The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-05-22
HISTORICAL
SOCIETY.

Society held last evening valuable
don atoms were received from Mrs.
w. S. Hilles which her father the
late Hon. Thomas F. Bay in
tended presenting to the Society.
Several other donations were made
and among them were fifteen bound
volumes of the London Times and
bust of Admiral S. f. Dupont.
These were presented by Mrs.
William S. Hilles. and accompany
ing them was Il letter from Mrs.
Hilles saving that during her
father S stay in England he had Sc
! cured a file OF the London Times.
the aditioin of which criticised his
/ admiration of the duties OF ambas-
sador. and which. believing they
would be of interest TO Delaware
ans. he intended to present 10 the
Historical Society. This intention
never had been carried out and in
presenting them, Mrs. llilles felt
that abe was carrying out her
fathers wishes. There also was a
bust of Admiral S. +, DUPONT,
which Mr.. Bavard had received
from the sculptor, Laurent rhomp-
son. who designed the DUPONT
monument at Washington, D. c.
The bust is the same size as the
monument at Washington.
One of the most interesting pa
pers was read before the Society by
Robert H. Richards on the life of
John Dickinson. He discussed the
ancestors of John Dickinson, who
were English. Their motto was
."To be and not to seem. " Dicliin-
son 8 father came to Delaware and
settled on large plantation near
Dover. The family were the larg-
est landowners in Kent county.
John Dickinson was bred to the
law. He was sent to England to
complete his legal education and in
i1757 returned to this country and
began the practice of his profess
sion in Philadelphia. He soon rose
to fame and was prominent in poll
tics. At one time he held the Of
fees of governor of both Pennsvl-
vania and Delaware, was chief
Justice of Pennsylvania and a MEM
Der of Congress from Delaware.
He was considered political sage
and was frequently adviser of
Thomas Jefferson.
! He was opposed to the declara-
ton of war against Great Britain
by the colonies and his position in
this respect brought upon him the
odium of many OF the people. lie
was an able ard vigorous writer
and greatly influenced public opln-
ion by his writings. Dickinson
College at Carlisle, Pa, was found
ed by him. After life more useful
than even that OF most great men,
John Dickinson died at the age OF
rs years. in his mansion at Eighth
ard Market streets, the site now
occupied by the library building.
Attorney Richards was highly
congratulated by the Society on the
excellent paper submitted.
Bishop Coleman. chairman of the
committee to mark the birthplace
Of John NJ. Clayton, reported that
he had been to Millsboro, Mr.
Clayton'S birthplace, and found
that the house in which he was
born had been torn down and the
site is now being occupied by a
store and dwelling. lie propose,
that a tablet inscribed with Mir
.Clavton 5 name and the date of hi.
birth be put on the store. Judge
Grubb is the other member of Tho
committee and after Bishop Cole
man consults with him it is prob
able that the tablet viii be put up
Pcnnock Pusev. of the literary
committee, reported that paymast
er John Il. Martin, OF the l'nitct
States Navy, has promised to reat
"A paper on the battle of Manll;
BAY at the next meeting OF the SO
Cicty in June. pavmastcr Marti
was present at the battle and II
doubt will give an interesting &C
count oil thai famous engagement