while
Rhode
her
Island, and,
through
their
also
sailed
from
belonging to that State, shed glory on
heroic deeds.
Major General Greene,
occupied in the southern campaigns, likewise was
one of her sons, and on her soil began his
military career.
In like manner with Connecticut, Rhode Island s form of
chiefly
CONNECTICUT.
63
government was so purely republican, that in its charter,
with the "People," for the
was found the needed
"King,"
constitution, in
was invaded
May,
1776.
In December, 1776,
Rhode Island
who occupied
under Clinton,
Newport during several years; and General Sullivan, aided
by Count de Grasse, after several unsuccessful attempts to
by the
British
dislodge the enemy, was finally obliged to abandon his
In 1779 the British troops
project of relieving that place.
were withdrawn, and the following year Rochambeau arrived
with 6,000
French
auxiliaries.
Rhode
was the
Island
last
of the thirteen colonies that adopted the constitution of the
United States, and was admitted to the Union on the 29th
of May, 1799.
Stephen Hopkins and William Ellery, were
the loyal men sent forth by her to give in her adhesion to
the declaration which formed a new empire, ever to be
united in fraternal and indissoluble bonds.
CONNECTICUT.
POPULATION.
1776,
inhabitants.
total
190,000 inhabitants.
Present area in square
wealth,
nearly
nearly
1876,
nearly
miles,
Present
4,750.
Average
$800,000,000.
600,000
wealth,
about
$1,500.
The
and
and
University, Yale College,
Trinity College take high rank as institutes of learning,
have contributed greatly toward the education and
three
colleges:
Wesleyan
advancement of our Western
States,
are held in high esteem as teachers
The most valuable sources of
where
and
their
graduates
professors.
wealth
are
the
mines,
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
64
and
quarries,
of
manufacturers
iron,
clocks,
carriages
and
India-rubber goods.
On March
necticut,
ipth,
1631,
all
"embracing
was granted the patent of Con
in
that part of New England
America, extending in breadth 120 miles, as the coast lieth,
from the Narragansett river toward Virginia, and in longitude
from the Western Ocean to the South Sea." But her dearest
through the inesti
mable offices of Governor Winthrop, and which received the
This charter, so compre
royal signature April soth, 1662.
was
charter
hensively and
designs, lived
1818,
coaxed from Charles
that
so
in
and when
II.,
admirably democratic in
and vigor, even
full force
its
its
scope
and
the
year
until
June I4th, 1776, stood forth
was found with "People," in lieu
subjects,
promptly and without fear,
to answer every end and need, was revered as
of
a splendid monument to the liberal principles and wise
"King,"
philanthropy of John Winthrop.
When
Lexington, tremulous with fear, and
woe, and bitter wrath, was wafted from the drenched shores
of Nova Scotia, to the perfumed savannahs of fertile Georgia,
the
spirit
shone
the cry from
of
forth
her
Connecticut
in the guise of a
industry and
her
daring-
sturdy farmer, who, in leather
apron, and busied in building a stone wall around his acres,
forsook the trowel for his flintlock, and cried aloud, "To
arms!
To
arms! Lexington
Governor Trumbull
ably
in
s
the
made work
for
us!"
Brother Jonathan
who
acted so
with Washington
sent forth writs to
on the
legislature of the colony at Hartford,
conjunction
convene the
following the
and the people
But
Israel
Putnam, of
Wednesday
battle.
Pomfret,
swayed, perhaps unwittingly, by
CONNECTICUT.
that creative
and
resistless principle that
65
came
but appalling- whirlwind from the heart of
France --rose
of
skirts
as a healthful
Germany and
the
menacing sadness, and
the memorable field, where English Briton
strode swiftly to
their
in
against American Briton, crossed swords to uphold the cause
of freedom or oppression.
The bellowings of the Atlantic,
and the surge songs of the Pacific were stilled; the winds
of
Alleghanies and
the
new thought
soughings, as the
infant
all
and,
Rocky Range sank
the
as
it
rose up in the
to the
was, cried Halt!
low
into
New
World,
past
which,
through venality and false kingcraft, had forfeited respect
and love.
Great Britain would have executed her design
of collecting a
revenue from unrepresented colonies;
Con
opposition, called together
and struck hands with
of Correspondence
necticut, consistently inflexible
her Committees
in
persecuted brethren of Massachusetts then hastened
toward the northern coast her valiant militia.
During the
her
of
progress
seldom
never
the
afflicted
failed
share in
in
Revolutionary
struggle,
Connecticut
was
by the actual presence of the enemy, yet
contributing promptly and generously her
men and moneys.
On
the
i4th of June,
1776, the
provincial delegates, to
assent to a declaration of independence: let the
Assembly of Connecticut
instructed
give their
names of those
uttered from generation to genera
men
tion through all time:
William Williams
be
its
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington,
and Oliver Wolcott.
On
the
26th
of
com
1/77, a predatory force, consisting of 2,000 men,
manded by General Tryon, assailed Danbury, and devasted
April,
the town;
fell
upon
R
however, the gathering militia
the invaders, and, in the confused melee which
during the
retreat,
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
66
July
ensued, inflicted a severe and disastrous punishment.
of troops, also commanded by
5th, 1779, a still larger body
East Haven, Norwalk, New
Tryon, plundered and destroyed
Haven and Fairfield. After this latter foray, in which Tryon
unenviable notoriety, Connecti
reaped little profit and much
cut s share in the successful issue of the conflict consisted
in the furnishing of brave troops, and her frequent donations
of
money and
provisions.
had arisen
Prior to
the
close of the war, a
between her and Pennsylvania,
dispute which
on the Susquehanna, west
respecting the right to lands lying
of New York, was satisfactorily adjusted by a decision in
favor of the latter state,
made by
a board of commissioners
appointed by congress.
NEW
YORK.
POPULATION.
nearly 325,000 inhabitants.
Present area in square
inhabitants.
1776,
total wealth, $6,800,000,000.
The
at
New
ton;
state
contains
at
Geneva;
York; Madison University,
ham;
of
University
College, at Lima;
sity,
at
Le Roy,
As an
Average wealth, $1,500.
many important
York; Union,
Hobart, at
nearly 5,000,000
Present
miles, 47,000.
1876,
Schenectady;
University of
at
Hamilton;
Rochester;
colleges:
Columbia,
Hamilton, at Clin
the
St.
City
New
Johns, at Ford-
Troy University;
Elmira Female College;
of
Genesee
Sugham Univer
etc.
agricultural
state,
New York
ranks high in the
Indian corn, wheat,
Union, her chief products being oats,
buckwheat, rye and barley; also broom corn, hops, grapes,
NEW
YORK.
67
The manu
and orchard fruits.
and in many sections
facturing interests are very extensive,
commerce.
surpass those of agriculture, or even
maple sugar,
butter, cheese
Samuel Champlain, July 4th, 1609, was the first European
who ever stepped upon the soil of New York; on September
6th, of the same year, Henry Hudson discovered the bay;
in
1611, the States-General of
Holland granted
special priv
any company which should open a trade with the
In 1621 the Dutch West India Com
natives of this region.
\vere made at Fort
pany was incorporated, and settlements
Orange and New Amsterdam. In 1626, Manhattan Island
ileges
to
was purchased from
of $24.
In
the Indians
by Peter Minuits,
for the
value
1655 Peter Stuyvesant took possession of the
annexed
New
Neth
neighboring Swedish territory and
colonists
erlands, while the border contests with the English
continued until the
Then ensued
the
final
bitter
it
to
overthrow of the Dutch authority.
controversies and conflicts between
resulted
English and Dutch, which
establishment of the former claimants.
the
in
the
successful
Under James
II.
of the crown, and
government became an appendage
even under William and Mary, few popular rights were
abol
conceded, and few ancient and oppressive privileges
the
ished.
The
royal
governors
the representatives of the people,
took
place
from
time
final
prepared the
the colonies
struggle that severed
to
people for the great
from the mother country."
with
frequent collisions
and the controversies that
had
time
"gradually
the French and English, the
During the war between
in
Seneca country was invaded by De Nonville in 1687;
and in 1693, a Mohawk
1689 Schenectady was destroyed;
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
68
was taken and three hundred prisoners were captured.
fort
The peace
of Ryswick, in
tion of hostilities.
from
war,
1702
cessa
1697, brought a temporary
s
During the continuance of Queen Anne
to 1713, hostilities in this province were
During King George s
the
war, which began in 1745, the disputed territory was
scene of frequent and bloody encounters between the English
French fortress at Crown
posts on the Hudson, and the
In the ensuing war of 1754, the embittered conflict
Point.
involved nearly all the colonies, and throughout its progress
New York sustained her reputation for valor and efficiency.
confined chiefly to frontier skirmishes.
In
1755 Sir William Johnston marched successfully against
Crown
Point;
in
was
Oswego
1756
destroyed
the
by
1757 they captured Fort William Henry; in 1758
Abercrombie was defeated at Ticonderoga, while Colonel
French;
in
Bradstreet
Fort
Frontenac.
In
1759
Niagara,
Ticonderoga and Crown Point were captured by the Eng
lish and Americans, and no French force was left within
the
captured
of
limits
aggressions,
1760,
New
the
colony.
To
recommencing after
York offered a bold
the
subsequent
the conquest of
front,
ministerial
Canada
in
and entered zealously
measures proposed for common defence. In May,
1775, Ticonderoga and Crown Point were taken by Ethan
Allen, and in October, 1775, Governor Tryon was obliged to
into
the
leave the province, and shelter himself on board of a Brit
ish man-of-war.
In 1776, Montgomery and Schuyler were
defeated in their attempt to reduce Canada; in August, 1776,
the battle of Long Island was fought, and New York fell
into
the
hands of the
British.
In
1777
the
province was
invaded from Canada by Burgoyne, whose
army was
after-
NEW
ward compelled
a
constitution
West
JERSEY.
69
to surrender at
was
Saratoga.
established.
In the
Point was
April 2Oth, 1777,
winter of 1777-
1779 General Sullivan
destroyed the hostile Indian villages in the western section,
while, in return, during the two following years, the Indians
1778,
fortified;
devasted the settlements of
ber
1783,
25th,
in
Mohawk and
New York was
Schoharie.
Novem
evacuated
by the British,
the trial was over, and
and Europe with America knew that
The
American independence a living and immortal fact.
first constitution of the state was adopted in
March, 1777,
The conflicting
and was revised in 1801, 1821 and 1846.
boundary claims of
this
incessant collisions and
state
and
"almost
New Hampshire
to civil
war,"
but
led
in
to
1790,
were adjusted by the erection of the disputed
territory into the state of Vermont, and the payment to
New York of $30,000. William Floyd, Philip Livingston,
all
differences
Francis
Lewis and Lewis Morris, are the names of those
admirable
statesmen
declaration ever
who
penned,
aided
to
in
whom
perfecting the noblest
the sons of New York
should raise enduring monuments, and send hearty bene
dictions across that mighty stream of progress, which burst
its
dams
in
1776.
NEW
JERSEY.
POPULATION.
nearly 180,000 inhabitants.
inhabitants.
Present area in square
1776,
total wealth,
The
s
$1,000,000,000.
1876,
nearly
1,000,000
miles,
8,320.
Present
Average wealth, $1,050.
chief collegiate institutions are the College of
New
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
70
Burlington College, at Burlington, and
Rutgers College, at New Brunswick.
The productions are the various grains, potatoes, sweet
Jersey, at
Princeton;
manu
also in mining,
potatoes, orchard products, cider, etc.;
factures
and
and the mechanic
many hands
traffic
is
are
arts,
a
constantly
large
is
capital
invested,
The
employed.
internal
very important, and the state has a vast and increas
ing transit business.
The
colony was
earliest
probably
between 1617 and 1620, by the Dutch of
who claimed
the
entire
In
Netherlands.
1623,
1630
at
Cape May.
In
New
Bergen,
Amsterdam,
country as a portion of the New
Fort Nassau was constructed, and
Godyn and Bloemart purchased
in
at
planted
1634, Sir
of the Indians land
Edmund Ployden
obtained a
royal grant of the country on the Delaware, and in 1638 a
After
party of Swedes and Finns planted several settlements.
the
destruction
of
the
English colonies,
the
Dutch, under
Peter Stuyvesant, in turn dispossessed the Swedes, sending
many of them back to Europe. In 1664, Charles II. granted
the territory
all
between the Delaware and Connecticut
to his brother, the
to
enforce the claim.
Carteret
came
received
its
personage.
but,
his
Duke
in
and sent out an expedition
Later Lord Berkeley and Sir George
of York,
into possession of the claim,
name,
rivers
New
Jersey, in
and the province
honor of the
latter
named
was appointed governor,
was temporarily superseded by James Carteret,
In 1665, Philip Carteret
1670,
reputed brother.
In
1673, Berkeley sold his proprietary
John Fenwick and Edward Byllinge.
year the Dutch re-captured New York, and as a
interest to the Quakers,
In
this
consequence, regained
possession
of
New
Jersey.
By
the
NEW
JERSEY.
71
reverted to Great Britain, and subsequently
ensued the troublous bickerings between Philip Carteret and
treaty of 1674,
Edmund
it
William Penn, Garven Lawrie and
Nicholas Lucas, Quakers, secured an interest in the province,
and in 1675, Fen wick established a Quaker settlement at
Sir
Andros.
Salem.
In February, 1682, the whole territory was purchased
William Penn, associated with eleven other Quakers.
by
Robert Barclay was the first governor under the new pro
prietors, and great prosperity was temporarily enjoyed by
the oppressed Quakers, who found in New Jersey a safe and
In 1702 the proprietors surrendered their
pleasant retreat.
right of
to
government
and Lord Cornbury was
York and New Jersey, but each
the crown,
appointed governor of New
continued to have a separate assembly.
In
1708, the
latter
province petitioned for a distinct administration, and Lewis
Morris was appointed governor. Thereafter, until the open
ing of the Revolutionary struggle, New Jersey was the scene
of few important events, and was little exposed to the inroads
of the savages.
ple
the
Franklin,
Franklin.
The
last royal
natural
The attempt
son
of the
governor was William
of
the
illustrious
home government
Tem
Benjamin
to
estab
an arbitrary authority over her colonies, was pertinaciously
resisted by New Jersey, and deputies were sent to the con
lish
on the occasion of
gress which convened at Philadelphia,
the stamp act, and to all subsequent assemblies.
During
the conflict which ensued, her soil
for a great length of time,
erty
state.
were
A
"greater
state
the tongues,
in
and her losses
proportion"
constitution
was the
seat of hostilities
in
men and prop
than those of any other
was adopted July
2d,
1776,
and arms, and resources of the Jersey
and
patriots
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
72
In the annals
were ever ready to ably second the holy cause.
the
depicting
of Trenton,
battles
Princeton,
Millstone,
Red
the record of her valor
Bank and Monmouth, may be found
may be
read the thrilling story
of her uprising, of her great sufferings blended with splendid
De
victories, her sacrifices entwined with glorious rapture.
and unquailing perseverance
cember
1
8th,
a unanimous vote, and in
Jersey sent five noble sons to affix
the first instrument which secured to
signatures to
mankind true liberty:
their
names
their
Francis
Witherspoon,
Abraham
1790 the state
New
lished at Trenton.
John
was adopted by
capital was estab
1787, the Federal Constitution
are:
Richard Stockton,
Hart
John
Hopkinson,
and
Clark.
PENNSYLVANIA.
POPULATION.
1876, nearly 3,800,000
nearly 400,000 inhabitants.
Present
inhabitants.
Present area in square miles, 46,000.
1776,
total wealth,
There are nearly
while
Average wealth, $1,150.
$4,000,000,000.
important collegiate
thirty
institutions,
University of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania
Hospital, and the medical department of Pennsylvania and
Jefferson Medical College, are "the most celebrated and suc
the
cessful of their class in the
The
corn,
products
cheese,
country."
are wheat,
wool,
tobacco,
rye,
buckwheat, barley, Indian
also
pig iron,
Commerce, external and
butter,
etc.;
wrought and manufactured goods.
internal, is in a thriving and prosperous condition.
The
shores of the river received their
first
civilized
colony
PENNSYLVANIA.
73
Sweden, and in 1627 a thrifty body of Swedes and
Finns settled on both shores of the Delaware, making their
from
to
way nearly
gress,
however,
the
site
in
the
they were obliged
New
rule at
to
of Philadelphia.
Making little pro
settlement of the country, in 1655
submit
Amsterdam.
to
In
paramount Dutch
they passed quietly under
the then
1664,
period generally established
In 1681, the territory west of the Delaware
the
English jurisdiction,
at
this
and nourishing.
was granted to William Penn, who colonized
it,
and founded
Under the charter then granted by
Philadelphia in 1682.
Charles II., was included the present area of the State of
Delaware, known as "the lower counties," which continued
under
legislature,
In
this
proprietary until 1699, when a separate
not a distinct governor, was granted them.
were the two colonies connected until the
same
the
but
manner
Revolution of 1776. The grant to Penn was for territory
covered in reality by the ill-defined grants made to the New
and Maryland; and, though the
the east, north and west were easily adjusted, the
boundary between Pennsylvania and Maryland was long a
the heirs of the original proprietors, and
subject of contest by
was finally settled by the survey of Mason and Dixon, begun
Until the dawn of the
in 1763 and completed in 1767.
was unusually free from
revolutionary conflict the province
troubles with the natives, and the humane and peaceful policy
England
lines on
colonies, Virginia
advocated by Penn and his successors, secured to the colo
nists
many
however,
Braddock
massacre of
colonists
T
years
of
s
Wyoming,
and
the
prosperous
ill-fated
tranquillity.
expedition, and
Eventually,
the
terrible
disturbed the friendly relations of the
Indians,
and
subsequently the territory
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
74
suffered greatly from a relentless and destructive savage war
fare.
Owing to the "high character and steady energy" of
the
Friends, Pennsylvania
flourishing of the colonial
became rapidly one of the most
establishments, and long before
Revolution, enjoyed an honorable and enviable position
throughout the changes incident to the founding of a new
the
September
government.
Pennsylvania con
but the opposition which
28th,
the
1776,
vention adopted its constitution;
received alike from the Quakers,
it
franchised,
thorough
central
whom
and from a large body of
organization for more than
position
drew
to
the Continental Congress,
its
delayed
months.
patriots,
five
was the
it
indirectly dis
its
Its
town the sessions of
principal
and
it
seat of the general
Here independence
government then formed until 1800.
was formally proclaimed, and throughout the subsequent
Pennsylvanians pursued a calm and
trying scenes, the
steady,
though
conduct.
not
over-zealous
or
Germantown,
Brandywine,
dozen other memorable
spots,
recall
precipitate,
Valley
line
Forge,
perennially the
and
of
a
heroic
and shoeless men, unrivaled, unequaled
for their daring and persistency amid dire want and utter cold
the stoical nobleness of a chief whose only thought was
efforts of ill-clad
his
country
prosperity.
prietary
their
s
only dream
welfare, his
On
the
declaration
of
independence, the pro
government was, abrogated, and
representatives, formed a
subsequently succeeded
new
by that of
independence and
its
the people, through
constitution,
1790.
which was
Robert
Morris,
John Morton, George
Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson and
George Ross are the names of those whose signatures,
Benjamin Rush, Benjamin
Franklin,
DELAWARE.
under
placed
the
declaration
of
75
independence,
testify
to
courageous support of a sorely needed and beneficent
measure.
their
DELAWARE.
POPULATION.
nearly 50,000 inhabitants.
Present area in square
inhabitants.
1776,
1876,
126,000
nearly
Present
miles, 2,120.
total wealth, $98,000,000.
The
principal
Newark, and
at
The
fruits
Average wealth, $800.
collegiate institutions are Delaware College
St.
Mary
s
College at Wilmington.
chief natural productions are wheat, rye, oats, peaches,
and
Indian
corn;
while
the
general
manufacturing
interests are of the highest importance.
This state owes
its
name
to
Lord Delaware, governor of
who entered the bay in 1610; but, prior
Hudson had sailed upon its majestic waters.
Virginia,
1609,
De
Vries, with
Lewes, and
a
in
colony of
Henlopen
in
thirty
colonists
from
Holland,
to this, in
In 1630,
near
settled
Swedish West India Company sent
and Finns, which, arriving at cape
1637, the
Swedes
1638, surveyed the country
Sveriga, or New Sweden.
was annihilated by the Dutch,
In
1655, the
who
who refused allegiance
1664, when the English took
and named
rule of the
it
sent to Europe
Holland.
colonists
to
until
possession of
Nya
Swedes
all
the
Thereafter,
New
Neth
Delaware settlements were governed by the Dutch
authorities.
Subsequently ensued the contest between Wil
erlands,
liam
Penn and Lord
Baltimore, respecting the boundary line
of their respective possessions, which was ultimately adjusted
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
76
between
by an amicable compromise
the
For
claimants.
three lower counties on the
twenty years the "territories, or
as a part of Pennsylvania, each
Delaware," were governed
In
county sending six delegates to the general assembly.
to secede, and ever
1703, those territories obtained liberty
afterwards maintained
their
right to a separate
But the proprietary,
assembly.
until
the
and
distinct
outbreak of
the
Revolutionary struggle, retained all his rights, and the same
and Pennsylvania.
governor presided over both Delaware
environing her, Delaware
enjoyed an almost entire exemption from wars, except those
as a part of the British Empire she was obliged
in which
Protected
by the
colonies
sister
"
to
in
Canada,
of
war which terminated
In the
assist."
Delaware contributed
1763,
men and means
and,
to co-operate with
a reimbursement
as
for
her
in the
her
the
surrender of
full
proportion
Mother-country,
"
extraordinary
expenses,"
4000 pounds sterling, a sum
what would have been a just remu
the Parliament granted her but
admittedly
far inferior to
neration.
At
in
Philadelphia in
territory,
of the congress which convened
1765, on occasion of the Stamp Act, the
the meeting
notwithstanding
its
nominal dependence, was rep
resented as a distinct province, with Thomas McKean and
Cassar Rodney for delegates.
Finally, in April, 1775, Richard
Penn, then proprietor of Pennsylvania, resigned his juris
diction
over the
"lower
and
in
September, 1776,
been
declared, a convention of repre
independence having
sentatives, chosen for the purpose, formed a constitution for
the
free
and
counties,"
independent state of Delaware.
Throughout
and
conflict,
profitably
incessantly for the
of
the
common welfare, and her losses and sacrifices,
good
the
she
labored
DELAWARE.
in
the cause of liberty,
won
for her
mother of wise counselors, upright
When
soldiers.
the true
scope
77
resplendent glory as the
and unquailing
Boston Port act
patriots,
of
the
became universally known; when South Carolina sent her
rice and words of warm sympathy to the "Bostoneers," and
North Carolina two thousand pounds currency; when the
people of Wilmington sent back the taunt of irresolute Lord
North, and added, "Ay, my lord, and you will find this
yet hang men for
Connecticut sent her flocks of lamb
American union a rope of sand
their evil
deeds
and sheep
to
;"
the
when
starving
that
freemen
may
of
the
Massachusetts
when Quebec shipped to them a thousand and more
bushels of wheat; when every province sent in its cheerful
coast;
Delaware stood second to none in its swift
charities, but stinted and stripped herself to feed and clothe
those steadfast, hungering and desolate pioneers in the path
contributions,
of freedom
ican
rights
who
and
offered
liberties.
And when
the
perilous
came wherein good and wise men, with wives and
and hard-won wealth, statesmen weighed down with
responsibilities,
were
to
Amer
moment
themselves as the bulwark of
children
ineffable
stand before the world as acknowl
s
edged leaders of a revolution, and hazard, for their country
Caesar Rodney, George Read, and Thomas
sake, a felon s fate
McKean, signed boldly the immortal declaration which made
America a power in the land, and upon every
tember 20th, 1776, Delaware proclaimed its
sea.
Sep
constitution,
upon the declaration of rights.
Nor must the memorable contest at Brandywine Creek be
where Howe and England
passed by in silence the banks
one of those victories,
gained over Washington and America,
u
built
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
78
which
Vergennes remarked,
England will not have a soldier
of
"Two
left
in
such victories, and
America."
MARYLAND.
POPULATION.
1876, nearly 800,000
nearly 225,000 inhabitants.
Present
Present area in square miles, 11,124.
inhabitants.
1776,
about $700,000,000.
total wealth,
Among
state,
the
many
Average wealth, about $900.
valuable educational institutions of this
may be mentioned Washington
College at
Charles-
College at Baltimore, St. Mary s College
at Baltimore, St. Charles s College at Ellicott s Mills, and
St. John s College at Frederick City.
town,
St.
The
John
s
staple cultivated crops are tobacco,
wheat and Indian
commerce, .Maryland occupies the sixth
place in the Union, while her domestic trade, internal and
coastwise, is thriving and extensive.
The first settlement was made under the guidance of
corn;
in
foreign
Captain William Clayborne, who, landing from Virginia with
a party of pioneers, stepped ashore on Kent Island, Ches
apeake
in
Bay,
But
1631.
the
charter
under which
the
colony was permanently established, granted by Charles the
First to the second Lord Baltimore, was dated June 2Oth,
1632,
named
and,
in
honor of
Henrietta Maria, the province was
harrassing and protracted
conflict resulting in the annihilation of the French dominion
in America, Maryland bore an active
part; and here, in
1754,
Terra
was
Duquesne.
Marice.
organized
During
In
the
Braddock
that
part
s
of
expedition
the
last
against
century
Fort
which
MARYLAND.
preceded
the
birth
of
79
Maryland
hostilities,
Revolutionary
so unvaried a series of quiet prosperity," that her
In 1760,
annals furnish few materials for historical notice.
"enjoyed
the
contest,
the
to
and
act
in
of words
boundary
line
finally settled.
merely, with William Penn, relative
of the two provinces, was amicably
Both
the
stamp
act
and the tea duty
were ardently opposed by the people of this state; and,
a propitious moment, the proprietary government was
superseded by committees of public
safety,
and, in
harmony
with a natural and prevailing sentiment, by conventions of
whole people.
the
Maryland
The
are
following
the
names of those
patriots immortalized as signers of the declaration
independence: Samuel Chase, William
Stone, and Charles Carroll, of Carrollton.
of
Paca,
Thomas
August I4th,
of Maryland, and on the
was framed the constitution
following November Qth, it was established.
1776,
A
convention assembled
in
August,
1776,
and
in
Sep
tember presented a bill of rights and a constitution, which
were adopted in the following November. February 5th, 1777,
the first elected legislature assembled at Annapolis, and
Thomas Johnson was chosen the first Repub
From the opening of the war until its close,
governor.
shortly after,
lican
Maryland troops were noted for their efficiency and
was cited as an
Maryland
daring, and the famous
In the battles
example to fire the backward and the timid.
of Long Island, Harlem Heights, Princeton, White Plains,
the
"
line"
and
invaluable participants;
while in almost every important battle, from the engagement
to the struggle at York town, they bore
at
Trenton,
<*tc.,
they were active
Brooklyn Heights
an honorable part.
Especially
in
the
southern
campaigns
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
8o
and good conduct
conspicuous, and to them was often
under General Greene were
of the
Maryland line"
entrusted the honor of
forlorn
a
in
hope
of veteran
forces
the* "bravery
a
initiating
desperate
European
heading a
or
sortie,
encounter with overwhelming
troops.
It
was
in
May, 1774,
the strong hand of
Boston was languishing under
ministerial oppression, and while many held back
while
and
that
alarm,
calmness,
relief
the
ten
past
a
years,
petition
king
saying
least
with
grounds
and remonstrance.
and
ministry
fervid
have
for
During
trodden
prayers,
and instantly she resolved to cease all trading
with Great Britain and the West Indies, selected
purpose,"
relations
deputies to a colonial convention,
of
tion
brethren,
The
American
freedom."
indomitable
heart which
after
the forma
Congress, and wrote to her Boston
Supreme Disposer of all events will termin
ate this severe trial of
was the
recommended
Continental
a
"
of
erect,
doubt
laughing me and mine to scorn.
more sensible than supplications will best serve
my
foot
Something
my
for
rose
cannot see the
I
"Petitions?
expecting
under
Baltimore
in
many
knew no
your patience in a happy confirmation
Bold words! but not bolder than
spirit
which
rest
until
prompted them, nor the
entire freedom was won,
trials.
VIRGINIA.
POPULATION.
1776, nearly 600,000 inhabitants.
inhabitants.
total
1876, nearly
Present area in square miles, 38,348.
wealth, $450,000,000.
Average wealth, $350.
1,500,000
Present
VIRGINIA.
81
In
conjunction with the now separate state of West
Virginia these items are thus increased: Population, 500,000.
Area,
Total
23,000.
wealth,
and
$200,000,000;
average
wealth, $450.
Among
Mary
the chief collegiate institutions are William
Hampden
College,
Sydney
College,
and
Washington
College, and University of Virginia.
The
principal
agricultural
wheat, Indian
cereals,
potatoes;
interests
are
corn, etc.;
butter
also,
extensive,
and domestic,
are
productions
and
tobacco,
cheese.
and
the
various
the
cotton,
wool and
The
manufacturing
commerce, both foreign
of considerable importance.
Virginia \vas
the first of the American colonies settled
by the English,
and Jamestown was founded May I3th, 1607, by 105 colon
sent
ists
is
London Company, whose
out by the
first
incom
Wingfield, was succeeded by the famous
Capt John Smith. The London Company was reorganized
in 1609, and received a
grant of territory "extending 200
leader,
petent
miles
north,
and
Comfort, and
same
the
westward
distance
the
to
Old
south of
Pacific."
Of nine
Point
vessels
despatched thither, seven arrived safely in
the James River; the old government was abrogated, and
subsequently
Smith
retained
his
regime.
Thereafter,
from
old
the
ment on
the
position
as
until
1619,
country
James
set
River,
in
governor
the
tide
under
of
their
v
new
of
emigration
settle
the
toward
strongly
and various other
neighboring
points were rapidly colonized by the newcomers.
year, also, were sent over "ninety respectable young
who were
the
In that
women"
disposed of to the planters as wives, at the cost
In 1619, a Dutch
passage, payable in tobacco.
.THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
82
who
trading vessel brought to Jamestown twenty negroes,
In 1622 occurred a terrible
were sold as slaves for life.
war between the colonists and the
In
canough.
and
1624,
the
Virginia
led
tribes
by OpechanCompany was dissolved,
1632, under the direct control of the crown, the laws
in
and consolidated.
of the colony were revised
In
1641, Sir
William Berkeley became governor; in 1652 Richard Bennett
became his successor; but on the restoration of Charles II.,
the former
1662 the code
In
governor regained his place.
colony was again revised, and the Church of Eng
land re-established.
In 1676 occurred "Bacon s rebellion,"
in which Berkeley met with loss and, eventually, disgrace.
of the
1705 took place the fifth colonial revision of the code,
Hostilities
by which the slave was declared real estate.
broke out with the French in 1754, and in this war George
In
Washington
first
command
entered the service of America,
ing the colonial troops at the battle of Fort Necessity, and
assuming the command of the Virginia forces after Brad-
dock
defeat
s
adopted
body
the
in
1755.
resolutions
to levy taxes
tions of a similar
Lord
Botetourt
March,
was
was
1773,
In
denying
the
dissolved
and April
openly menaced for
organized,
the
Committee
Virginia
2ist,
his
1776,
Virginia adopted
bombarded
her
State
in
consequence,
assembly.
In
Correspondence
1775, Governor Dunmore
deportment."
"arbitrary
following November 23d, Dunmore
session of Norfolk, was driven thence
January,
Burgesses
of
the
in
of
right of any foreign
In 1769, fresh resolu
upon the colony.
nature were passed, and,
immediately
the
House
1765 the
the
took
forcible
December
town.
In
Constitution, and
3d,
June,
it
was
On
pos
and
1776,
the
NORTH CAROLINA.
83
Virginia delegates who, in the Continental Congress, pro
posed the declaration of independence, and sent George
Wythe, Richard
Harrison,
Henry
Thomas
Lee,
Nelson,
Jr.,
Thomas
Benjamin
Lrghtfoot Lee and
Jefferson,
Francis
Carter Braxton to declare her sentiments.
In 1779 occurred
by Matthews, of Norfolk, who also took
Portsmouth and Gosport, and destroyed
130 merchant
vessels on the James and Elizabeth rivers.
In January,
the
destruction,
Benedict
Arnold
and
Richmond,
but was afterward successfully pursued by the militia under
Steuben, and several French frigates in the Chesapeake.
1781,
captured
ravaged
spring of the same year, Cornwallis and Phillips
devastated eastern Virginia, but the following October 19111,
the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown virtually closed
In the
the war.
NORTH CAROLINA.
POPULATION.
1776,
nearly 350,000 inhabitants.
inhabitants.
Area
in
wealth, $275,000,000.
The
principal
square
miles,
1876, nearly
50,704.
1,250,000
Present
total
Average wealth, $250.
collegiate
institutions
of North Carolina, Davidson College,
and Normal College.
Iron and coal are among
are,
Wake
mineral
the
University
Forest College
the
productions
various fruits are found in profusion, while turpentine, tar,
rosin, rice, tobacco and cotton, with the various grains and
the
;
mining and manufacturing establishments, form the basis of
a large and constantly increasing commerce.
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
84
The
olina
systematic essay at settlement in North Car
made by a party of one hundred and eight,
first
was
under Ralph Lane, despatched by Sir Walter Raleigh, which
landed in 1585 on Roanoke, an island between Pamlico and
These adventurers, however, drawing
Albemarle Sounds.
upon themselves the hostility of the native tribes, soon after
returned
England with the
to
fleet
Francis
of Sir
Drake.
Raleigh s expedition had made the
land at Cape Fear, and run into Ocracoke Inlet, when the
voyagers landed on the isle of Wococon. Thereafter, until
Prior to
the
middle
sufferings,
of
colonized,
seventeenth
century,
various
others
was
the
eminent
abortive
met with great
In
1630,
Chesapeake, known as
granted to Sir Robert Heath, but not being
land
of
1663, Charles
eight
the
and were ultimately wholly destroyed.
tract
Carolina,
1584,
made by Raleigh and
settlements
a vast
in
this,
south
of
the
grant was afterward
II.
granted the same
English
declared
"territory
noblemen,
In
forfeited.
of
who were
Carolina"
vested
to
with
jurisdiction over the colonists,
and John Locke was engaged
to elaborate a scheme of
government for the whole province.
William Drummond, the first governor, was executed in
as a rebel;
Virginia
were enacted the
first
under Samuel
Stevens, his
successor,
laws for the colony, by an assembly
In 1695,
partaking both of popular and proprietary qualities.
the Quaker, John Archdale, was
Con
appointed governor.
siderable
settlements
were
made
during
his
beneficent
administration, and the export of tar and rice was com
menced.
In 1705, Thomas
Gary was appointed governor,
and, upon being removed to give place to Edward
Hyde,
incited
a
rebellion which
was
not
suppressed
until
1711.
NORTH CAROLINA.
85
Meanwhile and subsequently, until 1713, tne
province was
continually harassed by the Tuscaroras, who finally emi
At this period, also, various other
grated to the north.
hostile tribes were intimidated and reduced to
subjection.
In July,
under Governor Everard, the province
became a royal government, with Lord Carteret as the
pro
of
of
the
domain. Later, a party of Irish
prietor
one-eighth
1729, while
Presbyterians settled in the north-western section, a colony
of Moravians took possession of the
ground between the
Dan and the Yadkin rivers, and a party of Highlanders
near
settled
administration of Tryon, the
the State, and the people
and
Under
oppression.
the
During
Fayetteville.
subsequent evil
troubles convulsed
"regulator"
murmured
against his tyranny
following administration of
the
Josiah Martin, disputes arose between the governor and the
assembly, and also loud complaints relative to the unjusti
fiable
policy
Carolina sent
gress,
of
the
home
representatives
September
,
1774,
the
to
first
Finally,
Continental
and an association was
North
Con
formed
in
decided to renounce allegi
August 2oth, 1775, a popular convention
Mecklenburg which, May,
ance to the crown.
government.
1775,
authorized the raising of three, afterward five regiments of
Subse
troops, to be taken into colonial pay by Congress.
quently, the
loyalist
Highlanders under McDonald and
McLeod were
routed
by the
patriots
under
Moore and
and, in April, 1776, the North Carolina convention
authorized their delegates to unite with the other colonies
Caswell;
in a declaration of
independence.
In the following
Decem
the province adopted a State Constitution, and liberally
furnished her quota of men; but, "beyond the partisan warber,
w
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
86
between the
fare
loyalists
and
October 9th of
losses.
took place January iyth,
House occurred March 5th,
United States, formed
was
this
yean
by Shelby and Sevier, and
The memorable battle of Cowpens
1781, and that of Guilford Court
of military operations until 1780.
General Ferguson was defeated
sustained severe
was not the scene
patriots,"
in
The
1781.
Constitution of the
by North Carolina in
William Hooper, Joseph
1787, rejected
adopted in 1789.
Hewes and John Perm, are the names of those sons of
North Carolina who felt no fear in the final moment which
1788,
finally
which
preceded the signing of that state paper
the glory even of the British Magna Charta.
1
8th,
1776,
ratified in
the
of
constitution
the congress
by which
December,
Carolina was fully
North
it
outshone
far
had been framed.
SOUTH CAROLINA.
POPULATION.
1776,
nearly
inhabitants.
Present area
inhabitants.
total
200,000
wealth, $225,000,000.
There are
South
eight
are
square
nearly
miles, 34,000.
800,000
Present
Average wealth, $300.
colleges
Carolina College,
The products
in
1876,
at
in
the
State.
Columbia,
cotton,
rice,
is
Of
these,
the
a State institution.
tobacco, maize, oats,
rye,
and manufacturing inter
barley, etc.;
ests are of an important scope and nature.
Probably the
first essay at
peaceful colonization in this country was made
also, the commercial
by a party of French Huguenots under John Ribanet, who,
in
1562, was despatched on a voyage of exploration to
Florida.
After the discovery in
May
of that
year of the
SOUTH CAROLINA.
87
(May) River, he coasted northward, and ultimately
entered the commodious inlet which he named Port Royal.
St.
On
s
John
an island
that
in
called Carolina, after Charles
tlement
there
onists,
finally,
first
in
both the
ment,
Port
at
in
then
Royal,
the
Prance.
The
1670,
by English
col
Old
Charleston,
at
to
and
As "Carolina,"
present Charleston.
held as a proprietary govern
present states were
at the
1680,
under
nominally
arranged
made
settlement was
subsequent
killed
discontented,
returned
shortly after
fort
Hut the set
France.
of
IX.,
a
constructed
then
became
planted
commandant, and
he
harbor
Locke,
by John
model
famous
the
till
1729,
July,
constitution
when
the
king
Carolinas
formed
becoming by purchase sole owner,
In 1685, large numbers
into two separate royal colonies.
of French Huguenots settled in South Carolina, which were
the
followed later by considerable settlements of Swiss, German,
and Irish emigrants. At various periods the colonists were
were engaged
At
Florida.
a
in
of revolutionary
outbreak
the
the
destructive
warfare,
and
natives, and, with
conflict,
and
South Carolina
on her
skirmishes were
names
of
Colonel
and
with
hotly contested
varying success.
Mountain, Camden, Eutaw
s
-other
Springs, Cowpens, and
national interest, evoke memories
battle
hostilities,
was the scene of
many
soil
fought
Fort Moultrie, Charleston, King
ciations.
Georgia,
contest with the Spanish settlements in
throughout
battles
hostile
by the
severely harassed
of -thrilling historic and
rife with
pregnant asso
The last engagement of any importance, the
Eutaw Springs, between General Greene and
Stuart,
in
which
was fought within the
both
sides
boundaries
of
claimed
this
the
State,
victory,
and
vir-
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
88
tually terminated the contest in
south.
the
The
provisional
constitution of South Carolina dates from the 26th of March,
1776.
In March,
lished
by an
act
permanent constitution was estab
of the legislature, without any previous
1778, a
During the greater part of 1780
and 1781, the country was held by the British, and this
continual occupation of their land was the cause of incessant
consultation of the people.
skirmishes and
The
citizens.
irrepressible
gallantly
uprisings on
part of the energetic
the
partisan
warfare
conducted
by Marion, Sumter and Lee was, both
directly
and
so
and
source of great benefit to the common cause,
ever ready helpfulness of the planters and back
indirectly, the
and the
woodsmen
welcome
assisted
greatly
in
precipitating
the
final
and
From South Carolina went forth Edward
Thomas Hey ward, Thomas Lynch, Jr., and Arthur
result.
Rutledge,
Middleton, to append their names, by the authority of their
fellow-citizens, to that declaration which is our guide along
road
the
of
time
to
the
regions
of
happy grandeur and
prosperity.
GEORGIA.
POPULATION.
1776,
nearly 75,000
inhabitants.
total
inhabitants.
1876, nearly 1,200,000
Present area in square miles, 58,000.
Present
wealth, $275,000,000.
The
principal
Average wealth, $250.
schools
collegiate and
professional
Franklin College, Athens;
are
Oglethorpe University, Milledgeville; Emory College, Oxford; Mercer University, Pennfield,
and Wesleyan Female College, Macon.
GEORGIA.
Georgia
s
the place of
cotton, the
longstaple,
its
"sea-island
growth,
Gold and copper
brated.
are
89
as
or,
cotton,"
found
in
The northern
also valuable limestones.
it
is
is
called
from
justly cele
limited quantities,
section
of the
state
a grain country, producing wheat, rye, oats, Indian corn and
The manufacturing establishments are also of im
barley.
is
portance, while the
sum
of
total
its
considerable dimensions.
exports, attains
the country lying within Georgia
and
coast trade, imports
Previous to
1733,
present boundaries was an
uncultured wilderness, and, though comprehended within the
charter of
Carolina, had
By
England.
been claimed both by Spain and
dated
patent,
s
June
granted the territory to a corporation,
for
settling
the
of
colony
1732,
Qth,
entitled,
George
"The
I.I.
trustees
The measures con
Georgia."
cerning this province were actuated equally by charitable and
political
was
considerations;
desired
for
the
country; on the other,
policy, to rescue the
on the one hand, a pleasant retreat
needy and deserving in the mother
it
was advised
frontiers
of
as a
the
measure of
Carolinas from
state
the
Spaniards and Indians from
Florida.
In November, 1732, 120 persons were embarked
at Gravesend, under the control of General James OgleThe
thorpe, and in January, 1733, landed at Charleston.
marauding
incursions
of
the
permanent settlement was commenced at Savannah, in the
ensuing spring, and in 1734 was further strengthened by the
In 1739, war broke
arrival of 600 additional immigrants.
England and Spain, and Oglethorpe invaded
Failing in his attack, however, upon St. Augustine,
as a measure of retaliation, the Spaniards took
Simon, and also meditated the destruction of
out between
Florida.
in
1742,
Fort
St.
x
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
9o
Fort
Later,
Oglethorpe.
was
which
Frederica,
trustees
the
shrewdness
by the
saved
surrendered
their
of
charter
became a royal govern
ment, and in 1755 a general assembly was established in the
At this date, the limits of the colony were the
territory.
Savannah on the north and the Altamaha on the south,
But by a royal procla
extending westward to the Pacific.
mation in 1763, all the lands lying between the Altamaha
and St. Mary s were annexed to Georgia. At the beginning
to
the crown,
and
in
1752, Georgia
of the Revolutionary troubles, though the infant state
begun to enjoy the blessings of peace and of a
just
"had
more
system of government," she did not hesitate to
hands with her oppressed brothers in the north, did
beneficent
strike
and pause timorously to weigh each pro and con,
but worded her sympathy and promises with warmth and
not
falter
In
decision.
congress,
March,
and
in
the
1775,
she
following
appointed
July gave
a
delegate to
her sanction to
February 5th, 1777, her
congress.
unanimous agreement
perfected by the
the measures of
law was
convention.
While
incessantly invaded
the
war
by the
was
waging,
organic
of the
Georgia
British troops, suffered
was
severely
property and the devastation
of her plantations, and her most honored sons and daughters
were compelled to abandon their cherished homes and con
from
the
destruction
of her
ceal themselves in the bordering states,
where
too, often, they
poverty and disease willing martyrs to that
holy cause which was upheld with all the fervor of their
southern hearts.
In 1778, Savannah was captured, and in
fell
victims
to
Augusta and Sunbury were occupied by
In 1779, a valiant but futile attempt was made
the following year,
the
enemy.
GEORGIA.
by the French and Americans to recapture Savannah. When
news of the skirmishes at
Lexington had fired Savannah,
her frontier was threatened
by the hostile Creeks, ChickCherokees and
asaws,
Choctaws, while her numerous
African
servile
slaves
justly
insurrection;
involved
rebels"
inspired
yet,
themselves
of
with
anxious apprehensions
little
with
irrevocably
Massachusetts,
and,
delay,
the
breaking
the
of
Georgians
and
"outlaws
open
a
the
king
s
magazine, they took from it nearly 600 Ibs. of powder, and
forwarded to the north sixty-three barrels of rice, and ^122
in specie.
Button
Walton
the
are
their lives
Gwinnett,
names
of
the
and
Lyman
Hall
three
patriots
and fortunes upon the
issue
of
who
George
staked
a sublime, but
conflict
since
the
apparently unequal
apparently,
only,
genius of right was with one, against the other in which
the
first
were
to
European power and
be
baffled
by an
liberal spirit of the age.
the instincts of
infant
mediaevalism
commonwealth and
the
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
92
BIOGRAPHIES OF THE
SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
JOHN HANCOCK,
was born
of
President
the
Con
Continental
Quincy, Massachusetts, January I2th,
In 1754 he was
1737, and died there October 8th, 1793.
gress,
in
and subsequently was em
graduated at Harvard College,
of an uncle, who, dying in
ployed in the counting house
fortune which enabled him to
1764, left to him the large
as an enterprising merchant.
figure so prominently
In
1766,
as associate with Otis, Gushing and Samuel Adams, he was
chosen to the Massachusetts House of Representatives from
Boston.
occasioned
member
was the seizure of
"It
the
riot
in
its
president.
the Continental Congress,
of
and
In
independence.
in
the Liberty,
that
became a
congress at Concord, and in 1774
In 1775 he became president of
and
1777
1780 was chosen
sloop
first
he
Afterward
1768."
of the provincial
was chosen
his
1776 signed the declaration
he returned to Massachusetts,
in
governor, to which
office,
an interval of two years, he was annually re-elected
till
with
his
death.
NEW
HAMPSHIRE.
JOSIAH BARTLETT, M.
shire,
1729,
was born
and died
of medicine in
appointments
in
May
D.,
Amesbury, Massachusetts,
igth, 1795.
John
in
November,
He commenced
1750, at Kingston.
from
New Hamp
governor of
After
Wentworth, the
the practice
receiving various
royal
governor,
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
he was deprived of them
In
ous Whig principles.
command
on account of
1775,
1774 he
was appointed
and the
first,
memorable document.
In
Bennington.
common
1779
pleas; in
the
after
to
president,
the
to
regiment of militia. As a delegate
Congress, he was the first whb voted
declaration,
zeal
his
of a
Continental
the
in
93
to the
the
for
sign
that
he accompanied Stark to
he was appointed Chief Justice of
In
1777,
1784, justice
of the
Supreme
Court,
In the convention called to
Chief Justice.
adopt the Federal Constitution, in 1788, he was a prominent
mover, and in 1790, was president of New Hampshire. In
and
in
1788,
1793 he
became
governor under the new state
was, moreover, president of the Medical
the
He
constitution.
Society, established,
by
first
his exertions, in
WILLIAM WHIPPLE
was
born
1791.
in
twenty-first year,
November
he had made
as
relinquishing a sea-faring
in
and
1730,
captain;
died
but,
8th,
Kittery,
Prior
1785.
several voyages
life
Maine,
to
his
to
England
in
1759, he
mercantile pursuits at Portsmouth, New Hamp
In January, 1775, he became the district representative
shire.
and subse
in the provincial congress convened at Exeter,
He was
to the Continental Congress.
quently, was elected
the first
in 1777, commanded
appointed brigadier general
and participated in the
brigade of New Hampshire troops,
In 1778 he arrested
actions of Stillwater and Saratoga.
He was finan
General Sullivan in the siege of Newport.
engaged
cial
in
receiver for the state of
1784,
and
in
the
Supreme Court
Y
New Hampshire
from 1782
till
former year was appointed judge of the
of the state.
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
94
MATTHEW THORNTON
the year 1714,
24th,
and died
In
1803.
was born
in
Ireland
about
in
Newburyport, Massachusetts, June
Worcester, Massachusetts, he received an
education, and subsequently studied the science
medicine under Dr. Grout, of Leicester, Massachusetts.
academical
of
In
the
expedition
against
Breton, in
Cape
1745,
he was
enrolled as surgeon, and ably performed his onerous duties.
At the commencement of the conflict he resided in London
derry, holding the rank of a colonel in the militia, and,
under
Benning Wentworth, was commissioned
of the peace.
In 1775 he was appointed the first
the administration of
a justice
January 5th, 1776,
president of the provincial convention.
he was elected speaker of the general assembly.
September
1 2th,
1776, he was appointed, by the house of representatives,
a delegate to represent, for one year, the state of New Hamp
shire in Congress.
January loth, 1776, he was appointed a
judge of the superior court of
New
Hampshire, having previ
of
received
the
Chief
Justice of the court
ously
appointment
of common pleas.
December 24th, 1776, he was elected
represent in congress, for one year, the state of New
Hampshire. In 1779 he removed to Exeter, and, in 1780,
purchased a farm on the banks of the Merrimack, to which
to
he shortly after retired.
Subsequently, for several years, he
was selectman of the town, also served as a member of the
general court, and was elected to the office of senator to the
State Legislature.
January 25th, 1784, he was appointed a
justice of
the peace
the
new
his
demise.
constitution,
In
and quorum throughout the
which
1785, he
office
was
state
under
he held until the time of
also a
member
under the presidency of John Langdon.
of the council,
LIl
ES OP THE SIGNERS.
95
MASSACHUSETTS.
SAMUEL ADAMS
1722,
where he died
was born
October
education was acquired at
he entered Cambridge in
in
Boston, September 2yth,
His preliminary
the Boston Latin school, whence
In 1765 he was chosen as
1736.
1803.
2cl,
one of the three representatives in the general court of the
town of Boston.
At the time of the so-called "Boston
was a prominent agent, and
a.
bold mover in important matters.
At the June (1774)
meeting of the general court, a Continental Congress was
proposed to assemble at Philadelphia, and he was one of
massacre,"
in
March, 1770, he
the five delegates appointed
congress, and in
by the representatives. In this
those which followed, he was, during eight
years, noted for his energy, decision
and
ability.
He
partici
pated prominently in the formation of the state constitution
of Massachusetts, adopted in 1780, and was a leading
spirit
Massachusetts convention called
of the
the author of
tracts
many important
in
1788.
He was
and
numerous
His oration on American
state
and
papers,
pamphlets.
delivered
in Philadelphia, August ist,
Independence,
is a
favorable specimen of his style, and admirably
political
trative
of the general character of
JOHN ADAMS
was
born
its
illus
composer.
October
part of Braintree, Massachusetts, which
1776,
is
igth,
1735,
in
on the south shore
of Boston Harbor, ten miles distant from Boston, where
died July 4th,
he
He
acquired a classical education at
whence he graduated in 1755. He was
1826.
Harvard College,
that
afterward entrusted with the charge of the grammar school
After completing a two years
in Worcester, Massachusetts.
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
96
course of legal studies in Worcester, he removed, in 1758,
to Suffolk county, and gradually introduced himself into
In 1764 he married Abigail Smith, and shortly
practice.
presented the Braintree town meeting with the notable
He was subse
resolutions concerning the Stamp Act.
after,
quently appointed one of the counsel to support a memorial
addressed to the governor and the council.
Removing to
Boston
in
1768, in
the General Court.
of
the
five
and upon
1770 he was chosen a representative to
In the congress of 1774, he was one
from
delegates
his return,
Massachusetts to
was elected a member,
the provincial congress then in session.
Philadelphia,
for Braintree, of
He was
a
member
of
the Continental Congress of 1775, and after his return home,
sat as a member of the Massachusetts council.
Later, he was
instrumental in drawing
up the basis of our existing naval
and urged the necessity of advising all the provinces
institute governments of their own.
He was subsequently
code,
to
appointed
office
in
chief justice
The
1777.
Massachusetts, but resigned that
Declaration of Independence, though
of
was strenuously upheld by him in
a three days debate, and, June I2th, congress established
the board of war and ordnance, of which he was made
He was also chairman of the com
chairman or president.
drawn up by
Jefferson,
mittee
which
upon
devolved
admiralty cases from the
appointed a commissioner
the
state
to
decision
courts.
France, to
In
of
appeals in
1777 he was
supersede
Deane,
and, embarking at Boston, in the frigate Boston, February
1
After his return,
2th,
1778, arrived in Paris April 8th.
he was appointed by congress, minister to treat with Great
Britain for peace
and commerce, when he
sailed
again
for
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
France
in
In
1779.
97
1780 he proceeded to Holland,
by congress to negotiate a Dutch
July
where he was appointed
loan.
Later, he was appointed
minister
to
Holland,
com
missioned to sign the articles of the armed neutrality. But
In 1782 he succeeded
in July, 1781, he was recalled to Paris.
negotiating a Dutch loan of $2,000,000, and also a treaty
In May,
of commerce and amity.
1785, he arrived, as
in
the court of
minister, at
received a solicited
nental Congress.
presidency,
new
office,
Upon
James.
In
on
his
and,
election
of
home, was
arrival
Massachusetts
from
the
February, 1788, he
the
to
Washington
Conti
to
the
he became vice-president, and, by virtue of his
In 1792 he was represident of the senate.
After
elected.
recall,
a delegate
reappointed
St.
Washington
s
was
he
retirement,
elected
In 1820, he
president chosen by a very slender majority.
was chosen a delegate by his townsmen in the convention
His chief
called to revise the constitution of Massachusetts.
publications
Feudal
the
Law,"
Dispute
Applicable to
"Twenty-six
of the
an
follows:
as
are
"Essays
by
Novanglus,"
on
Canon and
the
or,
"A
History of
Thoughts on Government
the Present State of the American Colonies;"
with
America;"
Letters
American
upon
Interesting
Constitution;"
Subjects;"
"Discourses
on
"Defence
Davila,"
and
"Autobiography."
ROBERT TREAT PAINE
nth, 1731, and
died
there
was born
May
in
nth, 1814.
Boston, March
After gradu
theology, and acted,
the troops on the northern frontier.
1755, as chaplain of
he studied law and established himself in
ating
in
"Essay
at
Harvard College, he
Subsequently
studied
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
98
of
1768 he was a delegate from the town
Taunton to the convention called in Boston after the dis
In 1770
solution of the general court by Governor Bernard.
he conducted the prosecution against Captain Preston and
Boston.
his
In
men.
In
Taunton
to
1773-74 he was chosen a representative from
the General Assembly of Massachusetts, and in
was appointed a delegate to the Continental
Re-elected in 1775, he was one of the committee
the latter year
Congress.
of three deputed to visit Schuyler s army.
to the congresses of 1776, 1777, 1778,
He was
a delegate
1777 was
of Massachusetts and Attorney General
and
in
Speaker of the House
In 1779 he was a member of the executive
of the state.
council, and a delegate to the convention, also one of the
committee
wealth.
office
In
until
which
formed the constitution of the
common
1780 he was chosen attorney general, filling that
1790, when he became a judge of the Supreme
On
account of failing health he resigned that office
He
in 1804; during this year he was also a state councillor.
was one of the founders of the American Academy, situated
Court.
in Massachusetts, in
1780.
ELBRIDGE GERRY
was born in Marblehead, Massa
chusetts, July 1 7th, 1744, and died in Washington, November
After graduating at Harvard College in 1762,
1
3th, 1814.
he was
engaged in commercial pursuits, for several years,
and, in 1772, was elected representative from Marblehead to
the general legislature of the state.
He was placed on the
two important committees of safety and supplies which sat
at Cambridge, on the day preceding the battle of
Lexington.
In January, 1776, he was elected a delegate to the Continental
OF THE SIGNERS.
LIJSES
99
Congress, where he was generally chairman of the committee
of the treasury till the
organization of the treasury board in
1780.
Returning from congress in 1780, he resumed his seat
While delegate
in
1783.
of
1787, he refused
to
sign
the
to
the
Philadelphia
constitution
convention
proposed, but
From 1795 till 1797,
subsequently lent to it his support.
he resided in Cambridge, when, with
Pinckney and Marshall,
he was sent to France on a special commission to avert the
In
impending rupture between that country and America.
1798, also in 1801, he was unsuccessfully supported by the
Democratic party of Massachusetts for the office of governor;
1710 he secured that position, and in 1811 was re-elected.
In 1812 he was elected Vice-President of the United States.
in
RHODE
STEPHEN HOPKINS
Island,
March
1785.
In
was
born
and died
in
Scituate,
Rhode
in
Providence, July I3th,
he was elected a member of the general
7th,
1733
ISLAND.
1707,
assembly, and in 1739 chief justice of the court of common
He was elected governor of the state in 1755, and,
pleas.
with
exception of four years, held that position until
In 1754 he acted with the commissioners assembled
the
1768.
New
York, to further the union of the colonies,
and in 1765 was chosen chairman of a committee appointed
in Providence to draft instructions to the general assembly
at
Albany,
on the
Stamp Act
In
August,
1774,
he represented his
congress held at Philadelphia, and was
For many years he was
1775 and 1776.
state in the general
also
chosen
chancellor
in
of
Brown
University.
In
1765
he
published
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
ioo
Rights of the Colonies
"The
"History
1820.
Growth of
of the Planting and
WILLIAM ELLERY
Island,
Examined,"
was
born
and also began a
Providence."
in
Newport,
Rhode
and died there February I5th,
Graduating from Harvard College in 1747, he subse
December
22d, 1727,
quently engaged in mercantile pursuits in his native place.
In 1770 he began the practice of the law in Newport, and
in May, 1776, took his seat in the congress of that year as
one of the delegates for Rhode Island. With the exception
of the years 1780 and 1782, he remained in congress till
In April, 1786, he was elected, by congress, commis
sioner of the continental loan office for the state of Rhode
1786.
and
in
office
he
Island,
which
1790 was
filled
until
collector
appointed
of
Newport,
his decease.
CONNECTICUT.
ROGER SHERMAN
setts,
April
i
Qth,
In
and
necticut,
the county.
eral
times
and died
In early
July 23d, 1793.
shoemaking.
1721,
in
In
was born
life
in
in
New
Newton, Massachu
Haven, Connecticut,
he followed the occupation of
1743 he removed to
New
Milford,
Con
1745 was appointed surveyor of lands for
1754 he Was admitted to the bar, was sev
elected a
member
of the
colonial assembly,
and
1759 was appointed judge of the court of common pleas.
In 1765 he was judge of the common pleas in New Haven,
in
and
in
1766, an assistant of the
upper house
in the
legisla
1744 he was appointed a member of the first
congress, and held that position until his demise, at which
time he was in the senate, whereto he was elected in 1791.
ture.
In
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
From
1784 until
his
decease, he
was
also
101
of
Mayor
New
Haven, and, for several years, was treasurer of Yale College.
He was a prominent member of the constitutional convention
of 1787, and assisted importantly in codifying the laws of
Connecticut, and in securing the ratification of the constitu
tion by the state convention of Connecticut.
SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
necticut,
July 3d,
Prior to
1796.
he held the
1732,
and died
1775, after
offices
in
the
January,
1776.
in
in
Windham, Con
Norwich, January 5th,
completing his legal education,
of king s attorney, and associate
He
He
Connecticut.
superior court of
Continental Congress as a
of
was born
delegate
from
succeeded John
his
Jay as
justice
entered
native
the
stajtji,
president
.-of
until July /
congress in September, 1779, and filled that office
bench.
1780, when he resumed his seat on the Connecticut
From May
to June,
1783,
he served again
in
congress.
chief justice of
In
the
following year he was appointed
Of this state he was elected
superior court of Connecticut.
the
lieutenant governor in 1785, and in 1786 succeeded Roger
Griswold as governor, a position to which he was annually
elected until his demise.
WILLIAM WILLIAMS
Lebanon, Windham county, Connecticut, April 8th, 1731, and died there
In 1751 he graduated from Harvard Col
2d, 1811.
August
lege, and
in
was born
of Colonel
1755, attached to the staff
made one campaign.
prominent member of the council
Williams,
1775,
became
AA
in
a representative
in
Subsequently,
of safety,
the
and
Continental
Ephraim
was a
he
in
October,
Congress.
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
102
He
state legislature, held
nearly fifty years in the
offices of trust and honor, and was a member of the
served
many
convention of his state which adopted the federal constitution.
OLIVER WALCOTT
26th,
at
1726,
was born
and died December
Yale College,
the governor of
in Connecticut,
1797.
ist,
he received a captain s
New
November
After graduating
commission
York, and was engaged in the defence
until
of the northern frontier
peace of Aix-la-Chapelle.
the
Litchfield county,
1751 he was appointed sheriff of
necticut, and in 1774, a member of the state council.
In
also a major general of militia, a
of the court of
:Cpurt, and chief judge
was
iWiv.h 6 was
one
from
f
^e
Con
He
judge of the probate
common
pleas.
commissioners of Indian
In
affairs
In 1776 he commanded the
fof th e northern department.
fourteen Connecticut regiments organized to assist the army
in New York, and in this year took his seat in congress.
Though
to serve
a participant in the battle of Saratoga, he continued
irregularly in congress until
From
1783.
1786 to
1796 he was lieutenant governor of Connecticut, when
he was elected governor, which position he filled until his
decease.
NEW
WILLIAM FLOYD
York, December
county,
August
I7th,
4th,
YORK.
was born
1734,
1821.
Suffolk
in
and died
On
the
in
In
New
Western, Oneida
Rev
the command of
Continental Con
outbreak of the
olutionary troubles, he was appointed to
Suffolk county, and a delegate to the first
gress in Philadelphia.
county,
1775 he was again appointed a
LIYES
OF THE SIGNERS.
103
delegate to the general colonial congress, and continued
a member for eight years.
In 1777 he became senator for
the state of New York,
retaining also his seat in congress.
He was
tution,
this
to
member
a
of the
first
and was one of the
the
of
constitution
upon two
quently,
presidential electors in 1801.
he was chosen a
year, also,
revise
congress under the consti
member
his
was
occasions,
PHILIP LIVINGSTON
was
the convention
of
native
and,
state,
in
subse
elector.
presidential
born
In
Albany,
New
York, January i5th, 1716, and died in York, Pennsylvania,
June 1 2th, 1778. After graduating at Yale College in 1737,
he was engaged in commerce in the city of New York. In
1758 he was returned to the colonial house of assembly from
and continued a member of
that city,
He was
a
member
gresses, served
of the
later
first
the
in
FRANCIS LEWIS
shire,
in
Wales,
December
3Oth,
and second Continental Con
New York
to
the Continental
York.
was born
March,
1803.
1769.
New York
the state assembly, and
death, he was a delegate from
sitting in
until
body
provincial congress,
At the time of his
in the senate.
in
Congress then
that
1713,
He was
in
and
Llandaff,
Glamorgan
died
New
in
York,
educated at Westminster
age of twenty-two, emigrated to New
York.
He was afterward engaged in commercial pursuits
He was then
until the outbreak of the conflict in 1775.
school,
and,
at
the
elected to the Continental Congress, and in May, 1775, took
his seat in that body, as one of the delegates from New
York.
Until
April,
1779, with the exception of
one short
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
104
member
of congress, taking a
important measures.
he continued to be a
interval,
in all
prominent part
.*
LEWIS MORRIS
was born at Morrisania, Westchester
county, New York, in 1726, and died January 22d, 1798.
After graduating at Yale College, in 1746, he interested him
He
extensively in farming and agricultural pursuits.
was elected to the congress of 1775, and was a member of
the committee to devise means for supplying the colonies
self
He was
with munitions of war.
Indians from
detach the
his
seat
in
legislature,
the
He
congress.
and spent the
RICHARD STOCKTON
Jersey,
October
1730,
ist,
and
British,
afterward
latter
NEW
subsequently sent west to
in
1776 resumed
served
days of his
in
life in
the
state
Morrisania.
JERSEY.
was born near Princeton,
and died there, February
New
28th,
After graduating at the College of New Jersey, at
Newark, in 1748, he studied law, and was admitted to the
1781.
bar in
In
1754.
1768 he was
utive council of
New
of the
Court.
Supreme
served on
Jersey,
made
and
He was
a
member
of the exec
1774, appointed a
judge
elected to congress in
1776,
in
committee appointed to inspect the northern
army, and eventually was captured by the British, and con
fined in the prison at New York.
Ultimately the severe
the
treatment which he experienced there affected his health, and
was the immediate cause of his death.
JOHN WITHERSPOON,
the
parish
of
Tester,
D. D., LL.
D, was
Haddingtonshire, Scotland,
born
in
February
OF THE SIGNERS.
5th,
1
105
and died near Princeton, New Jersey, September
He was educated at the University of Edin
1794.
1722,
5th,
of Beith,
burgh, and in 1745 ordained minister of the parish
in the west of Scotland.
Shortly after the death of Presi
was appointed as his successor, and
was inaugurated in August, 1768.
During the period of
his presidency, he was also pastor of the church in Princeton.
In 1776 he was a member of the provincial congress of
1766, he
dent Finley,
in
New
and of the Continental Congress
Jersey,
at Philadelphia.
six years he represented
Jersey in congress. The
to literature:
following list comprises his chief contributions
New
For
"Ecclesiastical
Characteristics,"
"Essay
on
Justification,"
and
Effects of the Stage.
Inquiry into the Nature and
"Serious
FRANCIS HOPKINSON
He
1737, died May gth, 1791.
was born
Philadelphia in
was graduated at the College
in
of Philadelphia, and in 1761 was secretary in a conference
held on the Lehigh between the Pennsylvania government
In 1776 he was sent from New
and various Indian tribes.
In 1779
her representatives in congress.
Jersey as one of
an
he was made judge of the admiralty of Pennsylvania,
He was subsequently
by him for ten years.
commissioned as United States district judge for Pennsyl
office
vania.
filled
He
Prophecy,"
the
is
"The
author
of
Battle of the
Pretty
"The
Kegs,"
Story,"
The
etc.
died there, at an advanced age, in 1780.
New Jersey, and
He was frequently
in
elected to the colonial assembly, and
1774 was elected to
JOHN HART
assist
at
the
was born
general
in
congress
Hopewell,
in
Philadelphia,
where
his
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
106
ible will,
won him
was born
February 15*, 1726, and died
He
of 1794.
in the fall
inflex
upon many occasions.
favorable notice
ABRAHAM CLARK
Jersey,
judgment and
reliable
characteristics,
distinguishing
at
New
Elizabethtown,
at
Rahway,
New
Jersey,
held several important local offices
under the colonial government, and, June 2ist, 1776, was
five dele
appointed by the provincial congress one of the
He
gates from New Jersey to the Continental Congress.
afterward served, with the exception of the session of 1779,
until
November,
He was
1783.
the convention which
met
one of the commissioners
September nth,
1786.
May 8th, 1787, he was appointed by the council and
assembly of New Jersey one of the commissioners to repre
in
sent
that
in
state
In
constitution.
at Annapolis,
convention which framed the federal
the
he was elected
1790
a
member
of
the
second congress.
PENNSYLVANIA.
ROBERT MORRIS
was born
January 2oth, 1734, and died
In
1754, after settling
in
in
Lancashire,
in Philadelphia,
May
England,
8th,
1806.
Philadelphia, he entered into busi
ness as partner with the son of Charles Willing.
Zealously
opposing the Stamp Act, he signed the non-importation
of
agreement
congress
of
declaration
1765.
1775,
of
He was
and,
July
independence.
a delegate to the
1776, voted against the
the 2Oth of the same
elected
ist,
On
month, he was re-elected to congress, and again, in 1777.
In 1780 he was instrumental in establishing a bank, by
means of which
3,000,000
rations
of
provisions
and
300
THE
LIYES OF
SIGNERS.
rum were forwarded
of
107
to the army.
February
2oth, 1781, he was elected superintendant of finance, and
In
subsequently established the bank of North America.
hogsheads
that
important
office
also
regulated
the
1784,
and
in
He
he served until November, 1784.
of
affairs
the navy
member
1787 was elected a
the
until
of
of the convention
October
which framed the federal constitution.
close
ist,
1788,
he was elected a member of the first United States Senate.
In the opening of 1784 he sent to Canton the first American
vessel that ever appeared in that port.
RUSH
BENJAMIN
near
ton
December
Philadelphia,
Philadelphia, April
College in
Edinburgh,
was
iQth,
1760, he
London
1813.
born
24th,
After graduating at Prince
studied
and
on Poquestion Creek,
and died in
1745,
medicine
and
Paris,
in
in
Philadelphia,
August,
1769,
In
in Philadelphia.
began the practice of his profession
and in April, 1777, was
1776 he was elected to congress,
made surgeon-general
of the
army
for
the middle
ment, and in the following July, physician general.
he planned the
Philadelphia
depart
In 1785
1789 was
Philadelphia Medical
Dispensary, and
in
medicine in the
professor of
In 1779 he was appointed treasurer of the United
College.
He also
States Mint, and filled that office until his demise.
and pub
filled various other positions of trust and honor,
made
several
lished
valuable works
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
1
7th,
April
S.
1706
(O.
1
1790.
7th,
on
physiology and medicine.
was born in Boston, January
January 6th), and died in Philadelphia,
In 1750 he was elected to the assembly,
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
io8
was appointed commissioner for making an Indian treaty,
and in 1753 became deputy postmaster general for America.
In 1754 he was named a deputy to the general congress at
After accomplishing much for the colonies while
resident in England and on the continent, he embarked for
Albany.
and arrived on the following 5th of
May. In 1776 he was sent to Paris as commissioner pleni
the treaty of February 6th, 1778.
potentiary, and concluded
He signed the peace with the mother country, November
home
in
3Oth,
1782,
March,
1
and
later
subsequently concluded
and
Sweden and
ber
1775,
Prussia.
was a delegate
federal constitution.
He
treaties
his return to Philadelphia,
was elected
1785, he
4th,
On
the
to the
is
which have been collected
convention
Septem
Pennsylvania,"
for
forming the
numerous works,
twelve volumes and edited by
the author
in
of
"president
with
of
Jared Sparks.
JOHN MORTON
was
born
in
Ridley,
Chester
and died
in
(now
in
Delaware) county, Pennsylvania,
1724,
April,
In 1764 he became a member of the general assem
1777.
bly of Pennsylvania, and was a
Congress, which
Sheriff
of
his
met
in
member
New York
county about
1767,
in
and
of the
1765.
later
Stamp Act
He became
was appointed
one of the judges of the Supreme Court of his state. In
1774 he was a delegate to the first congress, and was succes
sively re-elected four times.
GEORGE CLYMER
was born in Philadelphia in 1739,
and died in Morrisville, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, July
He was a prominent speaker at the "tea-meeting"
23d, 1813.
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
109
held in Philadelphia, October i6th, 1773, and was
appointed
chairman of the committee which requested the tea agents
to resign.
July 2Qth, 1775, he was appointed to the care of
the public treasury, and July 2oth, 1776, became a delegate
to congress.
In December, 1777, he was sent as commis
sioner to treat with the hostile Indians at Fort Pitt.
In 1780
he was re-elected to congress, and in 1782 was
with Rutledge in his mission to the southern
associated
In
states.
member of the Pennsylvania Legis
member of the convention that framed the
1784 he was elected a
lature,
and was a
federal
constitution.
member
of the
first
congress under
1790 declined a re-election.
collector of
JAMES SMITH
this
He was
the excise duty on
was born
was elected a
1788, he
In November,
instrument, and
in
subsequently appointed
spirits.
in
Ireland,
about
1719,
and
He came to
York, Pennsylvania, July nth, 1806.
America in 1729, and studied law in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
In 1774 he was chosen a deputy to attend the "Committee
died in
for the
province of
Pennsylvania,"
convened
at
Philadelphia
In 1776 he was chosen a member
July 1 5th of that year.
of the Continental Congress, and continued to act in that
capacity
till
1778.
In 1780 he was elected a
member
of the
general assembly of Pennsylvania.
GEORGE TAYLOR
was born
in
Ireland in
1716,
and
In 1764
died in Easton, Pennsylvania, February 23d, 1781.
he was elected to the provincial assembly, and continued a
member
of
that
re-elected to the
became
cc
body
till
1770.
In October,
and
1775,
July
provincial assembly,
a member of the Continental Congress.
he was
2oth,
1776,
In March,
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
no
1777, he retired from congress,
and thenceforward lived
in
retirement.
JAMES WILSON
in
and died
1742,
was born near
St.
Andrew
s,
Scotland,
Edenton, North Carolina, August 28th,
in
1766 he emigrated to Philadelphia, and studied
law under John Dickinson. In 1774 he sat in the provincial
convention of Pennsylvania, and in May, 1775, became a
In
1798.
of the Continental Congress, to which body he was
In 1779 he was appointed advocaterepeatedly returned.
member
general of France in the United States, and held that office
till
He was a member of the convention that framed
1782.
and under
the federal constitution,
it
was appointed one of
judges of the Supreme Court of the United States.
In 1790 he became the first professor of law in the College
the
first
of Philadelphia.
GEORGE ROSS
1730,
and died
He began
from
in
1768 to
body
In
1774
Congress,
January,
in
Newcastle,
Delaware, in
Pennsylvania, in July, 1779.
of law in Lancaster, in 1751, and
1776 was a
Continental
till
born
Lancaster,
the practice
of Pennsylvania.
the
was
1777.
member
of the colonial assembly
he represented Pennsylvania in
and was connected with that
He was
subsequently elected to
general convention of Pennsylvania, and in April, 1779,
was appointed judge of the court of admiralty.
the
DELAWARE.
C^SAR RODNEY
1730,
and died
in
1783.
was born
Dover, Delaware, about
At least as early as 1762 he was a
in
OF THE SIGNERS.
member, from
New
in
called a
elected
his native
Castle.
In
county, of the assembly, which met
1774,
meeting of the
the
to
and
in
was then made a delegate
GEORGE READ
1734,
and died
his
authority as
and by
Congress
to
speaker,
that
be
held
he-
body was
in
Phila
subsequently re-elected, and also made
In 1777 he was chosen president of the
brigadier-general.
state of Delaware,
in
by
legislature,
Continental
He was
delphia.
in
in
1782 declined a re-election.
to congress.
was born
1798.
He
in
Cecil
county, Maryland,
After his admission to the bar,
he began the practice of his profession at New Castle, Dela
ware.
In 1763 he was appointed
attorney general for the
three lower counties on the Delaware, and in 1774 was
elected to congress.
vention which
In 1776 he
formed
the
first
was president of the con
constitution
of
Delaware,
In 1782 he was
under which he was chosen vice-president.
made judge of the United States court of appeals in admi
After representing Delaware in the convention
ralty cases.
that
first
formed the constitution of the United States, he was the
senator chosen under it for that state.
In 1793 he was
made Chief
Justice of Delaware.
THOMAS M KEAN
was born
in
Chester county, Penn
March igth, 1734, and died June 24th, 1817.
In
1765 he was elected a member of the Pennsylvania assem
bly, and annually returned thereto for the next seventeen
sylvania,
1765 he attended the general congress of the
colonies which assembled at New York, and in that year
was appointed judge of the court of common pleas for
years.
In
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
ii2
New
In September, 1774, he was a delegate
Castle county.
from the lower counties in Delaware to the first Continental
In 1781 he was
was chief justice of Penn
Congress, and served until February, 1783.
elected president of congress.
He
sylvania from 1777 until 1799, when he became governor of
the state.
His administration lasted until 1808.
MARYLAND.
SAMUEL CHASE
at
Somerset county, Mary
in
and died June
Annapolis, and was admitted
land, April
law
was born
I7th, 1741,
igth, 1811.
to the bar
The Maryland convention
twentieth year.
He
studied
when
in his
sent him to the
Continental Congress of 1774, and he continued a member
of successive congresses until the close of 1778.
In 1783 he
went to England, as commissioner of Maryland.
In 1788
he was
appointed
timore,
and
1791
of a criminal court
chief justice
of
the
general
in
Bal
court of
1796 he was appointed an associate justice
In
Maryland.
of the
in
chief justice
Supreme
Court.
WILLIAM PACA
was born in Harford county, Mary
He was admitted
land, October 3ist, 1740, and died in 1799.
to the bar in 1764, and in 1771 was chosen a member of the
provincial
of his
legislature.
native
state,
On
the adoption of
he was made senator
for
the constitution
two years.
1778 he became chief judge of the superior court of
land,
and
in
1780,
chief
judge
of
the court of
In
Mary
appeals
in
and admiralty cases.
He was elected governor of
Maryland in 1782, served in congress in 1786, and in this
prize
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
"3
He was a member of the
year was re-elected governor.
in
state convention that ratified the federal constitution, and
1789 became judge of the
for
district court of the
United States
Maryland.
THOMAS STONE
was born
Pointon Manor, Charles
died in Alexandria, Vir
at
Maryland, in 1743, and
In 1769 he commenced the practice
ginia, October 5th, 1787.
In 1774 he was added
of law at Frederictown, Maryland.
in congress, and re-chosen in
to the
county,
Maryland delegation
He was re-elected to congress
1775.
as a
acting in the interim
member
CHARLES CARROLL,
of
in
1777 and in 1783,
of the Maryland legislature.
Carrollton,
was born
and died
Annapolis, Maryland, September 2oth, 1737,
In 1775 he was chosen a
vember 1 4th, 1832.
the
committee of observation that was
first
at
No
member
of
established
at
elected a delegate in the national conven
Annapolis, and was
In February, 1776, he was appointed a commissioner
tion.
with Dr. Franklin and
to proceed to Canada, in company
he was appointed a delegate
Judge Chase. July 4th, 1776,
in the board of war.
to congress, and subsequently was placed
of Maryland,
In 1776 he assisted in drafting the constitution
was chosen to the senate under the
He was re-appointed a delegate
that state.
and 1786 was re-elected to
1777; in 1781
and
later,
constitution of
to congress in
the
Maryland
of the United States; in 1797
1788 was a senator
and in 1799
was again elected to the senate of Maryland,
the
to settle
was appointed one of the commissioners
and Maryland.
boundary line between Virginia
senate;
DD
in
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
ii4
VIRGINIA.
GEORGE WYTHE
Virginia, in
1726,
and
was born
died
in
Elizabeth City county,
Richmond, June
in
8th,
1806.
After his election to the Virginia house of burgesses, he was
appointed
in
1764,
on the committee organized
remon
to
He was also a
against the proposed Stamp Act.
member of the house of burgesses of 1768 and 1769, and in
strate
In
August 1775 was elected to the Continental Congress.
1777 he was chosen a judge of the high court of chancery,
He was professor of law in
and later, sole chancellor.
He
William and Mary College.
effects
died
suddenly from
the
of poison accidentally taken with his food.
RICHARD HENRY LEE
was born
at Stratford,
West
moreland county, Virginia, January 2Oth, 1732, and died
Chantilly,
June
Virginia,
classical education in
in
his
igth,
1794.
After
England, he returned
twenty-fifth year
was appointed
at
acquiring
a
and
to Virginia,
of the peace.
of the house of burgesses
justice
Subsequently he became a member
from Westmoreland, and eventually one of the delegates
from Virginia to the first congress, which met at Philadel
September 5th,
from Westmoreland
phia,
In 1775 he was elected a delegate
From the
to the Richmond convention.
1774.
entrance into congress until the middle of the
year 1777, he served upon about one hundred committees,
He also
and generally occupied the position of chairman.
date
of his
served actively in congress
from
1778 to 1780, and
became county lieutenant of Westmoreland.
resumed his seat in congress, and was elected
In 1786 and
1787
he sat
in
the
In
its
later
1784
he
president.
assembly, and, under the
OF THE SIGNERS.
LIISES
new
federal constitution, \vas chosen
In
ators for Virginia.
he
1792
THOMAS JEFFERSON
one of the
first
two sen
from public service.
retired
was
115
born at Shadwell, Albe-
marle county, Virginia, April 2(1, 1743, and died at Monticello,
In 1767 he commenced the practice of law.
July 4th, 1826.
house
1769 was chosen to represent his county in the
Of the second Virginia convention, in 1775,
of burgesses.
and
in
he was a delegate from Albemarle county, and in October,
labors during the interim, took his
1776, after his arduous
In 1785 congress appointed
seat in the Virginia house.
minister
accepted
and
plenipotentiary to France,
the post of secretary of state
In the spring of
elaborate report upon the
cabinet.
with Spain, and,
subsequently
him
he-
Washington s
and
1792 he drew up the notable
December
relations
sist,
of
in
the
United States
1793, resigned
his place in
Vice- Presi
February, 1797, he was elected
dent of the United States; and March 4th, took the chair as
March 4th, 1801, he took his seat
president of the senate.
and in
at Washington as President of the United States,
the
cabinet.
March
In
1809, retired
finally
from public
life.
was born in Berkely, Charles
about 1740, and died in April, 1791.
BENJAMIN HARRISON
City county, Virginia,
In
1764 he became a
burgesses,
of the Virginia house of
in the proceedings of the first
member
and
Continental
subsequently
participated
Congress as delegate
re-elected
whose proceedings
he
to
the
presided
from his
house
till
chosen governor of the commonwealth.
of
1782,
In
state.
He was
burgesses,
when
he
over
was
1785, after hav-
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
ii6
ing been twice re-elected governor, he returned to private
life.
He was a member of the state convention organized
in 1788 to ratify the federal constitution, and a member, also
of the state legislature.
THOMAS NELSON,
Virginia,
4th, 1789.
Jr.,
was
December 26th, 1738,
Even before attaining
born
and
York
in
died
his majority,
county,
there
January
he was elected
member of the Virginia house of burgesses.
He was a
member of the first convention which met at Williamsburg
a
in
August, 1774, and
He
tion
in
1775
of the
provincial
convention.
was a conspicuous mover in the Williamsburg conven
of May, 1776, and as a delegate to the Continental
Congress, attracted
much
In May, 1777, he resigned
notice.
the latter body, and was subsequently appointed
commander-in-chief of the state forces. In February, 1779,
his seat in
he again took his seat temporarily in congress, and in June,
As com
1781, was chosen governor of the commonwealth.
mander of
the Virginia militia, he
participated
in
the siege
at
Stratford,
of Yorktown.
FRANCIS LIGHTFOOT LEE
was born
Westmoreland county, Virginia, October i4th, 1734, and died
in Richmond, in 1797.
In 1765 he took his seat in the house
of burgesses, as
capacity
till
member from Loudun
1772.
In August,
county, acting in that
1775, he was chosen a del
egate to the general congress, and re-elected successively in
1776,
1777,
and
1778.
CARTER BRAXTON
and
Queen
was
county, Virginia,
born at
Newington, King
September loth, 1736, and
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
died October
in
loth,
session
the
1765 he participated actively
house of burgesses of Virginia, in
In
1797.
of
117
the
which the resolutions of Patrick Henry were adopted.
was also a member of the
December
till
1786,
popular conventions, and,
to the Continental
was elected delegate
i5th, 1775,
Later, he
Congress.
later
He
served
the
in
when he became one
of Virginia
legislature
of the executive council.
NORTH CAROLINA
WILLIAM HOOPER
June
setts,
1
Carolina, in
7th,
and died
1742,
October,
was born
in
After
1790.
Boston, Massachu
in
graduating at
College in 1760, he studied law with James Otis
and
in
1767
removed
to
North
Hillsborough,
Harvard
in
Boston,
Wilmington, North Carolina.
the Continental Congress, and
In
till
1775 he was delegated to
his demise was a leader in the councils of North Carolina.
JOSEPH
in
and died
1730,
He was
in
gaged
HEWES
in
was born
in
Philadelphia,
educated at Princeton
olina about 1760, he settled in
November
College,
business in Philadelphia.
New
Kingston,
loth,
Jersey,
1779.
and afterward en
Removing
Edenton.
to
In
North Car
1774 he was
sent as a delegate to the General Congress at Philadelphia.
During the sessions of 1775 and 1776, he served on many
important committees; he declined a re-election
but consented to resume his seat in July, 1779.
JOHN PENN
May
1
7th,
EE
1741,
was
born
and died
in
in
Caroline
September,
in
1777,
county, Virginia,
1788.
September
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
n8
he was appointed a delegate to the first congress,
and on the twelfth of the following October, took his seat
He was succes
of North Carolina.
as the
8th, 1775,
representative
sively re-elected in the years 1777, 1778,
and 1779.
SOUTH CAROLINA.
EDWARD RUTLEDGE was born
in Charleston,
Novem
He commenced
ber 23d, 1749, and died January 23d, 1800.
the practice of law in Charleston in 1773, in 1774 sat in
of the
congress, and in June, 1776, was appointed a member
In 1779 he was again appointed to con
was taken
gress, and during the siege of Charleston, 1780,
at St. Augustine.
prisoner, and detained for eleven months
first
board of war.
was a member of the general assembly at Jacksonborough, and in the legislature of 1791, drew up the act for
In 1782 Jie
the
was
In 1798 he
the rights of primogeniture.
elected governor of the state, but died before the expi
abolition of
ration of his term.
THOMAS HEYWARD,
olina in
and died
1746,
in
Jr.,
was born
March,
and
civil
In
Car
Returning from
legal studies, he was, in
congress then
in
1778 he was elected a judge of the criminal
new government, holding
commission in the militia.
Upon the
courts
meanwhile a
South
1809.
lEurope upon the completion of his
1775, selected to supply a vacancy in the
session.
in
Charleston, he
of
the
was taken
prisoner,
and sent
to St.
in
fall
the
of
Augus
tine; but on his return to Carolina, resumed the labors of
the bench, and continued to act as judge until 1798.
THOMAS LYNCH,
Jr.,
was
born
in
Prince
George
s
LIJ/ES
parish,
OF THE SIGNERS.
South Carolina, August
sea in the
5th,
119
and perished
1749,
at
part of 1779.
latter
After completing his legal
studies in the Temple, London, he returned to South Car
olina in 1772, and in
1775 was appointed a captain in the
In 1776 he took his seat
provincial regulars of his state.
as a member of
In the fall of 1779, he sailed
congress.
for St. Eustatius, and, as it seems
probable, was drowned in
a violent storm.
ARTHUR MIDDLETON
on the Ashley
was born
South Carolina,
river,
in
at
Middleton Place,
1743,
and died Jan
uary ist, 1787. Upon securing his degree at the University
of Cambridge, he returned to America, and later became
prominent as a leader of the Revolutionary party in South
He
Carolina.
and
safety,
congress.
the field
in
He
the defence
for
close of the
was an able member of the first council of
1776 was sent as a delegate of the state to
filled that office until 1777, and in
1779 took
war he served
afterward was
essays,
of
under
elected
the
to
Charleston.
Again,
as a delegate
the
signature
state
of
in
senate.
"Andrew
until
the
congress, and
His
political
Marvell,"
are
masterly and pointed.
GEORGIA.
BUTTON GWINNETT
1732,
and died
emigrated from
in
Georgia,
Bristol
to
was
born
May
27th,
England, about
In 1770 he
1777.
in
America, and
in
1775
prominently identified with the colonial interests.
1776 he was elected a representative to
ruary,
was re-elected
for
the following year,
and
in
became
In Feb
congress,
1777 became
OF THE SIGNERS.
LI FES
120
president of
the
him and General Mclntosh,
tally wounded.
LYMAN HALL
and died
in
graduating
In
council.
provincial
in
the
was born
in
same
the
duel between
year, he
Connecticut
was mor
about
1731,
Burke county, Georgia, in February, 1791. After
at Yale College in 1747, he studied medicine,
1752 removed to South Carolina, and, in the same
In 1775 he was chosen a mem
year, to Sunbury, Georgia.
In
ber of congress, and was annually re-elected till 1780.
and
in
he was elected
1783
after
holding
governor, and retired
this office for
GEORGE WALTON
ginia,
2d,
about
In
1804.
Georgia, and
in
1774 he
life
one term.
was born
and died
1740,
from public
in
in
Frederick county, Vir
Augusta, Georgia, February
the practice of law in
commenced
July of that year identified himself with a
public meeting at Savannah, convened to resist the arbitrary
In February, 1776, he
proceedings of the mother country.
was appointed a delegate to congress, and re-elected in the
following
October,
and May, 1780.
also
in
January,
In December,
and
1777,
1778, he
February,
1778,
was commissioned
October, 1779, was appointed
governor of the state. In 1787 he was appointed a delegate
for framing the Federal Constitution, but declined.
He was
afterward re-elected governor, was four times a judge of the
a colonel in the militia,
in
of Georgia, and in 1795
Jackson as senator in congress.
courts
succeeded
General
James
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
PROCEEDINGS IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED COLONIES
RESPECTING
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE BY
THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED."
"A
SATURDAY, June
Resolved, That
the
8th,
1776.
resolutions
respecting independency
be referred to a committee of the whole congress.
The congress then resolved itself into a committee of
and
the whole,
after
some
time,
chair,
and Mr. Harrison reported,
taken
into
consideration
the
resumed the
the president
matter
committee have
the
that
to
them
referred,
but
not having come to any resolution thereon, directed him to
move for leave to sit again on Monday.
That
Resolved,
10 o clock, resolve
congress will, on Monday next, at
itself into a committee of the whole, to
this
take into further consideration the resolution referred to them.
MONDAY, June
to
order, the
congress
Agreeable
committee of the whole, to take into
eration
the
resolutions
to
them
loth,
resolved
further
their
referred;
1776.
into
itself
and,
a
consid
after
some
time spent thereon, the president resumed the chair, and Mr.
Harrison reported that the committee have had under con
sideration
the
matters referred to them, and
a resolution thereon, which they directed
him
have come to
to report.
121
THE DECLARATION OF
122
The
resolution agreed to in committee of the whole being
read
That the consideration of the
Resolved,
first
resolution
be postponed to Monday, the first day of July next, and in
the meanwhile, that no time be lost in case the congress
agree thereto, that a committee be appointed to prepare a
declaration to the effect of the said first resolution, which is
in these
words
be,
these United Colonies are,
and of
ought to
free and independent States; that they are absolved from
allegiance to the British crown, and that all political
"That
all
:
right
connection between them and the state of Great Britain
and ought
to
is,
be, totally dissolved.
TUESDAY, June nth, 1776.
Resolved, That the committee for preparing the declararation consist of five.
The members chosen, Mr. Jefferson,
Mr.
R.
John Adams, Mr. Franklin, Mr. Sherman, and Mr. R.
Livingston.
TUESDAY, June
A
declaration
provincial
of
conference,
25th,
1776.
of
in
met
deputies
Pennsylvania,
was laid before congress and read,
the
expressing their willingness to
declaring the United Colonies
concur
free
in
a vote of congress,
and independent
States.
FRIDAY, June 28th, 1776.
one
of
the delegates from New
Hopkinson,
Jersey, attended and produced the credentials of their ap
"Francis
pointment,"
"If
you
containing the following
shall
judge
it
necessary
instructions
or
:
expedient
for
this
INDEPENDENCE IN CONGRESS.
123
purpose, we empower you to join in declaring the United
Colonies independent of Great Britain, entering into a con
federation for union and common defence," etc.
MONDAY, July
resolution
"A
the 28th of June,
the
taining
congress
convention
of the
was
of
instructions
to
1776.
Maryland,
laid before congress,
following
ist,
and
their
passed
con
read,"
deputies
in
:
"That
the deputies of said colony, or any three or
of them, be
Colonies,
empowered
or a
majority
to
of
concur with
them,
in
the
declaring
more
other United
the
United
Colonies free and independent States, in forming such fur
ther compact and confederation between them," etc.
The order
of the day being read:
Resolved, That
this
committee of the whole
olution
congress will resolve
to
take
itself
into
a
into consideration the res
independency.
That the Declaration be referred to said committee.
respecting
The congress resolved itself into a committee of the
whole. After some time the President resumed the chair,
and Mr. Harrison reported that the committee had come to
a resolution, which they desired him to report, and to move
for
leave to
The
being
sit
again.
resolution agreed to by the committee of the whole
read, the determination thereof was, at the request
of a colony, postponed until to-morrow.
congress will, to-morrow, resolve
into a committee of the whole, to take into consider
Resolved,
itself
That
this
ation the Declaration respecting
independence.
THE DECLARATION OF
124
TUESDAY, July
The congress resumed
tion
the
2d,
of the
consideration
1776.
resolu
from the committee of the whole, which was
reported
follows:
agreed to as
RESOLVED, That
ought
to
absolved
from
all allegiance to the
is,
and ought
to be,
and of
right
that
they
are
British crown,
and
that
Free and Independent States;
be,
all political connection between
Britain
Colonies are,
these United
them and the State of Great
totally
dissolved.
resolved
the
of the
congress
day,
Agreeable to the order
some time,
itself into a committee of the whole; and, after
the President resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported,
that
have had under consideration the Dec
them referred; but not having had time to go
the committee
laration
to
through the same, desired him to
for leave to sit again.
congress will, to-morrow, again re
into a committee of the whole, to take into their
Resolved, That
solve itself
move
this
further consideration the Declaration respecting independence.
WEDNESDAY,
July 3d, 1776.
Agreeable to the order of the day, the congress resolved
itself into a committee of the whole, to take into their further
consideration the Declaration
;
and
after
some
time, the Pres
ident resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported that the
committee, not yet having gone through
sit
it,
desired leave to
again.
solve itself
That
congress will, to-morrow, again re
into a committee of the whole, to take into their
Resolved,
this
further consideration the
Declaration of Independence.
INDEPENDENCE IN CONGRESS.
THURSDAY, July
125
4th,
1776.
Agreeable to the order of the day, the congress resolved
itself into a committee of the whole, to take into their fur
ther consideration the Declaration;
resumed
President
that the
The
and
chair,
committee had agreed
him
desired
the
to
and
some
after
Harrison
Mr.
to a declaration,
reported,
which they
report.
Declaration being
read,
was agreed
to as follows:
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, JULY
When,
time, the
in the
course of
human
events,
it
4,
1776.
becomes neces-
ary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have
connected them with another, and to assume, among the
and equal station, to which
the laws of nature, and of Nature s God entitle them, a
decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that
powers of the
they should
earth, the separate
declare
causes
the
impel them
which
to
the
separation.
We
hold these truths to be self-evident
are created
equal; that
with certain inalienable
liberty,
rights,
all
men
they are endowed by their Creator
that
rights;
and the pursuit of happiness.
governments are
that
instituted
among
these
are
life,
That, to secure these
among men,
deriving their
powers from the consent of the governed; that, when
ever any form of government becomes destructive of these
of the people to alter or abolish it, and
ends, it is the
just
right
to institute a
new government,
principles,
and
them
seem most
shall
organizing
its
laying
powers
its
in
foundation on such
such form, as to
likely to effect their safety
and happi
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long
ness.
GG
THE DECLARATION OF
126
established
should not be changed
for
light
and transient
experience hath shown that
mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms
causes;
and,
accordingly,
all
But when a long train of
which they are accustomed.
abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object,
to
evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism,
it
is
their right,
it
is
their duty, to
throw
off
such govern
ment, and to provide new guards for their future security.
Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies,
and such is now the necessity which constrains them to
former systems of government.
The history of
the present king of Great Britain, is a history of repeated
alter
their
and
usurpations, all having in direct object
establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states.
injuries
prove
this,
He
let
diate
for
To
be submitted to a candid world.
has refused his assent to laws the
and necessary
He
facts
the
most wholesome
the public good.
has forbidden his governors to pass laws of imme
and pressing importance, unless suspended in their
operations till his assent should be obtained; and, when
so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He
has refused to pass other laws for the accommoda
tion of large districts of people, unless those people would
relinquish the right of representation in the Legislature
a right inestimable to them, and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places
unusual, uncomfortable,
their public
into
and distant from the
repository of
records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing
compliance with his measures.
them
INDEPENDENCE IN CONGRESS.
He
has
dissolved
representative
opposing, with manly firmness, his
of the people.
127
houses
repeatedly, for
invasions on the rights
He
has refused, for a long time after such dissolutions,
to cause others to be elected,
whereby the legislative powers,
incapable
of
large
time,
exposed
to
and convulsions
States;
has
to
the
people
at
State remaining, in the mean
the dangers of invasions from without,
within.
endeavored
prevent the population of these
for that purpose obstructing the laws for the natur
alization of
their
all
returned
the
their exercise;
for
He
have
annihilation,
to
refusing to pass others to encourage
hither, and raising the conditions of new
foreigners;
migration
appropriations of lands.
He has obstructed
the
administration
of
justice,
by
refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.
He has made judges dependent on his will alone for
the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of
their salaries.
He
has
erected
swarms of
hither
a
multitude
officers
to
of
new
offices,
and
sent
harass our people and eat out
their substance.
He
kept among us in time of peace, standing
armies, without the consent of our Legislatures.
He has affected to render the military independent of,
has
and superior to, the civil power.
He has combined with others
to
subject us
to
a juris
diction foreign to our constitutions, and unacknowledged by
our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legis
lation
:
THE DECLARATION OF
128
for
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us;
For protecting them, by a mock trial, from punishment
any murder which they should commit on the inhabitants
of these
States;
For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world;
For imposing taxes on us without our consent;
For depriving
us,
by jury;
For transporting
tended offences
in
many
cases, of the
us beyond
of
benefit
seas to be
tried
for
trial
pre
;
system of English laws in a
neighboring province, establishing therein an arbitrary gov
ernment, and enlarging its boundaries, so as to render it at
For
abolishing
once an
the
example and
same absolute
free
fit
instrument
for
introducing
the
rule into these colonies;
For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valu
able laws, and altering, fundamentally, the forms of our
governments;
For suspending
our
own
themselves invested with power
cases whatsoever.
He
Legislatures,
to
legislate
and declaring
for
us
in
all
has abdicated government here, by declaring us out
of his protection, and waging war against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned
our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign
mercenaries, to complete the works of death, desolation, and
tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and
in
the most barbarous ages,
perfidy, scarcely paralleled
and
totally
unworthy the head
of a
civilized
nation.
INDEPENDENCE IN CONGRESS.
129
He
has constrained our fellow-citizens, taken
captive on
the high seas, to bear arms
against their country, to become
the
executioners
of
their
and brethren, or
friends
themselves by their hands.
He has excited domestic insurrection
endeavored
the
to
bring
Indian
merciless
fare
an
is
among
on the
inhabitants
savages,
whose known
our
of
of
destruction
undistinguished
us,
fall
and has
frontiers,
of war
rule
all
to
ages, sexes,
and conditions.
In
tions
petitioned
most humble terms; our repeated peti
have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince
redress
for
we have
every stage of these oppressions
the
in
whose character
thus
is
define a tyrant,
is
marked
unfit to
be the ruler of a
Nor have we been wanting
British
We
brethren.
time, of attempts
by
have
their
act
by every
our
in
warned
legislature
which
free
people.
attentions
them, from
to
may
to
time
our
to
extend an unwar
We
rantable jurisdiction over us.
have reminded them of
the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here.
We
have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity,
and we have conjured them by the ties of our common
kindred, to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably
They, too,
interrupt our connections and correspondence.
have
been deaf
We
to
the
voice
of
justice
and
of
consan
acquiesce in the necessity
which denounces our separation, and hold them as we hold
enemies in war in peace, friends.
the rest of mankind
guinity.
We,
of
the
therefore, the
America,
Supreme
HH
must,
in
therefore,
representatives
general Congress
Judge of the world
of the
United States
assembled, appealing
for
the
rectitude
to
of our
THE DECLARATION OF
130
intentions, do, in the
name and by
the authority of the
good
people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare that
these United Colonies are, and of
right ought to be free
and independent States;
allegiance
nection
the
to
British
between
and ought
to
that
crown, and
them and
be,
totally
they are
the
that
state
full
all
of
and
dissolved,
independent States, they have
absolved
political
all
con
Great Britain,
as
that,
power
from
to
free
is,
and
levy war, con
clude peace, contract alliances, establish
commerce, and do
all other acts and
things which independent States may of
And
right do.
firm
reliance
on
the support of this
Declaration, with a
the protection of Divine
Providence, we
for
mutually pledge to each other our
our sacred honor.
Among
in
the signers of the
Declaration,
almost every vocation.
fourteen
lives,
our fortunes, and
were men engaged
There were twenty-four LAWYERS;
FARMERS, or men devoted
to
chiefly
agriculture;
nine
MERCHANTS; four PHYSICIANS; one Gospel MINISTER,
and three who were educated for that
but chose
profession,
other avocations;
tion
lived
to
of them were
and one MANUFACTURER.
the age of three score and ten
over
A
large
years.
por
Three
of age when
they died; ten
fourteen over 60; eleven over
50;
90 years
over 80;
eleven over 70;
and six over 44. Mr.
Lynch (lost at sea) was only 30.
The following is a list of the members of the
Conti
"
nental Congress,
dence,
with
the
who signed
places
and
the
dates
time of their respective deaths.
Declaration
of
their
of
birth,
Indepen
and the
INDEPENDENCE IN CONGRESS.
NAMES OF THE SIGNERS.
1
THE DECLARATION,
32
WHERE WAS THE
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WRITTEN?
For many years the old brick building at the south
2
west corner of Seventh and Market streets, in Philadelphia,
has been pointed out to the stranger and native alike, as
the place where Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Decla
ration of Independence, wrote the first draft of the immortal
document which was the original framework of our liberties
and the announcement of our claim to a position in the
sisterhood
of nations.
A
large
Benjamin Franklin seated
decorated
for
windows
of
accompanying
inscription
in
us,
this
(edition
in
large
black
Birthplace of
theory,
of
his
laration
was
"The
support of
Philadelphia,"
desk
at a
bearing a portrait of
and perusing a book,
a long time the space betvven the fourth story
the Market street front, and there was an
the building as
In
sign
quaint style, that
has been differently
"
designating
Liberty."
Watson,
1850,
letters
Vol.
in
II.,
his
"Annals
page
309),
the place of writing the
stated.
Some have
said
of
tells
Dec
that
at Jefferson s
chamber, in the Indian Queen Inn; but
Mrs Clymer, with whom Mr. Jefferson boarded, at the
south-west corner of Seventh and High (now
Market)
it
streets, said
it
was
there,
and
wrote to Mr. Jefferson, and had
1
2
to
it
settle
this point, Dr.
confirmed as at her
Potter s Monthly Magazine for
January, 1874.
See view of the house, page 261.
Mease
house."
WHERE WRITTEN.
In
the
volume
first
Watson touches upon
of
his
"Annals"
same
the
133
on
page
mooted question,
470,
the
in
following terms:
the
"In
the
second
Indian
Queen Tavern, South Fourth
street,
in
room, south end, Jefferson had his
desk and room where he wrote and studied, and from that
story, front
has been a popular opinion that he there wrote his
Declaration of Independence.
I
have seen the place of
cause
it
the desk,
by the side of the
out by Caesar
me
told
in
Rodney
s
son.
1833, that he
was
fire-place,
large
that
when he wrote
new house belonging
Market
the
at
street,
side, as
pointed
Mr.
friend,
McAllister,
But
my
told
by the step-mother of the
Dr. Mease had inquired
present Hon. John Sergeant, that
of Jefferson himself, by letter, and
by him
west
that
to
that
he was informed
instrument he lived
in
a
Hiltzheimer family, up
corner of some crossing
the
south-west
Mrs. Sergeant said there was no doubt that it was
the same since so well known as Gratz s store, at the south
street.
west corner of Seventh and High streets."
Mr. Jefferson used to relate, with much
the final signing
of the
merriment, that
of Independence was
cause.
Near the hall in
Declaration
by an absurdly trivial
which the debates were then held there was a livery stable,
from which swarms of flies came into the open windows,
and assailed the silk-stockinged legs of honorable members.
hastened
hand they lashed the flies with such vigor
on a July afternoon, but the
as they could command
annoyance became at length so extreme as to render
Handkerchief
in
them impatient of
the
momentous
ii
delay,
and.
they
made
business to a conclusion,
haste
to
bring
i
THE DECLARATION,
34
The
tended
"Indian
Queen
in
early days
con
honor of having been the place where the
was written, was situated at the south-east
Declaration
of Fourth and
and
the building,
Widow
which
the
for
corner
Tavern,"
Market
states that
streets.
in
it
1760
Graydon refers to
was kept by the
Nicholls.
In the
first
volume of the
"Life
of Daniel
Webster,"
by
George Ticknor Curtis, we find some interesting passages
which revive the old dispute about the precise spot on
which Jefferson wrote the American Magna Charta, and
leave the question in even greater doubt than
In the autumn of 1824, Daniel Webster started on
which tend
before.
a
to
journey to
with George
in
one
Ticknor,
of
invited
at
his
Monticello,
most
The
party
left
The roads were
in
Washington on
a
in
company
intimate
by Mr. Jefferson
regulating the course of studies
Virginia.
ber.
Jefferson
who had been
friends,
him
Thomas
terrible
personal
to
assist
at the University of
the Qth of
state,
Decem
and the journey
On
going and returning.
the return, when the party were stopping over night at a
small inn by the way, Mr. Webster and Mr. Ticknor beguiled
was
exceedingly tedious, both
the time
ensis,
by dictating
to Mrs. Ticknor,
the conversations had
the four or
five
who
acted as
amanu
by them with Jefferson during
days passed at Monticello.
The accuracy
the report of Jefferson s sayings on this occasion, which
was first given to the public by Fletcher Webster, in the
of
first
1857,
volume of his father s correspondence, published in
nas been questioned on some points by Jefferson s
biographer; but Mr. Curtis puts forth a strong argument in
its
support, citing the fact that it was carefully prepared a
WHERE WRITTEN.
135
few hours after the departure of the party from Monticello,
as a private record of the visit, but doubtless with a view
of
its
We
being at some future time given to the public.
have thus detailed at length the circumstances under
which the
paragraph
below was
given
written,
in
order to
weight as tending to settle, although in an
unsatisfactory manner, a question which is not only of local
importance, but of general interest.
Among the memo
give
full
its
it
randa of Jefferson
s
Ticknor, are
following
the
down by
conversation, as written
Mrs.
words,
spoken by Jefferson
direct response to a question by Webster:
in
Independence was written in a
house on the north side of Chestnut street, between Third
Declaration
"The
of
and Fourth, not a corner house.
Fourth street has been shown for it
this
is
not the
Heiskell
(to
s
Tavern,
Mr. Webster)
;
in
but
house."
In asserting that the place was not a corner house, Jef
ferson at one word disposed of the claims of the only two
buildings which have generally been credited with the dis
puted honor, the Indian Queen Inn and the house at
Seventh
and
Market
streets.
By
Heiskell s
Tavern
he
probably referred to the first named, which, as stated by
Watson, was at one time popularly supposed to have
But while the exact location still remains
been the place.
and
a mystery,
come,
we
will
are able
to dispose of the
doubtless
to get near
rival claims
so
the true
credit
was
located within the limits
long since disappeared, and
for
site,
all
time to
and especially
of the two buildings to which
was formerly awarded.
the
remain
Wherever
the
building
described by Jefferson, it has
as such is the case, perhaps
THE DECLARATION,
136
solution
the
of
the
question
as satisfactory as could
is
be
desired.
The
at
Declaration was written in the house
Vol.
to
Dr.
I,
p.
Seventh and
standing,
Market
streets.
made by your correspondent from "Wat
reference is made to Jefferson s letter
In the quotation
son,
of
south-west corner
the
still
470,"
what house he
in
Mease, stating
had written the
am
glad to have it in my power to furnish
a copy of that letter, and of thus proving that Mrs. Sergeant
was correct in the information she gave my father, and
Declaration.
I
which was by him communicated to Mr. Watson.
In the "Eulogium on Thomas Jefferson," delivered
by
Nicholas Biddle before the American
April
nth, 1827, on page
14,
Philosophical Society,
speaking of Jefferson s lodg
Philadelphia in 1776, Mr. Biddle says: "These
lodgings it will be heard with pleasure by all who feel the
interest which genius inspires for the minutest details of
in
ings
he had selected, with his characteristic love of
retirement, in a house recently built on the outskirts of
its
the
history
city,
and almost the
ward,
where,
That
house
a small
in
now
is
Seventh
a warehouse
at the
delphia, standing
dwelling-house to the west
family, he was the sole boarder.
last
in
the
centre
of
Phila
southwestern corner of Market and
where the Declaration of Independence was
streets,
written."
In
a note at the
Biddle says:
for
"I
permission
subject of the
am
to
close
of the
(p.
45),
Mr.
indebted to the kindness of Dr. Mease
transcribe
house
"Eulogium"
in
which
the
following letters on the
the Declaration was written:
WHERE WRITTEN.
137
16,
"MoNTiCELLO, Sept.
SIR:
"DEAR
ance
of
of the
the
the
circumstances
the
the event
not for
is
makes
8th
minuteness,
to
It
of which
to
They
attachments
the
estimate
the
import
which
concerning
inquiry.
sacred
me
1825.
your
even in
prove,
of our
paper of July
letter
their
fellow-citizens
1776,
4,
was but
the
genuine effusion of the soul of our
Small things may, perhaps, like the
country at that time.
relics of saints,
help to nourish our devotion to this holy
Declaration,
bond of our union, and keep
our
This
affections.
however
cumstances,
effect
small.
and warm
longer alive
it
in
give importance to cir
the time of writing that
may
At
house of a Mr. Gratz, a new
brick house, three stories
high, of which I rented the second
instrument,
floor,
I
in
lodged
the
consisting of a parlor and bed-room, ready furnished.
In that parlor
I
wrote habitually, and
in
it
wrote
this
paper
particularly.
"So
The
far,
I
state
from written
proofs
in
my
possession.
was a young man, son of a German,
and then newly married.
I think he was a
bricklayer, and
that his house was on the south side of Market street, prob
proprietor, Gratz,
ably between Seventh and Eighth streets; and if not the
only house on that part of the street, I am sure there were
fe\v
others near
it.
I
have some idea that
it
was a corner
house, but no other recollections throwing any light on the
I
will, therefore, only
question, or worth communication.
add assurance of
my
great respect and
esteem.
"Tn.
"DR.
KK
JAMES MEASE,
Philadelphia."
JEFFERSON.
THE DECLARATION,
138
Oct. JO, l82$.
"MONTICELLO,
the
house
recollections
A
house.
excited
Sept. 8th, inquiring after
Declaration of Independence was
my
were such as
line
of
letter
which the
in
has
written,
Your
SIR:
"DEAR
know whether my
to
curiosity
to enable
to
you
on the subject would oblige, dear
"Tn.
DR.
"
Mr.
out
the
yours,
sir,
JEFFERSON.
MEASE."
Biddle
recollections,
in the
find
adds:
"Mr.
and the house
was
Jefferson
known
is
to
correct
in
his
be that mentioned
text."
Mr.
Hyman
house as
it
was
property, which
Gratz
in
sketched
1776.
my
father
for
my
father a plan of the
some account
had collected, and made
This, with
of the
a note
he inserted in his copy of Mr. Biddle s Eulogium."
following is a copy of the sketch and the note
"
of,
The
:
SEVENTH STREET.
h
fe
w
tb
W
A
s
above shows the original plan of the house at the
southwest corner of Market and Seventh streets.
The two
rooms in the second story, having the stairway between
"The
WHERE WRITTEN.
139
them, were occupied by Mr. Jefferson in 1776. In one of
these rooms he wrote the Declaration of Independence.
"The
corner house, and the two adjoining houses on
Market
became
street,
Hyman
the
merchants, about
Gratz,
years occupied by them
added a fourth story to
the door
property of
on Seventh
as
of
place
the height.
street,
and were
1798,
their
Simon and
Messrs.
for
many
They
business.
They
also
and removed the
closed up
stairs.
The
now in
whole of the second story of the corner house is
one room, but the place where the old stairway came up can
be seen by the alteration in the boards of the floor. The
corner house was occupied in 1776 by the father of the late
Mr. Frederick Graff, who was then an infant.
He told me
could remember hearing his parents say that he had
often sat on Mr. Jefferson s knee.
that he
sketch
"The
which
Mr.
of
the
original
copy was made, was drawn
this
Hyman
I
in
6th,
my
"Eulogium"
for
me
from
house,
to-day
by
M ALLISTER,
JR.
i855 r
have copied Jefferson
gium"
the
Gratz.
"JOHN
"July
of
plan
father s
in the
s
letters
possession.
from Mr. Biddle
There
is
"
s
a copy
Eulo-
of
the
Loganian Library, No. 1843. o. 8.
ALLISTER.
AGNES Y.
M
So much
having taken place in relation to
the exact location of the house in which the Declaration
of Independence was written, we give the facts on both
discussion
sides of the question in order that the record should be kept
entire, and afford all the facilities for further discussion.
1
THE DECLARATION,
4o
We
accept, without
to
Jefferson
Dr.
any
Mease,
hesitation, the
and
letter
the
there
think
of
Thomas
discussion
should end.
THE HOUR OF INDEPENDENCE.
A
as
to
few weeks ago the Evening Post asked for information
the exact hour when the Declaration of Independence
A
correspondent, in answer* to the question,
Rise of the Republic of
refers to Richard Frothingham s
was adopted.
"
the United
laration
It
States."
was adopted
known, began
its
a
this
work
that the
Dec
the evening.
Congress, as is well
direct consideration of the question of
Independence on the
ence Hall, in
appears from
in
ist
Philadelphia,
committee of the whole
day of July, 1776,
by voting
to
take
to
in
resolve
into
Independ
itself
into
consideration
the
respecting independence, and to refer the draft
of the Declaration to this committee.
Benjamin Harrison
was called to the chair, and a debate followed which occu
resolution
pied the greater part of the day. This debate resulted in
The committee then rose,
the adoption of the resolution.
the president resumed the chair, and Harrison reported the
The vote on the adoption of
decision of the committee.
the
report
was postponed
until
the
next
The
morning.
next day (the 2d of July) the report was adopted, and then
to
congress went at once into committee of the whole
"
consider draft of a Declaration of Independence, or the form
of announcing the fact to the world."
This discussion lasted
through
that
day,
and the
sessions
of the 3d and
4th
of
Frothingham s account continues: "On the evening
of the 4th, the committee rose, when Harrison reported
July.
WHERE WRITTEN.
the Declaration as having
adopted.
Congress, on
Declaration passed on
been agreed upon.
141
It
was then
iQth
the
4th,
of July, ordered that
the
be
the
engrossed, etc.,
and on the 2d day of August, according to the same author
ity,
the
instrument,
engrossed, was signed."
the exact hour, but it eliminates
having been
This account does not
fix
problem, and
daylight from
the
certain
Independence Day
LL
sense,
fairly
makes
is
it
appear
a misnomer.
that,
in
a
HISTORY OF
142
HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCE HALL
Independence Hall
is
a shrine at which
millions
wor
Mecca of heart-felt homage, and the coming
in the year that is yet
cynosure of more millions of eyes
to come.
Historically considered, Independence Hall preship
the
STATE HOUSE, PHILADELPHIA,
1776.
It is but a small
myriad of interesting features.
part of what was, until 1776, known as the State House
being the room on the east side of the main entrance to
sents a
the
building.
demands of
The
edifice
was
constructed
to
meet the
and the enactment of statutes for state
It
was commenced in the year 1729, and
government.
completed in 1734.
John Kearsley, Sr., an amateur archi
tect, fashioned the structure, which, at that time, was regarded
as entirely too large and expensive
the erection of the
the law
INDEPENDENCE HALL.
State
House
building
amount
cost
to
being
vehemently
$16,250, additions
The
opposed.
subsequently
Edmund Wooley
$28,000.
143
did
original
swelling the
the
carpenter
work, John Harrison the joiner work, and William Holland
the marble work.
Thomas Kerr was the
Benja
plasterer,
min Fairman and James Stoopes made the bricks, and the
lime was furnished by the Tysons, whose kilns were a mile
west of Willow Grove, in Montgomery county, and fifteen
miles distant from Independence Hall. The
glass and lead
THE STATE HOUSE.
(Independence Hall in
1861.)
and the glazing was done by Thomas Godfrey.
The woodwork of the steeple was removed in 1774, only a
cost
170,
small belfry covering the bell, the clock, with but one dialThe present
face, being at the west end of the building.
steeple,
fashioned
after
the
old
one,
was erected
in
1829.
In
1854 City Councils resolved to restore "the Hall" to its
original condition, and to-day it stands as it was in the
times
that
tried
men
s
souls
perfect
in
all
its
patriotic
i
HISTORY OF
44
regular sessions of
the Assembly, the Senate sat up stairs and the House in
Independence Hall. In the former, Anthony Morris, facing
parts
and surroundings.
During
the
In the other, George
Speaker.
Sp eaker, turned his face to the west.
sat
north,
as
Latimer, the
Colonial days the "State House" was the
In the long galley, up stairs, the
banqueting.
During the
scene of
were spread. The wine and whirr of good fellowship
In 1736, William
made mirth an essence of existence.
It
It was sumptuous and costly.
Allen had a great feast.
tables
was spread in the State House. All distinguished strangers
The guests exceeded in number any before
were present.
seen at other festivals
we
in
"For
Philadelphia.
excellency of
was a most elegant entertainment."
In 1756, when Governor Denny "came over," there was
civil and military
another frolic in the same place,
fare,"
are
told,
"it
"the
officers
present:
and the
clergy,"
and that
who were gay
harmonized
fellows then, being
The
antagonisms.
existing
next year Lord London, the Colonial
Commander-in-Chief,
hospitality was not mean.
was banqueted, and municipal
"The
expenditures were greater than ever
1774,
when
the
First
Congress
there was a sumptuous collation.
met
at
The
before."
But
Carpenters
invited guests
in
Hall,
met
City Tavern, and marched in an imposing procession
to the State House, where the banquet was.
Five hundred
at the
took
dinner.
When
the toasts were
given, they were
ren
dered patriotic by the firing of cannon and martial music.
And we are told that these festive occasions exerted salutary
influences
upon public
sentiment,
and
develop the patriotism of the people.
had a tendency
to
In later days, Inde-
INDEPENDENCE HALL.
pendence
Hall was used as a store-room
for
145
legal
docu
When workmen
were removing the old wings of
In
the State House a keg of Indian flints was dug up.
close proximity thereto were uncovered the complete equip
ments of a sergeant, musket, cartouch-box, sword, buckles,
ments.
and
&c.,
bombshells,
amid
great
when
the
excitement.
present
foundation was
and are there
built,
to
and dreadful prophecies of evil omen.
the banqueting rooms up stairs were granted
Charles Wilson Peale for the "Philadelphia Museum,"
despite
In 1802,
which was
the
These,
powder, were exhumed
however, were walled in
dire
day,
to
with
filled
Ohio
commenced
river.
1784, with a
in
There were
from
"paddle-fish"
1700 mineralogical
and
1000
and 1284 birds,
conchological specimens, 274 quadrupeds,
with portraits and paintings of all kinds, and interesting
relics from all quarters of the globe.
Independence Hall
was, in
its
time, a literary as well as a social
Philadelphia Library once occupied
The
centre.
been
arcades, having
its
transferred from Pewter-platter alley thither, in 1740.
After
was used
Brandywine, Independence Hall
Therein Washington bade farewell to public
as a hospital.
delivered that memorable address which will ever
life, and
the
be
battle
cherished
1824,
Its
of
as
a sacred
Lafayette received
history since needs
legacy by
his
friends
his
in
countrymen.
In
Independence Hall.
not recapitulation.
INDEPENDENCE SQUARE.
Long before and after
State House Yard," or
MM
House was erected,
grounds now comprising
the State
the
"the
the
i
HISTORY OF
46
as "the
exceedingly uneven and were known
than now,
whortle-berry patch." The north side was higher
but the south side being low, was made a place for resi
same, were
When
dences.
the State
House was
built,
these were torn
Square was only half its present
size.
There were 396 feet on Chestnut street, and 265 feet
This comprised 10,098 square
on Fifth and Sixth streets.
down.
Originally,
the
and ten and one-half perches.
In this condition the Square remained until 1760, when that
This, added
part fronting on Walnut street was purchased.
feet,
or two acres, one rood,
made the enclosure 201,960 square feet
396 feet on Walnut and Chestnut streets, and 510 feet on
On the Walnut street side of the
Fifth and Sixth streets.
to its dimensions,
Square, an antique gate was erected, with a brick structure,
by Joseph Fox, and about that time on Sixth street stood
country folks who came
Indians used to loiter therein, and
a row of sheds for horses of
to
town
to attend court.
the
drinking used to be carried on there. In 1784
John Vaughan set about to beautify the grounds. He sur
veyed the spot, planted trees, and he made it a place of
He introduced Windsor chairs and settees,
public resort.
all
sorts of
and contributed largely to the public comfort.
More than
two hundred trees of various kinds constituted the canopy
of verdure at the time of which we write.
After
Dec
House yard was christened Independence
laration," the State
"the
Square.
THE OLD
In
the
passage
of the old stairway
way
is
or main
the
BELL.
entrance,
Old Bell
that,
and
at
the
foot
with a thunderous
INDEPENDENCE HALL.
a people into the broad
lifted
thrill,
and Light
147
atmosphere of Liberty
Old Bell that proclaimed
out the land and to all the inhabitants
the
"Liberty
through
On
thereof!"
the
completion of the State House, a clock had been supplied
and set at the west end of the building, and measures were
taken to secure a bell in 1734.
In 1750 a bell of the
weight of 2030 pounds was ordered, and in 1752 it reached
Philadelphia.
to the
Great joy was shown by the people
ship with
many
congratulations, before
it
who went
was landed.
It
had to be recast.
removing it, it was damaged.
This was done by Pass
Stow, under the direction of
Isaac Norris, speaker of the Assembly.
It
was he who
In
originally suggested the motto:
the
land
the
bell
"we
to
all
the
"Proclaim
inhabitants
Liberty throughout
He
pronounced
and
he
was
good
greatly pleased that
should first venture upon and succeed in the greatest
bell in
"a
bell,"
During the Revolution, this and
Christ Church were buried in the Delaware, near
English
the bell at
thereof."
America."
Trenton, to ke ep them from falling into the hands of the
British, and in this condition they remained from 1777 till
-
the
close
of the Revolution,
old places.
As a relic of the past,
a hallowed memento.
when they were put
"the
Old
Bell"
their
in
must ever remain
1
INTERIOR.
"The
etc.,
room with
its
presents to-day the
during those times that
antique wainscotting,
pillars, cornices,
same general appearance
as
it
did indeed try men s souls.
hangs there; the chair which
original chandelier still
Watson s Annalls, vol. I. page
398.
did
The
was
HISTORY OF
148
President
stands
front
in
dais;
the
by
occupied
and on which
restored
is
the
table
Declaration
the
at
more
these
of
chairs,
the convenience
for
Senate,
its
have
been rescued
his
appended
wrote,
signature.
worn
original covering, well
in
Two
Congress.
unfortunately newly covered
though
of the
Hancock
which
the
reposed after it was
another of the members
member
an individual
use of
the
with
a chair
is
place in
its
itself
engrossed, and where one after
of Congress came forward and
Near by
to
of the
sergeants-at-arms
of
and placed on the
the
State
floor.
On
either side of the
or
dais are ranged portraits of the following,
therefor (an asterisk denoting in each case the
spaces
latter)
:
John Hancock
The
President.
The
Henry Lee
Richard
mover of
the resolution
for
Independence.
*Benjamin
The
Harrison
Chairman
of
Committee
the
Whole who reported the same.
Thomas Jefferson The author of the Declaration.
John Adams The seconder of the resolution, and
of the
"Colossus
of the
Debate."
*Samuel Adams
The
"Palinurus
*Robert R. Livingston
Chaplain;
son,
Republic."
committee
Robert Morris,
Heyward,
Wythe,
of the
to
draft
the
Declaration.
j
Franklin,
the
Charles Thompson, the
Thomas
*George
Of
|
*Roger Sherman
Benjamin
the
Samuel
Edward
White, the
Secretary; John Dickin
Bishop
Chase,
Rutledge,
Elbridge
Thomas
Gerry,
McKean,
George Read.
On
the opposite
panels
are
John Witherspoon, Charles
INDEPENDENCE HALL.
149
Hopkinson, Samuel Huntington, Philip Liv
ingston, Benjamin Rush, Arthur Middleton, George Clymer;
with spaces for Robert T. Paine, John Penn, George Ross,
Carroll, Francis
James
Smith,
Richard
Thomas
Stockton,
Stone,
George
Matthew Thornton, George Walton, William WhipWilliam Williams, Oliver Wolcott, Abraham Clark,
Taylor,
pie,
William
Ellery,
William
Floyd, Joseph
Hewes,
William
Hooper, Stephen Hopkins, F. L. Lee, Fran s Lewis, Thomas
Lynch, Lewis Morris, Thomas Nelson, William Paca, James
Wilson.
There
will
be
also
spaces
for
John Rogers, Thomas
Henry Wisner, Geo. Clinton, Thos.
Willing, Charles Humphreys, and a few others.
The names of John Morton, Caesar Rodney, Carter BraxJohn
Johnson,
Jay,
"Actors."
ton,
John Hart, and such others of the above whose
were never taken,
will
be appropriately presented
portraits
in
some
permanent shape.
Over the very doorway through which Washington passed
when he left Congress to assume those duties which earned
him
for
and
his
First in
enduring
title
of
"First
\Var, First in Peace,
the hearts of his Countrymen," has been
an original portrait of the Pater
Along
in
the surbase
hung
Patrice.
on each side of the President
s chair,
subordinated to the general design, are the Presidents of
Congress from 1774, not included in the above category,
and
in similar positions
on the
olutionary officers.
The draft of the Declaration
is
in
this city, in
most admirably
NN
sides, portraits
in
Jefferson s
of the
Rev
handwriting
the possession of the Philosophical Society,
It is
framed and adapted for exhibition.
INDEPENDENCE HALL.
hoped the society
relic
upon the
will
table
they own, which
be induced to deposit
in
the
Hall, and,
was used by the
also,
this
valuable
a chair which
"Delegates,"
and which,
the one
deposited by the writer in the Hall, contains
Two more of these chairs are known
the original covering.
like
and
of,
these
will,
it
is
believed,
be
also
ultimately
1
restored."
1
History of Independence Hall, from the
"
Penn
Monthly,"
by
F.
M.
Etting.
THE EXHIBI TION B UILDINGS.
1
51
THE EXHIBITION BUILDINGS.
The Main Buildings
of
Centennial
the
erected by the Building Committee
Board of Finance, for the uses of the
Exhibition, are five
each
in
number, admirably
within easy distance of
is
that parties
wishing to
or horse cars
arrive
department.
This
available in
known
as
Gallery.
III.
so
that
neighbor, and so arranged
its
one department, can by carriage
the gate opening into that
a special advantage not heretofore
exhibitions.
These buildings will be
directly at
is
European
follows:
visit
located
I.
Main Exhibition Building.
Machinery Hall.
IV. Horticultural
II.
Art
Building.
V. Agricultural Building.
I.
MAIN EXHIBITION BUILDING.
Engineers and Arcliitects:
HENRY
PETTIT, Jos. M. WILSON.
This building is in the form of a parallelogram, extend
ing east and west 1,880 feet in length, and north and south
464
feet in width.
The
portion of the structure is one story in
height, and shows the main cornice upon the outside at 45
At
feet above the ground, the interior height being 70 feet.
the centre of the longer sides are projections 416 feet in
larger
MAIM EXHIBITION BLTILIDIMQ.
MEMORIAL HALL.
THE EXHIBITION BUILDINGS.
and
length,
the
in
the
centre
of
the
shorter
or ends
sides
of
In these
projections 216 feet in length.
the centre of the four sides, are located the
building are
in
projections,
main entrances, which are provided with arcades upon the
ground floor, and central fagades extending to the height
of
The EAST ENTRANCE
feet.
90
approach from
will
form
the
principal
being allowed to alight at
the doors of the building under cover of the arcade.
The
SOUTH ENTRANCE will be the principal approach for street
cars,
the
ticket
carriages, visitors
offices
being
located
upon the
ELM
of
line
AVENUE, with covered ways provided for entrance into the
building itself. The MAIN PORTAL on the north side com
municates
PORTAL
directly with
on
the
west
the
side
ART GALLERY, and
the
gives
main
the
MAIN-
passageway
MACHINERY and AGRICULTURAL HALLS.
to the
Upon
the corners of
75 feet in
height,
the building there are
four
towers
and between the towers and the
central
projections or entrances there is a lower roof introduced,
showing a cornice placed 24 feet above the ground.
In order to obtain a central feature for the building as
a whole, the roof over the central part, for 184 feet square,
has
been raised above
the surrounding
portion,
and four
towers, 48 feet square, rising to 120 feet in height, have been
introduced at the corners of the elevated
The
Ground
roof.
areas covered are as follows:
872,320 square
Floor,
Upper Floors
20.02 acres.
"
in projection,
37-344
in towers,
26,344
.60
936,008
21.47
-85
"
OO
feet.
"
"
"
MAY
10
TO NOVIT]BR
10
1870
THE EXHIBITION BUILDINGS.
155
II.
ART GALLERY AND MEMORIAL HALL.
Architect:
H.
J.
SCHWARZMANN.
This structure, which is one of the affixes to the great
Exhibition, is located on a line parallel with and northward
Main Exhibition Building.
It is
on the most commanding portion of the great
LANSDOWNE PLATEAU, and looks southward over the city.
of the
It
is
of
elevated
on a terrace
six
the
feet
above the general
being an eminence
plateau the plateau itself
116 feet above the surface of the Schuylkill River.
The entire structure is in the modern Renaissance.
level
The
materials are granite, glass, and iron.
No wood is used in
the construction, and the building is thoroughly fireproof.
The structure is 365 feet in length, 210 feet in width, and
59
feet
height,
in
height,
over
a spacious
basement
12
feet
in
surmounted by a dome.
III.
MACHINERY HALL
Engineers and Architects :
This structure
is
HENRY
PETTIT, Jos. M. WILSON.
located west of the intersection of Bel-
mont and Elm Avenues, at a distance of 542 feet from the
west front of the Main Exhibition Building, and 274 feet
The north front of
from the north side of Elm Avenue.
the Building will be upon the same line as that of the
Main Exhibition Building, thus presenting a frontage of
3,824 feet from the east to the west end of the Exhibition
Buildings upon the principal avenue within the grounds.
HORTICULTURAL HALL
THE EXHIBITION BUILDINGS.
The building
feet
by 1,402
by 210 feet.
Hall and annex
360
Hall,
wide
feet
and an annex on the south side of 208
The entire area covered by the Main
long,
feet
is
558,440
the upper
Including
Main
consists of the
157
floors,
the
building
12.82
or
feet,
square
acres.
14 acres
provides
of floor space.
IV.
HORTICULTURAL HALL.
Architect:
The
H.
J.
SCHWARZMANN.
of Philadelphia
appropriations of the city
the Horticultural Department of the Exhibi
liberal
have provided
tion with an extremely ornate and commodious building,
which is to remain as a permanent ornament of Fairmount Park. It is located on the Lansdowne Terrace, a
short distance north of
the
Main Building and Art
Gallery,
and has a commanding view of the Schuylkill River and
The design is in the
the northwestern portion of the city.
the twelfth century, the
Mauresque style of architecture of
materials
principal
iron
externally being
and
building is 383 feet; width,
feet.
height to the top of the lantern, 72
length of
the
The main
230 by 80
170
feet
entirely
long,
around
the floor,
is
193
and
feet,
occupied by the central conservatory,
and 55 feet high, surmounted by a lantern
floor
feet,
The
glass.
20
is
feet wide,
and
feet
14
high.
this conservatory, at a height of
a gallery 5 feet wide.
On
20
the north
Running
feet
from
and south
houses
for
the
each of them 100 by 30
propagation of young plants,
covered with curved roofs of iron and glass.
Dividing
feet,
sides of
this principal
two forcing houses
pp
in
room
are four
forcing
each of these sides
is
the
a vestibule 30
THE EXHIBITION BUILDINGS.
158
At the centre of the east and west ends are
square.
similar vestibules, on either side of which are the restau
feet
rants,
reception
room,
From
etc.
offices,
the
vestibules
stairways lead to the internal galleries of the
conservatory, as well as to the four external galleries, each
ornamental
100 feet long and 10 feet wide, which surmount the roofs
These external galleries are con
of the forcing houses.
promenade, formed by the roofs of
the rooms on the ground floor, which has a superficial area
nected
of
with
a
grand
800 square yards.
The east and west entrances
i,
are
approached by
80 by 20 feet,
centre of each of \vhich stands an open kiosque 20
of
blue-marble
diameter.
with
The
steps from
The
fountains.
corridors
connect the conservatory with the surrounding
fine vistas in
is
Near
etc.
rangements,
feet in
which
rooms open
of fire-proof construction, are
store-rooms, coal-houses,
kitchen,
the
every direction.
In the basement, which
the
flights
in
angles of the main conservatory are adorned
ornamental
eight
terraces
of structures, such
this
principal building are a
as the Victoria
and
Orchard
Tropical
Horticultural
buildings.
heating
ash-pits,
Houses,
ar
number
House, Domestic
similar
Grapery, and
Regia
a
The
are
surrounding grounds
arranged for out-door planting, and an imposing and in
structive display is made.
It is proposed to plant, among
other
tinent,
so
variety of
from
representative trees of all parts of the Con
that side by side the visitor may see the full
things,
the
the
firs
forest
of
the
products
extreme
bananas of Florida, and
the
and
north,
fruits
to
of
the
the
country,
oranges and
wondrous grapes
and other
THE EXHIBITION BUILDINGS.
of California.
fruits
most
the
vastness
perfect
In this great work it is important
success should be achieved, so that
variety of product, and perfection
constitute the
marvel and the might
of territory,
which
species,
159
America,
may be
displayed in such a
This building
at a glance.
is
that
that
of
of
as to be realized
way
to cost $251,937.
V.
AGRICULTURAL BUILDING.
JAMES H. WINDRIM.
Architect:
This structure
and
ing,
on
the
stands
north
eastern
side
of the
of
Horticultural
Belmont
Build
Avenue.
It
novel combination of materials, and is capa
erection in a few months.
Its materials
are wood
will illustrate a
ble
of
and
consists
It
glass.
of
a long
nave crossed by three
nave and transept being composed of Howe
The nave is 826 feet in
truss arches of a Gothic form.
transepts, both
end projecting 100
feet
beyond the square of the building, with a height of 75
feet
length by
100 feet in
width,
each
from the floor to the point of the arch.
The
central
tran
sept is of the same height, and has a breadth of 100 feet;
the two end transepts are 70 feet high and 80 feet wide.
The four courts inclosed between the nave and tran
and also the four spaces at the corners of the building,
having the nave and end transepts for two of their sides,
are roofed and form valuable spaces for exhibits.
Thus
septs,
the
ground
465 by 630
acres.
In
building is a parallelogram of
covering a space of seven and one quarter
plan
feet,
its
of
the
immediate
vicinity
are
the
stock-yards
the exhibition of horses, cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, etc.
for
AUTOGRAPHS OF 7 HE
160
SIGNERS.
COLLECTORS OF AUTOGRAPHS OF THE SIGNERS.
The arrangement
Albany;
Sprague,
Library,
ginia;
Davis, Esq.,
Almond W.
New
Albany,
Ferdinand
indicates
the
Emmet, New York;
A.
T.
Dr.
of excellence.
names
the
of
priority
Rev.
New York
Griswold,
Dr.
State
G. Barney, Vir
R. Coulton
Dreer, Esq., Philadelphia;
J.
Dr. Charles
York;
Simon
Philadelphia;
Gratz,
Esq., Philadelphia;
New
York; E. H. Leffingwell,
Theodorus Bailey Myers, Esq.,
L. J.
Esq., New Haven; Brantz Mayer, Esq., Baltimore;
Cist,
Esq.,
Mrs.
Z.
Louis; Joseph
St.
F.
Taylor,
Esq.,
Mellen
Providence;
Allen,
Boston;
Mickley, Esq., Philadelphia;
J.
M.
Etting,
Chamberlain,
Philadelphia;
Esq.,
Esq.,
Alfred
B.
Philadelphia.
have been made relative to the collection of the Queen
Book of the
England. These inquiries arose from the criticism on the
1860:
which appeared in the "Press" on November 8th,
"Queen
Signers"
Many
inquiries
"
of
Victoria
Castle,"
s
collection,
etc.
was written
letter
the following
2 ist,
June
which we have seen
Being
is
to
"In
Private Secretary, says:
in
furnishing
the
all
Private Library at Windsor
information possible, a
the
distinguished author, Theodore Martin, C. B., and
letter to the author of this work, dated London,
the
from his
1875:
of
desirous
his
to me, General Ponsonby, her Majesty s
Mr. Brotherhead sent a volume through the
letter
last
When
Foreign Secretary in 1861, he said, "Your Majesty already possesses nearly
a complete set of the original autographs of the Signers."
I
can find no
trace of this set of autographs, nor can I ascertain that the Queen possessed
And in a letter to the writer from General
autographs.
Ponsonby, dated July 25th, 1875, Buckingham Palace, he further says: "The
librarian assures me that no such collection is in the library, and his further
any of
"
their
him in his opinion, that the Queen never did possess
He also inquired at the British Museum, but no trace of
autographs.
any such collection can be found." It is for the critic of the Press" to
settle this matter with General Ponsonby
we have done our duty, and on
search has confirmed
these
"
;
the
her
authority of
her Majesty does
Signers
as
the
not
critic
Majesty
s
Private
Secretary
possess such a collection
of the
"
Press"
Library of her Majesty, at Windsor.
positively
we make
of
said
the
the
record
autographs
he saw in the
of
that
the
Private
.
OF JOHN HANCOCK,
ffOSTO N
ON WHICH THE DECLARATION OF NDIPLNDINCC
WAS WRITTEN AND THRCCOFTHE SIGNERS CHAIRS.
THE: DESK
i
f^.
*
&*/?^<
*
,
MASS-
F
.
H
J Tomh-ftlo
.SVMiI.ith
165
JOSIAH BARTLETT.
//v
;f
fossfssion or F-J- ff/ff?.
107
PCS. Of CfN^ WfWHIPPLE.
rH, N H MOW RCS or C.H t*DD,fsa.
in THE POSStffS/CV Or
ff.
CoViTOM
RES .Or MATTHEW THORHTON,
OF IHO DCfUf V H
THL T1MC or 7HC D[C
?.
^
rwr possess/or* or
f.J.
171
eh
H
.1
TiMiih-SCo
.S.eaniLilM>^3t
QninifrcH
H
SAMUEL ADAMS.
"
^J&r,/*- ^
^
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175
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176
Jr*t*t+nd
/H THE POSSfSS OV Or
THE BIRTH PLACES OF JOHN AND JOHN QUINCYADAMS.
AT QU I V CX
,
MA SS
.
ff.
CoUi TON DA f/S
,
177
R.
TREAT PAINE:
f.
COULTON
179
ELBRIDQE GERRY.
"*
I* THE possession or F.J. Dfrcc*.
CLMWOOO, FORMERLY THE RCS Or EL8RI D6E QKRY
.
CAMBRIDGE MASS. NO*
,
QfS OF JUS.RUISCU- LOWELL
.
THfPOU.
s
181
Me-iimLitt
183
MONUMENT Of STCPHN
PROVI DCNCE. n
.
HOPKINS.
STEPHEN HOPKINS.
!
In
THE rossessiON or
F.J, Dfrcc*
185
WILLIAM ELLERY.
ff
r-
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ROGER SHERMAN.
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190
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RES
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or Roacp
HEW HAVEN SHERMAH,
CONN
,
.
\
possession or
F.J, fl/?E/p
t
s
191
RES. Or S. HUNT INGTON
NORWICH COHU.
SAMUEL. HUNTINGTON.
,
,
a?
I
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"OSSfSSlOH
Of
ft.
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193
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<^^^t
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195
OLtVR WO LOOT T
RES .or OLIVER woi-corr
SOUTH
ST.
LITCHFI CLO
,
CO-VAT.
(7
^
^
197
H
.1
Tniuh -&(
.Ste:nnl.iU>
19!)
201
PHIL:
UWN6STONE
t.
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44*1 \?/<k-- V&l-**
df jilS tl*p#t
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"th
Lt*~
<\
ify*
-
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fo^JwJL+4f diL^fadL *l &Y U^^ ^AteAfffyM^tf^t^^CLM* l*
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1/7
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fusfamvjuvt,
.
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i<>tJww&
fai^f
b"m
#*<
(U*dt
JlfaGUtUL/UJ*
,M>U*(Jh
p
FPOM THE COLLECTION of
F.
M. ETTING ESQ.
203
t-C
tJ
A>S
V"
fzt-f
^Su^i
f/T-
&
S/7Z-
LEWIS MORR/S
Xy^o- #ays
*-y* ^^fc^^J^K^***^,
/H THE POSSfSSION Or f.J. D/?Eff,
/^
207
-^v*v..
*
r r
i
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>tnrrtmii>;;*;.
209
RES. OF
H.STOCXTON
r
<**^Z-/^<.*-^_
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^
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^^,
^7^
^*~^
s
211
^12
//v
213
RES. Of
f-RAHCS HOPK1NSOM
FfiAA/CES HOPKINSON.
7^^ y
x
<
^
-*_->,
/-
<
.-^-c
x^^^^P
215
ONUMCMT or JOHN
21 ;
A.
CLARK
218
r
.
J &***
ft-/z/<aTH co.
/v
M.J,
or SIMON GftATI
***,
219
221
WASH/HUTCH S MA MS/OK
/9O MARKE r STRUT
ft.
S-
f
MOft/t/S
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fM/t ADLPM/A
*^
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r-Ki&t^.
/^
C/^Mf
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fOSffiS. OV Or
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24.vr?6
223
MANSION
fief,
or ox.e
THt TIME Of HIS DEATH
MO 9t SOUTH + TH S7RfE.TfMII.ADA.
.
IN rh
COLLECTS*
A
,^~^C*^0-*L.
of-
jos.
MAKSHALL COLLEBC,
X^^,
225
THE HOUSE /M WH/CH 0ffJ.
WAN KLIN WAS
BOfiH
MIL* STfCtT HOUSe, eOSTO/v.
~~*~ _
C/*^ 4^
THC rossess/oN or
SIMON GRAT2
BURIAL PLAC Or BENJ. FXAMHL/N
S-t.COf.Of
S.TH.it
AfCM
STS.
fHILAOA.
SQ.
227
.
Of JOHH
CO PA
Q
c/ C
/
<J*
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THE POSSESS/OH Of BAfLCY
MYXS
SQ.
229
.
OF
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GfiATZ
S Q.
233
.
H C.COA
~^~
IN THE fOSSSSfO/V Of S/UON GfiATZ
ESQ..
Of GFORGZ TAYiOX
fCKAYiCfTM.ST. CJtSTON fA.
235
.
s.
OF vMS. W/iSOA/
w, COP.
THJXD
st
"FOAT
WAL.vur
WtLSOM"
srs.
/%<-S
X^x
111
THE POSSESS/OH OF SIMON GftAT2.
SQ ,
/ ??&
s<4/%r
237
Of GEORGE ROSS
LANCASTER
**si/~*<
^*^-
PA.
^^-x
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t
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IN THE POSSESSION Or SJMOM 6KAT7.
ESQ.
r
H J.ToudrttUi StBamlwi
RES
possession of
ft.
.
Of
C^SAff
RODNEY,
COULTOM a*v/s ESQ.
MANSION OF GEORGE RCAO
~.^~
j34l~&y
*L.
THC POSSZSS/OA, OF ft. COULTQN OAVJS
fyr-sffxy&s*
^_^_-2 zSr^
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&
\ KIGUXK OS THE DTSCI.AKATION OF TSI EPENi.KNJE.
JVNDA FKAMKK OP TH^ COXSTT J ITTION Of TH UNJTKJt rfTATKS.
HOUSE:
,
Pcs.oreov. THOMAS
THIRD
ST
PH LADCLP H
!
<A
.
-^fe^ivVw-*^^
/
^
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a
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245
il
ln-\x
Bmdwriwad
ftj
.Slcainl.ilh
24:7
or juoac SAMUEL CHASE
BALTIMORE MO
,
?
Z&&.
POSSZSS/0/V Of fi.COULTONOAV/S
SO-
249
In THiPossessioN
ofCiMOM
ff/>*Tzs<i
251
CHARLES CARROLL Or CARROLLTON
MD
^^7
^^f^t^
^
IN THE
POSSESSION or Siuo
>5
255
-.-.
.
-
r-jt
II.
,l
.,
l/WI!
*
"
"
i"t,U
l
bjrw Brothnrheod
II
J.TiMldv.Vl n
Mc-.-inil.ill
35-7
GEORGE WYTHE
CX<
259
a/ft
TH PLACE OF R.H.LEE
,
fXANC/S LISHrfOOT
HOUSf
fiS
-if
0.
i
of THOMAS ^f rrtnsoN MONT/CELLO
THC HOUSE
IN WHICH THOf JCFFfftSOH
HROTt THtOfCLAKATIOn Or IHOeftHOrH Cl,
S.H.COR p
.
a MA/rxrr
srs. PHII.
.
THC Possession Of f. J.
DKf
263
BENJAMIN HARRISON
/Z-
~S^s
flES.
OF BENJA.MIM HARRISON
BERKLEY
IN
THC.
Possession or f.J
Da fen
/A
ftfS.
Of THOMAS
NfiSOt/ JA.
!H THePossfssio* Of
FJDfucR
fsf
BIRTHPLACE OF R.H. LEE t, FRAHC/S LIGHTrOOT LCE
HOOSC
^S>^^f
^
ftS<**
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^* ^^Z^LS ^i^
^fc*^<
In THE fossfss/ox OF
R Coi/i TON OA v
*&~+^tr+3.
^0
S<+
,x^i
269
KS.OF CARTf* BXJXTON
*2.
S?
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*
ZZr
THC Posse jj/o* of Si MO ft
GAA rz
/j-^7
0-+^} ~O,
*r
271
J)>-sieneil
In-U Brotherhead
.
H
./
Tumlv. rUi
.sh .iinl.iUi
JOSEPH HEWES
^?
tL~s^^
c
THcPoSStSf/0* Of A .COU!.TOV
273
RES. Of \HM
.
HOOPER
^
^-~*
y
^*.
//SL
^
THE POSSESSION OF SIM OH
ft*rz
fs<?.
277
RE S OF JOHN PEMN.
NC NOW DfSTH
.
>
/c^C^
S
s I/
4^<f>
fox or ALr*eo
B. TA
YLQ* Es?
.
SL-*^*
^
279
1
H
.1
Ti.mlvM
.
Sii-.inil.iili
281
ACS.
Of DW HHTLDGC
.
CMAALfS-rOH
3.C.
/T
IX
/
/t^y
y"~~s
HI S Cf THOMti H
GHARLCSTOWH
/>v
THC Possession OF
SC.
fJOficcR
141
THOS. I.YA/CH JUN
I/
C*<~
rf
/.
-e^t^^-t^y
****
.,
i?
st\~*^r
/^ffL^c^
c^>
/*
THC PosscsftoM of OK. TH
&0
rf.t
irn:
&.
A
Of Aft THUft WDDLETOM
MILEf FROM CHAALCSTON
S.C,
^e^c
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~~~"
"
"
~
~
I
*""
""
oc/tt
G E
R G
E
i>j
WHICH BUTTON OWINHCTT is HILLED ir
COL. LACHLA.N M^/NTOSH.
I A.
CONDITION
That
if ihc
of the above
is
Obligation
fuch,
above-bound
r/^
Heirs, Executors, or Adminiftrators, or any of them, fhall
and do well and truly pay, or caule to be paid, unto the
above-named
,
Executors, Administrators, or AfTigns, the
Sum
ot-fl&tU.
full
and
^
juft
rtU Hyi^&}wJujciifaftL&faiMw&^^
ItLttiCUSi
L
tfOi
without
Fraud or further Deldy, then this Obligation to be void and
of none Effeft, or elieto remain in full Force and Virtue.
Signed, Sealed,
i&,
the
and Delivered,
Prejence of
/* r
Possess/ox of
fJ ORCCR fsf
291
L.rUAN HALL
THE MONUMENT ON GKEEHE ST.
AS
SCEf,
fAOM SKOADST. AUSUSTA
&*.
*sL/
A-
r*i-
POSSESS/OH OF
R.
COULTOH DAVIS
st>
*r-AaJ
THf OLC HlS/3t.\ICOf
AUGUSTA
6OA&
tfU. S>HMALV
"MEADOW
GEORGE WALTON
MMOWAS AS
fts&&/ 2*^4^
^t^^y
^^sfc^L^
fae
^f^/>
/&*&
<7
^t^ls?
<-y
^v
<^~+
y Jt*-*4i^ ^&
THcPosSEssfOM OF FJ.DRCCR fsf.
RESIDENCE Of CHARLES THDMSON
NCA*
SLCHETAR-f f/XST AMCH/CAtS CONGflfSS
^u/w^
IN
me POSSESSION
OF
SIM OH GHATZ
sp.
BROTHERHEAD
A. P.
RESPECTFULLY SOLICITS THE CUSTOM OF
IN
SEABGH OF OLD
He has a Large and Extensive Assortment always
Libraries of books in any quantity, or parcels of any
si/e, lie is
always ready
on sale.
pay cash
to
for
any
amount.
Old rare American books he will pay good prices
Autographs
of distinguished persons,
realize fair prices, for
for,
and especially
which he willpay cash.
and
solicits special attention to
them.
of the early Revolutionary times of America,
Address
A. P.
BROTHERHEAD,
Solatia lOtli Stx oot,
SANDERSON S BIOGRAPHY
OF THE
Signers of the Declaration of Independence,
REVISED AXD EDITED
BY
XtOBEIfcT T.
Author of
"Jack Cade,"
OOIVIfc-AJD,
&c., &c.
Illustrated with Sixty Engravings from Original Photographs and Drawings of the Residences of
the Signers, &c., on India paper, mounted: to which is added an historical account of the
NOT PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED.
Rcs)<l<-n<-,s
BY WILLIAM BROTHERHEAD,
Author of the
"
Book
of the
Signers,"
"Centennial
Book
of the
Signers,"
&c.
-.
printed on fine paper, in a superior style a Large Quarto volume of 8oO pag
most
the
in
For private illustration, the most comprehensive work
interesting periods
print, covering
before, during and after the Revolution of Seventy-six.
This work
is
ONLY ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY COPIES PRINTED.
The work was published by subscription at $15.00 per copy,
A few copies for sale at subscription price by
in
paper covers, uncut.
E. I3^XmiIVGTOIV
915 South 13th
Street,
?
Philadelphia.
"
The most characteristic Memorial Volume of the birth of our glorious Republic ever
issued"
THE
BOOK OF THE SIGNERS,
BY
(LIBRARIAN,)
Author of the
"
Book of
the
Signers,"
etc
,
WILL BE ONE OF THE
MOST ATTRACTIVE NATIONAL WORKS EVER ISSUED.
will be printed with the greatest care, from new type, on heavy toned and calendered paper cf the finest quality,
be issued at a price sufficiently low to warrant an immense and truly national circulation. The work will embrace
the following features, in the artistic development of which no expense or care has been spared to bring it to a stage of
The work
and
will
unequalled interest and unrivalled beauty
:
FAO SIMILE LETTERS OF EACH OF THE SIGNERS
of the immortal Declaration of Independence, each letter beingwith one or more engraved portraits, views, etc., with appropriate
printed directly
original, and
descriptive matter; many of the portraits and views appearing here for the first time, and from photographs or drawings of
the subject made expressly for the purpose.
from the
every letter illustrated
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL NATIONAL DESIGNS,
by hand, of the principal
allegorical,
A HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH, comparing
made
emblematical and
realistic,
with a finely-engraved view, colored
city of each of the original Thirteen States; also accompanied by
the past
in all directions within the completed century.
full descriptive
and present condition of the former colonies,
matter.
illustrating the progress
A full and interesting sketch of the scene of the signing of the American
with
Declaration,
engravings showing both interior and exterior views of the venerable building.
HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCE HALL.
A HISTORY OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE,
this
giving the origin, the preparation, and the consummation of
immortal instrument.
A HISTORY OF EACH OF THE ORIGINAL THIRTEEN STATES.
A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF EACH SIGNER.
A FULL AND CRITICAL ACCOUNT OF THE VARIOUS PORTRAITS
several Painters
of the Signers, accompanied by the
names of
the
and Engravers.
A HISTORY OF THE ORIGIN OF THE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION, with
illustrations
and descriptive matter.
whole forming a Work of the most comprehensive and picturesque character, and of a rare historical interest,
a
position unrivalled by any other publication of the day.
ranting
Tlie
war
CONDITIONS.
The work
will
will
above features, 87 Fine Illustrations, and 13 full page Colored National
containing about an equal number of pages, each part being bound in an attractive
in connection with the
embrace,
be complete in 20
Parts,
Designs ;
manner, and delivered to subscribers at 50
cts.
per part.
Complete in 20 Parts, at 50 cents per part, payable on delivery.
J.
M.
ST ODDART &
CO., Publishers,
723 Chestnut
Street,
THIS BOOK
IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE
STAMPED BELOW
AN INITIAL FINE OF
25
CENTS
WILL BE ASSESSED FOR FAILURE TO RETURN
THIS BOOK ON THE DATE DUE. THE PENALTY
WILL INCREASE TO SO CENTS ON THE FOURTH
DAY AND TO $1.OO ON THE SEVENTH DAY
OVERDUE.
ra 12
1934
YH
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY
Vlda Redinaton Volkhard
Lena Redlnston Carlto
t.
ARTi
PRICE, 50 GTS.
THE
CENTENNIAL
1876
1776
Of THE S
OF THE
DECLARATION OF HBlPllBlNlft
WITH
FAC-SIMILE AUTOGRAPHS,
ILLUSTRATIONS,
PORTRAITS, ETC.,
BY
WM. BROTHERHEAD.
PHILADELPHIA:
J.
M.
STODDART &
CO.
ETC.
COUNTRY LIBRARIES,
Book Clubs and
Societies of
all
Kinds,
In our sparsely populated country the means for obtaining knowledge are often very few, -aris
secondly, the knowledge
ing from various causes. The first, and most important, is the great cost
required in the selection and, thirdly, the proper time for some one who may have the knowledge to
;
go a long distance and select them.
My method
will obviate, to a great extent, all these difficulties.
propose to supply Country Libraries and Book Clubs from a selection of over 30,000 volumes of
As to my success in this business I may refer to five libraries I have
the best books in the language.
I
one at Pottsville, West Chester, Wilkesbarre, New York, and the one in this city, by far
the largest in the United States. I not only purchase every book of value published here, but also import
more English books than any librarian in the country. My selection of novels is by far the most
established
numerous and the most
choice of
any library on
this continent.
BOOK CLUBS are designed for the purpose of spreading knowledge and as it is impossible for one
person, however able, to purchase every new book, this object will in a great measure be accomplished
for a very small sum of money.
Over 30,000 volumes of books, comprising every department of Liter
;
ature, including over 5,000
five or
more persons
volumes in French, are ready and in active use
for
any Club
Five in one Club, $5 each 15 books allowed at one time.
A club of ten, 30 books, and so on, adding three books to every subscriber.
Clubs must pay all express charges, which will not be more for a club than
One week
or one
or Library of
to select from.
month
will be allowed for the
if
sent to one person.
exchange of books.
Catalogues can be had at 50 cents each.
If
old six
NEW BOOKS
months
are required, they
must
in ALL cases be returned in
TWO WEEKS.
Books are considered
after publication.
Clubs must in
all
cases send their
money in advance, and select from Catalogue the books required.
send
Always
by mail, in ADVANCE of parcel, say twenty or thirty numbers of books more than wanted,
so as to secure all
they may require. Address (inclosing stamp)
W. BROTHEBHEAD,
205 South.
P. S.
Persons from the city
during the
period than one year.
13th, St.,
Philadelphia.
summer months can make arrangements
for
a shorter
THE
CENTENNIAL
BOOK OF THE SIGNERS
BEINC.
FAC-SIMILE LETTERS
OF EACH SIGNER
OF THE
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
Illustrated with
One Hundred Engravings
oy
PORTRAITS, VIEWS,
ETC.,
INCLUDING THIRTEEN ORIGINAL DESIGNS, COLORED KY HAND:
A HISTORICAL
MONOGRAPH AND A HISTORY OF THE
CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION.
BY W. BROTHERHEAD,
n
LIBRARIAN,
AUTHOR OF THE
"BOOK
OF THK
SIGNERS,"
PHILADELPHIA
J.
M.
STODDART
ETC., ETC.
i
& CO.
?
Entered
according to Act of Congress in
WM. BROTHERHEAD
;
In the Office of the Librarian
of Congress at
Washington.
Stcr( t
and Printed
i?
NQUIRER PR
INT AND PuB C
yP<:d
,
.
Lancaster, Pa.
VOLUME
THIS
Is
respectfully Dedicated to
FERDINAND J. DREER,
ROBERT COULTON DAVIS,
AND SIMON GRATZ,
ESQUIRES,
Because of their
LOVE AND TRUE APPRECIATION OF BOOK-LORE,
Especially for
AMERICAN HISTORY,
all
ITS
matters relating to
AUTOGRAPHS, COINS, BOOKS,
AND PICTORIAL ILLUSTRATIONS.
THANKS
for the use of many Letters
of the Signers, used in this Volume.
Are tendered
to
them
W.
BROTHERHEAD.
Philadelphia, August 15, 1875.
723528
PREFACE.
The author has determined
most national character,
shall
work worthy of the occasion, and of the
do honor to the Signers.
In this work are
that a
of each Signer, thirteen colored original national designs, a
of
each
of
the original thirteen states, a brief biography of each Signer,
history
a history of the Hall in which the Declaration was signed, a copious catalogue
fac-simile letters
of the portraits of the Signers, a history of the development of the Centennial
Exhibition, with numerous appropriate illustrations and various views of a
historical and national interest, comprising monuments, residences, etc.
Such
are the distinctive features, and, though no special claim is made for recondite
research in the national archives, which a Bancroft has exhausted, yet it is
modestly asserted by the author that he has collected together from many
matter which is illustrative of the history of the country,
and which has never before appeared in such a form. Several portraits appear
sources, valuable
work
they are copied from photographs taken from the
It is intended as a vade mecum for those
Independence Hall.
take an interest in all matters relating to the founders of our Republic.
is there amongst us that, at least, does not revere all matters connected
in this
for the first
time
;
portraits in the
who
Who
with
the
of
birth
exhibitions
to
his
We
country?
do
not refer
but to
"
spread-eagle-isms"
the
to
steadfast
the
love
4th of July
of country
and gives soul and means to prevent
This silent leverage
its
destruction.
society, though despised by the
boisterous politician, is, in all societies, a conservative element whose value
some great emergency calls it into activity. This element
is unknown until
in our society is, year by year, becoming more powerful by its very silence.
It has no organization, it does not boast of newspaper
organs, it has no
kind
it
of
no
in
"wire-puller"
any
patiently and
Washington,
power
and
when
action is
of
events
current
the
watches
by
year,
year
silently
from
Maine
to California, without
in
act
instincts
its
harmony,
necessary,
any visible preconcerted unison of action; and recognizing neither Republican
nor Democrat, it throws its influence into the ballot-box, and awaits calmly
that,
the hour of need, banishes
in
self,
of
A
the results.
will
country possessing
never cease to exist.
The
whose
writer
names
herewith
are
His Worst
Enemy,"
Philadelphia,
Anglo-Saxon conservative element,
thanks to various friends for assistance, many of
appended to the fac-simile letters; but are especially
to his son, Alfred P. Brotherhead, author of
Himself
tenders
tendered
this
April,
his
"
for valuable
1875.
assistance
rendered.
CONTENTS.
Preface,
Contents,
..
...
2
1-8
9-27
27-34
34-42
42-44
44-46
40-49
49~5
Literature in 1776 and 1876,
....
......
......
Theology,
"
History,
Novels
Humorous
"
Poetry
Fiction
S~S
......
.....
General Literature,
Law
.
.
S
.
.
l
l
~S 2
52
5 2 "54
Arts and Sciences,
Brief History of the Thirteen Original States, 55-91
Declaration
Biography of the Signers of the
92-120
of Independence
Declaration of Independence in Congress, 121-131
Where was the Declaration of Independ
"
.
....
i3 2 -!37
138-14
Written,
two
History of Independence Hall with
142-145
views,
ence Written?
Declaration
The
Where
.
.
......
.....
The Old Square,
The Old Bell, Illustration,
The Interior
145-146
146-14?
147-15
.......
Views of the
.
.
.
Centennial Buildings,
five
with Descriptive Matter,
151-160
Letter, with Views of
John Hancock
His Residence, the Desk on which the
Declaration of Independence was signed
161
and three of the Signers Chairs,
New Hampshire, Colored view of Ports
163
mouth,
165
Josiah Bartlett, Letter and Portrait,
and
Gen l. Wm. Whipple, Letter
Residence,
167
Matthew Thornton,
169
.
.
.
.
......
.
Massachusetts
Colored View of Boston,
Samuel Adams, Letter and
John Adams,
Portrait,
171
173
.
also
"
"
"
View
"
"
"
.......
and
of the liirthplace of
"
"
....
.
.
.
.
.
.
....
....
Oliver Walcott, Letter, with Portrait and
View of Residence,
New York Colored view of New York,
William Floyd,
Phil. Livingston,
Letter
"
and
"
Portrait,
.
"
.
Francis Lewis,
.
Lewis Morris,
New Jersey Colored View of Trenton,
Richard Stockton, Letter, with View of
his Residence,
John Witherspoon, Letter, with View of
"
"
"
"
"
"
.
....
195
197
199
201
203
205
207
209
.....
211212
Hopkinson, Letter, with Portrait
and View of his Residence,
John Hart, Letter, with Monument,
213
215
his
Residence,
Francis
.
Phil
219
.
.
Robert Morris, Letter, with Views of his
Mansion, also that of Washington,
Benjamin Rush, Letter, with View of the
Shippen Mansion,"
Benjamin Franklin, Letter, with View of
"
.
.
.
his Burial Place
227
229
Residence,
James Smith, Letter, with View of Resi
dence
George Taylor, Letter, with View of Resi
dence
James Wilson, Letter, with View of Res
231-232
233
idence, also, Signature of IS. Franklin,
Geo. Ross, Letter, with View of Residence,
Delaware Colored View of Wilmington,
Crcsar Rodney, Letter, with View of Res
235
237
238
......
.....
G. Read, Letter, with
View
239
of Residence
and Portrait,
Gov. Thomas McKean, Letter, with View
241
....
of Residence,
Maryland Colored View of Baltimore,
Samuel Chase, Letter, with View of Resi
243
245
.
......
247
249
dence,
Paca, Letter, with View of Residence,
Thos. Stone,
Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, Letter, with
Portrait and View of Residence,
Virginia Colored View of the City of
Wm
"
"
"
"
"
251
253
.
Norfolk,.
....
Letter, with Portrait and
of Residence,
Richard II. Lee, with View of the Birth
George Wythe,
View
place of R.
223
225
John Morton, Letter, with View of his
Residence
George Clymer, Letter, with View of his
idence,
221
H. and
255
257
F. L. I.ee,
Thomas Jefferson, Letter, with View of
Monticello," and the House in which
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration
259
of Independence,
Benjamin Harrison, Letter, with Portrait
and view of Residence,
261
.
"
J. Q.
J.
Adams
175-176
Robert Treat Paine, Letter and Portrait,
1/7
Elbridge Gerry,
also View of his Residence, Elmwood,
179
181
Rhode Island Colored View of Newport,
with
Portrait
Letter,
Stephen Hopkins,
and Monument,
183
William Ellery Letter, with Portrait,
185
Connecticut ColoredView of New Haven,
187
Roger Sherman, Letter, with Portrait and
View of Residence,
.
189-190
Samuel Huntington, Letter, with Portrait
and View of Residence,
191
William Williams, Letter, with View of
his Residence,
193
"
217
.
.
of
adelphia
Essays on Portraits,
History of Centennial Exhibition,
General,
Historical Monograph
Domestic Condition in 1776 and 1876,
"
A. Clark, Letter, with Portrait,
Pennsylvania Colored View
...
.
*
.
.
......
......
......
Thomas Nelson,
Residence,
F. Lightfoot Lee, Letter, with
idence,
Carter Braxton, Letter, with
idence,
View
View
of
.
......
......
.....
P^jtledge,
Letter, with
View
I
ley ward, Jr., Letter, with
279
281
View
of Residence,
Thomas Lynch,
273
275
277
of
Residence,
Thomas
269
271
.
Hooper, Letter, with View of Residence,
Joseph Hewes, Letter, with Portrait,
John Penn, Letter. withView of Residence,
South Carolina Colored View of Charles
ton,
267
Res
\V.
Edward
265
of Res
Colored View of Wil
North Carolina
mington,
263
with View of
Jr., Letter,
Letter, with Portrait,
Arthur Middleton, Letter, with Residence,
Georgia Colored View of Savannah,
Jr.,
.
......
Button Gwinnett, Document, with Duel
Scene,
Lyman Hall, Letter, with Portrait,
George Walton, Letter, with View,
Charles Thomson, Secretary to Congress,
.
Leiter, with View and Portrait,
283
285-286
287
290
.
291
293
295
,
297
.
PORTRAITS OF THE SIGNERS.
PORTRAITS OF THE SIGNERS.
Much
the
discussion
has taken
place,
and
will
no
doubt continue,
relative
The committee for the
restoration of Independence Hall have given much time and attention to
the matter, and are in a fair way of becoming the means of
restoring and
collecting together either the original portraits of many of the Signers, or at
to
genuineness
of
many
of
the
portraits.
We
shall place our views on record, and
copies from such originals.
endeavor, at least, to classify such evidences as cannot easily be thrown aside,
least
and which
will tend to prove that the portraits of the
Signers which we
the
Hall
of
are
as
possess
Independence
certainly genuine as are most of
the portraits under similar conditions, and which conditions, in the cases speci
fied have never been denied.
It is an historic fact, that Trumbull was authorized
in
by Congress, in 1817, to fill four compartments of the Rotunda in the Capitol
at Washington; each compartment is 18 by 12 feet.
In one of those com
Trumbull spent several
partments is "The Declaration of Independence."
In the autumn
years of his life in England, and was a pupil of B. West.
of 1789 he returned to America to procure likenesses of distinguished patriots
"
a contemplated series of national pictures, commemorating the principal
of the Revolutionary struggle; and, while thus engaged, he painted
several portraits of Washington, one of which, full length and in uniform,
for
events
is
in
the collection of
his
the
corporation
object, he went,
plished
the American
in
When
Minister.
of
New York
city.
Having accom
as
1794,
England,
secretary to Mr. Jay,
the Congress, in 1817, authorized Trumbull
to
the four pictures, they knew of his ability as an artist, and were
cognizant of his European reputation. There can also be little doubt but that
to paint
Congress knew that his object in returning from Europe in 1789 to his own
country was to collect as many portraits of living actors in the past Rev
olution as he possibly could.
Congress, therefore, felt itself justified in
By referring to the dates of the deaths of
entrusting him with its orders.
the Signers, it will be seen that the following died prior to 1789: Button
Gwinnet, of whom there is no portrait; John Hart, of whom there is no por
Thomas Lynch, of whom there is a portrait, as it is promised, we presume
of the family, to the Hall of Independence
one
John Penn and Csesar
by
R.
of
whom
there
are
there is a portrait,
of
whom
Stockton,
portraits;
Rodney,
in
the
and
W.
of
whom there is
after
Hall;
Connaroe,
Whipple,
trait;
;
,
PORTRAITS OF THE SIGNERS.
vi
a
Gwinnet and
Button
portrait.
John
Mart arc not
Trumbull
in
s
"Decla
The portrait of Thomas
Eight others are.
we do not learn who is the painter.
Hall
Lynch,
Robert
There
are
Stockton s is in the Hall, painted by Connaroe, after
Declaration of Independence" which could not have
six portraits on the
been taken from life by Trumbull in 1789, because the men were deceased
Then how are we to solve the problem, even though it be
before that time.
ration of Independence."
is
Jr.,
promised to the
;
"
narrowed down to so
Is
not
it
fair
to
fine
a point
?
assume that an
artist
of Trumbull
s
reputation,
bearing
conscientious man?
pictures painted by him, was a
could
his
in
which
are
that
the
and
pictures, though they
eight portraits
the
in
from
from
were
not have been taken
possession
portraits
life,
copied
either of the existing families or from friends ?
Might there not have been
some rambling artist like the French St. Memin, who was here about that
in
mind various other
We assert that
persons?
Trumbull could not afford to affix a falsehood to such a national picture,
when hundreds, living at the time he painted it, knew the whole of the eight
Have we any
persons and could have been able to identify all of them.
time,
and
executed
silhouettes
of
hundreds
of
If so, it
contemporary protest against the untruthfulness of the portraits?
has not yet come within our knowledge.
Edmund Savage engraved Washington s portrait in 1789.
portrait
painter of the name of Smith, and one of the name of Polke, painted Wash
A
Robert Edge Pine is well known as a portrait painter. He
ington s portrait.
had a similar project to that of Trumbull, and painted the portrait of Thomas
Hopkinson also the portraits of General Gates, Charles Carroll, Baron Steuben
;
;
and he remained several weeks at Mount Vernon, and painted the portrait of
Such other artists as Sharpless, Westmuller, Martin Gallagher,
Washington.
Malcolm Earle were portrait painters.
Robertson, Belzoni Roberts, and
Mathew
of
Pratt,
1788, and
streets,
in
1788, painted the prominent members of the Convention
they figured as a sign at the corner of Chestnut and Fourth
Philadelphia, and the portraits were
See Historical Magazine 1859-60.
spectators.
a
identified
by
Edward Wright
all
crowds
of
also
painted
of Washington.
C. W. Peale is well known.
John Hazlitt also
T. Earle painted portraits in Connecticut in 1775, and
portraits.
portrait
painted
He studied with West, and
painted portraits of many distinguished persons.
returned to this country in 1786, and painted Roger Sherman, and probably
He painted Mr. Alexander Hamilton in
well-known
In the
author, also painted portraits.
1787.
summer of 1783 he painted the portrait of Washington. The portraits which
he painted are numerous.
Robert Fulton, the first who successfully applied
steam to vessels, also was a portrait painter in New York, in 1785.
The above were all portrait painters contemporaries of one or more, if
many
other statesmen of that time.
W. Dunlap,
the
PORTRAITS OF THE SIGNERS.
not of
vii
the Signers
hence, is it not in accordance with the character and
of
Trumbull
to
assume that what portraits he had not got of the
position
all
Signers were in the possession of the artists named, and were given to
him to use for such a grand national
To assume they did not,
object?
would be contrary to our knowledge of the customs and courtesies one
artist extends to another.
The name of Gilbert Stuart is a household word.
Trumbull, in his autobiography, makes clear many points which would
otherwise be of little weight. At page 147, he writes:
resumed my labors,
however, and went on with my studies of other subjects of the history of
"I
the
Revolution, arranged carefully the composition for the
Declaration of
Independence, and prepared it for receiving the portraits as I met with the
distinguished men who were present at that illustrious scene." Again, page
May, went to Philadelphia, where I obtained some portraits
* * *
work.
In September I went into the country, passed some
my great
time with my family, then went on to Boston and New
Hampshire, obtained
heads of several statesmen and military officers for my great work, and in
144:
1790:
"In
for
Boston received a handsome addition to my list of subscribers. I returned
through Connecticut to Philadelphia, to which place Congress had adjourned
from New York. In February I went to Charleston, South Carolina, and there
obtained
portraits of the
Rutledges, Pinckncys, Middleton, Laurcns, HeyOn the I7th
ward, etc., and a handsome addition to my list of subscribers.
of April, I sailed for Yorktown in Virginia, and there made a drawing of
the
spot where
dered
Wythc
in
1781
the
Philadelphia,
British
army,
commanded by Lord
November
the
to
Cornwallis,
surren
rode to Williamsburg and obtained a drawing of Mr.
Declaration.
General Washington, in a letter written in
then
"
2ist,
1791,
wrote
to
forward the plans of Trumbull
"Declaration of
Independence :"-" His
desiring him
of
;
for
the
General
Lafayette, in Paris,
publishing his engraving
so far as they are
piect>s,
in
executed, meet the approval of all who have seen them. The greatness of
the design, and the masterly execution of the work, interest equally the man
of capacious mind, and the approving eye of the connoisseur." Yale College
purchased a very large number of duplicate paintings which he had made
This catalogue
and they published a catalogue of them many years ago.
It is
is published in the appendix to Trumbull s autobiography, page 408.
All saw the correctness of the portraits (Declaration of Independ
stated
Many knew the accuracy of the countenances recorded." During the
ence).
have found but one record of one
investigation relative to this subject, we
"
of the portraits that of B. Harrison, of Virginia where there can be any doubt.
In page 367 of his autobiography, in a letter written to General Harrison,
New York, February i8th, 1818, he states: "Dear Sir: Since I wrote to you
have inquired of Mr. Peale, and have received
sesses no portrait of your father in his museum.
last,
I-
for
My
answer that he pos
sole
reliance
must,
PORTRAITS OF THE SIGNERS.
VI 11
be on such description as you and his friend, Colonel Meade, of
Kentucky, can furnish me." Trumbull seems to have been a man of system
and as this mention of B. Harrison s portrait is the only one among the fortysix he included in his picture, it is but fair and logical to assume that he did
therefore,
;
not meet with any material obstacle
certainly, as in the preceding
found.
may be
It
license
indulged
items concerning
the
Declaration
the collection of the rest of the portraits,
records of such obstacles would be
in
or
case,
had he chosen
just to assume, that,
by some
in
Harrison
"
of
s
artists,
The
portrait.
Independence,"
tion
of him had been obtained
that
a drawing based upon
to take the too
he would have omitted
it
is
common
altogether
the
Harrison being in
portrait
assumed that a personal descrip
of
from General
Harrison and
Colonel
Meade;
such description was submitted to them, and by
In the case of the death of a person, we know that this
them approved.
unsatisfactory method
we should have
none
has been adopted frequently and is it not better that
a portrait of Harrison under these conditions than
have
;
In court, the evidence adduced that Trumbull s
portraits of
were trustworthy would be not only fully admitted, but would
prove that, with the exception of Harrison s, they were either from life by
himself, or copied from reliable portraits; and had he designed to palm off
the
at
all?
Signers
or
fictitious
relative
to
evidence
ideal
the
ones, he
would not have written the record which he
portrait specially referred to.
that any
have great weight
This statement
allegations
in
ever
any
court.
we
trust,
will,
the
against
their
of
did,
contemporary
genuineness would
be the means of placing an unqualified
proof
the genuineness of the portraits in the
honesty of Trumbull, and
"Declaration of Independence."
as to
existed
The absence
CENTENNIAL
BOOK OF THE
SIGNERS.
HISTORY OF
THE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION.
Under
1851,
the
auspices of Prince Albert, in England, in
fairly be asserted that the era of great national
may
it
was
exhibitions
inaugurated.
expression of a modern
arms
Such
world
civilization which,
s
fairs
are
the
in its
embracing
mankind, furthers incalculably the progress of that
wide humanity which has but one word for Patagonian and
all
for
Esquimaux
African,
Asiatic
and
Europeanholy
brother.
Prior
to
and
other
smaller
greeting,
1851,
:f;xhJbitions were instituted in various parts of both Europe
and America, but that of London is entitled to rank as the
t<i.e
,
of any paramount national importance.
The number
of exhibitors exceeded 17,000, and the exhibition was open
first
sum
number of visitors
was 6,170,000, averaging 4,356 per dion. The sum total of
the receipts for admission was 505, 107
($25,025,535), and,
during 144 days;
the
total
of
the
/.
after
the deduction of
all
expenses, the net proceeds were
150,0007. ($750,000.)
In
land,
1852, similar exhibitions
and
In
1855,
in
Paris,
to
this
bitions
our
in
were held also
in
Cork, Ire
metropolis of New York.
instituted her first universal exhibition
own
France
meeting with great and merited success;
also, prior
period, various important, though not universal, exhi
had been arranged in that country, and tended
efficiently
to
her resources.
increase
her
internal
commerce and extend
:
HISTORY OF THE
2
The London Universal Exhibition
of 1862 was conducted
on a grand and liberal scale, and throughout its manage
kindred
ment and duration reflected great credit on our
The exhibition in Vienna, in 1873, was
the sea.
beyond
a spirit, and conducted in a manner, worthy
originated in
as it
of Austria in her palmiest days; but, magnificiently
to sundry causes political and finan
was
developed owing
cialthe splendid scheme was a
partial
failure,
and did not
a justly deserved pecuniary success.
thor
America, ever onward in her swift march, believing
of all things, confident in her
in the
bring in
its
train
oughly
perfectibility
and
vast.- .-purposes
sh e
..wisfi.HsolVed that
;>
v
aMvofki s
.fair
reflection,
>
too, wil1
America has
hold a universal exhibition-
commence May loth, 1876, and ter
How few, save
following November loth.
may
even a glimmer
catch
of
Some
few with whose acquaintance
are old enough to have seen Washington
days?
like-
that shall
minate on the
by
resources
illimitable
we
in
the
by-gone
are honored
the streets of
and can remember, as it were, the echoes ema
nating from the debates of the First Congress, held here
during the troublous times from 1776 to 1783. Our Cen
this
city,
tennial
Exhibition
is
to
of that Liberty which
teen States,
is
be held
the
and here we
in
this
daughter of
the Birth-place
each of the Thir
city,
shall gladly enter a short
record
The origination
steady growth.
of the idea is claimed, with more or less justness, by many
zealous persons; this, however being simply a synoptical
of
its
conception and
record of
its
its
existence in a material form,
is
not the place for
the registration of personal controversy.
The first record, in 1871, of an official character,
is
the
CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION.
3
request of the councils of Philadelphia, also of the legisla
ture of Pennsylvania, to
the Government at Washington,
to take action in the matter; which
body, after mature
deliberation, passed
the
following
laws:
NATIONAL AUTHORITY.
The
gress
duties
following preamble and section of an act of Con
indicates the character of this Commission and its
:
THE ACT CREATING THE UNITED STATES CENTENNIAL
COMMISSION.
AN ACT
to
provide
for
of American
One Hundredth
the
celebrating
by holding an
International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures, and Pro
ducts of the Soil and Mine, in the city of Philadelphia,
Anniversary
Independence,
and State of Pennsylvania,
and seventy-six.
WHEREAS,
The
in the
Declaration
of
year eighteen
hundred
of
Independence
the
United States of America was prepared, signed, and pro
mulgated in the year seventeen hundred and seventy-six,
in
the city
people of
of Philadelphia; and whereas, it behooves the
the United States to celebrate, by appropriate
ceremonies, the centennial anniversary of this memorable and
decisive event, which constituted the fourth day of July,
Anno
Domini,
birthday of
that
the
the
seventeen
nation;
of
hundred
and whereas,
the
first
and
it
seventy-six,
is
deemed
century of
completion
existence shall be commemorated by an
our
exhibition
the
fitting
national
of
the
HISTORY OF THE
4
natural resources of the country
and
their
development, and
progress in those arts which benefit mankind in com
parison with those of older nations; and whereas, no place
is so
appropriate for such an exhibition as the city in which
of
its
designed to commemorate; and
whereas, as the exhibition should be a national celebration,
occurred
in
it
event
the
it
is
which the people of the whole country should participate,
should have the sanction of the Congress of the United
States: therefore,
Be
enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of America in Congress
assembled, That an exhibition of American and foreign
arts,
o
SECTION
i.
it
products and manufactures shall be held, under the auspices
of the government of the United States, in the
city of
Philadelphia, in the year
eighteen
hundred and seventy-six.
The
following proclamation of the President
national character of the exhibition:
the
PROCLAMATION
indicates
:
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
WHEREAS, by
the Act of Congress
approved
March
third,
eighteen hundred and seventy-one, providing for a National
Celebration of the one hundredth
anniversary of the Inde
pendence of the United
national
Exhibition
by the holding of an Inter
Manufactures, and Products of
States,
of Arts,
and Mine, in the City of
Philadelphia, in the year
eighteen hundred and seventy-six, it is provided as follows:
That, whenever the President shall be informed
by the
Governor of the State of
that
the Soil
"
Pennsylvania
provision
has
CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION.
been made
for
purpose, and
herein
dent
the
for
provided
shall,
of
erection
the exclusive
of the
for
through the
suitable
5
buildings
for
the
by the Commission
control
proposed Exhibition, the Presi
Department of
mation of the same, setting
State,
procla
time at which
the
forth
make
the
Exhibition will open, and the place at which it will be held,
and he shall communicate to the
diplomatic representatives
of all nations copies of the same,
together with such reg
ulations
as
may be adopted
publication in their respective
the
by
commissioners,
for
countries;"
And
whereas, His Excellency the Governor of the said
State of Pennsylvania did, on the
twenty-fourth day of
June, eighteen hundred and seventy-three, inform me that
provision has been made for the erection of said buildings
and
for
by the Commission provided
in the said act of the proposed Exhibition;
And whereas, the President of the United States Cen
the exclusive control
for
Commission has officially informed me of the dates
for the opening and closing of the said Exhibition, and
tennial
fixed
the
at
Now,
which
be held:
it
is
to
therefore, be
it
known
place
that
I,
ULYSSES
S.
GRANT,
President of the United
conformity with the pro
visions of the act of Congress aforesaid, do hereby declare
and proclaim that there will be held, at the city of Phila
States, in
International
Pennsylvania, an
Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures and Products of the Soil
and Mine, to be opened on the tenth day of May, Anno
Domini, eighteen hundred and seventy-six, and to be closed
delphia,
in
the
State
of
on the tenth day of November,
And
in the
interests
in
the
same
year.
of peace, civilization, and domestic
HISTORY OF THE
6
I commend the
and international friendship and intercourse,
of the United
Celebration and Exhibition to the people
I
and in behalf of this government and people,
States;
cordially
commend them
to
all
nations
who may be
pleased
to take part therein.
hand
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done
at the city
of Washington, this
third
and
day of
one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three,
an d of the Independence of the United States the
U. S. GRANT.
ninety-seventh.
July,
By
the President:
HAMILTON
FISH,
Secretary of State.
The message above
to
the
referred to
by President Grant
relates
providing means for the purpose of erecting
Hall, toward which the sum of $1,000,000 was
State
Memorial
grants of money
made by the city of Philadelphia, which, in all, has appropri
ated $1,650,000; the sum of $75,000 was expended in order
to meet the expenses of the Centennial Commission; the
granted,
and
relates
also
to
the
various
have subscribed $1,000,000. Weigh
a national and an American spirit, it is
citizens of Philadelphia
ing
each word in
be keenly regretted that the Government at Washington
should have manifested a spirit of such coldness and indif
to
ference
to
an
object
reject all appeals
for
of
such universal
importance as to
pecuniary assistance in forwarding- the
But a government, even though loyal to true
principles and a fair exponent of its people s creed, somenoble work.
CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION.
times
behind, sometimes
falls
hours of
stern
7
75 and
In the
leaps in advance.
even the popular conventions
76,
were not swayed incessantly by that invincible resolve which
ever animated the body of the people
again and again
be over
to
fearing
rash,
or
to
outstep their
constituents,
In our
they were unintentionally false to the general wish.
day too, though, God be thanked, in less fearful times, and
with another and less grave matter in hand, the leaders
once more the people gave
oneness of feeling testified that
hesitated;
ican
ceased
to
teach,
the
voice
of
the
Our over-ocean brethren
right.
call
its
voice,
as
many
and Amer
Jefferson
the
is
never
voice
of
us a congress of states;
a many-limbed creature
a rope of sand devoid of tenuity;
This is a merited,
devoid of the principles of true unity.
a just reproach where measures not affecting the real life
of the nation
young
boy,
are concerned;
shown
we have
yet, within
the
to
the
memory
of a
wondering world
an
example, the unparalleled example, of a oneness of will
which would brook no boundaries narrower than the Atlantic
and the
Pacific, the lakes
petulance apart,
New York
to
we
San
and the Gulf of Mexico.
are as
A
state,
have responded heartily to any call,
relative to an object of such genuine impor
tance, as a Universal
whom
American Exhibition.
alas!
we
to
simulant, et Bacchanalia vimint;
like
Now,
guide our helm, have only politicians
the line of Juvenal may well apply:
Qtii Curios
have not statesmen
live
Florida, from
years ago, would
from any
to
to
knowledge of the past
a senate and congress which sat
Francisco.
warrants the assertion that
forty
one from Maine
Brotherly
Bacchanals.
Yet,
who
memory
affect to
of
be Curii and
days gone by and
HISTORY OF THE
8
days at hand, plucks from us the ability to render to them
e en this woful praise; rather, they scorn the affectation
of
being Curii, and outride every Bacchanal.
well,
despite
But
all
unnational spirit of the government: the
responded, and success looms greater with
the
people have
each offering from our sister
states.
ORGANIZATION.
President:
JOSEPH
R.
HAWLEY.
Vice-Presidents :
ALFRED
JOHN
D.
T.
is
ORESTES CLEVELAND,
ROBERT LOWRY,
ROBERT MALLORY.
GOSHORN,
CREIGH,
Director General:
ALFRED
T.
GOSHORN.
Secretary
JOHN
L.
:
CAMPBELL.
Assistant Secretary:
DORSEY GARDNER.
Counselor
JOHN
L.
and
Solicitor:
SHOEMAKER.
1
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
THE
sketch
following
IN condition
of the
it
colonies
is
purposed
previous
to
portray the
outbreak of
the
to
revolution and during its progress; also, to contrast it
with the present condition of those states and twenty-five of
their children.
No more opportune moment could possibly
the
such an essay than does the approaching Cen
tennial Celebration which is to take place in this city, the
offer itself for
birthplace of
American
and ending the
The
commencing May
following November loth.
liberty,
loth,
1876,
and character of a people are pro
ducts of slow growth, and to the Saxon and Anglo-Saxon
this remark applies more forcibly and peculiarly than to the
habits, customs,
more mercurial
Comparatively speaking, the records of
history exhibit distinctly and unmistakably the phlegm and
dormancy of the former races; the impulsiveness and vol
atility
of the
whether
in
Celt.
latter.
Germany,
A
rapid glance
or where her
toward Saxon annals,
sons
have
emigrated,
leveling and iconoclastic
age, certain modes of thought, certain customs and charac
teristics which crop out, as it were, through sheer instinct.
enables
Man
with
all
us to detect, even
is
in
this
by nature a conservative animal;
the animal conditions of
life fulfilled,
if left
unassailed
he cares
little for
revolutions or social innovations; dreading changes,
no matter in what form or guise. Like our contemporaries,
political
the
wandering Koraks of
Siberia, he
neither
knows nor
is
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
io
This people, although living under
desirous of a change.
the government of Russia, and brought almost daily under its
influence; although living in the
most primitive manner, with
the reindeer as a companion; although suffering from exposure
and
privations
over
all
country where cold
a
in
paramount
reigns
where the thermometer marks seventy degrees below
zero in winter; although living in huts so rudely constructed
that ingress is obtained at the top;
yet cannot be forced or
abandon
to
persuaded
its
will
ancestral usages;
not yield
its
conservatism, even under the powerful influences of the strong
has been roughly
It
government which rules over them.
men
asserted that
in
their
heads;
s
brains are oftener in their stomachs than
though by no means
existence of a certain
the
amount
flattering to
of truth
in
humanity,
the assertion
must be conceded.
That great revolutions have proceeded
more
physical
directly
from
needs
than
from
a
desire
to
apparent to merit any contradic
tion that those physical needs have, in nearly all cases, been
the ripeners of germs of thought from Confucius to the pre
develop the
aesthetic, is too
;
The
not readily be denied by the scholar.
immediate causes of all the great battles that have been
fought, from Marathon to Waterloo, may be traced more
sent era,
will
directly to
an
ambitious craving for
wealth, than to the offspring of
portion
real
have been composed of
lutely forced to
combat against
As
far
vital
men have
that the armies
nation.
and
power and
want.
That
generally been the cause of the
of famous frays will scarcely be denied, or
but few ambitious
major
any
increased
men who were
their feelings
and
back as the sixteenth century, the
abso
their incli
men who
colonized this country were, in the majority of cases, political
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
or
malcontents, or those
religious
11
who suffered under the
The wealthier adventurers
displeasure of their governments.
brought with them their servants, and at once entered upon
an agricultural
Loving
life.
ever bound by
their fatherland,
and
they found their
In the
chief glory in being Englishmen and English subjects.
subsequent erection of their governments they brooded over
the strong ties of veneration
no Utopian
tions,
ideas, and, far
from desiring independent jurisdic
asked no more than to find shelter within the shadow
of that
The
they loved so well and steadfastly.
different charters were granted under the sanction of
home power
the crown,
and
respectively,
and
affection,
the various laws, established
were constructed
spirit of
those
documents.
thousand miles Englishmen
in
England struck hands, while
in
by the colonies
accordance with the
letter
Across the chasm of three
America and Englishmen
each
heart
beat
in
in
unison,
The haughty and
responding to each act of parliament.
wealthy aristocrat, who, ostracised at home for political or
other offences, trod upon the virgin soil of the west, stamped
his hauteur and his pride.
ineffaceably upon the whole country
His life-purpose was
fect them in order to
He
subordinated
brought over
his
develop his peculiar ideas and per
love of wealth.
gratify his ambition and
to
He
not only
own vassals, treating them as such were
but also purchased negroes, and availed
all
things
to
that purpose.
treated in England,
himself of Indian labor
in
the elaboration of the views with
Increased power kept pace with his
increase of needs; and, proprietor of entire counties and abso
lute lord over several hundreds of servitors, he rapidly became
which he had
as
set forth.
one of the old-time feudal barons.
If austere
in
his per-
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
12
sonal
habits,
toward
and
nal,
his
he was, as a
to a certain extent,
his
deportment
government was pater
it was
patriarchal in its character,
While
dependants.
kindly in
rule,
his
based on that love and veneration for justice which has ever
been admired both in England and America.
Thus wrote George Mason,
of
Bill
Rights
gentleman here
for
is
of Virginia, in 1773: "Every
Practised in acts of
born a petty tyrant.
the
despotism and cruelty,
humanity and
all
the distinguished author of the
state
we become
callous to the dictates of
the finer feelings of the soul.
regard a part of our
own
species in the
Taught to
most abject and con
temptible degree below us, we love that idea of the dignity
of man which the hand of nature hath planted in us for great
and
useful
A
purposes."
"
Emigrants in the
edited by John Camden Hotten, from MSS.
years 1600-1700,"
in her Majesty s Public Record Office, published in 1874,
will
reference to the
Original
Lists of
of the present families of
Virginia are intimately connected with those early sojourners
in America.
The first historian of Virginia, Ralph Homer,
exhibit clearly the fact that
is
of
there recorded as
servants.
among
Twenty-one
many
the emigrants, with a large retinue
counties in Virginia,
comprising
nearly a quarter of the state, are said to have once belonged
to one family
that of Fairfax: but
during the revolution,
because of loyalty to Great Britain, every acre was confiscated.
This
a very suggestive one,
showing, as it does, con
siderable numbers of wealthy men of
high standing in Eng
list
is
land arriving in Virginia with from fifty to over one hundred
dependants attached to their households. The decadence, in
England, of feudalism may be said fairly to have been well
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
13
represented by those emigrants
by the vast retinues of servi
tors
although it had long ago ceased to be legal in England.
This feudalism, which was fast giving way in
England to the
force
and power of modern thought, received
in the colonies
a fresh impetus by the introduction of s4aves by the Dutch
in 1619.
That act will forever stand as a blot upon the page
of Virginia s history; although at that time the
usage of
modern nations was her justification, and even continued so
during two subsequent centuries.
As the habits and customs of nations are slow
in
their
growth, so are these nations slow in throwing off what has been
the product of centuries and it is but fair to presume that those
;
landed gentry of England had all the desire of power fostered
by their forefathers, which is an instinct of the Anglo-Saxon
race.
It
is
difficult to
draw the
power begins and where
where the proper use of
line
should end.
it
As
a general axiom,
cannot be denied that the abuse of power is more frequent
than its proper use.
The history of all nations, whether
written or unwritten, hold this indisputable.
Nor can we
it
draw too
on those men, born and educated to use
was an heirloom in the family, even if it
tight a line
power as though it
was too harshly exercised.
gentry of England
mode
of
The white
became
power exercised by
servants of those landed
impregnated with the use and
their masters;
and, in the course
of them, either by industry or superior ability,
of time,
many
pressed
themselves forward
;
and,
gaining higher positions,
became personages of importance like unto their former mas
Thus the colonies became established and increased
ters.
;
their populations so largely, that the
careful parental control over
u
them
for
mother country exercised
a great
number of
years,
i
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
4
loved England more than did the colonists:
that affection, and almost passionate
nay, distance increased
The literature of England was their mental
love for her.
No Englishman
and Shakespeare, her Bacon and Milton,
sacred as the Bible, and were inexhaustible
food; her Chaucer
were
to
them
as
fountains of pure knowledge and intellectual grandeur which
no nation of ancient or modern times has ever equaled. No
on this subject
greater tribute was ever offered to England
than that paid by one of the noble, though singular and erratic,
sons of Virginia, John Randolph, of Roanoke.
It
was not
only the general literature of England of which the colonists
were proud, but the laws of England were to them the incar
The influence of
nation of the greatest wisdom of the age.
Magna Charta, with the great privileges which were wrung
from a proud king its trial by jury, habeas corpus, and Bill
of Rights all those great acts made them proud as citizens
of the colonies that had been founded by their fatherland.
Some among them knew, and
appreciated the fact, that
the birth of their Anglo-Saxonism dated markedly from the
period when the conqueror of Harold William of Normandy
power over England. From that epoch the
intermixture of the races became more general, although
recognizable traces of such an intermingling may be detected
established his
previous to, and at the time of the invasion of Julius Caesar.
They foresaw the future glory that would accrue to England
from the rapid colonization of
this
country
ment of her other dependencies, and
the Thirteen Colonies, are
the
full
;
and the develop
the records of each of
of loyal outpourings which, in
eloquent pages of Bancroft, testify amply to their filial
attachment. The mode of government of the colonies was by
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
no means
15
accordance with the republicanism of this age.
In the southern provinces it was patriarchal and paternal in
in
both form and
spirit,
while in the middle and northern colo
was stamped with intolerance and bigotry.
New England: this section was peculiar in
nies
it
of
acteristics
first
its
The
colonists.
religious
the
char
tyranny and
persecution then leveled against the Puritans and Indepen
dents, in England, was so severe that, rather than endure the
galling yoke, many of these resolved, after receiving news
of the success of the southern colonies, that they would league
themselves into a band, and seek a haven
The
"Mayflower"
was the
first
the
new
ship that carried this
Puritans to the sterile shores of
be forgotten
in
New
that, at that period, the
England.
It
human mind had
world.
band of
will
not
not the
embrace the wide-spread knowledge which
literature, science, and art now amplify,
permitting broader
and more exact ideas of the power and relations of things.
opportunity to
The
religious element at this date was the governing power
of nations, and its reflex accompanied all who were brought
under
influence; hence, to
its
condemn
too straitly the
dogma
tism of the early New England puritans would ill harmonize
Puritanism
with the broad and philosophic maxims of to-day.
being an offshoot of the Episcopal church of England, itself
an offshoot of the Roman church, whose persecutions were,
during many centuries, tolerated by the Christian world,
it could
scarcely be expected that what had been instilled,
during so
many
greater or
less
years, into the public mind, should not, to a
extent, be
imitated
by those Puritans when
balance of power.
Accordingly, as
their strength increased with the lapse of time, their laws and
they,
in
turn,
held
the
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
16
to
deferential regard
generally with
the laws of England, and the privileges of their charters,
were strongly tinged with over-nice theological leanings, bor
The
narrowness and injustice.
dering not seldom upon
statutes,
constructed
Laws of Connecticut, is a striking case in point.
Rhode Island, another example, had declared in
so-called Blue
Even
after
favor of confederation, a
was embodied
held
its
England
in
clause
disfranchising
her constitution, and
place in that document.
the conservatism of the
the Catholics
some time
for
after
whole history of
Anglo-Saxon was never
In
the
than in the deportment of her American
which took the hues of their English surroundings,
colonies;
and which, in all their acts, bore the unmistakable impress
better exemplified
of her character.
The southern
colonies
were,
in
their
religious
general
character, Church of England people; and the aggregate tenor
of their laws was favorable to the perpetuation of the Episco
tenets.
palian
Says Bancroft,
vol. ix. p. 275:
"Let
not the
philosopher hear with scorn, that their constitutions were so
completely the offspring of the past, and not the phantasms
them required some sort of
for office.
In Maryland and
of theories, that at least seven of
religious test as a qualification
Massachusetts,
Christian
it
religion
was
;
sufficient
to
declare
belief
in
the
South Carolina and Georgia, in the
and the divine authority of the old and
in
Protestant religion,
new testaments
in Pennsylvania, the test was
a belief in
God, the creator and governor of the universe, the rewarder
;
good and punisher of the wicked
acknowledgement, Delaware required the
of the
faith
in
;
besides this last
officer
to
God, the father, Jesus Christ his only son,
profess
and the
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
Holy Ghost, one God
element
blessed
forever
more."
17
The
pious
the constitutions of the Thirteen States, took
in all
high rank among the subsequent leading issues, and varied
but little from the spirit of the previous eentury. When the
members of the continental congress sat in this city in 1776,
and appointed a committee
draw up a declaration of inde
pendence, that pious element which had formerly pervaded
those constitutions was almost entirely eliminated.
In the
"Declaration"
can be
to
found
no
nor
word,
which
phrase,
with the tolerant and all-embracing liberality of its
This "declaration" marks a beneficent
great scope and aim.
era in the progress of modern thought, and evinces with
interferes
admirable clearness the strong desire permeating the political
and moral sentiment of that age.
Not that religion
was to
o
o
be ignored, nor yet made subservient to politics and morals,
but to assert the true and distinctive position of each one
relatively to the other.
This
asra
1776 was as
of
was a grand
Had England been more
untrammeled thought, as
stamp
act
was the
type, the
wise, had
fruitless
onward
for
free,
political victory for all
it
humanity.
from the enforcement of those
a victory
splendid
she turned
claims of which the
stride of progress
been greatly hampered with the
Further:
colonial system and charters.
have
would
preservation of
it
is
apparent to
the
all
students of history that, heavy as had been their burdens, the
great majority of the people, especially the wealthier colonists,
would have rather borne their ills, than have pursued that
needed course in which were so many frays and perils. Had
it
not been for the self-sacrificing
was the
E
first
to
recognize the
spirit
"United
of Washington, who
rather than
States,"
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
i8
that
supposition is tenable
to found a
failure might have been the result of the effort
here to ignore the valiant
It is not intended
free state.
a
of
"Confederacy
States,"
the
so
fought so well, suffered
much; but apparent limitations prevent any elaborate detail,
and permit but a reference to the most important fact: that
struggles
of
soldiers
the
who
was voluntarily
hands of Washington, in whose ability
placed by them in the
In
and patriotism they placed great and merited reliance.
the collective military
power of
the
patriots
to a certain extent, like a
important revolutions man is,
child that looks only for succor and help to its mother: as
all
history exhibits,
man must worship some
idol
some one
of
companions who, by the strength of his own greatness,
Alex
has exemplified to him his will and power to rule.
ander, Hannibal, Cromwell, and Napoleon, were the leaders
his
Rome, Carthage, England, and France; and Washington in
America. Washington tempered power with mercy: if he or
dered the execution of an Andre, he sacrificed his humaneness
of
to his sense of
duty:
when
his
army was
retiring to winter
quarters at Valley Forge, his heart yearned with pity, causing
him inexpressible mental anguish; when the soldiers, filing
before
him
in rags
and
squalor,
many
stockingless
and shoe
tramping wearily over snow and ice, leaving their tracks
crimsoned with blood, he was hurt with sore pain and woe.
less
His every desire prompted him peremptorily to make a public
and decided demand on congress for his suffering troops;
but his duty as a true patriot consisted in making this appeal
quietly; and with an entire suppression of all unnecessary
publicity; otherwise, the knowledge of the general want and
destitution being
made known
to his
army, might have pre-
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
19
mutiny, and occasioned widespread despondency.
He knew of the cabals against him and knew too that his
brother patriot, John Adams, was under the influence of those
cipitated
who
same who once declared
a gentleman, he would shake hands
but he was in that house his superior."
called his policy
in
congress that
with the chieftain,
"
Fabian
"
the
"as
Notwithstanding the exertions of Gates, Conway, Mifflin, and
others, he ever pursued a straightforward and patriotic
policy
disgracing the members of the cabal,
himself countless honors and renown.
In 1776 he
that, ultimately,
won
for
was
the
who asked
congress for a "United States army;"
and besought them not to continue the struggle with irregular
squads of men destined to be transiently incorporated with
first
officer
the general army,
militia.
He saw
material, there
ated
demands
general a collection of orderless
with such a heterogeneous mass of raw
itself in
that,
was small prospect of success; and
finally
induced congress to grant
his reiter
his constantly
preferred request.
This was a most
important innovation in states rights,
which was watched with marked jealousy by nearly every
member of the continental congress. The conservation of
their peculiar political
was one of
their
watchwords;
be attacked, by the first
man in the country, was a blow that fell upon them with
startling effect; but the stern logic of events necessitated
the measure, and withdrawal was impossible.
It should be
and, for this
rights
almost sacred right
carefully borne in
mind
to
that Virginians
were prouder of being
Virginians than Americans.
every colony; and,
the importance
of
this
This sectional pride pervaded
understood, it is easy to comprehend
the revolution effected
by Washington
HIS 7 ORICAL MONOGRAPH.
20
when, from
organize a
reluctant
a
States
"United
drew
he
congress,
army."
the
to
power
That conquest over a
in its remoter effects on
cherished principle should, especially
the republic, be ranked as one of the grandest measures passed
of the earliest germs of
by the continental congress, one
national growth. It struck a deathblow to colonial despotism
;
and
it
was
this
measure
that,
within the century, rendered the
American, one to which
title
was
it
necessary
to
concede
respect and admiration.
After this act of congress, the prejudices of the colonies
received a shock from which it could never again recover.
The
would not bend
in
seemed implacable
logic of events
line of the
stern
any manner
could
not
The
recede.
progress of the Anglo-Saxon is irrevo
cable: the eye looks not back again, nor does the hand falter.
Once a Magna Charta extorted, trial by jury, habeas corpus,
forward
stride
in
declaration of independence, abolition of slavery in the Eng
the abolition of
lish colonies, the war of secession, and
slavery
in
the
United
once
States,
accomplished,
forever
No Englishman, no American, however much
accomplished.
he may have been opposed to the measures, ever now dreams
of
reinstating
those
relics
of
the
Those important
fully redeem the
past.
events took place, after centuries apart, that
race of their originators from the charge of either rashness
in
action, or
that,
to
the
apparent, that
peculiar
life,
even
volatility of
readers of this
its
qualities
object
of
the
is
It is
temperament.
essay, it will be
to
point out and
Anglo-Saxon
even when clashed with the
Celt.
one of the great springs of human
believed
palpable
and
generalize the
his
struggle for
This pride of race is
in
action,
and through
its
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
influences
nations
character.
Truth
was
originally
are
modified, or
materially
will not
colonized
be injured by
by the
21
changed
illustration.
French,
and
the
in
Canada
brilliant
pages of Parkman can be read with interest and profit; the
stern and inflexible Jesuit Laval being there painted with
her rigid and merciless decrees the church
moulded the aboriginals to her will on several occasions the
masterly
skill.
By
;
temporal power of the crown made some progress, but, gen
erally, the ecclesiastical influence carried away all obstacles.
This reign of the church in Canada continued until its
Thereafter the
conquest and annexation by the English.
province lived a new life. English emigrants arrived, bearers
of religious views in direct and deadly antagonism with
the resident Catholic element.
The genius and learning of
Bacon, Milton, Locke, and others, had so thoroughly impreg
nated the minds of those Anglo-Saxons that it tended to
isolate
them
completely from the French occupants; and,
their hard labor and practical common sense, to
through
work out their own salvation.
A
comparison of the French
portion of the people of Montreal will to-day reveal a marked
distinction in national character existing in their surroundings.
The former people, notwithstanding that they are surrounded
by modernized thought in
and forms, are, to this day,
all
its
even
various and varying phases
in
Montreal, in their section
changed from what they were a century ago.
In the inner agricultural portions of French Canada, where
the attrition of thought and physical actions are feebler and
of the
less
city,
potent,
Champlain,
little
the people are essentially unchanged.
Nay, if
or Laval, were to revisit those parts, either would
in either the original mind, or
perceive scarcely any change
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
22
matter, of their fellow countrymen.
The
application of this
with great force even to
that country is overrun daily with
agricultural France; though
It is not even
tourists from all parts of the civilized world.
idea, strange as
it
may
necessary to penetrate
seem,
into the interior;
far
any one landing
a few hours there, will observe the
who may spend
at Calais,
fits
costume of centuries ago
sounds paradoxical when
still
it
This
worn by the peasant.
considered
is
acknowledged modeler of fashions
that Paris
is
for the civilized world,
the
but
cannot be gainsaid. This vitality of action in Paris, and
in the larger cities, is caused by the frequent attritions of force
This idea could
brought into action by resident foreigners.
be amplified with abundance of citations and evidence, but
facts
it
would not come within the scope of
very
far
out of our
own
this
essay to travel
country.
The signers of the Declaration of Independence were a
composite of nationalities: two were Englishmen, Robert
Morris and
Button Gwinnett;
three
were
Irishmen, James
Matthew Thornton; two were
Scotchmen, James Wilson and John Witherspoon; one was
a Welshman, Francis Lewis: the remaining forty-eight were
Smith, George Taylor, and
A
glance at the names will at once
convince every one of the Anglo-Saxon origin of the whole.
The names of the three Irishmen are purely Anglo-Saxon;
all
born
in the colonies.
and a genealogical analyzation of
a
perfect
accordance with
the
their origin
position
probable exception of Charles Carroll.
would
claimed,
result in
with
The members
the
of the
continental congress will, in intellectual
strength and ability
compare favorably with the most favored legislators during
any period of
history, or in
any portion of the world.
The
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
23
statesmen of the commonwealth under Cromwell were
gener
ally men of rare merit and ability; but if England had then
her Cromwell, we had afterward our
if she
Washington;
had her Hampden, we had
John Adams; if a Pym, there
was our Franklin; if Sir John Elliot, there was our
Jefferson;
the Earl of Stratford, Charles Carroll of Carrollton;
for
Sir
Henry Vane, our Robert Morris; and
there was John Hancock.
The apposition
not expected to stand a
for
of
for
Henry Marten
these names is
mental analysis, but simply
to illustrate
positions, in a certain relative manner, as members
of two great legislatures.
The assembly over which Robe
critical
hand possessed a Mirabeau,
a Desmoulins, and others of
sparkling and flaming genius
but what a sad commentary on human nature! Again, take
spierre ruled with a sanguinary
;
the
parliament which sat under George III., while he was
aiming at the utter submission of the colonies, and compare
elements with those of the continental congress.
It had
a Pitt, a Fox, and a Burke, a trio of men resplendent for
their genius
a galaxy that would honor the most favored
its
How
nations.
their
powerful eloquence pleaded for the
colonies against the tyranny of an imbecile king and worse
administration! What comfort and joy their stirring words
produced
field
in the heart
in the legislatures
of the soldier on
or stockings, and
in
the
rags
camping ground, without shoes
of
all
this,
form but a very remote and limited
congress did not produce a Fox, a
venture to assert,
its
collective
superior, to that parliament of
Among
the
of the farmer in his
signers of the
we can
If the
idea.
Pitt,
this
time
continental
or a Burke, yet,
wisdom was
George
at
equal,
if
we
not
III.
Declaration of Independence
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
24
were twenty-four lawyers, fourteen farmers, nine
merchants,
four physicians, one
Gospel minister, three who were educated
lor
the
ministry, but
manufacturer.
those
of
the
who chose
other avocations, and
If the
pages of Hansard were compared with
"Debates
in the Conventions
one might
"
admire more the eloquence of Pitt the
electrifying
Fox, or the stately periods of Burke; but, in
m
one
effects
practical
sound common sense,
in
actions
city
with treason and
by day and by night
their honor too, were
all
method,
the calmness which characterized
when driven by
their
of
the king s
army from
city to
its
consequences, following them
when their lives and fortunes, if not
who would not discern the
greatest qualities which adorn human nature?
True, those
men had faults inseparable from human
nature, but in the
at
stake
congress they sought to subordinate
Some
all
to the
general
good.
and good men were with -that
body who could
not agree with all its actions, and
thought the measures were
talented
extreme: John Dickinson was the
most distinguished
)seph Galloway stood upon the same
while
common ground
Dickinson was deprived of his
rights as an American citizen
Dut
these
were
subsequently
restored to him.
The Loyalists
of the Revolution were a
numerous and influential
body of
men; from the state of Massachusetts
alone, after the evacuaof Boston
by the royal army, upward of eleven hundred
those adherents to the crown
retired with it
In "Sabine s
the American
Loyalists
Revolution," is found the
following:
Th 1S number
includes, of course, men, women and
children
the men,
however, were many persons of
distinguished
rank and consideration. Of
members of the council, commis
sioners, officers of the customs, and
other officials there were
:ion
m
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
25
one hundred and two; of clergymen, eighteen; of inhabitants
of country towns, one hundred and five; of merchants and
other
who
persons
resided
in
Boston,
two
hundred
thirteen; of farmers, mechanics, and tradesmen, three
*
*
*
* *
and
Unless
eighty-two.
and
Galloway
hundred
a
name
appear in this work was mistaken, the Loyalists
of the middle colonies were ready to enter the
military service
often
to
for the
crown
William
in large
Howe
New
that city, in
camp
to
repaired
and
Jersey,
embodied quite 5,000;
to his
when
issued a proclamation
men would have
3,500
His statement
numbers.
that
his
New
in
upward of
to offer their services in
in
under Sir William
in
arms
P-
25.
had Sir
Philadelphia,
standard;
that
in
York, he could have
fifty
gentlemen went
disarming the disaffected,
but failing to obtain even an interview, retired
that,
that
is
in disgust;
and
s
successor, 5,000 actually appeared
for the defence of the city of New York."
Vol. I.,
In order to appreciate
still
further the trials
and
difficulties,
Congress of Freemen had to encounter, see page 34 of
Col. Joseph Reed, of Pennsyl
the above-mentioned work.
is
said:, the Virginians are so alarmed
vania, writes:
this
"It
with
idea of
the
independence
that
they have
sent
Mr.
Braxton on purpose to turn the vote of that colony [Virginia]
if
any question on that subject should come before congress."
Again,
but a
p.
35,
little
Sabine
correspondence occurred
more than three months previous to the time
when congress
As
"This
actually declared the Thirteen Colonies to be
and independent
free
states:
States."
course of inquiry proceeds, the collective talent,
of the congress of 1774
1776 rises
integrity, and wisdom
G
this
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
26
higher and brighter in comparison with any known similar
When it is further considered that this was the
assembly.
first attempt
in
all
history
feudalism or Caesarism
ence
more
devout
to
found a republic
free
from
our respect grows
deeper, our rever
for
this
rare
assembly
of
men.
No
precedent in Greek or Roman republics could be found on
which to base the natural
rights of man which were so
eloquently expounded by Paine, in his "Common Sense,"
and
"Rights
"Oceana"
of
Man: "--The
"Republic"
of Harrington;
of
Plato;
the
the
of More; the
"Utopia"
grand
and comprehensive wisdom of Bacon and
Milton were doubtwell read and
digested by Jefferson, John Adams,
and
Rutledge,
others, but it was
necessary to eliminate such
portions
of
wisdom
order of things.
difficult
as
might well suit the then existing
That task was rendered more and
more
by the jealousies necessarily inseparable from the
previous relative positions of the colonies who feared
lest the
new order of things
might take away or annul those
rights
which
they deemed unalterable.
These serious difficulties
with
the
coupled
Loyalist troubles produced grave
questions
an
ultimate settlement.
-edmg
As time is
now mellowing
vn the political differences which
caused the war of seces
sion, an illustration of some
points from it will show more
that
the
same trend of undercurrents never
learly
cease to
who have lived
through the unparalleled war
ch ravaged and struck at the
whole country, from 1861 to
B6 4 when
nearly 500,000 men were in arms, which
We
,
paralyzed
smess and commerce, and made men
fear for the
safety of
Amenca-we marveled at the
strength of our own power
th and south, to do and act
as we
did.
During the
last
DOMESTIC CONDITION.
27
year of the conflict, the sufferings and privations of those in
the southern army bore a strong resemblance to the manifold
troubles sustained by the
army
of Washington.
The
grit,
the
courage, and
race, is
long continued suffering and obstinacy of the
as encouraging as ever.
In the midst of that lament
we
thought that greater and nobler qualities
had been developed than upon any former occasion; but, if
able conflict,
all
take a cool and unimpassioned view of things, and com
pare what was done by the continental congress and army,
we observe the presence of greater qualities for abstract right
we
than can be credited
the
war of the
rebellion
physical victories in
on land;
to
men
either
party in
the
last
For
war.
we may
indisputably claim greater
and in armaments, both on sea and
but, in victories that, in the abstract, are to
be classed
with the highest and most profound statesmanship victories
of the creative order, where men showed they were not only
the
the creatures of circumstances, but the creators of them
men
of the revolution of
1776 are as yet unequaled
in
the
highest qualities of statesmanship.
DOMESTIC CONDITION IN 1776 AND
1876.
This part of our subject is so wide and varied that a
The domestic
synoptical view alone must necessarily suffice.
lives of the
lution
were,
colonists previous
as
are
those
of
order.
to,
all
and long
agricultural
after,
the revo
peoples,
of a
The country was
sparsely
be
occasional
visits
could
made; and,
only
populated, so that
as a natural result, the cultivation of many wants was not
comparatively primitive
fostered.
than our
In our present state our wants are much greater
The southern colonies aimed at a much
needs.
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
28
scale than the eastern and middle colonies.
Virginia
higher
o
a
in
measure,
led the way in aristocratic pretensions; and,
looked with a degree of derision on her northern sisters.
author
It is not many years since W. Gilmore Simms, the
of
many
made
valuable historical American romances,
the
it
idea always to choose the gentlemen from the south;
and from the north, the boors and clowns. In the middle of
rulino-
gatherings were not frequent.
of American Society," states,
the last century, social
Ellet
her
in
have
assembly said
1748, had its subscription
first
"The
"Queens
to
dancing
Mrs.
15:
p.
been held
in
list mostly filled
Philadelphia, in
with names of English families, attached to the Church of
The list was under the direction of John Inglis
England.
and other gentlemen, and each subscription was forty shillings.
The custom was universal among men of wearing the hair
up with ribbon, in a long bunch, in a form called a queue.
Gentlemen s coats were made of cloth or velvet, of all colors;
tied
the collar being sometimes of a different
In
the
scarlet
silk
supreme court the judges,
faced
gowns."
with black velvet;
Again,
28:
p.
dinner given at Washington
arrival, as
dent
s
the least
table.
of mutton.
The
showy
and led the way
in
"Mr.
winter,
the
wore robes of
summer,
Wingate
coat.
full
black
describes
the
house, the day after his wife s
of any he ever saw at the Presi
s
and dined on boiled leg
one glass of wine was offered to
chief said grace,
After dessert,
each guest; and,
in
hue from the
when
it
to the
had been drunk, the President rose
drawing room.
Mrs. Washington held her
first
Two
days afterward
levee; the President continu
Mrs.
ing to receive every Tuesday afternoon.
received from eight to ten every Friday evening.
Washington
The
levees
DOMESTIC CONDITION.
were
attended
numerously
elegant, or refined
in
by
society; but
all
that
"there
was
fashionable,
were no places
the intrusion of the rabble in crowds; or for the
and boisterous
29
for
more coarse
partisan, the vulgar electioneer, or
the
impu
dent place-hunter, with boots, frockcoats, or roundabouts, or
with patched knees and holes at the elbows. On the
contrary,
they were select and more courtly than have been given by
Mrs. Washington was
any of the President s successors.
careful
in
knew
she
her drawing room to exact those courtesies to which
her husband entitled."
This picture of society contrasts very strongly with the
customs of our day.
The cheapness and simplicity of the
President s table would scarcely be tolerated by the first class
mechanic of to-day.
There are very few, if any, respectable
asked out even to dine, would not con
people now, who, if
sider themselves very meanly and scurvily treated, if proffered
the same fare.
But a levee? and to dine thus in the Presi
dent
s
house!
The
heads in horror!
plebeians of this age would hold up their
But how grand this noble simplicity! how
becoming in the conduct of a president of a country that knew
and valued the simplicity of republicanism! Washington knew
that while he was in the presidential chair, he was expected
to sacrifice his inclinations
now, as he had sacrificed them
many
times before, for the general benefit of the country. The dig
nity and form of government must be held and reverenced
with the highest respect; and he was the. head of that govern
ment, which he knew also was an experiment in the annals
of
mankind;
that
its
incipient
great prudence and foresight.
civilized
H
stages
He knew
world were looking to
this
required
from him
that the eyes of the
country with envy and
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
30
and trying with
scorn,
obstacle in
all
its
throw every kind of
enforce respect from other
to
might
way. In order to
governments, he felt that his government must respect itself
by a due observance of those forms and courtesies which
society
its
demanded.
his general
conduct,
Washington,
was the true
if
proud and aristocratic
reflex of his
age;
from that standard we must view his
The
life.
this
age regret deeply that plebeianism has
of nature s true
Had we less
aristocracy.
as
it
is
understood
habits
were
reflected
in
it
thinkers
taken the
is
of
place
rampant democracy,
to-day, and
more natural
society would not be so degraded.
unexpensive
and
in
of
aristocracy,
The
primitive simplicity
people, in the colonies,
the
a very impressive
manner by
the
members
of the continental
In the southern states
congress.
many
houses yet remain which
the
silently express
solid, but not
showy, manners-in which lived the
people who suffered so
iuch in
this
building up
Their homes were
republic.
open
and that kind of
-11,
is
not
even
hospitality
yet entirely
The beggar was never turned adrift
without
the
nstance;
wanderer was
kindly entertained, and the
gn traveler was especially provided for. The dress
of
th men and women was
not of that
adopted; the few wealthy
however
forty or fifty
the present
for
men had
years;
yards of
silk
costly style at present
their
"court"
dress; which
the ladies did
not, as now, wear
or satin in one
dress; nor, as is
mode, load themselves with
laces and furbelows
expensive rings glittering with
diamonds, opals, and all
ds of
precious stones.
Nay, fortunes of hundreds of
thousands of dollars are
very frequently displayed on the
person in the balls and soir.es
given at many of ou
DOMESTIC CONDITION.
palatial
houses.
which
fare
was
may now
cities
of
Instead
served
at
boast of
the
Washington
many
s
carved woods, frescoed
solid,
the
table,
with
of
largest
palaces
embellished with
dollars,
picture galleries-
ceilings,
of which contain the clicf cTcettvres of rare
masters; libraries
bill
whose
millionaires
their
have cost hundreds of thousands of
costliest
but
plain,
31
European
books, tables
groaning
under massive silverware, viands rarest of the rare, wines
of numerous kinds and choicest qualities, tropical fruits,
confectionery
filled
made by
costly
French
music most charming; all
But political
fascinating.
this
waiters
cooks,
makes up a
economists
decided which of the two pictures
is
in
livery,
picture certainly
not, as
yet,
have
more
the
desirable in
one thing self-evident, that all are trying to
rise to the highest position which wealth can give; if wealth
can be used to elevate society, and not to pander to low
and groveling tastes, then, and then only, has wealth its true
However one may admire the social
and noble mission.
There
society.
is
and domestic condition of
denied that
the
it
colonists,
we have made many
(
yet cannot be
additions to our domestic
The
debarred the enjoyment.
happiness of which they were
value and benefit of many things are often not appreciated
Water, that indispensable supporter
save by their absence.
of
the
life,
was
houses
days of the colonists, brought into
Bath tubs, with
circulated through every room.
not,
in
hot and cold water
the
in
the house, were to
them unattainable
one can appreciate such things at their true
value unless they have once enjoyed them, and then been
There
in a position where they could not be obtained.
blessings.
No
placed
are
women
living
in
almost every
city
who
can remember
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
32
forced to go to the pump, or
having, every morning, been
the well, and draw the water as it was required for family
No matter where the thermometer was below zero, or
use.
work demanded its prompt accom
fair to assume, that however desirous were
be cleanly in their habits, they had not the
the nineties
among
It is
plishment.
our ancestors to
their
we, through the medium of our water
in every
arrangements, have to cleanse ourselves thoroughly
next to godliness."
"Cleanliness,"
says Wesley,
opportunities, which
"is
respect.
we have ample means to be the godliest people in the
world.
What could we do with our servants at this day
were they compelled either to pump the water, or to carry it
We fear to answer the question. Even
in from the well?
If so,
with
of
the conveniences
all
the
we
have, this help question
most serious of the day.
is
Tallow candles and
one
oil
only mediums of light in those colonial times.
Now, any city or town of a few thousands of people have
The old
the comfort and blessings of unstinted gas-light.
were
the
method of procuring
fire
was
flint
and
steel
:
now we
possess the lucifer match, and who can enumerate its benefits
In the winter, when all nature was
to the world at large?
robed in snow
his
the
of ice
grip
feet
and the
from
rivers
shoes of to-day. If
caused them to travel, what
to
encounter!
in the cold
shoes could
not protect
and cold so effectually as do our gum
their necessities, or duties, or pleasures,
colonist s
damp
and lakes bound
leather
difficulties
they were necessitated
There are many living
that
remember
the
ponderous and ungainly Conestoga wagon that traveled
from this city to the east and west, and many also that have
traveled
in
stage
coaches
hence to
New
York,
the
time
LITERATURE.
now
requiring three days, and
many hours! The
that
33
place
is
reached
in
as
lumbering family carriages of the richer
would
colonists
bring a smile
the
to
face
of
the
present
generation, accustomed to the fairy-like vehicles of to-day.
No
mind, howsoever imaginative, could have foreseen, in those
the
days,
with
the
transit
rapid
most
the
now
cars
palatial
constructed
recherche
steam
upholstering, heated with
lighted with gas, furnished with lounges rivaling eastern otto
mans,
beds
luxurious
that
will
lull
ice-water served in cut-glass goblets
and newspapers, sold on every train.
would appear
to
sleep the weariest,
with books, magazines,
Could they of olden
a dream
more than
time but see
this,
realizing the
gorgeous imagery of the Arabian Nights.
it
like
The
ancient post-office was a very conservative institution.
If, dur
ing the last century, a letter was sent to Europe from any part
of the colonies, the sender scarcely expected a response before
termination
the
of three
months.
Now, a
may be
letter
sent thither, and a reply received in one month!
certainly great and valuable revolutions; but
These are
how
when compared
with the marvels of the telegraph!
trate the acceleration of thought through these two
inferior
To
illus
mediums
would require a generalizing mind greater even than Bacon
We
can only partially conceive the various benefits to
s.
man
kind of the telegraph, by reflecting for a moment how many
much money, would have been saved to this
lives, how
country and England, during the revolutionary war, and that
of 1812. All are aware that weeks intervened between the
declaring of peace, and the making it known on this side
How much would the colonists have given,
of the ocean.
if
they
i
could
have
communicated
with
a
sick
father,
or
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
34
mother, or
son,
to appreciate;
its
by
aid,
possess.
to
1866, the
Such blessings are
life
Thousands
still
that
scarcely cognizant of the joys
living will
remember
were served
newspapers
our breakfast tables, were
on
difficult
and we, who are daily enjoying such benefits
pass through
we
laid
or daughter!
at
that, prior
our doors, and
eagerly conned for the
steamers with foreign news. Now,
by the Atlantic
each
cables,
morning we read the news of the day! Truly,
how great is man, to render the elements subservient to his
arrival of
purposes
the
in
conducting of thought!
LITERATURE
This
it
is
IN
1776
AND
1876.
a theme to which, even with the widest
expansion,
difficult to do entire
a
justice.
Motley,
Bancroft, an
is
A
Irving, could justly fill many volumes relative to the
subject;
and yet be wholly free from the
of
Minu
charge
we must
some twenty
tiae
"padding."
generalize we shall attempt.
Until
the
years ago,
poverty of American literature
was a by-word: the
Quarterly Review put the memorable
question- "Who reads an American book?" In the
avoid;
to
question
was more truth than
impertinence.
Literature, in the
of
colonial times, was
early period
nearly all of English
-in
fact the mother
origin:
country so devised the Taws
there
regulating her dependencies, as to repress, rather than foster
^oth
printing and literary efforts; and
prevent also the rise
any species of manufacture. It was her
policy so to act
was deemed
that
the
necessary
interests of the manu
factures of
should
England
reign paramount over all other
considerations.
of
exacting
The mother
country demanded,
severity,
that
her
children,
in
wherever
a spirit
situated
LITERATURE.
should
act
her
in
solely
behalf.
35
this
Through
partially
necessary tyranny, she made herself "the envy of the world,
and the admiration of
The simile of
surrounding nations."
a family which is, in its
every day acts, modified by peculiar
circumstances, was by English statesmen carried out
very
But
letter.
imperceptible
wants was
gressed
year by year,
demand
felt
of the
to
one of the
earliest
efforts,
certain
satisfy
by ingenious men, and
spite of prohibitory laws.
in
an almost
day by day
means
manufactures
skill,
daily
pro
was made
In printing
by mechanical
book printed
the
to
to
meet the
The first
in America was
growing needs.
"The Psalms in
Metre, faithfully translated for the Use, Edi
fication, and Comfort of the Saints in Public and in Private,
New
especially
in
in
by Thomas Wclde, of
Richard Mather, of Dorchester, and John Elliot,
1640.
England:"
printed
at
Cambridge, Mass.,
That version was made
Roxbury;
famous apostle
the
The
the Indians.
Bible translated by
the latter, from the English into the Indian dialect, is one of
the most extraordinary works of which this country can boast.
to
This valuable book,
$800.
and
in
Mrs. Bradstreet
their
quaint
and
s
American
literature,
has
sold
for
poems were
peculiar
published, also, in 1640;
style renders them, to all
bibliopoles, the choicest of the choice.
One of the greatest minds that the seventeenth century
produced in New England was Cotton Mather.
in the "Poets and Poetry of America,"
wold
was once revered
as a saint,
and
is
still
Says Grisp.
21:
regarded as a
"He
man
of
and profound and universal learning.
It is true that he had much of what is called scholarship; he
could read many languages; and his attainments, curious
good
natural
abilities
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
36
rather
than valuable,
chine,
which,
duces
only bubble
He was
all
Americana
*
except by
is
of dogmatic theology.
and
It
bigotry of
year, pro
in
the
sun.
his
The Magnalia
a curiosity,
as
literature of
to
ma
382 printed works,
His minor works are nearly
*
antiquaries."
preserved
The
authority.
beside
and,
manuscripts.
forgotten
a complicate
by the water from year
and spray, and rainbows
industrious;
many
left
turned
made him resemble
rather
Christi
than as
an
New England
was
the
consisted chiefly
tinctured with all the intol
protestants in Europe.
Witches were frequently burned at the stake no opinion was
erance
tolerated
in
"Blue
puritan doctrines.
result of their severe polities; and their
antagonism
were the
Laws"
early
to
their
ordinances were executed with a rigid exactitude that religi
ous biogtry alone can sanction. If their religious views were
productive of the
to
human
the
most serious calamities that can
race,
happen
we cannot but admire the stern and
unbending principles which
have developed
more eminent
have appeared in any other section of our
land. Jonathan Edwards had a vigorous and powerful mind
and his works are admired and valued in Europe among
thinkers
than
;
His work on the "Will,"
theologians as of the first rank.
is one
of the best known books on the subject; and has
given birth to more controversial works, relating to this sub
The
ject, than has any other book in the English language.
struggles of truth to free itself from sectarian fetters have
been
and
severe
progress be
slow, its march of distances being scarcely perceptible, save
nevertheless its mission is sure of ultimate
by decades
protracted
accomplishment.
;
The southern
but,
though
its
colonies were established on
LITERATURE.
37
a more liberal religious basis; and
chiefly adopted the articles
of the English established church.
are not inclined to
We
there were not
assert that
any religious frays and persecu
there were not a Salem witchcraft tragedy
tions; but, at least,
and Blue Laws. It can scarcely be presumed that the liberal
and learned John Locke, that heralder of truth which startled
would
kings, and struck awe into contemporary bigotry,
not have been permitted to draw up the fundamental laws
Carolina had not religious toleration reigned. By states
men and scholars those laws are ranked with Plato s
for
Republic,
More
s
Utopia,
or
Harrington
s
Oceana.
It
has
been wisely said that history teaches philosophy by example
-hence
generalizers
of
The
deductions drawn.
are
responsible only for
literary productions of the southern
history
though their wealthy men
poor and scanty
and in belles-lettres were superior to
were well educated
colonies were
the
same
class
the northern provinces; yet they failed to
in
add any works of merit
strange,
when we
to colonial
reflect,
that
the
literature.
wealthier
This appears
planters
often
despatched their sons to Europe for the easier acquirement
of a thorough education.
They were of the same race as
those
in
the
north
students abroad.
It
whose works were the admiration of
is evident that it was not for want of
want of proper culture and develop
ment. May not the warm, glowing sun of the south have
rendered them inert? This is the only philosophical view
capacity,
we
nor
for
can take of
the
it,
and, to
a great
extent
even now,
(like
causes are producing like effects. (Climate means race-variety;
Northern
therefore, differentiation of powers and capabilities.)
men who
K
have, either from choice or necessity, spent a few
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
38
admit that, yearly, their energies
years in the south, invariably
were on the wane. Nay we, in the north, during the sum
mer months, admit
listless
in
anything.
the
our
habits
But
if
same
we become
fact
inert
and
have scarcely nerve enough to do
lacked
the south
in
literary
productions,
and in Congress,
it was
eminently conspicuous on the forum;
where ability and eloquence were needful. The stimulus of
seemed capable of bringing out the latent
genius which was intermittently displayed so brilliantly by
southern men in the senate, and at the bar. A glance over
politics
alone
names
senate and
the
the
of
those
men from
south that
the
the house of representatives at
government
settled
there,
until
exhibit the fact that for eloquence,
classical learning,
and
for able
states.
statesmanship,
The newspapers, during
were but very feeble agents
course of
public
opinion.
years
of strength,
excelled, scarcely equaled, in the aggregate,
from other
the
Washington, since
thirty
full
graced
ago,
will
fire
and
they were not
by the members
the colonial times,
modeling, or changing, the
This now formidable power is
in
to-day a new estate in the world. The two-page folio newssheets of the last century dwindle into insignificance when
Their
compared with our present comprehensive journals.
was apparently accomplished in the presenting of a
bare record of small items and news, picked up here and
object
with a few advertisements of runaway slaves, goods
for sale, and the arrival of vessels in the various ports.
The
there,
was not then a recognized agent of the government;
it was conducted
in a crude and simple manner by printers
and merchants, not by professional scholars. The calm and
press
stable opinions of society
were not
in
the slightest
degree
LITERA TURE.
39
by any "leading" article; no flaming captions at the
head of the columns sent any quickening impulses through
ruffled
eager minds; all was calm as a summer s day. By degrees,
the press of Europe began a new life; its effects were soon
apparent here; men of letters and of business saw that they
must be up and doing; a new
power had sprung into
existence.
In the latter part of the last century, Benjamin
Franklin was among the most distinguished of newspaper
men, and his "Gazette," among the pioneers of the new era
The
America.
for
influence
creative
of
the
press
may be
said
to
about the beginning of
here.
century; and that influence soon made itself felt
have begun
this
The
to
of
publication
relating
of VV.
disclose
fully
books,
itself
with
the
exception of works
The issues from the press
dogmatic theology.
an energetic man who figured among
Bradford,
to
latter por
leading spirits of Pennsylvania during the
tion of the seventeenth century,
during the last decade
the
moved
a
in
appeared
"Historical
is
York.
His
and a
first
issues,
controversial
and
of those publications,
valuable to the bibliomaniac alone, can be seen in the
others,
now
New
to
fair
1685,
Magazine."
starting
point
full
list
The commencement
of this century
from which national
literature
can
The famous
though in a faint degree.
have scarcely excelled, in beauty
printing firms of Europe
fine calendered paper
form
of
good black ink-
be traced
distinctly,
typical
the Bible, in
volumes, printed by A. Small, of Phila
That was not the first Bible printed in America;
delphia.
two
folio
one was printed by Robert Aitkin of Philadelphia, by order
of congress, 1782, in i8mo., and this was the only Bible ever
printed
in
this
country under
official sanction.
Occasionally,
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
40
bound in volume, and again in two
American English Bible bearing the
parts, and is the first
But in 1752, Kneeland and Greene
American imprint.
Bible
this
is
Boston
in
printed
found
a
Bible
To
Baskett, Lond.: small quarto, 1752.
imprint of
the
bearing
the
American
Mark
critical
student the collection of the American editions of the Bible
and the
is
who once
took great in
terest in collecting them, refers with pleasure to the valuable
and unrivaled collection of James Lenox, Esq., of New
one of great
interest,
writer,
The
York.
progress of the states in solid wealth, after peace
was declared, was very rapid; the liberals of Europe, from
England
especially,
flocked
America as the country
to
which freedom of thought, and a
free
scope for their physical
One of the most notable
energies, was each man s birthright.
of English immigrants was Thomas
America
in
His sterling
1774.
in
Paine,
abilities
who
arrived
were, through
in
the
patronage of Benjamin Franklin, quickly and fully
recognized he contributed to the newspapers and magazines,
helpful
:
-and
his
"Common
power was soon
Sense"
appeared,
it
people so instantaneously that
every house, and
to the
into
and
felt
went
It
every camp.
When
on the minds of the
acted
it
appreciated.
like
wildfire
through
gave encouragement
new vigor to
continental congress
elasticity to the movements of
and
cheered
both officer and soldier who were
officials;
solace to the
despairing
doubting
fering in
the
the
suf
their comfortless
quarters
during the severe winter.
Paine s logical and
convincing arguments couched in sweet
will ever render this
colloquial English
pamphlet one of
the
most notable
"Rights
of
efforts in
Man,"
American
"Letters,"
etc.,
literature.
His
1
"Crisis,
though ably written, and
LITERATURE.
41
productive of much good, arc secondary, in many points, to
the first-named masterpiece.
It has struck the writer with
deep regret that Paine, who contributed so much toward the
independence of this country, and produced works of mas
skill
terly
should
in
which rank with the best
very meagerly
authors will not
be
cases
many
mentioned.
in
omitted,
Let
the future
in
efforts
us
and
in
the language,
other
hope
places
American
that
pass over so summarily the
genius of that great man; but, giving to him the honor due
his merits, reflect increased honor upon the land of his
The English government,
adoption.
in the early part of this
our shores
century, drove thousands of her best citizens to
and religious tyranny which it exercised
the
by
political
over them.
Many
her worthiest sons,
of
who
loved
freedom of speech and action which we enjoy, placed
that
their
the service of the nascent republic.
of these, devoted to literature, embarked the means
fortunes
Many
and
abilities at
the
they possessed in
nearly
every
case,
publication
were
reprints
of
books; and
from
the
best
these,
in
English
From
editions.
1824 the issues of the various pub
in all respects, equal to those of the
lishing houses were,
were put forth in the
cases
In
houses.
1800 to
many
they
similar type, on excel
with
same number of volumes, printed
As a general rule,
lent paper, and with good black ink.
our foremost publishers do not now equal those issues
from 1800 to 1824 in regard to either paper, or press- work.
The National Library at Washington could establish this
as it relates to our social and
important historical fact
The works of C. Brockden Brown mark a
mental
English
new
progress.
era, in the
L
production of
the first
American novels.
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
42
Their
their
American
priority, in
There
merits.
where cropping
is
out, in
a weird and
rivalled, in
Mecanqtie
first
tesque."
As we have
"the
Home
relief;
or Davis.
Nathaniel
his
of the
translation
day would
this
said of
it,
when
idea savoured of the gigan-
particularized,
most prominent
the
fancy, every
have out-
La Place, even in
London Quarterly Review
history, during the
now
bold
in
volume appeared:
classification,
even
than
he would
of
Celeste,
merit what the
the
spiritualists,
their fantasies,
Bowditch stands out
wayward
known
had he but lived amid
his fictions;
surroundings of our
the
better
literature, is
without
epochs
in
relation
our
fifty years of this century,
treat of classes rather than
persons.
first
to
literary
we
shall
THEOLOGY.
In another part of this
essay
we have made some
general
remarks concerning theological writers.
It is
only in this
of
literature that it can be
department
alleged that we have
not made any decided
progress over the writers of the
colonial
period.
It
may
truly be said
Cotton Mather, a John Elliott, or a
be found. Europe knows of the
that
an Edwards, a
Newman, may not now
plain, child-like simplicity of
Albert
Barnes
s
of ministers, teachers,
hours
on the Scriptures; and thousands
and students have spent
many happy
"Notes"
arguing over his common sense commentaries. The
name of Alexander is revered
among his admirers his depth
of thought and
logicalness of reasoning won for him high
fame.
Timothy Dwight holds a prominent position both
in
;
here and in Europe; his
writings are reprinted in England.
Yale College has added other
bright stars to the galaxy of
THEOLOGY,
national
authors
who
43
on her teachings.
Hodge has written many profound works on theology,
which are admired abroad for the
thorough learning and
reflect
credit
great
Dr.
critical
acumen
evinced.
and Bishop Hughes, of
as
men
Bush s
Bishop England, of South Carolina,
New York, rank high in their church
both of great ability and profound
learning.
critical
eminent
and
in biblical
for
his
are
characterized
masterly
illustrative
writings
on
the
George
Bible
and Bishop Hopkins
literature;
controversial
articles.
Dr. Jarvis
are
is
famed
s
works
with
deep biblical learning and sterling
criticism.
The travels and researches of Dr. Robinson, in
the Holy L and, will ever be referred to by the biblical
student as an inexhaustible fountain of knowledge.
Moses
Stuart, as
a
Hebrew
not easily be forgotten.
Dr. McClintock s great biblical work bids fair to stand com
Other writers are
parison with the ablest European works.
student, will
numerous, all of whom are
enumeration of colonial and
presumed,
will
show,
men
of varied
abilities.
The
on theology, it is
department, that no very
later writers
in this special
marked additions are made that outrival the earlier writers.
But the progress of modern thought has raised many barriers,
in opposition to the doctrines of religion, of
which the writers
of the colonial period had no knowledge.
Dogmatical the
ology is not progressive; it is the same now as it was during
the
days of the early fathers of the
church.
No
one can
appreciate the blessings of liberty, unless he has to a certain
extent suffered under the oppressions of the opposite state.
Those who are living, and have passed through fifty years
of life, and who have been interested in the progress and
development of the mind, remember well how much courage
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
44
it
avow any
to
required
doctrines
with the
clashed
that
orthodox views of the day. Within the last forty years, in
for selling Shel
England, men have been thrown into prison
ley s
Mab,"
"Queen
Paine
s
"Age
of
and other
Reason,"
we cannot find instances in
this country, during that period, of men having been impris
oned for their religious opinions, yet many of us know that
books of a similar nature.
to
the
scale
to
attempt
If
invisible
of
barricades
religious
would have brought upon the hardy adventurer a
an ostracisement from society, which often
tabooing
prejudice,
social
carries with
of
blessings
now
a
religious
true,
liberty,
and
free
as
fearless,
it
are joys which the colonists of old could not foresee
is,
free,
tries;
The
both loss of business and of character.
it
unshackled mind
and the care
take to guard
it,
that
is
the
boon of but few
coun
free
and future generations, should
this,
should never cease.
>
HISTORY.
To have
which are requisite
genius
to
the
the scholarly acquirements,
lot
of any
an
The
may now
nation.
a single historian that
Most of the colonies had
Homer and
for
their
and the
historian, falls
talent
but seldom
not produce
take his place as a classic.
did
colonists
local
Smith; Pennsylvania, Proud;
historians:
New
Virginia,
Jersey, Smith;
Massachusetts, Hutchinson, and Hubbard, and Prince;
Island, Callender;
New
cially
valuable
only
to
as
Rhode
York, Denton and Cadwallader;
Hampshire (in the colonial period
Belknap; South Carolina, Ramsey.
known
or
part
of
These
New
Massachusetts),
writers
are
spe
and the antiquary; and are
records of bare facts.
The charms of
the
historian
HISTORY.
45
the graces of composition
picturesque and eloquent
with
the power of correctly
expression
massing facts and
In this
masterly generalizations, are but feebly displayed.
style
province of literature
gress.
states:
in
we have made
great and glorious pro
Frederick von Raumer, the eminent
German
and Sparks, have effected so much
composition that no living European historian
"Bancroft,
historical
Prescott,
can take precedence of them, but rather might
and grateful to be admitted as a companion."
forty years since that eloquent tribute
we have added
that period
to the list
Parkman and a Ticknor.
American
historians
as their themes,
"Ferdinand
historian,
and
It
should
is
was
feel
It
proud
is over
and since
offered,
a Motley, a Draper, a
a noticeable fact that three
have chosen
and made them
classic.
and
European history
Prescott s
"Charles
"Peru,"
pre
sent the most lucid and picturesque account that history can
relate.
Ticknor s "History of the Spanish Literature" does
Isabella,"
"Philip
II."
V.,"
not admit of the scope and variety of treatment of a history
of a people; but it is a monument of industry and learning
creditable to himself and to his country.
Motley s Histories
of the
"Dutch
Barneveld,"
Republic,"
and the
the
though wanting
"Netherlands,"
terseness and
and
"John
perspicacity
of Prescott, are yet, in historical portraiture, massively and
at least, he
finely drawn; while in philosophical generalizing,
Let us hope that Motley will live to finish
surpasses him.
his galaxy of Netherland heroes, in his forthcoming work,
"The
History of the Thirty Years War." Draper s "History
of
civilization
in
Europe,"
is
ranked
among
thinkers as not inferior to Buckle s great work.
"History
M
of
the
United
States,"
now
finished,
scholars
and
Brancroft
has
s
earned
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
46
its
title
as a classic.
New
schoolisms of
occasionally tinctured with the
Though
England, which tend
injustice to various personages,
it
to
and do
injure
stands without a
still
rival.
sentences and occasional defective phraseology,
Many weak
with slip-shod writing, detract slightly from its merits, faults
which the public ought not to expect, when several years
between
have elapsed
honorable
he
If
place.
charming style
and admired.
of note, and
the
lacks
acumen of
philosophical
the
of
Prescott
always cause his
Many other admirable
reflecting credit
power and
his
Motley,
histories
will
take an
may
generalizing
and
volumes.
several
Goldsmith of America,
Irving, the
Washington
issues
the
clear,
be read
to
histories, well
worthy
on the writers and honor on
have appeared; but limited space prevents here
even the most summary mention of them.
their country,
NOVELS.
Fiction,
over
during
the
During
society.
colonial
the
times,
latter
and the early part of the eighteenth
part
had
of
little
the
centuries,
it
influence
seventeenth,
was, indeed,
home production. Fiction first arose
in England as almost a new element in society, under the
Some few previous puerile efforts
genius of Richardson.
entirely
may
unknown
as a
be found --but
Richardson to
and thence
it
fairly
they were abortive.
start
this
reacted with the
new joy
in
It
was
left
to
English society;
same vigor on
the colonists.
When
Macaulay, with his splendid genius, read these works
throughout fifteen different times, their merit must be greater
than
that
is
acknowledged by the present generation.
may
be,
it
cannot be denied that
"Pamela,"
However
"Sir
Charles
NOVELS.
and
Grandison,"
"Clarissa,"
47
created the most marked sensa
a longer period of time than did
subsequently any
other novels prior to the
of
Sir
Walter Scott.
conceptions
tion
for
The touching
drew
forth
pathos,
tears
involuntary
they had
Plot
and sweet, overflowing sentimentality,
hundreds
the
that
and
may
him.
but
The
Richardson
springs of nature by
novels cropped out, as
outrival
most successful of
Jones,"
readers.
we now understand novels
form was the medium employed.
success
to try
of
none, as
narrative in epistolary
touching of the hidden
won such
thousands
from
were, by
Miss Burney ranks with
that age; but to
it
Fielding, in
"Tom
justly be ascribed the origin of the construction
modern novel.
Smollet and others followed in quick succession, until this
new literary institution became permanently amalgamated
with the whole frame of society. The influence arising from
of the
those works of fiction has undoubtedly greatly aided in the
In another part of this
formation of national character.
essay,
it
is
American
mentioned
novelists;
rushed into the
field,
Brockden Brown was the
that
first of
years later our native authors
and gave us also a national reputation.
not
many
even as compared with the
His
sea-novelists of England, he stands second to none.
Leather Stocking Tales are among the most popular of
Cooper ranks highest of
all
although his Indians are too much idealized.
writings
There is a naturalness in his style, independent, and holding
itself aloof from the over-nice canons of criticism,
giving to
his
all
the
productions a distinctive and national
that has placed
first American novelist
his
impression on his writings.
We
wish
flavor.
an
to place
He
is
American
upon record
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
48
having
that,
our professional
a basis
as
as
experience
a
and taking an average of fifteen years, where one
book of any other American author is read, Cooper s works
his
are read ten times oftener.
Bird, Kennedy, and Hoffman,
librarian,
contemporaries,
a
few
now
living
who
of
humor
too
striking
certain extent, the
full
much
that but occasionally,
them
read
Paulding s novels, though
peculiarities, are
and
are read only,
in
by
their
younger days.
of natural spirit and marked
they have a breadth
Miss Sedgwick is, to a
neglected;
and congenial.
The
Miss Edgeworth of America.
Hawthorne stand preeminent
There is a weirdness
literature.
of
in
stories
American
in
his
imaginative
creations, and a
metaphysical subtlety pervading the whole atmosphere
combined with ease and clearness of style that insure him
His works are published in England in various
immortality.
and, judging
styles
appreciation
from the number
manifested
for
his
sold,
powers, there
and
is
the
high
probably a
quantity of his productions annually disposed of.
Edgar A. Poe, that most original and most brilliant of all
American imaginative writers, how various in his works!
greater
how
erratic
in
his
life!
If
America had
Hawthorne and a Poe, she could
produced but
a
few to surpass them
in that peculiar field of English literature.
The Tale of the
Morgue and other sketches are the creations of a mind of
find
and singular power. He had the genius to invent plots
of the most startling nature
point them with a pre-Raphaelite minuteness that made them sparkle with mosaics of
rare
and with such a strong resemblance to truth, that
all the scenes seem to be actual.
In mental
psychological
distances
both
he
effects,
George Walker and Anne Radthought
HUMOROUS
found
the highest walks of English literature that equal
As a poet, his "Raven," and
powers of analysis.
in
Lee,"
Village,"
or
ductions
of the
Poe
s
all
immortal
"Elegy."
we
Works.
One
is
In
Goldsmith
as
book of
"Deserted
of the
most superb pro
a fine
illustrated
the
consider that Poe
Stowe s
Uncle
rare merit.
It
Mrs.
s
edition
highest conception of
stands alone in Amer
Tom s
Cabin must be
has been translated into
modern languages.
the
and
as a
as
English press
Poetical
literature.
named
are
Gray s
creative genius
ican
are to be
in
"Annabel
of
49
Few minds
Maria Roche and Mrs. Crowe.
cliffe,
him
FICTION.
Howell, Hale, Higginson, Warner,
others, have written pleasant books but without
many
special characterization.
any
HUMOROUS
America cannot add
If
many names
humorists
as
of
Hood,
Jerrold,
lustier
in
Cambridge,
its
who
land
it
galaxy of
maintain
day,
cordially admit that
to the
she can, at
England
this
FICTION.
is
least,
her
If
fame as
with her peculiar
ground.
We
may
not so refined as that of Hook,
Thackeray, or Dickens;
nature.
fictional
it
lacks
the
it
is
flavor
broader and
of Oxford
or
has the flavor of our people who toil on the
build cities in a few weeks who make railroads
it
and disturb more virgin soil than all
Such a state of
the other nations of the world combined.
and
creates more devices
society wakens more energies
across the continent
throws out a heterogeneous mass of things, which creates a
on the character
peculiar grotesqueness that reflects itself
of the people.
more
fully
N
in
This humorous vein of society can be seen
"Burton s
Cyclopedia of American Wit and
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
50
than in any other book published. Artemus Ward
seems to have opened a new vein, not even recognized
His humor is of the grotesque, without
before in Europe.
His manner of speaking, before the public,
refined.
Humor,"
being
more humorous than his written matter. He had a
which is almost lost
quaint and droll manner of expression,
in his books.
Josh Billings is a reflex of the same school
was
far
Mark
sayings are more replete with wisdom.
Twain does not depend on the grotesqueness of his spelling
but a ready dash of
like Ward and Billings,
of words,
but
his
His
genuine humor flavored with genuine Americanisms.
drolleries are his chief qualities; his very extravagancies are
The "Innocents Abroad" will
laughable and enjoyable.
be
always
an
inexhaustible
fund
works are somewhat weaker; and
will rank as
Innocents Abroad
of
it
laughter;
Bret
Harte
Twain
s,
idealized
s
and
probable that the
is,
"
"
his
other
his
ablest
production.
humor, though of the western type-like Mark
flavored
and moves
in
with
California
life
a narrower circle.
is
The
more
yet
"Heathen
by its peculiar, dry, Californian humor, has taken
a permanent position in English humorous poetry.
Many
miserable imitations have appeared, but have sunk into
Chinee,"
,
oblivion.
POETRY.
Mention has already been made of some of the earlier
but none have earned a
poems of the colonial period
;
prominent rank
in
the poetic annals of the
type of poetry, the epic and
country not yet found a creditable
highest
country.
dramatic, has in
exponent
Poe
The
this
and
GENERAL LITERATURE.
Longfellow merit the highest niche
Bryrant
temple.
beauty,
is
pervading
charming
to
American poetic
"
s
in
Thanatopsis,"
to
difficult
the
the
in
51
surpass.
whole
read.
of
his
There
descriptive
is
that
poems
pastoral
a grace and beauty
will
always
be
Holmes, Saxe, and
whose works have grati
Lowell,
Whittier,
Stoddard, are men of varied talents
fied thousands.
The song writers of America are but few.
John Howard Payne, struggling with poverty and adversity,
wrote "Home, Sweet Home," in a garret in Paris. Russell,
though living in London, has added many sweet and lively
songs.
GENERAL LITERATURE.
In
but
what
little
is
of any merit.
names appear
found
understood as
that
During
reflect
observation.
belles lettres the colonists
Dr.
this
extensive
Channing,
century
added
many eminent
scholarship with pro
though a minister, is
more distinguished for his essays than his sermons. Edward
Everett is one of the most refined of our scholars; his style
is
copious and chaste, but not ornate.
Hugh S. Legare is
one of the most vigorous and chaste of writers. John C. Calhoun possessed a powerful and analytic mind; his "Essays
on
very best of their class.
The Adams family from John to Charles Francis Adams are
all
Daniel Webster, the
distinguished as men of great views.
orator and great expounder of the constitution, will ever
Government"
are
among
the
rank as one of the noblest sons of America.
in six
volumes, will always be a text book
Ralph Waldo Emerson
He is read more
age.
Charles
Sumner s
is
in
abilities
the
most
His
"Works,"
for the statesman.
original
essayist of
his
England than in his own country.
are more ornate than profound.
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
52
The
dictionary of
great
Noah Webster
is
a
monument
of
are many other names deserv
learning and industry. There
forbids us to dwell upon.
ing of mention which our space
LAW.
There were but few inducements
to the colonists to
study
aw their habits did not create many causes for its defence.
The commencement of the Revolution brought into public
view the men who had studied colonial law, and they
l
became
the
most famous advocates
in
the continental con
Henry and John Adams, were among the
most eloquent of its members. The works on jurisprudence
Learned and able treatises, on
are marked with great ability.
of
every branch of the law are very numerous. The authority
gress.
Patrick
Kent, Story, Livingston
known
are well
in
Greenleaf, Bouvier, and others, are
American reports regularly sold
Europe.
been
England, and the decisions of the bench have often
praised by the English Bar for clearness and profundity.
in
ARTS AND SCIENCES.
The development of science and art under the colonists
was almost nil. The habits of society were rural and not
scientific.
No marked
era can be found previous to Godfrey,
Rittenhouse, Oliver Evans, and Robert Fulton.
Previous to
1776 no authentic record exists of there being more than
two steam-engines in the thirteen colonies; one at Passaic,
N. J.; the other at Philadelphia. But the industrial interests
of the
states,
were
fairly
put in motion after the peace of
and Fulton were making experiments to apply
vessels.
These experiments may not have been
1783.
Fitch,
steam
to
ARTS AND
the
which were made
first
SCIENCES.
but they
made
53
the
first
success
This was a great revolution, and the attention
of the world became more and more centred on America.
ful
steamers.
everywhere here so numerous, are
one. So
generally of that practical nature which benefits every
common are the inventions of Americans that they find their
The
inventions
that are
way over the Atlantic and
The reaping machine was
are
dubbed
"Yankee
inventions."
brought to perfection here.
Patents for agricultural implements of every kind can be
counted by the thousands. The sewing machine, that greatest
of all domestic blessings, was invented by Howe, and many
since made by others have been subsequently
first
improvements
adopted.
The
comfort
and joy which
this
invention
has
The telegraph
describe.
given to families none can fully
an American invention, and its world-wide application
is
and
The name of Morse is
are daily experienced.
various and important additions have been made
benefits
immortal;
messages by Wheatstone, of
but the most important mode
England, and other electricians,
called the quadruplex
is. that just invented by T. E. Elison,
to
his
mode
machine.
It
of
will
transmitting
send
messages simultaneously over
This is
the original invention.
four
one wire, thus quadrupling
a marvel of science and its benefits to the world are at
once apparent. Among the numerous great men which this
has added to the roll of science, Agassiz, David Dale
country
Owen, Leidy and Silliman
are
prominent.
This continent
California and
further discoveries.
opens the widest field for
other states have yielded millions of dollars worth of gold
and silver. The silver in Nevada is practically inexhausti
The
the most boundless hope.
ble, and the future is full of
o
HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH.
54
Pennsylvania have yielded their millions of
The coal
gallons, and thus far without sensible diminution.
and iron of Pennsylvania will always class this state as one
wells
oil
of
Our medical
of the richest in the Union.
parts of the
colleges in various
Union have won a world-wide
We
have
the
world, the
reputation.
briefly touched upon nearly all topics connected
with our past condition, and endeavored to show that, during
the progress of the century in which liberty was proclaimed
to
far
government.
will
still
these
further
be shown.
to
principles
has been
the
Our prayer and hope
institutions, still
will
of
general interests of humanity and
eclipsed any other nation under any other form of
more conducive
have
outgrowth
prove
greater
to
is
the world
progress,
and
that
that,
still
the
year 1976
under republican
greater benefits
THE
A BRIEF HISTORY OF
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
NEW
HAMPSHIRE.
POPULATION.
In 1876, nearly 325,000
1776, nearly 140,000 inhabitants.
Present area
inhabitants.
total wealth, $260,000,000.
The
and
square
maple
Present
miles, 9,280.
Average wealth, $800.
Dartmouth
principal collegiate institutions are that of
Phillips s
ducts,
in
Exeter Academy.
In farm and orchard
sugar, live stock, wool, butter, cheese;
her cotton and woolen factories;
New Hampshire
pro
also in
finds
her
wealth and prosperity.
In
1614
New
and, in
explorers;
Portsmouth.
Hampshire was
1623, the
Several
visited
by European
settlement was
made near
times the district was connected with
Massachusetts; in 1679 was
was again joined
first
first
made
a royal province; in 1689
Massachusetts; and subsequently was,
for a short period, attached to New York.
Finally, in 1741,
it
became a separate province; and thus remained until
the
dawning of the revolutionary war.
obtained
possession of
incessantly
In 1689, a
of
to
the
Canada, the
Before the English
pioneer
settlers
were
and
severely harassed by the hostile Indians.
band of savages attacked Dover, massacred many
inhabitants,
and
burnt several
houses.
During an
55
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
56
extended period of time, the settlements of New Hampshire
were gradually extended westwardly, and further than the
original
by her patents; and,
limits prescribed
was generally supposed
Vermont formed
were made in that
in
until
1764,
it
that the territory at present included
of land
part of the province, and grants
New York
direction by the authorities.
advocated her claim to the disputed district; and a "vexatious
lasted until the independence of
controversy" ensued, which
Vermont was acknowledged
76,
men s
in
In
1790.
tried
succinctly,
souls,
of
New
temporary government, to continue
a
established
On
news of
termination of the
conflict.
Lexington, twelve
hundred men marched
the
the
the
until
battle
to
instantly
of
the
Boston; the temporary constitution was hurriedly
of
but ably formed, and
the royal governor obliged
month previous
the general
And
to
resign
it
be here repeated,
to the declaration of
independence by
his functions as chief magistrate.
that a
days
Hampshire, boldly and
made a public declaration of independence, and
which
relief
those
let
congress, the
general assembly of the province
appointed a committee to make a draft of a declaration, in
favor of an entire separation from Great Britain.
One of
the
most
brilliant
of the war was fought at BenStark, an officer of this state, with a
actions
nington, by General
body of militia, in part from
battles of Stillwater,
Saratoga,
farmers and
laurels;
thirteen
so
backwoodsmen
and
Hampshire.
Monmouth,
of that state
won
At
the
the
hardy
imperishable
and aided greatly in sustaining the cause of the
united colonies; and few of the states contributed
many men,
port of
New
the
in proportion to their
population, to the
war.
When
peace was
finally
sup
established, the
MASSACHUSETTS.
of
people
this
occasioned
debts,
borne
province,
by
their
down
generous
57
with
overwhelming
expenditures
in
the
previous years, and obliged to sustain the weight of extra
ordinary taxes, became gloomy and disaffected; and a body
of
armed men even invaded
the legislature in
its
halls;
but
rigorous measures of Governor Sullivan immediately
repressed the insurrection, and restored the peace of the
the
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, and Matthew Thorn
ton were the three whose signatures attested their devotion
state.
America; who, representing the spirit of their fellow citi
zens, set their hands to the irrevocable deed.
Truly did
not less in the grandeur and
the Switzerland of America,
diversity of her scenery, than in the dauntless energy which
to
made
name
of Swiss a proverb in the old world,
uphold
the justness of her reputation; and gave to time the theme
which, bursting into music, echoed throughout the universe
the
her valor and
the
formation
was
the
renown.
January
5th,
1776,
is
the
date
of
government; but not till June, 1783,
instrument" formed, which was established
of the
"perfect
in the following October.
MASSACHUSETTS.
POPULATION.
1776: nearly 300,000 inhabitants.
inhabitants.
1876: nearly
1,600,000
Present area, in square miles, 7,800.
Present
Average wealth, $1,500.
The principal colleges are Harvard, at Cambridge; Wil
Amherst, at Amherst; Holy Cross,
liams, at Williamstown
total wealth, $2,200,000,000.
;
at
Worcester; and Tufts,
p
at
Medford.
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
58
The
Indian
products are wheat,
with apples and pears.
agricultural
corn,
rye,
In manufacturing
oats, potatoes,
all the states;
industry, Massachusetts stands at the head of
while the condition of her operatives, and their moral and
etc.
no
character, has
intellectual
The import and
districts.
parallel
in other
export trade
is
manufacturing
and
flourishing
extensive.
Bartholomew
Gosnold, directing a colonizing
expedition of 32 persons, made the land in Massachusetts
Bay; passed and named Cape Cod, and Martha s Vineyard
(now No Man s Land), and landed at Elizabeth Island (now
In
1602,
Cuttyhunk).
chusetts,
English settlement in Massa
entirely broken up and abandoned.
the
This,
was soon
first
after
Martin Pring, or Prynne, subsequently tarried in Edgartown
and
1605-1606 sundry French expeditions visited the
in
George Waymouth,
in
made a
;
coast.
fruitless
voyage
two
inhospitable
great colonizing
were
and
the
and
steadfast exiles
formed;
companies
pious
of Leyden, resolving to seek for freedom in the new world,
obtained from the Virginia company a patent for lands
to
also,
coast.
the
1605,
Later the
which they were not fated to occupy. July 22d, 1620, the
Pilgrims embarked at Delft Haven, in the Speedwell; and,
upon arriving at Southampton, found the Mayflower; and
the two vessels, August 5th, turned their
prows toward the
land
far-off
stricken
went
with
of
hope.
fear,
forth alone,
But
turned
the
back;
freighted with
master of the
Speedwell,
and
Mayflower
the
little
102 indomitable souls.
A
tedious voyage of 63 days was
safely accomplished, when
made
the
land
off
they
Cape Cod, and November nth, were
anchored in the roadstead of the present Provincetown. Grave
MASSACHUSETTS.
59
poetry have made commonplaces of
the noble endurance, and sublime fortitude of those dauntless
history,
and
peerless
and pious Puritans;
marvelous annals need no repe
their
tition here.
Their
efforts
to
obtain
a
patent from
the
crown were
and the Plymouth colonists were therefore obliged,
to carry on their government, without the royal sanction.
As events proved, "God s hand was in it evidently." The
expedition of John Endicott reached Salem in 1628, and as
unavailing,
a consequence, a royal patent was
Company of the Massachusetts Bay.
finally
obtained for the
When
news from home
reached them, intimating the probable early appointment of
a "general governor/ their reply chorded harmoniously with
those principles, which from the days of the gallant Carver to
the final struggle, spurred them on to wondrous deeds: "We
ought not to accept him, but defend our lawful possessions,
if we were able, otherwise to avoid or protract."
This, from
a handful of exiles to the invincible England of the seven
In 1662, a commission sent to England,
century!
obtained a confirmation from the king of the previously
teenth
endangered
charter.
In
1664, Massachusetts baffled the per
sistent efforts of the royal
her
sacred
"meddling
Philip s
rights,
and
commissioners
liberties,"
of envious and officious
war,
1675-1676,
hundred colonists were
thirteen
slain,
and
"sent
set
at
and over
were
six
trifle
naught
with
the
During King
courtiers."
towns
to
ravaged, six
hundred houses
with
Subsequently ensued the incessant bickerings
the king, which ultimately effected the loss of the cherished
of Dudley and
charter, and the unwelcome governments
burnt.
Andros.
In
1692 was given a
new
charter,
by which Ply-
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
60
mouth was united to Massachusetts, which had jurisdiction
Then occurred the
also over Maine and other territory.
memorable episode in the history of the colony the witchcraft
delusion, so pregnant in its near and remote consequences,
In
1703-1704 the province
suffered greatly from the French and Indians; and in 1722,
and the latter part of 1725. In 1745 Massachusetts con
so
rife
with
horrid
incidents.
tributed largely to the expedition which captured Louisburg,
and co-operated efficiently in the plans for the conquest
of
Canada,
operations
and
until
vigorously in other military
conclusion of peace between France
participating
the
In the subsequent renewal of hos
she again proved a valuable ally until 1760.
In
tilities
the just resistance to oppressive measures of the English
and England
in
1748.
parliament, Massachusetts stood first and foremost, and vol
untarily made herself the anvil for embittered hammers.
The Boston massacre
in
1770, the
destruction of the tea in
and the Port Bill in the following year, are a few of
the memorable incidents which heralded the approach of the
Revolution; at Lexington and Concord was made the issue,
and the sons of the Pilgrims fired the first gun in the faces
1773,
of
an
obstinate
and
From
despotism.
enviable reputation
and
first
for
king and an oligarchical
Massachusetts sustained her
tyrannical
to
last,
pious
patriotism,
and
public
spirit,
every tongue, in prose and in verse, may be found
the chronicle of her wise counselors, her inflexible soldiers
and
in
self-denying
women.
Samuel Adams, John
Adams,
Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge
Gerry hallowed names, to be
spoken in reverence and love, for they are the names of
those men that
signed that Declaration which startled the
RHODE
old world
hood.
from
The
ISLAND.
61
lethargy and added a nobility to
constitution of the state was framed in
its
man
Sep
tember, 1779, and went into effect in 1780.
RHODE
ISLAND.
POPULATION.
nearly 65,000 inhabitants.
inhabitants.
Present area in square
1776,
total wealth, $300,000,000.
Brown
University, in
1876,
miles,
Average wealth,
Providence,
is
nearly
1,306.
250,000
Present
$1,400.
the principal collegiate
institution.
Indian corn, rye and oats are the principal cereals; the
sheep raising interests are of extended value, and those of
the
manufacturing
and
coasting
trade
are
thriving
and
important.
Originally
gansett
Rhode
Indians,
possession of
it,
In
Europeans.
Island
was the abode of the Narra-
a large and
powerful
tribe,
who
retained
the later irruption of the conquering
1524, as is currently believed, Verrazano
until
entered Narragansett Bay, and anchored in the fine harbor of
The first settlement was made in Providence,
Newport.
by Roger Williams, a refugee from New England;
later he was followed by William Coddington and others,
and in 1642 came the party under John Greene and Samuel
in
1636,
same year a patent, which, however, was
not accepted until 1647, was obtained from England, for the
united government of Providence, Newport and Portsmouth.
Gorton.
In
In
the
1663,
colony of
the
new
"Rhode
charter of Charles
Island and
II.,
Providence
incorporating
the
Plantations,"
was
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
62
and
secured,
this
continued
in
force
for
179 years, being
The pro
1842 by the existing constitution.
vince suffered extremely from the Indian wars which broke
superseded
out
in
in
June,
1675,
and
also
in
the
subsequent
struggles
abrogated the
In 1686-7, Andros
Narragansetts.
charter, but in 1688 the revolution broke forth
and the governor, after a short imprisonment,
with the
England.
ganized
and
France
for
empire
numbers of troops
large
England,
was sent
to
In February, 1689-90, the general assembly reor
Rhode Island
the government under the charter.
in the struggle
participated prominently
tain
in
for
in
between Great Bri
America.
She
furnished
the expeditions against
Louis-
Cape Breton, Crown Point, Oswego and Canada. In
1756 she had fifty privateers at sea, manned by upward of
These private men-of-war cruised
men.
fifteen hundred
among the West India islands, and along the coast, making
burg,
During the Revolutionary contest
important captures.
she also rendered effective service, by sea as well as on
many
important engagements and sus
taining effectively the cause in which she was so heartily
interested.
The first naval squadron sent against the enemy
land, taking part in
many
out and sailed from Providence, under command
of Commodore, or "Admiral" Hopkins.
Paul Jones, sub
sequently so celebrated, acted as a lieutenant in this fleet;
was
fitted
Commodores Talbot and Whipple,
while
Rhode
her
Island, and,
through
their
also
sailed
from
belonging to that State, shed glory on
heroic deeds.
Major General Greene,
occupied in the southern campaigns, likewise was
one of her sons, and on her soil began his
military career.
In like manner with Connecticut, Rhode Island s form of
chiefly
CONNECTICUT.
63
government was so purely republican, that in its charter,
with the "People," for the
was found the needed
"King,"
constitution, in
was invaded
May,
1776.
In December, 1776,
Rhode Island
who occupied
under Clinton,
Newport during several years; and General Sullivan, aided
by Count de Grasse, after several unsuccessful attempts to
by the
British
dislodge the enemy, was finally obliged to abandon his
In 1779 the British troops
project of relieving that place.
were withdrawn, and the following year Rochambeau arrived
with 6,000
French
auxiliaries.
Rhode
was the
Island
last
of the thirteen colonies that adopted the constitution of the
United States, and was admitted to the Union on the 29th
of May, 1799.
Stephen Hopkins and William Ellery, were
the loyal men sent forth by her to give in her adhesion to
the declaration which formed a new empire, ever to be
united in fraternal and indissoluble bonds.
CONNECTICUT.
POPULATION.
1776,
inhabitants.
total
190,000 inhabitants.
Present area in square
wealth,
nearly
nearly
1876,
nearly
miles,
Present
4,750.
Average
$800,000,000.
600,000
wealth,
about
$1,500.
The
and
and
University, Yale College,
Trinity College take high rank as institutes of learning,
have contributed greatly toward the education and
three
colleges:
Wesleyan
advancement of our Western
States,
are held in high esteem as teachers
The most valuable sources of
where
and
their
graduates
professors.
wealth
are
the
mines,
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
64
and
quarries,
of
manufacturers
iron,
clocks,
carriages
and
India-rubber goods.
On March
necticut,
ipth,
1631,
all
"embracing
was granted the patent of Con
in
that part of New England
America, extending in breadth 120 miles, as the coast lieth,
from the Narragansett river toward Virginia, and in longitude
from the Western Ocean to the South Sea." But her dearest
through the inesti
mable offices of Governor Winthrop, and which received the
This charter, so compre
royal signature April soth, 1662.
was
charter
hensively and
designs, lived
1818,
coaxed from Charles
that
so
in
and when
II.,
admirably democratic in
and vigor, even
full force
its
its
scope
and
the
year
until
June I4th, 1776, stood forth
was found with "People," in lieu
subjects,
promptly and without fear,
to answer every end and need, was revered as
of
a splendid monument to the liberal principles and wise
"King,"
philanthropy of John Winthrop.
When
Lexington, tremulous with fear, and
woe, and bitter wrath, was wafted from the drenched shores
of Nova Scotia, to the perfumed savannahs of fertile Georgia,
the
spirit
shone
the cry from
of
forth
her
Connecticut
in the guise of a
industry and
her
daring-
sturdy farmer, who, in leather
apron, and busied in building a stone wall around his acres,
forsook the trowel for his flintlock, and cried aloud, "To
arms!
To
arms! Lexington
Governor Trumbull
ably
in
s
the
made work
for
us!"
Brother Jonathan
who
acted so
with Washington
sent forth writs to
on the
legislature of the colony at Hartford,
conjunction
convene the
following the
and the people
But
Israel
Putnam, of
Wednesday
battle.
Pomfret,
swayed, perhaps unwittingly, by
CONNECTICUT.
that creative
and
resistless principle that
65
came
but appalling- whirlwind from the heart of
France --rose
of
skirts
as a healthful
Germany and
the
menacing sadness, and
the memorable field, where English Briton
strode swiftly to
their
in
against American Briton, crossed swords to uphold the cause
of freedom or oppression.
The bellowings of the Atlantic,
and the surge songs of the Pacific were stilled; the winds
of
Alleghanies and
the
new thought
soughings, as the
infant
all
and,
Rocky Range sank
the
as
it
rose up in the
to the
was, cried Halt!
low
into
New
World,
past
which,
through venality and false kingcraft, had forfeited respect
and love.
Great Britain would have executed her design
of collecting a
revenue from unrepresented colonies;
Con
opposition, called together
and struck hands with
of Correspondence
necticut, consistently inflexible
her Committees
in
persecuted brethren of Massachusetts then hastened
toward the northern coast her valiant militia.
During the
her
of
progress
seldom
never
the
afflicted
failed
share in
in
Revolutionary
struggle,
Connecticut
was
by the actual presence of the enemy, yet
contributing promptly and generously her
men and moneys.
On
the
i4th of June,
1776, the
provincial delegates, to
assent to a declaration of independence: let the
Assembly of Connecticut
instructed
give their
names of those
uttered from generation to genera
men
tion through all time:
William Williams
be
its
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington,
and Oliver Wolcott.
On
the
26th
of
com
1/77, a predatory force, consisting of 2,000 men,
manded by General Tryon, assailed Danbury, and devasted
April,
the town;
fell
upon
R
however, the gathering militia
the invaders, and, in the confused melee which
during the
retreat,
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
66
July
ensued, inflicted a severe and disastrous punishment.
of troops, also commanded by
5th, 1779, a still larger body
East Haven, Norwalk, New
Tryon, plundered and destroyed
Haven and Fairfield. After this latter foray, in which Tryon
unenviable notoriety, Connecti
reaped little profit and much
cut s share in the successful issue of the conflict consisted
in the furnishing of brave troops, and her frequent donations
of
money and
provisions.
had arisen
Prior to
the
close of the war, a
between her and Pennsylvania,
dispute which
on the Susquehanna, west
respecting the right to lands lying
of New York, was satisfactorily adjusted by a decision in
favor of the latter state,
made by
a board of commissioners
appointed by congress.
NEW
YORK.
POPULATION.
nearly 325,000 inhabitants.
Present area in square
inhabitants.
1776,
total wealth, $6,800,000,000.
The
at
New
ton;
state
contains
at
Geneva;
York; Madison University,
ham;
of
University
College, at Lima;
sity,
at
Le Roy,
As an
Average wealth, $1,500.
many important
York; Union,
Hobart, at
nearly 5,000,000
Present
miles, 47,000.
1876,
Schenectady;
University of
at
Hamilton;
Rochester;
colleges:
Columbia,
Hamilton, at Clin
the
St.
City
New
Johns, at Ford-
Troy University;
Elmira Female College;
of
Genesee
Sugham Univer
etc.
agricultural
state,
New York
ranks high in the
Indian corn, wheat,
Union, her chief products being oats,
buckwheat, rye and barley; also broom corn, hops, grapes,
NEW
YORK.
67
The manu
and orchard fruits.
and in many sections
facturing interests are very extensive,
commerce.
surpass those of agriculture, or even
maple sugar,
butter, cheese
Samuel Champlain, July 4th, 1609, was the first European
who ever stepped upon the soil of New York; on September
6th, of the same year, Henry Hudson discovered the bay;
in
1611, the States-General of
Holland granted
special priv
any company which should open a trade with the
In 1621 the Dutch West India Com
natives of this region.
\vere made at Fort
pany was incorporated, and settlements
Orange and New Amsterdam. In 1626, Manhattan Island
ileges
to
was purchased from
of $24.
In
the Indians
by Peter Minuits,
for the
value
1655 Peter Stuyvesant took possession of the
annexed
New
Neth
neighboring Swedish territory and
colonists
erlands, while the border contests with the English
continued until the
Then ensued
the
final
bitter
it
to
overthrow of the Dutch authority.
controversies and conflicts between
resulted
English and Dutch, which
establishment of the former claimants.
the
in
the
successful
Under James
II.
of the crown, and
government became an appendage
even under William and Mary, few popular rights were
abol
conceded, and few ancient and oppressive privileges
the
ished.
The
royal
governors
the representatives of the people,
took
place
from
time
final
prepared the
the colonies
struggle that severed
to
people for the great
from the mother country."
with
frequent collisions
and the controversies that
had
time
"gradually
the French and English, the
During the war between
in
Seneca country was invaded by De Nonville in 1687;
and in 1693, a Mohawk
1689 Schenectady was destroyed;
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
68
was taken and three hundred prisoners were captured.
fort
The peace
of Ryswick, in
tion of hostilities.
from
war,
1702
cessa
1697, brought a temporary
s
During the continuance of Queen Anne
to 1713, hostilities in this province were
During King George s
the
war, which began in 1745, the disputed territory was
scene of frequent and bloody encounters between the English
French fortress at Crown
posts on the Hudson, and the
In the ensuing war of 1754, the embittered conflict
Point.
involved nearly all the colonies, and throughout its progress
New York sustained her reputation for valor and efficiency.
confined chiefly to frontier skirmishes.
In
1755 Sir William Johnston marched successfully against
Crown
Point;
in
was
Oswego
1756
destroyed
the
by
1757 they captured Fort William Henry; in 1758
Abercrombie was defeated at Ticonderoga, while Colonel
French;
in
Bradstreet
Fort
Frontenac.
In
1759
Niagara,
Ticonderoga and Crown Point were captured by the Eng
lish and Americans, and no French force was left within
the
captured
of
limits
aggressions,
1760,
New
the
colony.
To
recommencing after
York offered a bold
the
subsequent
the conquest of
front,
ministerial
Canada
in
and entered zealously
measures proposed for common defence. In May,
1775, Ticonderoga and Crown Point were taken by Ethan
Allen, and in October, 1775, Governor Tryon was obliged to
into
the
leave the province, and shelter himself on board of a Brit
ish man-of-war.
In 1776, Montgomery and Schuyler were
defeated in their attempt to reduce Canada; in August, 1776,
the battle of Long Island was fought, and New York fell
into
the
hands of the
British.
In
1777
the
province was
invaded from Canada by Burgoyne, whose
army was
after-
NEW
ward compelled
a
constitution
West
JERSEY.
69
to surrender at
was
Saratoga.
established.
In the
Point was
April 2Oth, 1777,
winter of 1777-
1779 General Sullivan
destroyed the hostile Indian villages in the western section,
while, in return, during the two following years, the Indians
1778,
fortified;
devasted the settlements of
ber
1783,
25th,
in
Mohawk and
New York was
Schoharie.
Novem
evacuated
by the British,
the trial was over, and
and Europe with America knew that
The
American independence a living and immortal fact.
first constitution of the state was adopted in
March, 1777,
The conflicting
and was revised in 1801, 1821 and 1846.
boundary claims of
this
incessant collisions and
state
and
"almost
New Hampshire
to civil
war,"
but
led
in
to
1790,
were adjusted by the erection of the disputed
territory into the state of Vermont, and the payment to
New York of $30,000. William Floyd, Philip Livingston,
all
differences
Francis
Lewis and Lewis Morris, are the names of those
admirable
statesmen
declaration ever
who
penned,
aided
to
in
whom
perfecting the noblest
the sons of New York
should raise enduring monuments, and send hearty bene
dictions across that mighty stream of progress, which burst
its
dams
in
1776.
NEW
JERSEY.
POPULATION.
nearly 180,000 inhabitants.
inhabitants.
Present area in square
1776,
total wealth,
The
s
$1,000,000,000.
1876,
nearly
1,000,000
miles,
8,320.
Present
Average wealth, $1,050.
chief collegiate institutions are the College of
New
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
70
Burlington College, at Burlington, and
Rutgers College, at New Brunswick.
The productions are the various grains, potatoes, sweet
Jersey, at
Princeton;
manu
also in mining,
potatoes, orchard products, cider, etc.;
factures
and
and the mechanic
many hands
traffic
is
are
arts,
a
constantly
large
is
capital
invested,
The
employed.
internal
very important, and the state has a vast and increas
ing transit business.
The
colony was
earliest
probably
between 1617 and 1620, by the Dutch of
who claimed
the
entire
In
Netherlands.
1623,
1630
at
Cape May.
In
New
Bergen,
Amsterdam,
country as a portion of the New
Fort Nassau was constructed, and
Godyn and Bloemart purchased
in
at
planted
1634, Sir
of the Indians land
Edmund Ployden
obtained a
royal grant of the country on the Delaware, and in 1638 a
After
party of Swedes and Finns planted several settlements.
the
destruction
of
the
English colonies,
the
Dutch, under
Peter Stuyvesant, in turn dispossessed the Swedes, sending
many of them back to Europe. In 1664, Charles II. granted
the territory
all
between the Delaware and Connecticut
to his brother, the
to
enforce the claim.
Carteret
came
received
its
personage.
but,
his
Duke
in
and sent out an expedition
Later Lord Berkeley and Sir George
of York,
into possession of the claim,
name,
rivers
New
Jersey, in
and the province
honor of the
latter
named
was appointed governor,
was temporarily superseded by James Carteret,
In 1665, Philip Carteret
1670,
reputed brother.
In
1673, Berkeley sold his proprietary
John Fenwick and Edward Byllinge.
year the Dutch re-captured New York, and as a
interest to the Quakers,
In
this
consequence, regained
possession
of
New
Jersey.
By
the
NEW
JERSEY.
71
reverted to Great Britain, and subsequently
ensued the troublous bickerings between Philip Carteret and
treaty of 1674,
Edmund
it
William Penn, Garven Lawrie and
Nicholas Lucas, Quakers, secured an interest in the province,
and in 1675, Fen wick established a Quaker settlement at
Sir
Andros.
Salem.
In February, 1682, the whole territory was purchased
William Penn, associated with eleven other Quakers.
by
Robert Barclay was the first governor under the new pro
prietors, and great prosperity was temporarily enjoyed by
the oppressed Quakers, who found in New Jersey a safe and
In 1702 the proprietors surrendered their
pleasant retreat.
right of
to
government
and Lord Cornbury was
York and New Jersey, but each
the crown,
appointed governor of New
continued to have a separate assembly.
In
1708, the
latter
province petitioned for a distinct administration, and Lewis
Morris was appointed governor. Thereafter, until the open
ing of the Revolutionary struggle, New Jersey was the scene
of few important events, and was little exposed to the inroads
of the savages.
ple
the
Franklin,
Franklin.
The
last royal
natural
The attempt
son
of the
governor was William
of
the
illustrious
home government
Tem
Benjamin
to
estab
an arbitrary authority over her colonies, was pertinaciously
resisted by New Jersey, and deputies were sent to the con
lish
on the occasion of
gress which convened at Philadelphia,
the stamp act, and to all subsequent assemblies.
During
the conflict which ensued, her soil
for a great length of time,
erty
state.
were
A
"greater
state
the tongues,
in
and her losses
proportion"
constitution
was the
seat of hostilities
in
men and prop
than those of any other
was adopted July
2d,
1776,
and arms, and resources of the Jersey
and
patriots
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
72
In the annals
were ever ready to ably second the holy cause.
the
depicting
of Trenton,
battles
Princeton,
Millstone,
Red
the record of her valor
Bank and Monmouth, may be found
may be
read the thrilling story
of her uprising, of her great sufferings blended with splendid
De
victories, her sacrifices entwined with glorious rapture.
and unquailing perseverance
cember
1
8th,
a unanimous vote, and in
Jersey sent five noble sons to affix
the first instrument which secured to
signatures to
mankind true liberty:
their
names
their
Francis
Witherspoon,
Abraham
1790 the state
New
lished at Trenton.
John
was adopted by
capital was estab
1787, the Federal Constitution
are:
Richard Stockton,
Hart
John
Hopkinson,
and
Clark.
PENNSYLVANIA.
POPULATION.
1876, nearly 3,800,000
nearly 400,000 inhabitants.
Present
inhabitants.
Present area in square miles, 46,000.
1776,
total wealth,
There are nearly
while
Average wealth, $1,150.
$4,000,000,000.
important collegiate
thirty
institutions,
University of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania
Hospital, and the medical department of Pennsylvania and
Jefferson Medical College, are "the most celebrated and suc
the
cessful of their class in the
The
corn,
products
cheese,
country."
are wheat,
wool,
tobacco,
rye,
buckwheat, barley, Indian
also
pig iron,
Commerce, external and
butter,
etc.;
wrought and manufactured goods.
internal, is in a thriving and prosperous condition.
The
shores of the river received their
first
civilized
colony
PENNSYLVANIA.
73
Sweden, and in 1627 a thrifty body of Swedes and
Finns settled on both shores of the Delaware, making their
from
to
way nearly
gress,
however,
the
site
in
the
they were obliged
New
rule at
to
of Philadelphia.
Making little pro
settlement of the country, in 1655
submit
Amsterdam.
to
In
paramount Dutch
they passed quietly under
the then
1664,
period generally established
In 1681, the territory west of the Delaware
the
English jurisdiction,
at
this
and nourishing.
was granted to William Penn, who colonized
it,
and founded
Under the charter then granted by
Philadelphia in 1682.
Charles II., was included the present area of the State of
Delaware, known as "the lower counties," which continued
under
legislature,
In
this
proprietary until 1699, when a separate
not a distinct governor, was granted them.
were the two colonies connected until the
same
the
but
manner
Revolution of 1776. The grant to Penn was for territory
covered in reality by the ill-defined grants made to the New
and Maryland; and, though the
the east, north and west were easily adjusted, the
boundary between Pennsylvania and Maryland was long a
the heirs of the original proprietors, and
subject of contest by
was finally settled by the survey of Mason and Dixon, begun
Until the dawn of the
in 1763 and completed in 1767.
was unusually free from
revolutionary conflict the province
troubles with the natives, and the humane and peaceful policy
England
lines on
colonies, Virginia
advocated by Penn and his successors, secured to the colo
nists
many
however,
Braddock
massacre of
colonists
T
years
of
s
Wyoming,
and
the
prosperous
ill-fated
tranquillity.
expedition, and
Eventually,
the
terrible
disturbed the friendly relations of the
Indians,
and
subsequently the territory
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
74
suffered greatly from a relentless and destructive savage war
fare.
Owing to the "high character and steady energy" of
the
Friends, Pennsylvania
flourishing of the colonial
became rapidly one of the most
establishments, and long before
Revolution, enjoyed an honorable and enviable position
throughout the changes incident to the founding of a new
the
September
government.
Pennsylvania con
but the opposition which
28th,
the
1776,
vention adopted its constitution;
received alike from the Quakers,
it
franchised,
thorough
central
whom
and from a large body of
organization for more than
position
drew
to
the Continental Congress,
its
delayed
months.
patriots,
five
was the
it
indirectly dis
its
Its
town the sessions of
principal
and
it
seat of the general
Here independence
government then formed until 1800.
was formally proclaimed, and throughout the subsequent
Pennsylvanians pursued a calm and
trying scenes, the
steady,
though
conduct.
not
over-zealous
or
Germantown,
Brandywine,
dozen other memorable
spots,
recall
precipitate,
Valley
line
Forge,
perennially the
and
of
a
heroic
and shoeless men, unrivaled, unequaled
for their daring and persistency amid dire want and utter cold
the stoical nobleness of a chief whose only thought was
efforts of ill-clad
his
country
prosperity.
prietary
their
s
only dream
welfare, his
On
the
declaration
of
independence, the pro
government was, abrogated, and
representatives, formed a
subsequently succeeded
new
by that of
independence and
its
the people, through
constitution,
1790.
which was
Robert
Morris,
John Morton, George
Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson and
George Ross are the names of those whose signatures,
Benjamin Rush, Benjamin
Franklin,
DELAWARE.
under
placed
the
declaration
of
75
independence,
testify
to
courageous support of a sorely needed and beneficent
measure.
their
DELAWARE.
POPULATION.
nearly 50,000 inhabitants.
Present area in square
inhabitants.
1776,
1876,
126,000
nearly
Present
miles, 2,120.
total wealth, $98,000,000.
The
principal
Newark, and
at
The
fruits
Average wealth, $800.
collegiate institutions are Delaware College
St.
Mary
s
College at Wilmington.
chief natural productions are wheat, rye, oats, peaches,
and
Indian
corn;
while
the
general
manufacturing
interests are of the highest importance.
This state owes
its
name
to
Lord Delaware, governor of
who entered the bay in 1610; but, prior
Hudson had sailed upon its majestic waters.
Virginia,
1609,
De
Vries, with
Lewes, and
a
in
colony of
Henlopen
in
thirty
colonists
from
Holland,
to this, in
In 1630,
near
settled
Swedish West India Company sent
and Finns, which, arriving at cape
1637, the
Swedes
1638, surveyed the country
Sveriga, or New Sweden.
was annihilated by the Dutch,
In
1655, the
who
who refused allegiance
1664, when the English took
and named
rule of the
it
sent to Europe
Holland.
colonists
to
until
possession of
Nya
Swedes
all
the
Thereafter,
New
Neth
Delaware settlements were governed by the Dutch
authorities.
Subsequently ensued the contest between Wil
erlands,
liam
Penn and Lord
Baltimore, respecting the boundary line
of their respective possessions, which was ultimately adjusted
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
76
between
by an amicable compromise
the
For
claimants.
three lower counties on the
twenty years the "territories, or
as a part of Pennsylvania, each
Delaware," were governed
In
county sending six delegates to the general assembly.
to secede, and ever
1703, those territories obtained liberty
afterwards maintained
their
right to a separate
But the proprietary,
assembly.
until
the
and
distinct
outbreak of
the
Revolutionary struggle, retained all his rights, and the same
and Pennsylvania.
governor presided over both Delaware
environing her, Delaware
enjoyed an almost entire exemption from wars, except those
as a part of the British Empire she was obliged
in which
Protected
by the
colonies
sister
"
to
in
Canada,
of
war which terminated
In the
assist."
Delaware contributed
1763,
men and means
and,
to co-operate with
a reimbursement
as
for
her
in the
her
the
surrender of
full
proportion
Mother-country,
"
extraordinary
expenses,"
4000 pounds sterling, a sum
what would have been a just remu
the Parliament granted her but
admittedly
far inferior to
neration.
At
in
Philadelphia in
territory,
of the congress which convened
1765, on occasion of the Stamp Act, the
the meeting
notwithstanding
its
nominal dependence, was rep
resented as a distinct province, with Thomas McKean and
Cassar Rodney for delegates.
Finally, in April, 1775, Richard
Penn, then proprietor of Pennsylvania, resigned his juris
diction
over the
"lower
and
in
September, 1776,
been
declared, a convention of repre
independence having
sentatives, chosen for the purpose, formed a constitution for
the
free
and
counties,"
independent state of Delaware.
Throughout
and
conflict,
profitably
incessantly for the
of
the
common welfare, and her losses and sacrifices,
good
the
she
labored
DELAWARE.
in
the cause of liberty,
won
for her
mother of wise counselors, upright
When
soldiers.
the true
scope
77
resplendent glory as the
and unquailing
Boston Port act
patriots,
of
the
became universally known; when South Carolina sent her
rice and words of warm sympathy to the "Bostoneers," and
North Carolina two thousand pounds currency; when the
people of Wilmington sent back the taunt of irresolute Lord
North, and added, "Ay, my lord, and you will find this
yet hang men for
Connecticut sent her flocks of lamb
American union a rope of sand
their evil
deeds
and sheep
to
;"
the
when
starving
that
freemen
may
of
the
Massachusetts
when Quebec shipped to them a thousand and more
bushels of wheat; when every province sent in its cheerful
coast;
Delaware stood second to none in its swift
charities, but stinted and stripped herself to feed and clothe
those steadfast, hungering and desolate pioneers in the path
contributions,
of freedom
ican
rights
who
and
offered
liberties.
And when
the
perilous
came wherein good and wise men, with wives and
and hard-won wealth, statesmen weighed down with
responsibilities,
were
to
Amer
moment
themselves as the bulwark of
children
ineffable
stand before the world as acknowl
s
edged leaders of a revolution, and hazard, for their country
Caesar Rodney, George Read, and Thomas
sake, a felon s fate
McKean, signed boldly the immortal declaration which made
America a power in the land, and upon every
tember 20th, 1776, Delaware proclaimed its
sea.
Sep
constitution,
upon the declaration of rights.
Nor must the memorable contest at Brandywine Creek be
where Howe and England
passed by in silence the banks
one of those victories,
gained over Washington and America,
u
built
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
78
which
Vergennes remarked,
England will not have a soldier
of
"Two
left
in
such victories, and
America."
MARYLAND.
POPULATION.
1876, nearly 800,000
nearly 225,000 inhabitants.
Present
Present area in square miles, 11,124.
inhabitants.
1776,
about $700,000,000.
total wealth,
Among
state,
the
many
Average wealth, about $900.
valuable educational institutions of this
may be mentioned Washington
College at
Charles-
College at Baltimore, St. Mary s College
at Baltimore, St. Charles s College at Ellicott s Mills, and
St. John s College at Frederick City.
town,
St.
The
John
s
staple cultivated crops are tobacco,
wheat and Indian
commerce, .Maryland occupies the sixth
place in the Union, while her domestic trade, internal and
coastwise, is thriving and extensive.
The first settlement was made under the guidance of
corn;
in
foreign
Captain William Clayborne, who, landing from Virginia with
a party of pioneers, stepped ashore on Kent Island, Ches
apeake
in
Bay,
But
1631.
the
charter
under which
the
colony was permanently established, granted by Charles the
First to the second Lord Baltimore, was dated June 2Oth,
1632,
named
and,
in
honor of
Henrietta Maria, the province was
harrassing and protracted
conflict resulting in the annihilation of the French dominion
in America, Maryland bore an active
part; and here, in
1754,
Terra
was
Duquesne.
Marice.
organized
During
In
the
Braddock
that
part
s
of
expedition
the
last
against
century
Fort
which
MARYLAND.
preceded
the
birth
of
79
Maryland
hostilities,
Revolutionary
so unvaried a series of quiet prosperity," that her
In 1760,
annals furnish few materials for historical notice.
"enjoyed
the
contest,
the
to
and
act
in
of words
boundary
line
finally settled.
merely, with William Penn, relative
of the two provinces, was amicably
Both
the
stamp
act
and the tea duty
were ardently opposed by the people of this state; and,
a propitious moment, the proprietary government was
superseded by committees of public
safety,
and, in
harmony
with a natural and prevailing sentiment, by conventions of
whole people.
the
Maryland
The
are
following
the
names of those
patriots immortalized as signers of the declaration
independence: Samuel Chase, William
Stone, and Charles Carroll, of Carrollton.
of
Paca,
Thomas
August I4th,
of Maryland, and on the
was framed the constitution
following November Qth, it was established.
1776,
A
convention assembled
in
August,
1776,
and
in
Sep
tember presented a bill of rights and a constitution, which
were adopted in the following November. February 5th, 1777,
the first elected legislature assembled at Annapolis, and
Thomas Johnson was chosen the first Repub
From the opening of the war until its close,
governor.
shortly after,
lican
Maryland troops were noted for their efficiency and
was cited as an
Maryland
daring, and the famous
In the battles
example to fire the backward and the timid.
of Long Island, Harlem Heights, Princeton, White Plains,
the
"
line"
and
invaluable participants;
while in almost every important battle, from the engagement
to the struggle at York town, they bore
at
Trenton,
<*tc.,
they were active
Brooklyn Heights
an honorable part.
Especially
in
the
southern
campaigns
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
8o
and good conduct
conspicuous, and to them was often
under General Greene were
of the
Maryland line"
entrusted the honor of
forlorn
a
in
hope
of veteran
forces
the* "bravery
a
initiating
desperate
European
heading a
or
sortie,
encounter with overwhelming
troops.
It
was
in
May, 1774,
the strong hand of
Boston was languishing under
ministerial oppression, and while many held back
while
and
that
alarm,
calmness,
relief
the
ten
past
a
years,
petition
king
saying
least
with
grounds
and remonstrance.
and
ministry
fervid
have
for
During
trodden
prayers,
and instantly she resolved to cease all trading
with Great Britain and the West Indies, selected
purpose,"
relations
deputies to a colonial convention,
of
tion
brethren,
The
American
freedom."
indomitable
heart which
after
the forma
Congress, and wrote to her Boston
Supreme Disposer of all events will termin
ate this severe trial of
was the
recommended
Continental
a
"
of
erect,
doubt
laughing me and mine to scorn.
more sensible than supplications will best serve
my
foot
Something
my
for
rose
cannot see the
I
"Petitions?
expecting
under
Baltimore
in
many
knew no
your patience in a happy confirmation
Bold words! but not bolder than
spirit
which
rest
until
prompted them, nor the
entire freedom was won,
trials.
VIRGINIA.
POPULATION.
1776, nearly 600,000 inhabitants.
inhabitants.
total
1876, nearly
Present area in square miles, 38,348.
wealth, $450,000,000.
Average wealth, $350.
1,500,000
Present
VIRGINIA.
81
In
conjunction with the now separate state of West
Virginia these items are thus increased: Population, 500,000.
Area,
Total
23,000.
wealth,
and
$200,000,000;
average
wealth, $450.
Among
Mary
the chief collegiate institutions are William
Hampden
College,
Sydney
College,
and
Washington
College, and University of Virginia.
The
principal
agricultural
wheat, Indian
cereals,
potatoes;
interests
are
corn, etc.;
butter
also,
extensive,
and domestic,
are
productions
and
tobacco,
cheese.
and
the
various
the
cotton,
wool and
The
manufacturing
commerce, both foreign
of considerable importance.
Virginia \vas
the first of the American colonies settled
by the English,
and Jamestown was founded May I3th, 1607, by 105 colon
sent
ists
is
London Company, whose
out by the
first
incom
Wingfield, was succeeded by the famous
Capt John Smith. The London Company was reorganized
in 1609, and received a
grant of territory "extending 200
leader,
petent
miles
north,
and
Comfort, and
same
the
westward
distance
the
to
Old
south of
Pacific."
Of nine
Point
vessels
despatched thither, seven arrived safely in
the James River; the old government was abrogated, and
subsequently
Smith
retained
his
regime.
Thereafter,
from
old
the
ment on
the
position
as
until
1619,
country
James
set
River,
in
governor
the
tide
under
of
their
v
new
of
emigration
settle
the
toward
strongly
and various other
neighboring
points were rapidly colonized by the newcomers.
year, also, were sent over "ninety respectable young
who were
the
In that
women"
disposed of to the planters as wives, at the cost
In 1619, a Dutch
passage, payable in tobacco.
.THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
82
who
trading vessel brought to Jamestown twenty negroes,
In 1622 occurred a terrible
were sold as slaves for life.
war between the colonists and the
In
canough.
and
1624,
the
Virginia
led
tribes
by OpechanCompany was dissolved,
1632, under the direct control of the crown, the laws
in
and consolidated.
of the colony were revised
In
1641, Sir
William Berkeley became governor; in 1652 Richard Bennett
became his successor; but on the restoration of Charles II.,
the former
1662 the code
In
governor regained his place.
colony was again revised, and the Church of Eng
land re-established.
In 1676 occurred "Bacon s rebellion,"
in which Berkeley met with loss and, eventually, disgrace.
of the
1705 took place the fifth colonial revision of the code,
Hostilities
by which the slave was declared real estate.
broke out with the French in 1754, and in this war George
In
Washington
first
command
entered the service of America,
ing the colonial troops at the battle of Fort Necessity, and
assuming the command of the Virginia forces after Brad-
dock
defeat
s
adopted
body
the
in
1755.
resolutions
to levy taxes
tions of a similar
Lord
Botetourt
March,
was
was
1773,
In
denying
the
dissolved
and April
openly menaced for
organized,
the
Committee
Virginia
2ist,
his
1776,
Virginia adopted
bombarded
her
State
in
consequence,
assembly.
In
Correspondence
1775, Governor Dunmore
deportment."
"arbitrary
following November 23d, Dunmore
session of Norfolk, was driven thence
January,
Burgesses
of
the
in
of
right of any foreign
In 1769, fresh resolu
upon the colony.
nature were passed, and,
immediately
the
House
1765 the
the
took
forcible
December
town.
In
Constitution, and
3d,
June,
it
was
On
pos
and
1776,
the
NORTH CAROLINA.
83
Virginia delegates who, in the Continental Congress, pro
posed the declaration of independence, and sent George
Wythe, Richard
Harrison,
Henry
Thomas
Lee,
Nelson,
Jr.,
Thomas
Benjamin
Lrghtfoot Lee and
Jefferson,
Francis
Carter Braxton to declare her sentiments.
In 1779 occurred
by Matthews, of Norfolk, who also took
Portsmouth and Gosport, and destroyed
130 merchant
vessels on the James and Elizabeth rivers.
In January,
the
destruction,
Benedict
Arnold
and
Richmond,
but was afterward successfully pursued by the militia under
Steuben, and several French frigates in the Chesapeake.
1781,
captured
ravaged
spring of the same year, Cornwallis and Phillips
devastated eastern Virginia, but the following October 19111,
the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown virtually closed
In the
the war.
NORTH CAROLINA.
POPULATION.
1776,
nearly 350,000 inhabitants.
inhabitants.
Area
in
wealth, $275,000,000.
The
principal
square
miles,
1876, nearly
50,704.
1,250,000
Present
total
Average wealth, $250.
collegiate
institutions
of North Carolina, Davidson College,
and Normal College.
Iron and coal are among
are,
Wake
mineral
the
University
Forest College
the
productions
various fruits are found in profusion, while turpentine, tar,
rosin, rice, tobacco and cotton, with the various grains and
the
;
mining and manufacturing establishments, form the basis of
a large and constantly increasing commerce.
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
84
The
olina
systematic essay at settlement in North Car
made by a party of one hundred and eight,
first
was
under Ralph Lane, despatched by Sir Walter Raleigh, which
landed in 1585 on Roanoke, an island between Pamlico and
These adventurers, however, drawing
Albemarle Sounds.
upon themselves the hostility of the native tribes, soon after
returned
England with the
to
fleet
Francis
of Sir
Drake.
Raleigh s expedition had made the
land at Cape Fear, and run into Ocracoke Inlet, when the
voyagers landed on the isle of Wococon. Thereafter, until
Prior to
the
middle
sufferings,
of
colonized,
seventeenth
century,
various
others
was
the
eminent
abortive
met with great
In
1630,
Chesapeake, known as
granted to Sir Robert Heath, but not being
land
of
1663, Charles
eight
the
and were ultimately wholly destroyed.
tract
Carolina,
1584,
made by Raleigh and
settlements
a vast
in
this,
south
of
the
grant was afterward
II.
granted the same
English
declared
"territory
noblemen,
In
forfeited.
of
who were
Carolina"
vested
to
with
jurisdiction over the colonists,
and John Locke was engaged
to elaborate a scheme of
government for the whole province.
William Drummond, the first governor, was executed in
as a rebel;
Virginia
were enacted the
first
under Samuel
Stevens, his
successor,
laws for the colony, by an assembly
In 1695,
partaking both of popular and proprietary qualities.
the Quaker, John Archdale, was
Con
appointed governor.
siderable
settlements
were
made
during
his
beneficent
administration, and the export of tar and rice was com
menced.
In 1705, Thomas
Gary was appointed governor,
and, upon being removed to give place to Edward
Hyde,
incited
a
rebellion which
was
not
suppressed
until
1711.
NORTH CAROLINA.
85
Meanwhile and subsequently, until 1713, tne
province was
continually harassed by the Tuscaroras, who finally emi
At this period, also, various other
grated to the north.
hostile tribes were intimidated and reduced to
subjection.
In July,
under Governor Everard, the province
became a royal government, with Lord Carteret as the
pro
of
of
the
domain. Later, a party of Irish
prietor
one-eighth
1729, while
Presbyterians settled in the north-western section, a colony
of Moravians took possession of the
ground between the
Dan and the Yadkin rivers, and a party of Highlanders
near
settled
administration of Tryon, the
the State, and the people
and
Under
oppression.
the
During
Fayetteville.
subsequent evil
troubles convulsed
"regulator"
murmured
against his tyranny
following administration of
the
Josiah Martin, disputes arose between the governor and the
assembly, and also loud complaints relative to the unjusti
fiable
policy
Carolina sent
gress,
of
the
home
representatives
September
,
1774,
the
to
first
Finally,
Continental
and an association was
North
Con
formed
in
decided to renounce allegi
August 2oth, 1775, a popular convention
Mecklenburg which, May,
ance to the crown.
government.
1775,
authorized the raising of three, afterward five regiments of
Subse
troops, to be taken into colonial pay by Congress.
quently, the
loyalist
Highlanders under McDonald and
McLeod were
routed
by the
patriots
under
Moore and
and, in April, 1776, the North Carolina convention
authorized their delegates to unite with the other colonies
Caswell;
in a declaration of
independence.
In the following
Decem
the province adopted a State Constitution, and liberally
furnished her quota of men; but, "beyond the partisan warber,
w
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
86
between the
fare
loyalists
and
October 9th of
losses.
took place January iyth,
House occurred March 5th,
United States, formed
was
this
yean
by Shelby and Sevier, and
The memorable battle of Cowpens
1781, and that of Guilford Court
of military operations until 1780.
General Ferguson was defeated
sustained severe
was not the scene
patriots,"
in
The
1781.
Constitution of the
by North Carolina in
William Hooper, Joseph
1787, rejected
adopted in 1789.
Hewes and John Perm, are the names of those sons of
North Carolina who felt no fear in the final moment which
1788,
finally
which
preceded the signing of that state paper
the glory even of the British Magna Charta.
1
8th,
1776,
ratified in
the
of
constitution
the congress
by which
December,
Carolina was fully
North
it
outshone
far
had been framed.
SOUTH CAROLINA.
POPULATION.
1776,
nearly
inhabitants.
Present area
inhabitants.
total
200,000
wealth, $225,000,000.
There are
South
eight
are
square
nearly
miles, 34,000.
800,000
Present
Average wealth, $300.
colleges
Carolina College,
The products
in
1876,
at
in
the
State.
Columbia,
cotton,
rice,
is
Of
these,
the
a State institution.
tobacco, maize, oats,
rye,
and manufacturing inter
barley, etc.;
ests are of an important scope and nature.
Probably the
first essay at
peaceful colonization in this country was made
also, the commercial
by a party of French Huguenots under John Ribanet, who,
in
1562, was despatched on a voyage of exploration to
Florida.
After the discovery in
May
of that
year of the
SOUTH CAROLINA.
87
(May) River, he coasted northward, and ultimately
entered the commodious inlet which he named Port Royal.
St.
On
s
John
an island
that
in
called Carolina, after Charles
tlement
there
onists,
finally,
first
in
both the
ment,
Port
at
in
then
Royal,
the
Prance.
The
1670,
by English
col
Old
Charleston,
at
to
and
As "Carolina,"
present Charleston.
held as a proprietary govern
present states were
at the
1680,
under
nominally
arranged
made
settlement was
subsequent
killed
discontented,
returned
shortly after
fort
Hut the set
France.
of
IX.,
a
constructed
then
became
planted
commandant, and
he
harbor
Locke,
by John
model
famous
the
till
1729,
July,
constitution
when
the
king
Carolinas
formed
becoming by purchase sole owner,
In 1685, large numbers
into two separate royal colonies.
of French Huguenots settled in South Carolina, which were
the
followed later by considerable settlements of Swiss, German,
and Irish emigrants. At various periods the colonists were
were engaged
At
Florida.
a
in
of revolutionary
outbreak
the
the
destructive
warfare,
and
natives, and, with
conflict,
and
South Carolina
on her
skirmishes were
names
of
Colonel
and
with
hotly contested
varying success.
Mountain, Camden, Eutaw
s
-other
Springs, Cowpens, and
national interest, evoke memories
battle
hostilities,
was the scene of
many
soil
fought
Fort Moultrie, Charleston, King
ciations.
Georgia,
contest with the Spanish settlements in
throughout
battles
hostile
by the
severely harassed
of -thrilling historic and
rife with
pregnant asso
The last engagement of any importance, the
Eutaw Springs, between General Greene and
Stuart,
in
which
was fought within the
both
sides
boundaries
of
claimed
this
the
State,
victory,
and
vir-
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
88
tually terminated the contest in
south.
the
The
provisional
constitution of South Carolina dates from the 26th of March,
1776.
In March,
lished
by an
act
permanent constitution was estab
of the legislature, without any previous
1778, a
During the greater part of 1780
and 1781, the country was held by the British, and this
continual occupation of their land was the cause of incessant
consultation of the people.
skirmishes and
The
citizens.
irrepressible
gallantly
uprisings on
part of the energetic
the
partisan
warfare
conducted
by Marion, Sumter and Lee was, both
directly
and
so
and
source of great benefit to the common cause,
ever ready helpfulness of the planters and back
indirectly, the
and the
woodsmen
welcome
assisted
greatly
in
precipitating
the
final
and
From South Carolina went forth Edward
Thomas Hey ward, Thomas Lynch, Jr., and Arthur
result.
Rutledge,
Middleton, to append their names, by the authority of their
fellow-citizens, to that declaration which is our guide along
road
the
of
time
to
the
regions
of
happy grandeur and
prosperity.
GEORGIA.
POPULATION.
1776,
nearly 75,000
inhabitants.
total
inhabitants.
1876, nearly 1,200,000
Present area in square miles, 58,000.
Present
wealth, $275,000,000.
The
principal
Average wealth, $250.
schools
collegiate and
professional
Franklin College, Athens;
are
Oglethorpe University, Milledgeville; Emory College, Oxford; Mercer University, Pennfield,
and Wesleyan Female College, Macon.
GEORGIA.
Georgia
s
the place of
cotton, the
longstaple,
its
"sea-island
growth,
Gold and copper
brated.
are
89
as
or,
cotton,"
found
in
The northern
also valuable limestones.
it
is
is
called
from
justly cele
limited quantities,
section
of the
state
a grain country, producing wheat, rye, oats, Indian corn and
The manufacturing establishments are also of im
barley.
is
portance, while the
sum
of
total
its
considerable dimensions.
exports, attains
the country lying within Georgia
and
coast trade, imports
Previous to
1733,
present boundaries was an
uncultured wilderness, and, though comprehended within the
charter of
Carolina, had
By
England.
been claimed both by Spain and
dated
patent,
s
June
granted the territory to a corporation,
for
settling
the
of
colony
1732,
Qth,
entitled,
George
"The
I.I.
trustees
The measures con
Georgia."
cerning this province were actuated equally by charitable and
political
was
considerations;
desired
for
the
country; on the other,
policy, to rescue the
on the one hand, a pleasant retreat
needy and deserving in the mother
it
was advised
frontiers
of
as a
the
measure of
Carolinas from
state
the
Spaniards and Indians from
Florida.
In November, 1732, 120 persons were embarked
at Gravesend, under the control of General James OgleThe
thorpe, and in January, 1733, landed at Charleston.
marauding
incursions
of
the
permanent settlement was commenced at Savannah, in the
ensuing spring, and in 1734 was further strengthened by the
In 1739, war broke
arrival of 600 additional immigrants.
England and Spain, and Oglethorpe invaded
Failing in his attack, however, upon St. Augustine,
as a measure of retaliation, the Spaniards took
Simon, and also meditated the destruction of
out between
Florida.
in
1742,
Fort
St.
x
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.
9o
Fort
Later,
Oglethorpe.
was
which
Frederica,
trustees
the
shrewdness
by the
saved
surrendered
their
of
charter
became a royal govern
ment, and in 1755 a general assembly was established in the
At this date, the limits of the colony were the
territory.
Savannah on the north and the Altamaha on the south,
But by a royal procla
extending westward to the Pacific.
mation in 1763, all the lands lying between the Altamaha
and St. Mary s were annexed to Georgia. At the beginning
to
the crown,
and
in
1752, Georgia
of the Revolutionary troubles, though the infant state
begun to enjoy the blessings of peace and of a
just
"had
more
system of government," she did not hesitate to
hands with her oppressed brothers in the north, did
beneficent
strike
and pause timorously to weigh each pro and con,
but worded her sympathy and promises with warmth and
not
falter
In
decision.
congress,
March,
and
in
the
1775,
she
following
appointed
July gave
a
delegate to
her sanction to
February 5th, 1777, her
congress.
unanimous agreement
perfected by the
the measures of
law was
convention.
While
incessantly invaded
the
war
by the
was
waging,
organic
of the
Georgia
British troops, suffered
was
severely
property and the devastation
of her plantations, and her most honored sons and daughters
were compelled to abandon their cherished homes and con
from
the
destruction
of her
ceal themselves in the bordering states,
where
too, often, they
poverty and disease willing martyrs to that
holy cause which was upheld with all the fervor of their
southern hearts.
In 1778, Savannah was captured, and in
fell
victims
to
Augusta and Sunbury were occupied by
In 1779, a valiant but futile attempt was made
the following year,
the
enemy.
GEORGIA.
by the French and Americans to recapture Savannah. When
news of the skirmishes at
Lexington had fired Savannah,
her frontier was threatened
by the hostile Creeks, ChickCherokees and
asaws,
Choctaws, while her numerous
African
servile
slaves
justly
insurrection;
involved
rebels"
inspired
yet,
themselves
of
with
anxious apprehensions
little
with
irrevocably
Massachusetts,
and,
delay,
the
breaking
the
of
Georgians
and
"outlaws
open
a
the
king
s
magazine, they took from it nearly 600 Ibs. of powder, and
forwarded to the north sixty-three barrels of rice, and ^122
in specie.
Button
Walton
the
are
their lives
Gwinnett,
names
of
the
and
Lyman
Hall
three
patriots
and fortunes upon the
issue
of
who
George
staked
a sublime, but
conflict
since
the
apparently unequal
apparently,
only,
genius of right was with one, against the other in which
the
first
were
to
European power and
be
baffled
by an
liberal spirit of the age.
the instincts of
infant
mediaevalism
commonwealth and
the
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
92
BIOGRAPHIES OF THE
SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
JOHN HANCOCK,
was born
of
President
the
Con
Continental
Quincy, Massachusetts, January I2th,
In 1754 he was
1737, and died there October 8th, 1793.
gress,
in
and subsequently was em
graduated at Harvard College,
of an uncle, who, dying in
ployed in the counting house
fortune which enabled him to
1764, left to him the large
as an enterprising merchant.
figure so prominently
In
1766,
as associate with Otis, Gushing and Samuel Adams, he was
chosen to the Massachusetts House of Representatives from
Boston.
occasioned
member
was the seizure of
"It
the
riot
in
its
president.
the Continental Congress,
of
and
In
independence.
in
the Liberty,
that
became a
congress at Concord, and in 1774
In 1775 he became president of
and
1777
1780 was chosen
sloop
first
he
Afterward
1768."
of the provincial
was chosen
his
1776 signed the declaration
he returned to Massachusetts,
in
governor, to which
office,
an interval of two years, he was annually re-elected
till
with
his
death.
NEW
HAMPSHIRE.
JOSIAH BARTLETT, M.
shire,
1729,
was born
and died
of medicine in
appointments
in
May
D.,
Amesbury, Massachusetts,
igth, 1795.
John
in
November,
He commenced
1750, at Kingston.
from
New Hamp
governor of
After
Wentworth, the
the practice
receiving various
royal
governor,
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
he was deprived of them
In
ous Whig principles.
command
on account of
1775,
1774 he
was appointed
and the
first,
memorable document.
In
Bennington.
common
1779
pleas; in
the
after
to
president,
the
to
regiment of militia. As a delegate
Congress, he was the first whb voted
declaration,
zeal
his
of a
Continental
the
in
93
to the
the
for
sign
that
he accompanied Stark to
he was appointed Chief Justice of
In
1777,
1784, justice
of the
Supreme
Court,
In the convention called to
Chief Justice.
adopt the Federal Constitution, in 1788, he was a prominent
mover, and in 1790, was president of New Hampshire. In
and
in
1788,
1793 he
became
governor under the new state
was, moreover, president of the Medical
the
He
constitution.
Society, established,
by
first
his exertions, in
WILLIAM WHIPPLE
was
born
1791.
in
twenty-first year,
November
he had made
as
relinquishing a sea-faring
in
and
1730,
captain;
died
but,
8th,
Kittery,
Prior
1785.
several voyages
life
Maine,
to
his
to
England
in
1759, he
mercantile pursuits at Portsmouth, New Hamp
In January, 1775, he became the district representative
shire.
and subse
in the provincial congress convened at Exeter,
He was
to the Continental Congress.
quently, was elected
the first
in 1777, commanded
appointed brigadier general
and participated in the
brigade of New Hampshire troops,
In 1778 he arrested
actions of Stillwater and Saratoga.
He was finan
General Sullivan in the siege of Newport.
engaged
cial
in
receiver for the state of
1784,
and
in
the
Supreme Court
Y
New Hampshire
from 1782
till
former year was appointed judge of the
of the state.
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
94
MATTHEW THORNTON
the year 1714,
24th,
and died
In
1803.
was born
in
Ireland
about
in
Newburyport, Massachusetts, June
Worcester, Massachusetts, he received an
education, and subsequently studied the science
medicine under Dr. Grout, of Leicester, Massachusetts.
academical
of
In
the
expedition
against
Breton, in
Cape
1745,
he was
enrolled as surgeon, and ably performed his onerous duties.
At the commencement of the conflict he resided in London
derry, holding the rank of a colonel in the militia, and,
under
Benning Wentworth, was commissioned
of the peace.
In 1775 he was appointed the first
the administration of
a justice
January 5th, 1776,
president of the provincial convention.
he was elected speaker of the general assembly.
September
1 2th,
1776, he was appointed, by the house of representatives,
a delegate to represent, for one year, the state of New Hamp
shire in Congress.
January loth, 1776, he was appointed a
judge of the superior court of
New
Hampshire, having previ
of
received
the
Chief
Justice of the court
ously
appointment
of common pleas.
December 24th, 1776, he was elected
represent in congress, for one year, the state of New
Hampshire. In 1779 he removed to Exeter, and, in 1780,
purchased a farm on the banks of the Merrimack, to which
to
he shortly after retired.
Subsequently, for several years, he
was selectman of the town, also served as a member of the
general court, and was elected to the office of senator to the
State Legislature.
January 25th, 1784, he was appointed a
justice of
the peace
the
new
his
demise.
constitution,
In
and quorum throughout the
which
1785, he
office
was
state
under
he held until the time of
also a
member
under the presidency of John Langdon.
of the council,
LIl
ES OP THE SIGNERS.
95
MASSACHUSETTS.
SAMUEL ADAMS
1722,
where he died
was born
October
education was acquired at
he entered Cambridge in
in
Boston, September 2yth,
His preliminary
the Boston Latin school, whence
In 1765 he was chosen as
1736.
1803.
2cl,
one of the three representatives in the general court of the
town of Boston.
At the time of the so-called "Boston
was a prominent agent, and
a.
bold mover in important matters.
At the June (1774)
meeting of the general court, a Continental Congress was
proposed to assemble at Philadelphia, and he was one of
massacre,"
in
March, 1770, he
the five delegates appointed
congress, and in
by the representatives. In this
those which followed, he was, during eight
years, noted for his energy, decision
and
ability.
He
partici
pated prominently in the formation of the state constitution
of Massachusetts, adopted in 1780, and was a leading
spirit
Massachusetts convention called
of the
the author of
tracts
many important
in
1788.
He was
and
numerous
His oration on American
state
and
papers,
pamphlets.
delivered
in Philadelphia, August ist,
Independence,
is a
favorable specimen of his style, and admirably
political
trative
of the general character of
JOHN ADAMS
was
born
its
illus
composer.
October
part of Braintree, Massachusetts, which
1776,
is
igth,
1735,
in
on the south shore
of Boston Harbor, ten miles distant from Boston, where
died July 4th,
he
He
acquired a classical education at
whence he graduated in 1755. He was
1826.
Harvard College,
that
afterward entrusted with the charge of the grammar school
After completing a two years
in Worcester, Massachusetts.
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
96
course of legal studies in Worcester, he removed, in 1758,
to Suffolk county, and gradually introduced himself into
In 1764 he married Abigail Smith, and shortly
practice.
presented the Braintree town meeting with the notable
He was subse
resolutions concerning the Stamp Act.
after,
quently appointed one of the counsel to support a memorial
addressed to the governor and the council.
Removing to
Boston
in
1768, in
the General Court.
of
the
five
and upon
1770 he was chosen a representative to
In the congress of 1774, he was one
from
delegates
his return,
Massachusetts to
was elected a member,
the provincial congress then in session.
Philadelphia,
for Braintree, of
He was
a
member
of
the Continental Congress of 1775, and after his return home,
sat as a member of the Massachusetts council.
Later, he was
instrumental in drawing
up the basis of our existing naval
and urged the necessity of advising all the provinces
institute governments of their own.
He was subsequently
code,
to
appointed
office
in
chief justice
The
1777.
Massachusetts, but resigned that
Declaration of Independence, though
of
was strenuously upheld by him in
a three days debate, and, June I2th, congress established
the board of war and ordnance, of which he was made
He was also chairman of the com
chairman or president.
drawn up by
Jefferson,
mittee
which
upon
devolved
admiralty cases from the
appointed a commissioner
the
state
to
decision
courts.
France, to
In
of
appeals in
1777 he was
supersede
Deane,
and, embarking at Boston, in the frigate Boston, February
1
After his return,
2th,
1778, arrived in Paris April 8th.
he was appointed by congress, minister to treat with Great
Britain for peace
and commerce, when he
sailed
again
for
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
France
in
In
1779.
97
1780 he proceeded to Holland,
by congress to negotiate a Dutch
July
where he was appointed
loan.
Later, he was appointed
minister
to
Holland,
com
missioned to sign the articles of the armed neutrality. But
In 1782 he succeeded
in July, 1781, he was recalled to Paris.
negotiating a Dutch loan of $2,000,000, and also a treaty
In May,
of commerce and amity.
1785, he arrived, as
in
the court of
minister, at
received a solicited
nental Congress.
presidency,
new
office,
Upon
James.
In
on
his
and,
election
of
home, was
arrival
Massachusetts
from
the
February, 1788, he
the
to
Washington
Conti
to
the
he became vice-president, and, by virtue of his
In 1792 he was represident of the senate.
After
elected.
recall,
a delegate
reappointed
St.
Washington
s
was
he
retirement,
elected
In 1820, he
president chosen by a very slender majority.
was chosen a delegate by his townsmen in the convention
His chief
called to revise the constitution of Massachusetts.
publications
Feudal
the
Law,"
Dispute
Applicable to
"Twenty-six
of the
an
follows:
as
are
"Essays
by
Novanglus,"
on
Canon and
the
or,
"A
History of
Thoughts on Government
the Present State of the American Colonies;"
with
America;"
Letters
American
upon
Interesting
Constitution;"
Subjects;"
"Discourses
on
"Defence
Davila,"
and
"Autobiography."
ROBERT TREAT PAINE
nth, 1731, and
died
there
was born
May
in
nth, 1814.
Boston, March
After gradu
theology, and acted,
the troops on the northern frontier.
1755, as chaplain of
he studied law and established himself in
ating
in
"Essay
at
Harvard College, he
Subsequently
studied
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
98
of
1768 he was a delegate from the town
Taunton to the convention called in Boston after the dis
In 1770
solution of the general court by Governor Bernard.
he conducted the prosecution against Captain Preston and
Boston.
his
In
men.
In
Taunton
to
1773-74 he was chosen a representative from
the General Assembly of Massachusetts, and in
was appointed a delegate to the Continental
Re-elected in 1775, he was one of the committee
the latter year
Congress.
of three deputed to visit Schuyler s army.
to the congresses of 1776, 1777, 1778,
He was
a delegate
1777 was
of Massachusetts and Attorney General
and
in
Speaker of the House
In 1779 he was a member of the executive
of the state.
council, and a delegate to the convention, also one of the
committee
wealth.
office
In
until
which
formed the constitution of the
common
1780 he was chosen attorney general, filling that
1790, when he became a judge of the Supreme
On
account of failing health he resigned that office
He
in 1804; during this year he was also a state councillor.
was one of the founders of the American Academy, situated
Court.
in Massachusetts, in
1780.
ELBRIDGE GERRY
was born in Marblehead, Massa
chusetts, July 1 7th, 1744, and died in Washington, November
After graduating at Harvard College in 1762,
1
3th, 1814.
he was
engaged in commercial pursuits, for several years,
and, in 1772, was elected representative from Marblehead to
the general legislature of the state.
He was placed on the
two important committees of safety and supplies which sat
at Cambridge, on the day preceding the battle of
Lexington.
In January, 1776, he was elected a delegate to the Continental
OF THE SIGNERS.
LIJSES
99
Congress, where he was generally chairman of the committee
of the treasury till the
organization of the treasury board in
1780.
Returning from congress in 1780, he resumed his seat
While delegate
in
1783.
of
1787, he refused
to
sign
the
to
the
Philadelphia
constitution
convention
proposed, but
From 1795 till 1797,
subsequently lent to it his support.
he resided in Cambridge, when, with
Pinckney and Marshall,
he was sent to France on a special commission to avert the
In
impending rupture between that country and America.
1798, also in 1801, he was unsuccessfully supported by the
Democratic party of Massachusetts for the office of governor;
1710 he secured that position, and in 1811 was re-elected.
In 1812 he was elected Vice-President of the United States.
in
RHODE
STEPHEN HOPKINS
Island,
March
1785.
In
was
born
and died
in
Scituate,
Rhode
in
Providence, July I3th,
he was elected a member of the general
7th,
1733
ISLAND.
1707,
assembly, and in 1739 chief justice of the court of common
He was elected governor of the state in 1755, and,
pleas.
with
exception of four years, held that position until
In 1754 he acted with the commissioners assembled
the
1768.
New
York, to further the union of the colonies,
and in 1765 was chosen chairman of a committee appointed
in Providence to draft instructions to the general assembly
at
Albany,
on the
Stamp Act
In
August,
1774,
he represented his
congress held at Philadelphia, and was
For many years he was
1775 and 1776.
state in the general
also
chosen
chancellor
in
of
Brown
University.
In
1765
he
published
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
ioo
Rights of the Colonies
"The
"History
1820.
Growth of
of the Planting and
WILLIAM ELLERY
Island,
Examined,"
was
born
and also began a
Providence."
in
Newport,
Rhode
and died there February I5th,
Graduating from Harvard College in 1747, he subse
December
22d, 1727,
quently engaged in mercantile pursuits in his native place.
In 1770 he began the practice of the law in Newport, and
in May, 1776, took his seat in the congress of that year as
one of the delegates for Rhode Island. With the exception
of the years 1780 and 1782, he remained in congress till
In April, 1786, he was elected, by congress, commis
sioner of the continental loan office for the state of Rhode
1786.
and
in
office
he
Island,
which
1790 was
filled
until
collector
appointed
of
Newport,
his decease.
CONNECTICUT.
ROGER SHERMAN
setts,
April
i
Qth,
In
and
necticut,
the county.
eral
times
and died
In early
July 23d, 1793.
shoemaking.
1721,
in
In
was born
life
in
in
New
Newton, Massachu
Haven, Connecticut,
he followed the occupation of
1743 he removed to
New
Milford,
Con
1745 was appointed surveyor of lands for
1754 he Was admitted to the bar, was sev
elected a
member
of the
colonial assembly,
and
1759 was appointed judge of the court of common pleas.
In 1765 he was judge of the common pleas in New Haven,
in
and
in
1766, an assistant of the
upper house
in the
legisla
1744 he was appointed a member of the first
congress, and held that position until his demise, at which
time he was in the senate, whereto he was elected in 1791.
ture.
In
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
From
1784 until
his
decease, he
was
also
101
of
Mayor
New
Haven, and, for several years, was treasurer of Yale College.
He was a prominent member of the constitutional convention
of 1787, and assisted importantly in codifying the laws of
Connecticut, and in securing the ratification of the constitu
tion by the state convention of Connecticut.
SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
necticut,
July 3d,
Prior to
1796.
he held the
1732,
and died
1775, after
offices
in
the
January,
1776.
in
in
Windham, Con
Norwich, January 5th,
completing his legal education,
of king s attorney, and associate
He
He
Connecticut.
superior court of
Continental Congress as a
of
was born
delegate
from
succeeded John
his
Jay as
justice
entered
native
the
stajtji,
president
.-of
until July /
congress in September, 1779, and filled that office
bench.
1780, when he resumed his seat on the Connecticut
From May
to June,
1783,
he served again
in
congress.
chief justice of
In
the
following year he was appointed
Of this state he was elected
superior court of Connecticut.
the
lieutenant governor in 1785, and in 1786 succeeded Roger
Griswold as governor, a position to which he was annually
elected until his demise.
WILLIAM WILLIAMS
Lebanon, Windham county, Connecticut, April 8th, 1731, and died there
In 1751 he graduated from Harvard Col
2d, 1811.
August
lege, and
in
was born
of Colonel
1755, attached to the staff
made one campaign.
prominent member of the council
Williams,
1775,
became
AA
in
a representative
in
Subsequently,
of safety,
the
and
Continental
Ephraim
was a
he
in
October,
Congress.
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
102
He
state legislature, held
nearly fifty years in the
offices of trust and honor, and was a member of the
served
many
convention of his state which adopted the federal constitution.
OLIVER WALCOTT
26th,
at
1726,
was born
and died December
Yale College,
the governor of
in Connecticut,
1797.
ist,
he received a captain s
New
November
After graduating
commission
York, and was engaged in the defence
until
of the northern frontier
peace of Aix-la-Chapelle.
the
Litchfield county,
1751 he was appointed sheriff of
necticut, and in 1774, a member of the state council.
In
also a major general of militia, a
of the court of
:Cpurt, and chief judge
was
iWiv.h 6 was
one
from
f
^e
Con
He
judge of the probate
common
pleas.
commissioners of Indian
In
affairs
In 1776 he commanded the
fof th e northern department.
fourteen Connecticut regiments organized to assist the army
in New York, and in this year took his seat in congress.
Though
to serve
a participant in the battle of Saratoga, he continued
irregularly in congress until
From
1783.
1786 to
1796 he was lieutenant governor of Connecticut, when
he was elected governor, which position he filled until his
decease.
NEW
WILLIAM FLOYD
York, December
county,
August
I7th,
4th,
YORK.
was born
1734,
1821.
Suffolk
in
and died
On
the
in
In
New
Western, Oneida
Rev
the command of
Continental Con
outbreak of the
olutionary troubles, he was appointed to
Suffolk county, and a delegate to the first
gress in Philadelphia.
county,
1775 he was again appointed a
LIYES
OF THE SIGNERS.
103
delegate to the general colonial congress, and continued
a member for eight years.
In 1777 he became senator for
the state of New York,
retaining also his seat in congress.
He was
tution,
this
to
member
a
of the
first
and was one of the
the
of
constitution
upon two
quently,
presidential electors in 1801.
he was chosen a
year, also,
revise
congress under the consti
member
his
was
occasions,
PHILIP LIVINGSTON
was
the convention
of
native
and,
state,
in
subse
elector.
presidential
born
In
Albany,
New
York, January i5th, 1716, and died in York, Pennsylvania,
June 1 2th, 1778. After graduating at Yale College in 1737,
he was engaged in commerce in the city of New York. In
1758 he was returned to the colonial house of assembly from
and continued a member of
that city,
He was
a
member
gresses, served
of the
later
first
the
in
FRANCIS LEWIS
shire,
in
Wales,
December
3Oth,
and second Continental Con
New York
to
the Continental
York.
was born
March,
1803.
1769.
New York
the state assembly, and
death, he was a delegate from
sitting in
until
body
provincial congress,
At the time of his
in the senate.
in
Congress then
that
1713,
He was
in
and
Llandaff,
Glamorgan
died
New
in
York,
educated at Westminster
age of twenty-two, emigrated to New
York.
He was afterward engaged in commercial pursuits
He was then
until the outbreak of the conflict in 1775.
school,
and,
at
the
elected to the Continental Congress, and in May, 1775, took
his seat in that body, as one of the delegates from New
York.
Until
April,
1779, with the exception of
one short
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
104
member
of congress, taking a
important measures.
he continued to be a
interval,
in all
prominent part
.*
LEWIS MORRIS
was born at Morrisania, Westchester
county, New York, in 1726, and died January 22d, 1798.
After graduating at Yale College, in 1746, he interested him
He
extensively in farming and agricultural pursuits.
was elected to the congress of 1775, and was a member of
the committee to devise means for supplying the colonies
self
He was
with munitions of war.
Indians from
detach the
his
seat
in
legislature,
the
He
congress.
and spent the
RICHARD STOCKTON
Jersey,
October
1730,
ist,
and
British,
afterward
latter
NEW
subsequently sent west to
in
1776 resumed
served
days of his
in
life in
the
state
Morrisania.
JERSEY.
was born near Princeton,
and died there, February
New
28th,
After graduating at the College of New Jersey, at
Newark, in 1748, he studied law, and was admitted to the
1781.
bar in
In
1754.
1768 he was
utive council of
New
of the
Court.
Supreme
served on
Jersey,
made
and
He was
a
member
of the exec
1774, appointed a
judge
elected to congress in
1776,
in
committee appointed to inspect the northern
army, and eventually was captured by the British, and con
fined in the prison at New York.
Ultimately the severe
the
treatment which he experienced there affected his health, and
was the immediate cause of his death.
JOHN WITHERSPOON,
the
parish
of
Tester,
D. D., LL.
D, was
Haddingtonshire, Scotland,
born
in
February
OF THE SIGNERS.
5th,
1
105
and died near Princeton, New Jersey, September
He was educated at the University of Edin
1794.
1722,
5th,
of Beith,
burgh, and in 1745 ordained minister of the parish
in the west of Scotland.
Shortly after the death of Presi
was appointed as his successor, and
was inaugurated in August, 1768.
During the period of
his presidency, he was also pastor of the church in Princeton.
In 1776 he was a member of the provincial congress of
1766, he
dent Finley,
in
New
and of the Continental Congress
Jersey,
at Philadelphia.
six years he represented
Jersey in congress. The
to literature:
following list comprises his chief contributions
New
For
"Ecclesiastical
Characteristics,"
"Essay
on
Justification,"
and
Effects of the Stage.
Inquiry into the Nature and
"Serious
FRANCIS HOPKINSON
He
1737, died May gth, 1791.
was born
Philadelphia in
was graduated at the College
in
of Philadelphia, and in 1761 was secretary in a conference
held on the Lehigh between the Pennsylvania government
In 1776 he was sent from New
and various Indian tribes.
In 1779
her representatives in congress.
Jersey as one of
an
he was made judge of the admiralty of Pennsylvania,
He was subsequently
by him for ten years.
commissioned as United States district judge for Pennsyl
office
vania.
filled
He
Prophecy,"
the
is
"The
author
of
Battle of the
Pretty
"The
Kegs,"
Story,"
The
etc.
died there, at an advanced age, in 1780.
New Jersey, and
He was frequently
in
elected to the colonial assembly, and
1774 was elected to
JOHN HART
assist
at
the
was born
general
in
congress
Hopewell,
in
Philadelphia,
where
his
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
106
ible will,
won him
was born
February 15*, 1726, and died
He
of 1794.
in the fall
inflex
upon many occasions.
favorable notice
ABRAHAM CLARK
Jersey,
judgment and
reliable
characteristics,
distinguishing
at
New
Elizabethtown,
at
Rahway,
New
Jersey,
held several important local offices
under the colonial government, and, June 2ist, 1776, was
five dele
appointed by the provincial congress one of the
He
gates from New Jersey to the Continental Congress.
afterward served, with the exception of the session of 1779,
until
November,
He was
1783.
the convention which
met
one of the commissioners
September nth,
1786.
May 8th, 1787, he was appointed by the council and
assembly of New Jersey one of the commissioners to repre
in
sent
that
in
state
In
constitution.
at Annapolis,
convention which framed the federal
the
he was elected
1790
a
member
of
the
second congress.
PENNSYLVANIA.
ROBERT MORRIS
was born
January 2oth, 1734, and died
In
1754, after settling
in
in
Lancashire,
in Philadelphia,
May
England,
8th,
1806.
Philadelphia, he entered into busi
ness as partner with the son of Charles Willing.
Zealously
opposing the Stamp Act, he signed the non-importation
of
agreement
congress
of
declaration
1765.
1775,
of
He was
and,
July
independence.
a delegate to the
1776, voted against the
the 2Oth of the same
elected
ist,
On
month, he was re-elected to congress, and again, in 1777.
In 1780 he was instrumental in establishing a bank, by
means of which
3,000,000
rations
of
provisions
and
300
THE
LIYES OF
SIGNERS.
rum were forwarded
of
107
to the army.
February
2oth, 1781, he was elected superintendant of finance, and
In
subsequently established the bank of North America.
hogsheads
that
important
office
also
regulated
the
1784,
and
in
He
he served until November, 1784.
of
affairs
the navy
member
1787 was elected a
the
until
of
of the convention
October
which framed the federal constitution.
close
ist,
1788,
he was elected a member of the first United States Senate.
In the opening of 1784 he sent to Canton the first American
vessel that ever appeared in that port.
RUSH
BENJAMIN
near
ton
December
Philadelphia,
Philadelphia, April
College in
Edinburgh,
was
iQth,
1760, he
London
1813.
born
24th,
After graduating at Prince
studied
and
on Poquestion Creek,
and died in
1745,
medicine
and
Paris,
in
in
Philadelphia,
August,
1769,
In
in Philadelphia.
began the practice of his profession
and in April, 1777, was
1776 he was elected to congress,
made surgeon-general
of the
army
for
the middle
ment, and in the following July, physician general.
he planned the
Philadelphia
depart
In 1785
1789 was
Philadelphia Medical
Dispensary, and
in
medicine in the
professor of
In 1779 he was appointed treasurer of the United
College.
He also
States Mint, and filled that office until his demise.
and pub
filled various other positions of trust and honor,
made
several
lished
valuable works
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
1
7th,
April
S.
1706
(O.
1
1790.
7th,
on
physiology and medicine.
was born in Boston, January
January 6th), and died in Philadelphia,
In 1750 he was elected to the assembly,
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
io8
was appointed commissioner for making an Indian treaty,
and in 1753 became deputy postmaster general for America.
In 1754 he was named a deputy to the general congress at
After accomplishing much for the colonies while
resident in England and on the continent, he embarked for
Albany.
and arrived on the following 5th of
May. In 1776 he was sent to Paris as commissioner pleni
the treaty of February 6th, 1778.
potentiary, and concluded
He signed the peace with the mother country, November
home
in
3Oth,
1782,
March,
1
and
later
subsequently concluded
and
Sweden and
ber
1775,
Prussia.
was a delegate
federal constitution.
He
treaties
his return to Philadelphia,
was elected
1785, he
4th,
On
the
to the
is
which have been collected
convention
Septem
Pennsylvania,"
for
forming the
numerous works,
twelve volumes and edited by
the author
in
of
"president
with
of
Jared Sparks.
JOHN MORTON
was
born
in
Ridley,
Chester
and died
in
(now
in
Delaware) county, Pennsylvania,
1724,
April,
In 1764 he became a member of the general assem
1777.
bly of Pennsylvania, and was a
Congress, which
Sheriff
of
his
met
in
member
New York
county about
1767,
in
and
of the
1765.
later
Stamp Act
He became
was appointed
one of the judges of the Supreme Court of his state. In
1774 he was a delegate to the first congress, and was succes
sively re-elected four times.
GEORGE CLYMER
was born in Philadelphia in 1739,
and died in Morrisville, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, July
He was a prominent speaker at the "tea-meeting"
23d, 1813.
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
109
held in Philadelphia, October i6th, 1773, and was
appointed
chairman of the committee which requested the tea agents
to resign.
July 2Qth, 1775, he was appointed to the care of
the public treasury, and July 2oth, 1776, became a delegate
to congress.
In December, 1777, he was sent as commis
sioner to treat with the hostile Indians at Fort Pitt.
In 1780
he was re-elected to congress, and in 1782 was
with Rutledge in his mission to the southern
associated
In
states.
member of the Pennsylvania Legis
member of the convention that framed the
1784 he was elected a
lature,
and was a
federal
constitution.
member
of the
first
congress under
1790 declined a re-election.
collector of
JAMES SMITH
this
He was
the excise duty on
was born
was elected a
1788, he
In November,
instrument, and
in
subsequently appointed
spirits.
in
Ireland,
about
1719,
and
He came to
York, Pennsylvania, July nth, 1806.
America in 1729, and studied law in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
In 1774 he was chosen a deputy to attend the "Committee
died in
for the
province of
Pennsylvania,"
convened
at
Philadelphia
In 1776 he was chosen a member
July 1 5th of that year.
of the Continental Congress, and continued to act in that
capacity
till
1778.
In 1780 he was elected a
member
of the
general assembly of Pennsylvania.
GEORGE TAYLOR
was born
in
Ireland in
1716,
and
In 1764
died in Easton, Pennsylvania, February 23d, 1781.
he was elected to the provincial assembly, and continued a
member
of
that
re-elected to the
became
cc
body
till
1770.
In October,
and
1775,
July
provincial assembly,
a member of the Continental Congress.
he was
2oth,
1776,
In March,
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
no
1777, he retired from congress,
and thenceforward lived
in
retirement.
JAMES WILSON
in
and died
1742,
was born near
St.
Andrew
s,
Scotland,
Edenton, North Carolina, August 28th,
in
1766 he emigrated to Philadelphia, and studied
law under John Dickinson. In 1774 he sat in the provincial
convention of Pennsylvania, and in May, 1775, became a
In
1798.
of the Continental Congress, to which body he was
In 1779 he was appointed advocaterepeatedly returned.
member
general of France in the United States, and held that office
till
He was a member of the convention that framed
1782.
and under
the federal constitution,
it
was appointed one of
judges of the Supreme Court of the United States.
In 1790 he became the first professor of law in the College
the
first
of Philadelphia.
GEORGE ROSS
1730,
and died
He began
from
in
1768 to
body
In
1774
Congress,
January,
in
Newcastle,
Delaware, in
Pennsylvania, in July, 1779.
of law in Lancaster, in 1751, and
1776 was a
Continental
till
born
Lancaster,
the practice
of Pennsylvania.
the
was
1777.
member
of the colonial assembly
he represented Pennsylvania in
and was connected with that
He was
subsequently elected to
general convention of Pennsylvania, and in April, 1779,
was appointed judge of the court of admiralty.
the
DELAWARE.
C^SAR RODNEY
1730,
and died
in
1783.
was born
Dover, Delaware, about
At least as early as 1762 he was a
in
OF THE SIGNERS.
member, from
New
in
called a
elected
his native
Castle.
In
county, of the assembly, which met
1774,
meeting of the
the
to
and
in
was then made a delegate
GEORGE READ
1734,
and died
his
authority as
and by
Congress
to
speaker,
that
be
held
he-
body was
in
Phila
subsequently re-elected, and also made
In 1777 he was chosen president of the
brigadier-general.
state of Delaware,
in
by
legislature,
Continental
He was
delphia.
in
in
1782 declined a re-election.
to congress.
was born
1798.
He
in
Cecil
county, Maryland,
After his admission to the bar,
he began the practice of his profession at New Castle, Dela
ware.
In 1763 he was appointed
attorney general for the
three lower counties on the Delaware, and in 1774 was
elected to congress.
vention which
In 1776 he
formed
the
first
was president of the con
constitution
of
Delaware,
In 1782 he was
under which he was chosen vice-president.
made judge of the United States court of appeals in admi
After representing Delaware in the convention
ralty cases.
that
first
formed the constitution of the United States, he was the
senator chosen under it for that state.
In 1793 he was
made Chief
Justice of Delaware.
THOMAS M KEAN
was born
in
Chester county, Penn
March igth, 1734, and died June 24th, 1817.
In
1765 he was elected a member of the Pennsylvania assem
bly, and annually returned thereto for the next seventeen
sylvania,
1765 he attended the general congress of the
colonies which assembled at New York, and in that year
was appointed judge of the court of common pleas for
years.
In
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
ii2
New
In September, 1774, he was a delegate
Castle county.
from the lower counties in Delaware to the first Continental
In 1781 he was
was chief justice of Penn
Congress, and served until February, 1783.
elected president of congress.
He
sylvania from 1777 until 1799, when he became governor of
the state.
His administration lasted until 1808.
MARYLAND.
SAMUEL CHASE
at
Somerset county, Mary
in
and died June
Annapolis, and was admitted
land, April
law
was born
I7th, 1741,
igth, 1811.
to the bar
The Maryland convention
twentieth year.
He
studied
when
in his
sent him to the
Continental Congress of 1774, and he continued a member
of successive congresses until the close of 1778.
In 1783 he
went to England, as commissioner of Maryland.
In 1788
he was
appointed
timore,
and
1791
of a criminal court
chief justice
of
the
general
in
Bal
court of
1796 he was appointed an associate justice
In
Maryland.
of the
in
chief justice
Supreme
Court.
WILLIAM PACA
was born in Harford county, Mary
He was admitted
land, October 3ist, 1740, and died in 1799.
to the bar in 1764, and in 1771 was chosen a member of the
provincial
of his
legislature.
native
state,
On
the adoption of
he was made senator
for
the constitution
two years.
1778 he became chief judge of the superior court of
land,
and
in
1780,
chief
judge
of
the court of
In
Mary
appeals
in
and admiralty cases.
He was elected governor of
Maryland in 1782, served in congress in 1786, and in this
prize
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
"3
He was a member of the
year was re-elected governor.
in
state convention that ratified the federal constitution, and
1789 became judge of the
for
district court of the
United States
Maryland.
THOMAS STONE
was born
Pointon Manor, Charles
died in Alexandria, Vir
at
Maryland, in 1743, and
In 1769 he commenced the practice
ginia, October 5th, 1787.
In 1774 he was added
of law at Frederictown, Maryland.
in congress, and re-chosen in
to the
county,
Maryland delegation
He was re-elected to congress
1775.
as a
acting in the interim
member
CHARLES CARROLL,
of
in
1777 and in 1783,
of the Maryland legislature.
Carrollton,
was born
and died
Annapolis, Maryland, September 2oth, 1737,
In 1775 he was chosen a
vember 1 4th, 1832.
the
committee of observation that was
first
at
No
member
of
established
at
elected a delegate in the national conven
Annapolis, and was
In February, 1776, he was appointed a commissioner
tion.
with Dr. Franklin and
to proceed to Canada, in company
he was appointed a delegate
Judge Chase. July 4th, 1776,
in the board of war.
to congress, and subsequently was placed
of Maryland,
In 1776 he assisted in drafting the constitution
was chosen to the senate under the
He was re-appointed a delegate
that state.
and 1786 was re-elected to
1777; in 1781
and
later,
constitution of
to congress in
the
Maryland
of the United States; in 1797
1788 was a senator
and in 1799
was again elected to the senate of Maryland,
the
to settle
was appointed one of the commissioners
and Maryland.
boundary line between Virginia
senate;
DD
in
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
ii4
VIRGINIA.
GEORGE WYTHE
Virginia, in
1726,
and
was born
died
in
Elizabeth City county,
Richmond, June
in
8th,
1806.
After his election to the Virginia house of burgesses, he was
appointed
in
1764,
on the committee organized
remon
to
He was also a
against the proposed Stamp Act.
member of the house of burgesses of 1768 and 1769, and in
strate
In
August 1775 was elected to the Continental Congress.
1777 he was chosen a judge of the high court of chancery,
He was professor of law in
and later, sole chancellor.
He
William and Mary College.
effects
died
suddenly from
the
of poison accidentally taken with his food.
RICHARD HENRY LEE
was born
at Stratford,
West
moreland county, Virginia, January 2Oth, 1732, and died
Chantilly,
June
Virginia,
classical education in
in
his
igth,
1794.
After
England, he returned
twenty-fifth year
was appointed
at
acquiring
a
and
to Virginia,
of the peace.
of the house of burgesses
justice
Subsequently he became a member
from Westmoreland, and eventually one of the delegates
from Virginia to the first congress, which met at Philadel
September 5th,
from Westmoreland
phia,
In 1775 he was elected a delegate
From the
to the Richmond convention.
1774.
entrance into congress until the middle of the
year 1777, he served upon about one hundred committees,
He also
and generally occupied the position of chairman.
date
of his
served actively in congress
from
1778 to 1780, and
became county lieutenant of Westmoreland.
resumed his seat in congress, and was elected
In 1786 and
1787
he sat
in
the
In
its
later
1784
he
president.
assembly, and, under the
OF THE SIGNERS.
LIISES
new
federal constitution, \vas chosen
In
ators for Virginia.
he
1792
THOMAS JEFFERSON
one of the
first
two sen
from public service.
retired
was
115
born at Shadwell, Albe-
marle county, Virginia, April 2(1, 1743, and died at Monticello,
In 1767 he commenced the practice of law.
July 4th, 1826.
house
1769 was chosen to represent his county in the
Of the second Virginia convention, in 1775,
of burgesses.
and
in
he was a delegate from Albemarle county, and in October,
labors during the interim, took his
1776, after his arduous
In 1785 congress appointed
seat in the Virginia house.
minister
accepted
and
plenipotentiary to France,
the post of secretary of state
In the spring of
elaborate report upon the
cabinet.
with Spain, and,
subsequently
him
he-
Washington s
and
1792 he drew up the notable
December
relations
sist,
of
in
the
United States
1793, resigned
his place in
Vice- Presi
February, 1797, he was elected
dent of the United States; and March 4th, took the chair as
March 4th, 1801, he took his seat
president of the senate.
and in
at Washington as President of the United States,
the
cabinet.
March
In
1809, retired
finally
from public
life.
was born in Berkely, Charles
about 1740, and died in April, 1791.
BENJAMIN HARRISON
City county, Virginia,
In
1764 he became a
burgesses,
of the Virginia house of
in the proceedings of the first
member
and
Continental
subsequently
participated
Congress as delegate
re-elected
whose proceedings
he
to
the
presided
from his
house
till
chosen governor of the commonwealth.
of
1782,
In
state.
He was
burgesses,
when
he
over
was
1785, after hav-
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
ii6
ing been twice re-elected governor, he returned to private
life.
He was a member of the state convention organized
in 1788 to ratify the federal constitution, and a member, also
of the state legislature.
THOMAS NELSON,
Virginia,
4th, 1789.
Jr.,
was
December 26th, 1738,
Even before attaining
born
and
York
in
died
his majority,
county,
there
January
he was elected
member of the Virginia house of burgesses.
He was a
member of the first convention which met at Williamsburg
a
in
August, 1774, and
He
tion
in
1775
of the
provincial
convention.
was a conspicuous mover in the Williamsburg conven
of May, 1776, and as a delegate to the Continental
Congress, attracted
much
In May, 1777, he resigned
notice.
the latter body, and was subsequently appointed
commander-in-chief of the state forces. In February, 1779,
his seat in
he again took his seat temporarily in congress, and in June,
As com
1781, was chosen governor of the commonwealth.
mander of
the Virginia militia, he
participated
in
the siege
at
Stratford,
of Yorktown.
FRANCIS LIGHTFOOT LEE
was born
Westmoreland county, Virginia, October i4th, 1734, and died
in Richmond, in 1797.
In 1765 he took his seat in the house
of burgesses, as
capacity
till
member from Loudun
1772.
In August,
county, acting in that
1775, he was chosen a del
egate to the general congress, and re-elected successively in
1776,
1777,
and
1778.
CARTER BRAXTON
and
Queen
was
county, Virginia,
born at
Newington, King
September loth, 1736, and
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
died October
in
loth,
session
the
1765 he participated actively
house of burgesses of Virginia, in
In
1797.
of
117
the
which the resolutions of Patrick Henry were adopted.
was also a member of the
December
till
1786,
popular conventions, and,
to the Continental
was elected delegate
i5th, 1775,
Later, he
Congress.
later
He
served
the
in
when he became one
of Virginia
legislature
of the executive council.
NORTH CAROLINA
WILLIAM HOOPER
June
setts,
1
Carolina, in
7th,
and died
1742,
October,
was born
in
After
1790.
Boston, Massachu
in
graduating at
College in 1760, he studied law with James Otis
and
in
1767
removed
to
North
Hillsborough,
Harvard
in
Boston,
Wilmington, North Carolina.
the Continental Congress, and
In
till
1775 he was delegated to
his demise was a leader in the councils of North Carolina.
JOSEPH
in
and died
1730,
He was
in
gaged
HEWES
in
was born
in
Philadelphia,
educated at Princeton
olina about 1760, he settled in
November
College,
business in Philadelphia.
New
Kingston,
loth,
Jersey,
1779.
and afterward en
Removing
Edenton.
to
In
North Car
1774 he was
sent as a delegate to the General Congress at Philadelphia.
During the sessions of 1775 and 1776, he served on many
important committees; he declined a re-election
but consented to resume his seat in July, 1779.
JOHN PENN
May
1
7th,
EE
1741,
was
born
and died
in
in
Caroline
September,
in
1777,
county, Virginia,
1788.
September
LIVES OF THE SIGNERS.
n8
he was appointed a delegate to the first congress,
and on the twelfth of the following October, took his seat
He was succes
of North Carolina.
as the
8th, 1775,
representative
sively re-elected in the years 1777, 1778,
and 1779.
SOUTH CAROLINA.
EDWARD RUTLEDGE was born
in Charleston,
Novem
He commenced
ber 23d, 1749, and died January 23d, 1800.
the practice of law in Charleston in 1773, in 1774 sat in
of the
congress, and in June, 1776, was appointed a member
In 1779 he was again appointed to con
was taken
gress, and during the siege of Charleston, 1780,
at St. Augustine.
prisoner, and detained for eleven months
first
board of war.
was a member of the general assembly at Jacksonborough, and in the legislature of 1791, drew up the act for
In 1782 Jie
the
was
In 1798 he
the rights of primogeniture.
elected governor of the state, but died before the expi
abolition of
ration of his term.
THOMAS HEYWARD,
olina in
and died
1746,
in
Jr.,
was born
March,
and
civil
In
Car
Returning from
legal studies, he was, in
congress then
in
1778 he was elected a judge of the criminal
new government, holding
commission in the militia.
Upon the
courts
meanwhile a
South
1809.
lEurope upon the completion of his
1775, selected to supply a vacancy in the
session.
in
Charleston, he
of
the
was taken
prisoner,
and sent
to St.
in
fall
the
of
Augus
tine; but on his return to Carolina, resumed the labors of
the bench, and continued to act as judge until 1798.
THOMAS LYNCH,
Jr.,
was
born
in
Prince
George
s
LIJ/ES
parish,
OF THE SIGNERS.
South Carolina, August
sea in the
5th,
119
and perished
1749,
at
part of 1779.
latter
After completing his legal
studies in the Temple, London, he returned to South Car
olina in 1772, and in
1775 was appointed a captain in the
In 1776 he took his seat
provincial regulars of his state.
as a member of
In the fall of 1779, he sailed
congress.
for St. Eustatius, and, as it seems
probable, was drowned in
a violent storm.
ARTHUR MIDDLETON
on the Ashley
was born
South Carolina,
river,
in
at
Middleton Place,
1743,
and died Jan
uary ist, 1787. Upon securing his degree at the University
of Cambridge, he returned to America, and later became
prominent as a leader of the Revolutionary party in South
He
Carolina.
and
safety,
congress.
the field
in
He
the defence
for
close of the
was an able member of the first council of
1776 was sent as a delegate of the state to
filled that office until 1777, and in
1779 took
war he served
afterward was
essays,
of
under
elected
the
to
Charleston.
Again,
as a delegate
the
signature
state
of
in
senate.
"Andrew
until
the
congress, and
His
political
Marvell,"
are
masterly and pointed.
GEORGIA.
BUTTON GWINNETT
1732,
and died
emigrated from
in
Georgia,
Bristol
to
was
born
May
27th,
England, about
In 1770 he
1777.
in
America, and
in
1775
prominently identified with the colonial interests.
1776 he was elected a representative to
ruary,
was re-elected
for
the following year,
and
in
became
In Feb
congress,
1777 became
OF THE SIGNERS.
LI FES
120
president of
the
him and General Mclntosh,
tally wounded.
LYMAN HALL
and died
in
graduating
In
council.
provincial
in
the
was born
in
same
the
duel between
year, he
Connecticut
was mor
about
1731,
Burke county, Georgia, in February, 1791. After
at Yale College in 1747, he studied medicine,
1752 removed to South Carolina, and, in the same
In 1775 he was chosen a mem
year, to Sunbury, Georgia.
In
ber of congress, and was annually re-elected till 1780.
and
in
he was elected
1783
after
holding
governor, and retired
this office for
GEORGE WALTON
ginia,
2d,
about
In
1804.
Georgia, and
in
1774 he
life
one term.
was born
and died
1740,
from public
in
in
Frederick county, Vir
Augusta, Georgia, February
the practice of law in
commenced
July of that year identified himself with a
public meeting at Savannah, convened to resist the arbitrary
In February, 1776, he
proceedings of the mother country.
was appointed a delegate to congress, and re-elected in the
following
October,
and May, 1780.
also
in
January,
In December,
and
1777,
1778, he
February,
1778,
was commissioned
October, 1779, was appointed
governor of the state. In 1787 he was appointed a delegate
for framing the Federal Constitution, but declined.
He was
afterward re-elected governor, was four times a judge of the
a colonel in the militia,
in
of Georgia, and in 1795
Jackson as senator in congress.
courts
succeeded
General
James
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
PROCEEDINGS IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED COLONIES
RESPECTING
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE BY
THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED."
"A
SATURDAY, June
Resolved, That
the
8th,
1776.
resolutions
respecting independency
be referred to a committee of the whole congress.
The congress then resolved itself into a committee of
and
the whole,
after
some
time,
chair,
and Mr. Harrison reported,
taken
into
consideration
the
resumed the
the president
matter
committee have
the
that
to
them
referred,
but
not having come to any resolution thereon, directed him to
move for leave to sit again on Monday.
That
Resolved,
10 o clock, resolve
congress will, on Monday next, at
itself into a committee of the whole, to
this
take into further consideration the resolution referred to them.
MONDAY, June
to
order, the
congress
Agreeable
committee of the whole, to take into
eration
the
resolutions
to
them
loth,
resolved
further
their
referred;
1776.
into
itself
and,
a
consid
after
some
time spent thereon, the president resumed the chair, and Mr.
Harrison reported that the committee have had under con
sideration
the
matters referred to them, and
a resolution thereon, which they directed
him
have come to
to report.
121
THE DECLARATION OF
122
The
resolution agreed to in committee of the whole being
read
That the consideration of the
Resolved,
first
resolution
be postponed to Monday, the first day of July next, and in
the meanwhile, that no time be lost in case the congress
agree thereto, that a committee be appointed to prepare a
declaration to the effect of the said first resolution, which is
in these
words
be,
these United Colonies are,
and of
ought to
free and independent States; that they are absolved from
allegiance to the British crown, and that all political
"That
all
:
right
connection between them and the state of Great Britain
and ought
to
is,
be, totally dissolved.
TUESDAY, June nth, 1776.
Resolved, That the committee for preparing the declararation consist of five.
The members chosen, Mr. Jefferson,
Mr.
R.
John Adams, Mr. Franklin, Mr. Sherman, and Mr. R.
Livingston.
TUESDAY, June
A
declaration
provincial
of
conference,
25th,
1776.
of
in
met
deputies
Pennsylvania,
was laid before congress and read,
the
expressing their willingness to
declaring the United Colonies
concur
free
in
a vote of congress,
and independent
States.
FRIDAY, June 28th, 1776.
one
of
the delegates from New
Hopkinson,
Jersey, attended and produced the credentials of their ap
"Francis
pointment,"
"If
you
containing the following
shall
judge
it
necessary
instructions
or
:
expedient
for
this
INDEPENDENCE IN CONGRESS.
123
purpose, we empower you to join in declaring the United
Colonies independent of Great Britain, entering into a con
federation for union and common defence," etc.
MONDAY, July
resolution
"A
the 28th of June,
the
taining
congress
convention
of the
was
of
instructions
to
1776.
Maryland,
laid before congress,
following
ist,
and
their
passed
con
read,"
deputies
in
:
"That
the deputies of said colony, or any three or
of them, be
Colonies,
empowered
or a
majority
to
of
concur with
them,
in
the
declaring
more
other United
the
United
Colonies free and independent States, in forming such fur
ther compact and confederation between them," etc.
The order
of the day being read:
Resolved, That
this
committee of the whole
olution
congress will resolve
to
take
itself
into
a
into consideration the res
independency.
That the Declaration be referred to said committee.
respecting
The congress resolved itself into a committee of the
whole. After some time the President resumed the chair,
and Mr. Harrison reported that the committee had come to
a resolution, which they desired him to report, and to move
for
leave to
The
being
sit
again.
resolution agreed to by the committee of the whole
read, the determination thereof was, at the request
of a colony, postponed until to-morrow.
congress will, to-morrow, resolve
into a committee of the whole, to take into consider
Resolved,
itself
That
this
ation the Declaration respecting
independence.
THE DECLARATION OF
124
TUESDAY, July
The congress resumed
tion
the
2d,
of the
consideration
1776.
resolu
from the committee of the whole, which was
reported
follows:
agreed to as
RESOLVED, That
ought
to
absolved
from
all allegiance to the
is,
and ought
to be,
and of
right
that
they
are
British crown,
and
that
Free and Independent States;
be,
all political connection between
Britain
Colonies are,
these United
them and the State of Great
totally
dissolved.
resolved
the
of the
congress
day,
Agreeable to the order
some time,
itself into a committee of the whole; and, after
the President resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported,
that
have had under consideration the Dec
them referred; but not having had time to go
the committee
laration
to
through the same, desired him to
for leave to sit again.
congress will, to-morrow, again re
into a committee of the whole, to take into their
Resolved, That
solve itself
move
this
further consideration the Declaration respecting independence.
WEDNESDAY,
July 3d, 1776.
Agreeable to the order of the day, the congress resolved
itself into a committee of the whole, to take into their further
consideration the Declaration
;
and
after
some
time, the Pres
ident resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported that the
committee, not yet having gone through
sit
it,
desired leave to
again.
solve itself
That
congress will, to-morrow, again re
into a committee of the whole, to take into their
Resolved,
this
further consideration the
Declaration of Independence.
INDEPENDENCE IN CONGRESS.
THURSDAY, July
125
4th,
1776.
Agreeable to the order of the day, the congress resolved
itself into a committee of the whole, to take into their fur
ther consideration the Declaration;
resumed
President
that the
The
and
chair,
committee had agreed
him
desired
the
to
and
some
after
Harrison
Mr.
to a declaration,
reported,
which they
report.
Declaration being
read,
was agreed
to as follows:
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, JULY
When,
time, the
in the
course of
human
events,
it
4,
1776.
becomes neces-
ary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have
connected them with another, and to assume, among the
and equal station, to which
the laws of nature, and of Nature s God entitle them, a
decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that
powers of the
they should
earth, the separate
declare
causes
the
impel them
which
to
the
separation.
We
hold these truths to be self-evident
are created
equal; that
with certain inalienable
liberty,
rights,
all
men
they are endowed by their Creator
that
rights;
and the pursuit of happiness.
governments are
that
instituted
among
these
are
life,
That, to secure these
among men,
deriving their
powers from the consent of the governed; that, when
ever any form of government becomes destructive of these
of the people to alter or abolish it, and
ends, it is the
just
right
to institute a
new government,
principles,
and
them
seem most
shall
organizing
its
laying
powers
its
in
foundation on such
such form, as to
likely to effect their safety
and happi
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long
ness.
GG
THE DECLARATION OF
126
established
should not be changed
for
light
and transient
experience hath shown that
mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms
causes;
and,
accordingly,
all
But when a long train of
which they are accustomed.
abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object,
to
evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism,
it
is
their right,
it
is
their duty, to
throw
off
such govern
ment, and to provide new guards for their future security.
Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies,
and such is now the necessity which constrains them to
former systems of government.
The history of
the present king of Great Britain, is a history of repeated
alter
their
and
usurpations, all having in direct object
establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states.
injuries
prove
this,
He
let
diate
for
To
be submitted to a candid world.
has refused his assent to laws the
and necessary
He
facts
the
most wholesome
the public good.
has forbidden his governors to pass laws of imme
and pressing importance, unless suspended in their
operations till his assent should be obtained; and, when
so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He
has refused to pass other laws for the accommoda
tion of large districts of people, unless those people would
relinquish the right of representation in the Legislature
a right inestimable to them, and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places
unusual, uncomfortable,
their public
into
and distant from the
repository of
records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing
compliance with his measures.
them
INDEPENDENCE IN CONGRESS.
He
has
dissolved
representative
opposing, with manly firmness, his
of the people.
127
houses
repeatedly, for
invasions on the rights
He
has refused, for a long time after such dissolutions,
to cause others to be elected,
whereby the legislative powers,
incapable
of
large
time,
exposed
to
and convulsions
States;
has
to
the
people
at
State remaining, in the mean
the dangers of invasions from without,
within.
endeavored
prevent the population of these
for that purpose obstructing the laws for the natur
alization of
their
all
returned
the
their exercise;
for
He
have
annihilation,
to
refusing to pass others to encourage
hither, and raising the conditions of new
foreigners;
migration
appropriations of lands.
He has obstructed
the
administration
of
justice,
by
refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.
He has made judges dependent on his will alone for
the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of
their salaries.
He
has
erected
swarms of
hither
a
multitude
officers
to
of
new
offices,
and
sent
harass our people and eat out
their substance.
He
kept among us in time of peace, standing
armies, without the consent of our Legislatures.
He has affected to render the military independent of,
has
and superior to, the civil power.
He has combined with others
to
subject us
to
a juris
diction foreign to our constitutions, and unacknowledged by
our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legis
lation
:
THE DECLARATION OF
128
for
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us;
For protecting them, by a mock trial, from punishment
any murder which they should commit on the inhabitants
of these
States;
For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world;
For imposing taxes on us without our consent;
For depriving
us,
by jury;
For transporting
tended offences
in
many
cases, of the
us beyond
of
benefit
seas to be
tried
for
trial
pre
;
system of English laws in a
neighboring province, establishing therein an arbitrary gov
ernment, and enlarging its boundaries, so as to render it at
For
abolishing
once an
the
example and
same absolute
free
fit
instrument
for
introducing
the
rule into these colonies;
For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valu
able laws, and altering, fundamentally, the forms of our
governments;
For suspending
our
own
themselves invested with power
cases whatsoever.
He
Legislatures,
to
legislate
and declaring
for
us
in
all
has abdicated government here, by declaring us out
of his protection, and waging war against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned
our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign
mercenaries, to complete the works of death, desolation, and
tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and
in
the most barbarous ages,
perfidy, scarcely paralleled
and
totally
unworthy the head
of a
civilized
nation.
INDEPENDENCE IN CONGRESS.
129
He
has constrained our fellow-citizens, taken
captive on
the high seas, to bear arms
against their country, to become
the
executioners
of
their
and brethren, or
friends
themselves by their hands.
He has excited domestic insurrection
endeavored
the
to
bring
Indian
merciless
fare
an
is
among
on the
inhabitants
savages,
whose known
our
of
of
destruction
undistinguished
us,
fall
and has
frontiers,
of war
rule
all
to
ages, sexes,
and conditions.
In
tions
petitioned
most humble terms; our repeated peti
have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince
redress
for
we have
every stage of these oppressions
the
in
whose character
thus
is
define a tyrant,
is
marked
unfit to
be the ruler of a
Nor have we been wanting
British
We
brethren.
time, of attempts
by
have
their
act
by every
our
in
warned
legislature
which
free
people.
attentions
them, from
to
may
to
time
our
to
extend an unwar
We
rantable jurisdiction over us.
have reminded them of
the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here.
We
have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity,
and we have conjured them by the ties of our common
kindred, to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably
They, too,
interrupt our connections and correspondence.
have
been deaf
We
to
the
voice
of
justice
and
of
consan
acquiesce in the necessity
which denounces our separation, and hold them as we hold
enemies in war in peace, friends.
the rest of mankind
guinity.
We,
of
the
therefore, the
America,
Supreme
HH
must,
in
therefore,
representatives
general Congress
Judge of the world
of the
United States
assembled, appealing
for
the
rectitude
to
of our
THE DECLARATION OF
130
intentions, do, in the
name and by
the authority of the
good
people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare that
these United Colonies are, and of
right ought to be free
and independent States;
allegiance
nection
the
to
British
between
and ought
to
that
crown, and
them and
be,
totally
they are
the
that
state
full
all
of
and
dissolved,
independent States, they have
absolved
political
all
con
Great Britain,
as
that,
power
from
to
free
is,
and
levy war, con
clude peace, contract alliances, establish
commerce, and do
all other acts and
things which independent States may of
And
right do.
firm
reliance
on
the support of this
Declaration, with a
the protection of Divine
Providence, we
for
mutually pledge to each other our
our sacred honor.
Among
in
the signers of the
Declaration,
almost every vocation.
fourteen
lives,
our fortunes, and
were men engaged
There were twenty-four LAWYERS;
FARMERS, or men devoted
to
chiefly
agriculture;
nine
MERCHANTS; four PHYSICIANS; one Gospel MINISTER,
and three who were educated for that
but chose
profession,
other avocations;
tion
lived
to
of them were
and one MANUFACTURER.
the age of three score and ten
over
A
large
years.
por
Three
of age when
they died; ten
fourteen over 60; eleven over
50;
90 years
over 80;
eleven over 70;
and six over 44. Mr.
Lynch (lost at sea) was only 30.
The following is a list of the members of the
Conti
"
nental Congress,
dence,
with
the
who signed
places
and
the
dates
time of their respective deaths.
Declaration
of
their
of
birth,
Indepen
and the
INDEPENDENCE IN CONGRESS.
NAMES OF THE SIGNERS.
1
THE DECLARATION,
32
WHERE WAS THE
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WRITTEN?
For many years the old brick building at the south
2
west corner of Seventh and Market streets, in Philadelphia,
has been pointed out to the stranger and native alike, as
the place where Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Decla
ration of Independence, wrote the first draft of the immortal
document which was the original framework of our liberties
and the announcement of our claim to a position in the
sisterhood
of nations.
A
large
Benjamin Franklin seated
decorated
for
windows
of
accompanying
inscription
in
us,
this
(edition
in
large
black
Birthplace of
theory,
of
his
laration
was
"The
support of
Philadelphia,"
desk
at a
bearing a portrait of
and perusing a book,
a long time the space betvven the fourth story
the Market street front, and there was an
the building as
In
sign
quaint style, that
has been differently
"
designating
Liberty."
Watson,
1850,
letters
Vol.
in
II.,
his
"Annals
page
309),
the place of writing the
stated.
Some have
said
of
tells
Dec
that
at Jefferson s
chamber, in the Indian Queen Inn; but
Mrs Clymer, with whom Mr. Jefferson boarded, at the
south-west corner of Seventh and High (now
Market)
it
streets, said
it
was
there,
and
wrote to Mr. Jefferson, and had
1
2
to
it
settle
this point, Dr.
confirmed as at her
Potter s Monthly Magazine for
January, 1874.
See view of the house, page 261.
Mease
house."
WHERE WRITTEN.
In
the
volume
first
Watson touches upon
of
his
"Annals"
same
the
133
on
page
mooted question,
470,
the
in
following terms:
the
"In
the
second
Indian
Queen Tavern, South Fourth
street,
in
room, south end, Jefferson had his
desk and room where he wrote and studied, and from that
story, front
has been a popular opinion that he there wrote his
Declaration of Independence.
I
have seen the place of
cause
it
the desk,
by the side of the
out by Caesar
me
told
in
Rodney
s
son.
1833, that he
was
fire-place,
large
that
when he wrote
new house belonging
Market
the
at
street,
side, as
pointed
Mr.
friend,
McAllister,
But
my
told
by the step-mother of the
Dr. Mease had inquired
present Hon. John Sergeant, that
of Jefferson himself, by letter, and
by him
west
that
to
that
he was informed
instrument he lived
in
a
Hiltzheimer family, up
corner of some crossing
the
south-west
Mrs. Sergeant said there was no doubt that it was
the same since so well known as Gratz s store, at the south
street.
west corner of Seventh and High streets."
Mr. Jefferson used to relate, with much
the final signing
of the
merriment, that
of Independence was
cause.
Near the hall in
Declaration
by an absurdly trivial
which the debates were then held there was a livery stable,
from which swarms of flies came into the open windows,
and assailed the silk-stockinged legs of honorable members.
hastened
hand they lashed the flies with such vigor
on a July afternoon, but the
as they could command
annoyance became at length so extreme as to render
Handkerchief
in
them impatient of
the
momentous
ii
delay,
and.
they
made
business to a conclusion,
haste
to
bring
i
THE DECLARATION,
34
The
tended
"Indian
Queen
in
early days
con
honor of having been the place where the
was written, was situated at the south-east
Declaration
of Fourth and
and
the building,
Widow
which
the
for
corner
Tavern,"
Market
states that
streets.
in
it
1760
Graydon refers to
was kept by the
Nicholls.
In the
first
volume of the
"Life
of Daniel
Webster,"
by
George Ticknor Curtis, we find some interesting passages
which revive the old dispute about the precise spot on
which Jefferson wrote the American Magna Charta, and
leave the question in even greater doubt than
In the autumn of 1824, Daniel Webster started on
which tend
before.
a
to
journey to
with George
in
one
Ticknor,
of
invited
at
his
Monticello,
most
The
party
left
The roads were
in
Washington on
a
in
company
intimate
by Mr. Jefferson
regulating the course of studies
Virginia.
ber.
Jefferson
who had been
friends,
him
Thomas
terrible
personal
to
assist
at the University of
the Qth of
state,
Decem
and the journey
On
going and returning.
the return, when the party were stopping over night at a
small inn by the way, Mr. Webster and Mr. Ticknor beguiled
was
exceedingly tedious, both
the time
ensis,
by dictating
to Mrs. Ticknor,
the conversations had
the four or
five
who
acted as
amanu
by them with Jefferson during
days passed at Monticello.
The accuracy
the report of Jefferson s sayings on this occasion, which
was first given to the public by Fletcher Webster, in the
of
first
1857,
volume of his father s correspondence, published in
nas been questioned on some points by Jefferson s
biographer; but Mr. Curtis puts forth a strong argument in
its
support, citing the fact that it was carefully prepared a
WHERE WRITTEN.
135
few hours after the departure of the party from Monticello,
as a private record of the visit, but doubtless with a view
of
its
We
being at some future time given to the public.
have thus detailed at length the circumstances under
which the
paragraph
below was
given
written,
in
order to
weight as tending to settle, although in an
unsatisfactory manner, a question which is not only of local
importance, but of general interest.
Among the memo
give
full
its
it
randa of Jefferson
s
Ticknor, are
following
the
down by
conversation, as written
Mrs.
words,
spoken by Jefferson
direct response to a question by Webster:
in
Independence was written in a
house on the north side of Chestnut street, between Third
Declaration
"The
of
and Fourth, not a corner house.
Fourth street has been shown for it
this
is
not the
Heiskell
(to
s
Tavern,
Mr. Webster)
;
in
but
house."
In asserting that the place was not a corner house, Jef
ferson at one word disposed of the claims of the only two
buildings which have generally been credited with the dis
puted honor, the Indian Queen Inn and the house at
Seventh
and
Market
streets.
By
Heiskell s
Tavern
he
probably referred to the first named, which, as stated by
Watson, was at one time popularly supposed to have
But while the exact location still remains
been the place.
and
a mystery,
come,
we
will
are able
to dispose of the
doubtless
to get near
rival claims
so
the true
credit
was
located within the limits
long since disappeared, and
for
site,
all
time to
and especially
of the two buildings to which
was formerly awarded.
the
remain
Wherever
the
building
described by Jefferson, it has
as such is the case, perhaps
THE DECLARATION,
136
solution
the
of
the
question
as satisfactory as could
is
be
desired.
The
at
Declaration was written in the house
Vol.
to
Dr.
I,
p.
Seventh and
standing,
Market
streets.
made by your correspondent from "Wat
reference is made to Jefferson s letter
In the quotation
son,
of
south-west corner
the
still
470,"
what house he
in
Mease, stating
had written the
am
glad to have it in my power to furnish
a copy of that letter, and of thus proving that Mrs. Sergeant
was correct in the information she gave my father, and
Declaration.
I
which was by him communicated to Mr. Watson.
In the "Eulogium on Thomas Jefferson," delivered
by
Nicholas Biddle before the American
April
nth, 1827, on page
14,
Philosophical Society,
speaking of Jefferson s lodg
Philadelphia in 1776, Mr. Biddle says: "These
lodgings it will be heard with pleasure by all who feel the
interest which genius inspires for the minutest details of
in
ings
he had selected, with his characteristic love of
retirement, in a house recently built on the outskirts of
its
the
history
city,
and almost the
ward,
where,
That
house
a small
in
now
is
Seventh
a warehouse
at the
delphia, standing
dwelling-house to the west
family, he was the sole boarder.
last
in
the
centre
of
Phila
southwestern corner of Market and
where the Declaration of Independence was
streets,
written."
In
a note at the
Biddle says:
for
"I
permission
subject of the
am
to
close
of the
(p.
45),
Mr.
indebted to the kindness of Dr. Mease
transcribe
house
"Eulogium"
in
which
the
following letters on the
the Declaration was written:
WHERE WRITTEN.
137
16,
"MoNTiCELLO, Sept.
SIR:
"DEAR
ance
of
of the
the
the
circumstances
the
the event
not for
is
makes
8th
minuteness,
to
It
of which
to
They
attachments
the
estimate
the
import
which
concerning
inquiry.
sacred
me
1825.
your
even in
prove,
of our
paper of July
letter
their
fellow-citizens
1776,
4,
was but
the
genuine effusion of the soul of our
Small things may, perhaps, like the
country at that time.
relics of saints,
help to nourish our devotion to this holy
Declaration,
bond of our union, and keep
our
This
affections.
however
cumstances,
effect
small.
and warm
longer alive
it
in
give importance to cir
the time of writing that
may
At
house of a Mr. Gratz, a new
brick house, three stories
high, of which I rented the second
instrument,
floor,
I
in
lodged
the
consisting of a parlor and bed-room, ready furnished.
In that parlor
I
wrote habitually, and
in
it
wrote
this
paper
particularly.
"So
The
far,
I
state
from written
proofs
in
my
possession.
was a young man, son of a German,
and then newly married.
I think he was a
bricklayer, and
that his house was on the south side of Market street, prob
proprietor, Gratz,
ably between Seventh and Eighth streets; and if not the
only house on that part of the street, I am sure there were
fe\v
others near
it.
I
have some idea that
it
was a corner
house, but no other recollections throwing any light on the
I
will, therefore, only
question, or worth communication.
add assurance of
my
great respect and
esteem.
"Tn.
"DR.
KK
JAMES MEASE,
Philadelphia."
JEFFERSON.
THE DECLARATION,
138
Oct. JO, l82$.
"MONTICELLO,
the
house
recollections
A
house.
excited
Sept. 8th, inquiring after
Declaration of Independence was
my
were such as
line
of
letter
which the
in
has
written,
Your
SIR:
"DEAR
know whether my
to
curiosity
to enable
to
you
on the subject would oblige, dear
"Tn.
DR.
"
Mr.
out
the
yours,
sir,
JEFFERSON.
MEASE."
Biddle
recollections,
in the
find
adds:
"Mr.
and the house
was
Jefferson
known
is
to
correct
in
his
be that mentioned
text."
Mr.
Hyman
house as
it
was
property, which
Gratz
in
sketched
1776.
my
father
for
my
father a plan of the
some account
had collected, and made
This, with
of the
a note
he inserted in his copy of Mr. Biddle s Eulogium."
following is a copy of the sketch and the note
"
of,
The
:
SEVENTH STREET.
h
fe
w
tb
W
A
s
above shows the original plan of the house at the
southwest corner of Market and Seventh streets.
The two
rooms in the second story, having the stairway between
"The
WHERE WRITTEN.
139
them, were occupied by Mr. Jefferson in 1776. In one of
these rooms he wrote the Declaration of Independence.
"The
corner house, and the two adjoining houses on
Market
became
street,
Hyman
the
merchants, about
Gratz,
years occupied by them
added a fourth story to
the door
property of
on Seventh
as
of
place
the height.
street,
and were
1798,
their
Simon and
Messrs.
for
many
They
business.
They
also
and removed the
closed up
stairs.
The
now in
whole of the second story of the corner house is
one room, but the place where the old stairway came up can
be seen by the alteration in the boards of the floor. The
corner house was occupied in 1776 by the father of the late
Mr. Frederick Graff, who was then an infant.
He told me
could remember hearing his parents say that he had
often sat on Mr. Jefferson s knee.
that he
sketch
"The
which
Mr.
of
the
original
copy was made, was drawn
this
Hyman
I
in
6th,
my
"Eulogium"
for
me
from
house,
to-day
by
M ALLISTER,
JR.
i855 r
have copied Jefferson
gium"
the
Gratz.
"JOHN
"July
of
plan
father s
in the
s
letters
possession.
from Mr. Biddle
There
is
"
s
a copy
Eulo-
of
the
Loganian Library, No. 1843. o. 8.
ALLISTER.
AGNES Y.
M
So much
having taken place in relation to
the exact location of the house in which the Declaration
of Independence was written, we give the facts on both
discussion
sides of the question in order that the record should be kept
entire, and afford all the facilities for further discussion.
1
THE DECLARATION,
4o
We
accept, without
to
Jefferson
Dr.
any
Mease,
hesitation, the
and
letter
the
there
think
of
Thomas
discussion
should end.
THE HOUR OF INDEPENDENCE.
A
as
to
few weeks ago the Evening Post asked for information
the exact hour when the Declaration of Independence
A
correspondent, in answer* to the question,
Rise of the Republic of
refers to Richard Frothingham s
was adopted.
"
the United
laration
It
States."
was adopted
known, began
its
a
this
work
that the
Dec
the evening.
Congress, as is well
direct consideration of the question of
Independence on the
ence Hall, in
appears from
in
ist
Philadelphia,
committee of the whole
day of July, 1776,
by voting
to
take
to
in
resolve
into
Independ
itself
into
consideration
the
respecting independence, and to refer the draft
of the Declaration to this committee.
Benjamin Harrison
was called to the chair, and a debate followed which occu
resolution
pied the greater part of the day. This debate resulted in
The committee then rose,
the adoption of the resolution.
the president resumed the chair, and Harrison reported the
The vote on the adoption of
decision of the committee.
the
report
was postponed
until
the
next
The
morning.
next day (the 2d of July) the report was adopted, and then
to
congress went at once into committee of the whole
"
consider draft of a Declaration of Independence, or the form
of announcing the fact to the world."
This discussion lasted
through
that
day,
and the
sessions
of the 3d and
4th
of
Frothingham s account continues: "On the evening
of the 4th, the committee rose, when Harrison reported
July.
WHERE WRITTEN.
the Declaration as having
adopted.
Congress, on
Declaration passed on
been agreed upon.
141
It
was then
iQth
the
4th,
of July, ordered that
the
be
the
engrossed, etc.,
and on the 2d day of August, according to the same author
ity,
the
instrument,
engrossed, was signed."
the exact hour, but it eliminates
having been
This account does not
fix
problem, and
daylight from
the
certain
Independence Day
LL
sense,
fairly
makes
is
it
appear
a misnomer.
that,
in
a
HISTORY OF
142
HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCE HALL
Independence Hall
is
a shrine at which
millions
wor
Mecca of heart-felt homage, and the coming
in the year that is yet
cynosure of more millions of eyes
to come.
Historically considered, Independence Hall preship
the
STATE HOUSE, PHILADELPHIA,
1776.
It is but a small
myriad of interesting features.
part of what was, until 1776, known as the State House
being the room on the east side of the main entrance to
sents a
the
building.
demands of
The
edifice
was
constructed
to
meet the
and the enactment of statutes for state
It
was commenced in the year 1729, and
government.
completed in 1734.
John Kearsley, Sr., an amateur archi
tect, fashioned the structure, which, at that time, was regarded
as entirely too large and expensive
the erection of the
the law
INDEPENDENCE HALL.
State
House
building
amount
cost
to
being
vehemently
$16,250, additions
The
opposed.
subsequently
Edmund Wooley
$28,000.
143
did
original
swelling the
the
carpenter
work, John Harrison the joiner work, and William Holland
the marble work.
Thomas Kerr was the
Benja
plasterer,
min Fairman and James Stoopes made the bricks, and the
lime was furnished by the Tysons, whose kilns were a mile
west of Willow Grove, in Montgomery county, and fifteen
miles distant from Independence Hall. The
glass and lead
THE STATE HOUSE.
(Independence Hall in
1861.)
and the glazing was done by Thomas Godfrey.
The woodwork of the steeple was removed in 1774, only a
cost
170,
small belfry covering the bell, the clock, with but one dialThe present
face, being at the west end of the building.
steeple,
fashioned
after
the
old
one,
was erected
in
1829.
In
1854 City Councils resolved to restore "the Hall" to its
original condition, and to-day it stands as it was in the
times
that
tried
men
s
souls
perfect
in
all
its
patriotic
i
HISTORY OF
44
regular sessions of
the Assembly, the Senate sat up stairs and the House in
Independence Hall. In the former, Anthony Morris, facing
parts
and surroundings.
During
the
In the other, George
Speaker.
Sp eaker, turned his face to the west.
sat
north,
as
Latimer, the
Colonial days the "State House" was the
In the long galley, up stairs, the
banqueting.
During the
scene of
were spread. The wine and whirr of good fellowship
In 1736, William
made mirth an essence of existence.
It
It was sumptuous and costly.
Allen had a great feast.
tables
was spread in the State House. All distinguished strangers
The guests exceeded in number any before
were present.
seen at other festivals
we
in
"For
Philadelphia.
excellency of
was a most elegant entertainment."
In 1756, when Governor Denny "came over," there was
civil and military
another frolic in the same place,
fare,"
are
told,
"it
"the
officers
present:
and the
clergy,"
and that
who were gay
harmonized
fellows then, being
The
antagonisms.
existing
next year Lord London, the Colonial
Commander-in-Chief,
hospitality was not mean.
was banqueted, and municipal
"The
expenditures were greater than ever
1774,
when
the
First
Congress
there was a sumptuous collation.
met
at
The
before."
But
Carpenters
invited guests
in
Hall,
met
City Tavern, and marched in an imposing procession
to the State House, where the banquet was.
Five hundred
at the
took
dinner.
When
the toasts were
given, they were
ren
dered patriotic by the firing of cannon and martial music.
And we are told that these festive occasions exerted salutary
influences
upon public
sentiment,
and
develop the patriotism of the people.
had a tendency
to
In later days, Inde-
INDEPENDENCE HALL.
pendence
Hall was used as a store-room
for
145
legal
docu
When workmen
were removing the old wings of
In
the State House a keg of Indian flints was dug up.
close proximity thereto were uncovered the complete equip
ments of a sergeant, musket, cartouch-box, sword, buckles,
ments.
and
&c.,
bombshells,
amid
great
when
the
excitement.
present
foundation was
and are there
built,
to
and dreadful prophecies of evil omen.
the banqueting rooms up stairs were granted
Charles Wilson Peale for the "Philadelphia Museum,"
despite
In 1802,
which was
the
These,
powder, were exhumed
however, were walled in
dire
day,
to
with
filled
Ohio
commenced
river.
1784, with a
in
There were
from
"paddle-fish"
1700 mineralogical
and
1000
and 1284 birds,
conchological specimens, 274 quadrupeds,
with portraits and paintings of all kinds, and interesting
relics from all quarters of the globe.
Independence Hall
was, in
its
time, a literary as well as a social
Philadelphia Library once occupied
The
centre.
been
arcades, having
its
transferred from Pewter-platter alley thither, in 1740.
After
was used
Brandywine, Independence Hall
Therein Washington bade farewell to public
as a hospital.
delivered that memorable address which will ever
life, and
the
be
battle
cherished
1824,
Its
of
as
a sacred
Lafayette received
history since needs
legacy by
his
friends
his
in
countrymen.
In
Independence Hall.
not recapitulation.
INDEPENDENCE SQUARE.
Long before and after
State House Yard," or
MM
House was erected,
grounds now comprising
the State
the
"the
the
i
HISTORY OF
46
as "the
exceedingly uneven and were known
than now,
whortle-berry patch." The north side was higher
but the south side being low, was made a place for resi
same, were
When
dences.
the State
House was
built,
these were torn
Square was only half its present
size.
There were 396 feet on Chestnut street, and 265 feet
This comprised 10,098 square
on Fifth and Sixth streets.
down.
Originally,
the
and ten and one-half perches.
In this condition the Square remained until 1760, when that
This, added
part fronting on Walnut street was purchased.
feet,
or two acres, one rood,
made the enclosure 201,960 square feet
396 feet on Walnut and Chestnut streets, and 510 feet on
On the Walnut street side of the
Fifth and Sixth streets.
to its dimensions,
Square, an antique gate was erected, with a brick structure,
by Joseph Fox, and about that time on Sixth street stood
country folks who came
Indians used to loiter therein, and
a row of sheds for horses of
to
town
to attend court.
the
drinking used to be carried on there. In 1784
John Vaughan set about to beautify the grounds. He sur
veyed the spot, planted trees, and he made it a place of
He introduced Windsor chairs and settees,
public resort.
all
sorts of
and contributed largely to the public comfort.
More than
two hundred trees of various kinds constituted the canopy
of verdure at the time of which we write.
After
Dec
House yard was christened Independence
laration," the State
"the
Square.
THE OLD
In
the
passage
of the old stairway
way
is
or main
the
BELL.
entrance,
Old Bell
that,
and
at
the
foot
with a thunderous
INDEPENDENCE HALL.
a people into the broad
lifted
thrill,
and Light
147
atmosphere of Liberty
Old Bell that proclaimed
out the land and to all the inhabitants
the
"Liberty
through
On
thereof!"
the
completion of the State House, a clock had been supplied
and set at the west end of the building, and measures were
taken to secure a bell in 1734.
In 1750 a bell of the
weight of 2030 pounds was ordered, and in 1752 it reached
Philadelphia.
to the
Great joy was shown by the people
ship with
many
congratulations, before
it
who went
was landed.
It
had to be recast.
removing it, it was damaged.
This was done by Pass
Stow, under the direction of
Isaac Norris, speaker of the Assembly.
It
was he who
In
originally suggested the motto:
the
land
the
bell
"we
to
all
the
"Proclaim
inhabitants
Liberty throughout
He
pronounced
and
he
was
good
greatly pleased that
should first venture upon and succeed in the greatest
bell in
"a
bell,"
During the Revolution, this and
Christ Church were buried in the Delaware, near
English
the bell at
thereof."
America."
Trenton, to ke ep them from falling into the hands of the
British, and in this condition they remained from 1777 till
-
the
close
of the Revolution,
old places.
As a relic of the past,
a hallowed memento.
when they were put
"the
Old
Bell"
their
in
must ever remain
1
INTERIOR.
"The
etc.,
room with
its
presents to-day the
during those times that
antique wainscotting,
pillars, cornices,
same general appearance
as
it
did indeed try men s souls.
hangs there; the chair which
original chandelier still
Watson s Annalls, vol. I. page
398.
did
The
was
HISTORY OF
148
President
stands
front
in
dais;
the
by
occupied
and on which
restored
is
the
table
Declaration
the
at
more
these
of
chairs,
the convenience
for
Senate,
its
have
been rescued
his
appended
wrote,
signature.
worn
original covering, well
in
Two
Congress.
unfortunately newly covered
though
of the
Hancock
which
the
reposed after it was
another of the members
member
an individual
use of
the
with
a chair
is
place in
its
itself
engrossed, and where one after
of Congress came forward and
Near by
to
of the
sergeants-at-arms
of
and placed on the
the
State
floor.
On
either side of the
or
dais are ranged portraits of the following,
therefor (an asterisk denoting in each case the
spaces
latter)
:
John Hancock
The
President.
The
Henry Lee
Richard
mover of
the resolution
for
Independence.
*Benjamin
The
Harrison
Chairman
of
Committee
the
Whole who reported the same.
Thomas Jefferson The author of the Declaration.
John Adams The seconder of the resolution, and
of the
"Colossus
of the
Debate."
*Samuel Adams
The
"Palinurus
*Robert R. Livingston
Chaplain;
son,
Republic."
committee
Robert Morris,
Heyward,
Wythe,
of the
to
draft
the
Declaration.
j
Franklin,
the
Charles Thompson, the
Thomas
*George
Of
|
*Roger Sherman
Benjamin
the
Samuel
Edward
White, the
Secretary; John Dickin
Bishop
Chase,
Rutledge,
Elbridge
Thomas
Gerry,
McKean,
George Read.
On
the opposite
panels
are
John Witherspoon, Charles
INDEPENDENCE HALL.
149
Hopkinson, Samuel Huntington, Philip Liv
ingston, Benjamin Rush, Arthur Middleton, George Clymer;
with spaces for Robert T. Paine, John Penn, George Ross,
Carroll, Francis
James
Smith,
Richard
Thomas
Stockton,
Stone,
George
Matthew Thornton, George Walton, William WhipWilliam Williams, Oliver Wolcott, Abraham Clark,
Taylor,
pie,
William
Ellery,
William
Floyd, Joseph
Hewes,
William
Hooper, Stephen Hopkins, F. L. Lee, Fran s Lewis, Thomas
Lynch, Lewis Morris, Thomas Nelson, William Paca, James
Wilson.
There
will
be
also
spaces
for
John Rogers, Thomas
Henry Wisner, Geo. Clinton, Thos.
Willing, Charles Humphreys, and a few others.
The names of John Morton, Caesar Rodney, Carter BraxJohn
Johnson,
Jay,
"Actors."
ton,
John Hart, and such others of the above whose
were never taken,
will
be appropriately presented
portraits
in
some
permanent shape.
Over the very doorway through which Washington passed
when he left Congress to assume those duties which earned
him
for
and
his
First in
enduring
title
of
"First
\Var, First in Peace,
the hearts of his Countrymen," has been
an original portrait of the Pater
Along
in
the surbase
hung
Patrice.
on each side of the President
s chair,
subordinated to the general design, are the Presidents of
Congress from 1774, not included in the above category,
and
in similar positions
on the
olutionary officers.
The draft of the Declaration
is
in
this city, in
most admirably
NN
sides, portraits
in
Jefferson s
of the
Rev
handwriting
the possession of the Philosophical Society,
It is
framed and adapted for exhibition.
INDEPENDENCE HALL.
hoped the society
relic
upon the
will
table
they own, which
be induced to deposit
in
the
Hall, and,
was used by the
also,
this
valuable
a chair which
"Delegates,"
and which,
the one
deposited by the writer in the Hall, contains
Two more of these chairs are known
the original covering.
like
and
of,
these
will,
it
is
believed,
be
also
ultimately
1
restored."
1
History of Independence Hall, from the
"
Penn
Monthly,"
by
F.
M.
Etting.
THE EXHIBI TION B UILDINGS.
1
51
THE EXHIBITION BUILDINGS.
The Main Buildings
of
Centennial
the
erected by the Building Committee
Board of Finance, for the uses of the
Exhibition, are five
each
in
number, admirably
within easy distance of
is
that parties
wishing to
or horse cars
arrive
department.
This
available in
known
as
Gallery.
III.
so
that
neighbor, and so arranged
its
one department, can by carriage
the gate opening into that
a special advantage not heretofore
exhibitions.
These buildings will be
directly at
is
European
follows:
visit
located
I.
Main Exhibition Building.
Machinery Hall.
IV. Horticultural
II.
Art
Building.
V. Agricultural Building.
I.
MAIN EXHIBITION BUILDING.
Engineers and Arcliitects:
HENRY
PETTIT, Jos. M. WILSON.
This building is in the form of a parallelogram, extend
ing east and west 1,880 feet in length, and north and south
464
feet in width.
The
portion of the structure is one story in
height, and shows the main cornice upon the outside at 45
At
feet above the ground, the interior height being 70 feet.
the centre of the longer sides are projections 416 feet in
larger
MAIM EXHIBITION BLTILIDIMQ.
MEMORIAL HALL.
THE EXHIBITION BUILDINGS.
and
length,
the
in
the
centre
of
the
shorter
or ends
sides
of
In these
projections 216 feet in length.
the centre of the four sides, are located the
building are
in
projections,
main entrances, which are provided with arcades upon the
ground floor, and central fagades extending to the height
of
The EAST ENTRANCE
feet.
90
approach from
will
form
the
principal
being allowed to alight at
the doors of the building under cover of the arcade.
The
SOUTH ENTRANCE will be the principal approach for street
cars,
the
ticket
carriages, visitors
offices
being
located
upon the
ELM
of
line
AVENUE, with covered ways provided for entrance into the
building itself. The MAIN PORTAL on the north side com
municates
PORTAL
directly with
on
the
west
the
side
ART GALLERY, and
the
gives
main
the
MAIN-
passageway
MACHINERY and AGRICULTURAL HALLS.
to the
Upon
the corners of
75 feet in
height,
the building there are
four
towers
and between the towers and the
central
projections or entrances there is a lower roof introduced,
showing a cornice placed 24 feet above the ground.
In order to obtain a central feature for the building as
a whole, the roof over the central part, for 184 feet square,
has
been raised above
the surrounding
portion,
and four
towers, 48 feet square, rising to 120 feet in height, have been
introduced at the corners of the elevated
The
Ground
roof.
areas covered are as follows:
872,320 square
Floor,
Upper Floors
20.02 acres.
"
in projection,
37-344
in towers,
26,344
.60
936,008
21.47
-85
"
OO
feet.
"
"
"
MAY
10
TO NOVIT]BR
10
1870
THE EXHIBITION BUILDINGS.
155
II.
ART GALLERY AND MEMORIAL HALL.
Architect:
H.
J.
SCHWARZMANN.
This structure, which is one of the affixes to the great
Exhibition, is located on a line parallel with and northward
Main Exhibition Building.
It is
on the most commanding portion of the great
LANSDOWNE PLATEAU, and looks southward over the city.
of the
It
is
of
elevated
on a terrace
six
the
feet
above the general
being an eminence
plateau the plateau itself
116 feet above the surface of the Schuylkill River.
The entire structure is in the modern Renaissance.
level
The
materials are granite, glass, and iron.
No wood is used in
the construction, and the building is thoroughly fireproof.
The structure is 365 feet in length, 210 feet in width, and
59
feet
height,
in
height,
over
a spacious
basement
12
feet
in
surmounted by a dome.
III.
MACHINERY HALL
Engineers and Architects :
This structure
is
HENRY
PETTIT, Jos. M. WILSON.
located west of the intersection of Bel-
mont and Elm Avenues, at a distance of 542 feet from the
west front of the Main Exhibition Building, and 274 feet
The north front of
from the north side of Elm Avenue.
the Building will be upon the same line as that of the
Main Exhibition Building, thus presenting a frontage of
3,824 feet from the east to the west end of the Exhibition
Buildings upon the principal avenue within the grounds.
HORTICULTURAL HALL
THE EXHIBITION BUILDINGS.
The building
feet
by 1,402
by 210 feet.
Hall and annex
360
Hall,
wide
feet
and an annex on the south side of 208
The entire area covered by the Main
long,
feet
is
558,440
the upper
Including
Main
consists of the
157
floors,
the
building
12.82
or
feet,
square
acres.
14 acres
provides
of floor space.
IV.
HORTICULTURAL HALL.
Architect:
The
H.
J.
SCHWARZMANN.
of Philadelphia
appropriations of the city
the Horticultural Department of the Exhibi
liberal
have provided
tion with an extremely ornate and commodious building,
which is to remain as a permanent ornament of Fairmount Park. It is located on the Lansdowne Terrace, a
short distance north of
the
Main Building and Art
Gallery,
and has a commanding view of the Schuylkill River and
The design is in the
the northwestern portion of the city.
the twelfth century, the
Mauresque style of architecture of
materials
principal
iron
externally being
and
building is 383 feet; width,
feet.
height to the top of the lantern, 72
length of
the
The main
230 by 80
170
feet
entirely
long,
around
the floor,
is
193
and
feet,
occupied by the central conservatory,
and 55 feet high, surmounted by a lantern
floor
feet,
The
glass.
20
is
feet wide,
and
feet
14
high.
this conservatory, at a height of
a gallery 5 feet wide.
On
20
the north
Running
feet
from
and south
houses
for
the
each of them 100 by 30
propagation of young plants,
covered with curved roofs of iron and glass.
Dividing
feet,
sides of
this principal
two forcing houses
pp
in
room
are four
forcing
each of these sides
is
the
a vestibule 30
THE EXHIBITION BUILDINGS.
158
At the centre of the east and west ends are
square.
similar vestibules, on either side of which are the restau
feet
rants,
reception
room,
From
etc.
offices,
the
vestibules
stairways lead to the internal galleries of the
conservatory, as well as to the four external galleries, each
ornamental
100 feet long and 10 feet wide, which surmount the roofs
These external galleries are con
of the forcing houses.
promenade, formed by the roofs of
the rooms on the ground floor, which has a superficial area
nected
of
with
a
grand
800 square yards.
The east and west entrances
i,
are
approached by
80 by 20 feet,
centre of each of \vhich stands an open kiosque 20
of
blue-marble
diameter.
with
The
steps from
The
fountains.
corridors
connect the conservatory with the surrounding
fine vistas in
is
Near
etc.
rangements,
feet in
which
rooms open
of fire-proof construction, are
store-rooms, coal-houses,
kitchen,
the
every direction.
In the basement, which
the
flights
in
angles of the main conservatory are adorned
ornamental
eight
terraces
of structures, such
this
principal building are a
as the Victoria
and
Orchard
Tropical
Horticultural
buildings.
heating
ash-pits,
Houses,
ar
number
House, Domestic
similar
Grapery, and
Regia
a
The
are
surrounding grounds
arranged for out-door planting, and an imposing and in
structive display is made.
It is proposed to plant, among
other
tinent,
so
variety of
from
representative trees of all parts of the Con
that side by side the visitor may see the full
things,
the
the
firs
forest
of
the
products
extreme
bananas of Florida, and
the
and
north,
fruits
to
of
the
the
country,
oranges and
wondrous grapes
and other
THE EXHIBITION BUILDINGS.
of California.
fruits
most
the
vastness
perfect
In this great work it is important
success should be achieved, so that
variety of product, and perfection
constitute the
marvel and the might
of territory,
which
species,
159
America,
may be
displayed in such a
This building
at a glance.
is
that
that
of
of
as to be realized
way
to cost $251,937.
V.
AGRICULTURAL BUILDING.
JAMES H. WINDRIM.
Architect:
This structure
and
ing,
on
the
stands
north
eastern
side
of the
of
Horticultural
Belmont
Build
Avenue.
It
novel combination of materials, and is capa
erection in a few months.
Its materials
are wood
will illustrate a
ble
of
and
consists
It
glass.
of
a long
nave crossed by three
nave and transept being composed of Howe
The nave is 826 feet in
truss arches of a Gothic form.
transepts, both
end projecting 100
feet
beyond the square of the building, with a height of 75
feet
length by
100 feet in
width,
each
from the floor to the point of the arch.
The
central
tran
sept is of the same height, and has a breadth of 100 feet;
the two end transepts are 70 feet high and 80 feet wide.
The four courts inclosed between the nave and tran
and also the four spaces at the corners of the building,
having the nave and end transepts for two of their sides,
are roofed and form valuable spaces for exhibits.
Thus
septs,
the
ground
465 by 630
acres.
In
building is a parallelogram of
covering a space of seven and one quarter
plan
feet,
its
of
the
immediate
vicinity
are
the
stock-yards
the exhibition of horses, cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, etc.
for
AUTOGRAPHS OF 7 HE
160
SIGNERS.
COLLECTORS OF AUTOGRAPHS OF THE SIGNERS.
The arrangement
Albany;
Sprague,
Library,
ginia;
Davis, Esq.,
Almond W.
New
Albany,
Ferdinand
indicates
the
Emmet, New York;
A.
T.
Dr.
of excellence.
names
the
of
priority
Rev.
New York
Griswold,
Dr.
State
G. Barney, Vir
R. Coulton
Dreer, Esq., Philadelphia;
J.
Dr. Charles
York;
Simon
Philadelphia;
Gratz,
Esq., Philadelphia;
New
York; E. H. Leffingwell,
Theodorus Bailey Myers, Esq.,
L. J.
Esq., New Haven; Brantz Mayer, Esq., Baltimore;
Cist,
Esq.,
Mrs.
Z.
Louis; Joseph
St.
F.
Taylor,
Esq.,
Mellen
Providence;
Allen,
Boston;
Mickley, Esq., Philadelphia;
J.
M.
Etting,
Chamberlain,
Philadelphia;
Esq.,
Esq.,
Alfred
B.
Philadelphia.
have been made relative to the collection of the Queen
Book of the
England. These inquiries arose from the criticism on the
1860:
which appeared in the "Press" on November 8th,
"Queen
Signers"
Many
inquiries
"
of
Victoria
Castle,"
s
collection,
etc.
was written
letter
the following
2 ist,
June
which we have seen
Being
is
to
"In
Private Secretary, says:
in
furnishing
the
all
Private Library at Windsor
information possible, a
the
distinguished author, Theodore Martin, C. B., and
letter to the author of this work, dated London,
the
from his
1875:
of
desirous
his
to me, General Ponsonby, her Majesty s
Mr. Brotherhead sent a volume through the
letter
last
When
Foreign Secretary in 1861, he said, "Your Majesty already possesses nearly
a complete set of the original autographs of the Signers."
I
can find no
trace of this set of autographs, nor can I ascertain that the Queen possessed
And in a letter to the writer from General
autographs.
Ponsonby, dated July 25th, 1875, Buckingham Palace, he further says: "The
librarian assures me that no such collection is in the library, and his further
any of
"
their
him in his opinion, that the Queen never did possess
He also inquired at the British Museum, but no trace of
autographs.
any such collection can be found." It is for the critic of the Press" to
settle this matter with General Ponsonby
we have done our duty, and on
search has confirmed
these
"
;
the
her
authority of
her Majesty does
Signers
as
the
not
critic
Majesty
s
Private
Secretary
possess such a collection
of the
"
Press"
Library of her Majesty, at Windsor.
positively
we make
of
said
the
the
record
autographs
he saw in the
of
that
the
Private
.
OF JOHN HANCOCK,
ffOSTO N
ON WHICH THE DECLARATION OF NDIPLNDINCC
WAS WRITTEN AND THRCCOFTHE SIGNERS CHAIRS.
THE: DESK
i
f^.
*
&*/?^<
*
,
MASS-
F
.
H
J Tomh-ftlo
.SVMiI.ith
165
JOSIAH BARTLETT.
//v
;f
fossfssion or F-J- ff/ff?.
107
PCS. Of CfN^ WfWHIPPLE.
rH, N H MOW RCS or C.H t*DD,fsa.
in THE POSStffS/CV Or
ff.
CoViTOM
RES .Or MATTHEW THORHTON,
OF IHO DCfUf V H
THL T1MC or 7HC D[C
?.
^
rwr possess/or* or
f.J.
171
eh
H
.1
TiMiih-SCo
.S.eaniLilM>^3t
QninifrcH
H
SAMUEL ADAMS.
"
^J&r,/*- ^
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176
Jr*t*t+nd
/H THE POSSfSS OV Or
THE BIRTH PLACES OF JOHN AND JOHN QUINCYADAMS.
AT QU I V CX
,
MA SS
.
ff.
CoUi TON DA f/S
,
177
R.
TREAT PAINE:
f.
COULTON
179
ELBRIDQE GERRY.
"*
I* THE possession or F.J. Dfrcc*.
CLMWOOO, FORMERLY THE RCS Or EL8RI D6E QKRY
.
CAMBRIDGE MASS. NO*
,
QfS OF JUS.RUISCU- LOWELL
.
THfPOU.
s
181
Me-iimLitt
183
MONUMENT Of STCPHN
PROVI DCNCE. n
.
HOPKINS.
STEPHEN HOPKINS.
!
In
THE rossessiON or
F.J, Dfrcc*
185
WILLIAM ELLERY.
ff
r-
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ROGER SHERMAN.
^^^-OQ_*^
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190
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.
or Roacp
HEW HAVEN SHERMAH,
CONN
,
.
\
possession or
F.J, fl/?E/p
t
s
191
RES. Or S. HUNT INGTON
NORWICH COHU.
SAMUEL. HUNTINGTON.
,
,
a?
I
*-
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"OSSfSSlOH
Of
ft.
D*V/S
.
193
in
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i.BA VCA/
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203
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215
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21 ;
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218
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.
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MAKSHALL COLLEBC,
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225
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THC Possession Of f. J.
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WHICH BUTTON OWINHCTT is HILLED ir
COL. LACHLA.N M^/NTOSH.
I A.
CONDITION
That
if ihc
of the above
is
Obligation
fuch,
above-bound
r/^
Heirs, Executors, or Adminiftrators, or any of them, fhall
and do well and truly pay, or caule to be paid, unto the
above-named
,
Executors, Administrators, or AfTigns, the
Sum
ot-fl&tU.
full
and
^
juft
rtU Hyi^&}wJujciifaftL&faiMw&^^
ItLttiCUSi
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without
Fraud or further Deldy, then this Obligation to be void and
of none Effeft, or elieto remain in full Force and Virtue.
Signed, Sealed,
i&,
the
and Delivered,
Prejence of
/* r
Possess/ox of
fJ ORCCR fsf
291
L.rUAN HALL
THE MONUMENT ON GKEEHE ST.
AS
SCEf,
fAOM SKOADST. AUSUSTA
&*.
*sL/
A-
r*i-
POSSESS/OH OF
R.
COULTOH DAVIS
st>
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THf OLC HlS/3t.\ICOf
AUGUSTA
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"MEADOW
GEORGE WALTON
MMOWAS AS
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THcPosSEssfOM OF FJ.DRCCR fsf.
RESIDENCE Of CHARLES THDMSON
NCA*
SLCHETAR-f f/XST AMCH/CAtS CONGflfSS
^u/w^
IN
me POSSESSION
OF
SIM OH GHATZ
sp.
BROTHERHEAD
A. P.
RESPECTFULLY SOLICITS THE CUSTOM OF
IN
SEABGH OF OLD
He has a Large and Extensive Assortment always
Libraries of books in any quantity, or parcels of any
si/e, lie is
always ready
on sale.
pay cash
to
for
any
amount.
Old rare American books he will pay good prices
Autographs
of distinguished persons,
realize fair prices, for
for,
and especially
which he willpay cash.
and
solicits special attention to
them.
of the early Revolutionary times of America,
Address
A. P.
BROTHERHEAD,
Solatia lOtli Stx oot,
SANDERSON S BIOGRAPHY
OF THE
Signers of the Declaration of Independence,
REVISED AXD EDITED
BY
XtOBEIfcT T.
Author of
"Jack Cade,"
OOIVIfc-AJD,
&c., &c.
Illustrated with Sixty Engravings from Original Photographs and Drawings of the Residences of
the Signers, &c., on India paper, mounted: to which is added an historical account of the
NOT PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED.
Rcs)<l<-n<-,s
BY WILLIAM BROTHERHEAD,
Author of the
"
Book
of the
Signers,"
"Centennial
Book
of the
Signers,"
&c.
-.
printed on fine paper, in a superior style a Large Quarto volume of 8oO pag
most
the
in
For private illustration, the most comprehensive work
interesting periods
print, covering
before, during and after the Revolution of Seventy-six.
This work
is
ONLY ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY COPIES PRINTED.
The work was published by subscription at $15.00 per copy,
A few copies for sale at subscription price by
in
paper covers, uncut.
E. I3^XmiIVGTOIV
915 South 13th
Street,
?
Philadelphia.
"
The most characteristic Memorial Volume of the birth of our glorious Republic ever
issued"
THE
BOOK OF THE SIGNERS,
BY
(LIBRARIAN,)
Author of the
"
Book of
the
Signers,"
etc
,
WILL BE ONE OF THE
MOST ATTRACTIVE NATIONAL WORKS EVER ISSUED.
will be printed with the greatest care, from new type, on heavy toned and calendered paper cf the finest quality,
be issued at a price sufficiently low to warrant an immense and truly national circulation. The work will embrace
the following features, in the artistic development of which no expense or care has been spared to bring it to a stage of
The work
and
will
unequalled interest and unrivalled beauty
:
FAO SIMILE LETTERS OF EACH OF THE SIGNERS
of the immortal Declaration of Independence, each letter beingwith one or more engraved portraits, views, etc., with appropriate
printed directly
original, and
descriptive matter; many of the portraits and views appearing here for the first time, and from photographs or drawings of
the subject made expressly for the purpose.
from the
every letter illustrated
THIRTEEN ORIGINAL NATIONAL DESIGNS,
by hand, of the principal
allegorical,
A HISTORICAL MONOGRAPH, comparing
made
emblematical and
realistic,
with a finely-engraved view, colored
city of each of the original Thirteen States; also accompanied by
the past
in all directions within the completed century.
full descriptive
and present condition of the former colonies,
matter.
illustrating the progress
A full and interesting sketch of the scene of the signing of the American
with
Declaration,
engravings showing both interior and exterior views of the venerable building.
HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCE HALL.
A HISTORY OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE,
this
giving the origin, the preparation, and the consummation of
immortal instrument.
A HISTORY OF EACH OF THE ORIGINAL THIRTEEN STATES.
A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF EACH SIGNER.
A FULL AND CRITICAL ACCOUNT OF THE VARIOUS PORTRAITS
several Painters
of the Signers, accompanied by the
names of
the
and Engravers.
A HISTORY OF THE ORIGIN OF THE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION, with
illustrations
and descriptive matter.
whole forming a Work of the most comprehensive and picturesque character, and of a rare historical interest,
a
position unrivalled by any other publication of the day.
ranting
Tlie
war
CONDITIONS.
The work
will
will
above features, 87 Fine Illustrations, and 13 full page Colored National
containing about an equal number of pages, each part being bound in an attractive
in connection with the
embrace,
be complete in 20
Parts,
Designs ;
manner, and delivered to subscribers at 50
cts.
per part.
Complete in 20 Parts, at 50 cents per part, payable on delivery.
J.
M.
ST ODDART &
CO., Publishers,
723 Chestnut
Street,
THIS BOOK
IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE
STAMPED BELOW
AN INITIAL FINE OF
25
CENTS
WILL BE ASSESSED FOR FAILURE TO RETURN
THIS BOOK ON THE DATE DUE. THE PENALTY
WILL INCREASE TO SO CENTS ON THE FOURTH
DAY AND TO $1.OO ON THE SEVENTH DAY
OVERDUE.
ra 12
1934
YH
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY
