Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-28
THE LIBERTY BELL.
A History OF the Casting that Proclaimed
Liberty Throughout the Land.

The Philadelphia Ne,cS gives some inter.
esling particulars OF the history of the
Independence Bell thai is to be sent to the
New Orleans Exposition as feature OF the
philadelphia exhibit. The order for the
bell was given in 11j1. The State House
of PENNSYLVANIA in philadelphia. work on
which had been suspended for number OF
years. was then approaching complexion.
The lower floors were already occupied
by the Supreme Court in one chamber,
while in the other assembled the Free
men Of the Province OF Pennsylvania,
| then consisting OF one body. committee
was appointed by the Freemen, with Peter
Norris rs chairman, and empowered to
have a pew bell cast for the building. The
commission for the bell was In the same
year awarded to Robert Charles, Of Lon
don, the specification beng that the bell
should weigh about 1000 pounds aad cost
Gl00 sterling. Ii was 10 be made by the best
woIkmen. to nc examined carefully before
being shipped, and to contain, in we'll
shaped letters arouLd it the inscription :
- By order Of the Province OF Pennsylvd-
! MIA for the State House in the city OF Phlla-
| dClphia. 1852" An order was given TO
/ place underneath this the fateful aud pro-
/ phetic words from Leylticus, XIV, 10
''ProClaim liberty throughout the lind.
! and TO all the ilhanitants thereof"
! The reason for the selection OF this text
has been q subject Of much conjecture, but
the true reason l. apparent when the full
text is read. 1t IS "A follows: "And We
shall halow The fftidh yelr and proclaim
! liberty throughout the Land and to all the
/ inhabitants thereof" In selecting the text
the good Quakers had in memory the arri-
! nd air afafh 10
more than half Il century before.
In August, 1852. the bell arrived, hut
| though in apparent good order, it was
cracked by stroke OF the clappcr while
being tested. IL could not be sent back, as
the captain of the vessel who had brought
it over could not take it on board. Two
skiliul workmen undertook TO Tecast the
bell, and prepared an exceedingly
good mold. which, on being opened.
revealed bell which pleased very
much. But II was also soon found TO he
defective. The original bell was considered
too high, and II qnaniiiyof copper was add
cd 10 the composition, but too much copper
was added. There were great many wit
tIcisms on account Of the second iailura,
| and the ingenious workmen undertook Ia
recest the bell. which they successfully did,
and il was placed in condition in June,
1853.
On Monday the sth Of July mot the 4th).
at noon. true TO its motto, il rang out the
memorable message OF Liberty through
on; the land and to all the Inhabitants
thereof"
For fifty years the bell continued to be
rung on every festival and anniversary
until It eventually cracked.
An Intellectual attempt was made 10 cause
Il to continue scrviceable by enlargine the
cause Of its dissonance and chipping the
edges. II was removed from its position
in the tower TO a lower story. and only used
or occasions OF public sorrow, such as the
deaths OF eX-PresidentS and statesmen.
Subsequently il was placed on the original
timhers in the vesiibule Of the a,e-tlouse
and In 1873 was suspended IN a prominent
position Immediately beneath where a
larger bell presented to the city in 1876 now
procliims the passing hours.