Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-10-27
Correspondence OF the Union and American.

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Correspondence OF the Union andAmericSn.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. Philadelphia
claims to be the Historical City of the
Union" and not without cause, for it con.
tains moro souvenirs, of the early history OF
the country, colonial and national than
any other. Quite 3 number have been
mentioned in this correspondence, and q
reference to few others will not be inap-
pr opriate in bringing it to q close.
s....,1 CHRIST CHURCH.
Reference WRs made in the extract from
a Philadelphia letter 1 found in the United
States Mint, and transcribed for one OF the
letters of this correspon iencs, to the fact that
'sthe plain pine seat, painted red, upon
which Washington and Lafayette sat in
Christ Church, p was still preserved among
other mementoes Of the Revolutionary
period. The church itself stands in Second
street, near Market, on the site ofthe first
church erected by the followers Of Penn.
Tradition says that the frame church built
by them in 1896 Qhiteen years after the
city of Philadelphia was laid out by Will
liam Penny was used as place Of worship
until the walls Of the present building in
closed it and were rooted over, when the
old church was taken down and carried out
piecemeal. The present edifcs was begun
in 1727, and finished by the raising of the
steeple in 1854 A local chronicler says:
''The noisy street in front was quiet
enough when the builders of this church
walked solemnly to meeting on the
Sabbath. 1t was grand enough too,
when Washington's gorgeous car
riot, drawn by four elegant long tailed bays,
drew up before the church, and its stately
master stepped inside through a waiting
crowd OF his sdmiring countrymen.p The
steeple of the church is one hundred and
ninety-six feet in height, and from the out
look, which is about one hundred and fifty
feet above the ground, q most admirable
view Of the city and its Surroundings may
be had. The bells in this high tower are
said to be the oldest on this side of the At
Enthusiastically the Oldest chime. They
Joined in the pecan with which the bel in
the tower over Independence Hall an
nounced the birth of a nation and pro.
claimed liberty throughout the borders of
this country, and fed, like many of the con-
gTegation that worshipped below them,
when it became evident that the city could
not hold out against the red coated invaders;
but like the congregation, they returned
when the enemy was gone. These bells,
eight in number, were cast in London, and
the tenor bears this inscription: ''Chriss
Lester and Thomas Peck, of London, made
us all" One was cracked about 1S34-5,
and was returned to lis birthplace, sSWhite
Chapel Bell Foundry" London, where Thos.
Mears, the successor Of Messrs. Lester Il
Peck, recast it and sent it back with an ap-
propTiate inscTip. ions A tablet in the rug
ers' room records the fact that son Sunday,
June 9, 1850, was rung in this steeple Mr..
Hollis celebrated ten-parJ peal Of grandsire
triples, consisting OF 5,040 changes, in.three
hours and fifteen minutes, by eight per-
formers, being the first peal of change-ri0g-
in ever performed in the United States"
The massive timbers which uphold these
bells are as sound IS when put in more
than century ago.
There is one other church in Philadel-
phi& which ante-dates Christ Church, but it
does not appear to be so intimately con-
nected with ths dawn of the revolution as
the latter. It is the old Swedes' Church,
on Swanson street, Southwark, the ancient
Wicaco. This venerable edifce was built
in 100, 10 take the place Of a log struct-
uTe which was erected in 1877 and served
equally well for church or fort, as the exig.
encies of those somewhat uncertain times
might demand. The present church is OF
brick, and is still regularly used.
PARAMOUNT PARK, AND ITS HISTORICAL
q a PLACES i-4 -5Al- sd.
The glory of Philadelphia is Fairmount
Park. The peculiar history which is at
tached TO many places within its borders,
connecting them with the strugd de for ia
Dependence, gives it al unusual interest,
not only to the inhabitants Of the city for
whose comfort it has been set apart, but
to Americans generally. It embraces
about 2,9G0 acres, lying on both sides OF
ScJuyBill river and the Wassahickon creek,
its greatest length being about eleven miles
1t is composed of estates heretofore known
as Lemon Hill, Sedgely, Solitude, Lans.
DIVINE, Belmont, and number Of fine old
country seas OIL IS historical note. These
have been purchased a. different times by
the city, and dedicated 20 be public pleas
ure ground forever. Farm 1unt Park arose
from the necessity for a supply .pure wa
ter, the deterioration of which threatened to
become not only an evil, but grievous cs-
lamity. The mills and m4nufa tories on the
banks of the Schuylkll were multiplying
rapidly, and there Was great danger that in
few years the river banks for miles above
the city would be lined with factories and
workshops to the utter ruin Of the stream
on which the citizens depended for theil
supply Of pure water. This was as long
ago rs 1912, and "Faire Mount was theI
at SO great distance from the city as not
| to be thought of as resort for public. re
creation. From this necessity has spranl
! one of the largest parks in the world, there
\ being but one larger-WindsOr Park, nea
London, which contains 3 900 acres. From
| local histories the following facts are learn
ed touching the historical estates now in
Guided within the limits of the park.
LEMON HILL is the place where Rober
| Morris had his home during the Revolution
1t was then called eThe HiIs," and con
tanned forty-five acres, which was laid GU
and adorned with rare taste. Here the grea
financier loved todWell. Here he enter
tanned many men whose names were mad
illustrious by those stirring times. Han
cock, Franklin, the elder Adams, member
of the Continental Congress-, officers of thu
army and navy, and many of the fore mes
citizens met frequently under this hospita
BILE roof. Here, busy in peace as in war, b
afterwards planned those magnificent en-
terprises which were his financial ruin--fo
while he operated for the government will
signal ability, as if "sky-guarded and hesv
en-directed, leading to national end b.
an over-ruling Providence" when actin
for himself all his personal affairs wen
wrong and TO ruin--and from here ne wa
led away TO prison, "the victim Of law
equally barbarous and absurd, which, be
cause q man could not pay what he owed
locked him up lest he might earn III
means TO discharge his debit The fortune
of this once magnificent mansion have fall
EN-, like those of its former owner, and it
row restaurant, where Indifferent refresh
ments are dealt ont. ..,..T
SEDGELY also at one time belonged &
Robert Morris, but the mansion was bull
bya Mr. CramOnd. Here stands a sma
frame building known as "Grant's Cot
tage," because it was used by that Geners
as his headquarters at City Point durin
our "late unpeasantness." It was brougb
here at the c'ose of the war, and subse
qlently placed upoGits present site.s
SOLITUDE is peculiar place with a DC
culiar history. The queer looking. SQUARE
two-story house, half fort in appearance,
was built at The close Of The Reyoiutiopsr
war by John Penn, grandson Of th
founder of Pennsylvania, and was oype
by his DEFENDANTS until purchased by th
D.. IL