The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1891-09-23

although of considerable length, viii re-
pay perusal:
NEW HOPE, Sept. 12-Up here the Della.
ware has virgin dimples as it caresses the
piers of the old bridge across to Lambert
vile, and then departs to its mighty death
in its broad bay past its sickening ordeal
| of the sewer mouths of Trenton and Phla-
delphia. Up here Revolutionary memories
are green as the plenty bearing hill
sides, the war seems thing of yesterday,
and the smart uniforms Of dapper Read
ing Railroad men which, since modern life
came shrieking in over the hills from
Jenkintown last Spring, are seen on the
streets, seem an impertinent anachronism
This was Coryell's Ferry, and in low
water Coryell's Ford, where Washington
crossed from Jersey in the late Fall of '76,
and ordered all boats brought to the west
bank lest the British should pursue him.
| The Coryells periodically seconded the
! arbitrary suspension of business at their
ferry all through that bitter December,
while the American commander was plan
ming his most brilliant strokes at Trenton
and Princeton. Coryell's Ferry was made
| famous once again as Coryell's Ford when
the Continental army splashed through
the shadows in hot pursuit of fleeing Chm
ton from Valley Forge to Monmouth, in
June of '78. lCoryell's Ferry and Ford the
| spot remained until s.the great bridge,
marvellous enterprise for its day, began
| its long life of fat oll-taking in 1918, and
since then from the name of it have grown
the two towns Of New Hope, Pennsylva-
MIA, and Lambertville, New Jersey.
The Coryells are stj!l largely in evidence
in the latter place. One of them is Mayor
OF the town, having ,been reelected last
Spring on an independent ticket, after the
Democrats had fought shy of renominat-
ing him on the regular one. There are
three Coryells in the graveyard of the
Presbyterian church, George, who died
in 1860, aged 81, and was fellow-mem
Der with Washington of Lodge % of Ma
sons, and the last survivor of his pail
bearers Cornelius, who had obtained the
great age of 90, when he died in 1881,
aud Abraham, the shortest-lived of the
trio OF brothers who was only 90 when ho
''went out" in May, 1928.
There is much less left of the Coryells
on this side OF the river, which is an evil
dence of the unpermanence OF things, for
the Coryell was a Pennsylvania Coryell,
who was power behind the throne-in
Pennsylvania, in the long plcnitude of
Democratic power between the Presiden-
cies OF Monroe and Buchanan.
Political history lost great riches when
he died, for Lewis s. Coryell, loyal as he
was to his couutry--as he though, he saw
his country in the days before the ire
pressible conflict--was one of the most
prominent and perhaps the latest sur
viving OF the Pennsylvania statesmen who
thought the interests of the Common
wealth lay Southwark, and willingly fol-
lowed the lead OF the Virginia line of
Presidents, and their successors In the
control. OF Democratic affairs, Calhoun,
Davis, and Breckenridge. SO, when he
was called TO join the company OF his
early Democratic leaders Che died in
1860, he left behind great store Of let
tiers in which the opinions of the men who
guided Southern thought and action were
freely expressed on the relations OF the
sections on the burning questions of the
times. But his granddaughter and liter
AIRY executor, Miss Torbert, of Lambert
vile, who had guarded his declining years,
principally from the enmity of the more
fervid of New Hope Unionists, insisted
that the letters were written in confidence,
and that death did not change the con-
ditions under which they were received.
So into The fire the letters went with some
exceptions, which are now on file, but
not yet In print, at the rooms OF the His
torcal Society of Pennsylvania, at Phia-
delphia. Miss Torbert would not even
trust them to the careful editing OF her
grandfather's friend, General w. w. II.
Davis, OF Doylesiown. So an interesting
chapter on the relations between Northern
and Southern Democratic leaders was
lost
Yet some pleasant memories of the old
Warwick of New Hope remain, aud the
most interesting OF them, by the inter
vention Of Gen. Davis, who got the story
from the lips of Mr.. Coryell, gives us a
living link with the stormy night when
the army crossed the Delaware at McKon-
keys Ferry, halfway between New Hope
and Trenton, and young Lieut.. James
Monroe with bis fellow Virginian, Capt.
William Washington, led the advance of
Green's division against the quarters of
the boastful and booty Colonel Rail, sup
ping and card playing at the house of the
good Trenton Tory, Abraham Hunt.
Like his friend Gen. Cameron, who
was Bucks County printer, when he
was Bucks County carpenter, Mr.. Cory
ell entered in politics early. Though he
was born in 1888, five years after the
Peace, he was enough of figure in Penn.
sylvania politics to be asked to small
and select dinner party at the White
House, shortly after ersl-while Lieuten-
ant James Monroe came into possession
there as President, in 1877
The President showed great interest
in the section of the country from which
the young Pennsylvania came, and in
quired particularly OF the family OF
certain doctor who lived in the outskirts
Of Trenton, and whose skill and patriot
ism, exercised upon the body of lad of
10, saved the country the life OF its future
ruler Of ''the era of good feeling" This
was the story which the President told to
Mr.. Coryell, and Mr. Coryel to General
Davis, and General Davis read to this
correspo ndent from paper he had pre-
pared for the Historical Society OF Penn
sylvania ten years ago. These were his
words -
After crossing the river was sent with
my command, section of artillery, to the
intersection of Pennytown (now Penning-
ton) and Maiden Head (now Lawrence
ville) Roads with strict orders to let no
one pass until was ordered forward.
Whilst occupying the position the resi-
dent of dwelling some distance up a
lane had his attention directed to some
unusual commotion by the barking OF
dogs. He came out in the dark to learn
the cause and encountered my command,
and, supposing we were from the British
camp, ordered us off. He was violent
and determined in his manner and very
profane, and wanted to know what we
were doing there such stormy night.
/ advised him to 60 to his home and
be quiet or / would arrest him. When
he discovered that we were American
soldiers he insisted that we should go to
his house and not to stay out in the storm,
and he would give US something to eat.
told him my orders were strict and