The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-18

west corner Of some crossing street Mrs. Sergeant
said there no doubt IL was thc since 80 wen
known az GratzB store, az southwest corner Oi
Seventh and High street."
Jhe "Indian Queen" Tavern, which in carrier days
was the contestant Of the house al the corner OF
Seventh and Market streets for the honor Of having
been the place wherein the Declaration was written
was situated at the southeast corner Of Fourth and
Market streets. Graydon refers TO the building and
states that IN 1TG0 1t was kept by the widow
Nichols.
In the recently published FIRST volume Of the "LiEe
Of Daniel Webster" by George TickDor Curtis, we
find some interesting passages which revive the old
dispute about the precise spot on which Jefferson
wrote the American Magma Charta, and which tend
to leave the question In even greater doubt than
before. In the autumn OF 1924 Daniel Webster
started on journey to Thomas Jefferson at Monti-
cello in company with George Ticknor, one of his
most intimate personal friends, who had been in
vted by Mr.. Jefferson TO assist him in
regulating the course OF studies az
the University OF Virginia. The party left Wash
ingtOn on the 9th OF December. The roads were In
a terrible state, and the journey was exceedingly
tedious, both going and returning On the return,
when the party were stopping over night at small
inn by the way Mr.. Webster and Mr.. Ncknor be-
guiled the time by debating TO Mrs. TCknor who
acted as amanuensis the conversations had by
them with Jefferson during the four or five days
passed at Monticello. The accuracy OF the report Of
Jeffersons sayings on this OCCASION which FIRST
given 10 Lne pubic Dy f1epCnBr WeDSJef, IN the
first volume of his fathers correspondence, pub
lshed In 1851 has been questioned points by
Jeferson's biOgrapher; but Mr.. Curtis puts forth a
strong argument in its support citing the fact that
was carefully prepared few hours after the depar-
ture OF the party from Monticello, as a private
record OF the visit, but doubtless with view of its
being at some future time given to the public.
We have thus detailed at length the circumstances
under which the paragraph given below written,
in order TO givet its full weight tending to settle,
although in unsatisfactory manner, question
which is not oaly OF local Importance, but OF general
interest. Among the memoranda OF Jeierson's
conversation rs written down by Mrs. Ticknor are
the following words, spoken by Jefferson in direct
response to q question by Webster:--
"1he Declaration Of Independence was written In
house on the north side OF Chestnut street, between
Third and Fourth-not q corner house HeskellS
Tavern. in Fourth street, has been shown for ito
Mr.. Webster)-but this is not the house."
In asserting that the place not corner house.
Jefferson at one word disposed OF the claims OF the
only two buildings which have generally been Gre
dited with the disputed HONOR the Indian Queen Inn
and the house at Seventh and Market streets. By
Heskell's Tavern he probably referred TO the first
named, which, as stated by Watson, was at one time
popularity supposed to have been the place But,
while the exact location still remains mystery and
will doubtless 80 remain for all time to come we are
able to get near the true site, and especially dis
pose Of the rival claims OF the two buildings to which
the credit was formerly awarded. Wherever the
building was located within the limits described by
Jefferson, it has long since disappeared, and such
s the case perhaps the solutionof the question
satisfactory as could be desired.