The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-29


The following Is taken from Charles 5.
Keyser's account OF the Liberty Bel, pub
lishcd IN 1893.
The assembly Of PENNSYLVANIA Gus
tomarllv had in ils possession bell for
Official purposes from the organization Of
the Province. It's ordinary use was 10 coli
the assembly together morning and after
noon during iis sessions, and 10 announce
the hour Of The opening OF the Courts OF
Justice 10 the people. It's most stately
use was 10 announce tn proclamation OF
tho accession Of a member OF the Royal
Family 10 the throne and the proclama-
items Of the treaties of peace ana decl .ra-
tons Of war.
This bell. which. following the cus.o-
mary use of those bells. announced the
Declaration of Independence. WAS ordered
hy the superiutcndcnts of the state House
from the agent Of the Province IN Lon
don IN 1851. II WAS required 20 weigh
about two thousand pounds aud 20 he
lettcicd with the following words well
shaped in large letters
BY order Of the assembly Of the Pro-
vince of Pennsylvania FOR the state House
I'm the city Of philadelphia 1852. and up-
derncath. Proclaim liberty throughout all
the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.
The bell arrived at the end OF august.
l,52 Early in September however II was
Cr1tked by a stroke OF the clapper with
ont any other violence, and thereupon re-
cast by Pass & Stow. IN Philadelphia. and
again hung IN 1853 This recaStng vas
not satisfactory. and the founders OBJ
ihnoi the privilege Of rccasting the hell.
III June. 1853 1t was hung IN the state
House. Il has nevCr be IN outside IF it's
walls until the present year except from
September. l7T. when II was taken 10
Allentown. then q long distance from the
city. for safety, and here or elsewhere
securely kent until after the British army
evacuated Philadelphia. and agin from
January, lAN5 when II was taken under
escort 20 New Orleans and returned TO
the State House ~ the close of the ex-
\. 1.s.11 q tlls wa
ROW II WAS CRACKED.
The Liberty Bell had been hanging two
years in the State House steepie before
Braddock's disastrous defeat In 1850. and
IN the winter OF 17sG following that event.
Washington. then commanding the N.r-
si1ia militia. as he rode down Chestnut
street on his memorable midN inter- Jour-
ncy from Mount Vernon TO Boston, to
confer sherc with the c0mnander-in-
chief Of the British forces IN the colonies
upon the military affairs Of Virginia. at
tended by his escort Of Virginia officers
and his family servants. all well mounted.
and arraved In handsome livcries just ord
cred from Lon Ion. heard without doubt
It's peal OF welcome as he passed the
State House on his way 20 his quarters
The ben has endured for nearly one
hundred and fifty years. although several
TIN Is Tcnt on such patriotic Journeys.
The only injury Z ever eNperionced being
When Il was cracked while hanging I'm
jts accustomed place IN thu stecpie. and
Icing toiisd on July 4. 1885, as a mark
OF respect to the memory OF John Mar
shall OF Virginia. the Chief Justice OF the
United States. then lying dead In Phila-
deirhia-
ITS RECORD.
According 70 Mr.. Keyser the bell was
first rung on the afternoon OF August
25.h 175S 10 call The assembly together,
and again on May 18th. 17a5, convene
the assembly. II rang out on February 80.
Ha - la rhnp
they sent BENJAMIN Franklin "home 90
England" 10 solicit redress of their griev-
anees II rang the assembly together on
September 18th. lsGi. whea the uassachur