CHAPTER XLIV. OLD DOCUMENTS. "Those old and sacred relics are still precious." ROGER SHERMAN'S LETTERS. THE following letters were written by Roger Sherman, nephew of the able representative in Congress, and signer of the Declaration of Independence, in 1776, to Benjamin P. Sherman. They are well worthy of a place in this volume, and are correct transcripts of the originals in Independence Hall: NEW HAVEN, June 9, 1855. The first time I saw Washington was in New Haven, in passing from New York to Boston. He stopped over the Sabbath at a public inn kept by Mr. Isaac, one of the most responsible inhabitants. The house stood on the corner where the "New Haven House," now a public-house, is located. In the afternoon he came to my father's, and passing about_an hour with the family, we all went to meeting. The general accompanied us, and sat in our pew with father and the family. I again saw him in New York; and after he became President of the United States, I saw him in Philadelphia, at the "Levee of Mrs. Washington." I was introduced and conducted by his secretary, and after paying my respects to Mrs. Washington, I mingled with the crowd, when I was met by the President and conversed with him for a few moments. He was very particular in his attention to every stranger. He associated with the crowd, like other individuals, without ceremony, very much like the meeting at the Merchants' Exchange. ROGER SHERMAN. NEW HAVEN, June 9th, 1855. BENJ'N P. SHERMAN.-Dear Son: Earl was employed by Mr. Bishop Atling of New Haven, soon after the Declaration of Independence, to take the portraits of all those who signed that instrument. This design was not completed. After taking a number, of which that of your grandfather, Roger Sherman, was one, the plan was abandoned. This portrait was many years afterward sent to New Haven, without any directions, and delivered to President Stiles. On removing a part of the case in which it was enclosed, President Stiles instantly recognized the likeness, and sent it to your grandmother. From this portrait the small engravings and several large pictures have been taken. Sarah, the wife of Samuel Hoar, of Concord, Massachusetts, my youngest sister, and myself, are the only survivors of my father's children. Should my life be spared, on the 16th day of July next I shall be eighty-seven years old. Affectionately yours, ROGER SHERMAN, WASHINGTON'S CARD TO JOHN BROOKS, Of Massachusetts, Colonel in the Continental Army, afterward Governor of that State: "The President presents his compliments to and begs the Favor of his Company at Dinner on Wednesday next, at Four o'clock." This card was presented to "Independence Hall," by David Kimball, Esq., of Boston, August 10, 1857. DECATUR'S COMMISSION. PHIL'A, June 5th, 1780. I do hereby certify that a Commission hath issued to Captain Stephen Decatur for the Privateer Brig Fair American, mounting sixteen carriage guns, navigated by one hundred and thirty men, of the burthen of one hundred and fifty tons, belonging to Charles Miller & Company, and bearing date the twentieth day of April last. W. MATLACK, Sec'y. WASHINGTON'S INVITATION CARD. The following is the "Invitation Card" of George Washington to his guests. It is printed in very antique style, but carefully preserved in Independence Hall. The card is taken from the original engraved copy-plate of General Washington, used by him for cards of invitation during his presidency. It was presented to the City Councils of Philadelphia, June 23, 1855, by William Can. "The President of the United States and Mrs. Washington, request the pleasure of Company to dine on next, at -179. o'clock An answer is requested." WASHINGTON'S BENCH. Elsewhere we have given an extended account of the bench with the above inscription: but the subjoined historical paragraph will also be interesting: In 1835 the interior of that ancient edifice, Christ Church, was about to be modernized. The family pew of General George Washington was presented to Ebenezer Mustin under a promise that a chair or settee should be made therefrom, and preserved as a relic. The bench was therefore made, and placed in Independence Hall. CHAPTER XLV. PORTRAIT OF WASHINGTON WOVEN IN SILK, AND OTHER INTERESTING MEMENTOES. "Such sacred things claim a portion of our attention." ONE of the curiosities in Independence Hall, which attracts universal admiration, is a portrait of General Washington, woven in silk, on the Jacquard loom at Lyons, France, and presented to the City of Philadelphia by Messrs. Ponson, Phillippe & Vibert, who manufactured it. The following is the correspondence in reference thereto : CLERK'S OFFICE, SELECT COUNCIL. CITY OF PHIL'A, Sept. 17, 1855. The following is an extract from the Journal of the Select Council of the city of Philadelphia, of Sep't 13, 1855, page 271. The Clerk of the Mayor being introduced, presented the following message in writing: MAYOR'S OFFICE, Sept. 13, 1855. TO THE SELECT COUNCIL: GENTLEMEN:-I have the honor herewith to transmit a portrait of WASHINGTON, executed on the Jacquard loom, in Lyons, France, and presented by the manufacturers, Messrs. Ponson, Phillippe & Vibert, to the Mayor and Councils of Philadelphia. Also, a communication from Charles S. J. Goodrich, Esq., U. S. Consul at Lyons, through whom the portrait is presented. Respectfully, R. T. CONRAD, Mayor. (CONSULATE U. S. OF AMERICA, LYONS, FRANCE. MR. MAYOR AND GENTLEMEN:-Two years ago, by a singular coincidence, while one class of our artisans in France were preparing implements of war for the East, a portion of another class were preparing a memorial of peace for the West. In the silk goods manufactory of Messrs. Ponson, Phillippe & Vibert, of this city, a set of artisans were weaving in silk, for our three great cities, the portrait of him who was "first in war and first in peace," our Washington. That elaborate work of art has just been finished, Messrs. Ponson, Phillippe, & Vibert, who are among the most eminent, enterprising, and successful of the merchants of Lyons, procured, as a guide for their artists, an engraving, life-size, from our own Stuart's painting of Washington, now owned by the Boston Athenæum; and their workmen, as the result of two years' employment thereupon, have procured as faithful a portraiture of the lineaments of the face of that great and good man, as at once to evince their unsurpassed skill, and at the same time exhibit the perfection to which this department of art, originating in the genius of Jacquard, has been brought in this city of his birth, life, and death. Messrs. Ponson & Co., flattering themselves that this first silk-wrought portrait of the "Father of his country"-the specimen of the art with an American subject-will be justly appreciated by the countrymen of that great man, have resolved to dedicate it, multiplied for that purpose, to the three chief commercial cities of the Union-New York, Philadelphia, and Boston-and have charged me, in their names, to present it to the constituted authorities thereof, trusting that it may not be deemed unworthy of a place among the mementoes of that country's |