The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1905-04-08

and the young Thomsons were thrown
on their own resources when they
landed at New Castle, Del. An elder
brother, who had preceded the family
to this country, lent them all the
assistance in his power, and through
his influence his distinguished fellow
countryman, DR.. Allison, took Charles
into his seminary in New London, Pa.
Here Charles received a thorough
education and made such rapid
progress in his studies that while yet
little more than a boy he was chosen
to conduct a Friends Academy at New
Castle. He often visited Philadelphia,
met Benjamin Franklin there. and the
two became friends for life. Through
Franklin he became acquainted with
all the eminent men of the time and
quickly earned their confidence and
esteem. His reputation for veracity
spread even among the Indian tribes.
and when the Delawares adopted him
into their nation in 1856, in recognitiot
OF the valuable services he rendered
them, they named him in their native
tongue the man of truth" The Rev.
Ashbel Green, in his autobiography
says that it was common to say thu
a statement was "as true as if Charles
Thomson's name was to it," He was
one of the first to take his stand with
the colonists, and he exercised i'm.
Imense influence owing to the conf.
dence of the people in his ability and
integrity. He travelled through the
country, ascertaining the sentiments
of the farmers and trying to learn
lwhether they would be equal to the
approaching crisis. From the very
first he saw, though for long time
he labOred to avert it, that war was
inevitable and he worked necessarily
to bring the doubtful and waverine
elements into the cause of independ-
ence. He was the Sam Adams OF
Philadelphia" said John Adams, the
life of the cause of liberty" He had
just come to Philadelphia in Septem.
Der, 1874, with his bride, a daughter
OF Richard Harrison, an aunt of Pre-
sident William Henry Harrison and d
IEreat-grandaunt of President Benjamin
Harrison, when he learned that he had
been unanimously elected secretary of
the First Continental Congress When
the Able Robin, Chaplain to general
Rochambeau, was in Philadelphia, he
was visited by Charles Thomson and
thus refers to him in his writings:
Among others, Charles Thomson,
the secretary of Congress, the soul of
that political body, came also to re-
ceive and present his compliments.
His meager figure, furrowed contc-
nance his hollow, sparkly eyes, his
white, straight hair, that did not hang
quite SO low as his ears, fixed our
thorough attention and filled us with
surprise and admiration"
! Thomson refused pay for his frs :
years service and Congress presented
his wife with a silver urn which is
still preserved in the family. AS We
have said, remained in this post under
every Congress until 1889, not only
keeping the records, but taking
cOpious notes Of it's proceedings and
of the progress of the Revolution.
When he retired into private life h.
made these notes the basis of a history
iof the Revolution, but he destroyer.
the manuscript some time before his
death, fearing in his great conscien-
ltlousness, that a description of the UNI
patriotic conduct of some of the
{colonists at that period would give
pain to their descendants.
When Thomson resigned his position
as secretary of Congress In 1889,
Washington, just after being elected
President of the United States, thus
wrote to him, under date of July "a,
l17S9:
THE present age does so nuc;'
justice to the unsullied reputation
with which you have always conducted
yourself in the execution of the duties
of your Office and posterity will find
your name so honorably connected
with the verification of such a multi.
tude of astonishing facts, that my
single suffrage would add little to the
illustration Of your merits Yet can
not withhold any just testimonial in
favor of so old, so faithful and so able
a public officer which might tend to
soothe his mind in the shade OF retire.
ment. Accept, then, this serious de:
claration, that your services have been
as important az your patriotism was
distinguished; and enjoy that best Of
all rewards. the consciousness Of hav.
ing done your duty we'll. I commend
you to the protection Of heaven and