sions develope the intellectual abilities of great and good men, while expectation and desire of self-ag grandisement characterize time-serving politicians, whose patriotism is measured by the amount of pelf derived from official preferment. We can scarcely reconcile to our belief that here, within the holy fane where freedom of thought and principle first assumed tangibility; where vitality was given to declarations of ancestral patriots; where germs of the mightiest and most influential nation that ever flourished were sown, any corporate body of men, convened in a representative capacity, could ever act with other than the purest and most patriotic motives. There is something so peculiarly reverential about every portion of this building, so awe-exciting and sacred, that boisterous passions and declamatory partisanism should never mar or desecrate its walls. Not a word ought ever to be uttered here inconsistent with the first expressions of republicanism, promulgated by the founders of the nation. Oh! let this temple remain pure and unsullied from any act calculated to tarnish the fair escutcheon of our country's glory. Let it be kept a shrine where holy thoughts, holy aspirations, and holy deeds are registered; where freedom's children may come and worship, and feel themselves sanctified by the purity of its atmosphere.

Grave and deliberate as were the general purposes, during the early period of the Revolution, to which the "State House" was appropriated in the Colonial days of Pennsylvania, it was on several occasions used as a hall for banqueting. In the long gallery, upstairs, the feasting tables were spread, around which bilarity and mirthfulness prevailed, while the tables

themselves were loaded with every desirable luxury which the appetite or inclination might fancy or desire. Soon after the edifice was completed, in 1736, William Allen, Esq., then Mayor of Philadelphia, made a feast at his own expense. This entertainment, which was of a sumptuous and costly character, was spread in the "State House," and the Mayor extended his invitations to all distinguished strangers in the city. The number of invited guests exceeded any at the feasts given in the city on previous occasions, while those who partook of his hospitality expressed their unanimous consent that, "for excellency of fare, it was a most elegant entertainment." On the arrival of their new Colonial Governor, Denny, in 1756, while the Assembly was in session, that body gave him a reception dinner, and this feast was likewise spread at the "State House," at which the "civil and military officers and clergy of the city" were present. This entertainment occurred in August, and was an important event during that session of the Assembly. It had a tendency to harmonize various antagonistical personal feelings, which were looked upon as boding no peculiar good to the new administration. Again, when Lord Loudon, commander-in-chief of the King's forces in the several colonies, visited the city in the year 1757, the corporation received him at the "State House" by a grand banquet. General Forbes, who was then commander at Philadelphia and of the southern settlements, was also present on that occasion. Various guests were invited, among whom were officers of rank, gentlemen strangers, clergy and private citizens, who partook of those municipal hospitalities. It was remarked by some uninvited guests at the time,

that the expenditure for this entertainment was greater than had ever before been made by the authorities for public receptions, which indicated a very early hostility to such feasts-especially when given at the expense of the public treasury. When in 1774, the first Congress met in Philadelphia, a sumptuous collation was prepared by the gentlemen of the city, for the entertainment of its representatives, the "State House" was selected as the building in which the festive ceremonies should be performed. The members and invited guests congregated first at the "City Tavern,"* and thence marched in an imposing procession to the "State House," in the dining hall of which the repast was spread. About five hundred persons partook of the dinner, and when the toasts were given they were rendered patriotic by the "firing of cannon and martial music." These festive occasions exerted salutary influences upon public sentiment, and had a tendency to develope, in no small degree, political feelings which actuated the people. No doubt the principles promulgated and advocated around the brimful goblet and board, were regarded in a patriotic or disloyal sense, according to the dominant characteristics of leading men, with their adherence to Parliamentary laws, or republican sympathy. Whatever sentiment was toasted and responded to then, was given in the spirit of honesty, and elicited purity of expression. Words were not wasted in declamatory sentences; appeals were not made for idle or pernicious purposes; and intriguing

The City Tavern stood on the site of the "Coffee House," and was a distinguished eating restaurant.

politicians had no unworthy ends to subserve. Every heart was prompted by motives of lofty and patriotic devotion-whether in the cause of the Crown, or against the exercise of its prerogatives. Then, there was no cause for severe animadversion of the manner in which the public business was conducted, which has since afforded plausibility for charges of peculation and corruption. Every act, politically and privately, was performed with an eye single to the entire interest of all concerned. None felt disposed to take advantage of his fellow, or to enhance his personal objects by extortionate exactions from others. By those festivals ties of friendship were strengthened, bonds of mutual enterprise cemented, national measures suggested and frequently adopted. Deliberate and calm discussion of various topics connected with governmental affairs, gave power and character to the purposes for which such scenes of friendly greeting were given, and assisted in forming a deep and strong attachment to their country and their homes.

Notwithstanding the fact, that Independence Hall is regarded as a most sacred shrine of Liberty, in days of yore it was used for various purposes-some of which illy comported with the true character of the building. Mr. Watson says: "For many years the public papers of the Colony, and afterward of the City and State, were kept in the east and west wings of the State House, without any fire-proof security as they now possess. From their manifest insecurity, it was deemed, about nineteen years ago (now thirty), to pull down those former two-story brick wings, and to supply their places by those which are now there. In former times such important papers as rest with the

Frothonotaries were kept in their offices at their family residences." When workmen were superintending the removal of the former wings of the State House, Mr. Grove, who was the master-mason, made several interesting discoveries of relics. These were mostly found under the foundation of the walls, as the workmen excavated the ground considerably deeper for the present cellars. At the depth of some five feet, and close to the western wall, was dug up a keg of Indian flints. Nothing appears upon record to give the faintest idea as to who performed the deed, or for what purpose they were buried there. The impression of the keg was distinct, but the wood had decayed and become assimilated with the loamy soil. At about the same depth, and in close proximity to it, were uncovered the complete equipments of a sergeant, consisting of a musket, cartouch-box, sword, buckles, &c. "The wood being decayed, left the impression of what they had been." These discoveries excited considerable curiosity, and attracted a large multitude of people to see and examine them. But a greater and more general excitement was created, a day or two subsequently, at the announcement that a lot of bomb-shells, filled with powder, had been ex-humed by the diggers. This circumstance led to various conjectures, relative to the object for which they had been buried beneath the building, but a satisfactory solution of the mystery has not, as yet, been given. Some entertained the belief that it was intended for another Guy Faux plot, to destroy the edifice on a particular occasion. Most probably, however, they had been placed there for safe keeping, or to prevent their falling into unfriendly hands. Sub