where (the election being stopped) the President read the Declaration of Congress, and the resolution of the House of Assembly for the appointment of a Convention [Provincial Congress]; each of which received the highest approbation of the people, in three huzzas. The Committee then went in a body back to their room, where they sent for a picture of the King of Great Britain, and made the drummer of the infantry bear it before the President. They then marched two and two, followed by the light infantry in slow time, with music, round the Square; then forming a circle about a fire prepared in the middle of the Square for that purpose, the President, pronouncing the following words, committed it to the flames: 'Compelled by strong necessity, thus we destroy even the shadow of that King who refused to reign over a free people.' Three loud huzzas were given by the surrounding crowd; and the friends of liberty gained new courage to support the cause in which they had embarked." IN NEW YORK CITY. As has already been said, on July 6th the President of the Continental Congress wrote to Washington, enclosing a copy of the Declaration, and requesting him to have it proclaimed at the head of the army. It was received by Washing ton at his headquarters in New York on the 9th, and immediately the following order (transcribed from his orderly book) was issued: "The Continental Congress, impelled by the dictates of duty, policy, and necessity, have been pleased to dissolve the connexion which subsisted between this country and Great Britain, and to declare the United Colonies of America Free and Independent States. The several brigades are to be drawn up this evening on their respective parades at six o'clock, when the Declaration of Congress, showing the grounds and reasons of this measure, is to be read with an audible voice. The General hopes that this important event will serve as a fresh incentive to every officer and soldier to act with fidelity and courage, as knowing that now the peace and safety of his country depend, under God, solely on the success of our arms; and that he is now in the service of a State possessed of sufficient power to reward his merit, and advance him to the highest honours of a free country." Observe how clearly Washington comprehended and foreshadowed the operation of the new order of things initiated by the Declaration to place "the highest honors of a free country" within the reach of every citizen. At the time appointed by Washington, as is described by an eye-witness, the following proceedings took place: "The brigades were formed in hollow square on their respective parades. One of these brigades was encamped on the 'Commons,' where the New York City Hall now stands. The hollow square was formed about the spot where the Park Fountain stands. Washington was within the square, on horseback, and the of his aids. When it was concluded, three Declaration was read in a clear voice by one book of the Revolution, vol. ii., p. 801, note. hearty cheers were given."-- Lossing's Field AT WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK. On or before the 9th of July the letter of President Hancock to the Provincial Congress of New York, enclosing a copy of the Declaration, was received by that body, for in the minutes of its proceedings for Tuesday, July 9th, the following entry appears: "In Convention of the Representatives of the State of New York, White Plains, July 9, 1776. "Resolved unanimously, That the reasons assigned by the Continental Congress for declaring the United Colonies free and independent States are cogent and conclusive; and that while we lament the cruel necessity which has rendered this measure unavoidable, we approve the same, and will, at the risk of our lives and fortunes, join with the other Colonies in supporting it. "Resolved, That a copy of the said Declaration and the aforegoing resolution be sent to the Chairman of the Committee of the County of Westchester, with orders to publish the same with beat of drums at this place on Tuesday next, and to give directions that it be published with all convenient speed in the several Districts within the said County; and Abraham Brasher, William Smith, Committee on draft of Resolutions." IN NEW YORK CITY. Before the receipt of these resolutions from their County Committee, the more patriotic or the more effervescent of the citizens of the city of New York celebrated the event in a spontaneous and spirited way quite in keeping with the character they have always exhibited in moments of excitement. The following graphic account of their doings is reproduced from The Scots Magazine for August, 1776: "New York, July 11, 1776.-The fourth instant was rendered remarkable by the most that five hundred copies thereof be forthwith transmitted to the other County Committees within the State of New York, with orders to cause the same to be published in the several Districts of their respective Counties. "Resolved unanimously, That the Delegates of this State in the Continental Congress be, and they hereby are, authorized to concert and adopt all such measures as they may deem conducive to the happiness and welfare of the United States of America." The above minute was signed, "John Jay, Abraham Yates, John Sloss Hobart, important event that has ever happened in the American Colonies, an event which doubtless will be celebrated through a long succession of future ages by anniversary commemorations, and be considered as a grand era in the history of the American States. On this auspicious day the representatives of the Thirteen United Colonies, by the providence of God, unanimously agreed to and voted a Proclamation declaring the said Colonies free and independent States, which was proclaimed at the State House in Philadelphia on Monday last, and received with joyful acclamations. Copies were also distributed to all the Colo nies. On Tuesday last [July 9th] it was read at the head of each brigade of the Continental Army posted at and near New York, and everywhere received with loud huzzas and the utmost demonstrations of joy. The same evening the equestrian statue of George Third*, which Tory pride and folly reared in the year 1770, was by the sons of freedom laid prostrate in the dirt, the just desert of an ungrateful tyrant. The lead wherewith this monument was made is to be run into bullets, to assimilate with the brain of our infatuated enemies, who, to gain a pepper-corn, have lost an empire.1 Quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat. 1 "Lord Clare, in the House of Commons, had declared that a pepper-corn in acknowledgment of Britain's right to tax America was of more importance than millions without it " In his diary for August 20, 1774, John Adams gives the following description of this statue on the Bowling Green: "Between the fort [on the Battery] and the city is a beautiful ellipse of land, railed in with solid iron, in the centre of which is a statue of his Majesty on horseback, very large, of solid lead gilded with gold, standing on a pedestal of marble, very high" (Life and Works of John Adams, vol. ii., p. 346). In his Field-book of the Revolution (vol. ii., p. 801, notes), Mr. Lossing describes this statue in greater detail. "This statue of George the Third," 66 he says, The following is the memorandum, or account current," spoken of by Mr. Lossing as preserved in the papers of Governor Wolcott: "An Equestrian Statue of George the Third of Great Britain was erected in the city of New York, on the Bowling Green, at the lower end of Broadway. Most of the materials were lead, but richly gilded to resemble gold. At the beginning of the Revolution this statue was overthrown. Lead then being scarce and dear, the statue was broken in pieces and the metal transported to Litchfield, a place of safety. The ladies of this village converted the Lead into Cartridges for the Army, of which the following is O. W. an account. "Mrs. Marvin.... Ruth Marvin.. Frederick Mrs. Beach . Cartridges, 6,058 11.592 Laura Wolcott. Mary Ann Wolcott.. Made by Sundry persons... 2,182 Gave Litchfield Militia on alarm. Let the Regiment of Col. Wigglesworth have. Cartridges.. On the day after this amiable little ebullition of the people of New York, there was rejoicing in the Debtors' Prison in New York city. This prison was in an upper floor of the City Hall, then standing on what is now the corner of Wall and Nassau streets, or the site of the present Treasury building. The rejoicing was due to the fact that on that day, “in pursuance of the Declaration of Independency, a general jail delivery, with respect to Debtors, took place here" (Holt's Journal for July 11, 1776). On Thursday, July 18th, a more formal celebration took place in the city of New York, which is described as follows in a contemporaneous report of it: "New York, Thursday, July 25, 1776.-On Thursday last [July 18th], pursuant to a resolve of the Representatives of the Colony of New York, sitting in Congress, the Proclamation issued at Philadelphia the 4th inst., by the Continental Congress, declaring the Thirteen United Colonies to be free and independent States, was read and published at the City Hall, when a number of the true friends of the rights and liberties of America attended and signified their approbation by loud acelamations. After which, the British arms, from over the seat of justice in the Court House, was taken down, exposed, torn to pieces, and burnt. Another British arms, wrought in stone, in the front of the pediment without, was thrown to the ground and broken to pieces, and the picture of King George III., which had been placed in the Council Chamber, was thrown out, broken, torn to pieces, and burnt, of all which the people testified their approbation by repeated huzzas. same day, we hear, the British arins from all the Churches in the city were ordered to be removed and destroyed." The It is doubtful if this is an exact statement of the facts, so far, at least, as relates to the King's arms in Trinity Church. A more correct statement, probably, is the one which was made by the Rev. Dr. Inglis, the rector of Trinity Church, in a letter written by him to the Rev. Dr. Hind, dated October 31, 1776, on the "State of the Anglo-American Church." Says Dr. Inglis: "A fine equestrian statue of the King was pulled down and totally demolished after independency was declared. All the King's arms, even those on the signs of taverns, were destroyed. The Committee sent me a message, which I esteemed a favor and indulgence, to have the King's arms taken down in the 42,088." Church, or else the mob would do it, and 50 300 might deface and injure the Church. I immediately complied" (O'Callaghan's Doc. Hist. N. Y., vol. iii., p. 1058). Mr. Lossing remarks on the alleged order for the King's arms in the churches "to be removed and destroyed," that "those in Trinity Church were taken down and carried to New Brunswick [British America] by Rev. Charles Inglis, D.D., at the close of the war, and now hang on the walls of a Protestant Episcopal Church in St. John." AT WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS. Three days earlier than the occurrences last described the Declaration was ratified with great ardor by the people of Worcester, Massachusetts, and the event which it announced to the world was celebrated with spirit and dignity. The following is a contemporaneous account of the proceedings, from which it would seem that there were some wags among the excellent patriots of Worcester: "Worcester, Massachusetts, July 22, 1776.On Monday last [July 15th] a number of patriotick gentlemen of this town, animated with a love of their country, and to show their approbation of the measures lately taken by the Grand Council of America, assembled on the Green near the Liberty Pole, where, after having displayed the colours of the Thirteen Confederate Colonies of America, the bells were set a ringing and the drums a beating; VOL. LXXXV.-No. 506.-18 after which the Declaration of Independency of the United States was read to a large and respectable body (among whom were the Selectmen and Committee of Correspondence) assembled on the occasion, who testified their approbation by repeated huzzas, firing of musketry and cannon, bonfires, and other demonstrations of joy; when the arms of that tyrant in Great Britain, George III., of execrable memory, which in former days decorated, but of late disgraced the Court House in this town, were committed to the flames and consumed to ashes; after which a select company of the sons of freedom repaired to the Tavern lately known by the sign of the King's Arms, which odions signature of despotism was taken down by order of the people, which was cheerfully complied with by the Innkeeper, where the following toasts were drunk, and the evening spent with joy, on the commencement of the happy era: "1. Prosperity and Perpetuity to the United States of America. "2. The President of the Grand Council of America. "3. The Grand Council of America. "4. His Excellency General Washington. "5. All the Generals in the American Army. "6. Commodore Hopkins. "7. The Officers and Soldiers in the American Army. "8. The Officers and Seamen in the American Navy. "9. The Patriots of America. "11. George rejected, and Liberty protected. "12. Success to the American Arms. AT PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE. "13. Sore eyes to all Tories, and a chestnut burr for an eyestone. "14. Perpetual itching without the benefit of scratching to the enemies of America. "15. The Council and Representatives of the State of Massachusetts Bay. "16. The Officers and Soldiers in the Massachusetts service. "17. The Memory of the brave General Warren. "18. The Memory of the magnanimous General Montgomery. "19. Speedy redemption to all the Officers and Soldiers who are now prisoners of war among our enemies. "20. The State of Massachusetts Bay. "21. The Town of Boston. "22. The Selectmen and Committee of Correspondence for the town of Worcester. "23. May the enemies of America be laid at her feet. "24. May the Freedom and Independence of America endure till the Sun grows dim with age, and this Earth returns to Chaos. "The greatest decency and good order was observed, and at a suitable time each man returned to his respective home." IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. While the people of the city of New York were welcoming the Declaration at the old City Hall, the people of the "Town of Boston" were giving no uncertain utterance to their feelings at the State-house and elsewhere. The following is the account of their proceedings as published in the Boston papers of the time: "Boston, Thursday, July 18, 1776. This day, pursuant to the order of the honourable Council, was proclaimed from the balcony of the State House in this town the Declaration of the American Congress, absolving the American Colonies from their allegiance to the British Crown, and declaring them free and independent. "There were present on the occasion, in the Council Chamber, a number of the Honourable House of Representatives, the Magistrates, Ministers, Selectmen, and other gentlemen of Boston and the neighbouring towns; also the Commission Officers of the Continental Regiments stationed here, and other officers. Two of these regiments were under arms in King Street, formed into three lines, on the north side of the street, and into thirteen divisions; and a detachment from the Massachusetts regiment of artillery, with two pieces of cannon, was on their right wing. At one o'clock the Declaration was proclaimed by Colonel Crofts, the Sheriff of the County of Suffolk, which was received with great joy, expressed by three huzzas from a great concourse of people assembled on the occasion; after which, on a signal given, thirteen pieces of cannon were fired from the fort on Fort Hill; the Forts at Dorchester Neck, the Castle, Nantasket, and Point Alderton likewise discharged their cannon; then the detachment of Artillery fired their cannon thirteen times,* which was followed by the two regiments giving their fire from the thirteen divisions in succession. These firings corresponded to the number of the American States united. The ceremony closed with a proper collation to the gentlemen in the Council Chamber; during which the following Toasts were given by the President of the Council, and heartily pledged by the company, viz.: "1. Prosperity and perpetuity to the United States of America. "2. The American Congress. "3. The General Court of the State of Massachusetts Bay. "4. General Washington, and success to the arms of the United States. "5. The downfall of tyrants and tyranny. "6. The universal prevalence of civil and religious liberty. *It will be observed by the reader of these contemporaneous accounts of the reception of the Declaration that our Revolutionary ancestors had several pet phrases and formalities. Almost invariably they expressed their joy or approbation by "three huzzas," sometimes by "three loud buzzas." They also manifested their approval by "loud acclamations," or by "general applause," or "with the utmost demonstrations of joy." The Declaration was almost always listened to by a great concourse of people," ," and the proceedings attending its promulgation were quite invariably "conducted with the greatest decorum," or were characterized by "the greatest decency and good order." Great attention was paid to the number thirteen, as symbolical of the thirteen united States. |
