THE REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA. DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE. VOL. II.-NO. 24. EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD. Who, scorning coward self, for others liv'd, NO. 52. no gun mounted on the battery, and no vessel launched upon the stream. The power of Britain, on the other hand, was well known, and by the lightning of her orators, in a thousand writings and harangues, had been thrown, in full force, upon their minds. They were taught to believe her, (what indeed she was) old in arts and in arms, and Emenriched with the spoils of a thousand victories. braced with the ocean as her favourite, her commerce was extensive, and she sent her ships to every sea. Abounding in men, her armies were in full force; her gular, and the spirit of her enterprise, by sea and land, fleets were completely manned, her discipline was rehad, in most cases, insured her successes. The idea of resistance to the power of Britain was indeed great-but the mighty soul of the patriot drank it magnanimity from the prospect of the height from in, and, like the eagle on the mountain top, collected Like the steed who swallows which he meant to soar. It is the high reward of those who have risked their lives in a just and necessary war, that their names are sweet in the mouths of men, and every age shall know their actions. I am happy in having it in my power, before a polite assembly, to express what I think of those who have risked their lives in the war of America. I know my abilities rise not to a level with so great a subject, but I love the memory of the men, and it is my the distant ground with his fierceness* he attempts the hope that the affections which I feel, will be to me in-career, and poured himself upon the race. stead of genius, and give me warm words to advance their praises. The patriot quits his easy independent walk of life, I conceive it as the first honour of these men that, be- his shop, his farm, his office and his counting house, The materials of gunpowder are pares himself for war. fore they engaged in the war, they saw it to be just and and with every hope, and every anxious thought prenecessary. They were not the proud vassals of a chief-extracted from the earth, the bayonet is anvilled out; tain rousing them, in barbarous times, by the blind im- the fire arm is manufactured in the shop; the manual expulse of attachment to his family, or engaging them to ercise is taught; the company is formed in battalion; espouse his quarrel, by the music and entertainment of the battalion is instructed to manœuvre on the field; the his hall. They were themselves the chieftains of their brigade is drawn forth, and the standard of defiance is planted on the soil. own cause, highly instructed in the nature of it, and Shall I mention the circumstances of the day when from the best principles of patriotism, resolute in defence. They had heard the declaration of the court the sword was drawn, and the first blood was shed; and and parliament of Great Britain, claiming the authority shall I trace the progress of the war in the course of of binding them in all cases whatsoever. They had ex-five campaigns? The narration would require the amined this claim, and found it to be, as to its foundation, groundless, as to its nature, tyrannical, and in its consequences, ruinous to the peace and happiness of both countries. On this clear apprehension and decided judgment of the cause, ascertained by their own reason, and collected from the best writers, it was the noble purpose of their minds, to stand forth and assert it, at the expense of fortune, and the hazard of their lives. These brave men were not soldiers by profession, bred to arnis, and from a habit of military life attached to it. They were men in the easy walks of life; mechanics of the city, merchants of the counting-house, youths engaged in the literary studies, and husbandmen, peaceful cultivators of the soil. Happy in the sociability and conversation of the town, the simplicity and innocence of the country village, or the philosophic ease of academic leisure, and the sweets of rural life, they wished not a change of these scenes of pleasure, for the dangers and calamities of war. It was the pure love of virtue and of freedom, burning bright within their minds, that alone could engage them to embark in an undertaking of so bold and perilous a nature. These brave men were not unacquainted with the circumstances of their situation, and their unprepared state of war. Not a bayonet was anvilled out, not a fire arm was in their possession. No redoubt was cast up to secure the city, no fort was erected to resist invasion, space of an entire day: I can mention but the sum of * Book of Job. our whole earth has not been sowed with ball? For what cause did these brave men sacrifice their lives? For that cause which, in all ages, has engaged the hopes, the wishes, and endeavours of the best of men-the cause of liberty. Liberty! thou art indeed valuable; the source of all that is good and great upon the earth!-For thee the patriot of America has drawn his sword-has fought-and has fallen! Sons! whose heroic fathers have early left you, and in the conflict of war, have mixed with departed heroes; be congratulated on the fair inheritance of fame which you are entitled to possess. If it is at all lawful to array yourselves in borrowed honour, surely it is best drawn from those who have acted a distinguished part in the service of their country. If it is at all consistent with the feelings of philosophy and reason to boast of lineal glory, surely it is most allowable in those who boast of it as flowing from such a source. We despise the uninstructed mind of that man who shall obtrude upon our ears the ideas of a vain ancestral honour; but we love the youth, and transfer to him the reputation of his father, who, when the rich and haughty citizen shall frown upon him, as ignobly descended, shall say, "I had a father who has fallen in the service of his country." What was in our power we have done with regard to When after times shall speak of those who have risen the bodies of these men. We have paid them military to renown, I will charge it to the golden-winged and honours-we have planted them in the native earth-silver-tongued bards, that they recollect and set in order and it is with veneration that we yet view their tombs every circumstance, the causes of the war; early and just upon the furzy glade, or on the distant hill. Ask me exertions, the toils, hazardous achievements, noble resonot the names of these. The muses shall tell you of lution, unshaken perseverance, unabated ardor; hopes them, and the bards shall woo✶ them to their sons. The in the worst of times; triumphs of victory; humanity to verse which shall be so happy as to embrace the name an enemy. All these will I charge it that they recollect of one of them shall be immortal. The names of these and set in order, and give them bright and unsullied to shall be read with those of Pelopidas, Epaminondas, and the coming ages. The bards I know will hear me, and the worthies of the world. Posterity shall quote them you my gallant countrymen will go down to posterity for parallels, and for examples. When they mean to with exceeding honour. Your fame shall ascend on the dress the hero with the fairest praises, they will say he current of the stream of time: It shall play with the was gallant and distinguished in his early fall, as Warren; breezes of the morning. Men, at rest, in the cool age prudent and intrepid as Montgomery; faithful and gene- of life, from the fury of a thousand wars, finished by rous as Macpherson, he fell in the bold and resolute ad- their fathers, shall observe the spreading ensign. They vance, like Haslet and like Mercer. He saw the honour shall hail it as it waves with variegated glories; and which his valour had acquired, and fainted in the arms feeling all the warm rapture of the heart, shall give their of victory like Herkimer. the foe, he fell covered with wounds, in his old age, like Having gallantly repulsed plaudit from the shores. Wooster! [Niles's Principles and Acts of the Revolution. BATTLE OF THE KEGS. Account of the unparalleled prowess of his Britannic Ma jesty's troops in an attack upon a formidable body of Kegs, in the river Delaware. The names of these brave men shall be read, and the earth shall be sensible of praise where their bodies are deposited. Hill of Boston,* where the god of arms gave uncommon valor to the patriot! Here the muses shall observe the night and hymn heroic acts, and trim their lighted lamps to the dawn of morning: The little babbling mystic brook, shall bear the melody, and stealing with a silver foot, shall tell it to the ocean. Hills within the prospect of York city, where the enemy rejoicing at his early strength, adventured and fought, or where, refusing the engagement, he fled with precipitation to his ships! On you, the tomb of the hero is beheld, and fancy walking round covers it with shades. Grounds in the neighbourhood of this city, where the foreigner shall enquire the field of battle, and the citizen shall say with conscious pride, as if the honour were his own, this is the tomb of Witherspoon; that is the ground where Nash fell! Plains washed by the Ashley and Cooper, and before the walls of Charleston! -Here has the hero fallen, or rather he has risen to eternal honour, and his birth place shall be immortal.explode near the town: this gave a general alarm in the His fame, like a vestal lamp is lighted up: It shall burn with the world for its temple-and the fair assemblies of the earth shall trim it with their praise. Having paid that respect to the memory of these men, which the annual return of this day demanded, it remains that we soothe the grief of those who have been deprived of a father, bereaved of a son, or who have lost a brother, a husband, or a lover in the contest. Fathers, whose heroic sons have offered up their lives in the contest; it is yours to recollect, that their lives were given them for the service of their country. Fathers! dismiss every grief; you are happy in having been the progenitor of him who is written with the beroes of his country. • Plino. Bunker's Hill. + Philadelphia. possession of Philadelphia, some Americans, up the ri- city-the wharves were filled with troops, and the lication in the New Jersey Gazette: Extract of a letter dated Philadelphia, January 9, 1788. 1828.] BATTLE OF THE KEGS. Various reports prevailed in the city, filling the royal Some asserted troops with unspeakable consternation. that these kegs were filled with armed rebels, who were to issue forth in the dead of night, as the Grecians did of old, from the wooden horse, at the siege of Troy, and take the city by surprise; declaring that they had seen the points of their bayonets sticking out of the bung-holes of the kegs. Others said that they were filled with inveterate combustibles which would set the Delaware in flames, and consume all the shipping in the harbour. Whilst others conjectured that they were ma chines constructed by art magic, and expected to see them mount the wharves, and roll, all flaming with infernal fire, through the streets of the city. I say nothing as to these reports and apprehensions, but certain it is, that the ships of war were immediately manned, and Hostilities the wharves crowded with chosen men. were commenced without much ceremony, and it was surprising to behold the incessant firing that was poured upon the enemy's kegs. Both officers and men exhibited unparalleled skill and prowess on the occasion; whilst the citizens stood gaping as solemn witnesses of this dreadful scene. In truth, not a chip, stick, or drift log, passed by, without experiencing the vigour of the British arms. The action began about sun-rise, and would have terminated in favour of the British by noon, had not an old market-woman, in crossing the river with provisions, unfortunately let a keg of butter fall overboard; which, as it was then ebb-tide, floated down to the field of battle. At sight of this unexpected reinforcement of the enemy, the attack was renewed with fresh force, and the firing from the marine and land troops was beyond imagination, and so continued until The rebel kegs were either night closed the conflict. totally demolished, or obliged to fly, as none of them It is said that his Excelhave shown their heads since. lency Lord Howe has despatched a swift-sailing packet, with an account of this signal victory, to the court of of January, 1778, London. In short, Monday the will be memorable in history for the renowned battle of [American Museum, 1787. the kegs." And some ran here, and others there, Like men almost distracted. Some fire cry'd, which some denied, Sir William he, snug as a flea, Lay all this time a snoring, Now in a fright, he starts upright, Awak'd by such a clatter; At his bed-side, he then espy'd, The rebels-more's the pity, And rang'd before the city. "The motley crew, in vessels new, And British courage doubted." The royal band, now ready stand, The kegs, 'tis said, tho' strongly made, From morn to night these men of might A hundred men with each a pen, Such feats did they perform that day, Sir Wm. Howe. † Sir Wm. Erskine. FEMALE PATRIOTISM. From the Richmond Enquirer. The M. S. of the following interesting letter was politely forwarded to us by a gentleman of Baltimore, and was found among some old papers of a distinguished lady of Philadelphia.-It is a copy of a letter from a lady of Philadelphia to a British officer at Boston, written immediately after the battle of Lexington, and previous to the declaration of independence-it fully exhibits the feelings of those times.-A finer spirit never animated the breasts of the Roman matrons, than the following letter breathes: All ranks of men amongst us are in arms. Nothing is heard now in our streets but the trumpet and drum; and the universal cry is "Americans to arms." All your friends are officers: there are captain S. D. lieut. B. and captain J. S. We have five regiments in the city and county of Philadelphia, complete in arms and uniform, and very expert at their military manœuvres. We have companies of light horse, light infantry, grenadiers, rifiemen, and Indians, several companies of artillery, and some excellent brass cannon and field pieces. Add to this, that every county in Pennsylvania, and the Delaware government, can send two thousand men to the field. Heaven seems to smile on us, for in the memory Sir-We received a letter from you-wherein you of man never were known such quantities of flax, and let Mr. S. know that you had written after the battle of sheep without number. We are making powder fast, Lexington, particularly to me-knowing my martial spi- and do not want for ammunition. In short, we want for rit-that I would delight to read the exploits of heroes. nothing but ships of war to defend us, which we could Surely, my friend, you must mean the New England he-procure by making alliances: but such is our attachment roes,as they alone performed exploits worthy of fame-to Great Britain, that we sincerely wish for reconciliawhile the regulars, vastly superior in numbers, were tion, and cannot bear the thoughts of throwing off all obliged to retreat with a rapidity unequalled, except by dependence on her, which such a step would assuredly the French at the battle of Minden. Indeed, general lead to. The God of mercy will, I hope, open the Gage gives them their due praise in his letter home, eyes of our king that he may see, while in seeking our where he says lord Percy was remarkable for his acti- destruction, he will go near to complete his own. It is vity. You will not, I hope, take offence at any expres- my ardent prayer that the effusion of blood may be sion that, in the warmth of my heart, should escape me, stopped. We hope yet to see you in this city, a friend when I assure you, that though we consider you as a to the liberties of America, which will give infinite sapublic enemy, we regard you as a private friend; and tisfaction to, while we detest the cause you are fighting for, we wish Your sincere friend, well to your own personal interest and safety. Thus far To Captain S. in Boston. by way of apology. As to the martial spirit you suppose me to possess, you are greatly mistaken. I tremble at the thoughts of war; but of all wars, a civil one: our all is at stake; and we are called upon by every tie that is dear and sacred to exert the spirit that Heaven has given to us in this righteous struggle for liberty. DRY GOODS. C. S. [Niles's Acts of Rev. Prior to '93, and afterwards, that inimitable, native artist and carver in wood, William Rush, of this city, I will tell you what I have done. My only brother I now living, had been delighting and astonishing the nahave sent to the camp with my prayers and blessings; I tives, both here and in the English seaports, after the hope he will not disgrace me; I am confident he will peace, by his admirable copies from nature, of ship figure behave with honour, and emulate the great examples heads. In particular, those of the North American Inhe has before him; and had I twenty sons and brothers dian Chief, in the limited varieties of the nose jewell, they should go. I have retrenched every superfluous mocasin and blanket costume. Placing him also, in exexpense in my table and family; tea I have not drank act position, either, as drawing his arrow to the head, since last Christmas, nor bought a new cap or gown at the supposed bounding deer; flourishing his tomasince your defeat at Lexington, and what I never did hawk, with fatal aim, for the distant death blow; or else, before, have learnt to knit, and am now making stock-in attitude of solemn thought, with his arms folded ings of American wool for my servants, and this way do within his blanket drawn closely around him, and showI throw in my mite to the public good. I know this, ing exactly the contour of his brawny person and limbs. that as free I can die but once, but as a slave I shall not The frontlet of distinction fastened upon his forehead, be worthy of life. I have the pleasure to assure you and pinioned behind with the eagle's plume. The head that these are the sentiments of all my sister Americans. closely shaved, leaving only the single tuft of black hair, They have sacrificed both assemblies, parties of plea- to aid in the scalping. The eye brows drawn closely sure, tea drinking and finery to that great spirit of pa- together, under the compress of thought, emanating, triotism, that actuates all degrees of people throughout as it were, possibly, from the "great spirit:" softening this extensive continent. If these are the sentiments of down within his eye of flame, the native savage fire of females, what must glow in the breasts of our husbands, revenge, cherished by him as a virtue, into gentle pity brothers and sons? They are as with one heart deter- for the devoted object before him; his faithful dog, invamined to die or be free. It is not a quibble in politics, riably in company, crouching at his heels. Each figure a science which few understand, which we are contend-head was so admirably brought out, from its original ing for; it is this plain truth, which the most ignorant block of wood, and coloured to the life, by the painter, peasant knows, and is clear to the weakest capacity, under directions from the sculptor, that the beholder that no man has a right to take their money without would be almost ready to imagine he heard the distant their consent. The supposition is ridiculous and ab- savage yell. He also carved a figure head, as large as surd, as none but highwaymen and robbers attempt it. life, for the ship Washington, of this port, exhibiting a Can you, my friend, reconcile it with your own good capital likeness of the President, in full uniform as comsense, that a body of men in Great Britain, who have mander-in-chief, pointing with his finger at some distant little intercourse with America, and of course know object, and holding a perspective glass grasped in his nothing of us, nor are supposed to see or feel the misery left hand. It was reported here, at the time, that on they would inflict upon us, shall invest themselves with the arrival of this figure head, in the port of London, a power to command our lives and properties, at all it caused no small sensation there, by the perfection matimes and in all cases whatsoever? You say you are nonifest in all its parts and proportion, as a statue likeness politician. Oh, sir, it requires no Machiavelean head to develope this, and to discover this tyranny and oppression. It is written with a sunbeam. Every one will see and know it because it will make them feel, and we shall be unworthy of the blessings of Heaven, if we ever submit to it, in wood. When here, the ship always attracted crowds of spectators to the place, after she had hauled in at Clifford's wharf, near the Old Maid's Dock." About this time, on the arrival of the spring and fall ships from England, the pavements, all along Front street, from Walnut to Arch street, used to be lumber Among the country "store keepers" of the time, and the traders from the "Backwoods" of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and the region round about, James Sterling, of New Jersey, was pre-eminent, and most renowned for the extent of his purchases from the importing merchants, and the rapidity with which he made them, every spring and fall. His store in Burlington, had the name of having every thing to sell, and where any thing and every thing was to be purchased, from the Jersey plough, down to the triangular goose yoke. As remembered, James Sterling was of middle height and size, square built, strong and active in his movements, plain in his dress, and not of many words; a round full face and san. guine complexion-at first sight, his large grey eyes looking at you from beneath his bushy eye brows, indi ed and strewed before the doors of the Importing Dry Mrs. Holland, in her person, was of vast breadth and Goods Merchants, with boxes and bales of English mer- bulk, and seeming too unwieldy for her vocation as the chandize, landed from the ships Pigou, the Adriana, the "principal salesman," but she had the name of excelling Washington, and the Grange, from London and Liver-in it by her patient devotion to the varied wants and pool. The boxes and bales, every one of them, bearing whims of her customers, and her unceasing fascinating the initials of each importer's name, marked upon them. smiles towards purchasers of the smallest amount. Both The clerks employed by the merchants-their apprenti- of these cheap shops used to be crowded from morning ces and subordinates, all busy as bees in their several till night: so much so, that Mrs. Holland never opened vocations; some with sharp knives, and claw hammers, her door until nine o'clock in the morning. ripping and breaking open the bales and boxes, and Mr. John G-st, with a slight halt in his gait, and a others within door exhibiting the goods as salesmen, pleasant smiling countenance, was to be seen of mornwith the emblematical feather, stuck behind the ear,- ings, here and there, among the stores, or at Connelly altogether forming a pleasant, bustling rivalship, among or Footman's auctions, picking up bargains for the shop. the importers, and competition, in making sales; but no The sales within door, conducted by two sisters, handmonopoly. some young ladies, "gay quakers," and designated faThe City Retailers, principally Females, were to be miliarly as the "Miss G-sts;" also by two plainly dressseen, hovering about, as butterflies near the rivuleted young gentlemen, who have since been, both of them, mingling among the men, and viewing with admiration, eminent merchants in the city; but who at that time anthe rich displays of British chintzes, muslins and cali-swered each others call, as Charles and Robert-all of coes of the latest London fashions-all business trans- them very popular among the purchasers, for their seactions, were computed in pounds, shillings, pence, and renity, their affability and pleasantness of manner while farthings, as in Old England, upon the principles taught making sales. by Dilworth's arithmetic, re-printed here, for the use of schools, by Joseph Crookshank, in 1791. Dollars and cents wero only as yet, to be found in the reports of Secretary Hamilton. Among many "signs of the times," remembered, but now no more, there were, in Front street; Stuart & Barr, Thomas Orr, Robert Smith, Emanuel Walker, Pattison Hartshorne, John Field, Clow & Co. Knox & Henderson, Hugh Cochran, Richard Vaux, Drinker and Thomas, and Jacob Baker; James I Mazurie for French goods, and Holmes and Rainey for Irish linens. In Chesnut street, James Calbraith, James Hawthorn, John Shields, John Oldden and John Smith; at the corner of Lodge Alley, in South Second street, James Smith, Jr. and in North Second street, Thomas Barton and J. W, Gibbs. In Market street, William Wister, William Chancellor, and George Bick-cated a severity of manner-but no, they only seemed ham. In the city, the shopkeepers were in number, no more, than as one to one hundred, at the present day. The first fancy retail Hardware Store, with bulk windows, remembered, was the one, opened by James Stokes, in what had been the Old Coffee House, at the south west corner of Market and Front streets. The buck handled "Barlow," penknives, the gilt and plated The only public water conveyance between this city buttons, and the scissors, curiously arranged, on circular and Burlington, was by way of "Meyers' Boats," from cards, (a new idea,) and the bulk windows, lighted up, Arch street wharf. These boats, on Sunday mornings, at night, (a new thing) was a source of great gratifica- in summer time, used to be crowded with all sorts of tion to the boys, and the country market people, loung-people huddled together upon their little decks. From ing about with arms folded, on Tuesday and Friday the wharves, and to the spectators who had seen them evenings. off under full sail, they seemed at times, to be almost ready to capsize, on being taken by the first light staggering breeze, from the westward; while approaching the Old Glass House, then in ruins, near Kensington, (now Dyott's,) or bearing away from Point No Point, towards the Jersey shore. Compared with the present mode of conveyance, on the same route, by the powerful steam boat, ploughing the Delaware, at the rate of ten miles the hour, against wind and tide, with furrows of white foam, on each side, and the undulating wave behind; the splendid dining cabin, decorated with emblematic paintings by the first artists; the spacious deck, covered with passergers; exhibiting, from a side view, to the admiring spectator, standing on the shore, a line of ladies, seated and decorated about the head, as taste and fancy might suggest—from the white satin, plain bonnet, to the whimsical Leghorn, or dashing Navarino; altogether, producing an effect to the eye similar to a row of variegated tulips, at the hoisted parlour win. dow; elegantly defended from the heat, by the wide stretched awning over head; One evening, among a group of gazers from about Conestoga, one of them exclaimed to the others in Pennsylvania German, "Cook a mole, har, Cook do!" "meiner sale!"-The first brilliant fancy retail dry goods shop, with bulk windows, as remembered, was opened by a Mr. Whitesides, from London, as 'twas said, in the true "Bond street style," at No. 134 Market street, in the house now occupied by Mr. Thomas Natt. The then uncommon sized lights in the two bulks, and the fine mull mull and jaconet muslins, the chintzes, and linens suspended in whole pieces, from the top to the bottom, and entwined together in puffs and festoons, (totally new,) and the shop-man, behind the counter, powdered, bowing and smiling, caused it to be "all the stare" for a time. There being too much of the "pouncet box," in the display however, and the "vile Jersey half pence, with a horse head thereon" being wrapped up, when given in change in whitey brown paper, with a counter bow to the ladies, seeming rather too civil by half for the (as yet) primitive notions of our city folks-it gradually settled down into plain shop, like other people. The buyers of bargains at this time, were divided in their preferences between the two famous cheap shops, then in full competition-one by Mr. John G-st, at No. 30, South Second street, and the other by Mrs. Hannah Holland, at No. 2, North Front street, on the east side. to say he was a man of business, and not to be trifled with. His active zeal for "the church," his "labour of love" in lodging, comfortably, the wayfaring itinerant preacher, and washing the "saint's feet" whenever necessary, was "sounded out" every where, within the Methodist connexion at that time. "with seats beneath the shade "For talking age, and whispering lovers made." Thus compared, the amiable little sloop, or passage. boat, of that day, would sink, into comparative insignificance; and yet the scramble to get on board, for a |