Morning journal and courier., 1891-01-14
SOCIETY OF THE CINCINNATI. A Paper Read Before the New Haven Colony Htstorical Society Monday, Evening, December 20, 1890.

Evening, December 20, 1890.
 BY REV. A. N. LEWIS, N. A.
 NO. II.
 [Errata-In Number I, first column, second ese f column, paragraph nine line twelve, for meeting" read read smutiny;" same, paragraph ten, for lever" for 'Ranat" read "Barras.'1
 Thirteen state societies were organized. From various causes, mostly political, eight were in course of time disbanded. The New Hampshire society held it's meet ings regularly until about 1893 and became dormant in 1880; original members, 29. The Connecticut society disbanded in 1904 and is now in process of restoration; origi- inal members, 26S The Rhode Island so- ciety disbanded in 1882, was revived in 1878, and restored in 1881; original mem- bers, Fl. The Delaware society was active only a short time, becoming dormant in 1909; original members, 27. The Virginia society disbanded in 1929. The North Carolina and Georgia societies were repre- sented in the general society in 1790. There was an election of officers in the Georgia society in 1795. Several descend ants of original Cincinnati in North Caro- lima and Georgia are now considering the question of reviving the society in their states. Connecticut and Virginia have formed temporary provisional organiza- tions. the former of which is in process of restoration
 The original number of members in the Massachusetts society was 334. In the New York society, 230. In the Pennsyl- vania society, 291 In the Maryland so- ciety, 148. In the N. J, society, 98. In the South Carolina society, 131. Total about 1,500.
 The present number of members in the active societies is about 400.
 Massachusetts, 88; Rhode Island, 49; New York 66; New Jersey, 90; Pennsylva- nia, 46; Maryland, 34; South Carolina, 67; total, 40.
 The convention of officers that organ ized the society was finally dissolved on the 18th of May, 1783, having been in session more than month. Washington was appointed president general, Major General McDougal treasurer general, and Major General Knox secretary general
 The French branch of the Cincinnati fourished until their revolution put an end to nearly every one who had earned it's decoration. In 1791 a foul mob of Mar seillaise entered Paris, dragging with them uuAOCI OA PI1oOucIS u U0 DuGCAoIoO dt the capital. At the tail of the horse of the wretch who commanded this crew dangled a collar composed of the Cincinnati eagles, and the crosses of St. Louis, torn from the breasts of the unhappy victims.
 The honors of the society were highly prized. The foreign officers hastened to assume it's decoration, and the eagle of the l Cincinnati hung beside the grand cross l of the Royal and Military Order of St. l Louis, and of the Golden Fleece; upon the breast, of the most elevated and noble of French service; and constant applications 1 for admission were made from beyond the seas. Thirty mine French officers were ad- mitted at Paris, January 7, 1784; eighteen on the 18th of May, 17s4; two on the 18th I of August, 17S4, and thirteen on the 17th and 18th Q of May, 17s4, by the general ! Of these ffty-five were princes, dukes, counts, viscounts, chevaliers and barons. | The applications of the French officers were countersigned by his majesty Louis XIV.
 The following letter,* preserved in the l archives of this society, was seut by La 1 fayette to the Society of the Cincinnati. PARIs june the 4th, 1785. My dear Sir-I have been Requested By my friend Chevalier de Chatelier, to write to you in auanted Wth RitSf oI1 regnatons respecDg D the l Society of the Cincinnati am the more willing to obey the Chevalier's wishes, you will think with me compliment from our Continental doc ! tors to that gentleman would be very proper l step-indeed think the five surgeons ought te letter, but take only the liberty to express te you personal wishes in behalf of Doctor Cost, ,foI whom have great regard.
 Most afectionately and respectfully LAFAYETTE
 *The capitals and spelling are given as in the l original.
 In 1784 the officers of the French auxili ary army made a subscription of 52,00( livres (about $10, ,00O) to the funds of tht Cincinnati, which was "politely refused, and the money placsd in the funds of thu French society. Rochambeau subscribed 5000 francs. The other subscriptions l The naval officers of France, who were members of the society, also presented g diamond Cincinnati eagle to Washington, which, by the heirs of the general, waf sent to Hamilton when he became presi dent-general. In 1911 Hamilton's widow sent it to General Pinckney, as president general, who delivered it to the society Since then it has been worn by the presi dent-general at the triennial meeting. Il is now in the custody of Hon. Hamilton Fish.
 Steps were taken to revive the French society few years ago, and in 1887, M comte de Noailles, and other French gen. tlemen applied to the general society fol permissoin to reorganize theFrench branch of the Cincinnati. Permission was accord ingly granted.
 In few months after it's formation the busy imaginations of many who were not eligible to membership saw all sorts o1 evils in a society which they were pleased to consider as an hereditary aristocracy. The society was violently attached by clever pamphlet written over the signature of ( writer calling himself "Cassius," but who was well known to be MT. Aedanus Burke one of the chief justices of Soutf Carolina. This was plagiarized by Mi rabean, in French translation. In it the author urged that the Institution" crea ted race of hereditary patricians or no bility, and that the object of the society | was to overthrow the republic and usurI the supreme power! The Cincinnati Che said) would soon hold an exclusive right to all offices, honors and authorities, civi and military!
 MT. Jefferson also opposed the society as dangerous to the republic. John Adams came out against it. Franklin ridiculec the Cincinnati chevaliers," but after l wards, having been made an honorary member, commended it. John Jay wal afraid "the order will divide us into two mighty factions!" Governors of state' presented the society to the consideration and censure of the legislatures. Iu Massa chusetts and Connecticut threats of dis franchisement were made against th, members. The popular excitement wa, almost equal to that which awaited the Masonic fraternity half a century later
 "Tautae-ne animis coelestibus iraea"
 At the first general meeting in 1794 Washington and Knox both offered thei
 resignations, which were not accepted Reports were made by the delegate showing that opposition to tho societ, existed in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Soul Carolina. New York reported "no oppo
 sition." So did Georgia. Delaware, tha
 "the principal and indeed the onl,
 enemies are among the class called Tories.
 From New Jersey, Captain Dayton re
 ported that he did not know the senti
 ment of the people generally in New Je1
 sey, but it was the determination of tn
 society to preserve and support it's dig
 nityl Qt is refreshing to find one ma
 who was not afraid of the people! CaI
 tain Dayton, evidently was not in politics
 Washington then arose and spoke @
 length of the opposition and of the conse 41~-l- sf