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NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

VOL. LXXXV.

JULY, 1892.

No. DVI.

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T is not an idle curiosity merely that moves us to hold aside the veil which time has interposed between the past and the present, so that we may more closely scan the conduct and demeanor of our Revolutionary ancestors at critical or exciting junctures. Rather is it a natural feeling of filial pride and affection, coupled with the confident conviction that although they were men of the same clay as ourselves, and subject to the foibles and infirmities which have been the heritage of men in all ages and lands, they were yet unsoiled by the meaner frailties and vices which have so often degraded peoples and nations, were endowed with manlier, more robust, and more sturdy virtues than the generality of men, and could safely stand the test of the most trying scrutiny to which their acts and motives might be subjected.

It is in this loving and reverent spirit, and in the conviction that their virtues vastly preponderated over their foibles

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and failings, that the writer of this memoir has sought to discover the emotions and bearing of the men of "Seventy-six" when the tidings first reached them of the Declaration of Independence, and to collect in one group such accounts as are extant of the proceedings which attended its reception and proclamation, and of the ceremonies and solemnities with which its reading and promulgation were celebrated by the people of the "Old Thir teen." And if I dwell occasionally on some particulars which naturally impress us of this later and more fastidious day with a sense of the ludicrous, I trust that my pleasantries may not be set down to any spirit of irreverence, the more especially as due prominence will be given and due significance will be awarded to other particulars which are impressive alike by their gravity, their sobriety, their dignity, and their display of the most disinterested and most courageous patriotism.

As we all know, the draft of that memorable instrument which declared us an Copyright, 1892, by Harper and Brothers. All rights reserved. VOL. LXXXV.-No. 506.-17

independent nation was for nally adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. The next day, July 5th, the following resolution was adopted by the Congress then in session in Philadelphia:

"Resolved, That copies of the Declaration be sent to the several Assemblies, Conventions, and Councils of Safety, and to the several Commanding Officers of the Continental Troops, that it be proclaimed in each of the United States, and at the head of the Army."

It will be noted that in this resolution the Continental Congress observed the most punctilious deference to the recognized authorities of the several States. No copies of the Declaration were ordered to be sent to individuals in either of them. They were to be sent to officials or to representative bodies only.

On the same day, or within a day or two thereafter, the President of Congress, John Hancock, enclosed a copy of the Declaration to each of the States which had adopted a permanent government, and to the conventions (or provincial congresses) or to the councils or committees of safety of those States which had not yet formed regular governments, and in each case the document was accompanied by a letter in the terms following:

"I do myself the honour to enclose, in obedience to the commands of Congress, a copy of the Declaration of Independence, which you will please to have proclaimed in your Colony, in such way and manner as you shall judge best. The important consequences resulting to the American States from this Declaration of Independence, considered as the ground and foundation of a future government, will naturally suggest the propriety of proclaiming it in such a mode that the people may be universally informed of it."

On the 6th of July a copy of the Declaration was sent by President Hancock to General Washington, accompanied by a letter, in which he said:

AT PHILADELPHIA,

The first State to respond by its representative body was Pennsylvania. In the minutes of the Committee of Safety of that State, then in session at Philadelphia, under date of July 6, 1776, is the following entry:

"The President of the Congress this day sent the following Resolve of Congress, which is directed to be entered on the Minutes, to this Board:"

Here follows the resolution of the Continental Congress quoted above.

"In consequence of the above Resolve, Letters were wrote to the Counties of Bucks, Chester, Northumberland, Lancaster, and Berks, enclosing a copy of said Declaration, requesting the same to be published on Monday next [July 8th], at the places where the election of Delegates are to be held.

"Ordered, That the Sheriff of Philadelphia read or cause to be read and proclaimed at the State House in the City of Philadelphia, on Monday, the 8th day of July instant, at Declaration of the Representatives of the twelve o'clock at noon of the same day, the United Colonies of America, and that he cause all his Officers and the Constables of the said city to attend the reading thereof.

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Pennsylvania Committee of Safety, the In conformity with this action of the Declaration was proclaimed in Philadelphia at the time appointed, and the proceedings are described in the following brief report which appeared in the Philadelphia and New York Gazettes of the

"The Congress have judged it necessary to ensuing day:

dissolve the connexion between Great Britain and the American Colonies, and to declare them free and independent States, as you will perceive by the enclosed Declaration, which I am directed to transmit to you, and to request you will have it proclaimed at the head of the army, in the way you shall think most proper."

Similar letters were sent to the other generals commanding in the Northern and Southern departments.

"Philadelphia, July 8, 1776.-This day the Committee of Safety and the Committee of Inspection went in procession to the State House, where the Declaration of Independency of the United States of America was read to a very large number of the inhabitants of this City and County, which was received with general applause and heart-felt satisfaction; and in the evening our late King's Coat of Arms was brought from the Hall in the State House, where the said King's Courts were

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formerly held," and burnt, amidst the acclamations of a crowd of spectators."

On the above occasion the Declaration was read by John Nixon from the platform of an observatory which had been erected many years before by the celebrated Dr. Rittenhouse, near the Walnut Street front of the State-house, for the purpose of observing a transit of Venus. At evening bonfires were lighted, the houses were illuminated, and it was not until a thunder-shower at midnight compelled the people to retire that the sounds of rejoicing were hushed.+

In a copy of The Scots Magazine for 1776, published at Edinburgh, Scotland, which is in the writer's possession, in the number for August, occurs the following curious item, descriptive of some ceremo

nies alleged to have been observed by the Continental Congress on the day of its adoption of the Declaration:

"A letter from Philadelphia says: The 4th of July, 1776, the Americans appointed as a day of fasting and prayer, preparatory to their dedicating their country to God, which was done in the following manner: The Congress being assembled, after having declared America independent, they had a Crown placed on a Bible, which by prayer and solemn devotion they offered to God. This religious ceremony being ended, they divided the Crown into thirteen parts, each of the United Provinces taking a part."

*The "hall" in which the King's Courts had hitherto been held was in the second story of the State-house. During the period of preparation for the Revolution the Provincial Congress of Pennsyl

vania held its sessions in this room.

+ Lossing's Field-book of the Revolution, vol. ii.,

p. 287.

I have been unable to discover any confirmatory evidence of this dramatic, and, I suspect, entirely fabulous, perform

ance.

I have no doubt, however, that it was published in The Scots Magazine in entire good faith, and that it was derived from a source on which its conductors placed full reliance, as that magazine was a constant friend of this country; its pages were largely devoted to American news, its information relative to our affairs was full and generally accurate, and its sympathies for the American people in their controversy with Great Britain were generously and frankly avowed.

AT TRENTON, NEW JERSEY. Although nothing is recorded on the subject in the minutes of the Provincial Congress of New Jersey at this time, the been deferred to a later period, probably formal ratification by that body having from prudential or politic reasons, yet certain of its more active members caused the Declaration to be proclaimed in Trenton, where the Provincial Congress was then in session, on the same day when it was promulgated in Philadelphia, namely, July 8th. The following description of the observances appeared in the New York and Philadelphia Gazettes of July 9th, and also in The Scots Magazine for August, 1776, from which last it is here given verbatim:

"Trenton, July 8, 1776.-The Declaration of Independence was this day proclaimed here, together with the new Constitution of the Colony of late established, and the resolve *The Constitution of New Jersey had been adopted on July 2, 1776.

*

of the Provincial Congress for continuing the administration of justice during the interim. The members of the Provincial Congress, the gentlemen of the Committee, the officers and privates of the Militia, under arms, and a large concourse of the inhabitants attended on this great and solemn occasion. The Declaration and other proceedings were received with loud acclamations. The people are now convinced, of what we ought long since to have known, that our enemies have left us no middle way between perfect freedom and abject slavery. In the field, we trust, as well as in council, the inhabitants of New Jersey will be found ever ready to support the freedom and independence of America."

AT EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

On the same day that the Declaration was receiving the approval of the people of Philadelphia and Trenton, it was proclaimed in Easton, Pennsylvania, with the like satisfactory result, as appears from the following contemporaneous account:

"Easton, Northampton County, July 8, 1776. -This day the Declaration of Independency was received here, and proclaimed in the following order: The Colonel, and all other Field Officers of the first Battalion, repaired to the Court House, the Light Infantry Company marching there with drums beating, fifes playing, and the Standard (the device of which is the Thirteen United Colonies) which was ordered to be displayed; and after that the Declaration was read aloud to a great number of spectators, who gave their hearty assent with three loud huzzas, and cried out, 'May God long preserve the Free and Independent States of America.""

Another account of the occurrence is given in a newspaper published in German at Easton, by Henry Miller, in its issue of July 10, 1776, which is thus translated:

"Immediately on the news of this eventthe Declaration-becoming known at Easton, it was hailed by the citizens of the town and surrounding country by a public demonstration. Captain Abraham Labar, with his company, paraded through the streets with drums beating and colors flying, and was followed and joined by the citizens en masse. They met in the Court-house, where the Declaration of Independence was read by Robert Levers."

AT PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY.

"Princetown, New Jersey, July 10.— Last night Nassau Hall was grandly illuminated, and independency proclaimed under a triple volley of musketry, and universal acclamations for the prosperity of the United Colonies. The ceremony was conducted with the greatest decorum."

AT NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY.

The compiler of this memorial has not been able to find any contemporaneous account of the reception and promulgation of the Declaration in New Brunswick; nor is it probable that such an account ever existed, except in private letters. There is, however, satisfactory grounds for the belief that a copy of it was received on July 9th by the resident members of the Committee of Safety (Colonel Azariah Dunham and Hendrick Fisher), or by the County Committee of Correspondence, and that it was read at a public meeting held either on that or on the following day. There are several traditional accounts of its proclamation at this place, which, if collated, would doubtless give fuller and more accurate information as to the incident than may be derived from any of them singly. The version of it which the writer hereof had from his grandfather, Jacob Dunham, M.D., in 1830 or 1831, was substantially as follows:

"When the Declaration of Independence was brought to New Brunswick, I was a boy about nine years old. There was great excitement in the town over the news, most of the people rejoicing that we were free and independent, but a few looking very sour over it. My father [Colonel Azariah Dunham] was one of the Committee of Safety of the province, and also one of the County Committee of Correspondence, and one of the Town Committee of Inspection and Observation. The Declaration was brought by an express rider, who was at once furnished with a fresh horse, and despatched on his way to New York. County Committee and the Town Committee were immediately convened, and it was decided that the Declaration should be read in the public street [Albany Street], in front of the White Hall tavern, that the reader should be Colonel John Neilson, and that the members of the two committees should exert themselves to secure the attendance of as many as possible of the stanch friends of independence, so as to overawe any disaffected Tories, and resent any interruption of the meeting that they

The

On the evening of July 9th the Declaration was proclaimed in Princeton, New might attempt. Although these Tories were

Jersey. The following account of its reception there is extracted from The Scots Magazine for August, 1776:

not numerous, they were, most of them, men of wealth and influence, and were very active. Accordingly, at the time appointed [I cannot now recall the hour, if, indeed, my grandfather

stated it], the Whigs assembled in full force, wearing an air of great determination. A stage was improvised in front of the White Hall tavern, and from it Colonel Neilson, surrounded by the other members of the committee, read the Declaration with grave deliberation and emphasis. At the close of the reading there was prolonged cheering. A few Tories were present; but although they sneered, and looked their dissatisfaction in other ways, they were prudent enough not to make any demonstration."

Whatever else my grandfather told me of the incident, which made such an impression on my youthful mind, has faded from my memory in the sixty years which have since elapsed.

IN SUSSEX COUNTY,

NEW JERSEY.

The tidings of the Declaration were carried posthaste to the remotest parts of New Jersey, and were handed on from one town or county committee to another, so that no out-of-the-way

corner even was

Congress from Delaware, while yet fresh from signing the Declaration, despatched Ensign Wilson with an account of the proceedings attending its adoption to his friend Colonel John Haslet, at Dover, Delaware. On July 6th, Colonel Haslet wrote to Mr. Rodney, in response, as follows:

"I congratulate you, sir, on the important day which restores to every American his birthright; a day which every freeman will record with gratitude, and the millions of posterity read with rapture. Ensign Wilson arrived here last night; a fine turtle feast at

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AT PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY.

left in ignorance of the soul-stirring instrument. A letter from Joseph Barton, in remote Sussex County, to his cousin Henry Wisner, without doubt reflects the feelings of many in those days of suspense. Writing from Newton as early as July 9, 1776, he says: "SIR, It gives a great turn to the minds of our people, declaring our independence. Now we know what to depend on. For my part, I have been at a great stand: I could hardly own the King and fight against him at the same time; but now these matters are cleared

Heart and hand shall move together. I

up. don't think there will be five Tories in our

part of the country in ten days after matters

are well known. We have had great numbers who could do nothing until we were declared a free State, who are now ready to spend their lives and fortunes in defence of our country. I expect a great turn one way or the other before I see you again."

AT DOVER, DELAWARE.

On the 4th of July, 1776, Cæsar Rodney,* then a delegate to the Continental *John Adams, in his diary, thus describes this gentleman: "Cæsar Rodney is the oddest-looking

Dover anticipated and announced the Declaration of Congress; even the barrister himself [alluding to a mutual friend] laid aside his airs of reserve, mighty happy."

It is probable that accompanying Mr. Rodney's letter was one from President Hancock to the Committee of Safety of Delaware, enclosing a copy of the Declaration. It is certain that a copy of it was received at Dover simultaneously with Rodney's letter, as we learn from the following interesting account, which is transcribed from Saunderson's Biography of the Signers:

"At the time Mr. Rodney's letter reached Dover, the election of officers of a new battalion was going on. The Committee of Safety, however, immediately met, and after receiving the intelligence, proceeded to the Court House, man in the world; he is tall, thin, and slender as a reed, pale, his face not bigger than a large apple, yet there is sense and fire, spirit, wit, and humor in his countenance. He made himself very merry with Ruggles and his pretended scruples and timidities at the last Congress."-Life and Works of John Adams, vol. ii., p. 364.

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