Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-10-20
PHILADELPHIA.
Some Memorials Of William Penn.

The Grant to Penn by Charles H
Penn's COttage-Tbe Famous Elm
Tree-The Old Siate-ROOH House
Quakers in Court.
Correspondence Of the Union and American.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 2.-The Pennsyl-
vania Historical Society, has in its collec-
ton of ancient relics a fac simile OF the
grant by which Charles, II, vested the title
of Pennsylvania in William Penn, in 1881.
1t is printed mold English, and bears evil
dence in its appearance that nearly two
hundred wears have elapsed since it came
from the printers hands. The territory
thus obtained by Penn, was in satisfaction
of debt of f16, 900 due his father. The
charter vested the perpetual proprietary
ship of this vast region IN him and his heirs,
on the fealty of the annual payment Of two
beaver skins. He designed at first to call
his territory New Wales, and afterwards
suggested Sylvania as applicable to land
covered with forests; but the secretary who
made out the patent insisted on pre3xing
GPenn'' to Sylvania. Penn offered him
twenty guineas to leave off his name, and
the offer being refused, complained to the
King, who insisted that Pennsylvania
should be the designation, in honor, as he
said, of his late friend, Admiral Penn, the
father of William Penn. II thus appears
that Pennsylvania was so named, not in
honor of the founder Of the Colony, but Of
his father, who was an Admiral in the
British navy at the time of his dea tn.
PENIS first visit to the Colony was in
September, 1852, and it was at this
time that he occupied the house now known
as the William Penn Hotel.
PENN's COTTAGE.
This house is in Letitia street, q small
street running from Market to Chestnut,
between Front andtSecond. The date at
which it was built is not known, but as it
appears to have been originally intended
for PENIS use, it is supposed that it was
erected before his arrival in the Colony. 1t
is remarkable that this plain two-stOry brick
house should have withstOod the march OF
improvement which has swept away many
more pretentious structures in the immedi-
ate vicinity. It is now the William Penn
Hotel, and will probably be preserved for
many years to come with jealous regard
for its historical associations.
THE PENN TREATY MONUMENT.
The crest elm tree under which Penn
made his famous treaty with the Indians,
probably on the last day Of November,
1882, was at Shackamaxon, now Kensing-
ton, within the present city limits OF Phil
adelphia. "a numerous assembly OF the
Delswares, Mingoes and other Susquehan-
ma tribes met on this occasion and formed
with the Quakers 8 treaty OF peace and
friendship, the only treaty, says Voltaire,
Gnever sworn to and never broken" This
tree, thus rendered famous, was favorite
resort in summer time; the citizens sat
under its branches, and whole congrega-
tons worshipped in its Shade; but in 1910,
more than century and a quarter after
the ratification OF the treaty, it was blown
down, and nothing now remains to mark
the place where it stood but an insignih-
cant monument. The stone, which is
scarcely noticeable from across the street,
stands in an enclosure just large enough
TO hold it, in the shade of tall elm, which
may possibly be a lineal descendent of the
one whose site it shades. The shaft OF this
little monument bears this inscription:
esTreaty Ground of William Penn and the
Indian Nation, 1eS2-UnbrOken Faith"
It is remarkable that historical point like
the site of this famous treaty should be
marked by no more imposing structure.
THE CITY OF BRoFHERLY LOVE.
Soon after his treaty with the Indians,
Penn laid out the plan Of Philadelphia, to
which he gave its name In the hope that
brotherly love might characterize It's inhab-
itants. the significance of the name being
suggestiye of such a condition Of affairs
among the people of settlement, espe-
ciallv of Quakers. After spending two
wears in this country, Penn sailed for Eng
land. and did not return until 1899.
THE OLD sLATE-RooF HOUSE.
Penn's mansien-known in the local
histories as the sold Statehood House,
because at the time it was built it was the
only house covered with slate in the city
which was used by Penn as residence on
the occasion of bis second visit, at winch
time be brought his family with him, stood
on Second street, near Chestnut, and was
built by Samuel Carpenter at very early
date. A local history states that "here
John Penn, the only member Of the family
born on American soil, and called for thai
reason the American was born, one
month after the arrival of the family,
Here GOu. Lloyd, one of Penn's compan-
ions, descendant @cording TO tradition
of Meric, who core Rof the four gold
en- shields before ArtI- when he was
crowned King at CaerltI himself the
heir to great estate, and an early Deputy.
Governor of Pennsylvania, was a frequent
visitor. Here Isaac Harris, the
first of still honorable house
and Isaac, his son and successor in the
Speakeuhip of the Provincial Assem- bly,