Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-11-25

j know you will all concur with me- that tnis "a "1
he ever sacred 10 The interests OF Truth, OF Justice, u
Loyalty, of Honor, OF Liberty. May no private views nor
narIv brolls ever enter within these walls; blu. may The
same public spirit that glowed III The breast OF Tue &C..
nerous founder, influence all your debates, that society
NAV reap the benefit Of them. May Liberty always
s,reod il, joyful wings ever this place; Liberty, that
ooens men $ hearts 10 beneficence, aud gives The Tei'sh
10 those who enjoy the effects OF H.!
On the 18Th OF January, 1901, a violent fire broke
GU, in the vicinity, which consumed the noble ed'ice
entire, with the exception OF the "aiis, wh'ch WIZ
| left standing. The town records and papers were saved,
II was forthwith voted in town meeting 10 repair lhe
building, which was done in 1863; and on March i+tn
Of that year the first meeting was holden IN II, ana Tue
building was dedicated anew 10 the cause at freecom,
in an eloquent speech by James Otis, Jr., Esq one OF
the unrest of patriots, aud one Of the ablest and most
distlupuised men which the stormy scenes OF the ReVo
luton produced. His able discussion oil, and Oppose
ton TO, The policy OF granting wr'ts OF assistance, 70
enable the Custom. House officers TO carry INTO more ~
oorous execution certain acts of Parliament, called Inc
acts Of trade, will ever be remembered; and with other
great services, has immorlalized him IN the history Of
his country.
When he delivered his Grafton in dedication OF Ia
neull Hall, he was ,hlrty.eighty years OF age, and was
described in those days as a goodly parsonage, w,th q
plump round face, smooth skin, short neck and an
eagle eve. II may suffice to say of this Grafton, that II
brcathed the very spirit OF Liberty, and was a none
tribute 10 the cause Of freedom, TRUTH, and liberty OF
speech. II was in fact, a new expression, a fresh bap'
1 ISL u AK ohbhS AS'H
funeral Grafton OF Faneuil.
Such was the origin of the grant, and such the pnr'
poses to which it was depo;ed-purposes, which nave
been ratified and sanctioned in every meeting oil The
citizens OF Boston from I1I2 TO the presenttime. The
nature and character of the donation cannot be changed,
being as il is ! gift for 4 special object, accepted as such,
and consequently binding upon posterIty through The
action Of the municipal authorities.
In lS06, an enlargement OF faneuil fiaii was naue,
by which il was extended 10 eighty feet, and It's height
increased by an additional story. Previous 10 the build
ing Of Quincy Market, the basement was used Tor meat
stalls but now these have given place 10 clothing
stores, &c. The hall proper is 10 ieet square, 20 ieet
high, and has deep galleries on tue Northern, Eastern
and Southern sides. Its now ornnmented with The por-
traits Of Peter Faneuil, George Washington, the Ia
,Ier OF his country, Samuel Adams, General Knox,
and other distinguished men and patriots. 1t is lighted
by a beautiful chandelier, which has been recently pro.
cured and over the eastern gallery IS placed a carved
eagle of The largest size-the same which wassuspend'
cd 90 long over the old Slate Bank in State stree
Over the Hall are the armories Of Sc geral oil our voiun-
teer military companies; and on the top oil the dome
8 a grasshopper vane, which device was taken ION
the ancient coat of arms OF the Faneuil family.
In the active scenes which preceded the Declaration
of Independence, as we'll us afterwards, Faneuil Hall
was always resorted 10 by the people TO deliberate upon
the preservation of their liberties, and the maintenance
of their rights-and it was here that many OF the most
determined acts TO British tyranny and aggression were
resolved upon. II was occasionally desecrated, as II
now is, by the enemies of liberiy-and when Genenl
Gage had possession of Boston, it was no uneommen
thing for the British officers to repair there for amuse-
ment-nnd enact plays and farces, in which 1t was oiten
said they themselves we're The most ridiculous actors
More frequently, however, there were different scenes
enacted in this old Cradle Of Liberty, scenes that spoke
of high resolve and determined patriotism on The par'
of The gallant citizens of Boston.
To show The spirit OF our fathers, and their manner
of getting up a meeting in Faneuil Hall, we give the
following call, which was issued Monday morning, Nov;
90, 1913, on its being ascer.ained that the Dartmouth had
arrived in The harbor On The day before, Sunday, with
lI2 chests of tea:
oFRIESDs, BRETHREN, CouSTnrMrN THAT worst
of plaques, the detested TEA, shipped for this port by
the East India Company, ia now arrived in this haroor
The hour of destruction, or manly opposition to the
Vaccinations Of tyranny, stares you in the face. Every
friend to his country, to himself, and to poster'ty, is
now called upon 10 meet at Faneuil Hall, at nine o'clock
this day, lat which time the bells will ring0 to make o
united and successful resistance to this last, wors'' ana
most detestable measure of administration.
BosroS, Nov. 2olh, 1873