This being the
birth-day of King George III., scarcely, if any, notice was taken of it in this
city, by way of rejoicing: not one of our bells suffered to ring, and but very
few colours were shown by the shipping in the harbour; no, nor not one bonfire
kindled.
SOURCE: William
Duane, Editor, Passages from the Diary of Christopher Marshall, Kept
in Philadelphia and Lancaster during the American Revolution, Vol. 1,
1774-1777, pp. 6-7
This day a petition
was presented to John Penn, our governor, (signed by near nine hundred
respectable freeholders in and near this city,) requesting him to call the
Assembly, in order to consider the proceedings of the British Parliament
towards America in their proceedings against the town of Boston, &c.
&c., to which his Honour was pleased to return the following answer,
"Gentlemen, upon occasions when the peace, order, and tranquillity of the
Province require it, I shall be ready to convene the Assembly; but as that does not appear to be the
case at present, I cannot think such a step would be expedient or consistent
with my duty."
SOURCE: William
Duane, Editor, Passages from the Diary of Christopher Marshall, Kept
in Philadelphia and Lancaster during the American Revolution, Vol. 1,
1774-1777, p. 7
A great number of
mechanics met at the State House about six o'clock in the evening, in
order to consider
an answer to send to the tradesmen of New York, who had written to this city
respecting what was necessary to be done. At this meeting, John Ross, Esq.
opened the reasons for calling them together, read their letter, &c.; upon
which a committee amongst the tradesmen was appointed, who are to answer the
said letter, and communicate and keep up a correspondence with the committee at
New York.
SOURCE: William
Duane, Editor, Passages from the Diary of Christopher Marshall, Kept
in Philadelphia and Lancaster during the American Revolution, Vol. 1,
1774-1777, p. 7
There was a meeting
held at the Philosophical Hall, and also the day after, consisting of the
committee and a number of other inhabitants, called in from all Societies in
town, to advise, consult and deliberate upon the propositions that were to be
laid before the general meeting of the inhabitants on the eighteenth instant,
near the State House, at three o'clock in the afternoon.
SOURCE: William
Duane, Editor, Passages from the Diary of Christopher Marshall, Kept
in Philadelphia and Lancaster during the American Revolution, Vol. 1,
1774-1777, p. 7
A very large and
respectable meeting of the freeholders and freemen of this city and county met
in the State House yard, where Thomas Willing and John Dickinson were chairmen,
when they entered into six spirited resolves, and chose forty-three persons as
committeemen to transact their affairs.
SOURCE: William
Duane, Editor, Passages from the Diary of Christopher Marshall, Kept
in Philadelphia and Lancaster during the American Revolution, Vol. 1,
1774-1777, pp. 7-8
This day twenty-nine
of the committee met at the Carpenters' Hall, in Chesnut-street, Thomas Willing
in the chair, agreed and appointed three of their members, viz. Joseph Reed,
John Nixon, and Thomas Whartone to wait upon the Speaker of the Assembly,
requesting him to call the Assembly, and to give them a positive answer whether
he would or not, before they made their report to the General Committee that is
to meet on Monday, the 27th inst. They also, at this meeting, appointed a
number of their members to go to different parts of the city and suburbs to
crave collections for poor Boston.
SOURCE: William
Duane, Editor, Passages from the Diary of Christopher Marshall, Kept
in Philadelphia and Lancaster during the American Revolution, Vol. 1,
1774-1777, p. 8
Army encamped on the
bank of James river—part of French fleet, with troops on board, in view.
Recrossed James river and encamped at Williamsburg. Army in high spirits—reinforcements
coming on.
SOURCE: J. B.
Lippincott & Co., Publisher, The Record of the Court at Upland, in
Pennsylvania. 1676 to 1681. And a Military Journal Kept by Major E. Denny, 1781
to 1795, p. 242
General Washington
arrived; our brigade was paraded to receive him; he rode along the line
quarters in Williamsburg.
SOURCE: J. B.
Lippincott & Co., Publisher, The Record of the Court at Upland, in
Pennsylvania. 1676 to 1681. And a Military Journal Kept by Major E. Denny, 1781
to 1795, p. 242
Officers all pay
their respects to the Commander-in-chief; go in a body; those who are not
personally known, their names given by General Hand and General Wayne. He
stands in the door, takes every man by the hand—the officers all pass in,
receiving his salute and shake. This the first time I had seen the General. We
have an elegant encampment close to town, behind William and Mary College. This
building occupied as an hospital. Williamsburg a very handsome place, not so
populous as Richmond, but situate on evenly, pretty ground; streets and lots
spacious—does not appear to be a place of much business, rather the residence
of gentlemen of fortune; formerly it was the seat of government and Dunmore's
late residence. A neat public building, called the capitol, fronts the
principal street; upon the first floor is a handsome marble statue of William
Pitt.
The presence of so
many general officers, and the arrival of new corps, seem to give additional
life to everything; discipline the order of the day. In all directions troops
seen exercising and manœuvring. Baron Steuben, our great military oracle. The
guards attend the grand parade at an early hour, where the Baron is always
found waiting with one or two aids on horseback. These men are exercised and
put through various evolutions and military experiments for two hours—many
officers and spectators present; excellent school, this. At length the duty of
the parade comes on. The guards are told off; officers take their posts, wheel
by platoons to the right; fine corps of music detailed for this duty, which
strikes up; the whole march off, saluting the Baron and field officer of
the day, as they pass. Pennsylvania brigade almost all old soldiers, and well
disciplined when compared with those of Maryland and Virginia. But the troops
from the eastward far superior to either.
SOURCE: J. B.
Lippincott & Co., Publisher, The Record of the Court at Upland, in
Pennsylvania. 1676 to 1681. And a Military Journal Kept by Major E. Denny, 1781
to 1795, pp. 243-4
Joined by the last
of the troops from the eastward. French encamped a few miles on the right; busy
in getting cannon and military stores from on board the vessels.
SOURCE: J. B.
Lippincott & Co., Publisher, The Record of the Court at Upland, in
Pennsylvania. 1676 to 1681. And a Military Journal Kept by Major E. Denny, 1781
to 1795, p. 244
