New-York tribune., 1876-06-16
AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE OLD STATE
UoifSE OF PENNSYLVANIA, NOW KNOWN Al
T1HE HALL or IHDETENDENCE. by FRANK NJ
EITIxG. 4to. pp. 2OI. Jas. K Ossood q Co

AN aTsTocAPhE nF NSc99qGyyTI Ndw RHo@H As
TTE Hail. .d or or adS a. X oooa 6
Mr.. Ettings work is. equally admirable lii
deslvn and execution. Based upon independent re-
searches 1t value far beyond the most careful com
piiaton Although inning ~ be snpy the history oi
building II embraces as matter OF necessity uiuS
incidental material and number of most interesting
episdes After rapid sketch OF the FIRST years o The
Coony OF PcInsy lvaDia, the author commences hir
proper work with the action OF the Assembly III the year
1929 appropria.ng $4,000 for u leg slatlve build
ing The SPEAKER of House, Androw hainii-
ton, was the active member OF Tie Cohhht'e'
appointed to carry out the plan. lie &c
leeted the ground, drew the architectural design
which was ad0ped and suIentnoed the construction
of The tuiIdng From the details which Mr.. Fitting has
reeoyersl IL appears that there rings eNen ~
those DAYS aud slr Hamilton was so annoyed by tht
oaousis and petty interests of individuals that he WAS
more than ready 10 resign his power Tue Ohhd
for Hall broken In the Spring OF l732-tbo"t the
time Of Wasbngtons birth-out, OWING ~ delays aud
int.rf,,rsu,es the work was Gnshed unt 1885, Oh
the 3Oth of September OF that year brilliant house
warming banquet given In the scFoud story and
Mr B,anlu Franklin duly reported IN his PenIaSgoa"a
6ozee Those who judges OF such thiigs Say thai
considering the dchc.lcy of the vidnds the variety and
excepcy OF the Wines. tho great number Of guests ana
YET the easiBess order with which the whole Was CON
dunied n was the most grand, The most elegant enter
tsinn, nj tat has been In these paris Of America
Nevertheless small anu inexpensive as was uc H'i'
compared With the structures OF our DAY, II Was 'eS
snwi, made ready for tic sessions OF the Assembly
Painting and glazing still required, stoves and fur
piture were 10 supplied, and the Colonial Legislators
Srned tlr ugccssary funds tIrhly that the FINISHING
touches wore dot gwen % tue building nntil the year
I745 The famous Liberty Bel" was raised to It's
place early IN year 1888, ANA we learn from the b
of expenses gallons OF ram and 900 lnics
1,ost,ne together 2s shn6sj used that
sion
We have not the space 10 follow the fortunes OF the
sto,ted Hall down TO our O~n day tn alterations
which have Oren made she structure at variouS tnc'
did not materially change ns'cEafactef' aud AL The
r,orr recent restoratoms have helped To preserve
the original plan We learn that the Colonial
Assembly. in I7GS at the request of The Amer'-
can Philosophical sOcleiy, cent TO Ehgidho
for small tee. cope and erected an observatory Oh are
present Independence square, where David ktten-
hans tie following rear observed the tranrt " Venus
Frlo tbe balcony ts conservatory the stb u Juy.
1776 the Declaration q Independence hr.t read To
the people by John HixOn member Of Tie COMMITTEE
of safety The htiIe building disappeared long ago. bat
ft foudatiOns have BEEN quite reccDily discovered
This IA the true sit Mr. Ettng JIoily resf, for
monument 10 the rigLefs Of the DcclaiAtion.
Tho work il admirably illustrated wi;h bci0tYpes 0f
the Hail AMI its ciaIL .s oi tue old public edVs Of
pbia portraits 0 uotcd ptisohs' ;se ais of
autographs documents, bile and ncwsIapfr pAg:s, aud
whatever else may fully explain fhe tezL II sh"~s
marks Of thorough aud coDsesnt.o"s research. and
b1ngs back 10 the very air aud pDr Of the old days
We welcome Il 40 ole tbs most valuable contributions
~ the special literature OF the ycar
James X. O.good & Co. have added 10 their
uapabooss n American Travel very complete OsNe
uln< u...,.lafrs a volume Of 4JC cx,tDislct