Chapter VIII

“When _seven_ and _six_ shall make but _one_,
The _Lion’s _ might shall be undone.”

_Verse 1._—The settlement of America by a civilized nation is very clearly alluded to in the first line. The frantic mother is Britain. America still feels the wounds she has received from her.

_Verse 2._—The Cock is France, the Dove is America, Columbia; their union is the epocha when America shall cease to love Britain.

_Verse 3._—In many parts of Europe there are subterranean works carried on by persons who never see the light of day. But perhaps the solution may more particularly be referred to the siege of York, in Virginia, where the approaches were carried on by working in the earth. In the second line there is another equivoque. We are told by Mr. Addison, in his “Spectator,” that a lion will not hurt a true maid. This, at first view, seems to be contradicted by the prophecy; but, on examination, the epocha referred to, the virgin, Columbia (or, perhaps, _Virginia_, by which name all North America was called in the days of Queen Elizabeth), shall wound the _lion_,—that is, _Britain_,—which shows the precise time when the oracle should be accomplished.

_Verse 4_ clearly alludes to the successes of the united forces of America and France against those of Britain.

_Verse 5._—For the solution of this oracle, as well as all the rest, we are indebted to the engraving of the _arms_ of the _United States_ in the “Columbian Magazine” for September, 1786. America is clearly designated by the eagle’s nest, as it is the only part of the globe where the _bald eagle_ (the arms of the United States) is to be found. Thus, this hitherto inexplicable prophecy may now be easily understood as meaning that when the _cock_—that is, France—shall protect America (as she did during the late war), the stars—that is, the standard of the American empire—shall rise in this western hemisphere.

_Verse 6._—It is very remarkable that the first discovery of the amazing properties of inflammable air, by means of which men have been able to explore a region till then impervious to them, happened in the same year when _Britain’s_ strength was so reduced as to oblige her to acknowledge the independence of America. The _boats_ in which the adventurous aeronauts traversed the upper regions are the _ships_ here referred to.

Thus far the prophecy seems to have been already fully and literally accomplished: it is to be hoped that the accomplishment of those which remain is not far remote.

_Verse 7_ I understand to mean that when the _sea_ (_Neptune’s back_) is _red_ with the _American stripes_, the naval power of Britain shall decline. A proper exertion in the art of ship-building would soon produce this effect; and whenever Congress is vested with the power of regulating the commerce of America, we may hope to see the full accomplishment of this prediction.

_Verse 8._—This oracle clearly alludes to an epocha not far removed, as we may hope; for when the _thirteen_ United States shall, under the auspices of the present _federal convention_, have strengthened and cemented their union by a proper revisal of the articles of confederation, so as to be really but ONE NATION, Britain will no longer be able to maintain that rank and consequence among the nations of the earth which she had hitherto done.

Since the publication of this explanation, the fulfilment of the two last has become a part and portion of our history. That Neptune’s back is red with the stripes and, we may add, stars, every child knows; and the sickly lion already hides his head, not only beneath the folds of our flag, but plays second fiddle to the cock of France.

The eighth is fully accomplished, and ’76, as well as seven and six, form a pleasing illustration of the prophecy, as they do one of the most interesting incidents in our history. The thirteen States (seven and six) have multiplied nearly thrice since the Declaration of Independence, and are now, as then, but one, and that one a nation.

Walter Scott, speaking of Merlin, or the Savage, as he was called, says, “The particular spot in which he is buried is still shown, and appears, from the following quotation, taken from a description of Tweeddale, 1715, to have partaken of his prophetic qualities:—

‘When Tweed and Pausayl meet
At Merlin’s grave,
Scotland and England shall one
Monarch have.’

For the same day that our King James the Sixth was crowned king of England, the river Tweed, by an extraordinary flood, so far overflowed its banks that it met and joined with the Pausayl at the said grave, which was never before observed to fall out.”

The precise spot pointed out to travellers is situated near Drumelzier, a village upon the Tweed.

_FOURTH OF JULY, 1776._

“The first motion in Congress was to declare this country
independent.”

The first assembling of the Revolutionary Congress took place in this city on the 5th of September, 1774. Subsequently the progress of the war continued to ripen the public mind and feelings for a total separation from Great Britain. It was not, however, until the 7th of June, 1776, that any special action was had for that purpose. On that day Richard Henry Lee, a delegate from Virginia, made the following motion, which was seconded by John Adams:—

“To declare these united colonies free and independent States; that they are dissolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is and ought to be totally dissolved; that measures should be immediately taken for procuring assistance of foreign powers, and that a confederation be formed to bind the colonies more closely together.”

On the following day the subject was debated, and on the 1st of July a committee consisting of five delegates—Messrs. Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, R. Sherman, and R. R. Lawrence—was selected by ballot to draft a DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

According to parliamentary usage, Mr. Lee would have been the chairman of this committee; but he was absent in Virginia on account of the illness of a member of his family. Mr. Jefferson, however, having the greatest number of votes, was selected by the other members of the committee to act as chairman, and the draft prepared by him was first read in committee. Some verbal alterations were made by Dr. Franklin and Mr. Adams, and it was not thought necessary to read the drafts prepared by the others. It was stated at the time that the other members of the committee were so pleased with Mr. Jefferson’s draft that they would not submit theirs even for consideration. Perhaps no higher compliment was ever paid to the author of _our_ Declaration of Independence than that which emanated from the gentlemen who composed this committee.

The Declaration, thus prepared and amended, was finally adopted in Congress on the 4th, and was read to a meeting of the citizens of Philadelphia, assembled at the State-House yard, from the steps of the building.

The house in which Mr. Jefferson wrote the Declaration is still standing, at the southwest corner of Seventh and Market Streets. Mr. Jefferson had rooms in it as a lodger when a member of the Congress of ’76. Two days before the adoption of the Declaration and its promulgation, Mr. Adams, in a letter addressed to his wife, makes use of the following language:—

“I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the grand anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp, shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of the continent to the other, from this time forward and forever.

“I am well aware of the toil, and blood, and treasure that it will cost us to maintain this declaration and to support and defend the States: yet through all the gloom I can see the rays of light and glory. I can see that the end is more than worth all the means, and that posterity will triumph, although you and I may rue it,—which I hope we shall not.”

When the bell sounded forth from the steeple of the old State-House, the first peal for liberty gave new life to the citizens: from lip to lip, from street to street, from city, town, and through the country, away, away, the words roll like the waves of the ocean, and reverberating like the roar of the wind as, undulating, it passed through all space. The city of Philadelphia on the afternoon of July 4, 1776, presented to view a city convulsed. Joy united with patriotism, and then the word “Freedom!” became the watchword.

When the news reached New York, the bells were set ringing, and the excited multitude, surging hither and thither, at length gathered around the Bowling Green, and, seizing the leaden equestrian statue of George III. which stood there, broke it into fragments: this was afterwards run into bullets and hurled against his majesty’s troops.[35] When the Declaration arrived in Boston, the people gathered around old Faneuil Hall to hear it read, and, as the last sentence fell from the lips of the reader, a loud shout went up, and soon from every fortified height and every battery the thunder of cannon re-echoed the cry.

_LIBERTY-TREE._

During the Stamp Act excitement there arose a practice of signifying public sentiment in a very effectual way,—though without any responsible agent, unless the inanimate Liberty-Tree may be so considered. This tree was a majestic elm that stood in front of a house opposite the Boylston market, on the edge of the “High Street,” in the town of Boston. On the 14th of August, 1765, an effigy representing Andrew Oliver, a gentleman appointed to distribute the stamps, was found hanging upon this tree, with a paper before it, on which was written, in large characters,—

“Fair Freedom’s glorious cause I’ve meanly quitted,
For the sake of pelf;
But, ah, the devil has me outwitted,
And, instead of stamping others, I’ve hang’d myself.

“P.S.—Whoever takes this down is an enemy to his country.” On the right arm was written “A. O.,” and on the left,

“What greater pleasure can there be
Than to see a stamp man hanging on a tree?”

On another part of the tree a boot was suspended,—the emblem of the Earl of Bute, First Lord of the Treasury,—from which the devil, with the Stamp Act in his hand, was looking out. Chief Justice—afterwards Governor—Hutchinson, directed the sheriff to remove this exhibition; but his deputies, from a fear of the popular feeling, declined. In the evening the figures were taken down by the people and carried in procession through the streets. After demolishing the stamp-office, in State Street, they proceeded to Fort Hill, where a bonfire was made of the pageantry in sight of Mr. Oliver’s house. It being intimated to Mr. Oliver that it would conduce to the quiet of the public if he would go to the tree and openly resign his commission, he appeared the next day, and declared, in the presence of a large concourse of people, that he would not continue in office. It was thenceforward called the Liberty-Tree, and the following inscription placed upon it:—“This tree was planted in the year 1614, and pruned by the order of the Sons of Liberty, February 14, 1766.” On future occasions there was seldom any excitement on political subjects without some evidence of it appearing on this tree. Whenever obnoxious offices were to be resigned or agreements for patriotic purposes entered into, the parties were notified to appear at the tree, “where they always found pens and paper, and a numerous crowd of witnesses, though the genius of the tree was invisible. When the British army took possession of Boston, in 1774, Liberty-Tree fell a victim to their vengeance, or to that of the persons to whom its shade had been disagreeable.” Liberty-trees were consecrated in Charlestown, Lexington, and Roxbury, Mass., and also in Charleston, S.C., Newport and Providence, R.I.—_Tudor’s Life of Otis_.

LIBERTY-TREE.

1765.

This beautiful ballad was written by Thomas Paine, the author
of the “Age of Reason,” and published in the Pennsylvania
Magazine of July, 1775, while he was editor of that
periodical. He composed and published many songs and elegies
during his connection with the magazine. Among them, “The
Death of Wolfe on the Plains of Abraham” is uncommonly
pathetic and graceful.

LIBERTY-TREE.

In a chariot of light from the regions of day
The Goddess of Liberty came;
Ten thousand celestials directed the way,
And hither conducted the dame.
A fair budding branch from the gardens above,
Where millions with millions agree,
She brought in her hand as a pledge of her love,
And the plant she named Liberty-Tree.

The celestial exotic struck deep in the ground;
Like a native it flourished and bore;
The fame of its fruit drew the nations around,
To seek out this peaceable shore.
Unmindful of names or distinctions they came,
For freemen like brothers agree;
With one spirit endued, they one friendship pursued,
And their temple was Liberty-Tree.

Beneath this fair tree, like the patriarchs of old,
Their bread in contentment they ate,
Unvex’d with the troubles of silver and gold,
The cares of the grand and the great.
With timber and tar they Old England supplied,
And supported her power on the sea;
Her battles they fought, without getting a groat,
For the honor of Liberty-Tree.

But hear, O ye swains,—’tis a tale most profane,—
How all the tyrannical powers,
Kings, Commons, and Lords, are uniting amain
To cut down this guardian of ours;
From the east to the west blow the trumpet to arms,
Through the land let the sound of it flee,
Let the far and the near all unite with a cheer
In defence of our Liberty-Tree.

_YANKEE DOODLE:—THE AIR AND WORDS._

There are so many versions of the origin of this popular and now national air, as well as the words, that we offer the following to our readers without note or comment.

In Burgh’s Anecdotes of Music, vol. iii. p. 405, after speaking of Dr. Arne and John Frederick Lampe, the author proceeds:—“Besides Lampe and Arne, there were at this time [1731] other candidates for musical fame of the same description. Among these were Mr. John Christian Smith, who set two English operas for Lincoln’s Inn Fields,—Teraminta and Ulysses,—and Dr. Tresh, author of the oratorio of Judith.”

About the year 1797, after having become a tolerable proficient on the German flute, I took it into my head to learn the bassoon, and for this purpose procured an instrument and book of instructions from the late Mr. Joseph Carr, who had then recently opened a music-store in Baltimore City, being the first regular establishment of the kind in this country. In this book there was an “Air from Ulysses,” which was the identical air now called Yankee Doodle, with the exception of a few notes which time and fancy may have added.

Here is another version:—

In the simultaneous attacks that were made upon the French posts in America in 1755, that against Fort Du Quesne (the present site of Pittsburg) was conducted by General Braddock, and those against Niagara and Frontenac by Governor Shirley, of Massachusetts, and General Johnston, of New York. The following is an extract from Judge Martin’s History of North Carolina, giving an account of those expeditions:—

“The army of the latter (Shirley and Johnston), during the summer, lay on the eastern bank of the Hudson, a little south of the city of Albany. In the early part of June the troops of the Eastern provinces began to pour in, company after company; and such a motley assemblage of men never before thronged together on such an occasion, unless an example may be found in the ragged regiment of Sir John Falstaff. It would have relaxed the gravity of an anchorite to have seen the descendants of the Puritans, marching through the streets of that ancient city (Albany), take their situations on the left of the British army,—some with long coats, and others with no coats at all, with colors as various as the rainbow,—some with their hair cropped like the army of Cromwell, and others with wigs, the locks of which floated with grace around their shoulders. Their march, their accoutrements, and the whole arrangement of the troops, furnished matter of amusement to the rest of the British army. The music played the airs of two centuries ago; and the _tout ensemble_, upon the whole, exhibited a sight to the wondering strangers, to which they had been unaccustomed. Among the club of wits that belonged to the British army there was a Doctor Shackburg, attached to the staff, who combined with the science of surgeon the skill and talents of a musician. To please the new-comers, he composed a tune, and with much gravity recommended it to the officers as one of the most celebrated airs of martial music. The joke took, to the no small amusement of the British. Brother Jonathan exclaimed it was _nation fine_, and in a few days nothing was heard in the provincial camp but the air of Yankee Doodle. Little did the author in his composition then suppose that an air made for the purpose of levity and ridicule should ever be marked for such high destinies. In twenty years from that time the national march inspired the heroes of Bunker Hill, and in less than thirty years Lord Cornwallis and his army marched into the American lines to the tune of Yankee Doodle.”

“Watson, in his “Occurrences of the War of Independence,” says,—

“This tune, so celebrated as a national air of the Revolution, has an origin almost unknown to the mass of the people of the present day. An aged and respectable lady, born in New England, told me she remembered it well, long before the Revolution, under another name. It was then universally called ‘Lydia Fisher,’ and was a favorite New England jig. It was then the practice with it, as with Yankee Doodle now, to sing it with various impromptu verses,—such as

‘Lydia Locket lost her pocket,
Lydia Fisher found it;
Not a bit of money in it,
Only binding round it.’

“The British, preceding the war, when disposed to ridicule the simplicity of the Yankee manners and hilarity, were accustomed to sing airs or songs set to words invented for the passing occasion, having for their object to satirize and sneer at the New Englanders. This, as I believe, they called Yankee Doodle, by way of reproach, and as a slur upon their favorite ‘Lydia Fisher.’ It is remembered that the English officers then among us, acting under civil and military appointments, often felt lordly over us as colonists, and by countenancing such slurs they sometimes expressed their superciliousness. When the battles of Concord and Lexington began the war, the English, when advancing in triumph, played along the road, ‘God save the King;’ but when the Americans had made the retreat so disastrous to the invaders, these then struck up the scouted _Yankee Doodle_,—as if to say, ‘See what we simple Jonathans can do!’ From that time the term of intended derision was assumed throughout all the American colonies, as the national air of the Sons of Liberty; even as the Methodists—once reproachfully so called—assumed it as their acceptable appellation. Even the name of ‘Sons of Liberty,’ which was so popular at the outset, was a name adopted from the appellation given us in Parliament by Colonel Barré in his speech! Judge Martin, in his History of North Carolina, has lately given another reason for the origin of ‘Yankee Doodle,’ saying it was first formed at Albany, in 1755, by a British officer, then there, indulging his pleasantry on the homely array of the motley Americans then assembling to join the expedition of General Johnston and Governor Shirley. To ascertain the truth in the premises, both his and my accounts were published in the gazettes, to elicit, if possible, further information, and the additional facts ascertained seem to corroborate the foregoing idea. The tune and quaint words, says a writer in the ‘Columbian Gazette,’ at Washington, were known as early as the time of Cromwell, and were so applied to him then, in a song called ‘Nankee Doodle,’ as ascertained from the collection he had seen of a gentleman at Cheltenham, in England, called ‘Musical Antiquities of England,’ to wit:—

“‘Nankee Doodle came to town
Upon a little pony,
With a feather in his hat,
Upon a macaroni,’ &c.

“The term feather, &c. alluded to Cromwell’s going into Oxford on a small horse, with his single plume fastened in a sort of knot called a ‘macaroni.’ The idea that such an early origin may have existed seems strengthened by the fact communicated by an aged gentleman of Massachusetts, who well remembered that, about the time the strife was engendering at Boston, they sometimes conveyed muskets to the country concealed in their loads of manure, &c. Then came abroad verses, as if set forth from their military masters, saying,—

“‘Yankee Doodle came to town
For to buy a firelock:
We will tar and feather him,
And so we will John Hancock.’

“The similarity of the first lines of the above two examples, and the term ‘feather’ in the third line, seem to mark in the latter some knowledge of the former precedent. As, however, other writers have confirmed their early knowledge of ‘Lydia Locket,’ such as,

“‘Lydy Locket lost her pocket
In a rainy shower,’ &c.,

we seem led to the choice of reconciling them severally with each other. We conclude, therefore, that the Cavaliers, when they originally composed ‘Nankee Doodle,’ may have set it to the jig-tune of ‘Lydia Fisher,’ to make it the more offensive to the Puritans. In this view it was even possible for the British officer at Albany, in 1755, as a man skilled in music, to have before heard of the old ‘Nankee Doodle,’ and to have renewed it on that occasion. That the air was uniformly deemed a good retort on British royalists, we must be confirmed in from the fact that it was played by us at the battle of Lexington when repelling the foe, again at the surrender of Burgoyne, and finally at Yorktown surrender, when Lafayette, who ordered the tune, meant it as a retort on an intended affront.”

The following is the first verse in the original _American_ Yankee Doodle song:—

“Yankee Doodle, keep it up,
Do it neat and handy:
The boy to flog the British troops
Is Yankee Doodle Dandy.”

_HAIL COLUMBIA._

The following is Judge Hopkinson’s own account of the origin of “Hail Columbia:”—

“This song was written in the summer of 1798, when a war with France was thought to be inevitable, Congress being then in session in Philadelphia, deliberating upon that important subject, and acts of hostility having actually occurred. About that time a young man by the name of Fox, attached to the Chestnut Street Theatre, was getting up some attraction for his benefit. I had known him when at school. On this acquaintance he called on me on Saturday afternoon,—his benefit being announced for the following Monday. He said there were no boxes taken, and his prospect was that he should suffer a loss instead of receiving a benefit from his performance, but that if he could get a patriotic song adapted to the tune of the ‘President’s March’ (then the popular air) he did not doubt of a full house; that the poets of the theatrical corps had been trying to accomplish it, but were satisfied that no words could be composed to suit the music of the march. I told him I would try for him. He came the next afternoon, and the song, such as it is, was ready for him. It was announced on Monday morning, and the theatre was crowded to excess, and so continued, night after night, for the rest of the season,—the song being encored and repeated many times each night, the audience joining in the chorus. It was also sung at night in the streets by large assemblies of citizens, including members of Congress. The enthusiasm was general, and the song was heard, I may say, in every part of the United States.”

The President’s March was composed by Professor Pfyle, and was played at Trenton Bridge when Washington passed over on his way to New York to his inauguration. An old writer, speaking upon this subject, says, “I have also reason to believe that the Washington’s March generally known by that title—I mean the one in the key of G major—was composed by the Hon. Francis Hopkinson, Senior, having seen it in a manuscript book of his, in his own handwriting, among other of his known compositions.”

_THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER._

Was written by Francis S. Key, while on board one of the vessels composing the British fleet. He was an agent for the exchange of prisoners, and witnessed in the distance the bombardment of Fort McHenry. The tune was originally set to the song “To Anacreon in Heaven,” by Dr. Arnold.

_THE PRESENT AMERICAN FLAG._

The first flag adopted by the colonial army before Boston was a red flag, with the mottoes, “An appeal to Heaven,” and “Qui transtulit sustinet,” which was construed by the colonists thus:—“God, who transplanted us hither, will sustain us.” About this time also the floating batteries, which were the germ of the navy subsequently organized, bore a flag with the motto, “Appeal to Heaven.” These flags were adopted before the union of the colonies was effected. After that union, and upon the organization of the army and fleet, these flags were supplanted by one calculated to show to the world the union of the North American colonies among themselves and as an integral part of the British empire, and as such demanding the rights and liberties of British subjects. And for this purpose a flag combining the crosses of St. George and St. Andrew united (the distinctive emblem of Great Britain), with a field composed of thirteen stripes alternate red and white, the combination of the flags previously used in the camps and on the cruises, and the floating batteries of the colonists, was adopted, and called the _Great Union flag_. The union implied both the union of the colonies represented in the striped field, which was dependent upon it, and the nationality of those colonies. The thirteen stripes alternate red and white, constituting the field of the flag, represented the body of that union, the numbers that composed it, as well as the union of the flags which had preceded this Great Union flag. The colors of these stripes, alternate red and white, indicated on the part of the colonies thus represented as united the defiance to oppression, symbolized by the red color of the flag of the army and the red field of the Continental cruisers, with the purity implied by the white flag of the floating batteries, of which the motto was, “Appeal to Heaven.”[36] These flags of the colonies and this Great Union flag gave place in turn to the flag of the United States, which is thus described in the following resolution of Congress, passed June 14, 1777:—

“_Resolved_, That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”

From the above it appears that the only alteration made from the Great Union flag was the substitution of a union of stars representing “a new constellation,” in place of the old union of the British crosses; and the question is, what is the meaning of the “new constellation,” and is there any constellation which represents union? The answer is, that the constellation Lyra is of this character; for, according to classical authority, the Lyra was the symbol of harmony and unity among men. The constellation Lyra is a time-honored emblem of union, and because it was so it gave to our forefathers the idea of the stars now on our flag, while the stripes have originated as we have mentioned. May the Stars and the Stripes ever “wave over the land of the free and the home of the brave,” and may the United States ever be among the nations of the earth a constellation like Lyra, which is said to “whirl in harmony and unity along the immense orb of the revolving world, and to lead all the other stars.”

_CONGRESS._

Previous to the Revolution, and during the war, the seat of government, or points of meeting of Congress, were at such places as convenience suggested or the vicissitudes of war allowed. The first Congress under the present Constitution met in New York, on the 4th of March, 1789. George Washington was inaugurated President before this body, John Adams Vice-President. F.A. Muhlenberg, of Pennsylvania, was the Speaker of the House.

The following are the places at which the Continental Congress met from 1774 to the adoption of the Constitution, in 1789:—

At Philadelphia, 1774, September 5.
At Baltimore, 1776, December 20.
At Philadelphia, 1777, March 4.
At Lancaster, 1777, September 27.
At York, Pennsylvania, 1777, September 30.
At Philadelphia, 1778, July 2.
At Princeton, 1783, June 30.
At Annapolis, 1783, November 26.
At Trenton, 1784, November 1.
At New York, 1785, January 11.

From which time New York continued to be the place of meeting until the adoption of the Constitution. From 1781 to 1788, Congress met annually (on the first Monday in November), pursuant to the Articles of Confederation adopted June 9, 1778.

The first Congress under the Constitution met in New York on the 4th of March, 1789. The second session of the same Congress met at New York in January, 1790, at which session the _permanent_ seat of government was fixed in the District of Columbia, and the _temporary_ seat moved from New York to Philadelphia. The third session of the First Congress was held at Philadelphia, December, 1790, where it continued until December, 1800, when Congress met for the first time in Washington.

The following table, in connection with the names of the postmaster-generals, furnishes a complete panoramic view of the chief officers of the United States Government from 1774 to 1864.[37]

_THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS BEFORE THE REVOLUTION._

FIRST CONGRESS, Sept. 5, 1774. Peyton Randolph, of Virginia,
President. Born in Virginia, in 1726, died at Philadelphia,
Oct. 22, 1785. Charles Thomson, of Pennsylvania, Secretary.
Born in Ireland, in 1730, died in Pennsylvania, Aug. 16, 1824.
This patriot was Secretary of all the Congresses in session
during the Revolution, and until March 3, 1789.

SECOND CONGRESS, May 10, 1775, Peyton Randolph, President.
Resigned May 24, 1775.

John Hancock, of Massachusetts, elected his successor. He was
born at Quincy, Mass., A.D. 1737, died Oct. 8, 1793. He was
President of Congress until October, 1777.

Henry Laurens, of South Carolina, President from Nov. 1, 1777,
to Dec. 1778. He was born at Charleston, S. C., A.D. 1724,
died in South Carolina, Dec. 1792.

John Jay, of New York, President from Dec. 10, 1778, to Sept.
27, 1779. He was born in New York City, Dec. 12, 1745, died in
New York, May 17, 1829.

Samuel Huntingdon, of Connecticut, President from Sept. 28,
1779, until July 10, 1781. He was born in Connecticut, in
1732, died 1796.

Thos. McKean, of Pa., President from July, 1781, until Nov. 5,
1781. He was born in Pennsylvania, March 19, 1734, died at
Philadelphia, June 24, 1817.

John Hanson, of Md., President from Nov. 5, 1781, to Nov. 4,
1782. He was born ——, died 1783.

Elias Boudinot, of N. J., President from Nov. 4, 1782, until
Feb. 4, 1783. He was born at Philadelphia, May 2, 1740, died
1824.

Thomas Mifflin, of Pennsylvania, President from February 4,
1783, to November 30, 1784. Born at Philadelphia, 1744, died
in the same place, January 21, 1800.

Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, President from November 30,
1784, to November 23, 1785. He was born in Virginia, A.D.
1732, died 1794.

John Hancock, of Massachusetts, President from November 23,
1785, to June 6, 1786.

Nathaniel Gorham, of Massachusetts, President from June 6,
1786, to February 2, 1787. He was born at Charlestown,
Massachusetts, A.D. 1738, died June 11, 1796.

Arthur St. Clair, of Pennsylvania, President from February 2,
1787, to January 28, 1788. He was born in Edinburgh,
Scotland, ——, died in 1818.

Cyrus Griffin, of Virginia, President from January 28, 1788,
to the end of the Congress under the Confederation, March 3,
1789. He was born in England, A.D. 1748, died in Virginia,
A.D. 1810.

_UNDER THE CONSTITUTION._

1789 to 1793.

George Washington, of Virginia, inaugurated as President of
the United States, April 30, 1789. He was born upon Wakefield
estate, Virginia, February 22 (11th, Old Style), 1732, died at
Mount Vernon, December 14, 1799.

John Adams, of Massachusetts, Vice-President. Born at
Braintree, Massachusetts, October 19, 1735, died July 4, 1826,
near Quincy, Massachusetts.

ELECTORAL VOTE—George Washington, 69. John Adams, 34. John
Jay, New York, 9. R.H. Harrison, Maryland, 6. John Rutledge,
South Carolina, 6. John Hancock, Massachusetts, 4. George
Clinton, New York, 3. Samuel Huntingdon, Connecticut, 2. John
Milton, Georgia, 2. James Armstrong, Georgia, 1. Edward
Telfair, Georgia, 1. Benjamin Lincoln, Massachusetts,
1.—Total, 69. Ten States voted,—Rhode Island, New York, and
North Carolina not voting, not having ratified the
Constitution in time.

1793 to 1797.

George Washington, President, inaugurated March 4, 1793.

John Adams, Vice-President.

ELECTORAL VOTE—George Washington, 132. John Adams, 77. George
Clinton, 50. Thomas Jefferson, Virginia, 4. Aaron Burr, New
York, 1.—Total, 132. Fifteen States voted.

1797 to 1801.

John Adams, President, inaugurated March 4, 1797.

Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia, Vice-President. Born at
Shadwell, Virginia, April 13, 1743, died at Monticello,
Virginia, July 4, 1826.

ELECTORAL VOTE—John Adams, 71. Thomas Jefferson, 68. Thomas
Pinckney, South Carolina, 59. Aaron Burr, 30. Samuel Adams,
Massachusetts, 15. Oliver Ellsworth, Connecticut, 11. George
Clinton, 7. John Jay, 5. James Iredell, North Carolina, 3.
George Washington, 2. John Henry, Maryland, 2. S. Johnson,
North Carolina, 2. Charles C. Pinckney, South Carolina,
1.—Total, 138. Sixteen States voting.

1801 to 1805.

Thomas Jefferson, President, inaugurated March 4, 1801.

Aaron Burr, of New York, Vice-President. Born at Newark, N. J.
February 6, 1756, died at Staten Island, New York, September
14, 1836.

ELECTORAL VOTE—Thomas Jefferson, 73. Aaron Burr, 73. John
Adams, 65. Charles C. Pinckney, 64. John Jay, 1.—Total, 138.
Sixteen States voting.

There was no election by the Electoral colleges, and the
election was carried into the House of Representatives, when,
upon the thirty-sixth ballot, it appeared that ten States
voted for Jefferson, four States for Aaron Burr, and two
States in blank. Whereupon Jefferson was declared elected
President, and Burr Vice-President. After this the
Constitution was amended, so that the Vice-President was voted
for separately as a distinct office, instead of being the
second on the vote for President.

1805 to 1809.

Thomas Jefferson, President, inaugurated March 4, 1805.

George Clinton, of New York, Vice-President. He was born in
Ulster county, New York, A.D. 1739, died in Washington, D. C.,
April 20, 1812.

ELECTORAL VOTE—_For President_, Thomas Jefferson, 162; Charles
Cotesworth Pinckney, 14.—Total, 176. Seven States voting.

_For Vice-President_, George Clinton, 162; Rufus King, New
York, 14.

1809 to 1813.

James Madison, of Virginia, President, inaugurated March 4,
1809. He was born March 16, 1751, in Prince George county,
Virginia, and died at Montpelier, Virginia, June 28, 1836.

George Clinton, of New York, Vice-President, until his death,
April 20, 1812.

ELECTORAL VOTE—_For President_, James Madison, 122; George
Clinton, 6; C. C. Pinckney, 47.—Total, 175. Seventeen States
voting.

_For Vice-President_, George Clinton, 113; James Madison, 3;
James Monroe, Virginia, 3; John Langdon, New Hampshire, 9;
Rufus King, New York, 47.

1813 to 1817.

James Madison, of Virginia, President. There is no record in
the Journals of Congress of his having taken the oath of
office.

Elbridge Gerry, of Massachusetts, Vice-President, until his
death, November 23, 1814. He was born at Marblehead,
Massachusetts, July 17, 1744, and died at Washington, D. C.

ELECTORAL VOTE—_For President_, James Madison, 128; De Witt
Clinton, New York, 89.—Total, 217. Eighteen States voting.

_For Vice-President_, Elbridge Gerry, 131; Jared Ingersoll,
Pennsylvania, 86.

1817 to 1821.

James Monroe, of Virginia, President, inaugurated March 4,
1817. He was born in Westmoreland county, Virginia, A.D. 1759,
died in New York, July 4, 1831.

Daniel D. Tompkins, of New York, Vice-President. Born June 21,
1774, at Fox Meadows, New York, died at Staten Island, June
11, 1825.

ELECTORAL VOTE—_For President_, James Monroe, 183; Rufus King,
34—Total, 221. Nineteen States voting.

_For Vice-President_, Daniel D. Tompkins, 183; John Eager
Howard, Maryland, 22; James Ross, Pennsylvania, 5; John
Marshall, Virginia, 4; Robert Goodloe Harper, Maryland, 3.

1821 to 1825.

James Monroe, President. There is no record in the Journals of
Congress of his having taken the oath of office.

Daniel D. Tompkins, Vice-President.

ELECTORAL VOTE—_For President_, James Monroe, 231; John Quincy
Adams, Massachusetts, 1.—Total, 232. Twenty-four States
voting.

_For Vice-President_, Daniel D. Tompkins, 218; Richard
Stockton, New Jersey, 8; Robert G. Harper, 1; Richard Rush,
Pennsylvania, 1; Daniel Rodney, Delaware, 1.

1825 to 1829.

John Quincy Adams, of Massachusetts, President, inaugurated
March 4, 1825. He was born at Quincy, Massachusetts, July 11,
1767, died at Washington City, February 23, 1848.

John Caldwell Calhoun, of South Carolina, Vice-President. Born
in Abbeville district, South Carolina, March 18, 1782, died
March 31, 1850, in Washington City.

POPULAR VOTE—_For President_, John Quincy Adams, 105,321;
Andrew Jackson, Tennessee, 152,899; William H. Crawford,
Georgia, 47,265; Henry Clay, Kentucky, 47,087.

ELECTORAL VOTE—_For President_, Andrew Jackson, 99; John
Quincy Adams, 84; William H. Crawford, 41; Henry Clay,
37.—Total, 261. Twenty-four States voting.

There being no choice by the Electoral colleges, the vote was
taken into the House of Representatives, when upon ballot it
appeared that Adams had received the vote of thirteen States,
Jackson seven, and Crawford four. John Quincy Adams was
therefore declared elected President.

_For Vice-President_, the Electoral vote was John C. Calhoun,
South Carolina, 182; Nathan Sanford, New York, 30; Nathaniel
Macon, Georgia, 24; Andrew Jackson, Tennessee, 13; Martin Van
Buren, New York, 9; Henry Clay, Kentucky, 2.

1829 to 1833.

Andrew Jackson, of Tennessee, President, inaugurated March 4,
1829. He was born in Mecklenburg county, North Carolina, near
the Waxhaw Settlements, which are in South Carolina, March 15,
1767, died at the Hermitage, Tennessee, June 8, 1845.

John Caldwell Calhoun, Vice-President, until his resignation,
December 28, 1832.

POPULAR VOTE—_For President_, Andrew Jackson, 650,028; John
Quincy Adams, 512,158.

ELECTORAL VOTE—_For President_, Andrew Jackson, 178; John
Quincy Adams, 83.—Total, 261. Twenty-four States voting.

_For Vice-President_, John C. Calhoun, 171; Richard Rush,
Pennsylvania, 83; William Smith, South Carolina, 7.

1833 to 1837.

Andrew Jackson, President, inaugurated March 4, 1833.

Martin Van Buren, of New York, Vice-President. He was born at
Kinderhook, New York, December 5, 1782. Died, July 24, 1864.

POPULAR VOTE—_For President_, Andrew Jackson, 687,502; Henry
Clay, 550,189; opposition (John Floyd, Virginia, and William
Wirt, Maryland), 33,108.

ELECTORAL VOTE—_For President_, Andrew Jackson, 219; Henry
Clay, 49; John Floyd, 11; William Wirt, 7,—Total, 288.
Twenty-four States voting.

_For Vice-President_, Martin Van Buren, 189; John Sergeant,
Pennsylvania, 49; William Wilkins, Pennsylvania, 30; Henry
Lee, Massachusetts, 11; Amos Ellmaker, Pennsylvania, 7.

1837 to 1841.

Martin Van Buren, President, inaugurated March 4, 1837.

Richard M. Johnson, of Kentucky, Vice-President. He was born
in 1780; died November 19, 1850.

POPULAR VOTE—_For President_, Martin Van Buren, 762,149;
opposition (William H. Harrison, Hugh L. White, Daniel
Webster, W.P. Mangum), 736,736.

ELECTORAL VOTE—_For President_, Martin Van Buren, 170; William
H. Harrison, Ohio, 73; Hugh L. White, Tennessee, 26; Daniel
Webster, Massachusetts, 14; W.P. Mangum, 11.—Total, 294.
Twenty-six States voting.

_For Vice-President_, Richard M. Johnson, Kentucky, 147;
Francis Granger, New York, 77; John Tyler, Virginia, 47;
William Smith, Alabama, 23.

1841 to 1845.

William Henry Harrison, of Ohio, President until his death at
Washington, April 4, 1841. He was inaugurated March 4, 1841.
He was born in Berkeley county, Virginia, February 9, 1773.

John Tyler, of Virginia, Vice-President. He was born April,
1790, at Greenway, Charles City county, Virginia. Died,
January 18, 1863.

John Tyler, of Virginia, became President by the death of
William H. Harrison. He took the oath of office April 6, 1841.

POPULAR VOTE (November, 1840)—_For President_, William Henry
Harrison, 1,274,783; Martin Van Buren, 1,128,702; James G.
Birney, New York (Abolition), 7609.

ELECTORAL VOTE—_For President_, William Henry Harrison, 234;
Martin Van Buren, 60.—Total, 294. Twenty-six States voting.

_For Vice-President_, John Tyler, 234; Richard M. Johnson, 48;
L.W. Tazewell, South Carolina, 11; James K. Polk, Tennessee,
1.

1845 to 1849

James Knox Polk, of Tennessee, President, inaugurated March 4,
1845. He was born in Mecklenburg county, North Carolina,
November 2, 1795; died at Nashville, Tennessee, June 15, 1849.

George Mifflin Dallas, of Pennsylvania, Vice-President. Born
in Philadelphia, July 10, 1792.

POPULAR VOTE—_For President_, James K. Polk, 1,335,834; Henry
Clay, 1,297,033; James G. Birney, 62,270.

ELECTORAL VOTE—_For President_, James K. Polk, 170; Henry
Clay, 105.—Total, 275. Twenty-six States voting.

_For Vice-President_, George M. Dallas, 170; Theodore
Frelinghuysen, of New Jersey, 105.

1849 to 1853.

Zachary Taylor, of Louisiana, President, inaugurated March 4,
1849. Born in Virginia, A.D. 1784; died in Washington City,
July 9, 1850.

Millard Fillmore, of New York, Vice-President. Born in Locke
township, Cayuga county, New York, January 7, 1800.

Millard Fillmore, President after the death of Zachary Taylor,
July 9, 1850. He took the oath of office July 10, 1850.

POPULAR VOTE—_For President_, Zachary Taylor, 1,362,031; Lewis
Cass, of Michigan, 1,222,455; Martin Van Buren (Free Soil),
291,455.

ELECTORAL VOTE—_For President_, Zachary Taylor, 163; Lewis
Cass, 127.—Total, 290. Thirty States voting.

_For Vice-President_, Millard Fillmore, 163; William O.
Butler, Kentucky, 127.

1853 to 1857.

Franklin Pierce, of New Hampshire, President, inaugurated
March 5, 1853. He was born at Hillsborough, New Hampshire,
November 23, 1804.

William R. King, of Alabama, Vice-President. He was born in
North Carolina, April 7, 1786; died at Cahawba, Alabama, April
18, 1853.

POPULAR VOTE—_For President_, Franklin Pierce, 1,590,490;
Winfield Scott, 1,378,589; John C. Hale, New Hampshire
(Abolition), 157,296.

ELECTORAL VOTE—_For President_, Franklin Pierce, 254; Winfield
Scott, of New Jersey, 42.—Total, 296. Thirty-one States
voting.

_For Vice-President_, William R. King, 254; William A. Graham,
of North Carolina, 42.

1857 to 1861.

James Buchanan, of Pennsylvania, President. He was born at
Stony Batter, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, April 22, 1791.

John C. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, Vice-President. Born near
Lexington, Kentucky, January 21, 1821.

POPULAR VOTE—_For President_, James Buchanan (Democratic),
1,832,232;

John C. Frémont, California (Republican), 1,341,514; Millard
Fillmore, New York (American), 874,707.

ELECTORAL VOTE—_For President_, James Buchanan, 174; John C.
Frémont, 109; Millard Fillmore, 8.—Total, 291. Thirty-one
States voting.

_For Vice-President_, John C. Breckenridge, 174; William L.
Dayton, New Jersey, 109; A. J. Donelson, Tennessee, 8; total,
291.

1861 to 1865.

Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, President, inaugurated March 4,
1861. He was born near Muldraugh’s Hill, Hardin county,
Kentucky, February, 1809.

Hannibal Hamlin, of Maine, Vice-President. He was born at
Paris, Oxford county, Maine, August 27, 1809.

POPULAR VOTE—_For President_, Abraham Lincoln (Republican),
1,857,610; Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois (Democratic),
1,365,976; John C. Breckenridge, of Kentucky (Democratic),
847,953; John Bell, of Tennessee (Constitutional Union),
590,631.

ELECTORAL VOTE—_For President_, Abraham Lincoln, 180; John C.
Breckenridge, 72; John Bell, 39; Stephen A. Douglas,
12.—Total, 291. Thirty-three States voting.

_For Vice-President_, Hannibal Hamlin, Maine, 180; Joseph
Lane, Oregon, 72; Edward Everett, Massachusetts, 39; Herschel
V. Johnson, Georgia, 12.

As our postal history, so far as the States are concerned, is limited to our own State, it may not be out of place here to introduce the following table containing the names of the

_GOVERNORS OF PENNSYLVANIA_,

more, however, as being useful for future reference rather than to its connection with our subject:—

1682 to 1863.

1682, October. William Penn (Proprietary), acted as Governor
until August, 1684.

Thomas Lloyd, President until December, 1688.

Captain John Blackwell, Deputy-Governor to 1690.

President and Council to April 26, 1693.

Benjamin Fletcher, Deputy-Governor to September, 1692.

William Markham, Deputy-Governor to December 3, 1696.

William Penn again acted as Governor to November 1, 1701.

Andrew Hamilton, Deputy-Governor to February, 1703.

Edward Shippen, President of Council to February, 1704.

John Evans, Deputy-Governor to February, 1709.

Charles Gookin, Deputy-Governor to March, 1717.

Sir William Keith, Bart., Deputy-Governor to June, 1727.

Patrick Gordon, Deputy-Governor to June, 1736.

James Logan, President of Council to June, 1738.

George Thomas, Deputy-Governor to June, 1748.

James Hamilton, Deputy-Governor to October, 1754.

Robert Hunter Morris, Deputy-Governor to August 19, 1756.

William Denny, Deputy-Governor to November, 1759

James Hamilton, Deputy-Governor to October, 1763

John Penn, son of Richard Penn, Deputy-Governor to May 6,
1771.

Richard Penn, Governor to August, 1771.

John Penn (second time), Governor to September, 1776.

Thomas Wharton, Jr., President of Executive Council to
October, 1777.

Joseph Reed, President to November, 1781.

William Moore, President to November, 1782.

John Dickinson, President to October, 1785.

Benjamin Franklin, President to October, 1788.

Thomas Mifflin, President to the adoption of the new
Constitution in 1790.

UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF 1790.

1790. Thomas Mifflin 27,725
Arthur St. Clair 2,802
Whole number —————— 30,527

1793. Thomas Mifflin 19,590
F.A. Muhlenberg 10,700
Whole number —————— 30,290

1796. Thomas Mifflin 30,029
F.A. Muhlenberg 10,011
Whole number —————— 40,040

1799. Thomas McKean 37,244
James Ross 22,643
Whole number —————— 59,887

1802. Thomas McKean 47,879
James Ross 17,037
Whole number —————— 64,916

1805. Thomas McKean 48,483
Simon Snyder 43,644
Whole number —————— 82,127

1808. Simon Snyder 67,975
James Ross 37,575
John Spayd 4,006
Whole number —————— 109,556

1811. Simon Snyder 52,319
No opposition.
Whole number —————— 52,319

1814. Simon Snyder 51,099
Isaac Wayne 29,566
Whole number —————— 80,665

1817. William Findlay 66,331
Joseph Heister 59,273
Whole number —————— 125,604

1820. Joseph Heister 67,905
William Findlay 66,300
Whole number —————— 134,205

1823. John A. Shultze 89,968
Andrew Gregg 64,221
Whole number —————— 154,189

1826. John A. Shultze 72,710
John Sergeant 1,174
Whole number —————— 73,884

1829. George Wolf 78,219
Joseph Ritner 51,776
Whole number —————— 129,995

1832. George Wolf 91,235
Joseph Ritner 88,186
Whole number —————— 179,421

1835. Joseph Ritner 94,023
George Wolf 65,804
H. A. Muhlenberg 40,586
Whole number —————— 200,413

1838. David R. Porter 131,496
Joseph Ritner 121,389
Whole number ——————— 252,885

1841. David R. Porter 136,335
John Banks 113,374
Whole number ——————— 249,709

1844. Francis R. Shunk 160,403
Joseph Markle 156,114
Whole number ——————— 316,517

1847. Francis R. Shunk 146,081
James Irvin 128,148
Emanuel C. Reigert 11,247
Whole number ——————— 285,476

1848. W. F. Johnston 168,462
Morris Longstreth 168,192
Whole number ——————— 336,654

1851. William Bigler 186,507
W. F. Johnston 178,070
Whole number ——————— 364,577

1854. James Pollock 204,008
William Bigler 167,001
Whole number ——————— 371,009

1857. William F. Packer 188,890
David Wilmot 146,147
Isaac Hazlehurst 28,100
Whole number ——————— 363,137

1860. Andrew G. Curtin 262,403
Henry D. Foster 230,239
Whole number ——————— 492,642

1863. Andrew G. Curtin 269,496
G. W. Woodward 254,171
Whole number ——————— 523,667