The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-07-02
BY CHARLES L. SIMPLIFY.

lNODeTI NudTlcS, VI Aohuohi O"5
bell for the tower. The letter |
was as follows;
Respected Friend:
The assembly having ordered us
the Superintendent of the State
|House) to procure bell from Eng
land, to be purchased for their use, we
take the liberty to apply ourselves to
thee 70 get us good bell of about 2,OOO
pounds weight, the cost of which we
may presume may amount to about
one hundred pounds sterling, or per-
haps with the charges, etc., more.
We hope and rely upon t.iny care and
Aastance in this aitsiir, that thou wilt
ycure and forward it by the first OPP
p1rtunity. Let the bell be cast by the
best workmen, and examine carefully
before it is shipped, with the following
words well-shaped, in large letters
around it, viz;
Rv ORDER OF THE ASSEMBLY OF
PENNSYLVANIA, FOR THE STATE
HOUSE, IN THE CITY OF PHILA-
DELPHIA, 1852.
And underneath:
PROCLAIM LIBERTY THROUGHOUT
ALL THE LAND UNTO THE INHABI-
TANTS THEREOF -Levicitus, XIV; 10.
AS we have experienced thy readi-
ness to serve this province on all Oc-
casions, we desire it may be our ex-
cuse for this additional trouble from
thy assured friends.
ISAAC LEIGH,
THOMAS LEIGH,
EDWARD WARREN.
The bell thus ordered was forwarded
from England by the ship Matilda,
and arrived at Philadelphia in August,
1852. 1t appeared to be satisfactory in
all respects to its purchasers, with the
exception that its price was 8l9S IN.
stead of 500.
Upon being hung and tested, how
ever, at the first stroke of the clapper
the bell cracked and had to be taken
down for recasting. 1t was at first de-
cided to return the bell to London for
this purpose, but local firm of foun-
defs--Pass IL StOw-were employed In
stead, and the bell was broken up and
recast ID March, 1883. This firm at
ded certain amount of copper to the
original alloy, which made the bell
unsatisfactory In its tone, so that q
third cast became necessary, this time
with perfect success.
The bell was placed i'll its resting
place early in June 1853, and was used
to mark the hour at which the courts
convened; to call the Assembly to-
gether, and later on when the first
mutterings of that great struggle for
just and equal rights were heard, its
muffied tone gave note to the resent
ment of an angry populace, as they in
the shadow OF the old State House
gave to the flames the burning stamps
of foreign poteRtate.
On July 30th, 1858, the old sentinel
again called together the freemen of
the city to consider what instructions
should be given to their represent
atives, and it was then and there re-
solved that "the colonists are reduced
to the level of slaves" From this
time forward the old bell spoke freely
in the cause of freedom, and the senti-
ment engraved upon it became more
fully understood by the people.
On the LIST of June, IVA, the flying
of flags at half mast and the muffied
tones of the bell announced the closing
of the port of Boston.
On April Gath, 1775, the tidings of the
fight at Lexington reached Phila-
delPbia, and at the stroke of the bell
ten thousand people met beneath its
shadow and swore to defend with arms
the righteousness of the cause of free
dom.
On the 10th of May, 1775, The bell
again sent forth its call for the meeting
Of the second Continental Congress
and from thence forth its measured
strokes kept time with the life throbs
of an awakened and determined peo-
pie.
July 4th, 1776, the Declaration of In.
dependence was adopted. Congress
was assembled In the East Room of the |
State House, now known as "Inde- |
pendence Hal.n The debate had been !
in progress since June 18th, when Rich.
ard Henry Lee, of Virginia, rose in
his place, and offered his famous reso.
luton, as follows: "Resolved. that
these united colonies are, and of right.
ought to be free and independent
States" thereby laying the foundation
Tor the immortal declaration to follow.
u was time that tried mems, souls.
Many there were who were luke
warm in their support; many opposed
declaration of separations; others
again favored the home government.
and we of this generation cannot real.
re the obstacles with which Congress,
lad to contend. Butjustice triumph
I'd, and in their struggle for, the right
,he hand ola higher power guided them
fright, as when at the close of that
'ventful day the die was cast and the
owe of liberty triumphed.
On that eventful day. the streets of
were crowded with thou
lands OF citizens, anxious to learn the
decision of Congress. The old gray.
haired bell-ringer of the State House
lad taken his post in the steeple at an
'arly hour tharhe might lose no time
II announcing to the people that their
Independence was formally declared.
Hour after hour passed. The old man
'egan to grow impatient, and mutter-
ID, "They will never do it, they will
lever do it." Suddenly he heard a
h0ut from his boy whom he had sta
Toned below to give him warning.
Ring! ring! they have signed!'
3rasping the rope he swung the bell to
md fro, its changing being answered
~ the frenzied cheers of the thou
apds ol071.u i2nrkhNDrdar of tho (yon, |