, 1865-04-07

"Indenendence Hall. y

This Hall-Chestnut street, Philadelphia--is
preserved with great care it being regarded as
'sholy ground.
The old bell of Independence, that first rang
out the proclamation, that the colonies had de-
clared themselves free and independent Of the
rule of the mother country, is still preserved and
weighs 2 08O lbs, and has upon it this remarka-
BILE motto, which seems prophetic as it were:
"Proclaim Liberty throughout the land, and to
all the people thereof"
Here, too, may be seen portion of the pew of
Christ Church. used by Washington, Lafayette
and Franklin; also Dr. Franklin's s desk A por-
tion of the "stone step from which Indepen-
dence was proclaimed, is exhibited, which is un-
doubtedly q deception, or cheat, like much of
the granite over the country laid up and kept
very choice as a part of Plymouth Rock. Sus-
pended from the ceiling in the center of the hall,
is the ancient chandelier used by Congress du-
ring their deliberations, still in a good state of
preservation.
There is q chair of modern manufacture that
excites much interest, as it is supposed to be
very ancient 1t was made, however, in 1888, by
order of the Board of Commissioners of the late
District of Kensington. Among the materials
used in its construc ction, is portion Of a mahog
any beam from a house built in l496, near the
city of st. Domingo, for the use of Columbus,
said to have been the first house built in Ameri-
ca by Europeans; it also contains pieces of the
elm under which Penn made his famous treaty
with the Indians of PENIS Cottage in Letitia
Court of the United States frigate Constitution
of the ship-of-th e-line Pennsylvania, and one of
the group of walnut trees which formerly stood
in front of the State House, served as landmark
in early times, to guide the citizens of the city
on their pilgrimage to the Capitol, then out of
town. Some portions of the cane-seating from
a chair, once the property Of William Penn; also
a lock of the hair of Chief Justice Marshall, are
inserted into this curious chair.
1t seems by the record that this building was
commenced in 1929, and finished in 1874. The
amplitude of this edfce, built at that early day,
the expensive decorations, costing some 600
pounds sterling, or about $28, 900, are striking
and most creditabe evidences Of the public spir-
it and liberaity of those early times AS one
looks upon the portraits of the early patriots
hanging upon the walls, and contemplates the
facts of colonial history, the mind is filled with
associations of no ordinary kind. The fact is
that within these walls was transacted by our
forefathers the most momentous scene in the
history of our country.
No stranger visiting Philadelphia should fail
of visiting, and paying his deyotions to this ear
ly "Shrne of Freedom" Here are the portraits
ofPenn, the proprietor of "Penns Sylvia, called
Pennsylvania, John Hancock, President of the
first Congress; George Washington, the father of
his country; Lafay ette, the friend of America,
and many others including signers Of the Decla-
ration of Independence patriots, and other dis
tinguished men, 1t is really no ordinary event
in ones life to enjoy the opportunity Of looking
upon such a collection of paintings, all pictures
of representative men, most of them living in
"she times that tried mems souls"