Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-12-10
HkIalilal SaCieiY Of Delaware.
L TERARY ENTERTAINMENT LAST EVENING -
APLEAsANT AFFAIR.

ceiy Of Delaware, came of al the rooms OF the
Society, in the Masonic Temple. DR.. H. +. As
kew presided, and Rev. +. Gardner LiIlell
a. G as Secreai pro lem. The exercises
opened with prayer by RI. Rev. Bishop
Lee.
DR.. Askew then introduced H)n, VIM. II.
Dame Of Philadelphia, who read a brief and
interesting sketch Of en-. Joseph Read. We
give The following, synopsis:
Gen. Joseph Read, was born in Tenton, Nea
Jersey, August LIST, l74l, a I'd was of Scotch
Irish descent. lie entered Princeton College,
at an early age, and graduated in 1857. afieT-
wards studied law, and was admitted ,oihe bar
in 1868. Ga the breaking out Of the war Of
the Revolution, he Immediately entered the
Continental army, served with distinction, and
was elected Brigadier- General, by Congress, in
l777. At the close OF the same year, he was
elected, Chief Justice Of the State Of Penn
sylvania, but resigned. He participated promi-
nenily at the Battle of Braudywine, and several
other important conflicts.
In l777, he was elected TO fll vacancy in
Congress, and in December, Of the same year,
was elected for the full time. While here, he
served with that same distinctive fearessness
and devotion which characterized him on the
tield Of battle
An important epoch OF his military career, is
| mentioned. British emissaries, through Mrp.
Elizsbeth Ferguson, Of Philadelp phia endeavored
10 persuade Read to join, the cause ofthe
King by the offer of a haltering bribe. His
reply is memorable, My influence is not
worth purchasing, but such es il is, tie King Of
England canaot procure it,
In 1878, he resigned his seat in Congress, and
was elected to the Executive Council of
Pennsylvania, of which body he was made
| President.
Read was a man Of high moral character and
/
err His life was much embiltered by base
charges of treason brought against him BY
designing enemies. He died in 1885, aged A
years.
Mr.. Duane's address was listened TO with
great interest and close attention. At its close
DR.. L. F. Bush, Of this city, was introduced,
and read an attractive Historical paper on Ar
chibald Hamilton Rowan.
| DIR. Bush prefaced his remarks, by the pres
entation, TO the Society, of some valuable rel les
consisting OF documents, and various articles
presented by this eminent Irishman, 10 peri Is
of this city. They were the gift of J. Morton
Poole, Esq, and the Misses Hamilton Of this
city.
They we're as follows
Fragment, ofa autOgraphy by Rowan, priL-
ted in LighOgraph, entitled "Memorals oflife in
America"
A LithOgraph introduction to the same prin-
ted in Dublin, in 1922
Lithograph portraits of Rowan and his
wife.
Lithogrph of the Greek patriot, Constantine
| Csnarios.
! Lithograph portrait of device on suuf.
box, present to his son Wm. Hamilton Rowan
| by the father Of Greek family. whom he res
cued, from an Algerian frieate. in 1922, AFTER
the Sack of Sio. 1t was surrounded by The fol-
lowing inscription. 10 Hamilton, the friend
OF Greece; this presentation Is made on
account OF his benevolence and kindness TO those
he rescued"
picture Of Robert Oven, letters from Mr..
Rowan to friends Of Wilmington, and several
other valuable relics.
Also bush of Rowan, made ia Dublin, pres
enled by VIM. 8. McCaulley. Esq.
hese ariicie we're sent 10 this country. by
MI Rowan, IN charge Of Cesar Rodney, and
capt John Hamilton, to VIM. Poole, and other
parties iu Wilmington.
Hamilton Rowan was born 10 England. Nav
II, l75l and was defendant of an old Irish
family; de was sent to Cambridge, at an ear
" age but after remaining there a short time
he left, without fulfilling the desire ofhis grand
father, 10 be learned in the languages and meta
physics. and ultimately 10 become a minister
10 1866 he went to South Carolina, in this
country as private Secretary Of Lord Charles
Montague, who was then Governor off that Stat.
lie remained there few months, and returned
10 England
In 1898, he became leading member Of tbe
society of the United Irishmen, . of Dnblin
winch was organized Is 176l Having nuhIish
ed pamphlet in the interests of this SocietV
he was arrested, on the charge of IibeIousv
endeaVorl1g to inclte disl OyaIty, TO the
King, and various other accusations. After
tedious delay, he was tried and thon0h eIo.
quently defended by JOnn Phillpott Cnrran
was found guilty and convicted. .Jnsfice
BOYD, sentenced him to pay fine of R5OO' he
imprisoned Two years, and give security for
future good behavior, in sums agOrecstinn
Eli, 900. He was confined in New9at. nrISoTs Ins
out escaped, on the Goth of April. I7g4 and
alded by some friends, succeeded In reachinT.
the sea coast. In a small boat. manned hv
TWO men, he set sail for the coast of France -
l!. III Lhe way, they were passed by British
cutter, from which some one threw into r.
vans boat, pamphlets Offering rewards of
AZ'OOO Tor his recapture. The two b0atmen
read this proclamation, and recognized Re-
wan from the description, seeing which he
eAclaIhed' m y life Is In your hands-but yOI,
are irlshmen. They Immediately threw tha
prOclamatlOns overheard. '"0
AFTER variety OF dangers Rowan reaehe,V
the coast OF France, In which country ha Nos
almost Immediately arrested, on SUSPICION of
being deputy, escaping with the Govern.
,na leht tunus AS soon as possible, after his re-
lease, ne sailed for Philadelphia, arriving in
that city, in 1888 Without REMAINING long IN IN
long he came to the banks OF tie Bra av1,EInn ~
built a little cottage at BarleymIll. and tooR.
up ms residence there. lie laid Outa garden.
anu ceILlValed u with his own hands. Nanv
and many time did the good peonla ~ VII
mington, OF that period, see him trundlInS !
,Mneel9arrow through our streets, selling home.
OreWed beer and garden vegetables. He he-
can came acquainted with many Of our first famI.
tsa, ias, VINO 0 were pleased 70 have him dine with