American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1825-11-04
COMMUNICATION
LANDING OF WILLIAM PENN.

Philadelphia, Oct Oh 1926.
One hundred and forty three years have passed
since the la dingupon our shores, of that wise and
n,retd and yirtuous. Laughter, to whom the set
Element OF this STATE, distinct Province, is ow
i ing That those years have been periods of public
liberty. domestic virtue, and general prosperity, to
7 degree unezamped in the history OF other com
munitie.. is under Providence, mainly due to the
principles OF civil and religious freedom, and strict
| morality unon whose broad and enduring basis the
Com n,onwealih erected and to the personal
character and rxample of the great Founder and his
associates. Few nations owe heavier debt of gra-
titude their pogeniiors and there still fewer
10 whom the contemplation of the character and ac-
lions OF their Ancestors afford satisfaction so free
from alloy. The recolleclions OF those excellent
men who for conscience and freedoms sake, and
with the courage of fortude and endurance lar
more and praiseworhy than the courage Of &C.
uon laid the foundation Of this Commonwealth in
the Wilderness have been nevertheless suffered to
pass into comparative oblivion While the Ami
versary of the Birth Day Of Independence was Joy.
| lully and Justly celebrated by the people of every
village in the State that OF the landing of Penn, an
epoch no less rema' liable and subject Of hardly
less felictous remembrance, was for nearly cen
fury and hall unnoticed. At length 10 1921, ou
learned and venerable fellow citizen, Mr.. Duponceau,
in discourse delivered before the American Philo
sophical Society, proposed the Annual Commence.
ration OF the day. The suggestion made deep
impression but owing to circumstances, was not
acted upon until 1924, when few gentlemen as
sembed at the house, in Lsctta Court, once occu
pied by the Proprietary now a respectable Inn,
kept by Mr.. John Doyle An instructive and ANNA
ted discourse was then delivered by Mr. Duponceau
and the company afterwards dned together, having
determined to form society for the perpetual COM
memora,ion Of the event. At subsequent meet.
ing, held a, the same place in February following.
Ia Constitution was reported and adopted. providing
as The FIRST article Declares for the purpose of wor
thily concentrating the first landing of our illus
irous Founder William Penn, on the American
Shore. on the 9Th Of October, 1852; and transmit
ting his name and the memory Of his virtues, with
due honor, TO the grateful remembrance of ou
osieri,y |, was afterwards etermned that the
ist pubic commemoI alton, should be celebrated
on the Gath Of October, 1925, by public discours,
and festival.
Accordingly, on Monday last, at noon, discours,
uncommoHly able and eloquent. was read by Charlie.
Jared Tngerson, Esq one Of the Directors Of tn,
Society, at the University. The audience was nu
merous, and composed Of most eminent ans
enlightened citizens. A number of ladies also graf
flied the society with their presence. On the plat
form, with the Orator, and the Committee Of Ar
rangement, were seated, the President of the Uni
ted States, the Duke Bernard of SAKE Weimar
Judge Washington, of the Supreme Court of III
United States and Judge Peters, President of tn
1Society On the entrance of the President, tn
whole Assembly rose and greeted him with YER
distinct expression Of their respect and regard.
At O'Clock in the afternoon, the Society, wit
several invited guests, sat down to an abundant an
we'll furnished dinner, prepared at the Masoni
Hall. There were present, the President of tn
United States, the Duke Bernard of Sake Vienna,
Edward Livingston, Esquire, Member of Congress
from Louisiana, Mr.. Brent of the Department I
State, Col. M'Lane, and George Read, ESQUIRE
from the State of Delaware, and about sevept
Members Of the Society. The venerable Jude
Peters, who, with the recollcctions of the provl
cial and revolutionary history, possesses the ment
and physical vigor of the meridian of his hr
presided, assisted by Peter Stephen Duponcea
Esquire and Joseph Watson, Esq. Mayor Of Il
City, as Vice Presidents.