House of Commons, and was instrumental in effecting the subsequent peace. An inquiry was instituted into his conduct in the campaign, before a Committee of the House of Commons, where it was vindicated and sustained. In 1782 he was appointed commanderin-chief of his majesty's forces in Ireland, and a member of the Privy Council of that country. He died in 1792, and was buried in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey. This battle is an important epoch in the world's annals. It is as remarkable in its details as in its results. It was divided, as is seen, into two parts, with an interim of seventeen days, connected by daily skirmishes; fought on the same ground and by the same combatants. Its wide spread action lay among the most splendid scenery of our state. It is touched with the deepest romance of fortitude, fidelity and death. The most desperate courage was displayed-consummate military tactics were employed. Emblematic of our Union, it combined various States into one sympathetic heartbeating with patriotism, and burning with courage. Its ulterior results were most momentous. The grand hope that arose from its field illumined our nation to its farthest bounds. So have we seen the rising sun dispel the mist and smite with splendor hill and valley. The blaze kindled the gloom of the Continental Congress; it starred the brow of Washington, bowed somewhat by Brandywine and Germantown: from many a homestead marched the yeoman-many a fireside sent its treasured boy and all was bright for freedom. The blaze-turned to a baleful meteor "portending change "-glared over the British Councils. Chatham rolled the dying thunders of his eloquence against the war-Barre shot the keen shafts of his sarcasm against ministers, and Burke flashed the auroral splendors of his rhetoric in their drooping eyes. In France, the grand light displayed American Freedom, no longer feeble and tottering, but marching with proud step and uplifted weapons towards the wished for goal. She instantly acknowledged our Independence-ratified a Treaty of Alliance, and soon the sails of D'Estaing, bright with Saratoga's orb, were wafting welcome aid to America. Higher rose that orb of hope-like Apollo's lyre, whatever it touched it kindled into life. King's Mountain leaped into triumphant ray, and the Cowpens sent on high its beacon flameuntil, on the heights of Yorktown, victory waving with taunting scorn the laurel before the eyes of Cornwallis, wreathed it, among cannon bursts of music and the shouts of hosts, around the brow of Washington. Is it demanding too much for this battle to say, that to it we owe, mainly, our Republic? Had it been lost, we might, in that gloomy crisis of our affairs, have been shortly subdued. Or, if the contest had been prolonged to a weary period, from concessions of England, or desponding yieldings of our own, what might not have occurred? Our treasury was exhausted, our credit was prostrate, no nation had substantially recognized us, our armies in most instances had been defeated, intestine foes swarmed, and the military prestige of England was overwhelming. But this battle, with one mighty arm, shook that prestige to the centre of the throne, and with the other, planted on a steadfast basis our tottering nation. And now behold that nation. In it the nineteenth century sees a Republic turning into a splendid reality, the fancied fabric which at a far distant era shone in the divine dream of Plato. The same foam that sparkles among the dipping cedars of St. Anthony's Falls, ripples beneath the magnolia's chalices in the bayous of Louisiana. The wind that hurls the snowdrifts in the winter mountains of Maine is soon melted into liquid fragrance over the summer flowers of Florida. The roaring of the Atlantic wave is our own stormy music, and, standing on the margin of her Pacific, our nation views, far off in that quiet sea, islands waving her flag and laughing in the light of her spreading civilization. And not only that, but her restless heart, hovering on the Equator, and turning from Orion and the Pleiades of the northern constellations, pierces with the eye of conquest into that hemisphere where beam the splendors of the Southern Cross and the starry shield of the Centaur. The most interesting incident connected with the Battle of Saratoga was the unfurling for the first time the stars and stripes at Burgoyne's surrender. Bunker Hill was fought under a flag, red as the blood it let from British veins-but in June 1777, the Continental Congress resolved "That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white, and that the Union be thirteen stars white on a blue field, representing a new constellation." This was made public in September following. Previous to this, our national banner was the Union flag, combining the crosses of St. George and St. Andrew, with thirteen stripes alternate red and white. The stars of the new flag represented the new constellation of States rising in the West; the idea taken from the constellation Lyra, In 1753 he was chosen chief Master of the English School at the College and Academy of Philadelphia, and in 1755, was elected Professor of English and Oratory. which, in the hands of Orpheus, signified har-cester, England, 1711, came with his parents to mony. The blue of the field was taken from America, 1714, and settled in Lower Dublin, the edges of the Covenanters' banner in Scot- near Philadelphia. In 1735, he joined the Bapland, significant also of the league and covenant tist Church at Pennpack, and in 1743 was orof the United Colonies against oppression-in-dained as a minister. cidentally involving the virtues of vigilance, perseverance and justice. The stars were disposed in a circle, symbolizing the perpetuity of the Union-the ring, like the circling serpent of the Egyptians, signifying eternity. The thirteen stripes showed, with the stars, the number of the United Colonies, and denoted the subordination of the States to the Union as well as equality among themselves. The whole was a blending of the various flags previous to the Union flag, viz: the red flags of the army, and white ones of the floating batteries. The red color also, which in Roman days was the signal of defiance, denoted daring-and the white, purity. What eloquence do the stars and stripes breathe when their full significance is known! A new constellation; Union, perpetuity; a covenant against oppression; justice, equality, subordination, courage and purity. And where now is not that banner known? Trophied with victories in war, and doubly trophied with victories of peace, it is respected throughout the earth as the Flag of the free. Success to the Flag of our nation, Success to the Flag of our nation, Let it sweep o'er the land and the sea! He died July 4th, 1778, aged 67, and was burried at Lower Dublin. He was a friend and associate of Dr. Franklin, and they together made numerous discoveries in electricity. At the conclusion of Mr. Jones' essay, the Rev. Dr. Boardman addressed the Society at considerable length. It is apparent, he said, from the able and instructive paper to which we have just listened, that this Society regards it as one of its legitimate functions to see that justice is done to the historical personages of our own country and continent. It is an errand of this kind which led him to trespass upon the time and patience of the Society. Dr. Boardman then proceeded to descant upon the injustice done to Columbus by posterity, and suggested that the coins of the United States should bear the effigies of the great discoverer. J. R. Snowden, Esq., Director of the Mint, responded to the eloquent remarks of Dr. Boardman, but dissented from his suggestion. We regret that our limits do not permit the insertion of a full report of this interesting discussion. WISCONSIN. WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY.-(Officers below.) The annual meeting of this Society was held at Madison, Jan. 1st, 1858, President Smith in the chair. The annual reports of the executive committee, the treasurer, and librarian, were submitted. The treasurer reports the gross receipts of the Society during the past year to have been $1,677 89, and total expenditures $1,609 88. The additions to the library during the same period, were 1,024 volumes, nearly all of which may be regarded as works of the highest value, and many of them of great rarity. The whole number of volumes now in the library is 4,146, of which 257 are in folio, and 405 in quarto. Beside these additions of books, HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA.-portraits in oil of Dr. Kane and James G. Perci(Officers, vol. i. p. 81.) The monthly meeting was held on Monday, Dec. 14th, Hon. Henry D. Gilpin, presiding. Societies and their Proceedings. PENNSYLVANIA. Mr. Horatio G. Jones read a paper on the "Rev. Ebenezer Kinnersley, and his discoveries and experiments in electricity." Mr. Kinnersley was born in the city of Glou val, and a painting of the Pecatonica battle-field, have been presented to the Society. The following is a list of the officers of the society elected at this meeting: President, Gen. Wm. R. Smith, Mineral Point. Vice-Presidents, Hon. James Duane Doty, of Menasha; I. A. Lapham, of Milwaukee; Gen. A. G. Ellis, of Stevens Point; Hon. Morgan L. Curators, Hon. L. J. Farwell, Hon. J. P. Atwood, Hon. D. J. Powers, Horace Rublee, S. H. Carpenter, F. G. Tibbits, S. G. Benedict, Dr. C. B. Chapman, Wm. Gennet, David Atwood, E. A. Calkins, Edward Ilsley, S. V. Shipman, Frank H. Firman, J. A. Ellis, H. D. B. Cutler. After the election, the society adjourned. TENNESSEE TENNESSEE. HISTORICAL SOCIETY.-(Officers, vol. i. p. 180.) This society met at the Capitol, in Nashville, on the 5th Jan. 1858, the President, A. W. Putnam, Esq., in the chair. President Putnam presented and read a valuable paper in relation to the battle of King's Mountain, which was received and ordered to be filed. The paper was accompanied by various MSS. and printed papers, throwing light upon the subject. Mr. Putnam presented an original letter from Col. John Donelson, and the last one he ever wrote to his family. Col. Donelson was the father of Mrs. Andrew Jackson. Also, an original letter from Mrs. Andrew Jackson, and believed to be the only letter in existence written by Mrs. Jackson. It was written in Florida, in 1821, and is addressed to her brother, Capt. Donelson. Also, an original letter from Gen. Andrew Jackson, written at Washington in 1829, and addressed to Capt. John Donelson, Sr. The President presented a letter from Lord Brougham, of England, returning thanks to this Society for his election as an honorary member. Donations were then made, embracing a larger amount of valuable works, etc., than ever before presented at a single meeting of the Society. The following gentlemen were then proposed and elected honorary members, to wit: soll, B. R. Curtis, Winthrop Sargent, John Lothrop Motley, Prof. John Torrey. These gentlemen were elected honorary members of the Historical Society of Tennessee, as a mark of the respect of the society for their eminent abilities, and great services towards the material and moral progress of our common country. The following resolution was unanimously adopted, viz: Resolved, That the thanks of the society be returned to each donor, by name, and that a letter of acknowledgment be sent to those at a distance who have made contributions at the present meeting. CONNECTICUT. CONNECTICUT HISTORICAL SOCIETY.—(Officers, vol. i. p. 235.) Regular meeting at Hartford, Jan. 5th. Hon. Henry Barnard, President, in the chair. After the transaction of the usual business, the president made an informal announcement of the provision made by the will of the late David Watkinson, Esq., of Hartford, for forming a library of reference in connection with that of the Society and under the same direction. For this purpose, and objects nearly connected with it, Mr. Watkinson made a bequest of $100,000. The will (which covers nearly a hundred pages), is not yet printed, nor is the settlement of the estate so far advanced as to determine when or to what extent this fund will become available. The president was requested to communicate with the executors of the will, and to prepare suitable resolutions expressing the sentiments of the society respecting this munificent provision for a historical library. J. Hammond Trumbull, Esq., called the attention of the meeting to an interesting discovery which he had recently made, in the manuscript department of the library. He had succeeded in deciphering a small volume, closely written in short hand, and finds it to contain a series of notes of sermons preached at Windsor and Hartford, between April 19, 1638, and April 29, 1641, in regular course, taken down by Mr. Henry Wolcott, of Windsor (who was afterwards one of the magistrates of the colony). Washington Irving, Jared Sparks, Hon. notes give the dates, texts and general outline George Robertson, B. A. Gould, Benjamin of the sermons and lectures of the Rev. John Pierce, Hon. Thos. H. Benton, Nathaniel B. Warham and Ephraim Huit, of Windsor, and of Shurtleff, J. B. D. Debow, Freeman Hunt, those delivered by Rev. Thomas Hooker and George Ticknor, Joseph Gales, Spencer F. Baird, Samuel Stone, at Hartford, while Mr. Wolcott Luther S. Cushing, Asa Gray, James D. Dana, was there at the sessions of the general Court. Prof. S. F. B. Morse, John William Draper, They comprise the notes of what are doubtless Evert A. Ducykinck, Hon. Peter Force, E. the first and second Connecticut election serB. O. Callaghan, John R. Broadhead, Henry R. mons, preached by Mr. Hooker before the GeneSchoolcraft, Richard Hildreth, Joseph R. Inger-ral Court; the first in May, 1838, before the for HIST. MAG. VOL. II. 11 These mation of the Constitution of 1638-9; the second, in April 1639, at the first election of Gov. Haynes, under that Constitution. Under date of June 1, 1638, Wm. Wolcott noted "the great earthquake, about 3 of the clock in the afternoon," and a violent thunder storm which occurred about a fortnight before; and some other allusions to passing events occur in the course of the volume. The system of short hand made use of in this and other writings of Mr. Wolcott, was nearly that of Willis (1607), .but the task of the decipherer was rendered peculiarly difficult by the great number of arbitrary characters employed. C. J. Hoadly, Esq., read a letter from Wm. D'Antignac, Esq., of Augusta, Ga., addressed, nearly a year since, to the Governor of Connecticut, tendering to the State, the stone which formerly marked the grave of the Hon. Lyman Hall, a signer of the Declaration Independence, for Georgia, but a native of Wallingford, Connecticut. The remains of Mr. Hall have been removed from the private burying ground, where they were first deposited (on the estate now owned by Mr. D'Antignac), to rest with those of his colleagues, Gwinnett and Walton, under the monument erected by the State of Georgia to the memory of the Signers. The original grave-stone lying unclaimed, Mr. D'Antignac, to ensure its preservation, proposed its removal to Connecticut. Upon Gov. Minor's recommendation, a committee was appointed by the Legislature, last spring, to receive this memorial and cause it to be erected in the cemetery at Wallingford. It has lately been received at Hartford, and is deposited temporarily in the hall of the State House, whence it will be soon transmitted to its ultimate destination. NEW JERSEY. NEW JERSEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.-(Officers below.) This Society met in the City Hall at Trenton, on the 21st Jan.-the President, Hon. Joseph C. Hornblower, in the chair. obtain before he should give to his work a permanent shape. The matter already collected covered every period of the Doctor's eventful life, and left no room to doubt the interesting character of the biography. The Librarian, Mr. Congar, reported the donations since the last meeting. The total donations since May amount to 58 volumes, 108 pamphlets and 3 maps. The whole number of bound volumes belonging to the Society is now 2,181, and of pamphlets 3,069-exclusive of duplicates. As Treasurer, Mr. Congar reported the balance in the Treasury to be $262 27, and only $59 27 of which were applicable to the general purposes of the Society. The Executive Committee presented their thirteenth annual report, in which, while they congratulated the Society upon the progress made in achieving the great object of the organization, they commented upon the necessity for devising means whereby the treasury might be replenished, and the zealous cooperation of the members be more effectually secured; and attributing to the difficulty attending the gathering of a quorum of the Executive Committee, from the members of it being scattered over the State, much of whatever neglect of the interests of the Association might be apparent. Nothing had been done towards the erection of the fire proof building for the Society's occupancy, nor had any change been made in the site secured for it; and they drew attention to the recommendation made on a former occasion, that steps should be taken to procure from the English archives such statutes and journals of the Provincial and later Assemblies, as might be necessary to complete the set in the possession of the State. Rev. Dr. Murray, from the Committee on Publications, reported the issue since the last meeting of another number of the "Proceedings," containing the operations of the Society from September, 1826, to the present time, with much valuable additional matter; and that the fifth volume of the "Collections," containing the Analytical Index to the Colonial Documents, was about being put to press. Mr. D. A. Hayes, the Recording Secretary, having read the minutes of the last meeting, the elected on the recommendation of the nominatSeveral members, previously nominated, were correspondence since May was submitted by the ing committee, and new nominations received. Corresponding Secretary, Mr. W. A. Whitehead, The chair appointed Messrs R. S. Field, P S. comprising letters from the Historical Societies of Connecticut, Florida and Wisconsin; the Re-Duryee and W. L. Dayton a committee to nomigents of the University of New York; American nate officers for the ensuing year, and named the following Philosophical Society, etc. Mr. Gifford's letter related to the progress made by him in preparing the Biographical Sketch of Dr. Peter Wilson, announcing the collection of a large amount of materials, and the expectation of more, which he was desirous to STANDING COMMITTEES FOR 1858: On Publications-Rev. Dr. Murray, R. S. Field, W. A. Whitehead, Dr. S. H. Pennington, and Henry W. Green. On Purchases--W. A. Whitehead, Dr. Isaac S. Mulford, S. Alofsen, Samuel H. Congar, and Rev. Dr. Davidson. On Statistics-Dr. Lewis Condict, J. P. Bradley, John Rodgers, Dr. Stephen Congar, and Dr. L. A. Smith. On Nominations-David A. Hayes, Peter S. Duryee, President McLean. Committee on Fire Proof Building-Hon. D. S. Gregory, P. S. Duryee, R. S. Field, W. P. Robeson, John Chadwick, Cortlandt Parker, Jacob D. Vermilye. The Committee appointed to nominate officers subsequently reported the following, who were thereupon duly elected for the ensuing year. President-Joseph C. Hornblower, LL.D. Vice-Presidents-James Parker, Wm. A. Duer, LL.D., Wm. L. Dayton, LL.D. Corresponding Secretary-Wm. A.Whitehead. Recording Secretary-David A. Hayes. Treasurer and Librarian-Samuel H. Congar. Executive Committee-Archer Gifford, Rev. Nicholas Murray, D.D., Dudley S. Gregory, Henry W. Green, Wm. P. Robeson, Richard S. Field, Rev. R. K. Rodgers, Wm. Pennington, Peter S. Duryee. The special business being an amendment to the first by-law proposed at the last meeting by Rev. R. K. Rodgers, was then taken up: the purport of the amendment being to leave it optional with the Society to hold the annual meeting at Trenton or elsewhere. After a discussion in which the Rev. Dr. Murray, Hon. Wm. L. Dayton, Judge Robeson, the President, Messrs. Havens, Hammill, and Whitehead, participated, the subject, on motion of Dr. Murray, was indefinitely postponed. Pending this discussion, the Society adjourned for dinner, and reassembling at 3 o'clock, Mr. C. C. Havens presented to the society a photographic copy of a print, contemporary with the event, representing the triumphal arch erected by the ladies of Trenton in honor of Washington on his passage through the place in April, 1789; and exhibited a photographic copy of the original note (now in possession of a descendant of the lady who received it), which was written by Washington at the time. The note is as follows: latory song, have made such an impression on his remembrance, as he assures them will never be effaced. "TRENTON, April 21st., 1789." Mr. Havens also made an oral statement of some facts which corroborated what he had published in a pamphlet form, relative to the importance of the engagement which took place between the Royal and Continental forces on the Assanpink, which had been in a great measure overlooked by historians. Mr. Whitehead read "A brief statement of the facts connected with the origin, practice and prohibition of Female Suffrage in New Jersey." Rev. Dr. Hall, of Trenton, read some extracts from a historical paper, containing statements referring to the plans for establishing at or near Trenton, the seat of the Federal Government, which had engaged the attention of the old Congress, prior to its location on the Potomac; with other matter relating to the condition of the site of Trenton at an early period. Mr. Field, on rising to move a vote of thanks for the interesting items furnished by Dr. Hall, expressed his regret that the researches of the gentleman had not been prosecuted farther, so as to show by what means the location was fixed on the Potomac, and proceeded to give an interesting statement of the intrigues by which New England, to secure the assumption of its debt by the general government, was brought to consent to the transfer of the site to the place as selected by the South. Alexander Hamilton being the chief prompter of the scheme in order to insure the funding of the debt, which the South was unwilling to accede to unless some equivalent was granted, and Mr. Jefferson's dinner-table being the council board around which the plan was arranged. Mr. Whitehead called the attention of the Society to a paper which he was about to read, which had been prepared by the Hon. James Parker, which indisposition had prevented that gentleman from presenting in person. Although complete in itself, it would have been rendered more valuable had the intentions of the venerable author been carried out from the personal explanations and illustrations, which his thorough acquaintance with the subject would have enabled him to give. "General Washington cannot leave this place without expressing his acknowledgments to the Matrons and Young Ladies, who received him Mr. Whitehead then read "A brief History of in so novel and grateful a manner at the Trium- the Boundary Disputes between New York and phal Arch in Trenton, for the exquisite sensa- New Jersey," and accompanied the reading with tions he experienced in that affecting moment. some oral statements relative to the ranner in The astonishing contrast between his former and which Staten Island had been absorbed by New actual situation at the same spot-the elegant York, and also of the nature of the dispute retaste with which it was adorned for the present specting the northern boundary, exhibiting a occasion-and the innocent appearance of the map upon which the lands acquired by New white robed choir, who met him with the gratu-York were delineated, and also, for the inspec |