our country as were, by universal consent, attributed to him, needed no borrowed plume. He avows his having advised count De Grasse not to venture into New York bay. He should, (had he acted consistently with his duty) with candour, and in due season, have made this communication to General Washington; whereas, the first intimation of a change of the original plan, was the French Admiral's letter from Rhode Island, which the General put into my hands a few hours after he had received it, with strong expressions of surprise and resentment. Assuredly, at this period, the expedition to the southward had never been thought of; but as count Rochambeau's countervailing advice had been attended with successful consequences, he adroitly takes advantage of this good fortune and turns, an otherwise unjustifiable interference, into personal merit. I was sent by Congress, under the belief that New York was the object, to consult with General Washington, on the supplies necessary for the attack. But, the apprehension expressed by count De Grasse, of danger to his heavy ships, should they enter the bay, and the avowal of his intention to sail for the Chesapeake, put at once an end to deliberation on the subject. A new object was now to be sought for, on which the co-operation of the allies might be employed with effect. I was present when the southern enterprise was resolved on, (claiming no merit or agency in the military part of it) and superintended the provision of every thing required by the general, for the operation. From seventy to eighty pieces of battering cannon, and one hundred of field artillery, were completely fitted and furnished with attirail and ammunition, although, when I returned from the camp to Philadelphia, there was not a field carriage put together, and but a small quantity of fixed ammunition in our magazines. The train was progressively sent on in three or four weeks, to the great honour of the officers and men employed in this meritorious service. All this, together with the expense of provision for, and pay of the troops, was accomplished on the personal credit of Mr. Robert Morris, who issued his notes to the amount of one million four hundred thousand dollars, which were finally all paid. Assistance was furnished by Virginia and other States, from the merit whereof I mean not to detract. But, as there was no money in the chest of the War Office, and the Treasury of the United States empty, the expedition never could have been operative and brought to a successful issue, had not, most fortunately, Mr. Morris' credit, superior exertions, and management, supplied the indispensable sine qua non, the funds necessary togive effect to exertion."

stances, mon General,' said he, it would be my ambi tion to serve you, but here I have no chance of showing my talents, and I think myself obliged, in honor, to save you expense, since your wagoner is just as able to turn the string as I am.' 'Believe me, gentlemen,' continued the Baron, 'the Treasury of America is, at present, just as empty as my kitchen was at Valley Forge; and Mr. Morris wisely retires, thinking it of very little consequence who turns the string.'

To the instances given by Judge Peters, of the happy arrival of supplies for the army, at the moment that they were most needed, I would add another occurrence derived from the same authority. "On our entering Philadelphia, in June 1778, after the evacuation by the British troops, we were hard pressed for ammunition. We caused the whole city to be ransacked in search of cartridge paper. At length, I thought of the garrets, &c. of old printing offices. In that once occupied as a lumber room by Dr. Franklin, when a printer, a vast collection was discovered. Among the mass was more than a cart body load of sermons on defensive war, preached by a famous Gilbert Tenant, during an old British and French war, to rouse the colonists to indispensable exertion. These appropriate manifestoes were instantly employed as cases for musket cartridges, rapidly sent to the army, came most opportunely, and were fired away at the battle of Monmouth against our retiring foe. Garden's Rev. Anec.

I may be excused, I hope, for offering of my own accord, to address you on the recent loss of our President. As the second officer in the Society, it becomes, in some measure, my duty, to notice the melancholy event. That eminent and worthy man--so well known to us-so much beloved by us; who, for forty years has so usefully and affectionately associated with us, has, at a good old age, paid the debt of nature.

Death, perhaps, at no time strikes a victim, however obscure, who does not leave some sorrowing surviver: none so destitute of friends, as to descend to the grave wholly unlamented. How deeply, then, should we mourn the loss of a man, so remarkably distinguished as the late President of this Society.

Upon an occasion so solemn, and to us so afflictive, we ought not to be satisfied with an ordinary notice: it is fit that we should dwell, somewhat at length, on the prominent passages of such a man's life; that we should recall to our minds the deeds of patriotism, of public spirit, and general usefulness, which have marked his lengthened career. This I shall attempt, and, howsoever imperfectly, I beg you to indulge me with a hearing.

Richard Peters, who died on the 22d of August, at his residence in Blockley, was born in the month of June, 1744, in the same house in which he expired; and had, consequently, passed, by a few months, the great age of eighty-four. He received his education in the city of Philadelphia; and, on entering the active scenes of life, was a good Latin and Greek scholar, and possessed a knowledge of the French and Gerinan languages.

Dining with him shortly after the resignation of Mr. Robert Morris, as Financier of the United States, the cause of which appeared inexplicable to the company present, "To me,' said Baron Steuben, 'there appears no mystery. I will illustrate my sentiments by a simple narrative, When I was about to quit Paris to embark for the United States, the better to insure comfort when in camp, I judged it of importance to engage in my service a cook of celebrity. The American army was posted at Valley Forge, when I joined it. Arrived at my quarters, a wagoner presented himself, saying that he was directed to attach himself to my train, and obey my orders. Commissaries arriving, furnished a supply of beef and bread, and retired. My cook looked around him for utensils, indispensable, in his opinion, for preparing a meal, and finding none, in an agony of despair, applied to the wagoner for advice, 'We cook our meat,' replied he, 'by hanging it up by a string, and turning it before a good fire till sufficiently roasted.' The next day and still another passed, without material change.try, placed him in the front rank of the young practiThe commissary made his deposit. My cook showed the strongest indications of uneasiness by shrugs and heavy sighing, but, with the exception of a few oaths, spoke not a word of complaint. His patience, however, was completely exhausted; he requested an audience, and demanded his dismission. Under happier circumVOL. II.

32

Having adopted the law as a profession, his acquaintance with the German greatly facilitated his country practice; while his intuitive smartness, and steady indus

tioners of the day. He had an uncle who was Secretary of the Colonial Government, and whose office was, as I think, connected with the land department. This uncle was fond of young Peters, and occasionally charged him with a part of the duties of his office. It was here, no doubt, that he became familiar with the land titles of

It was about the time when this brilliant talent was already conspicuous; a talent that never after forsook him, even whilst age was wasting his tottering frame: it was at this period of youthful buoyancy, that a conference was held with the Indians of the six nations, at Fort Stanwix, in the province of New York. Our lamented friend accompanied the delegation from Pennsylvania. "I was Commissioner of War, he said, in 1779. Gen. During the negotiation of the treaty, he insinuated him- Washington wrote to me that all his powder was wet, self so much into the good graces of the Indian chiefs, and that he was entirely without lead or balls; so that and became so entirely acceptable to them, by his light- should the enemy approach him, he must retreat. When hearted jests, and sportive behaviour, that even those I received this letter, I was going to a grand gala at the sedate redmen relaxed their rigid carriage, and unbend- Spanish ambassador's, who lived in Mr. Chew's fine house ing for a moment the usual severity of their characters, in South Third street. The spacious gardens were su proposed to adopt him into their tribes. The offer was perbly decorated with variegated lamps; the edifice itaccepted, and Mr. Peters was formally introduced to self was a blaze of light;-the show was splendid; but his new relations, receiving from them, in allusion to his my feelings were far from being in harmony with all this amusing talkativeness, the appropriate name of Tegoh-brilliancy. I met at this party, my friend Robert Morris, tias, which means Paroquet.

"To show you the prostrate situation of our financial concerns, I mention that I had not in the chest of the of- "On our arrival at Philadelphia, I set to work most fice, without interfering with the daily common de industriously, and masked the object for a time. By mands for contingencies, a sufficient sum for my outfit the zeal and extraordinary efforts of the staff departand personal expenses. Not foresceing any extra claims ment, particularly that of ordnance and military stores, for casualties, I had not provided out of my own funds sixty pieces of battering cannon, and a greater number against them. At Trenton, on our way to camp, I lost a of field artillery, were completely provided and finished horse. I could have ordered one out of the quarter-in three or four weeks, and as any portion of the train

was ready, sent off on its way to the southern enterprise. Not a single gun was mounted on my arrival at Philadelphia, nor a rammer, or a sponge, or other attirail, nor any considerable quantity of fixed ammunition. No European magazine or arsenal, could have done more in the time, and under like circumstances. General Knox, who arrived in twelve or fourteen days, had a great share of the merit of this effort. Mr. Morris supplied the money or the credit; and without derogation from the merit of the assistance rendered by state authorities, it may be truly said, that the financial means furnished by him, were the main-springs of transportation and supplies for the glorious achievement which effectually secured our independence. He issued his notes for, I think, one million four hundred thousand dollars. They passed freely, and at the value of tpecie, and were in time all redeemed. The Bank of North America, which he founded, with money supplied from abroad, and by taxing the credit of his particular friends, and many other good friends to their country, assisted him most eminently. We gave our securities to the amount of a great proportion of its capital stock. My bond was returned to me only a few days ago; amounting, as I think, to thirty thousand dollars. Who then, knowing these things, can doubt of his having been among the most prominent saviours of his country!"

Those were times, as Mr. Peters adds, "when wants were plenty, and supplies lamentably scarce." The fearless manner in which property and personal responsibility were risked, is worthy of all praise. It was the tone of the day; a spirit of disinterested love of country prevailed, and a vigilance that no exertions could tire!

In December, 1781, Mr. Peters resigned his post in the War Office, upon which occasion, Congress-"Resolved, that Mr. Peters letter of resignation be entered on the Journal, and that he be informed that Congress are sensible of his merit, and convinced of his attachment to the cause of his country, and return him their thanks for his long and faithful services in the War Depart

ment."

tained from Cqurt by sickness, and never from any other cause. The admiralty portion of his judicial functions, has been greatly simplified and improved under his care; and as a jurist in other matters, his decisions have been applauded here, and confirmed at Washing. ton.

The President who placed him on the bench, knew him well, and took great delight in his society. When a morning of leisure permitted that great man to drive to Belmont, the birth-place and country residence of Judge Peters, it was his constant habit so to do. There, sequestered from the world,--the torments and cares of business, Washington would enjoy a vivacious, recrea tive, and wholly unceremonious intercourse with the Judge; walking for hours, side by side, in the beautiful gardens of Belmont, beneath the dark shade of lofty hemlocks, placed there by his ancestors, nearly a century ago. In those romantic grounds, there stands a chestnut tree, reared from a Spanish nut, planted by the hand of Washington. Large, healthy, and fruitful, it is cherished at Belmont, as a precious evidence of the intimacy that subsisted between those distinguished men. The stranger who visits those umbrageous walks, trimmed and decorated in the style of the seventeenth century, pauses amid "clipt hedges of pyramids, obelisks, and balls," formed by the evergreen and compact spruce, to contemplate this thriving tree, and carry back his memory to the glorious and virtuous career of him, who placed it there.

The duties of the District Judge, particularly when associated with the Judge of the Circuit Court, became sometimes extremely painful. Two insurrections-(the only ones that have taken place since the adoption of the present constitution,) occurred in Mr. Peters's district. To aid in the suppression of the first, he followed the army as far as Pittsburg, the western limit of his jurisdiction; and there, with his usual promptitude and prudence, very satisfactorily discharged his official duties. In a few years after, he was called on again to try another set of rebels from the After Mr. Peters left the War Office, he was elected northern part of his district. His associate during part a member of Congress, and assisted in closing much of of the time, was the celebrated Samuel Chase, one of the business of the war, and of the welcome peace. the Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. Public services, even in our own day, when all is peace The trial of these deluded insurgents, and the execution and plenty, are too often accompanied by pecuniary of the two acts of Congress so well known by the names loss. What, then, must have been the sacrifice, in the of Alien and Sedition laws, gave great notoriety to the turbulent times to which I have just alluded! It was, Circuit Court of this District. Its proceedings were as Mr. Peters used emphatically to call it, "burning the narrowly watched by the political enemies of the Fedecandle at both ends." But the reward was indepen- ral government, until at length, John Randolph, a mem dence;-exemptions from the heretofore vexatious rule ber of the House of Kepresentatives from Virginia, of a government a thousand leagues off;-the liberty to thought he saw cause of impeachment in the conduct of steer the vessel of state by our own compass:-this was its judges. Articles were agreed upon by the House of a prize worth every sacrifice. We know the value of Representatives, and sent up to the Senate against Sait; and we know how to cherish reverentially and affec-muel Chase; and great pains were taken to include Mr. tionately the memory of those excellent men, who so Peters. Indeed the House inserted his name at one willingly offered the sacrifice, and so nobly achieved the time; but on proper investigation it was withdrawn, unprize! This cannot be too often repeated. der a conviction that no cause of accusation existed: on the contrary, when the examination took place, it was found that his judicial course had uniformly been mark by prudence, decorum and moderation.

The war left us in an unsettled state, which the good sense of the people soon put in order, by the organization of a new government, under the present Constitu-ed tion. The great Washington, our first President, in looking around him for suitable men to fill the posts in his gift, selected Mr. Peters for the judgeship of the District Court of Pennsylvania. This he accepted, although he was desirous to take up his profession, and enjoy some respite from public labour. Since the peace, his fellow citizens had sent him to the state assembly, of one branch of which he was speaker, at the very period, I think, when he was removed to the District Court. It was a new sacrifice to the public good; for I have heard my venerable friend say, that it comported neither with his wish nor his interest to throw up his pursuits at the bar, for an office of such small emolument. He yielded, nevertheless, to the request of the President, and assumed the exercise of its duties, which he continued until his death; being a period of thirty-six years, during which time he was seldom de

The violence of the times, the irksomeness of the Court duties, the vituperative or thankless voice of the then governing party, might have discouraged an ordinary mind; or at least have limited its action strictly to the business of the bench. Not so with Judge Peters. Almost at the very moment when political strife was at its height, we find him promoting, and chiefly directing, one of the most beautiful and most useful improvements in the state. I allude to the permanent means of communication, created in the year 1803, between the city and country, by the erection of the great bridge over the Schuylkill, at the end of High street. It belongs especially to us who reside on the west side of that river, to assert the merit of the citizen who originated, superintended, and completed this noble work. Many of us recollect the delay and the danger of the passage, twenty-five years ago, now so fully obviated by the

splendid structure placed there at a cost of three hundred thousand dollars!

Judge Peters, the first President of the Company at whose expense it was built, commenced his service in this work, with a zeal and courage, which alone could conquer the natural difficulty of the water piers; and it is proper to notice here, as illustrative of that gentleman's sagacity and foresight, that to his perseverance, (I had almost said management) do we owe the permanency of that bridge; for, the company discouraged by the great expense, had resolved not to cover it, and governed by this determination, left it two or three years wholly exposed to the weather; so that had not Mr. Peters, by constant solicitation, persuaded them to give it its present defence, its usefulness would have terminated in about twenty years; when, decayed and rotten, it would have fallen into the river. But with the cover, which now protects and ornaments it, it will last a century or more.

reviews a sermon of the Bishop of New York, by denying to him, throughout the review, the prelatic title of Bishop, as if too sacred, or of too high a dignity, for a people, whom it purposely treats with disrespect. This critic sneeringly calls the widely-extended and flourishing Episcopal Church of the United States, governed as it is by ten bishops, and more than four hundred ordained clergymen-planted over thousands of miles:sneeringly calls it, I say, an obscure church on the borders of a wilderness."

Mighty as has been the growth of this empire; prosperous as have been all its institutions; a wilful blindness and inveterate prejudice, I had almost said a propensity to falsehood, seize on the minds of the writers of England, whenever they refer to our happy land. Why are these taunts so often the theme of their statesmen, as well as their critics? Can they be aware of the injustice they do us?-of the alienation of affection and kindred feeling which they work here? Or do they grieve and scold because we get along too fast for them? If it be envy that produces this tone of sarcasm and contumely, I know not when it will cease; but if it arise from pride of wealth and numbers, it must soon stop; for the day is near at hand, when an equality of power in population and riches, will place us on a par; and then they may think us fit to be counted "as of the same father's house."

We now approach, gentlemen, a period in the life of our departed President, which brought us into close intimacy with him. It was a long period of wide-spread usefulness, in which he moved almost without a rival.As a practical farmer, Mr. Peters had from time to time communicated the results of the experiments made at Belmont, to such of his neighbours as chose to profit by them; but he had not written much, if any thing, upon agriculture, before the year 1797. His first publication was then made, and contained a statement of facts and opinions in relation to the use of Gypsum.This pamphlet circulated widely, and produced such a change in husbandry, by introducing the culture of clover, and other artificial grasses, as gave, we all know, a magical increase to the value of farms. Estates which uutil then were unable to maintain stock, for want of winter fodder, and summer pasture, were suddenly bro't into culture, and made productive. Formerly, on a farm destitute of natural meadow, no stock could be supported; and even where natural meadow existed, the barn yard was exhausted to keep up sufficient fertility, (in the absence of irrigation,) to feed a very few horses and black cattle.

Before Mr. Peters became a judge; indeed soon after the war closed in 1785, he visited England. His travels in that country and the adjoining kingdoms under British rule, were extensive. He had in charge on this occasion, a commission somewhat of a public nature, and which introduced him to the acquaintance of the Primate and principal prelates of the English Church. Before the revolution, the Protestant Episcopal Church in this country, of which Mr. Peters was a member, was governed by the Bishop of London; but when our political connexion was dissolved, no Protestant church here would consent to be regulated by a foreign diocesan. Mr. Peters, therefore, was commissioned to obtain the consent of the British prelates to ordain to the holy office of bishop three priests of the American Episcopal church, and thus give to it a canonical succession. An act of parliament had already been obtained by the Bishop of London, to enable him to dispense with such of the usual requisitions as were inconsistent with the engagements of certain citizens of the United States who had applied for holy orders; and about the time the higher question of succession was agitated, the same subject was brought before the Danish government, in consequence of a conversation between Mr. Adams, our then minister to Great Britain, and the Danish minister to the same court, to which a favourable answer was given; so that the Danish church stood ready in case of difficulty, to confer on our church the necessary powers of Episcopal succession. But it is believed that this incident had no influence on the conduct of the British government or church, both of which are represented by Mr. Peters, in a letter from England dated March 4th, 1786, as favourably disposed; and subsequently confirmed by the courteous and friendly reception of the Right Revd. and venerable Bishop White, and his colleagues, who found the Archbishops and all the Bishops who were consulted on the business, acting with the utmost candour and liberality of sentiment; so that The secret of its powerful agency, came from Gerit is obvious that the English prelates were from the first many, where it was accidentally discovered. Mr. Peters ready and desirous to convey the succession to the Ame- obtained a small quantity, which he used successfully, rican church; and that the only condition they made and gradually promoted its consumption, until by his was, that there should not be such a departure, either example, and his publications, the importation from Noin discipline, worship, or doctrine, as would destroy the va Scotia alone, into the single port of Philadelphia, identity of the two churches, in their spiritual charac-increased to the enormous amount of fourteen thousand

ter."

While we admire the Christian feeling which characterized the hierarchy of England at that period. it may not be thought inopportune to testify our regret at the prejudice which has grown up since, among clergymen and theological writers, when they have occasion to refer to the American church. Catching the illiberal spirit of the lay journalists, the conductors of some of the British periodicals, devoted to church matters, speak of our country in language coarse and unbecoming; and one theological journal, of wide circulation, and published in London,

• This statement was furnished in substance by a most respectable Episcopal clergyman,

Such was the situation of our husbandry, for some years after the revolution. It is proper to advert to it, that we may understand the full extent of our obligation to the Judge. In the year 1770, he was shown the effects of gypsum on clover, in a city lot, occupied by Mr, Jacob Barge, on the commons of Philadelphia.

tons annually. This was before the discovery of that fossil in the United States.

Inquire in the counties of Chester, Lancaster, and others around us, where clover is so beneficially cultivated, how much is due to that excellent man, for the great pains he took to extend the use of gypsum? On this subject, I very recently transmitted to the Judge, a testimonial of gratitude from one of the most intelligent persons of Lancaster; who unhesitatingly ascribes to Mr. Peters's book on plaister, and his other agricultural essays, the merit of having produced a good part of the rich cultivation, for which that county is so celebrated. But his rural labours were not confined to the tilth of the ground; to the mere variety of grasses, or alimental