The New York herald., 1876-07-09
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
How The Immortal State Paper Was Read to
the Army One Hundred Yeas Ago.
j u l. Y 8, 1 Z Z 6
Society and Sentiment in New York ir
the Last Century.
THE DECLARATION HURIFUL TO THE CAUSE.

The Declaration of independence was received In
this city July o. l776 with to have it read
- the army. At that time the main body of the Con-
tnenal troops was encamped in the vicinity oi New
York, Washington beng in command AS soon as the
declaration was received the Comman der In Chief
issued order directing the then in and near
the city be drawn six O'Clock the same evening
to hear the document read This order written by
Major Samuel Webb, the father OF General
James Watson Webb, whom Washington had
chosen his principal aide-de' camp few
days before Major ebb participated in the battle OF
Bunker's Ill., and after the evacuation OF Boston he
accompanied the army to New York. He was wounded
at the battle White Plains and being subsequently
captured on Long Island he not exchanged until
1881, when he made brgadier and given the com
mand OF the Light infantry which Baron Steuben had
just resigned General Webb the elder died in 1907,
five years after the birth of his son James Watson
Webb who still survives OF the few connecting
links with the Of the Revolutionary
era. II is not easy to obtain suecihct
narrative of that ceremony, but the order
implicitly obcyed throughout tho entire com
mnnd, Washington himself being with the brigade
whose "parade' ia what then known as
'.The Fields but is now called the City Hall Park.
Each brigade drawn up IN hollow square, that
which was graced by the presence Of the Commander
IN Cnlcf bcnI ON tue spot Nucre thc oiu 'ou"
tain used to stand the site of the Post Office.
Parson Greene, who ded at Hampstead, Long Island,
about twenty years ago. was probably the last
survivor OF those who were present in the
Park that memorable occasion, and many
persons stil living had accounts OF the csre-
monv from his lips According to his account Wash
ington within the square on horseback and the
declaration read clear, loud voice by one OF his
aids In historical interest this scene is not inferior
The State House steps Philadelphia on tho Fourth OF
July, and is TO be regretted that event of such
profound significance has not lound some fitting CON-
lpemoration on this hundredth anniversary of the
military proclamation OF the Declaration OF lnde-
pendencc.
READING OF THE DECLARATION.
Some of the incidents growing oht of an event Of
such startling importance at the time are worth re-
peating now that we are contemplating anew the
episodes OF hundred years ago Three hearty cheers
went up from the troops tho "Common" when the
reaaing OF the Declaration finished and general
Jail delivery with respect to debtors was Immediately
ordered That night the eaden statue of King George
III. in the Bowling Green was torn down, broken into
pieces and be made into bullets with which to
slay the Kings troops The work of melting the
statue was performed at Litchfed. Conn, by
and two daughters of Governor Wolcott, assisted
by three other ladies' and 1t is said that 1t contained
teau enough 10 make 4-,OoU DuietS lue stNuo "0s
equestrian form, both man and horse being of the
natural size and gilded Tho horse was poised upon
his hind legs something after the fashion Of Clark
Mills celebrated equestrian statue of Jackson and IT
the first equestrian statue of George Ill ever
erected. The king n crown and in his right
hand he held the bride reins, while his lett
rested upon the handle of sword 1t was
the work Of Wiltoa, celebrated statuary
artist, of London, and erected IN 1770 Many
.t.t- .l, md
at the King in consequence of H. 1t was common
saying among the soldiers that "the tyrant as King
Georgc was universally called by the patriots, fought
to ride trotting horse without stirrups the allusion
being that the artist had failed TO afix these
important appendaees to the egy, and in speaking OF
its destruction Ebcnezcr Hazard wrote TO General
Gates that 'ihe troops will probably have melted
majesty fred at them" The pedestal was used
tor while as tombstone for Major John
smith, British oiIicer, and stll later 1t
was made to doorstep for the
Van Worst mansion in Jersey CITY, but 1t is now pre-
served In tho rooms OF the New York Historical
Society Stephens, his "Travcis in Greece" says
that at the house OF Russian major, at Cbiol, no
saw a picture representing the destruction of this
The popuace seems TOR the most part to have
been engaged IN its destruction, but some OF the
soldiers also appear TO have taken part in it, for the
next morning Washington issued order command
future AS matter of the British attributed
the responsibility for the act to tho COMMANDMENTS
Chief and IN u tory drama called "Ihe Battle
Of Brooklyn which published by Riving ton,
girl OF LADY Gates is made to say of Wash
ington, "Aud more, my lady did be not order the
Kings statue he pulled down and the head cut or"
Zen Gays after the reading of the Declaration OF nde
pcndcnce the troops also read To the people at
The CITY Hal Broad street with results only less
markable than those which came from ITS proclana
lion 10 the troops The obliteraton of all the insignia
the City foliOwci. the Ming picture IN
The Council chamber 6eng taken into the street and
burned and the British arms removed from over the
OF justice in the court room
l776.
The effects OF the publication OF the Declaration OF
Independence, both socially aud politically. were i'm
mediaely felt IN this city New York city Loyalty
inclined the province be- ng one where family
was stronger than any other part OF the country
THIS is surprising when We consider the excep
tonal relation which New YORK held to the other col
ones. In OF the provinces were there pat
rooms in ths possessed of large landed estles and
with loyal and obedlent tenantry. Nowhere else Was
there much class feeling, backed by actual wealth
and absolute power nor so much disposition
the part oi wealthy prapretors Ito stand by their
order" The families OF the Van Corlands De Ian
reys, Livingsons and PhIliipses, among others, APP
preached nearly TO the ar stocracy OF ieudalty as
was possible IN n new aud undeveoped country.
PATRON was almost fcudal lord. and Mary Phiilpsc
10 whose hand Washington was SAID TO have aspred
before he met the pretty widow Gusts was more likely
10 be called Lady Mary than Miss Mary. Histori-
Tally the record OF tins condition Of Affairs mll
enough. but our literature has gwen US few
pictures oil these snguarly Interesting phases OF
Iocai life. We catch ghmpses OF IT here aud
here IN the wrtnEs OF irving ana IN tue chroncles OF
he time. hut neither poetry nor hcton, which alone
are capable OF rcpr oducing TO the Imagination has
undertaken deal with H. Fren was toe bald and
saiirist 10 catch the meaning OF so delicate
theme and Cooper VAS better al uventing benign ln-
dians than n drawing real characters upon his bold
canvas. The worthy attempt at making the peo-
pie OF that age walk md talk aud act as they walked
and talked aad acted the Revolutionary epoch
ia Theodore wingbrop's ''Edvn BrothertoLh where
have something more than u glimpse OF society
in those hazardous days
rHkopoKK wlSrnRoPs PICTURE OF rHs
Both by birth and education. by blood anu sympathy,
Winthrop peculiarly fitted TO make study OF the
ume--to pant the picture all lougod so much 10
His Brothcronn Is but a sketch Tor Tue nonier can
vass he might have painted shadow of the grandcr
snbsiance No winch be might have impaired ne and