Page:American History Told by Contemporaries, v2.djvu/466

438 a Mr. Carroll, of Annapolis, a very sensible gentleman, a Roman Catholic, and of the first fortune in America. His income is ten thousand pounds sterling a year now, will be fourteen in two or three years, they say ; besides, his father has a vast estate which will be his after his father. . ..

17. Saturday. This was one of the happiest days of my life. In Congress we had generous, noble sentiments, and manly eloquence. This day convinced me that America will support the Massachusetts or perish with her. . . . 28. Wednesday. Dined with Mr. R. Penn ; a magnificent house, and a most splendid feast, and a very large company. Mr. Dickinson and General Lee were there, and Mr. Moylan, besides a great number of the delegates. Spent the evening at home, with Colonel Lee, Colonel Washington, and Dr. Shippen, who came in to consult with us. . . . [Oct.] 10. Monday. The deliberations of the Congress are spun out to an immeasurable length. There is so much wit, sense, learning, acuteness, subtlety, eloquence, &c. among fifty gentlemen, each of whom has been habituated to lead and guide in his own Province, that an immensity of time is spent unnecessarily. Johnson of Maryland has a clear and a cool head, an extensive knowledge of trade as well as law. He is a deliberating man, but not a shining orator ; his passions and imagination don't appear enough for an orator ; his reason and penetration appear, but not his rhetoric. Galloway, Duane, and Johnson are sensible and learned, but cold speakers. Lee, Henry, and Hooper, are the orators ; Paca is a deliberator too ; Chase speaks warmly ; Mifflin is a sprightly and spirited speaker ; John Rutledge don't exceed in learn ing or oratory, though he is a rapid speaker ; young Edward Rutledge is young and zealous, a little unsteady and injudicious, but very unnatural and affected as a speaker ; Dyer and Sherman speak often and long, but very heavily and clumsily. . ..

20. Thursday. Dined with the whole Congress, at the City Tavern, at the invitation of the House of Representatives of the Province of Pennsylvania. The whole House dined with us, making near one hundred guests in the whole ; a most elegant entertainment. A sentiment was given : "May the sword of the parent never be stained with the blood of her children." Two or three broad-brims over against me at table ; one of them said, this is not a toast, but a prayer ; come, let us join in it. And they took their glasses accordingly. . ..

24. Monday. In Congress, nibbling and quibbling as usual. There