Pilii It' *' : i .'. "-^^0^ »° '••*-. •-. 4 o ►1!^ . , ° ^oC,^ 0^ .^'^ y . . « ' / '^O^'^'^'^O'^ ^'-^^-^^^^"^ '^^O^'^'^?*\o'^ ^"^ "-n^o^ "-^^0^ Mr / AUTOBIOGRAPHY j^"^^' 3-. CHARLES BIDDLE VICE-PRESIDENT SUPREME EXECUTIVE C0UNC;L PENNSYLVANIA, 1745—1821. {■PRIVATELY PRINTED.) PHILADELPHIA: E. CLAXTON AND COMPANY. 1883. h /o Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1883, by CRAIG BIDDLE, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. COLLINS PRINTING HOUSE, 705 Jayne Street. This work is printed from the Manuscript, in the possession of Judge Craig Biddle, exactly as written, with no attempt to embellish its natural, easy, and simple style. Having been found of interest by the immediate descendants of the writer, it is thought that it may prove so to the large number of persons more distantly re- lated to him. That the period covered by it embraces the Apieri- can Revolution and the early days of the Republic seems an additional reason for putting these reminiscences in a permanent form. The original letters appended, from Burr, Wilkinson, and Trux- tun, have not before appeared in print. The family history contained in the Notes has been obtained from the most authentic sources, and is believed to be accurate. JAS. S. BIDDLE, July, 1883. E R R A T A Page 41, line 22, /or 1763 read 1768. " 110, third line from foot, for Sanderson's read Simpson's. " 13.5, line 6,/o?' Cartaret read Carteret. " 31.5, line 25, for 1S09 read 1807. " 366, third line from foot,/o?- Shewsbury read Shrewsbury. " 370, line 2.7, for Note D read Note G. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. 1 T .ttf>r from mother to Mrs. Lux, 2— Boyish pranks, 3— "'■'Lrj:::": To" :: rB:.. «... . -a., ,_.e..e.. s_Ke.™ "„; „„ .oarL S«ow to ,e.„,.„ .o^e, li-L,euteo»t Ne.m.th take. co»- „aud of a Snow ; goe. a. secoud mate m Let, 15-Sails tor Ant.gua and Ho„- ::::, le-.pp^rmon. ...u™ .o ..nade,,... n, ---;"\ -:: „..„„„, an o,d nava, ^-1;^';^:::'--Z:::rr:::::, of McFunn: buraiiig of a black, ^i— smpwieciv^ . XT- H 1 « with them ^2-27-Fil-st mate to Charleston, as captain to rr^r: ndH n::,:;,%S, ^-.^e..^.> »■.«• e„„.>n .„.n ScuU: r, e :tepin. sUve.. 3.-E...,k, o. board t.e K.ng Geojge for Ph. a- delpWa 176r,85-San. as one-quarter owner and eapta.n to G repada 37- ITl: duel at Chlpcoteague, 38-At Lisbon, 1788, nearly sb.pwree.ed, .» -Arrives 2aofMay«tPl,i.adelpb,.,«-Sails to ra,al;afrol,e,tl-Pre«.nt to b m ealled Bo, Captain, arrives in PMladeipbia, 43-Eefuses to e«r, , .Les 48-Sails in the Auu to Honduras and bacit ; narrow escape Irom drrning. «-«oes again to Honduras ; trial of McCarty. " eye of .be law" ; a„°Is- B nedict Arnold, 4.^Arrives in Pbil.de.pbia; taltes eo,nn,.nd of l°pforPortauPr,pee; yellow feyer, «-Sai.s tor Pbiladelplua, =d Fe ru Z r770 arrived 30.b ; bet with Hepburn. 49-M.lte, another voyage to Por't"! Prince and returns. 50-T..es comnrand of " C'.^nupg Nancy . •, ■„ f^r Port au Prince ; French deserters, 5-3— Troubles in 1772 and sails affain loi roii au xiiu^o, wi.bLncb offlcei, 56-Bcsolves .0 leave off a had habit o str*,ng h,s 2, 57_28th March. 1773. sa.is for Philadelphia. 58-A ErenCn.an s grei. 59_S.lls again to Port au Prince ; refuses to haul down pennant. 60-D,fh culty ith ;rcnch captain. 61-Hisrese,uhlance to Cap..>uT Allen and conse- nuences. 62-S.ils for Philadelphia ; another voyage to Port au Pn ce. and sais P ruary,.771. for Phi.adelpbia. OS-Saves DuBeld's sugar irom th^ cttol HouJe' omcer.. 66-I.iscovers the robher of Ben. a^ r..s on 7 A ^ -r. ■ pn siQile in brif Swilt for the Mole, ana rtiurub, vovage to Cape Franfois, 09— bails in Dri,, ow 69^In 1775 purchases part of brig Greyhound; sails to Marugalant ad DonLiica, 70-From thence to Hispaniola ; ^Captain Stephen Decatui pas- seuger ; returns to Philadelphia, May, 177.), 71. VUl CONTENTS. CHAPTER II. Difficulties with Great Britain ; disorderly conduct of our people, 72 — Shooting at a mark with Captain Graydon ; a child struck, 73 — Edward Biddle, his brother, 74 — Sails with Captain John Craig for L'Orient to buy powder and arms, 75 — A man overboard ; arrives at L'Orient, 76 — Goes to Nantes, 77 — Returns by land to L'Orient, 78 — Sails for Philadelphia, 79 — Stops at St. Eustatia ; meets Captain James Craig, brother of John, 80 — Detained by sickness sails in another vessel for Philadelphia ; dangerous voyage, 80 — Arrives at Philadelphia 9th January, 1776 ; joins Captain Cowperthwaite's company of Quaker light infantry, 82 — English ship of war Roebuck in Dela- ware Bay and River ; ship sent down to attack her; volunteers as seaman, 83 — Reading of the Declaration of IndeiJendence ; Thomas Paine's Common Sense, 86 — Goes to Elizabetbtown in the company, 87 — General Mercer, 89 — Judge Allen, 90 — Sailed for Port au Prince in brig Greyhound ; taken by the English frigate Antelope, and carried to Jamaica, 90 — Violence of the Admi- ral ; is ordered to be put in irons, 92-3 — Base conduct of Midshipman Cra- thorne, a Philadelphian, 93 — Escapes and is recaptured, 95 — Again escapes ; goes to Nicola Mole, 96 — Starts for any port on the coast in schooner Three Sisters ; goes into Beaufort, North Carolina, 98 — Meets for first time Miss Hannah Shepard\ journeys to Reading, 99 — Goes to Charleston, South Caro- lina, to see his brother Nicholas ; then to Beaufort, and starts home, 99 — Stops at Baltimore ; British fleet in the Bay ; then goes to Philadelphia, 100 — Battle of Braudywine ; goes to Trenton in his brig, carrying refugees from the city, 101 — Mr. Riche and Mr. Kirkbride, 103 — Goes to Reading; starts for Charleston with CoUinson Read ; anecdotes of the journey, 103 — Meets his brother Nicholas ; takes a short cruise with him, 104 — Fire in Charleston, 105 — Goes to Newbern to fit out a vessel, 106 — Loss of frigate Raridolph ; challenges Captain Morgan, 106 — Notice of Nicholas Biddle, 109 — A French adventurer, 111 — Sails in armed brig from Newbern, 22d September, 1778, 113 — Arrives at St. Eustatia, 114 — Returns to Beaufort ; meets Miss Shepard, 116 — Marries Miss Shepai-d November 35th, 1778, 117— Meets Mr. William Hodge ; his imprisonment in the Bastile, 117 — Passes the winter at Newbern 119 — A prize case, 119 — Sails from Beaufort 1st August, 1779, for St. Thomas 123 — Proposed attack on Tortola, 124 — Return to Beaufort, 135 — Narrow escape from drowning, 126 — Death of brother Edward and character, 127 — 6th October, birth of son called Nicholas, 1779, 127 — Anecdote of Judge Peters, 128 — Disturbance of Captain Gibbons, 128 — Chosen captain of militia company, 128 — Disturbances at Beaufort, 131 — Drives Gibbons from the place, 134 — Elected to the Assembly from Carteret County, and goes to Newbern, 134 — Goes after an English privateer, 135 — Returns to Newbern, 138 — Sends out Joseph Biddle, son of his brother James, in command of a schooner, 138 CONTENTS. IX — Never heard of, 139 — William, son of his brother James, comes to Beaufort, 140 — Sends William to sea ; never heard of, l-H — Debates in North Carolina Legislature, 142 — Major John Stewart, anecdotes of, 143 — Opinion of the Indians ; comfort administered to his brother Edward by an Indian chief, 144 — Starts by land, with his wife, for Philadelphia 1st June, 1780, 145 — Gov- ernor Nash's certificate, 146 — Meets Baron DeKalb, 147 — Arrives at Reading, 149. CHAPTER III. General Richard Butler, 150 — Anecdotes of Captain Bowen, 151 — February, 1781, son born at Reading ; sails for St. Thomas in brig Active, 152 — Dr. Standley and the Hessian wounded, 153 — Fever on board, 155 — Taken by the Chatham, Captain Douglas, 157 — Opinion of British officers, 158 — Ship on fire, ISO- Lands at New York, 1783, 161 — Samuel Shoemaker, 161 — Jersey prison-ship, 162 — Goes on parole to Flatbush, 164 — Is exchanged and arrives at Reading ; Captain Furman, 166 — Roderick Random gave him first inclination for the sea, 168 — Prepares to take command of Friendship, large armed vessel, from Baltimore for San Domingo and Mediterranean, 169 — Captain Wilson, ]?71 — Count de Benyowsky passenger, 172 — Suicide of Captain Craig, 172 — Sails from Baltimore 15th July, 1783, with one hundred and thirty men, in com- pany with French frigate Sybil, 173 — Quarrel with Benyowsky; arrives at Cape Franf ois, 175 — Sells his vessel, 176 — Count Benyowsky ; purchases a brig called the St. Patrick, 177 — Captain Whitehead's case before a judge, 181 — Sails from the Cape, September, 1783, 183 — Two French women passen- gers ; their ill manners, 184 — Arrives at Baltimore, 184 — Arrives at Reading with Mrs. Lux ; February, 1783, Mrs, Biddle has a eon called James after his brother ; Yankee story ; goes to New York, 185 — His brother John, 186 — Sails as passenger to Port au Prince, June, 1783, 186 — Goes to Cape Francois bj' land, 187 — Sails from Cape Francois August, 1783 ; arrives at Wilmington, and goes thence to Reading, 188 — Mr. James Collins marries Lydia Biddle, daughter of his brother James, 189 — Collins & Truxtun become bankrupt ; honorable conduct of Commodore Truxtun, 189 — Captain Thomas Allen lost at sea, 190 — Elected a member of the Supreme Executive Council from Berks Coiinty, 191 — Trial and execution of Welsh for robbery, 193 — Elected Chief Burgess of Reading, 194 — Leaves Reading for Philadelphia 20th Octo- ber, 1784 ; John Dickinson President and General James Irvine Vice-Presi- dent of Council, 194 — Election of Captain Graydon Prothonotary for Dau- phin County ; Constitutionalists and Republicans, 19.5 — Octo))er, 1785, chosen Vice-President by Council, 197 — Arrival of Dr. Franklin from France ; he is chosen President, and Charles Biddle Vice-President ; their election con- firmed by the Legislature, 198 — Execution of Elizabeth Wilson for child murder, though innocent, 199 — Republicans and Constitutionalists, 203 — X CONTENTS. Irish brogue, 20.3 — Duel of Dean and Dr. Linn, 20.5 — Execution of an Indian and of John McDonald, 206 — Disputes between Pennsj'lvania and Connecti- - cut settlers in Luzerne County, 207 — General Armstrong, 208 — Execution of two men for murder in Franklin County ; pardon to Mr. Mathias Aspden in 1786, and of Phineas Bond, 209— Re-elected Vice-President October, 1786, 212 — Tench Coxe, 212 — Breaks his knee-pan, 213 — Executive Council meets at his house, 215 — Captain William Craig, 216 — Disturbance in Legislature about Federal Constitution, 217 — McCalmont and Miley forced to attend, 218 — Removal of seat of government to Lancaster ; reasons for, 219. — CHAPTER IV. • Captain Craig arrests John Franklin, Connecticut settler, in Wilkesbarre, 221 — Society of Political Inquiries, Dr. Franklin, President, 223 — Elected secretary to Council, October, 1787 ; anecdote of Dr. Franklin, 224 — Elected member of Legislature from Berks County ; declines it, 225 — Grand festival proces- sion, July 4th, 1778, 22.5 — Colonel Oswald committed for contempt of court July, 1788, 228— Action of the Legislature, 229— The Adopted Sons of Penn- _- sylvania ; duel of Oswald and Matthew Carey, 231 — Levi and Abraham Doan taken ; their history, 232 — October, 1788, his brother James made Prothono- tary of Court Common Pleas, 235 — Notice of him, 236 — Continental money and Virginia money, 236 — State Island money, 238 — February, 1789, again breaks his knee, 239 — Convention to alter constitution, 240 — Death of his mother, 1789 ; paper left by her ; notice of her, 240 — Death of his niece, Mrs. Catharine Lux, at his house, 1789, 242 — Loses a daughter, fifteen months old, 24.3 — Death of Dr. Franklin in 1790 ; his character, 243 — Election of General Mifllin as Gov- ernor under new Constitution ; Constitutionalists and Republicans, 244 — Exec- utive Council abolished ; difference with Governor Mifflin, 24.5 — His brother James made Judge of Common Pleas, 247 — He is appointed Prothonatory, 248 — Visit to Cape May, 249 — Travelling in N#w Jersey, 2.50 — Reception of M. Genet, Minister from Republic of France, in 1793, 2.51 — Vice-President of Democratic Society ; David Rittenhouse President, 252 — Dinner to Genet, 253 — Goes to Long Branch ; engagement of French frigate Ambuscade and English frigate Boston off that place, 2.54 — Yellow Springs ; Judge and Mrs. Jones, Montgomery County, 254 — Yellow fever in Philadel- phia ; sends family to house of Mr. William Lardner, husband of Mrs. Biddle's sister, 254— Death of Dr. Hutchinson September 6th, 1793, 25.5— Captain Stephen Girard's noble conduct; Mr. Peter Helm's also, 2.57 — " Fears of the brave," 257 — Judge Biddle opens and adjourns his court, 2.59 — Treatment of yellow fever, 260 — In November people return to Philadelphia, 260 — Difficulty about excise, and western insurrection, 261 — Hugh H. Brackenridge's account of the insurrection in western Penn- sylvania, 263 — Severe illness, April, 1796, 264 — Operation performed, 265 CONTENTS. Xi —Governor Mifflin, 266— Death of brother Judge James Biddle in 1797, 367 —Goes to Ballstown and Saratoga, 267— Long Branch ; hears of yellow fever in Philadelphia, 269— Major Andre, 270— Yellow fever in Philadel- phia, 1798, 271— Stays at Judge Jones's and Mr. Lardner's ; robbery of Bank of Pennsylvania ; Patrick Lyon, 272— Has a bill passed making judgments a lien for only Ave years, 275— Purchases in 1799 country seat in Islington Lane, 275— Difficulties with France ; defence association, 276— Commodore Trux- tun captures frigate Insurgent, 278— Appointed prize agent, 279— Builds at country seat ; Truxtun's resignation from navy, 281— Truxtun's commission returned ; Ellsworth and Davis sent to France, by President Adams, 282— Governor McKean elected ; Charles Biddle continued in his office, 282— Gene- ral Craig ; Marks John Biddle ; Alexander Graydon removed, 283— Governor Mifflin's character, 283— Anecdote of family likeness, 284— 14th of December, ^y 1799; death of General Washington, anecdotes of him, 284— 14th of February, 1800, James and Edward enter navy, 286— Go to New York to sail in frigate President ; stay at Colonel Burr's, 288- Election of President and Vice-Presi- dent Adams and Jefferson ; Burr, 289— Votes of electors from Pennsylvania, 289— Mr. Thomas Biddle informs him of his son Edward's death, 290— No- tice of Edward Biddle, 292— Goes to Warm Spring in Virginia with Jwdge Jones, 294— Colonel Washington and Colonel Henry Lee, 294— Moves from Market Street to Chestnut Street; anonymous letter, May, 1802, 296— Suit of Dr. Glenn versus James King for services in amputating his leg, 297— Decem- ber, 1802, purchases Chestnut Street house, $9200, 298— James taken at Tripoli in frigate Philadelphia, 299. CHAPTER V. Duel of Hamilton and^ Burr, July 11th, 1804, 302/-Letter from Mr. Van Ness, Burr's second, 304— Son Nicholas goes to France, 1804, with General Arm- strong, 306— Letter to Governor Bloomfleld from United States Senators, 306 -Burr and Hamilton, 309— Dr. Enoch Edwards, 309— Commodore Truxtun's resignation, 311— Son James returns from Tripoli ; ordered to command guu boat No. 1, Charleston, South Carolina, 312— Goes to Lancaster for his commission as Prothonotary, 312— Dinner to Governor and members of Legislature, 312— Colonel Burr communicates his plan for forming a settle- ment on the Mississippi, 31-3- Servant Virgil runs off', 314— Letter from Burr announcing his arrest, 315— Truxtun, Burr, and Wilkinson, 316— Leopard and Chesapeake, 318— Meeting on the subject, 319— A spirited Englishman, 319— Mr. Bond, English Consul, threatened, 320— Dinner to Honorable Daniel Clarke for saving crew of ship Argo, 321— Colonel Burr, 322— Consulted by Judge Jones, 1808, about his son Richard's leaving the navy, 323— Executor of General Morgan, 324— Footpads at Upper Ferry, 325— Asked to run as the Federal candidate for Governor, 325— Simon Snyder elected, 326— Frederick Xll CONTENTS. Wolbert appointed by Governor Snyder Prothonotary in his place, 32(5 — Proposed chans;e of seat of government from Washington, 337 — A company for insuring lives and granting annuities established, 327 — Reason for not getting a charter, 328 — Governor Spaight, of North Carolina, killed in a duel, 329 — Elected State Senator by Federal party ; son Nicholas in the House, 329 — Application of Bank of United States to Legislature for a charter ; speech of Nicholas, 331 — Nicholas refuses to run again ; sons Nicholas and Charles married, 332 — In 1811, offers resolution to the Cincinnati for erection of monu- ment to General Washington, 332 — Plan for the same, 333 — Attends Senate at Lancaster, 334 — Violent resolutions offered, 335 — Prospect of war ; son Thomas appointed captain in the army ; son John second lieutenant in third artillery, 335 — Chairman of a meeting to organize a company of those over forty-five to preserve the peace of the city, 330 — Pockets some resolutions, and meeting adjourns ; another meeting, 337 — Row at the election, 338 — Ap- pointed commissioner to sign treasury notes, 340 — Seat in Senate contested, 341 — Takes his seat in Senate ; stays with Captain Graydon, 342 — Son James takes command of Flotilla for defence of Delaware ; chairman of committee of citizens to build and man gun-boats, 343 — Pea Patch, 344 — Goes to Legis- lature ; banks chartered, 344 — General St. Clair's pension, 345 — Debate on James O'Hara's pension, 346 — Returns to Philadelphia ; sons Thomas and John, 347 — Starts with wife and two daughters for New London ; visits Colo- nel Burr at New York, 347 — Sunday travelling in New England, 348 — Visits son James on board the United States ship Hornet, 349 — Death and character of Colonel Clement Biddle, 350 — Burning of Washington, 350 — Proceedings at Philadelphia, 350-51— Death of British General Ross, 352— November 10th, 1815, account of club of which he was a member ; Major Moore's drinking powers, 353 — Goes with family to Schooley's Mountain and Easton ; meets General Thomas Craig, 353 — Truxtun elected sheriff, 354 — October, 1817, foreman of grand jury ; case of Dr. Tardy, 3.5.5 — 1st January, 1818 ; state of his health, 357 — Reminiscence of Dr. Franklin, 3.58 — Summer of 1819 visits Schooley's Mountain and Joseph Bonaparte's place, 3.58 — Death of Charles Biddle, April 4th, 1831, 3.59. NOTES. PA«E Note A. — William Biddle 361 " B.— Nicholas Scull 378 " C— Edward Biddle 389 " D.— Captain Nicholas Biddle 393 " E. — Commodore James Biddle 397 " F. — Aaron Burr — Commodore Truxtun 402 " G.— Nicholas Biddle 415 " H.— Owen and Clement Biddle 420 I WAS born in the city of Philadelphia the 24th of De- cember, 1745. My father, William Biddle, was a native of i^ew Jersey, grandson of William Biddle,* who came from England, one of the proprietors of that State. My grand- father was a man of very large fortune. He sent myVather to Philadelphia, where he was brought up by Mr. Griffiths, at that time one of the first merchants in America. My mother was the daughter of Is^icholas Sculbf Surveyor-Gene- ral of Pennsylvania. She possessed great firmness, and was one of the most amiable and best of women. My father was unfortunate from his first entering into business. Soon after he was married, he became bail for a Captain Turner, in a large sum 6i' money. As he understood he was gouvj; off without settling the debt for which he was bound, my father took out a bail-piece. Turner had locked his rooni, and declared he would put any man to death Avho forced the door. As the sheriff and his officers knew Turner to be a desperate fellow, they were afraid to go near the door, but called on my father, who was a man of uncommon strength and resolution. He immediately went to the house, and, notwithstanding Turner declared he would cut down the first man that entered, he forced the door, when the villain wounded him with a cutlass in the right .arm in such a manner that it was almost useless the remainder of his life. * See Note A at the end of this voUime. ■(• See Note B. Z AUTOBIOGRAPIIYOF During the confusion that ensued the fellow slipt among the crowd and made his escape. For him my father had a large sum to pay ; in everything he undertook he was unfortunate. Although naturally of a mild disposition, his temper became soured by his misfortunes, which at last he sank under. My mother gives some account of their situation about this time, in a letter to her granddaughter, Mrs. Lux, daughter of my brother Edward, married to Mr. George Lux, of Maryland, a man who, had he conducted himself with prudence, would have been an honor to his country. If Mrs. Lux had not died without children, T would not have mentioned this letter. She wrote : — " I am truly sorry to hear you have met with great afflic- tion. If it arises from the behavior of Mr. Lux, as I fear it does, your prudence and fortitude must be called in to assist you. I am informed that he cannot dispose of his property without your consent. If so, and I hope it is, never give your consent. It is only making him a prey to game- sters, the worst of villains. If he gives them his bond, and they should sue him, they cannot recover. When you mar- ried, the estate was equally yours, and dearly have you earned it. I allow that it seems hard that a wife should deny to pay her husband's debts, but they are not just debts. How many wives are now suffering the utmost misery by comply- ing with the wishes of such a husband 1 I am now writing supposing your present uneasiness is owing to Mr. Lux. Whatever it is, there is one will never forsake you. It is, perhaps, for our advantage to be sometimes afflicted. We too often forget ourselves. I was married nineteen years, and at times thought everything that gave me pain a dread- ful affliction. But when I really knew what sorrow was, I looked back on my former repinings with shame. I had nine children, one at my breast, when Mr. Biddle informed me one morning that he had involved himself and ruined me and his children. I was much shocked, but begged he would settle his affairs, and hoped he would be better off than he expected. We had an estate in Jersey, which he .sold for two thousand pounds. He could not see his children CHARLES BIDDLE. 3 without tears. We paid all our debts, and Mr. Bid die en- tered into partnership with one Jacobs, a man supposed to be possessed of a great fortune. In one year he broke, and we had to pay fourteen hundred pounds for him. This quite sunk Mr. Biddle. We had very little left. My dear Mr. Biddle was taken with a lingering disorder. For six weeks befoi'e he died I never slept with my clothes off. The situ- ation of my children made me exert myself to provide for them. Your Uncle James had just begun to practice the law, and this best of sons shared with me everything he could earn. Your father, then but sixteen years of age, went an ensign in the army. Charles and Nicholas, at about the age of fourteen, went to. sea. They, as well as your uncles John and Thomas, all were happy in rendering me every assistance in their power. I suffered much at the loss of your uncle Nicholas in the Randolph, but it was a conso lation to know that he was one of the best of young men, and died in the service of his countr3^ I am now, with the assistance of my sons, very comfortably situated, and when I look round me, think I have as little reason to complain as any person in the world," When about eleven years of age my mother sent me to the wharf after wood. Returning along Water, near Market Street, to avoid a dray, I stepped on a pile of wood. There being snow on *it, my feet slipped and my left leg came directly under the dray, which had a hogshead of sugar on it. My right leg was nearly in between the spokes ; the bone was mashed a little below my knee. When they were carrying me to my mother, I thought it disgraceful to cry, and she, seeing me brought home without making any noise, concluded I was drowned. I was laid upon a table, and one of the most eminent surgeons in the city thought it would be necessary to take off" my leg. This was opposed by Dr. Evans, the family physician, by my mother, and myself. It was near six months before I was i:)erfectly recovered. In Jamaica, many years after, I felt some pain where the bone had been broken, but none since. Before I went to sea, few boys were more mischievous 4 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF than myself; two or three of my companions were much the same — Robert Shewell, Townsend White, Frank Manny, W. Budden who was some years older than either of us, S. Hepburn, and Esquire Forman. We were always playing some pranks. Budden's father commanded a ship. He told one of his apprentices, of the name of Bowen, who had done something improper, that he did not believe there was so wicked a fellow in the city as he was ; "Go see, you rascal, if you can find any one as bad as yourself." He went to our companion and told him his father wanted him immediately. They went together, and Bowen says to his master, "Here, sir, is one that is my match." The old gentleman laughed, and told him he believed he had found one full as bad as himself. With White I have frequently gone close to a man walking the streets and fired one of my brother Edward's pistols close to his ear ; sometimes gone of a dark night with a rope and tripped up the heels of people. Whenever we met a person in the night with a basket or tub on his head, .one or other of us would throw it oft'. Going one night with him throwing down cellar doors, among others, we threw down our schoolmaster's, Captain Stiles. He happened to be just coming out of the door, ran after us, caught me and gave me a most severe beating. As it was dark he did not know me, and I was afraid to make a noise for fear he should find out whom he was flogging and remember me the next day. One day Shewell persuaded me, without much difiiculty, to take a very large imported horse, belonging to Mr. Gray, a brewer, out of the stable. We rode this horse without anything but a halter up to Chestnut Hill, where we both had relations, to buy game-fowls upon credit, for we had no money. Upon our return Shewell, according to agreement, took the horse back to the stable. The Sunday following we were in the brewhouse yard, when one of the porters, who had seen Shewell bring the horse home, caught him, and, not- withstanding all he said about my taking the horse, beat him very severely. At this time Shewell was not more than thirteen years of age. I was two years younger. CHARLESBIDDLE. 5 One evening, pulling off my shoes, I clambered up a board and got into the gallery of the theatre in South wark through a small opening in the upper part of the building. Just be- fore I reached the opening., one of the attendants of the house caught hold of the board, and threatened to turn it over if I did not come immediately down. At this time some person called to him to let the board alone^^the little rascal has run the risk of his neck, let him get in if he can. The play was just over when I got into the gallery ; all the actors were on the stage. I thought it a most grand sight. In fact there was no kind of mischief could be proposed but what I was ready to be concerned in. Fortunately for me, my brothers James and Edward heard of one of my pranks. They took me into a room and pointed out to me in strong terms the ruin I should bring upon myself, and how unhappy my con- duct made my mother by keeping the company I did. Young and thoughtless as I was, what they said made a deep impression upon me ; the thought of giving pain to the best of mothers affected me very much. The lecture of these ex- cellent brothers had an effect on me ever after. I imme- diately quit the company of my companions in mischief, and associated with those who conducted themselves better. I believe the young people at this time are not so bad as they were when I was a boy. When I was :^urteen years of age, my mother being ex- tremely anxious to put me an apprentice to a merchant, I went for a short time to Mr. William Ball. Although I had not the least reason to complain of this gentleman, I soon was tired of this business, and was determined to go to sea, where I expected soon to make a fortune, or at least do some- thing to prevent my being a burden to my mother and elder brothers. However, after I left Mr. Ball, at the earnest re- quest of my mother, I went with her to Messrs. James & Drinker, eminent merchants that were concerned in shipping, and who from the regard they had for the family wished me to live with them. 'Not finding either of these gentlemen at home, and falling in with a Captain Robert Grant, bound to St. Lucar, in Spain, who wanted such a lad as I was, he easily 6 AUTOBIOGRAPHYOF persuaded me to go with him, and I believe now, that my going to sea was the best thing I could have done ; nor have I ever repented it. The leaving my mother and family was the only cause of regret. Grant was a good seaman, but, what is very uncommon in a seaman, he was a great miser. We went to sea without any poultry, and few stores of any kind. He used to say he did not like to indulge himself in any luxuries, for he did not know how soon he might want. However, I have no doubt that he would have indulged him- self if he could have done it without any expense. Before I went to sea with Grant, I wrote to Mr. McFunn, my brother-in-law, who was then master attendant of the navy yard at Antigua (he had been many years an officer in the navy), to know if he could get me on board a man- of-war. As he was much esteemed by Sir James Douglass, he agreed to take me as an acting midshipman on board his own ship, the Dublin ; and I should have gone if peace had not been soon after concluded. I did not want to enter when nothing was to be done. Had it not been for the peace, I should have gone into the navy, and probably remained in it. We left Philadelphia the 10th of May, 1763, and nothing remarkable happened until the 3d of June following, when at daylight we discovered a large armed ship about three miles to windward with Spanish colors, bearing down upon us, and an English brig almost within hail. There was very little wind. Grant, not liking the appearance of the Spaniard, which he took to be a pirate, or some privateer that had not heard of the peace between Great Britain and Spain, spoke the brig. She was from Jamaica bound to London, and, the captain being of the same opinion that Grant was,* we both kept away before the wind. At 12 o'clock it was almost calm, and the Spaniard nearly within gunsliot of us. As the brig had a few guns, it was concluded between the two captains, that we should all go on board the brig, and if the Spaniard came up with us, to fight her. At 4 o'clock she was so near as to heave a shot over us, and then all went on board the brig, and fired several shots which fell short, CHARLES BIDDLE, 7 which convinced ns her metal was much heavier than ours. It soon fell calm and remained so until about 10 o'clock at night, when upon the appearance of a squall we went on board our own vessel, and had hardly time to get in our boat be- fore it came on to blow very hard. We soon lost sight of the ship and brig. About 2 o'clock in the morning the mate came down to inform Grant that the Spaniard was upon our weather-quarter and coming up fast. This put the crew in great confusion, for we all firmly believed she was a pirate, and we should be treated very ill. Being then a boy and only wanting to learn my business as a seaman, and having nothing to lose, I felt as little uneasiness as any one on board. However, upon the vessel getting within hail we found it was Captain Betson, who left the Capes of Delaware with us bound for Madeira. After this nothing material happened during the voyage. We arrived at St. Lucar on. the 20th of June. St. Lucar is a considerable town, and was said at this time to contain twenty-five thousand inhabitants. Five leagues distant from it is Port St. Mary's, and here you take passage for Cadiz. A few days after our arrival there was a grand bull-fight, given on account of the peace between Great Britain and Spain. They had a large circus amphitheatre with seats arranged one above another- to a considerable height. In a large balcony near where the bulls entered, the Governor and h great number of the nobility were seated. They had procured a number of the most ferocious l)ulls that could be found in the Province of Andalusia, which is famous for those animals. Before the bull enters the arena he is goaded by a fellow placed above with a kind of pike, so that when he enters he is perfectly mad, and rushes with great violence at the first person he sees. The men who fought the bulls behaved with most astonishing courage and dexterity. Frequently when the bull was rushing on them, and you would suppose they must certainly be killed, they would put their hands on his head or neck and jump over him. Whenever anything remarkable was- performed, they were called to the balcony and money thrown to them. !N'otwithstanding all their skill, several were thrown a great 8 AUTOBIOGRAPHYOF height, and three were so much bruised as to be carried to the hospital, where it was reported two of them died the next day. The fight gave great pleasure to most of the spectators; for my own part, although the novelty of the fight pleased me at first, I was soon so much disgusted that I would gladly have quitted my seat long before it was finished, if I could have done it. But that was impossible, for we were on one of the upper seats. It was near night when it was ended, and the mate, who went with me, and myself were moving ofi:', when we were stopped by some Spaniards. As we could neither of us speak a word of Spanish, nor they English, it was not until a person came up that could speak English, that we found they wanted to be paid for our seats. We were detained by these fellows until it was dark. Having paid for our seats we set off to go on board our ship, which lay about two miles above the town, but, mistaking our way, we went the road to Seville. We had proceeded about a mile when we came to a small hill from the top of which we could see the river, and were then convinced we had mistaken our road. We determined to cross the vineyard until we reached the waterside, where we had no doubt of soon finding our ship. However, we had not gone far before we were hailed by one of their watchmen. As we had done a good deal of injury to the grapes, and expected to be roughly handled, when he hal- loed we ran, but we were soon stopped by some fellows in front of us. They were taking us to their watch-house when we broke from them and made our escape. We now did what we should have done when we first discovered the river; that is, go back to town. We did this now, and, having kept along the river, about twelve o'clock at night got on board, heartily sick of our expedition. About two weeks alter our arrival I was taken very ill with the flux, occasioned by my eating too many grapes, which I believe has been fatal to many not accustomed to eating them. As I had never been sick before, nor ever heard of this disorder, I inquired of an old seaman who had been Ions: on board of a man-of-war, whether he knew what CHARLES BIDDLE. 9 the flux Wcas. " That I do," answered lie, " for I lay two months with it in the hospital at Gibraltar, and never ex- pected to get up again ; many of my ship-mates died of it. Indeed, very few recovered." While my honest friend was comforting me in this manner, Captain Grant came on board, and, the mate telling him of my disorder, he went ashore and spoke to Mr. David Ferrier, to whom the vessel was consigned. This gentleman had been concerned in the rebel- lion in Scotland, and was obliged to leave his country. He was a very worth}-, respectable man. He took me to his house, and treated me with great kindness. I was also much indebted to Mr. William Seton, a young gentleman of JSTew York, who lived with Mr. Ferrier. He behaved as a brother to me, and it was owing to the goodness and attention of these gentlemen that I recovered. They dieted me on barley broth, which Mr. Ferrier thought good for all disorders. When the vessel was discharged of her cargo, we went up to the salt-works and were soon loaded. While we lay there, we had frequent disputes with the Spaniards about the braver}^ of the British and Spanish troops. They would allow that no people fought so well at sea as the British, but that their troops were better. However, we could always silence them by telling them of the Havannah, which they had always supposed it was not possible to take. The Spaniards are a 'people very honorable in their dealings, but very indolent and proud. Captain Hardy, of Philadelphia, told me of an old woman whom he had known for many years at Cadiz, a beggar ; the last voyage he made there, w^hen he saw her, she cried very much, and told him they liad taken her son from her and bound him to a cooper, and that he was the first of the family who had ever been brought up to a trade. We sailed from St. Lucar about the first of August, and nothing unusual happened during our passage home. We arrived in the Delaware the 20th of September. When we anchored ofl' Marcus Hook, Grant hired a horse to send me to inform the owners of our arrival. I was greatly rejoiced at being sent up, and rode as fast as I could get the poor 10 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF animal to go, but, notwithstanding all my exertions, it was at least five hours before I arrived at Philadelphia, and there found Grant, who was there an hour before me, through a fair wind soon after I set off. My joy was so great at getting home that I hardly knew how to contain myself. My mother and all the family were greatly rejoiced to see me. I believe there never existed a family fonder of each other than we were. As Captain Grant had behaved well to me, the family took a good deal of notice of him, and when he was again going to sea he prevailed on me to go with him. Had I then known the difference between a summer and a winter voyage, I never would have gone in such a vessel. We sailed the beginning of December for the island of Fayal. A few days after we were out, we had a most violent gale of wind which obliged us to lay to. About 3 P. M., the mate desired me to go below and bring him a drink ; T was on the ladder, just going to hand it to him, when a tremendous sea broke on board and cleared the decks of everything upon them but the masts and pumps. There were two men with the mate upon the deck. The seamen had, fortunately, taken hold of a rope the moment the sea struck us, and by that means were saved. The mate was lost. As he was fond of liquor and surly, the crew did not much regret his loss. A coop broke when washed overboard, that had some geese in it ; they appeared atop of the waves to enjoy very much their liberty. A large dog was in the midst of them ; he swam to the vessel and we took him on board. Grant and the watch below were soon upon deck. We put our bark before the wind, and were rejoiced to find she made little or no water. The wind was at northeast, and although out of our course, we were obliged for twenty-four hours to keep before it, and frequently expected our old bark would have been stove to pieces. The next day the gale abated, and at night it was perfectly calm. The wind afterwards springing up from the westward, we made sail and stood our course. Christmas day we made the land. It being thick weather, and not knowing the land, we stood close in with it, when a CHARLESBIDDLE. 11 boat came off and informed us it was the island of Flora. We stood for Fayal, and two days after anchored in the road in twenty fathoms of water. This is a bad, and in the winter season a dangerous road, being entirely open to the southeast wind. The weather was boisterous from the time of our arrival until the second of January, 1764, so that we could not land any of our cargo, although it was sold, and a part of it much wanted by Mr. Gathorn, the British Consul, as about a month before our arrival a transport, with between two and three hundred of Montgomerj^'s Highlanders, Lieuts. West and McKenzie (son to the Earl of Cromartie), of the king's own regiment, and Lieut. Bloomfield of the artillery, from Quebec, bound to England, had put in here in distress, and their vessel was so leak}^ they were obliged to run her ashore to prevent her foundering. The evening of the second of January it began to blow hard, and by midnight increased to a perfect storm. Si'gnals of distress were fired from all the vessels which had guns, and they continued firing all night. At daylight signals of dis- tress were made by every vessel in the harbor. In our old l)ark we expected every instant to founder. Grant woul& have cut and run the vessel ashore, but was afraid we should all perish. We continued in this situation until about one o'clock, when we parted our best bower cable, and found we were drawing* on shore. The scene now before us was enough to shock 'the stoutest heart. We were drawing fast upon rocks that the sea broke over in such a manner that death appeared inevitable. In this situation we did every- thing that was possible to preserve our lives ; we cut our re- maining cables, (here every vessel hires cables, especially in the winter) hoisted a small piece of our foresail ^o keep her clear of the rocks, and stood for a sandy beach opposite the town, where we expected there would be some hopes of our being saved. Although it blew and rained harder than it had ever been known before by the oldest inhabitant of the place, there was scarce a person belonging to the town but what was on the walls gazing at us. In front of those on the beach, when atop of the sea, we could see the gallant 12 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF Highlanders standing ready to afford us any assistance that could be given. As I swam remarkably well, I was deter- mined as soon as the vessel struck to commit myself to the waves, and swim for the shore. For this purpose, I had stripped myself naked. A young Scotchman, of the name of Daniel Carr, who was one of the men washed overboard when we lost our mate, swam well, and agreed to follow me. Grant, from the quarterdeck, seeing me naked, called to me. He represented to me the impossibility of my being saved by swimming while there was such a dreadful surf. When he found this had no effect, he begged me not to leave him, that a few moments would decide our fate, and that I had a much better chance of being saved by staying with him than by jumping overboard. When I looked at him, I perceived tears in his eyes. This and his request had more weight than anything he could say about the danger of my attempt. As he could not swim, and he knew how well I did, he thought it probable I might be of service to him. This, indeed, was one great inciucement for me to stay. His countenance expressed satisfaction when I' told him we would live or die together. We were now driving fast on shore, which had a horrid appearance. As soon as the vessel touched the ground Daniel went overboard. He had nothing on him but a handkerchief tied round his waist, with the little money he possessed in it. Twice he was on his feet, and some of the brave troops were very near him ; but the undertow carried him off, and he was drowned. He was the most active man belonging to the vessel. Having a great regard for him, I was much affected at his loss. His money prevented our ever finding his bod}^, and possibly occasioned his being drowned. When we first struck, I expected the vessel would have gone to pieces ; however, the second heavy sea, after we struck, hove her so far on the beach, that when the sea left her she was almost dry. In this situation we dropped from the end of the bowsprit, and with the assistance of the High- landmen, we reached the shore in safety. Lieutenant McKenzie distinguished himself in his endeavors to save us, and had very nearly lost his life in the attempt he made to CIIARLESBIDDLE. 13 save poor Daniel. This young gentleman, I think, told me he was at his mother's breast when she applied to the king for a pardon for her husband, who was concerned in the Re- bellion. We were treated with, great kindness by Messrs. Gathorne and McKnight, merchants of this place, and by all the British officers, most of whom had served with my brother Edward, for whom they expressed a great esteem, and on his account were particularly kind to me. All the vessels in the road, being eight, received more or less damage, and two besides our own were totally lost. Shortly after the loss of our vessel, an English merchant died here suddenly, and Avas buried near one of the churches. The Portuguese were, or pretended to be, much shocked at a heretic's being laid near one of their churches, and during the time of our walking to the ground and putting the body in the grave, continually pelted and abused us. Had the soldiers been armed, there would have been some bloodshed. At the grave there was a dispute whether the head sliould be laid to the east or west. This was settled by an old mas- ter of a ship, who said, if the head was laid the wrong way, when all hands were called, he had only to turn upon his heel, and all would be right. We were told the inhabitants took up the body in the night and threw it into the sea. Two nights after this funeral, the Highlanders were de- termined to be^revenged for the insults they had received. They paraded the streets, and insulted and abused every in- habitant they met with. They wounded some who opposed them. Complaint was made the next day by the governor to their commander, Captain St. Clair. He requested St. Clair to have their broadswords taken from them ; this he refused, and told the governor that unless his soldiers were treated better, he would give them pistols. After this the people of the island were afraid of the soldiers, and be- haved better to us. Many of those Highlanders who had served some years in America, and with English regiments, I was told could not speak a word of English. It was re- markable that none of the officers could tire well at a mark. They pitched upon me to fire against an Italian gentleman, 14 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF who valued himself much upon his skill. "We hud several trials, and although I never at home was considered a good marksman, I was fully equal to this man who, one day, took some improper liberties with the officers ; but they soon con- vinced him that if they did not fire well at a mark, they were any of them very ready to take a shot with him, or try him in any way he chose. He was obliged to humble himself very much to prevent being severely handled. It was with difficulty Mr. McKenzie could be prevented from kicking him. Mr. Gathorn told me that the winter before we were cast away, a ship hove to otf the harbor when it blew a gale of wind from the westward. She had a signal of distress, and was full of people. As the water was smooth, he engaged a number of boats to go off to her. They intended to take the people out and run into a small harbor in Pico, but before the boats could put off, the ship made sail and ran ashore upon Pico, where the captain and most of them perished. She was from Ireland, bound to America. Those who were saved said the captain was very drunk at the time they ran ashore. Passengers should be very careful how they put themselves with a drunkard. They had better be in a bad ship with a sober, careful man, than in a good one with a man too fond of liquor. In the month of February, Mr. Graham, partner of Mr. Gathorn, arrived in a Snow from Philadelphia. The captain and he having difi'ered on the passage, the captain left her at Fayal, and the command was given to Captain Grant. About this time a transport ship belonging to Philadelphia, Captain Dennis,* arrived from Lisbon, and took on board, the troops to carry them to England. We parted with the officers with much regret. The Snow was ordered to Charles- ton, and I shipped myself on board of her. It was the ninth of March before we left this island, which is very pleasant and fertile. By my long residence here in a Portuguese house I had acquired a tolerable knowledge of their language. We * Afterwards commanded a revenue cutter in New York. CHARLES BIDDLE. 15 arrived on the coast of Carolina early in April. Just off soundings we lost both our topmasts. This was entirely owing to the obstinacy of Grant, for the mate, who was an old searoan well acquainted with the coast, advised him to take in sail long before he would do it. I was going up to hand"^ the maintop-gallant sail, and was just getting into the top when the topmast went over the side. Great care should be taken to be well prepared for these squalls, for frequent accidents happen by trusting that they will not blow hard. Having a fair wind we arrived a few days afterwards in V Charleston. Grant and myself left the enow, and took pas- a' sage for Baltimore, and from thence went to Philadelphia, where I had the happiness to find the family all well. After settling with his owners Grant was determined to go to England, and from thence to India, where he had been before, and where, he said, he was sure of making his fortune in the coasting trade. He wanted me very much to go with .him, and probably I should have done so, but my family were all very much against it, particularly my mother. He promised to write to me, but I never heard of him after he left England, so that it is probable he did not live long after reaching India. Lieutenant John Lockart K^esmith, who was a half-pay lieutenant in the British navy, came from London this spring to build a vessel. As he had served with Captain McFunn, who had some time before married a sisterf of mine. Captain McFunn agreed to take a third in the vessel he intended building. They employed Mr. John Wharton, who built a snow of a hundred and fifty tons burthen. As I attended very constantly to the fitting of this vessel, and was stout of my age, I was appointed second mate of her. Just before we sailed I was paid for my work on board, and had a month's advance given me. As I had not time to go home after it was paid me, I sent it from the Capes to my mother, and I never disposed of any money that gave me so much pleasure. We left the Capes about the middle of October, and a few * To furl. t Lydia, eldest sister of the writer. 16 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF days after it blew so hard from the southward that we were obliged to lieave to. As the gale increased in the night, our chief mate, Mr. Campbell, about eleven o'clock went down to inform the captain and to tell him he thought we had better take in the foresail. As Campbell was waking the captain, the vessel gave a lee-lurch, and the table giving way and making a great noise, alarmed ^N^esmith very much. He came running upon deck, and halloed down the steerage hatchway, "Jump up, my brave lads; make haste up, my good fellows, or we all perish ;" and some other expressions that showed he was much agitated. These expressions were repeated and laughed at afterward by the seamen. From trifling circumstances of this kind many a brave officer has been thought a coward. There are few gallant men but what will on some occasions behave in such a manner as to be considered wanting in courage. At that time all our ship's company thought him a coward ; but he was a very brave man, and a good seaman, that had raised himself by his merit. He afterwards mentioned that just as he was called, he was dreaming that the vessel was foundering. We had a tedious passage ofthirty days to Antigua. We soon discharged our cargo, took inballast, ru m, and dry goods, and proceeded for the bay of Honduras. One night while at Antigua, being on shore in the boat by myself waiting for the captain and crew, a drunken fellow, who commanded a drogher, insisted upon m}'' putting him on board his vessel. From words we soon came to blows, and as he was much too strong, I got severely beaten, and probably would have been murdered, but fortu- nately the captain and crew came down while we were light- ing. They hove the fellow overboard. On our passage downi we touched at the Mosquito Shore, and hired one of the Indians they call a striker, that is, a man to supply the crew with fish, turtle, and maniti or paeon, which is excellent eating. One of these men will (or would at this time) supply a ship's company with more fish and turtle than they could eat. We lay here nearly four months, and were daily furnished by this man. The crew were at last so tired of fish and turtle that they would beg CHARLES BIDDLE. 17 for a mess of salt provisions. The inhabitants of the bay at this time were chiefly old seamen or unfortunate merchants. They were very hospitable and generous, would give freely any liquor or provisions they had in their houses. In return they would expect to be treated in the same manner when they came on board your ship. If you did not treat them well they never would purchase or sell to you, and you would be insulted whenever you went ashore. When loading, and Captain Nesmith up the river, a shal- lop came alongside with a load of logwood. We had taken but a few tons on board, when Captain Wright, who com- manded a brig belonging to New York, came on board and told Mr. Campbell that the wood w^as intended for him and he must have it. Campbell informed him that as Captain ISTesmith was not on board, he could not let the wood go. Upon this Wright attempted to cast ofl' the shallop, and called his boat's crew to come on board and assist him. ' As soon as they entered a battle ensued, in which several on both sides were much hurt, and George Peters, one of our crew, being knocked from the gunwale of our vessel into the shallop, had his arm broken and lay for some time lifeless. AVright was a remarkably stout man, and after a warm contest he carried the shallop oif. That night J^esmith returned, and w^as very much exasperated when he heard of the behavior of Wright. Early in the morning he ordered the boat manned, and we armed ourselves as well as we could, Nes- mith being determined to bring the shallop back or lose his life in the attempt. She was at this time alongside of the brig. As Wright was an old cai)tain of a privateer, and a very determined fellow, I expected we should have a bloody piece of business, but he had been so much bruised the day before that he could not get out of his bed, and we took her without opposition. The baymen at this time would fre- quently sell their wood to two or three ditierent captains, which occasioned much squabbling and fighting. There be- ing no law but club-law, the strongest always took the wood. We sailed the beginning of April for Curasao, and beat for several clays to get up as high as Bonacco. This is done 2 18 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF by most masters of vessels before they stand to the north- ward for Cuba. I do not, however, think it necessiary to beat lip to this island, for yon may go to the westward of TurnefFand between the N"orthern Triangles and the main, or to the windward, if the wind will permit, and beat up when you get into the latitude of Cape Anthony or to the northward of it. When you beat up to Bonacco, and stand over for Cuba, you frequently make the land to windward of Cape Anthony and have to 'run down. You sometimes meet with a westerly wind, which if to leeward, would be a fair wind for you. From December to March you fre- quently have westerly winds. In the latitude of 20° 50', about five leagues from Cape Catoche there is a bank that I have been upon. You will have on it from twelve to six- teen fathoms. I believe it is not laid down in any chart. When we first discovered the bottom we were in company with the ship Sally, Capt. Osman, and it alarmed us a good deal. Having never heard of this bank, as it was in the evening when we made it, we could not tell the extent. In navigating those seas your safety much depends upon a very careful lookout, and never to run for any of the islands or reefs in the night if you can possibly avoid it. Thousands have perished by being too anxious to make a short passage. Nothing material happened until we arrived in the lati- tude of Cura(,'ao, which we passed about ten o'clock in the morning,, mistaking it for one of the islands that are to the windward of it ; nor did we discover our mistake until we spoke a schooner beating up. They told us the island we supposed to be Cura(,'ao, and for which we were standing, was the island of Oruba. AVe immediately hauled our wind, and inquiring if they could furnish us with a pilot for Cura- sao, they, after some consultation, informed us they could. The schooner was full of men, and Nesmith was under some apprehension of their being wreckers or some ruffians that probably would plunder us. He therefore directed me, when I went on board of her to bring the pilot, not to suffer any other person to come into the boat, as there were between thirty and forty men in the schooner, and only four of us in CHARLES BIDDLE. 19 the boat, and we had no weapon with us but the boat-hook. I knew if they were determined on it we could not prevent theni ; 3'et, as I was then, and have ever since been, of the opinion that an officer should always obey his superior's orders, be they almost what they may, or endeavor to do it, I told him no other should come into the boat. While we were alongside several ill-looking rascals attempted to come in, but when I told them my orders, and that I would drive the boat-hook into any that came into the boat, they de- sisted. We understood from the pilot, that the people on board the schooner had gone from Cura^'ao to a vessel that was wrecked in Oruba. We beat here several days, when being in want of provisions and finding we daily lost ground, we bore away for Jamaica. The poor pilot, when he found Ave were standing for Jamaica, was ready to jump overboard, for wlien he came on board he expected to be in Cura(,ao in a day or two, and was engaged to be married as soon as he arrived there. We arrived in Jamaica in a few days. Nes- mith, not being willing to take the price oifered for his cargo, stored it. I understood from him afterwards, that it sold for one-half of what had been oifered, and I believe it is better to sell almost any cargo in the West Indies than to store it. The expense of storing is great and the result uncertain. During the time we were at Kingston three of our crew ran away. I clon't know that Nesmith used them worse than usual, but I am sure he w^as glad they left us; for they had several months' wages due them. I have known masters behave ill to their crew when they had much wages due, to induce them to run away. This is certainly a most infamous way of saving money. We went from Jamaica to the Bay and there took in a cargo for London. We were loaded and nearly ready to sail when a vessel arrived from Philadelphia, which brought letters for Nesmith, ordering him home. As most of the crew belonged to Philadelphia this intelligence was received with the greatest joy. We sailed soon after, and arrived safe after an absence of twelve months. During this voyage a circumstance happened that I have 20 AirTOBIOGRAPHYOF been almost afraid to mention, even to my friends, fearing they should doubt it, although they never had any reason to doubt my veracity. It was in March, one pleasant night, when we were on our passage to Cura9ao, being at the helm, I thought I saw the apparition of one of my sisters, that I had left sick in Philadelphia, pass and beckon to me. It had such an effect on me that I awoke my brother I^icholas and mentioned it to him, and set down in my journal the time it happened. Upon our return we anchored oif the city about ten o'clock at night. I went ashore and was hurrying to my mother's when I overtook my sister Mary. I eagerly inquired after our sister — " She is well, and has a fine hoy." " I do not mean our sister McFunn, but Abigail." " My God 1 have you never heard that we lost her. It is upwards of si:?? months since she died." I found upon further inquiry it was the night I thought she appeared to me. She had been a remark- ably hearty girl until one night going to a dance, and, on returning home, sitting for some time in a damp room brought on a complaint that soon hurried her to her grave. The day before she died she requested to be lifted up to see the sun rise, which she said she was sure would be the last time she should ever see it. She died with the utmost composure. We found that none of the vessels we had spoken during this voyage had published the name of our vessel or captain right. The Snow was called the Ann and Almack. Ann was the name of Captain Almack's sister, who was married to Almack, a celebrated tavern-keeper in London. Most of those who spoke us mentioned their speaking the Snow Almanack. Captain ISTesmith left the Snow in Philadelphia, and bought a small shallop to trade up the rivers in the Bay, and my brother-in-law, Captain McFunn, took command of the Snow. We left Philadelphia in October, 1765, for Jamaica, where we arrived the beginning of November. After we had dis- charged our cargo, and were taking in ballast, Mr. Campbell sent me one morning in the boat to bring a craft that was becalmed alongside with ballast. We were discharging her when the captain of a London ship came on board. Camp- CHARLESBIDDLE,' 21 bell being in the hold, he addressed himself to me in a noisy, rnde manner, and told me the ballast was for his ship, and he would have it. Captain McFunn, who was one of the stoutest, most resolute, and passionate men in the world, was below, and a barber shaving him. Hearing a noise, he called to me to know what was the matter. When I informed him, he came upon deck in a violent rage, and asked the London captain how he dared to come on board his vessel and behave in the manner he had done. Not liking the answer he re- ceived, he gave the captain a blow with the back of his hand which knocked him from the gunwale into the water. He very narrowly escaped falling into his boat, which had luckily been just pulled ahead. When he was hauled in his boat he told Captain McFunn that he hoped soon to find him ashore, when he would punish him for his infamous behavior. McFunn immediately ordered the boat manned, and, half shaved as he was, went immediately ashore. Howeve'r, he was not followed. A few days after, we dropped down to Port Royal. While here, upon a Sunday, we hoisted a king's jack. A small sloop-of-war sent her boat on board and took it away. Cap- tain McFunn was then at Kingston; when he came on board, and was informed of what had happened, he thought b}^ going on board and informing the captain of the sloop it was hoisted without his knoVledge that it would be given up. However, he was mistaken, for the captain of the sloop told him that his being an old naval officer made him more inexcusable, and he should not have the colors. This was very mortifying to McFunn, but there was no remedy. Had he met him on shore he would probably have demanded satisfaction. Fortunately they did not meet, for we sailed the day after for the Bay. Soon after our arrival in the bay Captain McFunn hired a black man named Marlborough. He was a stout, active young man, about twenty -one years of age, and of his color remark- ably handsome. He was a most excellent servant ; had been brought up in Bristol; could shave, dress, and was handy and willing to do everything. He belonged to one Cook, who, after he had been on board a month, said he could not live 22 AUTOBIOGRAPHYOF without him, and took him up the river where he then lived. For some crime he supposed the unfortunate black had com- mitted, and which it appeared afterwards was not done by him, Cook cut off one of his ears. Marlborough immediately took a gun that happened to be in the room and shot his master dead. He fled to the woods. A few days afterwards, as our long boat was coming down the river he knew her, and, driven by hunger, he hailed her; and upon Mr. Scull, who commanded the boat, promising not to deliver him up he came on board. As soon as he sat down to eat they seized upon him, and upon their arrival at St. George's they de- livered him to the magistrates, who condemned him to be burned, and he was executed the day after he was tried. They bound him to a stake and made a fire round him with empty barrels and brush. Soon after the fire was kindled, in order to put him out of his pain, Captain McFunn kicked one of the empty barrels that was in a blaze close to his head, lie was sensible that it was intended to relieve him from pain, and, being unable to speak, he bowed his head to thank him. ISo man ever suffered with more fortitude than this unfortu- nate black. Our crew detested Scull so much for his breach of promise to Marlborough that it was hardly safe for him to come on board the Snow. We all thought Marlborough perfectly right in shooting his inhuman master. At the Bay we found Captain Nesmith, who had provided a great jjart of our cargo, and the 28th day of December we sailed from the bay for Antigua. We had light airs and variable winds for several days. On the 2d of January, 1766, we were becalmed between the Northern Triangles and the main. At dark we set'" the southernmost part of the reef. It bore S. E. by S. from us. It continued calm until about nine- o'clock, when we had a light breeze from the northwest. We set all sail and steered S. by W., intending to keep that course until we passed the reef. At 11 o'clock it blew very hard; we were then vmderour foresail and close-reefed main- topsail. About half-past eleven Captain McFunn told me he * "To set" is to take the bearing by compass. CHARLESBIDDLE. 23 felt as if a mountain was removed from his breast; that he had been uneasy at not having anv insurance on his part of the Snow ; that he had never gone to sea before without doing it; that he was sure we had now passed the reef, and were out of danger. It now blew excessively hard, and he ordered me to call all hands and take in the maintopsail, and told Campbell and myself he intended to stand to the eastward under the foresail. All hands were called, and the chief mate took the helm. We were just going to take in the topsail when George Peters, a Scotch seaman, that was looking out from the end of her boltsprit, called out — "Starboard! Star- board! for God's sake, or we are all lost." The chief mate, who was very hard of hearing, put the helm a-part. The man repeating the cry, I ran aft and we shifted the helm, which was not done more than ten minutes when she ran ashore. "We were going at the rate of seven or eight knots when she struck. The first stroke she gave Avas dreddful, and if she had been loaded with any other cargo than maho- gany and logwood she would have gone to pieces in an hour. The second sea that struck her carried her within the outer breaker, and fortunately threw her broadside to the sea, by which means our boats could live to leeward of her. We hoisted them out ; th6 long boat was soon lost. The yawl we veered away with a hawser. My brother ISTicholas went in her, and did everything he was ordered with as much coolness as he would have done alongside the wharf. We then cut her masts by the board ; one of them falling on the starboard, the other on the larboard side. After the masts were cut away I went into the cabin, and, finding the captain's chest driving about, I was lashing it to one of the stanchions when Campbell came down. He told me it was an unneces- sary piece of business,* for he was sure none of us would ever live to see daylight. This made me desist; however, as my clothes were wet, I opened the chest and took some out, and by this means did not save any whatever belonging to my- self. About two o'clock we all went into the steerage, but had not been there long before Ave found the deck settling, and all hurried to the after part of the quarter deck, which 24 AUTOBIOGRAPHYOF was the only part of the wreck the sea did not make a breach over. Having lost our long-boat, we had nothing but a yawl, and as she would hardly carry us all, we were afraid of one another. Having done everything we could, we all went into the steerage. "We were sioon, however, driven thence by a heavy sea breaking on board which made the deck crack. We now retreated to the after part of the quarter deck, the only part of the wreck that was dry. "We waited with great anxiety for the dawning of the day. When it appeared, we saw the N'orthern Triangles,* the nearest part about eight miles, and that we had struck on the southern- most part of the reef, so that if Campbell had kept the helm a-port, as he first put it, in a few minutes we should have cleared the reef. He said afterwards, that when he heard a noise forward he suspected what was the matter, and know- ing the reef must be to the eastward, made him put the helm to port. It still blew excessively hard, and we were afraid to venture in the boat. We passed another dismal night on the wreck. The second day the gale abated a little? and the wind hauled round to the northward. We deter- mined to reach the shore, as we thought it impossible to live another night on board. We took with us a small cask of water, a bag of bread, a compass, and a few other necessa- ries. There were ten of us, five at the oars, two lay in the bottom of the boat, I steered her, and Captain McFunn and Campbell were employed bailing, for we took in a great deal of water, so that the poor fellows in the bottom of the boat Avere almost drowned. Just before we went into the boat, a poor English lad, of the name of John Phillips, who knew how well I could swim, came to me and begged if the boat should sink I would try to save his life. I encouraged him all I could, but thought it very doubtful whether we should ever reach the shore. We had left the wreck but a few minutes when we found the boat was too deep to row. We therefore hove over all our water. For four hours we could not tell whether we gained or not on the shore, and we made every * Off" the coast of Yucatan, in lat. 18° 37' N., long. 87° 20' W. CHARLESBIDDLE. ^5 possible exertion, well kiiovving if we went astern we must perish. About eleven o'clock we perceived we neared the shore ; this encouraged us, and a little after dark we reached it, almost dead with hunger and fatigue, IS'otwithstandino- our fixtigue, we were so much rejoiced that we ran about the island like wild Indians. That night we spent without any- thing whatever to cover us, the next day we built two huts. The fourth day, being moderate, I went on board the wreck with four hands. We got some flour and other necessaries. "We continued going on board for some days, when, having fitted our boat with washboards, and done everything we could to fit her well, we determined to put to sea, and en- deavor to get back to the place from whence we had sailed. As the boat would not carry us all to sea with safety, we agreed to draw lots. This was a business we did not feel much anxiety about, for it was expected if the boat got safe those on the island would be saved. If the boat's cre\^ per- ished, there was little chance of those on shore being ever released. It fell to the lot of Captain- McFunn, Mr. Camp- bell, myself, and three seamen to go in the boat ; my brother, an old shipmate of mine of the name of Armstrong, that had been with me when I sailed with Grant, Phillips the boy I have mentioned, and one George Peters, to stay on the island. After taking an affectionate leave of our ship- mates, on the iSth of January, 1766, with a moderate breeze, we left the island. It was with great regret I left my brother. At parting, I told him if we did not return in two weeks he might conclude we were lost. The breeze died away when we were about a league from the land, and continued calm all day. Owing to calms and head winds we did not rea«h St. George's Key until the 20th, in the evening. During this passage we 8ufl:ered very much. We were all very re- ligious, everything material was done in the name of the Lord until we made the land. The fellow who first dis- covered it had just stood up to stretch himself, being cramped sittfing in the boat ; when he saw the land, he halloed out with great surprise and joy, " Damn my eyes, there is the land." We were all overjoyed at the sight. As we drew 26 AUTOBIOttRAPHYOP near the reef we could see that it broke very high, and we had nearly perished in crossing it. We kept within the reef until we landed at the westward of St. George's Key, and Captain McFunn, who did not know how N^esmith would receive him, sent me to inform him of what had happened. When I went to his house, or, rather, hut, he was mending an old sail. He cast his eyes up as I entered, expecting to see some person of the island, but when he found it was me, he stared for some time without being able to speak one word. At last he exclaimed, "Good heavens! Charles, where did you. come from ? I thought you were near Antigua." I told him in a few words what had happened, and informed him where Capt. MoFunn was. He arose im- mediately, and asked me to take some refreshment. I told him I did not want any, and pressed him to go with me di- rectly to the boat, which he did. As we went, I requested that whatever he felt at the loss he would sustain by the Snow, to say nothing to Captain McFunn about it, for I was sure this worthy man was very unhappy both on his own and his account, and that he must be very certain the loss was not occasioned by want of skill, or by negligence in Cap- tain McFunn, for there was no man more prudent, none better qualified to command a ship. Captain Nesmith had always expressed the moSt aifectionate regard for me. He told me that he had been uneasy on account of the tremen- dous gale of wind they had soon after we sailed, but he had long before he saw me concluded we had escaped it. He promised he would receive Captain McFunn as an old friend. Although his reception was not altogether such as I wished, he behaved with tolerable kindness. I was very glad that Captain McFunn sent me, for had he gone himself he would not have been so well received. Being extremely anxious about my brother, in two days after our arrival I sailed w^th Campbell, our chief mate, in a shallop for the Northern Tri- angle, The northerly winds that generally prevail at this season made it a dangerous and disagreeable expedition. We were several times driven back, and I believe if it had not been for myself, those we left on the island would never have CHARLESBIDDLE. 27 been taken off. The last time we went out Captain Nesmitli was with us in liis own shallo}). Expecting to save some- thing from the wreck we anchored under Turneff,* and here some Englishmen, who were after turtle, told us that they had heard that a party of Spaniards, who were then at Turneff, had been to the Triangles and murdered all the peo- ple we left there. Although I doubted the truth of this re- port, it made me very unhappy, and I requested JS'esmith to let me go with some of the crew and bring the Spaniards on board, that we might carry them with us, and if we found them guilty punish them. After a good deal of persuasion he consented, at the same time telling me he was afraid I would repent it. The Spaniards were about four miles from us. I took three men with me, one of whom spoke Spanish. When I told them of the report they all declared that it was not true, that the turtlers had only mentioned this story be- cause they were afraid of being prevented from getting tin-tie. They very readily agreed to go on board with me, and I took six out of ten that were on the island. As two of us were well armed we could, and would have obliged them had they Ijeen inclined to dispute the matter. The wind and weather being favorable, in three days after this to my great joy we made the island, and soon discovered a fire on it. We anchored near the wreck, and I set off immediately after with the six Spaniards for the shore, taking with us some refreshments. As we approached the land I concealed myself. The poor fellows on shore seeing none but Spaniards in the boat were afraid of being cruelly treated, and therefore prepared, as well as they could, to defend themselves. When we came within a quarter of a mile of the landing, I stood up and called to my brother and Armstrong. !N'othing could exceed their joy, they ran up to their waists in the water to get into the boat to embrace me ; it was near two weeks we had been absent. I was shocked to see how miserably they looked. The water on the island was so bad that nothing but neces- sity could induce them to drink it. The island we were * I.at. 17° 36' N., Loiirr. 87° 46' W. 28 AUTOBIOGRAPHYOF upon is the largest of the Triangles, and is about two miles in circumference. The reef runs near three leagues to the southeast. The Spaniards call it the Devil's Nnt. We found some cocoanut trees, and a little animal called a guana. They are shaped like a lizard, about the size of a squirrel, and very good eating ; at least we thought so. They are easily caught, for when chased, and got to their holes, they only hide their heads. We lay here about ten days, saving Avliat we could from the wreck. During this time myself, the Spaniards, and one of our crew, had nearly been lost in a gale of wind. Captain Nesmith was ashore with the rest of the crew. He should have come on board before the gale came on, but I be- lieve he thought it safer on shore. When I spoke to him about his staying on shore, he told me he knew I would do every- thing that was necessary. We parted our cable, and before we could make sail were within ten yards of the reef. It was three days before we again anchored near the wreck. Being all now heartily tired we took our departure from these islands the 22d of March, 1766. Having a fair wind in two days we arrived at St. George's Key. The Spaniards, who had behaved remarkably well, got from the wreck a good deal of old iron, with which they were perfectly satisfied. Some time after our return from the wreck Captain McFunn chartered a sloop belonging to Jamaica to take a cargo for Charleston, South Carolina. I was then acting as second mate on board a ship belonging to Boston, but at the request of Captain McFunn I left the ship and went on board the sloop as his mate. I did not wish to leave the ship, but could not refuse to comply with any request this worthy man could make, especially as he had been unfortunate. He wished my brother Nicholas to come on board, which he did immediatel}'. This vessel was built at Jamaica upon the plan of the Ber- muda sloops, and sat well upon the water, but was one of the worst barks that ever went to sea. We left St. George's Key the third day of July, and had been out but a few days before we were obliged (to prevent her foundering) to throw over- board a considerable pai't of our cargo. It was the middle of August before we arrived on the coast of Carolina, where we CHARLESBIDDLE. 29 suifered very mucli for want of provisions and water, and we were obliged to keep one pnmp constantly going, and in bad weather both. We arrived at Charleston the 20th of August. After we had discharged the cargo Captain McFunn left the sloop and gave nie the command of her, which I was then very proud of, although it would have been much better to have gone as a common seaman on board a good ship. She Avas advertised for j^assengers to Kingston and the Bay of Honduras. The only passenger we had was an unfortunate black that ran away from his master from Kingston. We sailed from Charleston the fifteenth of September. The twenty-fifth we had a hurricane, and it was wonderful how we escaped. We at length arrived at Port Royal, and soon after we anchored I went up in the boat to Kingston, and delivered my letters to Mr. Jerman, to whom Captain McFunn had written to assist me in anything I should want. We called on the man who owned the black, and he pa\d for his passage, and I promised to send him up from Port Royal. However, it was a promise not in my power to comply with, for Avhen I returned to the sloop I foimd the mate had been on shore, and the black had made John Phillips, the boy I have formerly mentioned, believe that he had liberty from me to go on shore, and he went ofi" with some blacks. The next morning I called and informed the owner what had hap- pened, exi)ecting as the black was old and infirm he would be glad to get back the money he had paid for his passage, which I oft'ered him. This he refused, and declared if I did not find him he would make me answerable for his value. I found out afterwards that the black had been guilty of some crime. The fellow who owned him expected he would be executed, and he should be paid for him by government. When this was told me I was very glad the poor devil had got oft". Upon consulting with Jerman, he was of opinion as all my business in Jamaica was finished, and my vessel cleared out, I had best get away from Port Royal as soon as possible. Leaving the passage money with him, I set oft:' in the evening in a wherry, determined to sail for the Bay the next morning. When I got on board, to my inexpre8sil)le mortification, I 30 AUTOBIOGRAPHYOF found the mate and all the people, except Phillips and a small boy about fourteen years of age, had left the sloop. The mate gave Phillips a letter for me in which he expressed sor- row for leaving me, but declared he did not think it safe to proceed to sea in such a vessel. Except a negro lad there were only two boys belonging to the sloop. In the night Jerman sent me word that the owner of the black who had run away intended to send the water bailiff after me. Upon this I was resolved to leave Port Royal early in the morning. As soon as it was daylight I went ashore to get hands to go the voyage, for with those on board we could not weigh the anchor. I could lind none that would go the voyage. I there- fore hired a few blacks to get up our anchor and make sail. Before we could do this I saw a boat, in which I supposed was the water bailiff, coming down from Kingston. Being deter- mined not to be taken, if I could possibly prevent it, I ai'med the two boys and negro with handspikes and the fish-gig, keeping a good pair of pistols myself. They stood after us for some time, but having a good land breeze they gave over the chase and stood for Kingston. As it would have given me pain to have wounded any of the men in the boat, I was much pleased when they gave over the chase. The wind was fair for four days when we made the island of 'Bonaco, and I flattered myself that in a few days we should get to the -Bay, and be rid of our miserable bark, but before night the wind shifted to the westward, and ble\\' with such violence that we were obliged to heave to. The wind for near three weeks continued blowing from the westward, during which time we were almost dead with hunger and fatigue. Everything was in bad order, we frequently had four, sometimes five, feet of water in the hold before we could get the pumps to work, and several times owing to the bad- ness of the pumps we expected to founder. That day three weeks we were driven from Bonaco, we again made it. We had a fresh gale at northeast, Avith thick hazy w^eather, so that we were very near the island before we discovered it. Although I had never been in the harbor, and it blew too hard for a boat to come off, I %\as determined to attempt CHARLES BIDDLE. 31 getting in, and went to the masthead where I could see all the shoals, and soon carried her into the harhor. We found here a brig belonging to New York, one Johnson, Master, and three or four small vessels who had come here from the Mos- quito shore to shelter themselves from the north winds which had been blowing for some time on that coast. Soon after we anchored the boat was hoisted out, and we went on shore. There was no inhabitant on the island at this time but one old Frenchman, who lived by fishing and hunting. The morning of our arrival he had shot a wild hog, a part of which I purchased of him, and it was the most delicious food I ever tasted. The island lies but a few leagues from the Mosquito shore, has an excellent harbor, and there is great plenty of fish and turtle to be caught here; and the woods abound with wild hogs. As the island is pleasantly situated, and, I believe, healthy, it is surprising there are not many settlers on it. We lay here three days, when the wind being favorable, we stood to the westward. We had light winds, and it was not until the next day that we were able to take our departure from the west end of Ruatan. The next night we anchored at Key Bokell. The same night a ship from New York, commanded by Wright, whom I formerly men- tioned as abusing Mr. Campbell, the chief mate of Nesmith, arrived ; on board this ship was Mr. Stacy Hepburn, an old, intimate friend* of mine. He was going to the Bay to pur- chase a cargo for a ship belonging to Philadelphia, which was to leave Jamaica soon after him. I was greatly rejoiced at meeting this worthy friend, who came on board as soon as he understood I commanded the sloop. He brought plenty of stores with him, and having some difference with Wright, he continued with me until we came to anchor at St. George's Key. Owing to the wind being to the northward, I was under the necessity of anchoring near the River Belize, and I went from there in my boat to St. George's Key, to inform the owner of the sloop of my arrival. It was a mortifying circumstance to him, for she was insured in Jamaica much above her value. He let me know in pretty plain terms that he wished her lost before she reached St. George's Key, and 32 AUTOBIOGRAPHYOF hinted lie would make it worth my while if I would run her ashore. I told him he was a villain, and should have exposed him in the Bay but that he was poor and sick. I brought the sloop safe to St. George's Bay, and delivered her up. Upon examining her, the carpenter declared her unfit for sea, and they were surprised at her getting safe from Jamaica. I had not been long in the Bay before Captain McFunn arrived from Jamaica. After he came to anchor, he went ashore in Captain McCarty's boat, who was here in a sloop belonging to Philadelphia. When rowing for the shore he inquired of McCarty what sloop it was lying aground near the shore. McCarty asked if he did not remember his old sloop — that it was the Kingston, that Charles came in. He told me after Avards he never in his life was more rejoiced, for there were several vessels in Jamaica that had left the Bay three or four weeks after we sailed from Port Royal, and he had little doubt but I was lost, and on his arrival was afraid to inquire for me. I found, in the Bay, Mr. John Scull, a cousin of mine. He was a young man that left Philadel- phia with a small adventure, and came to the Bay in hopes of making his fortune. He had been persuaded to go up a river called by the English New River,* by the Spaniards, Rio Mort. The bank of this river, near the mouth of it, was so sickly, that the Spaniards said a child was never raised there to the age of nine years. My cousin being very anxious I * New River is one of tlie numerous rivers of Belize or Britisli Hondu- ras, and empties into the Bay of Honduras at about IS^'-* N. USt. George's is a small fortified island ofl' the harbor of Belize, at the mouth of Belize River, in 11'^ 29' N., 88^ 12' W. The settlements along the north shore of Honduras proper, the Bay Islands, and the Belize Coast (commonly called British Honduras), were at this time greatly resorted to for their valuable woods, and were, in nautical phrase, all comprehended in the term "The Bay." The English, as early as 1674, had formed settlements about the Belize (see Dampier's Voyages), from which they have never since wholly receded, though often attacked by the Spaniards. The Bay Islands (Roatan, Bonaco, etc.) were seized by the English in 1742, and were occupied by them during the period embraced in this narra- tive. The whole region was in a lawless condition, perhaps not unlike some i'rontier parts of our own Western country. CHARLES BIDDLE. 33 slioiild accompany him up the river, and having suffered so much at sea lately, I agreed to go with him. We went up the river in a craft helonging to my old commander, ISTesmith, who had a settlement a great many miles up this river, where he lived retired, with a woman he brought from Philadelphia. After staying a few days at his settlement, we left him, in order to go up a creek called Irish Creek, where, we were in- formed, the land was good, and that there was plenty of mahogany and logwood near the hanks. We had all our fortune in this canoe. It consisted of an old negro man we called Friday, who was a much greater trouble than profit to us, a barrel of flour, a cask of pork, an old musket, a pair of pistols, and a few other trifling articles, the whole not worth twenty guineas. We proceeded, I believe, thirty miles up the creek before we met with a place that suited vis. At last reaching a high bank we determined to fix ourselves. Scull, being bred in the country, and a good axeman, soon cut down us much timber as built us a house, which in this country is soon built, four small, forked trees, with a few poles laid on the top and covered with plantain leaves, being all that is necessary. This will keep out the rain, and we were in no danger of house-breakers. We had no household furniture but what we made ourselves, except a tin mug and an iron pot, and this last had but one leg, and there was a small hole in the bottom. However, with this we were contented, which is a happiness seldom, I believe, found in a palace. Our situa- tion reminded me of a saying of one of the ancient philoso- phers, when going through a fair : " What a number of things are here that I do not want." We continued to work hard for two months, when we paid a visit to our friend I^esmith. During these two months we had not seen a human creature but ourselves, and to human creatures Ave had not much re- semblance, being almost naked, and in all that time had never shaved. I^esmith was very comfortably situated, having almost every convenience of life, and five or six negroes that cut him a great deal of wood. While on this visit, I liad ncarjy been lost. Having taken a gun, in the morning about nine o'clock, I went into the woods after game. It was a 3 34 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF clear day, and I knew the river could be easily found by taking notice of the sun. I went in pursuit of game a con- siderable distance in the woods ; towards noon it became cloudy, when I thought it necessary to return. About one o'clock it began to rain. Continuing on for the river, as I thought, as it grew dark I did not know which way to go. It now rained hard, and as it was in vain for me to fatigue mj^self by endeavoring to get out of the woods, I sat down on a log and began to think I should perish in the woods, as several liad before, who, like me, had gone a gun- ning. After being in this melancholy situation about an hour, I heard a bell. Roused by this agreeable sound I fired my gun, which, as well as my ammunition, I took care to keep dry. Soon after I heard the bell much plainer. It sounded pleasanter than any music I had ever heard. Having good lungs I sang out with a loud voice, which some of the party hearing they answered. Soon after my friends N^esmith and Scull appeared. They had been uneasy at my long stay, and had, with some negroes, come into the woods to look for me. It happened we were not far from the house. This adventure made me cautious of going into the woods. After staying a few days with Captain ISTesmith we returned to our habitation, where we were received with great joy by old Friday, who expected we never intended to return. Want of society soon made us tired of our plantation, and we deter- mined to proceed down the river. We put our little property in a craft and sailed for St. George's Key. We left our old negro with Captain !N^esmith, who promised and I knew would take care of him. Had he been young we would have given him his freedom, for I was always averse to keeping of slaves. In the Bay the blacks are treated much better than in the islands, their masters being afraid of their running away to the Spaniards. They allow them Friday and Saturday, and many of them that are industrious make a good deal of money, and all are well fed and comfortably clothed. When we arrived at St. George's Key we disposed of our wood, and, having divided our stock, I was about entering on board a ship belonging to Liverpool. The captain of the CHARLESBIDDLE. 35 ship, having buried his mate a few days before we arrived at the Key, ottered and j)ressed me to accept of the berth, but my friend Hepburn, being at this time about leaving the Bay, Avas anxious I should go to Philadelphia with him. At this time my returning home was so much a matter of indifterence to me that I tossed up, whether I would go in the ship to Liverpool or return with Hepburn, when, it happening to turn up for my returning to Philadelphia, I went immediately on board with Hepburn. The ship we were going in was called the King George, one Henry Dunn, master, belonging to Philadelphia. He was an old man, a good seaman, but much addicted to liquor. The ship was a very old one, in which my friend Campbell had served his apprenticeship with Captain Charles Stuart. He often mentioned that during the rebel- lion of 1745, they were hailed going up to Leith, " What ship is that?" "The King George." "Who commands her?" " Charles Stuart," " Oh 1" says the man that hailed, " T wish to God it was true, that Charles Stuart commanded King George." We left the Bay the beginning of February, 1767. Besides Mr. Hepburn, there was a Mr. Crisp, passenger. We had a good deal of blustering weather, but nothing remark- able happened until we reached the north side of Cuba and had beat up near the Havannah. Here we had a gale of wind from the X. W. and stood with a press of sail to the east- ward. The n^xt day, the wind hauling round to the east- ward, we stood to the southward, to make the land. When we drew near it, I perceived we were above the Matanza.s, which is the usual place for vessels to take their departure from that are bound through the Gulf of Florida. I told Captain Dunn we had better run to the westward till we made the Matanzas, but he would not, and declared he would stand to the northward. I knew in the night we must get upon some of the keys, or the Bahama Bank. Accordingly, about ten o'clock at night, all hands were called, the bottom being plain to be seen under the sliip. She was immediately put about. While in stays, I hove the lead, and found we were in five fathoms. At first, Captain Dunn appeared much alarmed, but having taken a drop of comfort, he was deter- 36 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF mined to put about again and stand to the N. W. This he did, and I believe we ran for thirty-five hours over the bank. The weather was fine, and as we had two good boats, and there M^as no danger of our lives, I was perfectly indifterent about the loss of the ship. However, we got safe over into the Gulf. We had a favorable wind from this time till the sixteenth of March, when we had a gale of wind from the S, E. We were then, by our reckoning, a little to the south- ward of Cape Hatteras, and not more than fifteen leagues from the land. One of our pumps was continually at work, and could hardly keep her free. Towards night the gale in- creased. The ship was very deep, being full of logwood and mahogany in the hold, and several large pieces of mahogany on deck. As I knew this must strain her very much, I told Mr. Wright, the chief mate, that the ship would be much eased if we were rid of those pieces, in which he agreeing, we cut the lashings and were soon clear of them. The morn- ing of the seventeenth it blew very violent. At 9 A. M., the foresheet gave way. Captain Dunn was then standing in the companion. Instead of having the sail clewed up, he ordered the helm up, and put her before the wind. Being up most part of the night, I was at this time fast asleep. The passen- gers, Hepburn and Crisp, were much terrified — they begged me to go up on deck. I found her before the wind, and the foresail blowing to ribbons. Dunn was standing, drunk, upon the companion ladder. I persuaded him to go below, and then directed the ship to be hove to. When she was brought to, I went first upon the foreyard, to hand what re- mained of the foresail. The crew were so fatigued with pumping, and being all night wet, that it was with great difliculty I could get as many up as were suificicnt to hand the sail. Hepburn and Crisp, who were looking up, told me they never expected to see me come down alive. As I was upon the lee yard-arm, they thought the sea or sail would carry me overboard. They both caught me in their arms when I did come doAvn, calling me their preserver. I, how- ever, had exerted m3\self at least as much on my own account as theirs. It blow with o-reat violence till about 4 P. M., CHARLES BIDDLE. 37 when in a heavy squall it shifted to the S. W. The hardest gales we have on the coast of America are from the S, E., but they seldom last long. The wind continuing from the S. W., in a few days we arrived safe at Philadelphia. On the pas- sage, Hepburn and myself broke out with what the people of Honduras call the Bay scrub, which is a very bad kind of itch. We both broke out at the same time. He accused me, and I him, of having tirst had it. We rubbed ourselves for three nights with tallow and brimstone, drinking, at the same time, warm tea. This effectually cured us of this trouble, which may truly be called a vile disorder. To my great joy, upon going home, I found my mother and family well. Cap- tain Dunn wanted me to go as his mate to Ireland, but I had enough of him during our passage from the Bay. The ship was never heard of after he sailed for Ireland. I had been at home but a short time when Captain Budden called on me, and offered to sell his fourth part of a schooner he commanded, and Messrs. Chew, Clayton, and Chew, who owned the other three-fourths wishing me to command her, with the assistance of my brother James I made the pur- chase, and sailed in June for Grenada, having Mr. John Chew, the youngest partner of the house, our supercargo.* As he is a very agreeable man, we had a pleasant passage without anything remarkable. Not being able to procure a return cargo at Grenada, we sailed for St. Croix. At this place I was attacked with a violent fever, which with my own imprudence had nearly destroyed me. From thence we proceeded on our passage home. We had a gale of wind from the eastward which obliged us to put into Chincoteague, a harbor that all the Delaware pilots should be acquainted with. It was owing to our having a good pilot that we got * The nature of tlie restriction upon colonial trade imposed by Acts of" Parliament, is shown in the bond recjuired in the case of this vessel, still ex- tant, dated June 18, 1767. The captain, Charles Biddle, of the "Betsy," and John Clayton, bind themselves that the iron shall not be landed in any part of Europe except in Great Britain or Ireland, and tliat the lumber shall not be landed in any part of Europe to the northward of Cape Finisterre, except in Great Britain or Ireland. 38 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF in, by which means the vessel and cargo, and probably our lives, were saved. At this place I had a foolish dispute with Mr. Harrison (a young: officer that was a passenger with me from Grenada), that had nearly proved fatal to us both. I esteemed him much, and he professed a very great regard for me; indeed, he afterwards proved himself a sincere friend. Our quarrel was occasioned by a bet upon two foAvls we had bought ashore. After they had fought until they were almost dead, I had them separated. This, he declared, was owing to my being afraid of losing the bet. Upon my using some language he did not like, he told me I Avould not treat him in that manner ashore. I immediately ordered the boat manned, and we went ashore armed with pistols. We fired at the distance of ten paces and missed, and had agreed to fire the next shot at five yards, but before we were loaded an old gentleman, at whose house we had been, came down and pre- vented us firing a second time, and soon persuaded us to be reconciled. This difl:erence with Mr. Harrison was of service to me afterwards, and it was a caution not to lose my temper in a dispute with a friend. The wind being soon after favor- able, we sailed for Philadelphia, where we safely arrived the first of October. As the owners intended to send the schooner to Lisbon, it was necessary to put another deck upon her. It was December before she was fitted. We then took in a cargo of flour and staves, and sailed for Lisbon. It was the tenth of December we left the Capes, and I believe she was the smallest vessel that ever crossed the Atlantic at this season of the year, for she carried but five hundred barrels. We had continued gales of wind, and were thirty days before we made the Rock of Lisbon, which was on the eighth of January, 1768. During most of that passage the sea made a continual breach over us, and there were but three or four daj^s during the passage that we could cook. We took a pilot on board and proceeded up the Tagus as far as the castle of Belum, where we came to anchor. The next morning at daylight it blew a hard gale of wind, and about sunrise we found the schooner was driving very fast upon a dangerous shoal called the B , before we could make sail she struck, and the sea CHARLESBIDDLE. 39 broke on board with great violence. The pilot, like a pious Christian, went below to say his prayers. As she continued striking very hard, I ordered the mainmast cut away. Thomas Armstrong, who had been shipwrecked with me in the Snow, took the axe to cut the lanyards. Just as he gave the first stroke, a sea broke over us, and he lost the axe. He came aft to me and told me what had happened, saying at the same time, " I believe. Captain Biddle, it is all over with us." Armstrong was an excellent and brave seaman. A young lad who had persuaded his parents to let him make the voyage, hearing it, cried out, " Oh! my mother, what will you sufl:er !" I told Armstrong not to despair, that as the flood was coming in, we would endeavor to force her over the shoal. I knew we had no other chance of being saved. For this purpose I had the cable cut, and the jib and foresail set. Although she struck in such a manner that we expected every moment she would go to pieces, I went to the masthead to try to con* her over the shoal, and placed Armstrong at the helm. We at last beat over the shoal. As it blew very hard I kept away for St. Ubes, and set both pumps to work, not permitting the well to be sounded for fear of discouraging the crew. We kept as near the shore as possible, that if she foundered we should stand some chance of being saved. In the evening we came abreast of the castle at the entrance of the harbor, and as I would not anchor for fear of being driven out or foundering (for we had not yet freed her), they first hailed and then fired. The first shot went between our masts. I hoisted a signal of distress, and continued on. Our pilot again wanted to go below, but as I thought his presence necessary on deck, I would not suft'er him to leave it. We ran in, and the castle kept firing until we were among the shipping close in shore where we anchored. About nine o'clock we had all the water out of her. The next morning we went ashore where the Portuguese directed us, and after the health ofiicer had examined our papers, were permitted to go tQ the town. I went to the house of one * To "con" is to direct the helmsman in the steering of a vessel. 40 AUTOBIOGRAPHYOF Kicholson, an Irishman, that kept a tavern. He was also a pilot and had lived many years at St, Ubes. He was a kind, generous fellow, and his wife well calculated for her business. The day after our arrival the Portuguese pilot wanted me to pay him much more than I thought, from his conduct, he deserved, and upon refusing, had me up before the consul. There he made me very angry by calling me an impudent boy. I was so imprudent as to strike him. He went away threatening to take my life before he left St. Ubes. This he had nearly accomplished a few days after by attempting to stab me with a knife, when a person present caught his arm. He ran oft', and I never saw the ruftian afterwards. Having received a letter from Mr. Daniel Arthur, to whom I was consigned, requesting to see me, I set oft" with a Portuguese gentleman for Lisbon. We rode on mules, and the man they were hired of went with us. He was afoot, and fre- quently ran from one side of the road to the other, to beat our miserable animals. The roads are sandy, and the country appeared very poor. I was received very politely by Mr. Arthur, who was one of the principal merchants in the place, and very much respected. He lived very elegantly. Shortly after this he broke, and my owners lost a considerable sum hy him, they having sent a large ship consigned to him, which arrived but a few days before his faihire. There is not much improvement since the earthquake. The orange and lemon trees, with the vineyards, make the country about Lisbon pleasant. The Castle of St. Julian is at the mouth of the harbor. It is founded on a rock, the base of which is washed by the sea, and is a very strong fortification. There is a fort on a small island opposite that defends the entrance of the river. The fandango which the people, high and low, dance is very indecent — they throw themselves into all attitudes. In the streets you never see the face of a woman — she has a hood turned over and you can only see her eyes. The streets in Lisbon are narrow and dirty, and the poor live miserably. The merchants live well, and are men of as much honor as those of any country whatever. Their soldiers CHARLESBIDDLE. 41 do not make a. very militaiy appearance. Most of their officers are foreigners, I staid in Lisbon a week, and then returned to St. Ubes, In proportion to the size of the place there was mneh more damage done at St. Ubes than at Lisbon by the earthquake, Immemse pieces of the walls were carried from the seaside to the commons back of the town. While T was at St. Ubes Henry White, one of the seamen that had frequently occasioned disturbances, came on board one night in liquor. A small apprentice boy of mine, Wm. Williams, speaking to him about making a noise, he took up a handspike And threw it at him with such violence that if it had hit him, as he intended, must have killed him. Hearing the boy cry I ran upon deck, and, being informed what White had done, I was determined to punish him severely. When I went forward to take hold of him he jumped into the boat ; however, before he could cast off the painter, I had hold of him, and forcing him on board gave him such a beating with the end of a rope as I supposed would be a caution to him not to behave in such a manner again. For several days he pretended to be too unwell to work; soon after he ran away, swearing to one of the crew that he would be revenged of me whenever he had an opportunity. We sailed from St. Ubes the 11th of February, 1763, loaded with wine, oil, and fruit. The 20th, off Madeira, we had a squall of wind tKat sprung our mainmast so badly that during the remainder of the passage we could not let the boom out of the crutch. Schooners, from the manner of their being rigged, are more apt to meet with accidents than other vessels. This unfortunate accident, with calms and light winds, made it the second of May before we arrived at Philadelphia. Our long passage occasioned a good deal of the fruit to be spoiled. Some of the boxes of lemons were put into the hands of Mr. Patrick Farrel, an honest Irish cooper (well known in the city from his being concerned in digging for money). He was to separate the good from the rotten lemons. He came on board a few days after the boxes were put in his hands to tell me if I would send him up a case bottle he would till it with very good lime-juice he squeezed out of the rotten lemons. 42 AUTOBIOGRAPHYOF The beginning of June we took in a cargo for Fayal, and greatly to my satisfaction ni}' friend Hepburn was put on board as supercargo. We had a pleasant passage to Fayal, and I found Mr. Gaythorn still consul. This worthy man received me with great kindness, and his partner, Mr. Graham, was very friendly. While we lay here, Mr. Gaythorn gave an entertainment at a house he had a small distance from the town. The house not being finished, we had to go up a ladder to get in the dining-room. AVhen he was called away, which I believe was done by his own orders, he placed me in his chair to do the honors of his table. I drank so freely, that I could not tell how or when I got down the ladder. In going to town in the dark, I fell down in a field, and was unable to rise. My friends searched in vain for me. I remained on the ground very quietly until dajdight, when I went on board and felt no injury from my hard bed. I^ever before or since was I in such a plight. JSTo person ever had, or has, a greater detestation than myself against a person addicted to liquor. It renders a man unfit to be trusted with anything. While we lay here this voyage we were much diverted by the mas- ters of two whaling sloops, one belonging to Cape Cod, the other to Cape Ann. The Cape Cod man insisted on it, tliat the men belonging to Cape Cod were far superior in skill and courage to those of Cape Ann, while the men of Cape Ann held those of Cape Cod in the most sovereign contempt. Gaythorn was highly entertained with these disputes, but he was obliged sometimes to interfere to prevent their coming to blows. A few days before we sailed, a ship from London, bound to St. Augustine, put in here. She had on board Mrs. Farmer, who was going to her husband. Major Farmer. She was a beautiful and accomplished woman. I understood afterwards she kept a lodging-house in London. The day we sailed, a vessel from China, bound to London, put in here in distress. One of the crew had a very handsome set of china which he brought to Mr. Gaythorn's to sell. I wanted to purchase it, and was talking to the man about the price when Mr. Gaythorn came up and told the man he would take it. The manner in which this was done provoked me very much, CHARLESBIDDLE. 43 and I should have affronted ahiiost any otlier person who had hehaved in the manner Mr. Gaythorn had done. When we were on the beach, and I was just going into the boat, he called me aside, and told me he had put the china aboard the schooner, and begged I would deliver it at Philadelphia to his sweetheart, but if I could not find his, to give it to my own. As he had never been in Philadelphia,* I found he had purchased the china to make me a present of it. Hepburn and myself were young, but we looked so much younger than we were, that they called us the boy captain and boy supercargo. During the time we were there, Mr. Gilmore, since so eminent a merchant of Baltimore, arrived from America. He was then going, I believe, to Scotland, intend- ing to return and settle in America, which he spoke very highly of. We left Fayal the last of August. We had a good deal of calm weather, so that it was the fourteenth of October before we arrived in the Delaware. A fcAV clays after we had a most violent gale. The owners, Messrs. Chew, Clay- ton and Chew, having been unfortunate in business had dis- solved their partnership, and soon after our arrival, sold the schooner. The purchasers wished me to hold the share I had and continue the command, but finding they intended to send her to the coast of Africa for slaves, I left her, for nothing Avould have tempted me to go such a voyage. I expressed my abhorrence of this trade in such a manner as to give great offence to the owners, who purchased my part of the schooner, and procured a master who had no objection to go any voy- age they thought proper to send him. During my stay at home this time I saw my friend Camp- bell, whom I have often mentioned. It gave me much satisfaction that it was in my power to render him some services. He was a very good, but a very unfortunate man. In 1755 he was pressed on board the Is'orthumberland, com- manded by Lord Colville. He told me that when he was first pressed, if he had thought he should have been ke[>t six months on board her, he would have jumped overboard. Attempting to make his escape shortly after he was pressed, 44 autobioctRaphyof he was taken, and so narrow!}- watched that he could not get away, and he continued on hoard until the year 1763, when the crew were paid oft'. He said it was a long time before he could believe he was at liberty to go where he pleased. Before I sailed he procured the command of a ves- sel bound to Cura^'ao and the Spanish ]Main. Oft"Carthagena there was a mutiny among the crew, and poor Campbell going forward with a handspike to quiet it, was stabbed by one of the villians, and died immediately. lie was too easy in his temper to command a crew of such ruffians as they generally have on board these vessels. In JSTovember, Messrs. James and Drinker offered me the command of a brig called the Ann, belonging to Mr. O. Eves, who had been an inhabitant of Philadelphia, but at this time resided in the Bay of Honduras, where the brig was bound. I accepted the command, and arrived in Decem- ber in the Bay. Mr. Eves informed me he had a cargo ready, and we should sail in a few days ; however, owing to northerly winds, it was two months before we got away. I was glad of this detention, for I did not wish to go on the coast in the winter. The brig this voyage was moored at a small key to the noi'thward of St. George's, called Sand Ive}^ Here Mr. Eves at that time lived. During the time we were loading I frequently took a fast- sailing boat we had, and went to St. George's Key by myself. Returning one day I went outside the reef, intending to try to fish. When about half-way to the brig, perceiving a squall com- ing on, I took in the mainsail, intending to receive the squall under the foresail. As it approached it appeared as if there was a good deal of wind, and as I was too near the reef to put before the wind, I went forward to hand the foresail, intend- ing to heave to until it was over. Before I had the foresail in the squall took me and blew with great violence. I ran aft to get her before the wind, but before I could do so she shipped a great deal of water, and, being ballasted with pig iron, went down. Fortunately there were two large oars which I lashed together with a handkerchief taken from my CHARLESBIDDLE. 45 neck. When the squall cleared away I pushed for the nearest land. It was about ten o'clock wlien the boat sank. In crossing the reef I was near losing my oars; it would then have been impossible to escape drowning. The current set- ting against me, it was nearly three o'clock before I was near enough to hail a man walking on the shore. It was Captain Thomas Remington. It was some time before he heard me, and then looked about a good while before he perceived me. When he did, he called and told me I could touch the bot- tom. This I tried, and finding it only up to my breast, I quit my oars and walked ashore so much exhausted I could hardly stand. Remington received me ver}^ kindly. During my being outside the reef I suftered moi-e from the dread of sharks than anvthins; else. I took care after this not to 2:0 in a boat by myself. Nothing remarkable happened until my return to the Delaware. Having anchored in the night, a little below ^ew Castle, about eleven o'clock a boy came from on board a shallop near us, hailed the brig, and begged for God's sake we would come on board, as some men were murdering the captain. The watch upon deck informing me of the boy's hailing, I immediately ordered the boat manned, and went on board. The skipper, who was an elderly man, told me that two fellows had requested a passage from Philadelphia to Reedy Island, where thej'^ said their vessel was lying; that soon after he anchored, when he supposed they thought him asleep, they came down and were fastening a hankerchief around his neck to strangle him when the boy hailed the brig. He said the fellows were on the wharf when be brought a bag of dollars on board, and he was now sure they had come on board with an intention of murdering him. The boy, who was son to the skipper, struck up a light, and I went into the hold where the two ruffians were found covered with an old sail, and pretended to have just waked. When they were brought to the light, I found one of them to be my old shipmate Henry White, as pickled a rascal as ever was hanged. He immediately exclaimed to his comrade, " Oh ! it is Captain Biddle, we may expect no mercy from 46 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF him." I took them on board the brig, and had them lashed to the pumps, intending to deliver them up to justice when I arrived in Philadelphia, but fearing I should be detained and plagued if thej were put to gaol, I directed the mate, the night of our arrival, to let them run. I sailed again for Port Antonio, in Jamaica, and the Bay in the month of May. I had a very w^orthy Scotch planter a passenger. He told me in Jamaica that when he came to take his passage he was afraid he should not be safe with such a boy as I appeared. He was, however, very much pleased, and wrote to the ow^ners in the highest terms of me. We had a very short passage to Port Antonio, where we staid but a few days, when we sailed for the Bay, where we arrived without anything material happening. While lying here there was a man tried for the murder of one JMcCarty. One of the witnesses swore that the man went to the compan- ion and called out, " Come out here, McCarty.'' Another swore that when he called him he said, "McCarty, come out here." A Captain Arbuthnot, of Philadelphia, who was one of the J^ii'J? gravely remarked to the other jurors that there was a very material difference in the eye of the law between come out here, McCarty, and McCarty, come out here. He was always after this called the "oculist, or the eye of the law explained." This is a saying I have often heard since, but it arose, I believe, from what I have mentioned. I had this voyage four masters of ships passengers. Captains Green, Shewell, and two of the name of Welsh. There were at this time four Captains Welsh in the Bay. They were dis- tinguished by Long Welsh and Short Welsh, King's Religion Welsh, and Priest Welsh. The Priest, who was one of my j)assengers, was an honest Roman Catholic. Green had a dispute with one Samuel Jones, of jSTew York, whom he struck. Jones stuck up an advertisement at the tavern that Green, presuming on his bodily strength, had struck him and refused to give him satisfaction. He therefore published him as a coward and a rascal. As Green was g-oino; with me, and belonged to Philadelphia, I took down the advertisement and gave it to him. He immediately called on Jones and agreed CHARLES BI DDL E. 47 to fight him. They prepared a boat, and, as I was not present, Gi:een spoke to a Captain Sinnot to be his second. Sinnot was one of the magistrates, but before he set off he resigned his commission. There was at this time a sloop-of-war, com- manded by a Mr. Jackson, lying here, and the boat happen- ing then to be at the Key with Jackson, some person informed him that Jones and Green were just put oft' with an intention of going to the next Key to fight, and begged he woukl send his boat and bring them back. lie immediately sent his boat. When she got near and Jones understood their errand he swore he would fire into the boat if they attempted to come alongside. Finding they paid no regard to what he said he fired a pistol into the boat and wounded one of the boat's crew slightly in the thigh. They however pulled alongside, and the bowman, if he had not been prevented, would have driven the boat-hook through Jones. They carried hyn on board the man-of-war, and he was kept there until we sailed. There were a good many duels fought at this time in the Bay. Captain Shewell was wounded in the breast by one Brockholst, of New York, and the celebrated Arnold,* who was here at this time, fought and wounded one of the Bay men. It was said that Arnold frightened his antagonist, who had agreed that he should fix the distance, by naming five yards. They were more turbulent at this time in the Bay than I had ever known them before. We left the Bay the last of August and arrived in Phila- delphia the latter end of September. Being oft'ered the com- mand of a ship by Mr. Aspden, an old schoolmate of mine, I left the brig and took the command of the ship. She was a large old vessel then chartered to carry a cargo to Port au Prince. In order to make as much as possible by the freight, Mr. Aspden had a great quantity of boards and scantling put upon the ship's deck. Some of my friends who came on the wharf when we were loading called her a three-decker. Some of them said they were sure we should be obliged to clear our decks before we were at sea a week. We left the Capes the tenth of December, 1769, in a gale of wind at northwest. * Benedict Arnold. 48 AUTOBIOGRAPHYOF About eleven o'clock at night the chief mate, Mr. Savage, came down and told me they could not get the pump to suck. I ordered him to call all hands and get both pumps to work. I turned out myself and took the helm. It blew so hard that we were scudding under our foresail. Savage had been a schoolmate of Aspden's and mine. He was an excellent oflicer. He came to me about twelve o'clock and bes^ged I would allow him to cut the lashings of the lumber and clear the decks. I should have consented but for what had been mentioned before we left Philadelphia, of our soon clearing the decks. It was daylight before we had all the water out of her hold. During the night I frequently looked over the side, and thought she M^as waterlogged. The next day the gale abated, and we had a tolerably good passage. Port au Prince was at this time in a miserable situation. A few months before my arrival most of the liouses had been destroyed by an earthquake, and owing to many dead bodies lying unburied near the town, and the total neglect of clean- liness in their houses and other causes, there were few that escaped the earthquake but what died or were sick. Every house was a hospital. I was consigned to Messrs. Pasquer and Boyay. Boyay died a few days before we arrived, and Pasquer was very ill with a fever. As he was a very worthy man, I did everything in my power to relieve him, by send- ing from the ship poultry, apples, porter, and some other re- freshments. The porter he thought of more service to him than anything he had taken. I also sent my carpenter, who was very handy, to assist in making his habitation more com- fortable. He was very grateful for the services I rendered him, and, when we sailed, made me a handsome present. During the time we were here I anchored outside of all the ships in the harbor. This occasioned m.y being some time longer unloading, but by this means, and not suftering any of the crew to go on shore of a Sunday (at which time they generally get drunk), I preserved the health of my crew, having none of them sick during the time we were here. A few days after my being in this port a brig arrived from !N^orth Carolina, commanded by a Captain Gordon, a genteel CHARLESBIDDLE. 40 young man. I was standing on the wharf with Captain Hamilton, of JSTew York, when he hmded. After going up into the town and returning, he appeared much disturhed. Coming up to us, he exclaimed, " My God ! gentlemen, what a dismal place this is ; how sickly all the inhabitants look." After he had left us, Hamilton, who was a rough old tar, swore he was so much frightened he did not believe he would live a week, and he was right, for poor Gordon took sick the next day, and in three days he was committed to the deep. At this time we expected, by every arrival, to hear of war between Great Britain and Spain, wliich made me anxious to get home as soon as possible. The last of January, three of the crew who did not like to go on a winter coast ran away. The 2d of February, 1770, I feft Port an Prince. The 4th,' I went ashore in the boat at Cape Nicola Mole, in hopes of get- ting two or three hands, but I could not procure any ;. we, therefore, proceeded on our voyage. I had on board a young Frenchman named Dubois, concerned in the opposition made to an edict directing the planters to perform militia duty. The edict occasioned great disturbances in the island, and many of the planters declared they would oppose it at the hazard of their lives. My passenger told me he belonged to a company, the captain of which was a rich young planter, who raised about seventy men, with which he supposed he should be able to oppose all the force that could be sent against him. About twelve dragoons came from Port au Prince to attack them ; when they perceived the dragoons advancing, they deserted their commander, and Dubois ac- knowledged that he galloped off as fast as any of them. Leaving his horse, he hid himself in a field of sugar-cane. The next day when he came out, the first object that struck him was his late captain lianging on a tree. Many of the unfortunate insurgents were in confinement during the time I was at Port au Prince, and some were sent to France. They were all afterwards pardoned by their humane and generous monarch, who also restored to them their property. We arrived the 20th of February off Cape May, and I sent the boat on shore for a pilot. The weather was moderate, 4 50 AUTOBIOGRAPHYOF and we soon procured one. With the flood it came on to blow fresh from the southeast, and before the pilot thought the tide was high enough to get under way, it blew very hard, and the sea ran high. Our windlass, which was old and rotten, broke, and the ship drove ; we immediately cut the cable and made sail. After striking several times, we beat over the shoal, called the Overfalls, which is a quicksand, and the next day anchored off Philadelphia. A few nights before I had sailed on this voyage, my friend Hepburn called to inform me a vessel had just arrived from Hispaniola, and the captain informed him that the plague was in Port au Prince, and had swept off most of those who escaped the earthquake, and he begged me to give up the command of the ship. I told him nothing would induce me to do it after engaging myself. He used all the arguments he could to make me give up the voyage, but finding they had no effect, he told me he would lay a beaver that I M^ould die there of the plague. I agreed to the bet. Upon my re- turn, and calling upon him for the hat, he swore I was not the same man tliat went out master of the ship Lark, and he would make oath of it before a magistrate. To prove him mistaken, I went before George Bryan, Esq., one of the jus- tices, and made oath that I was the same man who went out master of the ship Lark, and was then alive. Upon pro- ducing the certificate of my having taken the oath, he laughed heartily and paid the bet. The ship having occasion for a good deal of repair, it was the month of Ma}^ before we w^ere ready to sail. We took out a number of frames for houses, and se^'eral carpenters* to put them up. We also carried out a quantity of flour, five hundred barrels of which were for the governor, and in consequence of his having them at a low price, we had per- mission to land five hundred barrels more, to be sold to the inhabitants. The granting permission to bring flour from America gave great umbrage to the masters of ships and * Cowperthwait and Jones, two of the carpenters, made a good deal of money. Tliey afterwards settled at New Orleans, and were much respected there. — Authou's note. CHARLES BIDDLE. 51 merchantB from Bordeaux, who had before supplied the place with flour. Upon my arrival many of them came on board to inquire the quantity we had, and were much exasperated when they found we should not only supply the garrison, but also had to sell to the inhabitants. However, they were afraid to say anything to the governor, and for myself, I cared nothing about them. They told the bakers and others that the flour was much inferior in quality to theirs, which they knew was not true. The bakers pretended it was not as good, but the^^ did not buy of the Boi'deaux men while we had any to sell, and gave us the same price they demanded. It was the beginning of September before we sailed for Philadelphia. On the passage we saw a vessel ashore on Watling's Island. I ran to the leeward of the island, came to anchor, and boarded her. She proved to be a ship from Jamaica, bound to London, the crew of which had lef^ her, and gone to Providence in what was called one of the Moon- cursers or wreckers. We. took out of her a few hogsheads of rum and sugar, and some trifling articles. There was nnder the cabin scuttle an iron bound cask that I labored at for a considerable time, supposing it contained something valuable. When bored, it proved to be a cask of peas. I had it put down again. Captain Shewell, who sailed a few days after me from. Port au l^rince, told me he was on board the same wreck and worked very hard to get up this cask of peas, supposing, as I had, that it contained something valua- ble. The appearance of bad weather made me leave the island much sooner than I otherwise should have done. For four or five days we had fresh breezes with cloudy weather : there was then a perfect calm for two days. The third morning about three o'clock we had a moderate breeze from the eastward. About Ave oV-lock the second mate waked me, and told me the sky had a strange appearance, and he believed there was going to be a squall. I went up imme- diately, and never beheld such an alteration as one hour had made. From being perfectly clear, heavy black clouds appeared all round the horizon, and a wild sky that denoted an approaching gale of wind. We then had every sail set. 52 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF I ordered the top-gallant sails in, and the top-gallant masts and yards sent upon deck, the fore and maintop sails close reefed and handed, the sails well secured with double gaskets, the mizzen 3^ard and topmast sent on deck. By eight o'clock we were under a reefed foresail, and before nine were obliged to hand it. Soon after it blew so hard that no canvas could have stood it. For more than thirty hours it blew the most violent hurrricane I ever knew. In an old ship, partly loaded with molasses, the hold not full, we were in great danger of foundering. During the height of the gale I could not make any of the crew hear me without a speaking trumpet. Fortunately we lost nothing. The next day about eleven o'clock the gale abated so much that we set the fore- sail and topsails. In the afternoon we saw several sail dis- masted, and passed near one that was overset, all the crew of which must have perished. Just before dark we saw a brig with a signal of distress out, and about eight o'clock we were close alongside. She had lost her fore topmast, and sprung a leak. As the sea ran very liigh, and there was some risk in boarding, I went myself in the boat. She belonged, I think, to Pool in England, and was last from Newfoundland bound to Wilmington, Xorth Carolina. The master's name was Rowe. He told me that before they had the height of the gale all their sails blew from their yards, although he had them secured in such a manner that he thought it impossible this could have happened. The mate, who was a very old man, declared he had never been in such a gale. The crew, who were mostl}' lads, wanted to leave the brig, and as there was every appearance of bad weather, and the brig was a mere wreck, I endeavored to persuade the captain to leave her, which he would not do, declaring to me in a low voice he had made up his mind, which was never to quit her. He begged me to speak to his crew, and tell them there was no danger of another gale. This I would not do. He, how- ever, persuaded them himself to stay with him. Had the ci'ew requested it, I would have taken them and obliged the captain to leave her. I supplied him with provisions, and every article he wanted that we could spare. He gave me a CHARLESBIDDLE. 53 bill upon a gentleman at Wilmington, which was paid, but the brio- never arrived. Indeed from the bad weather we had soon after Ave parted I did not expect she ever would reach any port. A master should never leave his vessel if he thinks it probable he may save her ; but in the condition this vessel was in, no man should risk his life and those of his crew by staying on board when they have a good opportunity of leaving her. The wind continuing favorable, the twenty- seventh of September we made the Capes, and the next day arrived in Philadelphia. My owner, Mr. Aspden, having made a good deal of money in the. trade to Hispaniola, in June, 1772, agreed with Mr. John Eyre to build a ship for him. I superintended the building and fitting her. She was launched in October. As Mr. Aspden left the naming of her to me I called her the Charming ISTancy, after a young lady of the city, whom I. then thought a charming girl, and now that I am writing in 1802, although she has lost a little of her bloom, she is a charming woman. I left the Capes in this ship on Thursday the third of December, 1772, bound to Port au Prince. The day after we left the Capes we sprung a leak — in a few hours it in- creased upon* us. One of the pumps we could not get to deliver any water, and the other would not keep her free. After hoisting ihe pump out, which we did wdth difficulty, it blowing a hard gale, we found it split. "We repaired it, got it to work, and in the night freed her. Our American ships are generally very badly provided with carpenters' tools as well as with sails and rigging. Many a ship has been obliged to leave the coast for want of a few necessaries that they always should have on board. An owner much oftener loses than gains by endeavoring to save a trifle in this way. No nation sails their ships with so few hands as we do, which makes it the more necessary they should be well pro- vided with everything that may be wanted. In this ship, which was nearly three hundred tons burthen, I had but two mates, six men, and a boy ; and few of our ships were better manned. The ship sailed very fast. The Thursday after we left the Capes we made Turk's Island, a passage seldom made 54 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF ill a deep-loaded ship in so short a time. The 16th of Decem- ber we anchored at Petit Guave, where Mr. Pasquer had requested the ship should touch to land part of her cargo, which we did the next daj, and sailed in the evening for Port au Prince. This part of the island is very sickly. I took an officer of the army from this place to Port au Prindfe. I think lie told me there were only three officers alive that came out from France with the regiment he belonged to, and it was but a few years the regiment had been in the island. This was the more extraordinary as the French officers are gene- rally very temperate. As they have no whipping in their army they hang and shoot a great many of their privates. It is generally for desertion — if a soldier deserted and carried off his arms, and was taken, the}' hung him, as they considered him a thief as well as a deserter. If he went off without his arms he had the Jionor of being shot. I believe at this time they sent to the island those who had deserted in France. I have heard this mentioned as the reason of so many here attempting to go off. It was hardly possible for any of them to escape. The roll is called morning and evening, and when any are missing they tire a gun for each one that is gone offi This tiring is repeated in the country, and numbers are imme- diately after them, so that very few get to the Spaniards, where, I believe, they are not much better treated than in their own regiments. If they are brought back to the garri- son in the morning the}^ are hung or shot in the afternoon ; if in the evening they are executed the next morning. If they are to die the executing them so soon is an act of mercy. I was told that at one time there were nearly fifty deserted in a body. They were soon taken, and all of them ordered for execution ; when the regiment was drawn out the soldiers all declared with one voice the prisoners should not be executed, and the officers thought it prudent to pardon all of them except a few of the ringleaders. While I was at Port au Prince, and a soldier was to be executed, the Major, when the unfortunate man was brought out, rode in front of the regi- ment, and with a loud voice pronounced it death to any man who requested the life of the criminal ; and I was informed CHARLESBIDDLE. OO that this was done on account of what happened on the above occasion. I was told of another affair that made a good deal of noise in Port an Prince. A deserter was cut down, and as his comrades were taking him to his grave, he was found to have some life in him. They immediately took him to the bar- racks, bled him, and he was so far recovered in a few hours that he was sitting up eating some soup, when the officer of the guard, hearing of what had happened, had him carried to the place of execution and shot. So seldom did a soldier get oif that it was a common saying in Port an Prince when the gun fired for a deserter, " we shall have an execution to- morrow." Soon after my arrival I had a dift'erence with my old friend Pasquer, that gave me much concern. I sold fifty barrels of flour that belonged to myself to a Mr. Peyrobe, who had formerly lived with Mr. Pasquer as a clerk, but, having some difference, they parted. Peyrobe was a manly, generous fel- low, for whom I had a great regard. After leaving Mr. Pasquer, he married and set up the baking business. When Mr. Pasquer understood Peyrobe had bought my flour, he declared he never would pay me, that he intended to cheat me when he made the purchase. I told him if that should be the case, the loss would be mine, but I was under no ap- prehension aboui it, believing Peyrobe to be an honest man. Some person who heard the conversation told Peyrobe, who came on the wharf in a great rage, and inquired of Pasquer if he had accused him of intending to cheat Captain Biddle out of his flour. As Mr. Pasquer gave him no answer, he struck him a violent blow in the face that brought him to the ground. He would have repeated his blow, but was pre- vented by the people on the wharf. For one gentleman to strike another was what had probably never happened before in Port au Prince, and therefore made a great noise. In the evening, Mr. Pasquer sent for me. I found him in bed, com- plaining very much of the pain he was in. He had a notary , with him, who had drawn up a paper for me to sign. I told Mr. Pasquer I would not sign any paper without it was in English. He immediately sent for one of his clerks that 56 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF understocxl the language, and had it translated. I found he wanted me to declare he never had said Peyrobe intended to cheat me. I told him I never had mentioned to Peyrobe, nor any other person, what had passed between him and me re- specting this business, but if he would give himself time to reflect, he must know it would be wrong in me to sign such a paper. lie endeavored to explain the meaning of what he had said, but as T understood him differently, I would not sign the paper. This occasioned a coolness until I was almost ready to sail, when he behaved with his usual attention. Peyrobe, I understood afterwards, was almost ruined by a suit that was brought against him for the blow\ As it was thought by Mr. Pasquer there would be no risk in my taking sugar in molasses casks, I took on board a hundred and ten hogsheads of sugar. The day before we. were to sail a frigate arrived from France, and anchored close alongside of us. She sent her boat on board to examine our cargo, and happening to bore a cask of triage (or bottoms of the cistern), they thought it was what would condemn the ship. When I went on board in the evening, I found the chief mate very much alarmed. A number of French sailors were in the hold with a lantern sitting on the cask, and the mate told me the frigate's crew had given three cheers, thinking they had a good prize. I w^as very glad to find they had not discovered what would really have made her a good prize. After ordering the Frenchmen something to eat and drink, I went on board the frigate. What my feelings were may more easily be imagined than described, for the sugar was taken on board without orders from my owner, for whom I had the greatest atfection and esteem. I aj^peared before the captain cheerful and as unconcerned as I could, and told him that what his people supposed to be sugar we had permission to take on board. His boat being at that time going on shore, he sent for a friend, who after having examined the contents of the cask, told him that what I informed him was true. He immediately ordered his men on board. As they had been well treated, they went away very well contented. C H A R L E S B I D D L E . 57 Three things happened this voyage that made a great irn pression on me, and broke me of a vile habit I had of strik- ing with anytliing I laid my hands on, or heaving at any of the crew that did not move as briskly as I thought they should do. The lirst was soon after we left the Capes of Delaware. When we first discovered the ship had sprung a leak, I ordered Mr. Corry, the chief mate, to turn out all hands. They were all soon upon deck except John Walsh, a very stout, lazy fellow, that Corry told me was always the last up. I called him myself, but he not answering, I jumped into the steerage with a belaying pin in my hand, and going up to his berth intended to give him a stroke over his back, but being very dark, I struck him on the head. He soon after began to groan, and when I spoke to him, made no reply. Feeling him about the head, I found I had struck him in the mouth, and that it was bleeding. I ordered a light, but as it was blowing a hard gale of wind, it was a long time before they could get one, or at least it appeared a long time to me. During this time I felt the pains of the damned, for I concluded he was mortally wounded. Had they called out from the deck the ship was foundering, it would have added very little to the pain I then felt. It determined me to break myself of the abominable practice of striking with what might endanger the life of a man, and from that time I never gave a sailor a l)low with anything but a piece of rope that could do no material injury. When the light came I was greatly rejoiced to find he was not so much hurt as he pretended to be, or as I expected he was. I, however, let him stay below all night, and was glad to find him on deck in the morning. His mouth was tied up, and he complained of some of his teeth being stove in. He was soon well. After this, when all hands were called, there was no occasion to give Walsh a second call. The next thing that made me think seriously about striking, was an accident that happened in Captain Randall's boat. I had dined with him, and, going on shore in the afternoon, as they were pull- ing off the boat one of the crew happened to touch Randall with his oar. When he spoke to him, and told him to take 58 A U T B I a R A P H Y F cure M'hat he Avas about, the man gave him an insolent answer, upon which Randall gave him a stroke on the head with the tiller. He fell iramediatelj backwards, was taken <»n board the vessel, and died soon after. The affair was not known at Port an Prince, as Randall sailed in two days. Upon his return to Isew York he was obliged to keep out of the way. Randall had no intention of hurting the man much, and was shocked extremely when he fell back to all appearance dead. He let none of his crew go on shore at Port au Prince after this accident. The night before Ave sailed, which was the •28th of March, 1773, 1 invited several of my friends to sup with me. When at supper there was a great noise upon dock. Upon iirst hearing it I was afraid the captain of the frigate had put his boat on board, foi- I still felt uneas}' about the sugar. Upon going up I found tlie noise was made by William Thomas, an Englishman, that was our cook. He was quarrelling with the second mate. Upon my threatening him he was quiet, but soon after, getting more liquor, he struck the mate. The boy telling me this, I went up a second time, with an inten- tion of giving him a severe beating; but, when I found he was very drunk, and recollecting he was a very good man when sober, I did not touch him, but ordered him carried to his berth. In the morning at daylight w^e got under weigh. About eight o'clock the cook came up and told me he was very sick. After telling him I supposed it was owing to his being drunk the night before, I directed him to go below. The next morning when I went upon deck, the second mate told me he had just been in the steerage, and Thomas was dead. It appeared the poor fellow had fallen from his berth the morning we came out, and probably broke a bloodvessel. Although I was sorry for the loss of this man, it was pleas- ing for me to think I had not touched him. We had pleasant weather until we were within ten leagues of the lighthouse on Cape Henlopen, when, the wind being at S. E., and blowing fresh with rain, I ordered the mainsail hauled up, intending to keep my wind until it cleared away. All hands were called, when the cooper, Robert Craig, who C H A R L E S B I D D L E . 59 was one of the most active men I ever had with me, coming up last, I called to him, "•' How is this, Robert, all hands up before you ?" He made no answer, but walked forward round the bow of the boat, then coming aft he gave a spring upon the roughtree, and then for the main shrouds, which missing ho fell into the sea. I was on the quarter-deck and saw him fall. Calling to him, I told him not to be afraid, we would be with him in a minute. With the assistance of a French gentleman that was a passenger, I threw a hen-coop close to him. He swam to it, and got upon it. At the risk of the masts I hove the ship round to immediately, cut the boat's gripes, and had her over the side in a few minutes. But when he saw the ship hove to, he quitted the coop, and, before we could get to him with the boat, w^ent down. Had he staid by the coop, we should have saved him. He was a young man very much beloved by the whole crew. Although naturally very cheer- ful, he was, the day lie was lost, remarkably so. He had jjeen four voyages with me, and what made me have a particular regard for him was the care he took of his mother, who was a poor widow, that during his absence he left a power with to receive one-half his wages. No person in the ship lamented the loss of poor Craig more than Mr. Dubois, my French pas- senger, who had been much attached to him from the time of his first coming on board. He rolled about the deck as if he was distracted; however, if he lamented more at first, he was the first to forget the loss of him. Grief never afl:ects a Frenchman long.* * The father, mother, and wife of Count de Noailles were guillotined while the Count was in Philadelphia. When he first heard of it, he shut himself up for two hours almost frantic with grief — this was a long time for a Frenchman to grieve. I saw the Count the day after he received the intelligence, and if he had not told me of the loss he had sustained, I should not, A-om his behavior, have supposed anything more than usual had iiap- pened, and yet the Count is an amiable man, and more grave than his countrymen generally are. — Authou's notk. The Count's wife, her mother, the Duchess D'Ayen, and her grandmother, Ija Marechale De Noailles, were guillotined on the same day, July 22, 1794. The Count's father and mother, the Marechal de Mouchy and his wife, were executed a few weeks before, on the 27th of June. 60 AUTOBIOGRAPIIYOF We arrived at Philadelphia two days after this melancholy accident. The uniiappy mother of Craig never was well after she heard of his death, hut died in a few months after him. What ought not to have given her pain afflicted her more, she told me, than his loss would have done had he died ashore ; this was his heing buried in the ocean. This, I believe, has been the cause of grief to many a one before and since who have lost their friends at sea. The ship wanting nothing done to her, in seven weeks after we left Port au Prince we were there again. The gover- nor thought it impossible we could be back so soon, and said he was sure we could not have been to Philadelphia, but had landed our cargo at the Mole, a harbor at the west end of the island. However, I soon convinced him by my papers that I had been at Philadelphia. The governor was the Chevalier de Vallier, and a worthy good man he was. I beat the ship from the watering place np to the harbor under close-reefed sails when it was blowing a gale of wind. Most of the inhabitants were looking at us while working up, and Mr. Pasquer and some of his friends told me they expected every time we hove about the ship would have overset. The Sunday after my arrival, all our colors were hoisted, when the lieutenant of a frigate (the captain being in the country) hailed the ship and told me to haul down my pen- nant. This I have no doubt he did at the request of a Bor- deaux captain who was moored near us, and was then on board the frigate. I answered immediately that I would not haul it down, nor suffer it to be done. They then sent their boat, and the officer who came on board told me a merchant ship could not hoist a pennant in a harbor with one of our own men-of-war, and they would not sutler me to hoist one. I told him I knew very well we had no right to hoist one in a harbor with one of our own men-of-war, but we were not bound by any treaty to show them that mark of respect, nor should it be dcme by me ; that if the governor ordered me out of the harbor, I would go with much pleasure, but would never suffer the flag of my country to be insulted while in my power to prevent it. Finding me obstinate, CHAKLESBIDDLE. 61 and not choosing to push matters to extremities, he left us muttering some curses against the English, and wishing ihey were again at war with them. This I told him he could not wish more fervently than I did. So high an ()})inion had I imbibed from Lieutenant IS^esmith and Mr. McFurm, the two old naval officers that I was brought up under, that nothing but force would have obliged me to haul down my colors, and had they compelled me to do it, I would have gone to Jamaica and complained to the admiral. jSTo seaman should ever sufter the flag of his country to be in- sulted ; it will make foreigners have a contemptible opinion of you, and dampen the spirits of your own countrymen. The captain of the frigate, being sick, was seldom on board, so that the lieutenant, who was a malicious rascal, had it in his power, and did not neglect it, to give me a great deal ot trouble by sending his boat frequently on board under pre- tence of searching for sugar or coffee. A few days before we were read}^ to sail, a large Guinea ship that lay to the windward of the whole fleet took Are, and burnt with great violence. The harbor was full of shipping, and, as it was said the Guinea man had a quantity of powder on board, there was a great alarm and confusion among the shijiping. The frigate fired a good many shot at the ship on fire with an intention, as^it was afterwards said, to sink her, but as the water was smooth this could not easily be done. Instead of firing and trying to sink her, they should have gone with their boats and those of the fleet, and towed her on shore, for they knew on board the frigate that there was no powder on board of the ship on fire. As this was not attempted, we knew when her cables burnt she must drift among us, and we therefore prepared to keep out of the way. I had only two men and a boy on board, the remainder of the crew being gone for a load of molasses. I ran out a small anchor to the southward, intending, when the ship drifted, to heave on it if it should be necessary. Just at this time a large French ship carried an anchor out across our bows, which would have prevented me from heaving should I have wanted to do it. I hailed the ship, and told the caj)tain if he attempted to 62 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF heave upon liis cable we would cut it. He answered, " Do, if 3^011 dare," and they began to heave in the slack. Imme- diately we got a slip-rope, and getting the cable over the cathead, cut it, the French captain threatening all the time what he would do. I was quite regardless of what he said, and did not hear his threats without replying. Fortunately the ship on tire drifted clear of all of us. The sight was awfully grand. The next day there was a complaint made against me by the French captain for cutting his cable. I told the governor and intendant (who happened to be pre- sent) that I cut the cable to preserve my own ship, and that they had no business, nor any occasion, to carry out their anchor where they did. The French captain told them I had d d all the French for a set of lubberly b . Tlie governor gave him a look of contempt, and told him that was a business he should have settled himself. The behavior of the French captain tlie day after the lire reminds me of what Smollet in his Roderick Random says of the day after the battle of Dettingen : " Every one of them during the fire had performed wonders." About a month after my being at Port au Prince, a vessel arrived from North Carolina, commanded by Captain Thos. Allen. I soon became very intimate with Allen and much attached to him, and he had the warmest friendship for me. Allen was born in England. Being in the trade of North Carolina, he married and settled in Wilmington. We were so much alike in our persons that we were frequently taken for each other, and had several curious adventures in con- sequence of these mistakes. One of them had like to have been attended with serious consequences to me. Going one day to a billiard table, after staying a short time, I paid for what I had lost and was going away, when the tavern-keepei- civilly requested me to pay for the wine I had the day before. I told him he was mistaken, for I had never been in his house before. He laughed at first, thinking me joking, but when he found me serious, he was very abusive, and at last de- clared I wanted to cheat him. Upon his saying this I gave him a kick that overset him. When he got uj) he ran for CHARLESBIDDLE. 63 the guard who came immediatclj and arrested me. They are always ready to come on such occasions, as they gene- rally get something. I requested they would go with me to Mr. PasQuer, which, after some consultation, the}' agreed to, and we proceeded to his house accompanied by a large mob. Allen happened to be there, and was just leaving the house to look for me. The tavern-keeper appeared much astonished when he saw Allen, whom he knew was the man he had mistaken me for, and who told him he was just going to his house to pay him. lie said he was sorry for what had hap- pened. As I thought the kick was equal to the abuse, I gave the soldiers a trifle, and we all parted satisfied. If we had not found Allen, I should have been carried to gaol, and perhaps had a large sum to pay, for the tavern-keeper would have sworn I was the person who had his wine, and what would have been infinitely worse, it would have been thought by those that did not know me, that I wanted to impose upon the man. Allen and myself were going ashore one evening in the jolly-boat, dressed as common sailors, and just before landina: we ran foul of a French boat. The crew were verv abusive, and one of them caught hold of our boat, when I gave him a shove with the oar, and pushed ashore. We were walking up the wharf, his arm within mine, when the fellow who had* been struck, coming unperceived behind us, gave Allen a stroke with a stick on his neck that brought him to the ground. The sailor immediatel}^ ran to his boat and they put oti'. It was some time before Allen could recollect himself, as he was much hurt. We went into the first house we came to, and I sent for a surgeon who ordered him bled. The surgeon said if the blow had been a little higher it must have killed him. The next day he was seized with a fever, and I was much afraid we should lose him ; however, the fever left him, and in a few days he was able to walk aljout. One of the French merchant-men at that time acted as commodore, and wore a broad pennant, and we knew the French boat we ran foul of belonged to the com- modore's ship. We went on board to demand satisfaction. The commodore was ashore, and we found him at his store. 64 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF He behaved very politely, sent for the fellow, and told us he should be punished in any way we wished for behaving in so base and cowardly a manner. The man declared he took us for two common sailors, and he was hurt by my shoving the oar at him. As he appeared very humble, we thought it best to let the matter droj;). Even if there had been no resem- blance this fellow might have mistaken Allen for me, for the night was dark. As the French frigate still lay near us, I did not think it safe to take coffee on board in the harbor, and therefore hired a schooner to carry ninety hogsheads of coffee to Heneaga*, a small island about twenty leagues to the north- ward of Ilispaniola. I left Port au Prince the 20th of Sep- tember ; the schooner sailed with the coffee the day before me. I fell in with her off Cape Nicola Mole, where she was to wait for me, and we stood over in company for liene- aga, but the weather being dark and squally the night we took our departure we lost sight of her. The next day we came to anchor near the west end of the island in six fathoms water, soft white sand with a few scattering rocks. The southwest point of the bay bore S. S. E. The north point i^. ]N^. W. distant about four miles. There is fresh water here in a small pond. The road to it is from a small reef of rocks that are close to the shore. But the best waterirjg place is round the north point of the island in what is called Ocean Bight. I staid here three days waiting with great impatience for the schooner. I was preparing the long-boat to go in quest of her, when we discovered her two or three leagues to the westAvard beating up. I went on board her, and found, in the squalls the night we left Hisi3aniola, they were obliged to bear away, and had nearly been lost on Cuba. The skij)per JS'icholo, an old acquaintance of mine, was very much rejoiced to lind us, for he was short of provisions and water, and was afraid he should never have found the ship. As I was uneasy at lyuig here, being afraid of British or French cruisers, we soon got her alongside, and m a few * Now called Inaeua. CHARLES BIDDLE. 65 hours took out the coffee and made sail from the island. Nicholo told nie afterwards they suffered much in their pas- sage hack to Hispaniola. We had favorable weather, and arrived without any accident at Philadelphia. I made another voyage in this ship to Port au Prince, where I found my friend Allen, who arrived a few days before me. Two days before he got in, he was fired into by a ship called the Ville de Paris. The shot went through his boat, but did no other damage. I sailed from Port au Prince the last of February, 1774. On the 8th of March in lat. 27°, long. 74° 25', Stout, the mate, came down and informed me that it looked squally. Ciroing on deck it appeared as if it would blow hard. I ordered the topgallant sails handed, and the topsails lowered on the cap to reef them. James Gurly,*the second mate, was on the main topsail yard, and I was calling to him to take the second reef in the topsail, when, instead of attend- ing to what I said, he let fall the sail, and taking hold of one of the backstay's, came upon deck. Much surprised and exasperated, I inquired what brought him off the yard. He appeared much alarmed, and told me he came down because there was a whirlwind in the squall, that he was on board a large ship which was dismasted in a moment by such a whirl- wind, and they had all nearly perished although the}^ had only received the tail of it, and that he was much afraid this would prove fatal to us. As Gurly was a good seaman, and of course not easily frightened, what he said made an im- pression on all the crew. It approached us, and had a most awful appearance. For a great distance the sea appeared to be carried up to the heavens. Observing it attentively for a minute or two, it appeared to me that it was driving to the northward, and that if we wore and made sail to the south- ward we should avoid it. I therefore immediately wore ship, and as I thought it would make no difference if it took us, whether we were under sail or not, I made sail and stood to the southward. To our great joy we soon perceived it would pass astern of us. I never thought myself in greater danger than when this whirlwind was coming down upon us. 5 66 AUTOBIOGRAPHYOF It reminded me of one I had beard of that did great mischief in South Carolina. I had two passengers, who, when they saw the squall and heard Gurly's story, went into the cabin, out of which, they afterwards told me, they nevei' expected to go alive. After this we arrived without anything material happening. My owner, having the offer of a good freight for Bristol, chartered the ship to go there. While we were cleaning her at Mr. Peter Knight's wharf, a schooner belonging to an old friend of mine, Mr. John Dufiield, came from Hispaniola and landed her sugar and coft'ee in Mr. Knight's stores. The custom-house officers had information of it, and sent to Mr. Duffield for the key. I happened to be on the wharf when Mr. Duffield came up with it, and was going to give it to Swanwick, the chief of the gang. As I felt for Duffield, who had a large family, and I looked upon these people as little better than robbers, I was determined to save the property if possible, and for that purpose requested Duffield to give me the key, and go off the wharf. This he very readily did. Upon Duffield delivering me the key Swanwick came up and demanded it of me. I told him he should not have it. Upon this he directed some of his men to get a crow and an axe, and break open the door. I called to Mr. Corry, my mate, and desired him to come ashore and bring «ome of the crew with him. This he immediately did, and when the custom- house officers came with an axe and crow they were taken from them and hove into the dock. Upon this Swanwick went to his boat in order to go on board a sloop of war that lay in the cove, but I would not suffer him. Just at this time the people from Phillip's ropewalk (rented at that time by my friend Hepburn, who sent them) came on the wharf. The foreman,* who was an Irishman, coming up to me, called out, " Capt. Biddle, who shall we seize?" At the same time an apprentice boy of mine, with a tar brush in his hand, catching hold of Swanwick, begged I would let him paint * J. Lang, afterwards an officer in the Continental army. — Author's NOTE. CHARLES BIDDLE. 67 him. I made him let him go, and the poor devil was glad to run from the wharf, and his myrmidons followed him. I sent directly for all the draymen that could he found, and we soon emptied the store, putting the sugar and coffee in dif- ferent stores, where they were safe. When this was done I locked the door, put the key in my pocket, and went to Duf- field, who lives now (1802) in the house he then lived in. I found him and his family much distressed until he heard what had happened, when he gave me the warmest thanks. From him I went to Swanwick, and told him if he was going to give an account to the Governor or Collector of what had happened, not to mention my name, as he must know I saved him from being tarred, if not thrown from the wharf into the dock. He said he was veiy sorry I had not called sooner, for he had already complained to the Collector. I desired him to let me see what he had written. Alter some excuses he let me see a copy. I found he had mentioned that Cap- tain Charles Biddle, at the head of a mob, had driven him and the rest of the custom-house officers from the wharf. I told him if he did not take care of himself he would be driven from the city. I expected some notice would have been taken of this affair by the Governor or Mr. Patterson, the Collector, as they threatened to do it, but they did not. They began at tl^is time to be afraid of acting in the manner they would have done some time before. The ship sailed in May, 1774, under the command of Capt. Corry for Bristol. Corry had been my chief mate from the time the ship was launched. He is a native of Kew Castle upon Delaware, an excellent seaman, and a very good officer. He had only one fault as an officer, and that was his being too fond of striking. This, in a great measure, I broke him of, for I never allowed any one on board to strike the crew. He slept less than any man I ever knew or heard of. I often told him he must have been guilty of murder or some horrid crime that troubled his conscience and prevented his sleeping. A curious affair happened the last time I was at Port au Prince that I forgot to mention. A man by the name of Be- nijah Liston, belonging to New England, wrote from Leogaue 68 AUTOBIOGRAPHYOF that a person of the name of J. S., whom he had taken in sick and nursed until he got well, had rohbed him of some money, a watch, ring, etc., and he supposed had gone to Port au Prince. He gave me an exact description of the robber, and begged I would try to apprehend him, that he belonged to Philadeljihia, and probably would try to get there. He mentioned the maker's name and number of the watch. As soon as I read the letter I went on shore, and going to a bil- liard table frequented by the English, I saw a person playing who answered the description exactly. I went close up to him, and taking hold of his watch chain I drew it out of his fob, and, before he could recover his surprise, opened it, and found it was the one stolen from Liston. I caught hold of him, and told him if he did not go quietly on board he should be put to gaol and punished as a thief. I sent for a boat, and, as I could not go immediately on board myself, directed Corry to come in her. When S. was going on board he jumped out of the boat and attempted to swim ashore, but he was soon taken and carried on board. In the evening when I went on board he was lashed to one of the pumps. I had him loosed and stripped, without finding any of the articles stolen. I was almost tempted to believe the story he told me of his having purchased the watch, when one ol the crew going up to him, says to him, "My father .was an old thief that used to hide the money he stole under his hat," at the same time knocking off his hat, when out dropped a purse containing the money, ring, etc. I sent for Liston, who was highly pleased at getting his property. J. S. appeared verj^ penitent — he signed a paper acknowledging his having robbed Liston, which was witnessed by Captains Wilson and Kid del. This acknowledgment I have kept ever since. S. behaved very well, and was a useful hand during our passage home, for which reason I let him go when we got up to town. After the ship sailed Mr. Aspden purchased a brig for me in which I went to Port au Prince. She was a miserable old vessel, as leaky as a basket. When Pasquer came on board and saw the vessel, and observed the pump almost constantly going, he declared he would never put a cargo on board of CHARLESBIDDLE. 69 her, and begged me to leave her and let her be condemned. But I had Mr. Aspden's interest so much at heart that I would not consent to it. Fortunately we had good w^eather until we arrived in the river. Had we remained at sea a few days longer it is probable we should have been lost, for we had a violent gale of wind in the river. I did not think it safe to sail again in the brig, but left her as soon as she w^as discharged. Upon examining her the carpenter declared she was not worth repairing. With Mr. T. Yorke I purchased a large schooner, and made a voyage to Cape Francois. During this voyage nothing material happened. Upon my return we purchased a remarkably fast-sailing brig called the Swift, and loaded her for the Mole. Two days before we sailed, William Johnston, a young man who had been >vith me on previous voyages, and whom I agreed to take out as my mate, rode out to Crermantown and got mar- ried. She was a very good girl whom he married, he had long known her, and she had promised to marry him when he could get to be mate of a vessel. As they were returning to town, he stopped the chair and got out to speak to a friend, when a wagon coming by overset the chair, and the wheels went over his wife's breast. A thick pair of new stays pre- vented her being crushed to death. In the confusion the brute who drove the wagon got off, nor could we after- wards find him. As soon as I heard of the accident I went to see her and Johnston. He was perfectly deranged ; she, although in great pain, composed, and trj^ing to soothe him. She died the next day. I was obliged to sail without John- ston. We sailed from Reedy Island in company with a fine brig commanded by Captain Clay, bound also to the Mole. We bet a suit of clothes upon our passage. I had a very short one, and was nearly ready for sea when he arrived. When I went on board, and inquired what passage he had come through, he declared he had made no land until he made Hispaniola, which appears almost impossible. We sailed the last of K'ovember from the Mole; the 10th of December we were near the lighthouse, and by the negligence 70 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF of the mate in not calling me in time when a squall was coming up we had nearly overset. We escaped however, with the loss of our main topmast. That day seven weeks that we purchased the hrig, we sold her and settled all our accounts, and made a very good voyage. A Mr. Gay rand, a French gentleman who had heen an officer in Mariagalante, a small island to windward of Gauda- loupe, w^as introduced to me as a very worthy, good man. He told me if I would join him we could make a great voyage by going to this island, that he could easily get us permission to sell, and bring away coffee. We purchased a brig called the Greyhound^ between us, and loaded her with such a cargo as he said would answer. We left the Capes the 28th of February, 1775. As we drew near Mariagalante I found Mr. Gayraud appeared uneasy and expressed his fears that those who were in office when he left the island were dead or removed. This gave me a suspicion that all was not right. I determined, therefore, not to enter the harbor until I was sure we should meet with no difficulty. As we drew near the island I found his uneasiness increase. I then requested he would tell me candidly if he did not think we ran some risk, should w^e go directly into the har- bor as he proposed. He appeared relieved at the question, and honestly declared he felt some apprehension, and agreed with me that we had best let the brig lay off the harbor untd we went ashore, and found whether w^e could be ad- mitted to enter with safety. The 22d of March we hove to, and went ashore in the boat under pretence of want of water. The little island appears a perfect garden. Upon speaking to some of Mr. Gayraud's friends, I found it would not do to come to an anchor, and told him we had better stand over for Ross in the Island of Dominique. He aj^peared extremely chagrined, and I believe expected he w^ould not be treated by me as well as he was before we landed ; but as he was unfor- tunate, and, I believed, honest, I behaved with more atten- * Penns3'lvania Journal, February 22, 1 775. " Cleared Brig Greyhound, C. Blddle to Grenadoes." CHARLES BIDDLE. 71 tion to him than ever, and he soon recovered his cheerfulness. We touched at Dominique, Mountserat, Nevis, St. Kitts, and St. Eustatia. At the last three islands we went ashore on the same day. Finding the markets would not answer at any of these islands, we sailed for Hispaniola, and arrived at the Mole the 4th of April, and to my great joy found here my old friend Allen. I had this voyage with me Captain Stephen Decatur,* who afterwards commanded a privateer out of Philadelphia, and in 1778, was in the American navy. He came out with a small adventure, and left me here, to command a vessel hound to Europe. We sold our cargo, and took another for Philadelphia, and sailed the 23d of April, 1775. We left the Mole in company with several sail of vessels hound for diiferent ports in America, who all soon left us, the brig being flat-bottomed and sailing remarkably bad upon a wind. We however had a tolerable passage, arriving in the Delaware the 4th of May. * Father of the distinsian wounded in the leg or arm, whether necessary or not, he immediately amputated it, to prevent their doing any more mischief. Although at the commencement of the war I was much prejudiced against these people, yet when I knew many of them, and considered they wei'e a set of poor wretches, obliged to go wherever they were ordered by their prince, my opinion respecting them was much changed. Many of them captured with Burgoyne were at Reading, and were very useful to the farmers in the neighborhood, who hired them and found they were hard-working, industrious fellows. I know several who have become men of property and behaved well ; one of them, J. A. Lewis, has been with me eleven years, and was in the oflice several years before it was held by me. He has a wife and five children, lives in a good house of his own, and is a very useful, industrious man. He was at the battle of Long Island, and at all the principal actions tbught in Amer- ica. He says, when he first came to America, he and all the Hessians firmly believed that if they were taken by the Americans, they would be roasted and eaten. Had the Hes- sians been ever so bad, the conduct of Standley would have been inexcusable. His own account disgusted me so much against him, that I would not suft'er him, after he had men- tioned this aftair, to eat in the cabin. We had a good pas- 154 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF sage, and fell in witli nothing until we made St. Thomas, when we saw oft' the harbor a brig, which wq found was a British cruiser. It was early in the morning when we first discovered her ; she was beating up, and we were going before the wind. Finding as she drew near that we could have no chance b}^ fighting her, I determijied to go into St. Johns, if we could get there. We were both becalmed off" the west end of the island, and we got out oars, and rowed for the har- bor. They got out their boats and towed their vessel to cut us oft". I had been in this harbor with the Eclipse, and knew they had a single fort. They got within gunshot of us seve- ral times, and would have taken us, if they had not been too eager. When within shot, they pulled around to give us a broadside, b}^ which means we got a considerable way ahead. They did this without doing us any injury whatever. Had they continued rowing w^ithout firing a shot, they would have been alongside before we ccnild have reached the harbor. They kept firing (and many of their shot reached the shore), until I hailed the fort to know why they did not fire. They then fired a shot which struck the water under her boltsprit. She then hauled oft". We learned afterAvards that she was a Kinff's Brio;, The master of her deserved to be broken for not taking us. My crew behaved very well, except one man whom I thought before this day, was afraid of nothing. He, however, endeavored to get down the fore scuttle. Whenever the brig pulled round to fire, my crew gave them three cheers, and were anxious to return the fire, but I knew if we broke off any of the men from the oars, we must be taken, and therefore would not sufter it. I went from St. Johns the same day in my boat to St. Thomas. Mr. Mitchell, an old friend, settled here, told me to be careful of the Governor ; if he knew it was me who had insulted their fort he did not know what would be the consequence. I found here my friend Falve3\ He was in partnership with a Thomas Reilly, under the firm of Falvey and Reilly. I sold my cargo, which consisted of flour and tobacco, to Mr. Lisle, a native of Phila- delphia, who was married and settled in Tortola. Mr. Mitchell was his surety. After delivering the cargo, he was CHARLES BIDDLE. 155 to have returned and paid me in four days. He was gone ten. I was very uneasy, and Mitchell more so, fearing he would not return. However, he came the tenth day, and paid me honestly. He had been detained collecting the money, which was in new half Johannes, which I at first thought-he had been coining at Tortola. I purchased some rum at St. Johns, and having procured what dr}'' goods I wanted, sailed from St. Johns the 13th of December. Just before Ave sailed, Standley applied to me to take him back, but he had behaved ill on the passage out, and during the time we were at St. Thomas, and as I thought he would plague his good mother in Philadelphia, I would not take him. There were several privateers oft' the harbor; however we escaped them all. Two or three days after we left St. Johns, a fever broke out amongst the crew. For several days after they were taken, they grew worse, and more were taken down with the disorder. They complained of violent pains in their heads, and they were frequently delirious, so that we were obliged to confine them to prevent their jumping overboard. Upon inquiry of the second mate (the chief mate, Mr. Lecroft, was at his own request discharged at St. Thomas) what could be the cause of their disorder, he informed me that the people had filled the casks with water from a pond at the back of the fort, and perhaps it was OAj^ing to that. Upon questioning one of those employed in getting the Avater, he acknowledged, that finding it diflieult to get to the watering place, they had filled the casks out of the pond, and that one of the inhabitants told them not to fill the casks with that Avater, for it Avould kill them. KnoAving how very uuAvholesome bad water is, I had no doubt but the fever Avas occasioned by the Avater, but Ave had now none other to use. I Avas determined, if Ave had any heavy rains, to start the Avater Ave had, and fill our casks Avith rain water. The fifth day after we Avere out, we buried one of the crcAv, and had six so ill that they could not come upon deck. I had the sick removed forAvard, and everythino- made as comfortable for them as possible. We had a fine Avind from the time of leaving St. Johns, and I was in hopes the cold Aveather Ave now had would abate the fever, but it 156 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF had not that effect, probably owing to all the crew being in- fected with the disease before this time. The sixth day the stoutest and heartiest man we had on board, Leonard May, a young man born in Philadelphia, whose parents now live here, was taken unwell. As it was cold and rainy when he complained to me of being sick, I desired him to go below, but not to go forward among the sick. However, he found the place they Avere in, the warmest in the vessel, and went there. The next morning we found him dead ; he appeared as if he had been strangled. I was much concerned for the loss of this young man, for he was a very good seaman, and did whatever he was ordered with cheerfulness. He was tell- ing the second mate the day before he was taken unwell that he wished the sick would all make a general will and leave him their heir. The eighth day after leaving St. Johns, about one o'clock in the morning, the wind shifted from the southeast to northwest, and" blew hard. At daylight we saw a large ship to windward of us, lying to under her foresail. She so soon made sail after us that I was convinced she was a man- of-war. I therefore immediately bore away to the south- ward. At this time there was not a man belonging to the vessel, but the second mate and myself, but were sick or had died. We were then by our reckoning about twenty-five leagues from the Capes of Delaware. We had three passen- gers on board, and with their assistance made sail. At eleven o'clock, the weather being more moderate, we got up our topgallant yards and set the topgallant sails. At noon, while taking an observation, the chase fired a shot over us. I then hove our guns overboard. We. were now going ten knots, and there was so little difterence in our sailing that it was three o'clock before she got so near as to oblige us to strike. Being then within pistol-shot, and with no possi- bility of escaping, I hove to. They fired one of their fore- castle guns after we had hoVe to, when they were close along- side. The shot went over the quarter-deck, just above our heads. I was glad to see them fire the first shot, and was in hopes they would have luft'ed up, and given us a broadside CHARLES BIDDLE. 157 as the brig had done, but they only fired from their forecastle. During tjie chase, as it was a fine day, I had several of the poor fellows who were sick helped upon the quarterdeck, and dressed in some uniform coats I had on board, of red and blue, in hopes they would take me for a British vessel, and leave oif the chase. Some of the officers told me after- wards that they did take us for an English packet, and, had they seen any other vessel, would have given up the chase. We found the ship that captured us was the Chatham of fifty guns, commanded by Andrew S. Douglass. She had chased a vessel the day before to the westward, which occa- sioned their being so near the land. We were all taken on board the man-of-war except four, who were too ill to be removed. A circumstance that happened a few days after we were taken, gave me a very unfavorable opinion of this Captain Douglass. The sick belonging to the brig complain- ing to me of their being badly accommodated, I wrote a note to him. His servant told the person I sent it bj^ that Cap- tain Douglass* had ordered him never to take a letter to him from any of the prisoners. I suppose this great man thought it beneath his dignity to attend to an unfortunate prisoner. Upon speaking to the second lieutenant he had everything that could be of service to the poor fellows done for them. I found the cooper of the Chatham (Merit Brown) was a man that had made several voyages with me. He was a native of Philadelphia, and married there. He was a smart, active fellow, and told me he had been impressed, but I believe he got drunk and entered. He was, or pretended to be, very anxious to get home. Thej' had also Abraham Wilbank, one of our Delaware pilots, who was a refugee, and left Philadelphia with the British. Two days after we were taken we had a hard gale of wind from the northeast. About one o'clock A. M., finding the ship to labor very much, and the pumps constantly going, I went upon deck with * I have seen a letter in the Naval Clironiele, from Captain Douglass, to his unele, Captain Hammond, wherein he says, " no man in his senses, well out of active service, would wish to come in again, for it is made u\} of envy, hatred, and malice." — AuTHOu's note. 158 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF Mr. Potts, one of the passengers taken with me. The ship was lying hove to, there were but few men upon deck, and I saw no otHcers but the sailing master, who was an American, one or two midshipmen, and the pilot. I gave it as mj opinion to the sailing-master that the ship would lay to much easier if the mizzen staysail was set. He said no canvas would hold in such a gale. I told him I had been lying to on the coast with canvas set wdien it blew harder. He made me no answer, probably thinking it impertinent in me to give my advice. I soon went below with Potts, telling him as we went down that we wei'e in danger every moment of a sea breaking on board, and, as the ship was old and crazy, it» would send us to Davy Jones's locker. I had not been off the deck but a few minutes before the master had the mizzen staysail set, when the ship lay to much safer and easier. The officers then belonging to the ship were men less quali- fied than any I had ever sailed with. I doubt whether there was a ship in the British ]!^avy that had officers so little experienced. It is customary for officers in the British ISTavy to undergo an examination before they receive their commis- sions ; how these men did I cannot tell, but possibly they may have received their commissions while in America, without having undergone an examination. The officers of the British ISTavy that I have sailed with, or met with, were generally the best of seamen ; and brave, generous, and humane. I received so much kindness from Cadogan, Cote, Harvey, and others, that I never see a British naval officer without wishing it may be in my power to serve him. The officers of this ship, except the captain, were worthy men, and perhaps I should have had a better opinion of him had I known him better. He talked at one time of going into Delaware Bay, and anchoring in tlie Road. Had he done so some of the prisoners whom I consulted were determined, if we should have an easterly wind while there, to cut her cables if possible, and let her drift ashore. She was so old and crazy tliat if she took the ground there, she would never have got oft'. But Douglass thought afterwards he had better not go into the Road. CHARLES BIDDLE. 159 We criiised on the coast until tlie first of January, 1782 when we stood for Sandy Hook with a fair wind. Two days' before, we buried John Shute, a fine lad that was taken with me. A cousin of his, of the same name, was left on board the brig. He was so bad the day before we wereytaken, that we were obliged to confine him to prevent his jumping over- board. It gave me great pain to use the violence we were obliged to use to this valuable young man, who had been an ofiicer m the American army. He went to sea, expecting through the interest of his friends to do better than he could do by staying in the army. When wo were tying him I was much affected with his calling out, " Oh t Captain Biddle' my dear Captain Biddle! will you stand by and see me treated m this vile manner?" Finding his entreaties could do nothing, he swore I should fight him as soon as we landed. Poor fellow! it was his fate never to reach the shore. The 3d of January we anchored oft" Sandy Hook. Captain Douglass, who was married a short time before to an American lady, went up to l^ew York in the cutter. About nine o'clock at night, while I was in the ward-room with the lieutenants and oflicers of marines, who were playing cards, one of the midshipmen came in as pale as death and cried out the ship was on fire. All hands were immediately called, and orders were given to heave water down the fore-hatchway, where a great quantity of smoke came up, and under this hatchway the poor American prisoners, to the number of sixty or seventy were grated down, and all the water thrown down went on them, without doing any service whatever. I never saw a man so much alarmed as the first lieutenant, Halby, was. He was in a situation that any one must have felt very sen- sibly ; but he appeared perfectly incapable of giving directions what to do. I begged he would give orders for the American prisoners to be let out of confinement, that they might have a chance for saving their lives, but he Avas too much confused to attend to me. The unfortunate prisoners were earnestly praying to be let out, but they prayed in vain. As the water was smooth and not very deep I told him he had better let the prisoners up, point some of the twenty-four pounders 160 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF down lier hold and sink her; there would then be no danger of our lives. He would perhaps have paid some regard to my request and advice, hut it was now reported that the Americans had set the ship on fii'e ; and I believe Dalby thought the improbable tale true, and therefore paid no re- aardto what I said, but looked on me with a suspicious eye. The second lieutenant, whose name, I believe, was Lyons, was asleep when the alarm was first given. As soon as he was awakened, and could recollect himself, he went immediately down into the boatswain's store-room, adjoining the magazine, where the fire originated. In the mean time, as I thought it very probable -the ship would blow up, five or six of us got a large spar, and as soon as the exertions to put the fire out were" given over, or we thought they could not succeed, we determined to heave the spar overboard, and jump after it. We should have had but little chance of saving our lives, as the wind was at northwest, and very cold, but it was the best method in our situation we could take. There was a ship of twenty guns lying about a mile from us, and a merchantman near her, and I was much surprised that signals of distress were not fired from the Chatham. They would probably have come nearer to us ; at any rate they would have been ready in case of an explosion to pick up some of the men that might survive her blowing up ; but Dalby knew not what to do, and the second lieutenant was below. It was about half an hour from the time of the first alarm until it was all out. The ship would, I believe, have blown up if it had not been for the second lieutenant. The crew was an excellent one, but where the commanding ofiicer is confused little can be expected from the crew. There was no order among them until Lyons came on deck, he soon restored order, and they passed the water to him as regularly as they could have done on shore. After the fire was over, and the officers again assembled in the wardroon), Dalby candidly confessed he was very much alarmed, which he imputed to what he had suft'ered formerly by a fire. This fire was occasioned by one of the boatswain's mates going into the storeroom, and snuffing his candle there. He was CHARLES BIDDLE. 161 soon put in irons. I wa« once before this time on fire at sea ; it was when going from Jamaica to the Bay of Honduras! The mate had been boiling tar over the fire, when it boiled over, and we had nearly lost the vessel before it was put out. When the noise brought me upon deck the mate, instead of endeavoring to put the fire out, was going to get out the boat. I said so much to him for this, and for his boiling the tar without my knoAvledge, that when we arrived at the Bay he ran away. ^ The day after the fire, the cutter returning from New York, we made sail to go up. We took the ground going up, and I expected the old ship would have beaten her bottom out, which, as there was no danger of our lives, was Avhat I should not have been displeased at. We, however, got safe off, and the next day anchored in the East River opposite l^ew York. We had been at an anchor but a short time before I was told a gentleman wished to see me. Going immediately up, I found it was William. Austin, an old, intimate friend, who had been in the tent with me when out m Cowperthwait's Quaker Company. As soon as he saw me he exclaimed, " My unfortunate Prince,* how are you ?" and, shaking me very cordially by the hand, expressed great satisfaction at seeing me, and obtaining leave for me to go on shore with him. He took me to his lodging ; and, being a good-tempered, friendly fellow, he did everything in his power to serve me. I went with him to Mr. Shoemaker's,t who had formerly been Mayor of the city of Philadelphi'a. He behaved very kind, and ofiered me any assistance in his power. I was much pleased with a circumstance he men- tioned to me, which was, that he had advanced large sums * When we were out in Cowperthwait's Company he had named all in the tent from one of Shakspearc's plays. Me he had called Harry, Prince of Wales; he was called Pistol. Upon his calling me Prince the officers ot the Chatham all stared at me, not knowing wiio I could be.-AuTiiou's XOTE. t Mr. Samuel Shoemaker, Mayor of Philadelphia 1769-71, who adhered to the Royal cause. His kindness to American prisoners is mentioned by Sabine (American Loyalist), and is confirmed by the above statement. 162 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF on loan to the Americans who had been brought in prisoners, particularly to those belonging to Philadelphia, all of whom, except one, had remitted what they had borrowed, and this one had died going home. The day after my being on shore I obtained leave to go on board the Jersey Prison Ship to see the remainder of my unfortunate crew. Much has been said about the cruel treat- ment the Americans received on board this ship. From what I saw and heard from prisoners whose veracity could not be doubted, they were certainly treated w-ith great inhu- manity. When I first went on board the remains of two of the prisoners were lying on the gratings,— they had died the evening before. Upon inquiring of a young lad that had been with me, of the name of Eckert (son of Col. Eckert, of Berks County), the reason of these not being buried, he said they were waiting until they had a boat-load. He may have possibly been misinformed. It w\as at this time reported, and generally believed, among the Americans, that the prisoners were poisoned. I believe it was only by their having unwholesome provisions, and cooked in coppers not cl-eaned, that they were poisoned. It was greatly to the honor of the American character, that, notwithstanding they were in want of everything to make their situation comfortable, and every method was tried to induce them, there was hardly an instance of a native American entering on board their ships. I never heard of any but Merit Brown, cooper of the Chatham ; nor am I certain he he did so of his own will. Had the prisoners in New York been treated with the same indulgence that those who were taken by General Carleton at Quebec were, few would have entered into the American service after their return home. His kindness had a great effect upon the officers, most of whom resigned as soon as they returned to their families. All my ■ crew died except the second mate, now Captain Art, who, with great difficulty, I got exchanged with me. The brig never arrived, nor was she heard of after we left her, so that I have no doubt she foundered in the gale of wind we had two days after we were taken. She was injured by carrying CHARLES BIDDLE. 163 sail the day of our capture. All the sixteen men and boys that went with me from Philadelphia were very hearty when we sailed,— the eldest of the men was not more than twenty-five years of age. It was melancholy to reflect that none of them ever returned to their relations or friends, After my return from visiting the Jersey, I observed two Hessian officers looking at me very attentively, one of whom at last exclaimed, in broken English, " Bv Got, it ish Cap- tain Bittle," and, advancing, expressed great pleasure at seeing me. I found the one who spoke was Captain Baum, and his companion another officer, who with him had been a prisoner in Eeading the year before, and had been lately exchanged. They begged me to go to their quarters, which I did, and was treated with great kindness by these gentle- men. During the time the Hessians were in Reading the conduct of one of the privates occasioned a good deal of laughter, although it was on a melancholy occasion. A Hessian officer of rank, whose name I do not recollect, was fishing in the Schuylkill, in a canoe, when he fell out. A servant on the shore, instead, it was said, of alarming the people at a house near, ran to inform the commanding officer, and before he came down the officer was drowned. Had the fellow called the people of the house the officer could have been easily sav^d, for the water was not deep. They saw the body at the bottom, and hauled it up, but it was too late ; they tried in vain to restore him to life. I waited on the Honorable Major Wallop, w^ho had been a prisoner in Reading. By this gentleman I had sent into I^^ew York two bills of exchange for twenty pounds sterling each, one drawn by Lieutenant Batus, on Coxe and Meir, the other by Lieutenant Wilmot, on Ross and Gray, London. These bills, Mr. Wallop told me, were not paid, but as a great favor he advanced me ten pounds on account of them. I after- wards found this Mr. Wallop had sent the bills to England by Captain Dillon of the Mercury Packet, who received the money for the bills, and gave orders to Mr. Vanhorn, his agent, to pay Wallop, and Mr. Vanhorn sent me Wallop's receipt for the money. This money of mine advanced by 1(34 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF my brotlier from motives of humanity (abstracted from every interested view) to those British officers in captivity, when every other source failed them, was lost ; for, although I frequently wrote to this Major Wallop (who is brother to Lord [Earl of Portsmouth], he has never answered my letter By the advice of a friend I also wrote to Sir George Young, Secretary at War, who never thought proper to answer my letter, which he should have done, lor the case was not a common one, and I was justified m my appli- cation to him. If he had any regard to the honor of his country he would not have let me have been a loser when he could have obliged Wallop to pay me; if he bad been a o-entleman he would have written me an answer. After being a few davs at New York, I was sent on my parole to Flat Bush, where at this time there were a good many American prisoners. We spent our time as agreeably as people in our situation could do. The Dutchmen here, at this time, began to think the British army would not be lono- in Kew York, and therefore treated the prisoners with oreSt attention. They declared privately they wished Gene- ral Washington success, and one night, late, Qur landlord and some of his friends returned home from New York, waked us all up, and begged we would drink something with them. I believe some of the guards had afironted them, for they were very noisy, abused the British Army, and repeatedly drank success to General W^ashmgton, declar- ing if he was to come on Long Island they would immedi- ately ioin him. In the morning, when sober, and our land- lord was informed by his wife of what he had said, he was a o-ood deal alarmed for fear we should mention sometiiing of'what had passed, and that some of the British oihcers would hear of it. He, therefore, begged us, tor God s sake, not to mention what had passed the night before, and con- sidering himself in our power, as in fact he was, he would have done anything we requested him to do. As we con- sidered these people a set of mercenary creatures, who cared for neither Americans nor British, but who would do aiiy- thino- for money, we were determined to plague them. We CHARLES BIDDLE. 165 one day got a friend to come down from New York, who pretended he was sent by the commissary, Sproat, who, he said, had been informed that our landlord, and some others, had spoken disrespectfully of the British Government, and that he was authorized to offer liberty and a hundred guineas reward to any of the prisoners who would inform against them. Potts, my passenger, immediately after he heard him, called him to one side, and our landlord, who was present, supposing it was to relate what had passed, slipped out of the room, and, if I had not followed him, would have fled from the island. N'o poor wretch going to the gallows suffered more than this man. It was with great difficulty I could persuade him we were in jest. It had one good effect, I never saw our landlord drunk afterwards. Before this he frequently drank too much apple toddy, a drink at that time very common on the island. I went at one time as far as Jamaica to see Mr. John Potts, brother to Mr. Potts taken with me. Mr. John Potts was one of those unfortunate men who being attached to the British cause had left Philadelphia with them. It was at this gentleman's table I first heard of any complaint against General Washington. A British oflicer dining with us, talking of the general, said he knew an instance of his acting very improperly^ I told him that having never heard any complaints against him, I should be glad to know in wha't manner he had behaved improperly. He said that after the surrender of York, a number of the British, American, and French officers were invited to dine with Count de Rocham- beau, and that General Washington kept them waitino- an hour, and when he came made no apology. I told him it gave me pleasure to find it was nothing worse he had done, but as General Washington was allowed to be a well-bred gentleman, he possibly was mistaken about his not making an apology. During all the time of my being a prisoner I never heard the name of General Washington mentioned but with respect, except by this officer, and he had nothing to say but what I have mentioned. After remaining about three weeks at Flat Bush, I was 166 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF exchanged. Taking leave of my landlord, who was very attentive, I went to New York, and after taking leave of some gentlemen who had behaved very kindly and friendly to me, I embarked with a number of other prisoners, for Elizabethtown. On the passage we were detained all night by the deputy commissioner of prisoners, Robert Lenox, J going on shore with two ladies. I was much exasperated, but some of the prisoners'were much more so, and when they returned on board I was obliged to interfere to prevent their being very roughly treated. They deserved to be punished, for at that season of the year our situation was dangerous ; but I could not stand by and see women who appeared respectable abused without taking their part. They were very thankful for my speaking in their favor, and supposing from it that I would serve them further, wished me when we got to Elizabethtown Point, to claim a few things they had in the boat; but this I refused, not thinking myself justified. At Elizabethtown five of us hired a light wagon to carry us to Philadelphia. At this time there was a set of fellows who undertook to examine the baggage of every person from New York for what were called " run goods." It might have been proper to do it on the lines where people made it a business to go in and purchase goods, but to search an unfortunate prisoner, who, with the small pittance he had saved from the wreck of his fortune, had purchased a piece of linen, or some such trifle, it was abominable. These wretches robbed many prisoners of what the British had left them. There were two wagons of us set olf at the same time ; I was in the hinder- most. When we came near the tavern at Woodbridge I heard a very stout man that was walking the piazza, say in a loud voice, " I'll be d d if any man shall search Capt. Biddle's baggage." Looking at him, I found it was Ezekiel Furman, an old friend that served his time to a merchant in Philadelphia. With Furman I had been acquainted when boys, and in our boyish expeditions he always headed us. (It was not General E. Furman, him I did not know.) Although I had nothing that could be taken, I was very glad to see Furman, and to find him the same honest fellow he CHARLES BIDDLE. 167 had ever been. Some of those in the wagon ahead of us had told him I was in the wagon coming up, and he waited to see me. If the people here had any intention of searching us they could not have done it. Furraan was as brave as he was stout, and he had several friends, and none in the wagon would have suftered a search without resistance. I was very sorry to hear from Furman that he had been unfortunate, and much more so to hear since that his misfortunes had made him intemperate. He married a Miss Wikoff, of a respectable family. Taking leave of this good fellow, we arrived safe in Philadelphia.* Being extremely anxious to get home, after waiting upon the owners of the brig, I borrowed a phaeton and horses from my friend Hepburn, and early in the morning of the 31st of January, set off" for Reading, intending to get there that night. When I reached Pel'kiomen Creek, twenty-live miles from the city, the rains and melting of the snow had raised it so much that they told me it was impossible to cross. Being determined to try, I drove into the creek expecting to swim the horses over, btit finding, that owing to the rapidity of the stream, it was necessary to enter the creek higher up, I put back and entered some distance above, expecting to reach the * In August this year (1812) I went to Long Branch. At Edentown, near the Branch, I4ieard that my old friend Captain Furman lived there (the person who was at W'oodbridge and swore none of my baggage should be searched when I came a prisoner from New York). When he came to the tavern I knew him immediately, although it was upwards of thirty-one years since we had met. He did not know me, but when I told him who it was that was conversing with him, he was greatly rejoiced to see me. Agreeably to his promise he came the next day to the Branch. He is a very hale, hearty man, and rode down on a race horse, which he mounted and managed with great ease. He has a large, respectable family. Upon some disgust he joined the British army, and being taken in arms would have suifered an ignominous death but for his relation General Furman, and some other powerful friends. He told me that after the war he lived near Frankford, and a report of some of his friends, that he could beat any man in America, had occasioned him many severe battles. It appeared to me that few men now could beat him. He has a small pension from the British Gov- ernment, to which government he is warmly attached, and has as much hatred to the French as any man in America. — Author's note. 168 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF shore abreast of the tavern. This I should have done had both the horses swam, but before they were half over one of them turned on his side, and they both would have been drowned if two men had not come off in a canoe, and assisted in keeping their heads above water. We got back with dif- ficulty. Finding it would be impossible to get over this way, I took the horses out, and getting tAvo canoes, with great labor carried over the phceton. By the time it was over I was almost perished with cold and fatigue, being up to the waist in water when swimming the horses. After procuring some clothes of the landlord, and refreshing myself, I hired a pair of horses and sat oft" with an intention of sleeping in Reading, but they were a pair of steady wagon horses that paid no regard to my impatience. Beating or cursing them, with all my exertions I did not get to Pottsgrove until after night. Pottsgrove is thirty-seven miles from Philadelphia; Reading, fifty-five miles. Early the next morning I reached home, and found Mrs. Biddle, William, and all my friends well. A few days after my return I was seized with the same kind of fever that proved so fatal to the unfortunate crew of the brig, and it brought me to the brink of the grave. Nothing but good nursing and having everything necessary to stop the progress of tlie disorder prevented me going into it. When at the worst, and little hopes were entertained of me, a profuse perspiration broke out on me, and recollecting what Smollet mentions in his novel of Roderick Random,* I covered myself up in blankets, which brought on so pro- fuse a sweat, that my shirt and bed-clothes were as wet as if they had been just taken out of the river. I felt myself better immediately after, and in a few days was perfectly'' well. In April I went with Mrs. Biddle to Philadelphia, on a visit to our friends. While there Mr. John Ross and Mr. Lecan, of the house of Lecan & Mallet, called on me to know if I would take the command of a large ship they had fitting out at Baltimore, intended for Cape rran9ois, * Reading Roderick Random first gave me an inclination for the sea. — Author's note. CHARLES BIDDLE. 169 and from thence up the Mediterranean. As I had at this time acquired some property, and had suffered a good deal the last voyage, I did not intend going to sea soon ; however, as they offered me the consignment of the cargo, I ao-reed to go, provided the mate they sent out with me, or 'some 13erson sent out on purpose, should take the command of the ship after she was loaded, and ready to sail from the Capes. This they agreed to. As the vessel wanted a good deal done, and the owners were anxious for m^^ going down, I set off immediately for Baltimore. I found the ship was a very large, flat vessel, built by the British to attack a battery. She had twelve eighteen pounders on her gun deck, and six- teen nine and six pounders on her upper deck, forecastle, and quarter deck. She was, when in the British service, called the Sandwich, had been scuttled, and sunk by the British at^ York just before CornWallis surrendered, afterwards raised, and purchased by Mr. Ross, Lecan & Mal]et,«and some other gentlemen. They proposed she should carry all her guns, and one hundred and twenty or thirty men. After making out a list of everything she would want for the voyage, and seeing her in some forwardness, as the owners were not now in a hurry to send her to sea, I went the middle of May to Reading to see my family. Here I staid until the^ first of June, when Mr. Ross wrote me that the owners wished the ship out as soon as possible. The second of June I proceeded to Baltimore, and used, every exertion in my power to get the ship soon manned, and ready for sea. At this time it was very difficult to get men for any ship, much more so for the Friendship, as it was known she sailed very heavy. Wlien we entered a man, we were obliged to send him immediately on board, and keep him there, so that before I had my complement of men, the sailors and people at the Point called her the prison ship. However, by the 20th of June I had all my crew on board, and waited with great impatience for orders to sail, which I expected every hour, when, instead of orders to sail, the owners wrote me that two ships commanded by Curwin and Earl, that had sailed but a few days before from Baltimore, were taken, 170 AUTOBIOORAPHYOF and that the coast was so full of cruisers they concluded it best not to send the ship out, and ordered me to discharge the crew. This, after the trouble I had, was a disagreeable business. However, as there was no remedy, I discharged them all, and had proceeded about fourteen miles on my way home when an express came down from the owners to Balti- more, who, finding me gone, came after me ; they desired me, if I had not discharged the crew, not to do it, as they 'were determined to send the ship out as soon as possible ; that if the crew were already discharged, to get another as soon as I could. This was a very mortifying thing to me , and I would gladly have quitted the ship, and would have done it had she been in Philadelphia, but as T thought my leaving her at this time would be injurious to the owners, who, although capricious, had behaved well to me, I returned immediately, and opened a rendezvous at Fell's Point, and there was one also opened at Philadelphia, so that in about three weeks I again had the ship manned. Several seafaring men, and one carpenter living at the Point, frequented the rendezvous to dance and drink every evening ; some of them, when half drunk, signed the articles without any intention of going in the ship. The night before we sailed I v/ent with a party of marines, and took all these people on board. The next morning the carpenter's wife, who, by attempting to drive the marines out of the house, had got some blood on her clothes, came like a fury to my lodgings, and was very abusive, calling me every vile name she could think of. l!^o fishwoman that I ever heard could equal her. After hearing her for some time, without taking any notice of her, I called up the boat's crew, and ordered them to take her down to the wharf, and duck her ; I had, however, no inten- tion of letting them do it. The moment they took hold of her she fell on her knees, and was as submissive as she had before been insolent. Upon her telling me they had children, I sent the boat off for her husband and two others, who had families. The rest, being single men, I kept. Taking these married men on board was of service to them ; it prevented their going to taverns and getting drunk. Several officers CHARLES BIDDLE. 171 who had been in the American army, and who were left out of service, came down to go with me as volunteers. I represented to them that tliey could receive no advantage as volunteers on board such a ship ; however, as they wished to go, and the owners had no objection, I a2:reed to take them. Among these was a Captain Wilson, who, I believe, belonged to Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He had been a very promising offier, but, being intemperate, had become almost useless. Understanding his character from my friend Colonel Craig, who gave him a letter to me, I told him the first time he was the least intoxicated he should go on shore. Finding lihn drunk a few days after, as soon as^he was sober I called him hito the cabin, and represented the rnin he was bringing on himself and the disgrace it was to his family. Ile^left me, much afifeeted, and going to his cot, was seized with a fever which soon carried him off. Although the death of a drunken man is scarcely to be lamented, I felt concern 'for this young man, who was gentlemanly in his behavior, and who, had he taken care of himself, would have been an honor to his country. There came down also a Dr. Draper,* a little Irishman, who had been in the army. He was recommended by a relation of mine, to go as surgeon of the ship. He was an exceedingly good companion, but I had soon an opportunity of knowing that, as a surgeon, he was a very ignorant one. There were at thi*^ time in Baltimore two very hospitable merchants, who entertained a great many strangers. They were Mv. Hugh Young, a native of Ireland, and Mr. William Hammond, a native of Baltimore. These gentlemen often had large parties to dine with them, and it was very difficult to get from either of them sober. Draper was often with * Soon after the peace poor Draper went out surgeon of a ship from ^ew lork to China. Upon the passage home, after they had received a pilot on board, he heard a piece of news that affected him very much • and while standing up for the town with a fair wind, and everv person on board but hmiselt in high spirits, as they generally are when comin<. oiY a Ion., voyage, he went forward, and jumped overboard and drowned himself. ! found afterwards that he had acted very imprudently before he sailed from JNew lork. — Authou's notk. 172 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF them ; he told me he loved those men, they always gave him cool wine, and enough of it. As they were concerned in a ship going ont with and consigned to me, I was obliged to be with them sometimes, but I always took care to have some one to call for me soon after dinner upon pressing business. Capt. Charles Craig,* brother to Col. Craig, was to come down and go with me as captain of marines. As he did not arrive at the time appointed, I gave the command of them to Capt. Whitehead, who had been a lieutenant and adjutant to one of our regiments. Just before vve sailed the celebrated Count de Benyowskyf * Captain Craig was a very brave, excellent officer. He commanded a troop of horse on the lines when the British were in Philadelphia. General Washintrton, and every person who knew him, was fond of him. He lett the arnTy at the request of Marks Bird, of Re'ading, and married his daughter. After the marriage, he wanted Craig to retract something he had°said about him. This^Craig did not think, as a man of honor, he could do. On his refusing. Bird did everything in his power to injure him. Craig declared several times to me, before I left Reading, that Bird had used°him so ill he had a great mind to shoot him. Having spent all his • money, and being bred to no business, he thought if he was gone Bird would take home his wife and infant child. He therefore determined to put an end to his own existence. He told his servant boy, who had been with him in the army, and had no idea of disputing any orders he gave hira, to stay in the entrv, and if any person came for him to tell them he was lyincr down. As there was a person asleep in the room where his pistols were he pulled off his shoes for fear of waking him ; he put the pistols between two pillows, for fear he should be met in the entry, and going into his own room, he lay down on his bed and shot himself through the head just at the moment his brother, Col. Craig, put his foot into the house. I never knew a more amiable man than Capt. Craig. I received the account of his death just before we sailed. It is said to be a cowardly act, but I have been acipiainted with four persons, who had all been officers, that shot themselves. They were Capts. Craig, Pry, Lockwood (of the British navy), and Lieut. Morgan. They were all men of undoubted courage. It is, however, a shocking act, and nothing can justify it. — Author's note. t The life of Count Benyowsky was one of extraordinary adventure. Born in Hungary in 1741, he died in 1786. His father was general of cavalry in the'lmperial Service, and he himself served in the Seven Years' War. After visiting Holland and England, he engaged as colonel of cavalry in the Polish Service, and, being captured, was banished to Kamschatka. Escaping thence (carrying with him the Governor's daughter), he reached CHARLES BIDDLE. 173 came to Baltimore to go outwith me. He brought letters to me from Mr. ITolker, who was one of the owners of the ship. He had Avith him three foreign officers, and as I thought they all would he of service in case of our coming to action, which they promised they would, I took them. We sailed from Baltimore the 15th of July, 1782, having on board one hun- dred and thirty men and boys. My orders were to proceed from Baltimore to York in Virginia, and there put myself under convoy of the Sybil French frigate. When we arrived at York, I Avent on board the Sybil taking with me Count Benyowsky and a Fi-eneh officer that had been in our army. I told the captain of the frigate that as we were in a strong armed ship I expected, if we took any prizes during the passage, we should have a proportional part of them. He declared in presence of the gentlemen I took with me and of some of his own officers, that I should. It was the first of ^ August before we went out of the Capes. In going fr®m York, owing to the misconduct of the captain, who thought he knew the channel better than the pilot, the Sybil took the ground, and had like to have beat her bottom out, which after our arrival at the Cape and their cheating us of our share of prize money I wished she had done. There were near thirty sail under convoy of the Sybil and my ship. The night after we left the Capes we fell in with two ships which we at.tirst took to be British cruisers. All hands were called to quarters and every preparation made to engage. Count ^ Benyowsky I stationed at the colors, the officers who came Formosa and Macao, and, proceeding to France, was placed at the head of a projected colony in Madagascar. He arrived at Madagascar in 1774, and met with promise of success, but being discountenanced by the French Government, he returned to Europe, and again engaged in the Imperial Service. He distinguished himself in the. battle of Habelshwerdt in 1778. Still faithful to his Madagascar subjects, he visited England and America in search of assistance ; he was kindly received in this country, especially in Baltimore. In 1785 he again reached Madagascar, and in the followin:eeping close to the men of war ; he, however, thought there would be some risk, and would not consent to our going with the fleet, but seeing we were much discontented with our being detained, he and the Governor both assured us the embargo should be taken off" in two or three days after the fleet sailed, and the CHARLES BIDDLE. 181 admiral said he would send us a frigate to convoy us clear of the Keys. "With this assurance we left thera. Whitehead, who came out captain of marines with me in the Friendship, and left her in order to continue with me, was about this time arrested by his tailor, an English rene- gade, who had deserted from the British army, and found his way here. They had some dispute about the account before the arrest. Whitehead had told him he must be a worthless scoundrel to desert his country. He declared to me he had paid the account, that, as it was but a trifle, he would pay it again, but he could not think of being imposed upon by such a rascal. Taking a respectable old merchant, Mr. Mernier, with me, I went to the judge, and told him Mr. Whitehead had been an oflieer in the American army, that I knew him to be a young man of strict honor that would not say he had paid the tailor without he had really done it. The judge, who knew the tailor to be a bad fellow, immediately ordered him out of the house; and thus the business was ended. I thought this an excellent way of set- tling a law suit, and if we could always rely upon having an upright judge it would be a much better way than leaving it to an ignorant or partial jury. A friend of mine, Mr. Collin- son Read, that had a cause to try in ISTorthampton County, told me that upon hearing the evidence, he found he could say nothing in faVor of his client, he therefore just observed to the jury, that the cause was so plain he would give them no trouble. When the jury returned he was much surprised to find they brought in a verdict in favor of his client, and as he went out of court the foreman took him to one side, saying, " Mr. Read, I know the verdict should have been in favor of the plaintiff, but you did my son a great favor, and so I was determined to be your friend, and therefore per- suaded the jury to give a verdict for your client." Mr. Mernier, whom I have mentioned, was a very worthy man, who had been settled many years at the Cape. I had letters to him from an old friend, and he insisted upon my staying at his house. We frequently disputed about the liberties enjoyed by the people of France and America. He 182 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF had been in America, and said we had too ranch liberty, that there was not so much respect paid to gentlemen of rank as there should be. The lower orders of people behaved as if they were on a footing with them. He allowed it was a very fine country, but thought the government not by any means so good as theirs, that the French had as much liberty as they ought to have. I told him that in America perhaps there was not that respect paid to the officers of government there should be, but that in France they certainly wanted much reformation ; a poor man hardly ever knew what it was to have a good meal, nor could he call anything his own. He replied, it was no matter, they were contented. He, how- ever, soon altered his opinion. Governor Bollecombe one day sent an order for him to be taken to the fort, where he had this good man, who was near seventy years of age, con- fined for a week without any of his family or friends being permitted to see him ; and the only reason given for it was, that he, who was an officer (I believe in the militia), had come upon the parade without pulling off his hat to the Governor. This was the reason expressed, but the true reason, Mr. Mernier said, was that the Governor wanted to borrow some money of him, which he knew the Governor would never repay, and he had, therefore, refused him. Poor Mernier never said anything to me after this of our having too much liberty in America. He said he would, and I afterwards understood he did, send a memorial to the King, complaining of the conduct of this Governor, who received a reprimand for his usage of Mr. Mernier. The behavior of this Governor Bellecombe, so different from that of the judge, convinced me that it was dangerous trusting a man with too much power, for the Governor was generally esteemed a good man. The embargo was taken off in three or four days, but the frigates did not return. Darby and myself determined to sail together, and, should we fall in with any cruiser, to stand by each other. He was in a ship of eighteen guns and seventy-five men. I had in the brig, including passengers, forty men. I had also as passengers two French women, a CHARLES BIDDLE. 183 mother and daughter, going to see some relations in Balti- more. The daughter was a sprightly, brown girl of sixteen ; the mother a swarthy dame, about forty. We sailed from the Cape the 25th of September, 1782. I was mortified when we got out to find that the bris; did not sail well, and that she w^as very crank. We had good weather until we struck soundings a few leagues to the southward of Cape Henry, when the wind shifting to the southeast it became cloudy, and looked as if it was going to blow hard. About ten o'clock, the moon breaking out, we saw two sail, a ship and a brig, standing after us. At twelve o'clock they were still after us, although they were not much nearer than at ten o'clock. At one o'clock we had a squall which did not clear away until near two o'clock, when we discovered the two sail had neared us very much. Darby and myself were not a cable's length from each other, and both prepared for action. We neither of us had been oif the deck from the time we first discovered the two sail. At two o'clock Darby hailed me : " Biddle, do you see these pirates are coming up with us?" I replied that I did, and that we had better heave to and engage them, or oblige them to sheer ofi"; which he agreeing to, we immediately hauled up our foresail and hove to, and Darby did the same. We were determined to have the first broadside if we could ; however, as soon as they perceived we were lying to to engage them, they hauled off" upon a wind, and we soon lost sight of them. As soon as we hove to I had the two female passengers, who were a good deal alarmed, taken into the cockpit, and, as the old one had been very troublesome, kejit them there a consider- al)le time after we bore away, which we did as soon as the two sail were out of sight. Before daylight we anchored in Hampton Roads. The next day a flag of truce came in, who had been boarded by the two vessels which chased us. They were a ship and brig, privateers from jS^ew York; the ship commanded by a Captain Hazard, an old acquaintance of mine ; however, I was glad we did not at this time renew our acquaintance. He was a native of Rhode Island, one of the stoutest and best tempered men I ever knew, but no 184 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF seaman. Considering himself ill-nsed in not being exchanged when he thought he should have been, he joined the British, and was very troublesome on the coast. They, fortunately for us, took Darby's ship for a French frigate that was said to be on the coast. After obtaining some refreshments we proceeded to Balti- more, where we arrived the 8th of October. A French corvette lying at this time at Baltimore, seeing us under French colors, sent her boat on board. They were much sur- prised to find there was not one on board could speak a word of French, for I had just before gone with the two French women on shore. The ladies went to their relations, and soon after the younger had the good fortune to attract the notice of Mr. , the French Consul, who, a few days after our arrival, married her. Dining at Grant's with a large company, a person called to me and told me my pas- senger was going to be married. I inquired to whom, when he informed me to the French Consul. I said it was very well ; had it been to an American I should have forbidden the banns. One of the consul's friends called on me the next day to know what was my meaning. I told him it was spoken in jest; that, however, he was at liberty to put any meaning he pleased on what was said. She was a lively girl, wlio, when it was cold, would put on any of my clothes, dance on the quarter-deck in them, and perform some other monkey tricks which I suppose she thought there was no impropriety in. Custom reconciles most things. My French ladies disgusted all the other passengers, as well as myself, the first night they came on board. We supped on the quarter-deck, and after supper they squatted down before us and wet the quarter-deck. This I had heard and read of as being common, but I had never seen it before. The most common street-walker with us would not have done thus. As soon as the brig was ready for sea I sent her out under the command of one Atchison, who had come in as my mate. Being convinced we should soon have peace, I sold my share of the brig to Mr. Smith at the rate of six thousand CHARLES BIDDLE. 185 pounds (six months after she would not have sold for as many hundred), and set off for Reading, being very impatient to see my family. Mrs. Lux wishing to see her mother, we sat oif together. When we arrived at Reading we had the satisfaction to find our friends all well. In the month of February, 1783, Mrs. Biddle was delivered of a son, whom I called James, after my brother. In the spring of 1783, while calling in the coffee-house, Captain Budden called me out. He told me that Crathorne* who had behaved so ill in Jamaica, was just arrived from Providence, and' that his vessel was lying at Market Street wharf. As I considered this man the occasion of my long confinement, and of the death of many an American, I was anxious to see him. Going immediately with Budden on board his vessel, we searched every part of her without find- ing him. I stayed in town four or five days, during which time diligent search was made for him, but without efifect. Had he been found I was determined to cut his ears off", for which purpose I had borrowed a penknife at the coffee-house. Many years after he died miserably in the bettering-house. Going to Philadelphia soon after, I agreed with a relation, Mr. Clement Biddle, and with Mr. James Collins, to go to ISTew York, and there charter two or three British vessels for the West Indies. I obtained permission from the Supreme Executive Council, and went to 'New York. At this time New York was crowded with Americans from all parts of the continent, who went in to speculate, or to see their friends. A story was told at this time of a New England man, who occasioned a good deal of laughter. He had some dispute about his permission, when the British officer refused to let him enter. " Well, I vow," says the Yankee, " you are very bold, considering you are a conquered people." JSTew York was at this time a very disagreeable place to me. Man}^ unfortunate Americans who had joined tli£ British army were now extremely anxious to return to their former places of residence, among others, my unfortunate * See pages 93, 94. 186 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF brother John. He had been in the British service before the war, and remained attached to them. I felt much pain for these nnhapp3^ people, for whom the British Government, to their honor be it said, provided generously. I chartered a ship and a snow by the month, to proceed to Philadelphia, and there load for the "West Indies. As I had a 2;ood deal of unsettled business in Hispaniola, I was deter- mined to go out myself and settle it. The ship and snow* were sent to Cape Francois. I took my passage in a small French schooner commanded by Capt. Le Faure, an old acquaintance of mine, bound to Port au Prince. A short time before we sailed I had an account of the death of Mr. Robert Smith at Cape Fran(;ois. He had purchased a mulatto girl, who lived with him, and imprudently informed her of some provision he had made for her at his death. Although there was no proof, it was strongly suspected she hurried him out of the world. He was an amiable young man, and I believe left a handsome fortune, but having no person about him to take care of the property, the family recovered little or nothing. We sailed from Philadelphia in June, 1783. There were besides myself, two or three French, gentlemen, and Mayer Polonois, a poor Jew, passengers. I do not mean poor as to money, for probably he had more than any other person on board, but unfortunately Le Faure took a dislike to the man, and treated him very roughly. One day at dinner, the Jew saying something disrespectful of the French army, Le Faure started up in a rage, threw the Jew's plate, with his silver fork, and all that was on the plate, into the sea, and, if I had not interfered, I believe he would have thrown the Jew in after them. He never after this would permit the Jew to dine in the cabin. Except the disputes with this poor devil, we had an agreeable time. As I had some business to settle with Messrs. Musculas & Rondineau at the Mole St. Nicolas, Le Fanre who was very friendly to me, put in there and * Perhaps it may be as well to explain that the " snow" was a two-masted vessel rigged very nearly like a brig. The term is obsolete. CHARLES BIDDLE. 187 waited a clay for me. He afterwards landed me at Leogane, where I also had some business for a friend. After landing me he proceeded to Port an Prince. I stayed two days at Leogane, which if it was not sickl}^ would be an agreeable place. From here I went to Port an Prince by land, where I found that most of my former friends, Mr. Pasquer, Mr. Peyrobe, and others, were dead. Barere, the interpreter, was still here, and in business, and gave me a very friendly re- ception. Barere was a native of Bayonne, but had liA^ed for some years in Boston, where he married. He had one son, who at this time was in France. Polonois called on me to consult me about suing Le Faure. I should have advised against it, even if LeFaure had been a man I had no regard for, knowing, as he had mentioned the French navy and army with disrespect, and spoken very favorably of the British, he would be treated as badly by the court as Polonois was by the captain. He was, howeVer, persuaded to bring a suit. He wrote me afterwards that he wished he had taken my advice, for the suit went against him, and Le Faure in turn sued him for his passage and stores and recovered ; although in consequence of his loading the vessel Polonois was to have had his passage free. After settling my business at Port au Prince, I was deter- mined to go by land to the Cape. This was an undertaking my friends at Poft au Prince. as well as those at Leogane and the Mole advised me against, but as I was anxious to get to the Cape, and knew it was very uncertain when I could get there by water, they could not alter my intention. They represented it as a journey, at that season of the year, very disagreeable and dangerous. I took letters from Barere for several persons on the road, and had letters from other gen- tlemen. The first place I stopped at, after leaving Port au Prince, was St. Marks, where I was again advised to give up my journey by land. They represented the country as very unhealth}^, and liable at that season of the year to be over- flowed ; but having made up my mind before I left Port au Prince, nothing they could say made any impression on me. From St. Marks Barere's friend sent me in his carriasce a few 188 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF miles, and I was sent in carriages or on horseback from one plantation to another, until I reached the Cape. The journey, on account of the excessive heat, was very disagreeable, but not so bad as it had been represented. The planters to whom I had letters behaved with great politeness and attention. My speaking a little French was of much advantage, and a packet from the Chevalier de la Luzerne to the Governor was of service to me. Some of those who saw the packet oftered to send it to the Governor with more expedition than I could take it, but I represented it to be of too much conse- quence to be trusted to any person they could send. My having the packet was owing to my requesting my friend, Gen. Mitflin, to procure a letter of introduction from the Chevalier to the Governor. At the Cape the letter was of service. A person going to any distant place, but particularly to a foreign country, should carry letters of introduction, if he can procure them. They are sometimes of great service ; if you have no occasion for them, they give but little trouble. I found at the Cape the ship discharging her cargo. After settling my business here, and providing a cargo for the ship, I took my passage in a brig bound to Wilmington. We left Cape Francois the 13th of August, 1783, and without any- thing material happening, we arrived off Cape Henlopen the 27th. It was night when the pilot boat came alongside. I inquired what news. Instead of answering the question he desired to know who it was speaking to him. J told him Captain Biddle. " Captain Biddle !" he exclaimed, "I never hear that name without being greatly affected." When he came on board he told me my voice was so much like that of my brother Nicholas, that he was quite astonished when I hailed him, and , if he had not been certain of his loss, he should have supposed it was him who was speaking ; that he had been a master's mate on board the Randolph, and was put on board a prize the day before her loss. He spoke of my brother as one for whom he would have sacrificed his life. The 29th of August I landed at Wilmington, and went up the same day in the -stage to Philadelphia, and the next to Reading, where I found my family all well. CHARLES BIDDLE. 189 Mr. James Collins, with whom I was acquainted while a l^risoner in New York, had come from there, and settled in Philadelphia. During my absence he married Lydia Biddle, daughter of my brother James. He was a genteel man, of a good family, and was strongly recommended to my brother as a very worthy man by Mr. John Maxiield [N^esbit, and several other respectable Irish gentlemen of Philadelphia. Mr. Collins entered into partnership with Captain Thomas Truxtun, under the firm of Collins & Truxtun. They opened a large dry goods store, which they wished me to join them in, but I was always averse to entering into any partnership. Without you can place the utmost confidence in the honor, integrity, and prudence of your partner, your mind must be always uneasy, for it is in the power of a partner to ruin you. It was very fortunate for me that I did not join in this partnership. Being just before the close of the war that they commenced business, they set up a ship to carry twenty guns, and sent for a large quantity of goods. At the peace these goods fell considerabl}', and the ship, which cost them nearly sixteen thousand pounds, sold, I believe, for four thousand, so that they were eoon obliged to stop payment, and, but for the honorable conduct of Captain Truxtun, several of their friends, as well as myself, would have been considerable losers by endorsing their notes. Collins not having the meaiie of doing anything for his creditors, took the benefit of the Bankrupt Law ; but Truxtun would not do this. He went commander of a ship to India, declaring that not one of the endorsers should be a loser by him, and he was as good as his word, paying the endorsers every farthing due from the house. Such conduct will always make a man esteemed and respected, and every one will endeavor to push him forward in the world.^' The practice * Commodore Truxtun, after seeing much service during the war of the llevohition in command of different armed vessels, was, on the re-organiza- tion of the navy, in 1794, commissioned as the fifth captain on the list. "Whilst in command of the Constellation he captured the French frigate L'Insurgente, and in February, 1800, off' Guadaloupe, he had a fierce and bloody night engagement, lasting five hours, with the French frigate 190 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF of endorsing notes was little understood here at this time. Many persons would endorse notes for a thousand pounds for a friend or acquaintance, who would not trust them to the amount of tive pounds in money, supposing the endors- ing a note to be a mere matter of form ; however, the matter of form proved a matter of substance to many who were ruined by it. The directors of the Bank of North America, at this time the only bank in America (without probably intending to do wrong), did a great deal of mischief. If a note was refused being discounted, they would tell the man who oftered the note, go and get such a one, naming some friend or acquaintance, to endorse your note, and it shall be done. By this means many a worthy man was ruined. This fall I received a letter from my old friend Capt. Thos. Allen, who wrote me he Avas just leaving North Carolina for Philadelphia in a fine new ship, to iit her completely, and charter her. He expressed great satisfaction at the pleasure he should have in seeing me, and a wish that we should be settled in the same place ; and that when he saw me he would endeavor to persuade me to return to JSTorth Carolina, but that if he could not, it was probable he should remove his family to Philadelphia. I was in daily expectation of seeing him, when we had an account of his loss, the ship having overset in a heavy squall. A schooner that was about a mile La Vengeance. The two ships were of equal force. The contest ended by the French ship sheering otf, and finally escaping, owing only to tlie loss of the Constellation's mainmast. Truxtun was an excellent seaman and an officer of the highest spirit and courage. In 1802 he left tiie service, owing, as he always maintained, to a misconstruction put upon his letter giving up the command of a squadron to which he was appointed. The Secretary of the Navy insisted (very strangely, considering Truxtun's high reputation) that the letter was a I'esig- nation from the navy. This view prevailed, to Truxtun's great indignation. The Commodore was a good hater, and denounced the Secretary to the day of his death ; in fact, was anxious to hold that gentleman jjersonally resjjonsi- ble, alter the fashion of the day. He was subsequently elected High Sheriff of Philadelphia, and died uni- versally respected in 1822. He is worthily represented in the navy at this day by Captain William T. Truxtun, distinguished in the war of 1861-5. CHARLES BIDDLE. 191 to leeward of her, saw her overset and founder, without being able to afford them any assistance. The whole crew l^erished. It was with great pain I heard of the loss of this worthy man, for whom I had the affection of a brother. I employed myself during the fall and winter in keeping a small store of goods with which I made as much as main- tained my family, but intending to enter more largely into business I thought Philadelphia would answer me better than Reading, and therefore intended in the spring to move there, but some of my friends in Berks wishing me to remain in Reading until the fall, when there was to be an election for a member of the Supreme Executive Council, which they wanted me to be elected to, and as I knew my being a mem- ber of Council would not prevent my entering into business, I agreed to wait until the fall. I had two powerful German competitors : Beltzer Gehr, one of them, had for several years been a member of the Legislature, and also colonel 6f a militia regiment ; the other was the sheriff' of the county, P. Kreemer, whose time as sheriff" expired at the election. The Germans are generally a very honest, industrious people, and if treated with kindness, and you render them any ser- vices, no people are more grateful. This I have had many instances of. If they find any of their neighbors proud and haughty, they will do anything to injure them. There was one descendant of a German, Nicholas Rossious, who went to school with me when I was a small boy, and with whom I had had many severe battles. He was a warm, active, and influential man at the election, and used every means in his power to serve me. I had also another descendant of a German my friend on the ground, Henry Wertz, who had sailed with me. He came to the wharf just as I was putting off" in the Charming Nancy, and inquired if there were 0]"anges where we were going. I told him, " Yes ! plenty," " AVill you take me ?" " Yes, jump on board." He did so, and made the voyage with me. I afterwards found the lad had left his father's wagon and horses in town, and gone off without his knowledge. He came to me some time after we had been at home and begged I would write to his father, and 192 AUTOBIOGEAPHY OF inform him that he had been to sea with me; for, he said, notwithstandino; he carried liim a bao; of orano;es his father would not believe he had been at sea, but supposed he had remained in Philadelphia. At the time of the election he went to the court-house, where the election was held, swore he knew Captain Biddle, that he had "been to sea mid him, and fought mid him many times." During the time this honest fellow was with me we had not a gun on board. Several other Germans were active for me at the time of the election, which show^s they are not so much devoted to their countrymen as has been said. As a sheriif was to be elected, and there were several candidates, we had a large election. I had more votes than both my competitors. The result was not known until l§ite at night, when some of my friends, who had been sitting up, came to inform me of it. With ditiiculty I persuaded them, particularly Col. Lutz, a very stout man, from parading about town with a drum and fife.* I was a good deal aifected, a short time before I left Read- ing, at the fate of a young man who lived near me, of the name of Welsh. He had entered the American army at the commencement of the war, and served during the whole of it. For the first two or three years, being a boy, he was em- ployed as a waiter to Major Scull, a cousin of mine. At the peace, he married and settled at Reading, near which town he was born. Coming home one evening he overtook a lame countrywoman carrying a large bundle. Welsh, who was a good tempered fellow, told her he would carry it for her. She thanked him, and gave it to him. At this time I be- lieve he had no intention of committing a robbery, but find- ing there was a handkerchief with nine dollars in the bundle, * This election was in October, 1 784, John Dickinson being then Presi- dent, and General James Irvine, Vice-President of the Council. By the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776, the executive power was vested in a " Su- preme Executive Council," consisting of members who were elected (but not on a general ticket) by the counties. The members of the Assembly and the members of the Council met together once a year, to choose from the Councillors, by joint ballot, a President and a Vice-President. This system continued until the adoj^tion of the Constitution of 1790. CHARLES BIDDLE. 198 just before they entered the town he, unobserved by her, took them out, and gave her the bundle. When she got to her lodging, she missed the dollars ; and from the description she gave of Welsh, he was suspected and taken up. When before a magistrate, he immediately acknowledged he had taken the money, bnt said he only did it to frighten her, and intended to have called and given it to her, and he returned every dollar. The magistrate sent him to gaol. At his trial, several officers with whom he had served, happened to be in Reading, all of whom appeared in court, and gave him an exceedingly good character. He had able counsel as- signed him, who endeavored to persuade the jury it was only a breach of trust. The charge, however, from Chief Justice Mclvean, was against him, and the jury brought him in guilty, and he was executed. I doubt whether in England a man would have suffered death for such an offence, but the war was just over, and it was expected that many of the soldiers would infest the roads ; otherwise, I believe jioor Welsh would not have suffered. To the honor of the Ameri- can army, I believe this was the only soldier tried for rob- hery. I saw Welsh several times after sentence was passed on him. lie was perfectly resigned to his fate. He said the day before he overtook the woman, from whom he had taken the money, that he had been obliged to sell a sickle to buy a fowl for his wife who was sick ; that he was willing to work, and did work whenever he could get any to do, but it Avas not in his power to maintain a sick wife and himself. I asked him why he had not informed me, or some other gen- tleman in Reading, of his distress. He replied, that as he was a hearty young man, he could not bear the thought of begging assistance, that death was less terrible to him. It would have given pleasure to many in Reading, besides my- self, to have relieved the poor fellow. The morning he died, I went to see him, and found he was out of his dungeon. He was a very handsome young man, clean, and neatly dressed, and ready to proceed. His wife and several of his friends were with him, but there was not one in the room but what was much more affected than Welsh, who was perfectly com- 13 194 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF posed, and behaved with great propriety. The minister who was to attend him went in with me, and was much shocked at seeing that the executioner (a Hessian) had his face blacked, and declared he should not go in that condi- tion. Welsh told the minister that the man's being blacked could not possibly do any injury, and probably would pre- vent his being ill-used by some of his comrades, and there- fore begged he would let him go as he was. He requested to walk to the gallows, which was more tlian a mile from the gaol. Being Chief Burgess* of the borough, I attended, and rode near the prisoner, wlio marched with great firmness. There was an immense crowd,t the people for fifteen or twenty miles around having brought their children to see the execution, thinking it would have a good effect. I should suppose it would rather be an injury to them. The hill near the gallows was covered with men, women, and children. When we drew near, Welsh looked towards the hill, and said to me, "Mr. Biddle, that is a grand sight, but I shall soon see a much more glorious one." He continued to the last moment to behave with the same firmness. A poor M^retch was executed with him, for house-breaking ; but he appeared stupid, and said nothing from the time he was brought out of the dungeon. I left Reading the 20th of October, 1784, for Philadelphia, where I had rented and furnished a house. Several of my friends rode with me to Pottsgrove. I was now entering into a scene of life very different from what I had been ac- customed to, or expected. At the time I took my seat, the celebrated John Dickinson was President of the Supreme Executive Council, and General James Irvine was Vice-Presi- * I -was elected Chief Burgess while in Philadelphia, and contrary to my wish or expectation. Had Welsh been brought before me, after hearing the parties, and giving the woman her money, I should have dismissed him. — Authok's note. t It was said an old woman walked near seventy miles to see this execu- tion. Being fatigued with her walk, a little before the execution she fell asleep and did not wake until it was over, when she cried most bitterly. — Author's note. CHARLES BIDDLE. 195 dent, both of whom I knew, but had no acquaintance with either of them. Mr. Dickinson was an intimate friend of my brother James, who gave me letters to him, and he received me in a very friendly manner. Gen. Irvine had served with my brother Edward, for whose loss he expressed the greatest regret. I found Council nearly divided between what were then called Republicans and Constitutionalists. From the knowledge the Republicans had of my brothers James and Edward, they expected I would join their party, but coming from the county of Berks, most of the inhabitants of which were Constitutionalists, it was expected I would vote with them. But I went into Council with a firm resolution not to suffer any party views to influence my conduct, and this I adhered to. The winter after my election there were a number of appli- cants for the office of Prothonotary for the county of Dauphin, a county just before erected. Among the applicants were Col. Atlee and Capt. Graydon. They were the only two who had any chance of succeeding ; both had served with reputa- tion in the American army, and they both were of the Republican party, who just at that time had a majority in Council. Capt. Graydon and myself hada dispute just before I left Reading, and nothing but the interference of our friends prevented our fighting. At the time he came down to make his application we did not speak, but he brought me a letter from my brother James, who wrote me that I could not render him a more acceptable piece of service than assisting Capt. Graydon to obtain the office. This letter from a brother so dear to me, determined me to use all my interest for Capt. Graydon. I introduced him to the President and all the members of Council in town, with none of whom was he before acquainted. When I introduced him to Mr. Dickin- son he desired, when the election should come on, that I would remind him of Capt. Graydon. Col. Meason, one of the members, mentioned something like it. Both these gentlemen were the intimate and warm friends of Col. Atlee, who the year before had been with them in Council. A few days after this the Republican party, having a majority, 196 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF determined to bring on the election. I was mueli displeased ; however they had a majority, and there was no preventing them. There were at this time thirteen meml)ers, seven Republicans, five Constitutionalists, and myself. The five Constitutionalists had promised me they would vote for Capt. Graydon ; and in fact I knew they would vote for any one set up in opposition to the one proposed by the Republicans. "When the election came on Col. Atlee was in the committee room, having been brought there by his friends, w^ho enter- tained no doubt of his succeeding. The custom then in Council was to set up the candidates, one after the other, and whoever had the greatest number of votes (if a majority of the members present) was the officer. We drew who should be first voted for. The ticket was either yes, or a blank. It happened Atlee was the first voted for; he had seven votes. When Graj^don was voted for I w^ent up to the President, and telling him he had requested me to remind him of Capt. Graydon, said I must therefore beg he would oblige me by putting in a vote for him, and gave him a ticket, which I saw him put in the hat. I then w^ent to Col. Meason and desired he would do the same, which he did. By this means Capt. Graydon had eight votes. The President and Meason were almost distracted when they found Graydon had a majority. They both thought when they gave us their votes for Graydon that it would gratify me and be of no injury to Atlee. After musing for some time Mr. Dickinson said he did not think any appointment good without the approbation of the President. I told him if he did think so, he was the only member who did. Before I left Council I sent for Graydon, had his sureties approved of, and his com- mission made out and signed by the Vice-President. When I afterwards saw Col. Atlee he told me he did not blame me the least, but said he lamented that a brother of Edward Bid- die, whom he loved and esteemed more than any other man that ever lived, should have opposed him. But he never forgave Mr. Dickinson. Indeed it was unpardonable in him. Mr. Dickinson is a very worthy good man, but frequently was persuaded to do what he knew he ought not to do. This CHARLES BIDDLE. 197 affair was reported at the time much against Mr. Dickinson ; it was said I forced him to vote for Graydon, but it happened just as I have related it.* In October, 1785, the time of the President, Mr. Dickin- son, and the Vice-President, General Irvine, expired. It was, therefore, necessary an election should be held among the members of Council to chose a Vice-President until the meeting of the Legislature. I was unanimously elected,t and thus, for a short time, was the Chief Magistrate of Penn- sylvania. It is not from vanity that this is mentioned, but as an uncommon circumstance that a man brought up to the sea, and who, from the misfortune of his father, was left * Of this election, Graydon himself gives the following account:— "In the year 1785, I had the good fortune, through the warm exertions of an inrtuential friend, to obtain an appointment to the prothonotaryship of the Dauphin County Court. By a combination of circumstances working together to my advantage, I obtained, contrary to expectation, the suffrage of the Supreme Executive Council, of which Mr. Dickinson was then Presi- dent. The Republican party possessed a majority in the Council, and Colonel Atlee, who belonged to it, was designated for the office. He was conspicuous as a party man, and, if I mistake not, at the time a member of the Legislature ; and on the score of services and character no one had better claims." . . . . . •. " To keep out Atlee, the Constitutionalists were disposed to give their votes to any one of his competitors. Of course, I had all their strength ; and by adding to it two or three Republican votes, I ac- quired a greater nuniber than any in nomination. As the mode was to vote for the candidates individually, there was no physical, or perhaps, moral im- pediment, to each of them receiving the vote of every member. A promise to one was not broken by also voting for another, unless it was exclusively made. The President had, probably, given a promise to Colonel Atlee, as well as myself; and considering me, perhaps, as too weak to endanger his success, thought he might safely gratify my friend, who pinned him' to the vote, which, on coming to the box, he seemed half inclined to withhold." • • • • "Mr. Dickinson, for his want of decision, as it was called, was bitterly inveighed against by his party ; and the next day at the coffee-house when receiving the congratulations of some of my acquaintances, Mr. Michael Morgan O'Brien, who chanced to be present, and to whom I was then in- troduced, asserted it as a fact, that the President had suffered his hand to be seized and crammed into the box with a ticket for me ; ' but no matter' said he, "you are a clever fellow I am told, and I am glad that you have got the office.' " — Graydon, page 309. t October 10, 1785. 198 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF without a fortune, should so early in life be raised to such a station. In September, this year. Dr. Franklin arrived from France. He was received with great joy by his fellow citizens. All the officers of government, and the different societies in the city, waited upon him, and congratulated him upon his arri- val. In October he was elected a member of the Executive Council for the city. A few days after the election, October 17, 1785, 1 waited on him, and went with him to the meet- ing of Council at the State House. Thinking there was an impropriety in my sitting as President of the Board when the Doctor was a member, I proposed, at the meeting next before the one when he came to the Board, to elect him President, which was agreed to, and he was accordingly chosen. The Doctor, being at this time very much troubled with the stone, seldom attended Council ; nothing, however, of any consequence was done at the Board without consulting him ; and I called on him almost every day to see if he had anything to propose. When the election for President and Vice-President came on in tlie Legislature, some of the leading members of the Republican party, not having found me their thorough-paced devotee, had a meeting for the purpose of preventing my being re-elected, but finding themselves too weak, declined the attempt. Dr. Franklin was elected President, and I was elected Vice-President, almost unanimously.* I believe there were only two votes but what were for me, and but one that was not for the Doctor. My friend, General Mifflin, who was then Speaker of the Plouse, and who counted the votes, was much mortified when he found the election was not unanimous, particularly on account of Dr. Franklin. He was rising to say something on the subject, but sitting near him, and judging his intention, I stopped him. I walked with the Doctor to the old Court House, where we were proclaimed ; from thence we went back to the State * October 29, 1785. CHARLES BIDDLE. 199 House, where we had to wait until the members of the Council, and the House of Representatives congratulated us upon our election. It was a severe business for the Doctor, who told me that day the stone gave him uncommon pain. He, however, was very cheerful, and, in fact, I hardly ever knew him otherwise. The streets were much crowded from many people in the city having never seen the Doctor. As we passed the door where Baron Steuben stood, he pulled off his hat, which the Doctor thought was very improper to a person walking in a procession. I believe the remark was occasioned by his feeling some pain in taking his arm from mine to pull off his hat. He was very much rejoiced when he reached his own house. In the spring of 1786 a young woman was condemned at Chester for the murder of her bastard children. Her name was Elizabeth Wilson, and she was of a respectable family in Chester County. Her brother, William Wilson, came 'with a petition to Council for a respite. He was a sensible young- man, and of a very good character. He declared, when he handed me the petition, that he would not have interested himself for her, if he thought her guilty of the murder ; that when she was first condemned he believed she was, and there- fore Avould not go near her ; but he was now convinced she was innocent, and he had no doubt but that the story she told him was true. She said one D , Sheriff of Sussex County, ;N"ew Jersey, visited her when she lived in Philadelphia, that under a promise of marriage he seduced her, and was the father of the twins for the murder of whom she was con- demned ; that when the children were six weeks old he came to see her at the house she boarded at in Chester County, per- suaded her to take a walk with him, saying he intended to put the children out to nurse ; that when they got into the woods, lie took them from her and laying them on the ground, the in- Imman monster put his feet on their breasts, and crushed them to death. He then threatened to murder her if ever she mentioned a word about what he had done, bid her go home, and tell the people she lodged with that he had taken the children to Jersey to nurse, which the dread she was 200 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF under of his murdering her, made her comply with ; that she would, at the expense of her life, have endeavored to save the children, but that she had no suspicion of his diabolical in- tention until it was too late to save them. The bodies of the children were found a few days afterwards by some dogs, which led to the discovery of the murder. Council immedi- ately upon the petition being read, agreed to a respite for thirty days, and young Wilson set off the same day for Jersey. He there found the Sheriff, who declared he never knew his sister, and said he had not been in Philadelphia for two years. Wilson after making some inquiries, rode back to his sister, and getting further information from her, went again into Jersey. He found a person who coufld prove D had been in Philadelphia and lodged in the house with her, and was in expectation of obtaining further proof against him, when he was taken sick in Jersey. Finding the time draw near, sick as he was, he set off for home in order to get a further respite. It was late in the morning when he reached Chester, when to his great surprise he was told that the time granted her was out that day (he thought it was not until the next) and that the Sheriff was preparing for her execution. He was very unwell, having suffered much both in body and mind ; he, however, galloped to Philadelphia as fast as it was possible, and unfor- tunately went to the President's where, notwithstanding all his entreaties, it was some time before he could get to see him, and when he did, he staid endeavoring to persuade the Doctor to give him a line to the Sheriff, which the Doctor, thinking it improper, refused, and directed him to me, I was just leaving the Council chamber when he came, all the members but myself having gone. I immediately wrote, " Do not ex- ecute Wilson until you hear further from Council," and di- rected it to the Sheriff. I well knew the Board intended to grant a further respite, but had it been a doubt with me, I should have written to defer the execution, for putting it off a day could be of no consequence. Wilson setoff the instant I gave him the paper, carrying it in his hand. He rode down in an hour and a quarter, a distance of fifteen miles, and the road at that time excessively bad. His sister had been turned CHARLES BIDDLE. 201 off about ten minutes. What a dreadful sight for an affec- tionate brother! They imnaediately cut her down, but although every means were used they could not restore her to life. She persisted in the same storj' to the last moment of her life, which she resigned with great fortitude, being perfectly calm and composed. The only thing she seemed to regret was the trouble she had given her poor, sick brother, and the pain he must suffer on her account. Just before the cart drove away she looked attentively towards Philadelphia to see if her brother was in sight. For my own part, I firmly believed her innocent, for to me it appeared highl}^ improb- able that a mother, after suckling her children for six weeks, could murder them. The next day when Council met, and we heard of the execution, it gave uneasiness to many of the members, all of whom were against her being executed, at least until her brother had had full time to make his inquiries, and I am sure, if he had not been successful, there was a large majority would have been for pardoning her. It is strange, considering the chances this unfortunate girl had, that her life was not saved. It was extraordinary that none of the members of Council, the Secretary, nor his deputy, should have recollected that the time granted was expired ; that her- self, the clergyman who attended her, nor none of her family or fi'iends, should have applied before, or that the Sheriff, who was a very 'good man, should not have called or sent to Council before he executed her, and lastly that her brother, who knew Council were sitting at the State House, should pass them, and go to the President. Had he stopped at the State House, she would have been saved. He supposed, if he stopped at Council, there would be some time taken up in debate, and that the President would immediately have given him a letter to the Sheriff. I understood afterwards that he soon followed his sister to her g-rave.* o * A full detail of the unhappy event will be found in a tract entitled, " A Faithful Narrative of Elizabeth Wilson, who was executed at Cliester, January 3, 1 786, charged with the murder of her twin infants. Philadel- phia: Printed for the purchaser, 1807." 8vo. pp. 23. A rude wood-cut of the final scene ornaments the title page ; a troop of light horse surrounds 202 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF Perhaps the punishment of death is too great for an un- married woman who destroys her child. They are generally led to it from a fear of being exposed. It is, to be sure, a shocking crime. If confinement for life, or for a term of years, at the discretion of the court, was the punishment, more would be convicted, and it would tend to put a stop to the crime. "While death is the punishment, a jury will sel- dom find a verdict against them. If death is the punishment of the mother, what punishment is too severe for the villain who seduces, and afterwards abandons the wretched mother. I never was present but at one trial for this crime. It was at Reading. The daughter of a wealthy farmer was tried for the murder of her child. My brother James was employed as her counsel. It appeared perfectly clear from the evidence, that she hove the child into the Schuylkill soon after it was born ; but there was one circumstance which had great in- fluence with, the jury, and made them doubt the evidence that was given against her. It was, that when the constable broke open her trunk, after she was confined, he found a quantity of ready made clothes for an infant. This induced the jury to believe she did not destroy her child, or made them doubt it, and they acquitted her. Council were nearly equal at this time, with respect to par- ties. The Republican members were : Messrs. JSTeville, Hill, Muhlenberg, Ross, Willing, Boyd, and Elliott. The Consti- tutionalists were: Messrs. McLene, "Whitehill, Smilie, Find- ley, Watts, Smith, Dean, Hoge, and Martin. The distinction was, that the Republicans wanted an alteration in the Consti- tution. They wished to have a House of Representatives the gibbet ; and hard by is an open coffin and the corpse of her cliikh-en. The wretch for whose crimes she suffered called himself Josepli Deshong, and first met her at the Cross- Keys tavern, in Chesnut Street, Philadelphia, where she then lodged. The murder was committed in East Bradford Town- ship, Chester County. Her trial came off on the 17th October, 1785, before Judge Atlee ; the respite did not reach the ground till twenty-three minutes after she was turned off. There is no doubt that the poor girl was innocent. A copy of this rare pamphlet was in the possession of the late Mr. Winthrop Sargent. CHARLES BIDDLE. 203 and a Senate. The other party thought no alteration neces- sary. My brother Edward, when living, was at the head of the Republican party. Much could be said on both sides. If a single branch sometimes does wrong, they are (where there are two branches) often retarded in their business, and sometimes prevented from doing right. I believe, however, that, upon the whole, it is better to have two branches. We had frequent and violent disputes between these mem- bers upon political subjects, but they were of little conse- quence then, and can be of none now. The best informed man of either party, and the readiest at business, was Mr. Hoge, but he was so diffident a man, that if we had a full Ccmncil, he could never rise to make a motion, or even to second one. He was a worthy, valuable man. McLene, Whitehill, Smilie, and Findley are all sensible men; they would not be the least embarrassed in speaking before any assembly whatever. Smilie and Findley are natives of -Ire- land, the former was. brought up a house carpenter ; the lat- ter a weaver. They are both men of talents, and if they had received a good education would have made .a figure in any legislative body. McLene and Whitehill are Pennsylvanians. These four had been leading members of the State Legislature. They are all now, May, 1803, living. Whitehill is one of the Associate Judges for Lancaster County. He, as well as Smilie and Findfey, were elected to Congress. McLene has retired from public business. When I first took my seat in Council, not having been acquainted with any people from the Western country, I thought from their conversation that McLene, Boyd, Smith, and Whitehill were Irishmen. It was some time after I had been in Council, that I found they were not. Talking one day with Smith (who had as much of the brogue and look of an Irishman, as any one that ever came from Tippe- rary) about being at sea, he told me he never was at sea in his life. "And how, my honey," says Dean, who was sitting by me, and who also thought him from Ireland, "did you get to Philadelphia?" "Why I rode here." " And, arrah, honey ! did you ride here all the way from Ireland ? I never 204 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF heard of a bridge between the two countries." "Devil a bit of me," says Smith, "was ever out of Pennsylvania." And this I found was true, and that McLean, Whitehall, and Boyd were all born in Pennsylvania. People who live in an Irish settlement, or who are much with the Irish, generally affect the brogue. When I sailed from Philadelphia, in the ship Lark, my second mate and most of the crew were Irish- men ; on my return, I had as much of it as any of the crew. Landing at Newcastle, while dining with several gentlemen from Philadelphia, one of them asked me if I was not born in Philadelphia. Upon my answering in the affirmative, a man who was sitting in a corner of the room, started up and ex- claimed in a great rage, " By J -^ I hate a fellow that de- nies his country." I felt angrj'- at first, but looking at the man, and seeing he was old and feeble, I was disarmed of all resentment, and could not refrain from laughing heartily, in which I was joined by all the company, except the old man, who was much displeased with our mirth. He looked at me with rage and contempt. However, I soon pleased him by speaking favorably of the Irish, and drinking prosperity to Ireland, we became good friends. John Boyd, one of our Senators, commanded a company on the frontiers, and was an excellent partisan officer. During the war he was wounded and taken prisoner by the Indians. Having killed a number of them before he was taken, they were determined to burn him. For this purpose he was stripped naked and tied to a stake, and expected every moment to suffer death, when he was released by the inter- cession of one of the squaws who had had her husband killed in the engagement with Boyd. His life was probably saved in consequence of his being a stout, well-made man. Dean was from Bucks County. It was said he obtained a seat in Council by telling some of the men who make them- selves busy at elections, that he would get them appointed officers.* He had been an officer, and a braver never went * A gentleman ■who was unpopular in Berks County, got into the Legis- lature by laying boots, hats, and clothes, with some of the leading men at the election, that he would not be elected. — Author's note. CHARLES BIDDLE. 205 into a field of battle. He is a man of a great deal of humor, and has many good qualities, but is too fond of taverns and keeping improper company. While in Council he had a dis- pute with a Dr. Linn, who said Dean had promised him his vote for some oiRce, and afterwards voted against him. This by an ofiicious friend was told Dean, who swore he would get a cowskin and whip him until he drove all the molasses* he had in him out. The Doctor hearing of this, challenged Dean. The first notice I had of the aftair was Dean's calling on me for my pistols. Upon hearing what the dispute was about, I told him it was a foolish thing to fight about, and it should be made up. He told me it was in vain to preach to him, for fight him he would. They accordingly went into Jer- sey in the morning. By agreement they were to stand at the distance of ten paces from each other, and fire at the word of command, " make ready, present, fire." This they did the first time at the same instant, without eftect. The second time, at the word "present," the Doctor fired. The ball would have killed Dean, having struck him on the groin, if it had not been that he had on a pair of leather breeches, with a thick band. It just penetrated the band, and made a black mark in his groin. Dean supposed himself to be mor- tally w^ounded, and although naturally cool as brave, being extremely exasperated, he fired, and then threw his pistol at the Doctor, both ^vhich missing, he went up, and before the seconds could prevent him, knocked the Doctor down w^ith his fist. Captain Symonds, the friend of the Doctor, declared he had behaved shamefully, and refused to cross the river in the boat with him. I believe, how^ever, what the Doctor said was true, that the pistol went oft' by accident. He acknowledged Dean had never made him any promise. About this time an Indian of the name of Mamachtaguin was tried, condemned, and executed for the murder of John Smith and Benjamin Jones. This poor fellow could not be persuaded to plead not guilty. Notwithstanding all his counsel could say, he persisted in declaring he had killed the * The Doctor was a native of New England. — Authou's notk. 206 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF men, that it was mm made him do it. I believe the Indians who do not associate with the whites seldom or never tell an untruth. A short time before the execution of this Indian a wretch of the name of John McDonald was executed. It appeared that he was left to take care of the house of one Krayman, a farmer of Bucks County. The evening Ivray- man left home, the villain got into the chamber of Mrs. Krayman, and attempted to get into her bed. Finding she resisted him the inhuman monster murdered her with a hatchet he had taken upstairs with him. He then killed her infant son, set fire to the house, and made off. Upon appli- cation to Council a proclamation was issued, offering a reward for apprehending him. He was a remarkable man, being not more than five feet four inches high, and very stoutly made. A few days after the proclamation was out, going down Market Street, I saw a man sitting upon one of the stalls who appeared to answer exactly the description given of McDonald. I immediately went up to him, and putting some questions to him, I had no doubt in my own mind, but that he was the man who had committed the murder. I obliged him to stay at a friend's house until I sent for the description given of McDonald by the unfortunate husband. He answered the description as to size, age, country, and in every other particular, except his hair, which was of a different color. The fellow was so much confused when examined, and so rejoiced at getting clear, that I strongly suspected he too had been guilty of some crime, for which he was afraid he should be confined. The real McDonald died game, as it is called by such wretches, that is, like a hardened villain. A gentleman present when he was led pinioned and put in the cart for exe- cution, observed he believed he had seen him before, wheeling oysters about the streets of Philadelphia. " Yes," says he, " you may have seen me before, wheeling oysters, and if you will wait until Jack Ketch has done with me, I'll turn round, that you may see me behind and know me better at our next meeting." For many years there had been disputes between the States of Pennsylvania and Connecticut respecting their boundaries, CHARLES BIDDLE. 207 and a good many people lost their lives in consequence of those disputes. Commissioners were appointed by Congress in pursuance of an Article of the Confederation, who sat at Tren- ton, in 1782, and after a long hearing gave a decree in favor of Pennsylvania. In order to give the citizens of Pennsylvania quiet possession of their lands, the Legislature passed an act for raising two companies of infantry. The command of these men was given to Col. James Moore. Shortly before the time for which they were enlisted expired, they marched a number of the Connecticut families (said by Col. Moore to be very turbulent) out of the settlement, and a few were sent to Easton gaol.* These people complained of being treated with great barbarity. Fvom my knowledge of Col. Moore I do not believe he would have suffered them to be treated with cruelty. When the troops were disbanded, the Connecticut people returned to their former habitations, and fresh dis- turbances soon ensued. Upon complaint being made to' the Executive Council, some militia were ordered out from Berks and i^Torthampton. Gen. John Armstrong,t the Secretary to Council, was appointed to command them. After remainino- some time in the county, finding the settlers fled as he advanced, and that he could not bring them to action, he entered into' a treaty with them and they delivered, up their arms. In September, 1786, a new county was erected called Luzerne, in whidi county most of the lands in dispute lay. Colonel Pickering, since Secretary of State, applied to be Prothonotary of the county, and was appointed. It was expected, as he was a native of New England, and a man of great respectability, that he would be able to keep the settle- ment quiet, and that those who held under Pennsylvania would have peaceable possession of their lands ; this, how- ever, Avas not the case. The Connecticut people drove ofl:" the commissioner sent by the Executive of the State to * At the trial of one of these people at Easton, he said he was in a tavern at Wilkes-Barre, when Capt. Ball, who commanded one of the companies under Moore, came in and called out, "Where is that damned rascal, S. Y ?" "And I immediately answered and said, here am I." — Author's NOTE. t Afterwards Secretary of War under President Madison. 208 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF endeavor to settle their disputes, and soon after obliged him to leave the settlement, treating him with every mark of indignity. About this time John Franklin, who was con- sidered the principal leader in all these disturbances, wrote to Council that if he could appear before the Board in safety, he would come down and state the injustice that was done to the Connecticut settlers by the commissioner and others sent amongst them. Council were surprised at receiving this letter ; however, it was immediately agreed he should have a pass to come down and be heard. One was accord- ingly sent him, and in a few days he came to town. He took up his lodgings opposite the State House, and sent word he was in town, and wished to know when he should wait upon Council. He was immediately informed the Board were ready to hear him. He soon appeared. He was a very stout man, then in the prime of life, being about forty-five years of age (he is now, 1804, a member of the Legislature for Luzerne), and had the look of a soldier. ,He was accom- panied by John Jenkins, another leading man among the Connecticut settlers. He said he had come down to answer any charges that could be made against the Connecticut settlers, and expected he could convince the Board they had been treated with injustice and cruelty. As Dr. Franklin was not present, I told him he had requested a pass to come and inform the Board of their reasons for being dissatisfied with the treatment they had received from the Pennsylva- nians; that we would now hear him, and, if they had any real complaints, endeavor to redress them. He said he expected first to hear the complaints against them ; however, he was ready to state theirs. He took up the business from the Decree of Trenton, and gave a particular account of every material transaction that happened in the settlement from that time. He said Colonel Moore and his troops had behaved exceedingly ill to the Connecticut claimants, but General Armstrong* had behaved much worse, that finding * Gen. Armstrong, as Secretary, was present during the time Frankhn was speaking. It w^as with some diffleulty I coukl prevent him from inter- rupting him. He told me afterward there was some truth in what he had CHARLES BIDDLE. 209 he could do nothing with the militia he had with" him he offered the settlers, that if they would deliver up their arms they should all be suffered to return to their homes, and not be molested in any way whatever, and should have a fair and candid hearing, and if they had any real cause of com- plaint, they should be redressed; that being extremely anxious to return home, and live quiet and peaceable with their families, they agreed, and did surrender their arms Immediately after they had delivered up their arms they were ordered into an old barn where there was no floor, and although It was covered with mud and tilth, they were obliged to he down in it, and the sentinels had orders to fire on any one that attempted to raise his head. Some of those coniined m this manner were old men, one of them upwards of seventy years of age. A number of them were after- wards marched to Easton gaol. He related many othei; cir- cumstances of ill treatment they had received. Council informed him they would take the matter into consideration and desired him and Jenkins to retire. Franklin, findina' little encouragement, soon left the city. He was afterwards a very active man against the Pennsylvania landholders. In this year there were two men executed in Franklin County, and although there were never any that deserved the gallows more than these men, there were petitions signed by most of the i)eopIe in the county for a pardon. One of them was an old man, Josiah Ramage. He had been married to the woman he murdered seven and thirty years. Upon some dispute with her, he beat her in a shocking manner, hove said but he l>ad mentioned several things that were false. Armstronjr ,7us on of H "''"'"» "T "'^""'^ '° *'" «^«^^^ ^"^ -Idiers at the con noT Kl , ! "'r " '^'"^'"^ '"' "^^^^^^ '^'''' ^« h^d written, which were not pubhshed. Armstrong has very superior talents, but they are almost useless, he js so extremely indolent. Smilie, speakin. in the House o" Representatives of his expedition into Luzerne, compared him to Verres The next morning, when I went to the State House, I found Armstrong walkmg before the door of the room in which the Representatives sat. In! qumng what he was doing there, he told me he was waiting to see Smil I presuaded h„n away, and afterwards had the afikir made up. He by no means deserved a comparison with Verres.-AuTHOR's note 14 210 AUTOUIOGRAPHY OF her on the floor, and while she lay there senseless, he got upon a table, and jumped upon her breast, which put a period to her life. The other, John Ilanna, was a young man who had been from Ireland six months. He was beating a boy about thirteen years of age, when the father of the boy came up, took him away, and gave Hanna a kick. Hanna went to the place where he had been working, got an iron bar with which he had been at work, and while the father of the boy was standing at his own door, he came behind him and struck him on the head with the bar, which instantly killed him. Soon after their condemnation, it was debated at the Board whether a warrant should issue for their exe- (;ution. Dr. Franklin not being in Councii, the question was put by me. There were then eight members present; of these. Gen. Muhlenberg and ]Mr. George Ross, of Lancaster, would never vote for the execution of any criminal. Two other members joined them, so that it remained with me to say whether they should be executed or not. Thmkmg it would be an act of injustice to let such wretches loose upon society, I should have voted without hesitation for their exe- cution,'but a motion for postponement was made and carried. A warrant soon after issued for their execution. An acquaintance of mine told me some time afterwards, that he had them buried in his orchard ; that before this he had his orchard frequently robbed, but no robbery was committed after he had these sentinels. It is an easv matter to get a petition signed for a pardon, or an office. Many people do not like to refuse, and will put their names to a petition, although they know it is improper. A sheriff of my acquaintance, who was frequently called on to sign a recommendation to the Governor, by people who had served him at his election, and whom he could not refuse, waited on the Governor, and told him the circumstance, beg- ging he would pay no regard to any recommendation he should sign ; that if he wished to promote the interest of any of those he recommended, he would write a personal applica- tion I called once on a friend of mine, who signed a petition to Council in favor of a person of bad character, who wanted CHARLES BIDDLE. 211 to be a notary public, and asked him how he could put his name to a petition in favor of such a rascal. Laughing he declared he had signed it in such a manner that he thought no person could have supposed it to be him who had signed it. At this time there was an application from mj okf friend and schoolmate, Mr. Mathias Aspden, who had gone off with the British, for a pardon. It gave me great pleasure to have an opportunity of serving this worthy man. I sent him a pardon, January 19, 1786, and he soon came to Philadelphia. Alter he had been here a short time, he called on a o-entle- nian of the law to know if, by the treaty of peace, he was secure from arrest. The gentleman not knowing, and Mr Aspden not telling him, that he had a pardon from the Execu- tive Council, told him that he did not think he was. As soon as he got this opinion, without seeing any of his friends he immediately set off for New York, and embarked on board a packet, then ready to sail for England, where he now IS, 1804. As he had ever been my friend, I was much con- cerned at his unfortunate situation. Just after the peace he had written me an affectionate letter, inquiring how the war \md left me, and offering his services, and sent me a coffee- pot to keep m remembrance of him. He lives very retired 111 London. I had at this time an opportunity of serving another of my old friends, Mr. P. Bond. Mrs. Bond, his mother, applied to me to present a petition to Council, to obtain a pardon for her son. Some intimate friends of the family were then in Council, but they did not choose to interfere, as it was then thought unpopular. As that was never a consideration with ine_ when my friends wanted my services, I presented the petition, and the pardon was immediately granted and sent to liim. boon after Mr. Bond came out as British Consul _ At the election in October, 1786, the Republican party be- mg strengthened, fresh opposition to my being elected Vice- Bresident was encouraged by most of them, and much pains and caballing exerted to carry their point. But a few of the most independent, considering it as a most umvarrantable attack, and the Constitutional party, although I had remained 212 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF as unconnected with the one as the other, generously giving their suffrages in my support, the design failed. The Repub- licans had agreed upon Gen. Muhlenberg as their candidate, expecting, a^ he was descended from a German family, he would have the votes of all the Germans in the House. In this however, they were mistaken. I believe there was not a German in either Council or House of Representatives that did not vote for me. The evening before the election, the Con- stitutionalists had a meeting, and agreed to have their tickets printed, and a sprig of laurel on them. By this means I found that several of the Republican party, who declared they had voted for me, could not have done so. One member from Berks County was particularly anxious that I should believe he voted for me, and called on me to assure me that he had. As I appeared to doubt it, and told him it was ot no consequence whether he had or not, he asked me if I did not suppose he had. I told him there were but lew ot the Republicans who did vote for me, and my opinion was that he had not. And this was the opinion in Berks, lor he never was ao-ain elected. He never was popular in the county, and obtained a seat in the Legislature by betting with some ol the most active men that busy themselves at election that he would not be in the Assembly. Having a dispute with the same person when I was put up in the county for Councillor, he declared to my brother James that he was as much my friend as any man in the county, and would do anything m his power to serve me. I desired my brother never to men- tion it to any other person, for if it was known that C was my friend, it would injure me with the good people ol Berks. i i t? k One of the principal complaints against me by the Repub- lican party was procuring the appointment of Mr. Tench Coxe as one of the commercial commissioners, and much was said against his political conduct, but he was chosen by the merchants of the city one of their committee, as he was known to be well qualified for this business. The fact was he had offended the directors of the Bank of North America CHARLES BIDDLE. 218 (then the onlj^ bank on the continent), and they and their friends made a .2:reat clamor against him.* The 17th of March, 1787, I'^dined at the City Tavern with the " Friendly Sons of St. Patrick." Returning home in the evening, I stepped into a hole and sprained my ankle so badly that for several days I could not go out of the house, and when I did, was obliged to use crutches. A Good Friday, in coming from Council, I was stopped on the State House steps by some person who had business at the Board of Property, where I was then going. Turning from him, in a hurry to be gone, I put my crutch on the edge of the step, when it slipped oiF, and I fell with great violence. My right leg was drawn up so that the first part that struck the pavement was my knee, the pan of which was split, and the leg much injured. I was carried immediately over to Kapal's, a small tavern opposite the State House, and surgeons sent for. .My own opinion was, that it would be necessary to amputate my leg. I was therefore very anxious to get home. I had Dr. Franklin's sedan chair brought, and was placed in it before any surgeon came. This was the most uneasy way I could have been carried home, for I was obliged to let my leg hang down, by which means, during the whole of the way (which was upwards of a mile, as I then lived in the iNTorthern Liberties) I suffered the most excruciating pain. I should have suffered much less had I been carried by persons used to a sedan chair, but the men who attended Dr. Franklin not being present, my friends were obliged to get some invalid soldiers who then did duty at the State House. Their lame- ness made these poor fellows give me more pain than they * Mr. Tench Coxe, the great-grandson of Dr. Daniel Coxe, of London (the proprietor of the Government of West Jersey), was the first and ablest politico-economical writer of this country. He was a member of the An- napolis Federal Convention, which led to the formation of our present Con- stitution, a member of the Continental Congress, and Assistant Secretary of the Treasury under Alexander Hamilton. The prodigious expansion of the cotton culture in this country is more due to the early and persistent exertions of Mr. Coxe than to those of any other man in America. See Simpson's Eminent Philadelphians. 214 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF otherwise would have done. I should have been carried home on a sofa, or in a cot. I sent one of my friends home to prepare Mrs. Biddle for my reception. Drs. Kuhn, Jones, and Hutchinson soon attended. The latter was the family physician, and to his skill and care I impute my recovery without the loss of my leg. My small clothes were cut off, and I was informed by the surgeons that I must keep my leg perfectly still, otherwise I should never have the use of it, as the least motion would prevent the pan from knitting. Although I had enough to make me feel uneasy at my situa- tion, having a large family dependent on my exertions, yet as I always considered it a duty to submit with fortitude to everything^ unavoidable, I sustained the accident without re- pining, and never suffered myself to be depressed by it. The day after the accident I wrote a letter to Council re- signing my office of Vice-President, and sent it to one of the members. He would not deliver it, but called upon me and begged I would not think of resigning, as the members would with pleasure call on me when anything particular was to be done. If he had not mentioned this I should have resigned. It would have been extremely disagreeable to me to have held any appointment the duties of which I could not perform. About a week after the accident, one of my seafaring acquaintances called on me a good deal intoxicated. I lay down stairs and it happened there was no person in the room when he entered. He came staggering up to the bedside, telling me he was very sorry for me, but, says he, " Messmate, you must not mind it ; and as your leg must be cut off sooner or later, why let them chop it off' at once." I was under great apprehension he would have fallen on mj' leg. As I could not stir, and had nothing within my reach to keep him off, I was thrown into a profuse sweat. Fortunately a servant soon came in and took him out. I should not have regarded what this man said about chojijiivg off my leg^ but I supposed he had heard the surgeons mention that it would be necessary. The next day when Dr. Jones attended, I requested he would candidly inform me whether he thought there would be a necessity of amputating my leg. He told me CHARLES BIDDLB. 215 nothing of that kind was to be apprehended. Dr. Hutchin- son coming in soon after, I put the same question to him and received the same answer. This greatly relieved me, for as my leg was uncommonly swelled, I thought it probable I should lose it. I then inquired of fhe doctors what would be the quickest method to bring a perspiration on one in my situation. After they had mentioned what they thought would be the soonest, I informed them of the visit from Mr. , his behavior, and the effect it had on me. They laughed, and acknowledged that was a way they had never thought of. As Dr. Franklin was unwell the Executiv^e Council attended at my house, and, as I could write, the business of the Council went on as usual. I lay for three weeks without moving my leg from the position it was placed in, and nothing but the declaration of the doctors, that it was absolutely necessary I should be moved, and their rousing me by inquiring if I was afraid to move, induced me to consent to it. A bed and bedstead were put at the end of the one I was in, and they shoved me gently from one bed to the other. Although it gave me little or no pain, the being stirred after lying so long in one position was extremely disagreeable. When I was so far recovered as to sit up, and it was ascertained 1 should have the use of my leg, among others I had thfe honor of a visit from Mr. Gardoqui, the Spanish Charge d'Atfaires, who told me, " If your consti- tution was not a very good one, and, let me add, your dis- position also, you Avould never have recovered the use of your leg." I believe he was right so far as regarded my constitution, whatever he may have been as to my disposi- tion. The evening of the day the accident happened they gave me laudanum, which was the first I had ever taken. Instead of composing it made me very restless. I refused to take any afterwards. The nineteenth of May, this year, an application was made' by Mr. Otto, Charge d'Atfaires for France, for delivering up de Brassines, charged with malversation in his office. He was delivered up to be sent to France. 216 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF It was the 31st of May before I left my house to attend Council, nor should then have done it, but that there was some business to come before the Board relating to a ship belonging to Messrs. Thomas & John Clifford and Mr. Richard "Wells, seized for smuggling, and Dr. Franklin wished me to be present. It was said by the owners that the goods smuggled were the property of the officers of the ship, and taken on shore entirely unknown to them. This was pro- bably the case ; she was, however, condemned and sold. The comptroller, Nicholson, and the collector, Dr. Phile, gave offence to many of the citizens by putting on board the ship a guard of Invalids, instead of employing the civil officers. These old soldiers, being accustomed to an implicit obedience to their officers, and being told they must not let any one come on board, threatened to drive their bayonets into the captain and owners if they attempted to come on board. It was in vain their telling them they only wanted to go into the cabin where one of them could go with them.* The guard was removed by Council. It was at the request of Dr. Franklin that I attended, and he was in Council himself. I went in a carriage into which they were obliged to lift me, and to walk the horses. I had in the carriage with me Captain William Craig, brother to my late unfortu- nate friend, Charles Craig. He was a very stout young man, and could carry me with ease in his arms. Poor William soon after fell a sacrifice to his intemperance. He was the person who sat up with me the first night after I had broken my knee. When we were in the carriage, he told me that I started in the night in such a manner, and talked so wildly, that he was very much afraid I should not live to see day- lio-ht. Poor fellow ! I have lived to see him buried. I imputed my starting and talking to the laudanum they had * About this time some, prisoners attempted to make their escape, and these invalids were sent for to suppress them, which they soon did with their bayonets. When they returned, they swore that if the disturbance had been among the debtors they would not have used their bayonets. I believe few of these honest fellows knew, and none of them cared, whether the}' -were debtors or criminals, until after they returned. — Author's note. CHARLES BIDDLE. 217 given to corn-pose me. After this day I generally attended Council, being in a few days so well as to go with crutches, which I continued to use for a considerable time. Returning the latter end of June from the Board on my crutches, I met Dr. Jones, who had not seen me for some time. He expressed his surprise at my still being on crutches, and declared he would take them from me in the street, if he could do it. He told me to use myself a little while without them, and I should find there was no occasion for them. At first leaving them off I was like a child learning to walk, catching at anything near me. I was soon able to go with a stick ; my knee gave me no pain, but was weak, as it still is, and ever must be to the end of the chapter. IsTo person could tell, six months after the accident, by my walking, that I had ever received any injury. This year, 1787, the Convention for forming a Fe(Jeral Constitution met in Philadelphia; I was acquainted with most of the members. Some of the best informed told me, they did not believe a single member was perfectly satisfied with the Constitution, but they believed it was the best they could ever agree upon, and that it was infinitely better to have such a one than to break up without fixing on some form of government, which I believe at one time it was expected they would have dong. For my own part I have no doubt it is the best in the world, and as perfect as any human form of government can be. We had in the Convention many of the best and wisest men in this or any other country. There were some disturbances this year in the Legislature about calling a Convention for the ratification of the" Federal Constitution. A motion was made for that purpose the 28th of September. After some debate the further consideration was postponed until the next day. The following day nine- teen members opposed to the measure staid from the House, by which means a quorum could not be made. The reason they gave for staying away, was that the business did not come regularly before them. The Sergeant at Arras was sent for them. When he returned he informed the Speaker and other members present, that he had seen the absent mem- 218 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF bers at the house of Alexander Boyd, that he informed tliem he was directed by the Speaker and other members to request their attendance. Mr. Robert Whitehill, one of the leading- members, replied that there was no house, that they had not made up their minds, and therefore would not attend. The day after (the 29th) those members not attending, the Ser- geant at Arms and clerk were sent after them. They saw most of the members, but they refused to attend. It is men- tioned in the Journals of the House that Mr. McCalmont and Mr. Mi ley appeared, by which means a quorum was made. The fact is, some gentlemen went to Boyd's, where most of the absent members lodged, and there found McCalmont and Miley, and finding they could not persuade them, forced them to the House, by which means they had a quorum, and the resolution calling a Convention was adopted.* Upon a memorial being presented to Council from the members * This well-known incident occasioned a serio-comic debate in the As- sembly. "The Speaker left the chair, and in a few minutes Mr. James McCal- mont and Mr James Miley entered the House. The Speaker resumed* the chair, and the roll was called. ... "Mr. McCalmont informed the House that .he had been forcibly brought into the Assembly room contrary to his wishes, this morning, by a number of the citizens whom he did not know, and that, therefore, he begged he might be dismissed the House." After some discussion : — " Mr. McCalmont : ' I desire that the rules may be read, and I will agree to stand by the rules of the House.' " The rules were read accordingly, and it appeared that every member who did not answer on calling the roll, should pay two shillings and sixpence, or, if there was not a (piorum without him, five shillings. "Mr. McCalmont then rose from his place, and, putting his hand in his pocket, took out some loose silver, and said, ' Well, sir, here is your five shillings ; so let me go.' " This proffer being refused, the discussion was resumed. After a time : "Mr. McCalmont now rose and made towards the door. Mr. Fitz- simmons addressed him, but so as not to be heard — and the gallery called out stop him, there being a number of citizens at the door he went toward.''^ The two unwilling legislators being thus forced to remain, the Assembly was able to order a Convention to consider the proposed Federal Constitu- tion, and immediately adjourned sine die. See Lloyd's Reports. CHARLES BIDDLE. 219 who had been dragged before the House, complaining of the conduct of those who had forced them there, and requesting they should be prosecuted, an order was given to the Attor- nej^ General to issue writs against them. Some of the gen- tlemen ordered to be prosecuted were ray intimate friends, and they expected that I would not vote for this measure, but would oppose it. Although it was a very disagreeable busi- ness to me, I conceived it to be my duty, and therefore voted for it. I dined in company with one of them the day the res. olution passed Council ; he was displeased at first, but was soon satisfied it was right. Some of my friends who knew how I should vote, wished me to stay from the Board that day, but I despised this way of getting oft' doing what, although disagreeable, it was my duty to do. The dragging McCalmont and Miley to the House, and some gross insults oftered in the ISTovember following to the members at Boyd's, who were most of them those who' had left the Legislature in September, was one principal reason of the removal of the seat of government from Philadelphia (although it happened long after), many of the country mem- bers declaring they could not speak their sentiments, or give their votes freely without . risking their being insulted. From this time until they eftected their purpose, they were continually attempting to remove from the city. Unfortu- nately, many of the principal people in the city looked upon and treated the Western members with groat contempt. It was therefore natural for them to resent such treatment; they considered the inhabitants of the city as their enemies, who only wanted an opportunity to injure them, and were deter- mined to do it without regarding the consequences to the State or themselves. A little more attention being paid to them by the citizens of Philadelphia would, I believe, have prevented their removing the seat of government, which was attended with a great expense to the State, and of no advan- tage whatever either to the members of the Legislatui-e or any others, except to the tavern-keepers and those who kept boarding-houses in Lancaster ; indeed, I believe to most of the members it was a disadvantage, for during the winter in 220 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF the city, they could transact business for themselves and their neighbors, which they could not, by any means, do as well in Lancaster. The Western members were certainly to blame to let their resentment get the better of their judgment. I believe now, 1804, with a little management they could be brought back to the city, and if they were, it would be long before they would again leave it. CHARLES BIDDLE. 221 CHAPTER IV. The disturbances at Wyoming still continuing, and com- plaints being continually made to Council by the Pennsylvania landholders, who had occasion to go into the county, the Board thought it would be necessary to send some militia from Berks and Northampton ounties. They therefore sent for Capt. Craig,* the county lieutenant of IS'orthampton, to consult with him as to the number of militia necessary. to be sent on the expedition. When Craig came to town, he gave it as his opinion that if John Franklin was taken, the other insurgents would soon be quiet, for that he was the man who occasioned all the disturbances. After mentioning our inten- tion of sending out the militia, he said he would rather have a few old Continental officers than all the militia of Berks and Northampton, for it" was only necessary to take Franklin, and if Council ;^'ould allow him to take eight or ten of his friends, he would bring Franklin to Philadelphia, or never return. Council agreeing to let him have his own way, be chose seven officers who had served with him, three of whom I knew, Stevenson, Brady, and Erb, and more determined fellows never went upon any desperate enterprise. They were going to take from the midst of his friends a very stout, active man, as fearless as any of themselves. Although Craig and his companions were anxious to go, it was against my inclination they went, as I thought it highly probable they would all be sacrificed. Franklin has told me since that it * John Craig, a very mild, worthy man, cousin of Col. Craig, and, like him, an intelligent, active, gallant ofhcer. He served all the war in Moy- lan's Regiment of Horse. — Author's notk. 222 AUT0BI0(4RAPHY OF was owing to the chapter of accidents that they were not. They went to Wilkes-Barre under pretence of purchasing land from the Connecticut claimants, for whom they pre- tended a great regard. Watching their opportunity when Franklin was alone in a tavern they attacked him. He called out that the Pennemites* were murdering hira, but he was not heard. They got him down, and with great diffi- culty tied his hands behind his back, and gagged him. They had prepared themselves with a rope and gag before they took hold of him. He fought with great desperation, and there was not one of them that did not feel the weight of his arm. He hurt Stevenson so much that he would have shot him through the head if Craig had not prevented him. They got him at last on horseback, tied his feet under the horse's belly, and set off before his friends could assemble and arm themselves. They rode thirty-eight miles before they halted ; they were closely pursued, and if they had halted sooner it is probable they would have been overtaken and killed, for they were all well armed and would not have surrendered. Craig appeared before Council about ten days after he set oft"; he sent the doorkeeper in for me, and informed me when I went to him, that he had brought Franklin to town. Council ordered him to gaol, and, as it was apprehended he would endeavor to make his escape, he was ordered in irons. Craig and his companions had three hundred pounds given them. They were entitled to much more ; however, with that sum they were perfectly satisiied. The bringing away Franklin did not settle the disturbances. The commissioners sent there by Council agreeable to an " Act for ascertaining and confirming to certain persons, called Con- necticut claimants, the lands by them claimed- within the county of Luzerne, and for other purposes therein mentioned," which act was much in their favor and against the Pennsyl- vania claimants, by whom it was complained of very nmch, were obliged to leave the county. Council recommended it * Those who held under Fenusylvania were called Pennemites. — AUTHOU'S NOTK. CHARLES BIDPLE. 223 in their message to the Legislature to raise a number of men to be stationed in the county, which in their opinion was the only way to keep these turbulent people quiet. The passing this act, called the Quieting Act, was very improper, as it encouraged these people in their opposition. After it had been passed, the repealing of it gave them just cause of complaint. When a public act is passed, if the repealing is inJLU-ious to any individuals, it should not fe done without their consent. Instead of repealirig' the act, the Legislature should have paid the Pennsylvania claimants for their land, and this in the end, I believe, w^ould have been the cheapest way of set- tling this business. The public, no more than an individual, should ever break a contract because it is injurious to keep it. About this time a society was formed in the city for Political Inquiries, of which Dr. Franklin was chosen President. I was elected a member. We had one gentleman in the party, who, by his writings and incessant talking, disturbed usVery much. He often reminded me of a story L)r. Franklin used to tell of two French bishops, who were incessant talkers. They happened to meet at a friend's, when one of them began a story. He spoke for a long time, the other eagerly watch- ing an opportunity to speak, when one of the company told him he had better walk away with him, for he would not be able to slip in a word. Yes, I will, answered the impatient bishop, " for he will soon be obliged to spit, and then it will be my turn." If our member had not been a very worthy man I should have told him the story. The society was not well attended, and never met after the death of Dr. Franklin. A resolution of Council passed this summer, that eight days after the election of President and Vice-President there should be an election for Secretary to Council. There had been none from the time General Armstrong was first elected. The resolution was brought forward and adopted by those opposed to him. It was, however, very proper that those who sat at the Board should have a choice in their Secretary. Armstrong, supposing h*e would not be chosen, intimated to me that he had some thoughts of resigning ; that as soon as he had made up his mind about it he would inform me. 224 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF This he soon after did, when I applied to my friends in Council for the appointment. One man at the Board had a relative whom he wished to be the Secretary, and he made all the interest he could for him. When the election came on,* Dr. Franklin, although at that time very much troubled with the stone, went to Council, and there voted, and used his intercist for me. I should have been elected even had he not attended. Ills doing so was a. strong mark of his friendship ; to his family and friends he always expressed a great regard for me, and I never had any reason to doubt hiir-. Calling on him a few days after ray appointment, to see if he had any commands, he told me that the evening before he had received an anonymous letter recommending in very strong terms a friend of ours for an office just vacant, that although the hand was disguised he was pretty certain the person recommended had written the letter himself, and begged me to stay until he came, which he expected would be in a few minutes. Accordingly, soon after Mr. R came in. When seated, and we had talked of the news of the day, etc., the Doctor took the letter from his pocket, and read it to himself. He then handed it to me, and inquired if I knew the handwriting. I gave a glance at the person with us when the Doctor began to read, and saw that he was greatly confused ; but when the Doctor handed me the letter, he turned very pale, and was so much agitated that I was afraid he would have fallen from his chair. As soon as he recovered himself a little, he pretended to recollect some business that required his immediate attendance, and very abruptly left us. After he was gone the Doctor laughed very heartily, in which I could not help joining, although I pitied the man very much. He did not for a long time after this call on the Doctor, and when he did never mentioned anything about the office which he was by no means qualified to lill. From the letter one would suppose he was qualified and deserved any office in the government. I should not have suspected * October 23d, 1787. CHARLES BIDDLE. 225 him to have written the letter, but from his conduct there could be no doubt that he did. In October, this year, my time having expired as a member of the Executive Council,* I was elected a member of the Legislature for Berks County. My good old friend Colonel Lutz was very busy at the election, threatening what he would do if he saw a ticket that had not my name on it. Henry Wertz was also busy there, as he had been when I was elected into the Supreme Executive Council. It was he who declared on that occasion that he had "often fought mid me," when we had not a gun on board at the time he sailed with me. The member for the county, who it was supposed voted against me as Vice-President, could not get a vote. I resigned from the Legislature without taking my seat, being well assured that I should be elected Secretary to Council, and I could not hold that office and be a member of the Legislature. The 4th of July, 1788, was celebrated in a manner highly gratifying to all the inhabitants of the city. There was a grand Federal procession in which all classes of citizens joined. In front there were twelve axemen, dressed in white frocks ; second, the First City Troop ; third, the Cap of 'Lib- erty, carried by John JN'ixon, Esquire; fourth, four pieces of artillery, with the company of artillery men ; tifth, Thomas Fitzsimmons, Esquire, carrying a white flag emblematical of the French alliance ; sixth. Light Infantry ; seventh, George * Ix COUXCIL, Philadelphia, Tuesday, October 9th, 1787. On motion, Resolved^ Tliat tlie thanks of this Board be presented to the Hon- orable Charles Biddle, Esquire, our late worthy Vice-President, for the in- tegrity, diligence, and ability with which he has discharged the various duties of that important office. Extract from the Minutes. James Trimble, for John Armstrong, Sec'y. Honorable Charles Biddle, Esquire, Late Vice-President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsyhania. 15 226 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF Clymer, Esquire, with a flag emblematical of the definitive treaty of peace ; eighth, Colonel Shee, carrying a flag with the words, "Washington the Friend of his Country," in sil- ver letters; ninth, the Second City Troop; tenth, Richard Bache, as a herald proclaiming a " IS'ew Era ;" eleventh, General Muhlenberg carrying a blue flag w^ith " Seventeenth of September, 1787," in silver letters; twelfth, a band of ex- cellent music ; thirteenth, the Constitution, the judges* in their robes seated in a car ; fourteenth, Light Infantry ; fif- teenth, ten gentlemen, representing those States that had ratified the Constitution ; sixteenth, Col. William William in armor ; seventeenth. Light Horse, from Montgomery ; eigh- teenth, representatives of foreign States in a car with their flags; nineteenth, judge, register, and marshal of the admi- ralty ; twentieth, wardens of the port ; twenty-first, officers of the customs ; twenty-second, Peter Baynton as a citizen, and J. Melcher as an Indian chief, expressing their brotherly love ; twenty-third, troop of dragoons, from Berks County ; twenty-fourth. Federal edifice drawn by ten white horses, followed by about five hundred architects and house-carpen- ters ; twenty-fifth, Cincinnati and militia ofiicers ; twenty- sixth, infantry; twenty-seventh, agricultural society; twenty- eighth, farmers with two ploughs; thirtieth, infantry; thirty-first. Marine Society ; thirty-second. Federal ship, formerly the barge of the Serapis, fitted up remarkably well and rigged as a ship, commanded by Captain Green (my passenger from the bay of Honduras) well manned, had all her sails set, and was worked as if at sea. N"othing in the procession gave so much delight to the spectators as this ship. Canvass was nailed round her to conceal the wheels and machinery. Then followed the pilol^ of the port with their boat, boatbuilders, sailmakers, shipjoiners, ropemakers, shipchandlers, merchants and traders, light in- fantry, other trades and professions, their places determined * The car was so very high that I did not think the Judges altogether safe. They had to go up a ladder to get into it. I thought they cut a very awkward figure going up the ladder. It reminded many of the spectators, as well as myself, of seeing men go up a ladder who never came down. CHARLES BIDDLE. 227 by lot. Cordwainers, coachpainters, cabinet and chairmakers, brickmakers, house, ship, and sign painters, porters, clock and watclimakers, weavers, bricklayers, tailors, instrument makers, turners, Windsor chairmakers and spinning wheel- makers, carvers and gilders, coopers, planeraakers, whip and canemakers; forty-eighth, blacksmiths, whitesmiths, and nailers, coachmakers ; fiftieth, potters; fifty-first, hatters; fifty-second, wheelwrights; fifty-third, tinplate workers; fifty-fourth, skinmen, breechesmakers, and glovers; fifty-fifth, tallow chandlers; fifty-sixth, victuallers; fifty-seventh, printers, bookbinders, and stationers ; fifty-eighth, saddlers ; fifty-ninth, stonecutters ; sixtieth, bread and biscuit bakers ; sixty-first, gunsmiths; sixty-second, coppersmiths; sixty- third, goldsmiths, silversmiths, and jewellers ; sixty-fourth, distillers, tobacconists ; sixty- sixth, brass founders ; sixty- seventh, stocking manufacturers, tanners and curriers, uphol- sterers, sugar refiners ; seventy-first, brewers ; seventy-second, perukemakers and barber surgeons ; seventy- third, engravers ; seventy -fourth, plasterers; seventy-fifth, brushmakers ; sev- enty-sixth, staymakers ; seventy-seventh. Light Infantry ; seventy-eighth, civil and military officers of Congress ; sev- enty-ninth. Supreme Executive Council ; eightieth, justices of the Court of Common Pleas, and the magistrates ; eighty- first, sheriff and coroner ; eighty-second, board of wardens, city treasury cler'ks, constables, etc., a band of music, watch- men, street commissioners ; eighty-fourth, gentlemen of the bar; eighty-fifth, clergy; eighty-sixth, physicians; eighty- seventh, students of the University ; eighty-eighth. County Troop, brought up the rear. After going through the city, they proceeded to Bush Hill, where there was an excellent cold collation provided. Judge Wilson delivered an oration, but owing to some mistake, the cannon began firing just as he began to speak, so that no one could understand anything he said. It was, however, after- wards printed and much admired. The scene from Bush Hill was truly magnificent. I never saw on any occasion so much satisfaction expressed on every countenance as there was on this day. No accident happened, and the utmost harmony 228 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF prevailed during the whole day, which was, a remarkably fine one. All the professions and trades carried emblemati- cal flags, and many of the tradesmen were at work while the procession was proceeding on. The whole business of the day is fully described by Judge liopkinson, chairman of the committee of arrangements, who was well calculated for such an undertaking. In July, 1788, Colonel Eleazer Oswald was brought before the Supreme Court for a contempt of court in publisliing a piece in his paper against Andrew Brown at a time a suit was pending in court between him and Brown. Upon his refusing to answer interrogatories he was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, and a fine of ten pounds. The fine was remitted by Council, but he suffered the imprisonment. When the Legislature met he applied to them to impeach the judges, and had there been a majority of Constitutional- ists in the House, they certainly would have been impeached, for it ever has, and always will be, the case that the party in power will bend a little to one of their own party, and Oswald at that time was considered a Constitutionalist, although some time before he had been violent against them. In his memorial to the House he mentions that, " Judge Thorpe, in Edward the Third's time, was hanged for suffering the Court of Justice to be perverted; in Richard the Second's time eleven of the Judges were condemned to death, and, although only two were executed, all the others were forever banished as unworthy to enjoy the benefit of that law which they had so perfidiously and basely betrayed, and as an example to future judges, and forever to make their ears to tingle." I have no doubt but that Oswald would have been very glad to have seen our judges hanged, especially the Chief Justice* for whom he entertained an implacable hatred. I was in court when he received his sentence, which he heard with great composure. A number of people followed him, who as soon as they got out of court gave three cheers, and did the same when he went into gaol, looking on him as unjustly * Chief Justice McKean. CHARLES BIDDLE. 229 sentenced. The resolutions offered bj the parties then in the House will show their opinions on this business. Octo- ber 3, 1788, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Cljmer, and seconded by Mr. Peters. " Resolved, That this House having in a committee of the whole, gone into a full examination of the charges exhibited by Eleazer Oswald, of arbitrary and oppressive proceedings in the Justices of the Supreme Court, against the said E. Oswald, are of opinion that the charges are unsupported by the testimony adduced, and consequently, that there is no just cause for impeaching the said "Justices," which was carried in the affirmative. It was then moved by Mr. Findley and seconded by Mr. Kennedy, to postpone the above, in order to introduce the following, viz: — " Whereas, the Constitution of this Commonwealth has ex- pressly secured to every citizen the right of trial by jury in criminal prosecutions ; therefore usages, however ancient, or from whatever quarter they may have been introduced, cannot supersede this positive right. " Although the Courts of Justice, for their own defence and the protection of the course of justice, must necessarily possess the power of compelling obedience to their authority, as well as j^eace, j?rder, and decency in their presence, yet this is no more than that right of repelling force by force, neces- sary for the existence and usefulness of the Courts of Justice, which is analogous to that right of self-defence which every man^ naturally enjoys ; yet, nevertheless, such freedom of writing or speaking, as is only calculated to disparage the persons of the Judges, or to influence the causes depending before the courts, and not read or uttered in the presence of the said courts, although punishable by indictment, ought not to be turned into contempt, by construction or implica- tion, at the discretion of the Judges; therefore ''Resolved, That the proceedings of the Supreme Court against Colonel E. Oswald, in punishing by fine and im- prisonment at their discretion, for a constructive or implied contempt, not committed in the presence of the Court, nor 260 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF against an}'' officer or order thereof, but for writing and pub- lishing improperly or indecently, respecting a cause depend- ing before the Supreme Court, and respecting some of the Judges of the said Court, was an unconstitutional exercise of judicial power, and sets an alarming precedent of the most dangerous consequence to the citizens of this Commonwealth. "And whereas, Though the Constitution of the Common- wealth declares the printing presses be open for the examina- tion of every department of government, yet the Legislature hath hitherto neglected to define the nature of contempts, or direct the nature or extent of their punishment, consequently the Justices have been left to act under the influence of arbitrary and illegal usages ; therefore " Resolved^ That it be specially recommended to the ensuing General Assembly to define the nature and extent of con- tempt, and direct their punishments." This was lost, and the first resolution carried, which ended the business with the Leo;islature. Manv gentlemen of the bar think the Legislature could not pass an act to " define the nature and extent of contempt," but I am of a difi'erent opinion. If the court have a right to confine a man a month for a contempt of court, they may for any length of time. The party who were so much in favor of the Chief Justice at this time, a few years afterwards, when he was elected Gov- ernor, would have gone any length to have punished him, as would the others to have supported him.* Oswald was much pitied, especially by all the old Whigs, on account of his former services. He had been a colonel in the Continental army, and distinguished himself for his bravery on several occasions, for which he had the thanks of General Washington. When the war broke out in France, he went there and served in their artillery. He was in. the battle of Jemappes and some other engagements. He, how- ever, soon ^ot tired of this service, and returned home. The French had not at that time the discipline he thought neces- * An act for defining and limiting the power of judges iji commitments for contempt of court is now (1883) pending in the British Parliament. CHARLES BIDDLE. 231 sary. He told me that the soldiers, to show how much liberty they enjoyed, or how little they cared for their officers, when ordered " to the right face," would face to the left. This was in the beginning of their Revolution. I suppose they learned to behave better afterwards, for certainly no troops fought better than they did. There was at this time in the city of Philadelphia a society that called themselves the " Adopted Sons of Pennsylvania," among whom were some valuable " adopted sons." Oswald was much opposed to this society, and thinking such a society unnecessary and improper, he every day ridiculed them in his paper. One of the members whom he had personally in- sulted (Mr. Matthew Carey, a worthy man) challenged him. Oswald was always ready upon these occasions ; he accepted the challenge, and they fought in Jersey. Mr. Carey was shot through the thigh, and was a long time before hp re- covered. Oswald would have had to fight some others of the society, if Captain Rice and some of his old brother officers had not declared he should not, that the next member of the society that wanted to fight should take one of them, and after some contention they agreed to let Rice, who was Oswald's most particular friend, be the first that oifered. Rice was much such a man as Oswald. The society was soon after broken up.^ The people of Luzerne, not contented with driving from the county the commissioners sent by the Executive Council, obliged Col. Pickering, the prothonotary of the county, to leave it. They treated him with great indignity. It was sup- posed when he was appointed, that as he was a native of I^ew England and a man of great respectability, he would be able to keep those people quiet, and this he supposed himself he could do ; but they regarded no person that opposed their designs. A Capt. William Ross, a young man of the county, distinguished himself in favor of government. He was wounded in apprehending some of the insurgents. Upon a representation of his good conduct to the Legislature, they gave him five hundred dollars, and Council made him a pre- sent of a sword. 232 AUTOBIOGKAPHY OF In the month of September this year, Levi and Abraham Dean, two young men of Bucks County, were taken prisoners, and brought before the Supreme Court, then sitting in Phila- delphia. Being outlawed, it was only necessary to identify them, to sentence them to death. As they were well known in Bucks County this was done, and they received their sentence. Tl^ case of these young men was exceedingly hard. When very young, their fathers were very ill-treated by some violent committee-men in the county, on account of their attachment to the British Government. The father of Abraham Doan had his plantation confiscated and sold, and these lads were threatened, if they did not voluntarily enter into the American army, they should be pressed. In con- sequence of this they went off and joined the British. It was said they afterwards committed depredations in the neighborhood of wdiere they were born, and it is probably true. If the treatment of their parents did not justify them, it certainly was some excuse for their conduct. At the con- clusion of the peace they returned to the county, as they said, to see their friends and relations ; but one of them, it was generally thought, came back on account of a very handsome girl he was fond of before he Avent to the British, and his cousin would not leave him. They were concealed a con- siderable time by their friends ; it at length, however, became known that they were in the county, when several who were, or conceived themselves injured l>y them, endeavored to have them apprehended ; but as they were very stout, active, resolute men, and went always well armed, those who were in pursuit of them, were afraid openly to attack thera. Probably there hardly lived a more active man than the younger, Abraham. If he was seen by persons on horseback in pursuit of him, and he on foot, he would run like a deer, and no fence could stop him a moment. He went over any fence without putting a hand on it. They were both tall, handsome men. A considerable time after their return into the State, they were taken by surprise in Chester County, by some young men who were out hunting, who from their appearance in the woods armed, and from their endeavors to CHARLES BIDDLE. 233 conceal themselves, suspected them of having some bad in- tentions, and insisted on their going before a magistrate. They made no resistance, hoi:)ing as they were not known, that they would be immediately dismissed ; in this, however, they were greatly mistaken. They were carried before Col. Ilannum, who committed them to gaol. Had they not at- tempted to conceal themselves, they w^ould not have been apprehended, for they told a very plausible story of their being New Jerseymen on the way to the westward to take up land.* After they were condemned, and a time was fixed for their execution, the father of Abraham, several female relations and friends, and some influential gentlemen, waited on Council to solicit a pardon for them, or if that could not be obtained, a reprieve. The latter was readily granted. Hearing much of these men, and wishing to communicate intelligence which I knew would give groat pleasure to these unfortunate men and their friends, I w^ent to gaol to inform them that Council had granted a reprieve for one month. I wished also to prepare them for the worst that might happen. When I went into the room they were surrounded by their relations and friends, among whom wore several females, two of them very handsome girls that had lived with them in the woods. It was to no purpose I told them that the prisoners were only reprieved for a month, and that it was proba- ble they would not be pardoned. When they found they were reprieved, they gave way to the most extravagant joy ; * Had they applied to Thomas Ross, Esq., a gentleman of the Bar, who then lived at Chester (and was present when they were brought before Col. Hannum), within a day or two of their commitment, he would have had them liberated ; but owing to some mistake they did not apply in time, and they were detained until, some people coming to Chester from Bucks County, they were known. As there was no reward offered for apprehending them, the people who took them were no ways anxious about their being kept in prison. Mr. Ross, who was their counsel when they were brought before the Court, has since told me that he lamented they had not applied in time to him, for he knew the tamily had been hardly used. He was born near where these young men were, and knew them well before they went off, but did not recollect them when they were brought before Col. Hannum.— AUTHOU'S NOTK 234 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP they all concluded that through the intercession of friends, they should be pardoned. This, I told them, they must not expect, although I had very little doubt myself but what a pardon would be granted. I always thought it wrong to grant a reprieve for any length of time, without granting a pardon ; it is like putting a man to death in cold blood. Before the month expired the Legislature met, when they petitioned for a pardon, and if that could not be obtained, for a trial by jury. The Legislature were inclined to pass a bill in their favor, and appointed a committee consisting of Mr. Lewis, Mr. Fitzsimmons, and Mr. Rittenhouse, to confer with the Supreme Executive Council on the subject of their peti- tion. This, I believe, was what proved fatal to these young men. Several of the members of Council thought the Legis- lature had no business to interfere, as the power of pardoning, by the Constitution, was given to Council. They refused to pardon, or to extend the time fixed for their execution. It was in vain the members of the Legislature and the minority in Council urged the peculiar situation of these unfortunate men; the majority were jealous of the interference of the Leg- islature, and it was carried by a very small majority that they should suffer. Going to Council the day after the con- ference, I met them going in a cart to the gallows, followed by their relations and friends. It was a very affecting sight. They died with great firmness. After the election in October, 1788, there was a majority in Council of Republicans, and they were determined on making a change in some of the oflicers of Government. Among others, they intended to take the office of Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas from J. B. Smith, Esq. The can- didates proposed by the party were James Wilson, Esq., and my brother James.* When Mr. Smith found he should be * During the time I was Vice-President, Judge Bryan's time expired (the Judges being then elected for seven years), and my brother James was proposed to be elected in his room. Several of my Republican friends spoke to me, to endeavor to get him elected ; and although he was as dear to me as it was possible for one brother to be to another, for he had been more than a father to me, I could not think of using any interest I had CHARLES BIDDLE. 235 displaced, he sent for me ; he told me, he would for many reasons prefer my brother being appointed to the office to Mr. Wilson, and he had some thoughts of resigning, and asked my opinion. I told him it was a subject he had better con- sult some of his other friends upon, as my brother was sup- posed to be a candidate I was not a proper person to consult. This he said he would do, and desired me to call on him at eight o'clock in the evening. At that hour I called, when his son told me his father had just stepped out, that probably he would soon return, and invited me in ; I went, expecting he would return in a short time. The night was cold, and there was a good fire, by which I sat down, and taking up a book read until the watchman cried " past eleven o'clock," when finding Mr. Smith did not make his appearance I went home. The next day meeting Dr. Hutchinson he laughed very heartily, and told me he had never been in such ^ dis- agreeable situation as he had been the evening before, that Mr. Smith had requested another friend and himself to call on him to consult about his resigning, that they were with him at the time I knocked at the door, that not having fin- ished their consultation, they did not wish to see me, and just before I entered the parlor they opened a door that led to the cellar, on the front step of which they stood during the whole of the time of mvbeina; iu the house. Hutchinson said he was half crazy, having a particular engagement that even- ing at a relation of Mrs. Hutchinson's, who was to wait for him. They would have come out of their hiding place, but that they expected every minute I would go. I told him it was fortunate for them that their situation was not known to me, or they should have cooled themselves much longer. It was ridiculous for them to go there, for if I had found them together, Mr. Smith could have told me they had not yet 'finished their business, and I should have gone off" and left them. After the consultation Mr. Smith concluded to resign, which he did the next day, and my brother was elected. against Mr. Bryan, with whom no fault couM be found, and whose friends had always interested themselves to serve me. — Authok's notk. 236 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF Mr. Smitli is a worthy man, and nothing but the violence of party would have occasioned his being attacked. I sent off a servant express for my brother, who knew nothing of my intention to propose him as a candidate until the servant arrived at Reading, which was late at night. The next even- ing he came to town and took possession of his office, which he was well qualiiied to fill, having had it before the Revo- lution. As it was his wish to have this office, nothing could give me more pleasure than procuring it for him. Everyone who knew this excellent man loved and esteemed him.* There was a petition this year to the Legislature from William Moore, Esq. (before the Revolution an eminent mer- chant, afterwards Vice-President of the Supreme Executive Council), stating that Continental money was paid him when much depreciated for goods imported before the war, that he had offered in payment certificates in which he had invested the Continental money he received for the goods, but the British agents had refused to take them. The agents acted very properly in refusing to take the certificates. It was * Jamt's Bidflle, eldest brother of Charles Biddle, was born February 18, 1731, and studied law with John Ross, then considered at the head of the Philadelphia Bar, whose executor he afterwards became. He practised in Berks, Lancaster, and Northampton counties, residing in Reading until about 1760, when he removed to Philadelphia, on being appointed Deputy Prothonotary. Later he was made Deputy Judge in Admiralty, under the Royal Government, Mr. Jared IngersoU being the Judge. In December, 1776, he removed to Reading, and continued the practice of the law until 1788, when he was made Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia. In 1791 he was appointed President Judge of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, Avhich office he retained until his death, in 1797. He was buried in the grounds of Christ Church, of which church he was a vestryman in 1776, and present at a vestry meeting on 4th July, of that year, when it was resolved to " omit those petitions in the Liturgy wherein the King of Great Britain is prayed for." John Dickinson writes, July 7, 1797 : — "I sincerely sympathize with you all on the death of thy excellent brother. I had known him for upwards of forty years, and to know him as I did was to love him. I have always greatly esteemed }'our family ; and their welfare will always give pleasure to thy truly affectionate friend, John Dickinson." CHARLES BIDDLE. 237 certainly a great hardship upon Mr. Moore and others in similar situations, but it would have been very unjust to oblige the British merchants to take less than was actually due them. In cases of this kind, the Government should have made up any loss the merchant sustained. Many per- sons took advantage of the Tender Acts, as they were called, by paying otf their bonds and mortgages when the money Avas good for little or nothing. There were, however, a great many who would not do this, but paid their debts honestly in specie. In Virginia, I have been informed, the Tender Act was much worse than in any other State, for there, it was said, owing to the great quantity of State money they made, it was much worse than the Continental money ; so much so, that with a Continental dollar you could purchase forty State dollars, and thus with one Continental dollar pay a specie debt of forty dollars, and as sixty Continental dollars could be had for a silver dollar, you could pay a debt of' two thousand four hundred dollars with one Spanish dollar. What a temptation to a thief! I heard of a great many people losing by the Continental money, but knew of but few. General Neville, who served with me in Council, sold the estate he lived on, in 1775, for twelve thousand pounds Vir- ginia currency, which was paid by agreement in Continental money. At that time it had not depreciated. He went soon after to join th^army, when he locked the money up care- fully in his desk, and never touched it until the war was ended, when it was good for nothing. I never lost anythino- but once by the Continental money, and- then I did not blame the gentleman who paid me, Mr. John Stanley, of IsTewbern. He purchased a quantity of rum upon a long credit, to be paid in whatever money should then be a legal tender. We used to laugh about our bargain, he telling me he considered the rum as a present, and I, that he would have to pay me in specie. When the time he was to pay came round, I called on him for the money, upon which he sent a bell-man round the town, sold a hogshead of rum at vendue, and paid me with less than one-half of what it sold for. At this some of my friends found fault with him, but I never did, for it was 238 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF a fair bargain between us. Had I given bim anotber year's credit, he would bave bad to pay me in specie, whicb I am sure be would bave done witbout hesitation. Some wbo were knowing enough to invest their Continen- tal money in certificates, made their fortunes by it. For my own part, I never could see why those certificates should be redeemed any more than the Continental bills. Congress bad pledged themselves as much for the redemption of the one as of the other. A considerable sum in certificates was sent from Charleston, belonging to the estate of my brother Nich- olas, which my brother James (who knew as little about money matters as any man in the world, and none cared less about money) gave to a knowing friend for Continental bills. For some time after the commencement of the war I did not expect our paper would depreciate much, but when I saw it sent from Philadelphia by wagon loads I expected it would soon be of little value. We had in Pennsjdvania, State Island* money, so-called because the island was to be sold to redeem it. This, however, soon depreciated to eight for one specie dollar. At this time Mr. William Bingham was in Reading ; speaking to bim of this money, he advised me to buy up some of it, but I expected it would go as the Continental money did, and therefore did not do it. I believe Mr. Bing- ham purchased a large amount of it. Soon after you could not get a dollar of it for a specie dollar, for it carried interest, and there was not enough of it issued to pay for the island, which was sold in lots, and purchasers were obliged to pay in their bills or in specie, so that ihe. holders received principal and interest. In February, 1789, going one evening to my brother's to see some friends from Reading, the jjiavement l)eing slippery I was walking in the middle of the street, when, stepping to * "In 1780 the State of Pennsylvania emitted £100,000 for support of the army, and to provide a fund for their redemption the Executive was empowered to sell certain properties in the city of Philadelphia as well as Province Island, in the township of Kingsessing." — Philips, Paper Currency of the American Colonies. Province Island was at the mouth of the Schuyl- kill, along the western shore. CHARLES BIDDLE. 239 one side to avoid a sleigh that was driving fnriouslj along, I fell, and again injured mj knee so much that I could not get up, nor get out of the way of the horses, who had nearly released me from all my pain, for they passed close to my head. As the sleigh did not stop, I supposed the people in It did not see me. Some persons on the pavement soon came to my assistance, and carried me to my brother's house, near which the accident happened. N'ot a minute before, a sleigh went by with an acquaintance of mine (Mr. Matthew Irvi^ii) m it, who wanted me very much to get in with him, but being near my brother's I Avould not detain him. When Dr. Hutchinson came and examined my knee, he said it was very much injured, and that it would be a considerable time before I could leave the house. Fortunately for me, in this as well as every other misfortune that befell me, my spirits were not much atFected. When an accident happens to a man it is well for him to console himself by thinking it might have been worse. William Melvin, a sailor wholvas with me several voyages, was engaged to go to the West Indies. Shortly before the ship sailed he fell from the main yard and broke his leg, which prevented his going in her. The ship was supposed to be lost in a hurricane, as she was never heard of after she sailed. Will often told me how fortunate, it was he broke his leg. If a person can bring himself to think* thus, it will gre'atly tend to alleviate mis- fortunes to which we are all liable. I could on this occasion have consoled myself by thinking I might have had my scull fractured by the horses in the sleigh. A piece called " Resignation to Providence," I believe written by Goldsmith, has given me much relief when I have lost a relation or friend, or met with any misfortune. It was some weeks before Dr. Hutchinson would permit me to be removed. The manner in which I was carried home was a way proposed by myself Late at night my friends put me in a cot, and eight of them carried nie home on their shoulders. It was some time before I could Avalk with crutches. Although the second fall occasioned me a long confinement, I believe it was of service to me by placing 240 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP the knee better than it was before; for all my friends observed that I walked much better after than before the last accident. At this time much was said for and against our State Con- stitution. We then had a Legislature consisting of a single branch. There is no doubt but such a Legislature will some- times pass improper acts, but at the same time it must be admitted they will at times be prevented by a second House from passing what is necessary and proper. For my own part, I thought at the time, as the Council of Censors was soon to meet, there was no necessity for calling a Convention ; however, it was a matter I was no ways anxious about. In the debate on this subject a resolution was offered to the effect that the Convention should publish their amendments and alterations for the consideration of the people, and adjourn at least four months previous to a confirmation. Tlie yeas and nays being called, there was but one nay, and that was a friend of mine, AVilliam Lewis, Esquire, and he entered his protest. In it he says that although it was his wish that the Convention should adjourn for the purposes mentioned in the resolution, the Legislature had no right to interfere. On May 9, 1789, my mother died of a fever, in the eighty- first year of her age. She retained her senses to the last, and was perfectly resigned, as I believe those who live to her age o-enerally are. All her misfortunes, and she had her share, she bore with uncommon fortitude, never repining. I believe a more cheerful, better woman never lived. She had ten chil- dren, five of whom died before her. Although the death of a parent at her time of life is seldom much to be regretted, I was sensibly affected at her loss ; for whenever I met with anything that made me uneasy, her conversation always con- soled me. It lias given me much pleasure since her death to think she never made a request I did not comply with. I was always happy to carry her any agreeable intelligence, or to do anything to please her. It must always give pleasure to a child, after the death of a parent, to reliect that he has been a comfort to her ; and nothing, I should suppose, would CHARLES BIDDLE. 241 give a person more pain than knowing they had not done their duty to a parent, even if that parent had not behaved as It ought to have done. About four years before the death of my mother, in coming down a dark pair of stairs, she stepped on something lying on the stairs, fell, and broke her thigh. I was apprehensive she never would have o-ot well, but she soon perfectly recovered. At the time of the accident, nor afterwards, did she ever complain. When Gene- ral Washington passed through the city on his way to l^ew lork, after he was first chosen President of the United States, as he was to pass my door, I brought her from my brother's to my house to see him. Every person in the city was anxious to see this great and good man. The road and streets were crowded and so dusty there was no tellino- the color of his clothes. It must have been a most fatiguing day to him. My mother appeared to enjoy the procession as much as any of those with her. Among her papers I found 'the following: "In the year 1756 I lost my dear husband, and was eft without any fortune, with six children to provide for, the youngest not five years old. I was enabled through the mercy of God to keep them together with me, and giVe them schooling. When my eldest son, James,* "and my fourth son, Edward, were, by their industry and care, enabled to assist me, and their brothers and sisters, they performed it with a cheerfulness which showed the goodness of their hearts, and made their mother, in the language of Scripture sing for joy. When my third son, John, had^it in his power' he performed his duty with the same goodness. My fifth son, Charles, followed the example of his^ brothers, and at his expense I am now supported. My sixth son, I^icholas, has done all for me in his power, and more than I could expect My seventh son, Thomas, studied with Dr. Thomas Bond took a degree at the college, went to Georgetown, South Car- olina, and there settled, and is getting into good practice. So that, although I have had many difficulties, I am a happy * My second brother died an infant. 16 242 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF mother, and my soul is rejoicing in the Almighty, who has blessed me in my children,— 1775." She has added on the same : " In the year 1761 I lost my honored father, N'icholas Scull. In the year 1765 I lost my daughter, Abigail. In the year 1776 I left Philadelphia for fear of the British army. In the year 1777 my son John was an exile in I^ew York. In the year 1778 my son Nicho- las was lost in the Randolph. In the year 1779 my son Edward died at Baltimore. And now, my Heavenly Father ! I submit with resignation to thy holy will, and be- seech thee in thy mercy to grant the affliction which thou hast permitted to fall on me may purify my soul and prepare me for that day and hour which is swiftly api^roaching.""'^ Hearing this summer that Mrs. Catherine Lux, wife of George Lux, a daughter of my brother Edward, was in bad health at Baltimore, and thinking it probable her native air would be of service to her, I went down and brought her up to my house. For some time I flattered myself she was get- ting well, and frequently told her what really was my opinion, that she was not so bad as she supposed herself. She used to smile, but made no reply. After she had been with us a few weeks, she sent for me early one morning. "When I went into her room, she took up a bowl that was near her and desired me to look in it. I found it was nearly filled with clear blood. She very calmly said, " This has just come from my stomach, and I sent for you, my dear uncle, to let you see you are mistaken in your opinion about my health." Seeing * The following appeared in the Pennsylvania Gazette, May 20, 1789: — " On Saturday, the 9th inst., departed this life after a short illness, in the 80tL year of her age, Mrs. Mary Biddle, of this city. The following Monday her remains were can'ied from her son's house, James Biddle, Esquire, in Chestnut Street, to Whiteniarsh Township, attended by her friends and* relatives, and there interred in the family burying ground. " She was afiectionate — ardently affectionate — liberal and benevolent in her sentiments, cheerful and gay in her disposition and temper, sociable and agreeable in her conversation and company, averse to dissimulation of every species ; added to all, she possessed the advantage of a clear and intelligent understanding, and was favored with an uninterrupted enjoyment of health, till she reached a period of life in which years are truly venerable." CHARLES BIDDLE. 243 me extremely affected, she begged me not to be uneasy about her, that she was perfectly easy herself, that death had no terrors for her, that all her prospects of happiness in this world were gone, and that she looked forward with pleasure for the hour she was to be united to her father, mother, sister, child, and her other relations and friends who had already left this world. Finding I was speechless with grief, she took ray hand, which she pressed to her bosom, and said every- thing she could think of to console me. It was a long time before I was composed enough to leave this dear, unfortunate girl, who a short time before was one of the liveliest and most entertaining of her sex. Her husband was at this time at my house. Sometimes I pitied him, at other times his conduct was such that it was with difficulty I could keep my hands off him. She departed this life about a month after the bleeding I have mentioned, in the twenty-sixth year ot her age, retaining her composure and her senses to the last moment of her life. A few days before the death of Mrs. Lux I lost a beloved little daughter, about fifteen months old. The 17th of April, 1790, Dr. Benjamin Franklin departed this life, aged eighty -four years and three months. For the last five years of his life I was very .often with him, having been two years Vice-President when he was President of Council. The last year he was President I was Secretary, and from that time until he died very intimate in the family. The Doctor was certainly a man of great abilities, but I believe not a great political character. He at times made inquiries of me respecting the Constitution of Pennsylvania, that convinced me he had little knowledge of it whatever he might once have had. He was agreeable and entertaining to the day of his death, always cheerful, and had some amusing anecdote to relate. When he brought forward any thing in Council that he wanted carried, he always began by relating some anecdote applicable to the business. It was not long before he left Europe I believe that he felt the stone. When he was troubled with it in Council he often mentioned to me that those w^ho lived out the days of life must expect to suffer, that most of his present friends 2-44 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF were the sons or grandsons of his former companions, that my grandfather, IS'icholas Scull, Surveyor-General of Penn- sylvania, was one of his most intimate friends. He was justly beloved and esteemed by all who knew him ; notwith- standing his age his death was sincerely regretted by me. When it was mentioned in Council, the members of the Board, out of respect to his character, agreed to carry his corpse to the grave. This was mentioned to the family, who were much pleased with the ofter. A difference, however, between two of the members of the Board prevented it. The Doctor often mentioned it as his opinion that we were the happiest people in the world. He used to say the reason why we had not so many old people as in Europe in propor- tion to our numbers, was that sixty or seventy years back there were but few born in the country. He thought no people in the world lived to a greater age than the Americans, or enjoyed better health. In October, 1790, came on the election for Governor, the first under the new State Constitution. General St. Clair was the Eepublican candidate, and General Mifflin, the Constitu- tionalist, for although General Mifflin, a short time before, had been considered a staunch Republican, he had by some means given offence. Indeed it is a very difficult matter for any one in a public situation to act in such a manner as to please all his party, but it must, however, be acknowledged that General Mifflin was not remarkable for his prudence. At the head of the Republican party were Robert Morris, Frederick A. Muhlenberg, Col. Miles, and some other gentle- men, who published an address to the Republican electors, recommending General St. Clair. Great exertions Avere made by both parties. The Republicans were unfortunate in their choosing General St. Clair, who although a worthy man, was but little known in the State. Indeed I do not believe any man they could have set up would have carried the election against Mifflin, who had all the Constitutionalists in his favor, and a good many personal friends among the Repub- licans, yet if they had set up Miles or Muhlenberg the}'^ would have had a much better chance of succeeding. The Repub- CHARLES BIDDLE. 245 licans, since called the Federal party, have always been the most wealthy, and generally the most respectable of our in habitants, but they never make those exertions that are made by the opposite party, especially on the election ground, the most important place for exertions to be made. Having a strong personal attachment for General Mifflin, I did every- thing in my power before the day of election, by writing to my friends in the different counties, to promote his interest, and on the day of election I was upon the ground from the time the poll opened until it was closed. He was chosen by a very large majority. As the powers of the Supreme Executive Council expired with the old Constitution my office of course became extinct ; however, from the warm friendship that General Mifflin had ever expressed for me (having frequently declared there was no man in the world he loved and esteemed half so much) I had not the least doubt he would offer me the office of Secretary to the Commonwealth, an office that many of the members who formed the Constitution thought unnecessary. And I believe there would not have been such an office in the Constitution if it had not been for some of my friends in the Convention. It was thought by many that it would be better to give the Governor a Private Secretary. This was my own opinion, and what I recommended, but those spoken to by me knew I would not accept the office of Private Secretar}'^, and wished me in office. Some thought it of little consequence whether there was a Secretary to the Commonwealth or Private Secretary, but my friends and myself were mistaken in General Mifflin. He wished to appoint A. J. Dallas, Esquire, a gentleman of the Bar, to whom he was attached, and from whom he perhaps expected services that I could or would not perform. I do not mean by this any reflection on Mr. Dallas, for I never knew anything improper in his conduct in any way whatever. I blamed the Governor because he had not been candid, and spoken to me on the subject. This he told me some time afterwards he wished to,do, but was afraid from the warmth of my temper that I should say something to affront him, 246 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF and that he would make any sacrifices rather than have a difterenee with me. He at last sent three or four gentlemen of the Legislature, our mutual friends, to speak to me. The moment they spoke to me on the husiness they came about I told them if the Governor thought my consent necessary to the appointment of a Secretary, as they appeared to think, he was at liberty to do as he pleased, that I cared nothing about the office, and despised him ; and made use of some other harsh expressions. However, I was softened, and my resentment subdued a good deal, when they told me he was very unwell and wished to see me. I did not call on him, but a few days afterwards he came to see me. He was much affected, and said he was under obligations to me he nevfer could forget, and that there was nothing he would not do to serve me. After this visit we parted on better terms than we were before. His mind appeared to be relieved. This difference with General Mifflin occasioned me at the time a good deal of uneasiness. It was, however, fortunate for me that it happened, for he was at that time frequently embar- rassed for money, of which he was extravagant and thought- less. On these occasions he always applied to me. When this coolness happened I insisted on a settlement, and the balance due being paid me. It is probable, had we remained on good terms, that we should never have had a settlement, certainly I should not have been paid. As I now kept myself at a distance from him he could not ask me for the loan of any money, or indeed to render him any services. At this time my intention was to give up all thought of any office, and take a voyage to sea. From the number of friends I had amongst the inhabitants I knew it would be easy for me to get the command of a good ship, and the consignment of her cargo. This I certainly should have done in the spring of 1791, although it was extremely disagreeable to Mrs. Eiddle and the rest of my family, if it had not been for the death of Judge Bryan, of the Supreme Court, who died suddenly the beginning of this year. The day after his death the Governor sent to request me to call on him, and when I went, to. my great surprise, he told me he had CHARLES BIDDLE. 247 appointed Edward Sliippen, Esquire, who was Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, in the room of Judge Bryan. As the Governor had declared to all my friends and written nie that he would give me the tirst vacant place that should happen, I expected he would have appointed my brother James to the office held by Judge Bryan, and given me the Prothonotary's office.* I told him rather bluntly what my expectation was, and left the house immediately. He came to the door and called me back ; he was very much agitated, and I was convinced he was sorry he had been so precipitate. He said his wish was that my brother James should be Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and I should have the office of Prothonotary. I told him he must know the office Mr. Shippen held was worth very little, and my brother should not, with my consent, accept it. "With this I left him, neither of us well pleased. Indeed I felt much dis- satisfied with him, and now would have preferred going to sea to any office he could give me. Soon after we had parted the Governor called on my brother, and this best of men agreed to the arrangement he wished to make. I insisted, however, upon my brother receiving the emoluments of the Prothonotary's office until a further provision was made for the office he was to have, which was soon after done. The office of Prothonotary was not much with the heavy tax on it. My friends in the Legislature had the tax taken off; it amounted to between four and five hundred pounds per annum. The Governor told me some time after sending me the commission that he would have appointed my brother one of the Judges of the Supreme Court, but he thought it would be of advantage to me for him to preside in the * In a letter before* me, dated January 17, 1791, among other things he says : "I shall be solicitous to evince my zeal for your honor and interest ; and as it cannot be long before I shall have it in my power to serve the pub- lic, and gratify myself, by inviting you to some station at least as respect- able and beneficial as the office of Secretary, I fondly trust that the present explanation will effectually prevent any interruption of the harmony that has hitherto distinguished our intimacy, or any diminution of our reciprocal esteem and the good opinion which we have entertained of each other." 248 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF Common Pleas, Indeed if it had not been for my brother I never would have undertaken to do the duties of an office I was so totally unacquainted with. With his assistance I soon acquired a knowledge of the business. The Governor sent with the commission the following letter : — My Dear Sir: It gives me sincere pleasure to enclose a commission, appointing you to succeed your brother, as Pro- thonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County. I am, with sincere regard, Your friend, Thos. Mifflin. Philatla., 1st Feb'y, 1791. Charles Biddle, Esq. Although after this we visited each other, and the Gover- nor never had any large party without inviting me, and did everything in his power to keep up our former intimacy, I did not feel that attachment to him I before had. I believe when a man knoius he has not been treated well, nothing done afterwards will effect a perfect reconciliation. Some years afterwards when General Mifflin got into difficulties, I made every exertion in my power to serve him, and did serve him essentially. Mrs. Potts, an intimate friend of Mrs. Biddle, being ad- vised by her physician to go to the seashore with a sick child, and Mrs. Biddle wishing to take our children there, I went to take care of them. We left the city in June, 1792, in a small shallop, commanded by a drunken fellow who had no person with him belonging to the shallop but his son, a lad about sixteen years of age. The first night we anchored near Marcus Hook. The night was so dark that a brig bound up passed so near that we could have jumped on board of her. As the heat below had oblio-ed Mrs. Potts and Mrs. Biddle to be on deck, they saw the danger they had been in, and were very much terrified. Had the brig ran foul of us, it is highly probable we should have foundered. Instead of anchoring in the channel, we should have gone close in shore. This I mentioned to the skipper when he came to, CHARLES BIDDLE. 249 but he said there was no danger, and I did not apprehend there was much. Owing to head winds, calms, and a drunken skipper, we were three days before Ave reached Cape May. At this time the accommodations at the Cape were bad. The shore is good to bathe, some think better than Long Branch. I, however, do not think so. The surf at the Branch is higher, but I never heard of any accident there. As to the sharks that are seen there, they are very difierent from those in the West Indies. I believe no more danger is to be appre- hended from them than from a sturgeon. We had been but a few days at the Cape when the revenue cutter anchored otf there. Mr. Dulaney, the collector of the customs, Mr. John IS^esbit, and General Robinson were on board. As my business required my being in town, I ac- cepted a pressing invitation given me by these gentlemen to go up with them, and to return in a carriage for Mrs. Bjddle and the children. In going up the bay, upon the appearance of a squall, I told Captain JSIontgomery, who commanded the cutter, that he had better shorten sail, for I was sure it would blow very heavy. However, he did not apprehend any dan- ger, and thought it unnecessary to take in any of his sails. As it approached I was convinced it would blow hard, and ad- vised him, as he was not well, to go below and leave the com- mand to me. ^s soon as he was in the ca])in, I took in all sail as fast as possible, intending to come to anchor, but be- fore we could let go the anchors, the squall took us, and with- out any sail set we had nearly overset. In order to bring her up, we let go both anchors, and as- the cables were not clinched to the mast, owing to the ignorance of the crew, they had nearly run out end for end. This tornado did a great deal of mischief at the wharves in Philadelphia and elsewhere. The gentlemen on board mentioned afterwards that it M^as happy for them they had persuaded me to come up with them. Shortly after, I sat off for Cape May in a carriage. I took with me my son William, then about eleven years of age. At three o'clock in the afternoon of the day we left town, we came to a fork in the road where I was at a loss which way to 250 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF take. However, as there was no house near, and the day ex- cessively hot, it would not do to wait. I took the one that appeared to he the most frequented. We had not gone far he- fore we came across a tree that had been blown down across the road. To get the carriage over this tree myself and ser- vant worked very hard for half an hour. About a mile from this place we came to a house. The people here told us the road we were going led to a mill ; that at the forks we should have taken the other road. This was grievous news to us, who, as well as the horses, were almost dead with fatigue. However, there was no remedy, we were obliged to again encounter the tree, and what was worse, found it would be impossible to get to the stage we intended to lodge at. We were therefore forced to stop at a miserable log house, where they were obliged to have a smoke at each door to prevent their being tormented with the mosquitos. The poor people furnished us with a bed upstairs, which I believe was the only one they had. The heat of the weather, and the smoke that was made in the room to keep out the mos- quitos rendered it a shocking place. In the middle of the night I was awakened by William. I jumped out of bed and found he was almost suffocated. Taking him in my arms to a window, the fresh air soon revived him. Finding it in vain to try to sleep we both dressed ourselves and went be- low, where we remained the rest of the nig] it. JSTo person unacquainted with these insects can form an idea what a tor- ment they are to people not used to them and not provided with means to keep them oif. They are worse on this road than at any place I ever was at. Probably it may be better when the country is cleared of wood. The next night we got within a few miles of Hughes, the house where the fam- ily staid, and early the morning after reached there. Find- ing Mrs. Biddle anxious to be at home, and a pilot boat, go- ing up two days after, I took one of the boys with me in her, and Mrs. Biddle and tlie family set off at the same time in the carriage. Having a fair wind, we were soon up. Mrs. Biddle suffered as much coming up in the carriage as we did going down. They missed the road, and if it had not been CHARLES BIDDLE. 251 for a man accidentally meeting them, they would have had to remain all night in the woods. In April, 1793, we had an account of Mr. Genet, the French Repuhlican Minister, at Charleston. His motive for landing at Charleston and travelling by land thence to Philadelphia, must have been to find out whether the Americans were inclined to join the French in the war in which they were then engaged, and to endeavor to make them lielieve that the Republic of France was fighting for the liberties of man- kind against the despots of Europe. He was very cordially received at Charleston, and at every place he stopped at on the road. At Philadelphia, a town meeting was called to congratulate him on his arrival amongst us. Curiosity took me to the State House, without knowing who had called the meeting, or what the intentions were of those who had called it. As soon as I got there. Dr. Hutchinson, Mr. Sergeant, and others, wlio had proposed the meeting, requested me to take the chair. I would have declined it, but that some of my friends were anxious that I should not do so, thinking, as they afterwards told me, that by being in the chair I should pre- vent some violent measures being adopted ; and it is probable my being in the chair was in this respect of some service. It was agreed to present an address to Mr. Genet; and David •Ritten- howee, J. D. Sergeant, Esq., Dr. Hutchinson, A. J. Dallas, Peter S. Duponceau, Esq., and myself were appointed to draft one. The meeting then adjourned until the next afternoon. In the morning the Committee met at my house, each having an address drawn up, from which we made out one. In the afternoon there were so many met at the State House, that we were obliged to adjourn to the yard, where, as chairman, I read the address. Like all addresses brouo:ht forward in this manner, it was highly approved, and a committee con- sisting of about fifty, besides those who drafted the address, appointed to deliver it to the Minister, who had taken up his quarters at the City Tavern in Second Street. We proceeded from the State House on our way there, attended by a great concourse of people. As we were going, Hutchinson, who was fat enouo;h to act the character of Falstatt' without stutt- 252 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF ing, sent several messages to me, to beg I would not go so fast ; however, thinking such exercise of service to him, every time he sent to me, I mended my pace, so that he was almost exhausted when he got into the house. Mr. Genet spoke tolerably good English. He was in high spirits, and gave us a most cordial reception. He told us how much gratified he was, and how pleasing it would be to the citizens of France to hear what a friendly reception he had met with from their brethren of America, and that he would answer our address the next day. When we were coming away the people assembled in the streets gave three cheers, and dis- persed without doing any mischief, although some were much inclined to have a frolic. Shortly after this, there was formed in the city a Democratic Society,* of which David Rittenhouse, Esq., was chosen Presi- dent, and myself one of the Vice-Presidents. As I had never attended the meetings of those who proposed forming such a society, and as, when it was mentioned to me by Dr. Hutch- inson who was one of the principal promoters of it, I told him my opinion was that it would do more harm than good, I was much surprised at finding my name among the list of oflicers, which I did not know until it was published in the newspapers ; nor then until some of my friends, the morning- it M^as published, told me they were sorry to see my name as an officer of such a society. Others thought I could be of service by moderating some of the most violent of the party who were inclined to do anything that would involve us in a war with Great Britain. Mr. Rittenhouse, I believe, never attended any meetings. Both our names were set down by Dr. Hutchinson, who wished us to belong to the society. As most of my friends \^x^re Federalists, and some of them vio- lent ones, I Avas sorry the Doctor had proposed me as a mem- ber. However, as I knew he did not do it with any intention of giving me pain, I freely forgave him. The first of June a dinner was given to Mr. Genet at Oeller's Hotel. It was attended by men of all parties, for at * This was the first Democratic Society formed in the United States. CHARLES BIDDLE. 253 that time many who detested the proceedings of the French, did not wish to see them subdued, not knowing what would be the consequence to this country. At this entertainment I was appointed President, and Doctor Hutchinson Vice-Presi- dent. On one side of me was Governor Mifflin, on the other Mr. Genet. Many toasts were given expressive of our love for our sister Bepublic. The bonnet rouge was passed from head to head round the table, and many patriotic songs, made to celebrate the day, were sung, some of them truly ridicu- lous ; they served, however, to increase our mirth. The ISIarseilles Hymn was sung by My. Genet, and we had several other French songs. The day ended wi thout any disturl)ance.'^ I was much pleased soon after this, at hearing the Marseilles Hymn sung on bojird the frigate Ambuscade. Her yards were manned, and every person on board joined with the utmost enthusiasm. I believe there never was a more animating song composed. An American lady (Mrs. Montgomery, sister to the wife of Governor jNIcIvean) was at Bordeaux when some troops marched from there singing this hymn. She told .me she could hardly refrain from taking a musket and joining them. Mr. Genet is a handsome, agreeable man, but, like most of his countrj-men, of a hasty disposition. He frequently wrote and said what he afterwards severely re- pented. Being invited to dine the 4th of July with the Society of Cincinnati, he returned a very polite answer, but mentioned he could not sit down at table with the Count de Xoailles. As the Count was a member of the society, such an objection gave great offence to many of the members, who were determined if IMr. Genet remained in the country he should never again be invited. A few years before he would have thought it a great honor to be at a table with the Count, such an honor as he never had an idea of. I suppose as Ambassador from the French Republic, he thought it an official duty to make the objection. * This banquet created a great sensation throughout the country. An ac- count of if is given in Westcott's valuable history of Philadelphia. See, also, Hilldreth, vol. iv. Mr. Peter S. Duponceau wrote a French Ode for the occasion, which was sung by the company. 254 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF In July I went to Long Branch, and lodged at Col. Green's with a number of my Federal friends, who npon my first arrivino; at the shore, congratulated me on mv havino; the honor of being elected Vice-President of the Democratic Society ; however, finding it was a subject I did not like, they soon dropped it. I left the shore before daylight on the day the action took place between the Ambuscade and Boston. Had I known of the Ambuscade's going out to attack the Boston, I should certainly have waited to have seen the action, which with glasses could be plainly seen from the shore. The contest was unequal, the French frigate being much superior to the British. The gallant commander of the Bos- ton, Captain Courtney,' fell in the action. The Ambuscade received so much damage that it was a long time before she could be repaired ; so that if it had not been for the loss of Courtney the action was favorable to the British, for this French frigate had done much injury to their trade, and would have done much more but for this battle. A few days after I returned from the seashore, Mrs. Jones and Judge Jones (most valuable friends who lived in Mont- gomery County) with Mrs. Biddle and myself, went to the Yellow Springs.'^ Returning from there we first heard there was a fever in Philadelphia, that occasioned great alarm among the inhabitants. Among other deaths, that of Mr. Peter Aston was mentioned. He was an old acquaintance of mine, whom I had sworn as a juryman the day before we left * Once before I was at those springs. A friend of the fumily had received an express from there, informing him his wife hiy at the point of death. He applied to my mother to let me go with him, as he was going in his chair, and was obliged to set off in the night, and could not see well enough to drive. As I was not more than thirteen years of age, my mother was not inclined to let me go ; however, 1 was eager for the journey, and got her consent. Our friend was a remarkably cheerful man, and sang most of the night. When we arrived his wife was much better, at which he expressed great pleasure, and appealed to me how much he had suffered on our way upon account of his wife's indisposition. My real opinion was that he would have been much better pleased to hear that she had moved off. ^e should have given me my lesson before he made the appeal, for from my answer the good lady thought he had not suffered much. — Author's note. CHARLES BIDDLE. 255 town, when he was very hearty and cheerful. After the jury had delivered their verdict he came to me, and begged I would not so often put him on the jury list ; little think- ing, poor fellow, how soon he should leave us. Upon hearing of the fever I left Mrs. Biddle under the care of Mr. and Mrs. Jones, and set out for town, being very uneasy about the family. On my way I met a number of people moving out, all of whom gave a melancholy account of the ravages of the disorder. I had promised Mrs. Biddle to send the children out to her, and to be out soon myself, but such was her uneasi- ness that the next morning after my coming to town, although it rained excessively hard, she came home. My office being in my house, and people coming to it from the infected parts of the city, made it dangerous to the family, whom I was determined to send immediately out. Mr. Wm. Lardner, who had the year before married a sister of Mrs. Biddle, having a pleasant seat on the Delaware, and giving *us a pressing invitation, we sent the children there, Mrs. Biddle declaring she would not leave the city without me. It was in vain I pointed out the necessity of my staying, she was deaf to everything. Although almost afraid to let him come into my house, I sent for Dr. Hutchinson, to advise with him about removing. Before Mrs. Biddle he just mentioned that there was a dangerous fever in town, and that we had best leave it, but wlifen I w^ent to the door with him, he told me he had never seen anything so alarming, and desired me to get Mrs. Biddle out of town immediately, and to go mj'self as soon as I could. He said, that as a physician he thought it his duty to remain, and let the disorder be ever so bad he would not leave town. I walked a little way down the street with him. At parting he gave me his hand, and said it was doubtful whether he should see me again. I laughed at him, little expecting this w^ould be the last time we should ever meet. It was some days before I could arrange matters so as to leave the city, before which this worthy man was taken with the disorder, and died in a few days. He was a very able physician, and one of the best of men. A student of his, who staid with him, said he went to all the poor people, 256 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF who sent for him. Visiting one of them, who was a poor old woman, he caught the infection. This student was with him, and said when the Doctor opened the door of the sick woman's room, there was such a stench came from it, that he ran out of the house. The Doctor went in, opened the windows, and sat some time in the room. That night he was taken with the fever which proved fatal to him. His death increased the alarm ver}^ much, and occasioned many to leave the city. He had a great deal of practice, and was esteemed and respected hy men of all parties that knew him.* It is not easy to describe the consternation of the inhabi- tants at this time ; the streets were almost deserted. I have stood at my door at noon, and looking up and down the street for some time, could not see one person in it. Being myself used to see people in fever in the West Indies, par- ticularly at Port an Prince, I did not feel that uneasiness many of my friends did. I thought then, and still think, that a person who had been long in the West Indies was not as liable to take the fever as those who had irever been there, and therefore should not have thought of leaving the city but for my family. John Vannost, Esq., a gentleman of the Bar, who had lived with me from the time I was first appointed to the office of Prothonotarj-, agreed to stay in the house, which I committed to his care, and went to Mr. Lardner's, who did everything in his power to make our situation agree- able. A faithful black boy, born in the familj^, staj^ed with Mr. Vannost. The hoy should have left town with me, but he preferred remaining, and it was the general opinion at that time that the blacks did not take the fever. This boy * Dr. James Hutchinson was born in Bucks County in 1752, and served during the RevoUition as Surgeon in the Continental Army, and Surgeon- General of Pennsylvania. He was one of the first trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, and Professor of Chemistry in that Institution up to the time of his death. He took a warm interest in the politics of the State, and was an active member of the then rising Democratic party. Eminent as a prac- titioner, he fell a victim to his noble eilbrts in behalf of tlie humbler class of his fellow citizens in September, 1793. His first wife, who died without issue, was Lydia Biddle, first cousin of Charles Biddle, and sister of Col. Clement Biddle. CHARLES BIDDLE. 257 used to meet me three times a week about a mile from town. I would have ridden into town, but this could not be done without giving great uneasiness to my own family as well as Mr. Lardner's, and it would have been very ungenerous to do anything that would give pain to a family who behaved so kindly. Dr. Hutchinson died the sixth or seventh of September. A few days after, when it was thought almost certain death for any person to go to Bush Hill (the place where all those with the yellow fever were carried). Captain Stephen Girard and Mr. Peter Helm oifered their services to attend there. Captain Girard was a Frenchman, married and settled in Philadelphia many years ; Peter Helm, a native of the city. Both of them I knew well. With Girard I had long been a manager of the Marine Society, and Mr. Helm lived in my neighborhood. Their services should ever be remembered with gratitude by the inhabitants of Philadelphia. Mr. Helm told me after the fever was over that when he went out to Bush Hill he never expected to return. The generous and benevolent Girard was at the time, and I believe has been ever since, of opinion that the fever was not contagious. He therefore did not apprehend so much personal danger as Mr. Helm. Too much praise cannot be given them. There were many others who behaved with great firmness and benevo- lence. Some wKo were thought to be afraid of nothing were much terrified at this disorder; among others an old friend of mine, Commodore Barry, an ofiicer of di^stinguished bravery, retired to his country seat, and would sufi'er no person from the city to come near his house. Captain Sharp, a member of the Cincinnati, who had served. in the artillery all the Revolutionary War, was a man of und(5ubted courage. In the beginning of the fever, his wife complained one night of being unwell. Concluding she had the fever, he immediately jumped out of bed, and shut himself up in another room. He was frightened into a fever, and died in a day or two. His wife was soon well. Mr. J. A. Lewis, whom I have formerly mentioned, a very honest, faithful clerk of mine, was a Hessian who came to America with General Knyphausen, 17 258 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF and was in all the principal actions fought during the war. At the peace he stayed in America, married a worthy woman, by whom at this time lie had several children. Mr. Vannost having informed me that Lewis was very much terrified at staying in town, I told him if he wished to leave town, as there was very little business in the office, he was at liberty to go whenever he pleased, and I advised him to go, telling him his wages should go on the same as if he stayed. Willing, however, to make something at night by writing, he said he was very much obliged to me, but he would re- main in town. However, a few days after I had spoken to him he wrote me a note informing me that in going home the evening before he had seen twelve co7yuses going to be buried, which had terrified him so much that he had hired a carriage and was just going into the country. No man, I believe, in battle would behave with more courage than Lewis- There were many other instances of men of great bravery who were as much or more terrified than those I have men- tioned, and some who were generally thought to be so timid that they would have fled as soon as there was any danger, stayed in town and distinguished themselves by their courage and benevolence. Melancholy instances have been mentioned of people deserting their relations and friends, and no doubt some, driven by fear, left those whom they ought never to have left. I, however, knew of no instance where it was done, and believe it was seldom the case. Some very sorrowful, and some ludicrous scenes happened during the fever. A friend of mine, who had moved into the country early in the disorder, being much afraid of taking the fever, was very cautious of any person coming out of the city. Riding one day in his chair, he overtook a gentleman walking towards town, and invited him to ride with him, which the gentleman accepted. My friend, find- ing him a very agreeable, intelligent man, when he got near his own house, pressed the stranger very much to go in, and dine with him. He excused himself, saying he had just been out to see a sick friend. This alarmed my acquaintance. " And where were you going in such a hurry ?" " To Bush CHARLES BIDDLE. 259 Ilill." "The devil you were! I hope you have not been there lately ?" " Oh yes ! I am Dr. Devoze, one of the physi- cians who attend the hospital." A highwayman with a pistol pointed at him would not have frightened him half as much. lie soon got rid of the Doctor, and never after- wards invited a stranger to ride with him. It was generally supposed, and it was my opinion, that the fever was brought to Philadelphia by the unfortunate people who were obliged to leave Hispaniola.* Very few of those people, or the black people, took the fever. What added greatly to the distress of those unhappy persons who took the fever was the difterence of opinion among our most eminent physicians respecting the proper treatment of it. What one recommended another would condemn, so that all confidence in them was lost. I believe that in general too much medicine was given. I was reminded at this time of an anecdote I had often heard' Dr. Franklin tell respecting a malignant fever that was in Bar- badoes, which swept off great numbers of the inhabitants. At last they were out of medicine, and it was expected they would all die. It happened, however, otherwise ; for after the medicine was gone every person that had the disease recovered. I believe bleeding, keeping the body open, and the patient cool and clean, was the best method of curing the disease. I had determined, if taken with the disorder, to take very little or no medicine. The great quantity, if the patient recovered from the fever, ruined the constitution. On the return day of the court, in September, my brother, Judge Biddle, went into the city to open and adjourn the * Mr. Henry Sickel and myself were appointed to collect money in the ward we lived in for those distressed people, which disgusted me against raising money in this way. One gentleman, Mr. Samuel Blodget, gave us a check for two hundred dollars. One of his neighbors, a much richer man, with a good deal of persuasion, gave us four. To avoid giving offence we went into every house. Many people gave us cheerfully, more than they could afford. To some of tliem 1 would much rather have given than have taken anything. Others, who were rich, would give nothing. — Author's note. 260 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF court. I intended to have gone with him, but he requested me not to go, and, as Mr. Vannost was there, and little, if any, business to be done, I remained out of town. Before he went he made his will, which, without mentioning at the time what it was, he left with me. At court there were only five gentlemen of the Bar : Jonathan D. Sergeant, Jacob Bankson, J. R. Howell, John Todd, and Charles jSTeatly. Mr. Sergeant was a man of large fortune and great worth ; he staid in town from motives of benevolence. Messrs. Howell and Todd were worthy men. I believe they remained in the city in expectation of being employed in writing wills. For this purpose they went to any persons that sent for them. They died shortly after the meeting of the court, and I believe took the fever from j^ersons whose wills they drew. Mr. Todd told my brother when the court adjourned they had best leave the Court House as soon as possible, as the committee appointed for conveying persons with the fever to Bush Hill sat there. I believe, that giving an emetic early in the disorder, mod- erate bleeding, keeping the body open, and the patient cool and clean, with good nursing, was the means of saving many who had the fever. The great quantity of mercury that was given by some of the physicians, if they recovered the jDatient from the fever, ruined the constitution. Although four thou- sand died of this fever, there were not a great many of the old inhabitants. They were mostly foreigners. Having lived long in the city, and being Prothonotary, occasioned my knowing most of the citizens. There were not more than eighty whom I knew, and many of these were natives of Europe. During the whole time of the fever, the markets were well supplied, and I believe none of the country people took the fever, except a very few who imprudently went to see their sick friends or, from curiosity, to improper places. I mention imprudently going to see their sick friends, because they could render them no assistance. In November, the fever was so far abated that the citizens flocked to town as fast as they had before left it. People who had little or no acquaintance with each other before they CHARLES BIDDLE. 261 left the city, appeared rejoiced at seeing each other. The loss was soon forgotten in the joy of getting back to the city. In the year 1794, the excise had occasioned so much dis- turbance in the Western country, that it was thought neces- sary to send commissioners there to endeavor to bring the people to a sense of their duty. They had driven off Major Lenox, the Federal Marshal, who had been up serving pro- cesses against the delinquent distillers, and burned the house of General Neville, who was inspector of the district. At the attack on it. Major McFarlane, who commanded the insur- gents, was killed. After this they declared they would oppose any force brought against them. Governor Mifflin spoke to me about going as one of the commissioners on the part of the State ; however, I knew there were others better acquainted with the people of the Western country, and who would probably have more influence than I should. Chief Jus- tice McKean and General Irvine were the two who went on the part of the State ; Mr. Bradford, Attorney-General of the United States, James Ross, one of the Senators of the United States, for Pennsylvania, and Jasper Yeates, one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, went on the part of the' Federal Government. I wrote a letter to the printer at Pittsburg, informing him that I had ever been a friend and advocate for the people of the Western country, but that the opposition they had given to the laws of their country had been such that every man who valued the peace and happi- ness of the country must lend his aid to bring them to jus- tice. After his return, Mr. Brajlford told me that Mr. Scull had shown him the letter, that he had it published, and that it had a good eifect. If a longer time had been given the commissioners, I have no doubt but that the people would have submitted peaceably. However, as they did not sub- mit within the time limited, it was thought necessary to send an armed force into the country. The two principal promo- ters of the disturbances were David Bradford, a lawyer, a native of Maryland, and John Marshall, who had been sherift' of Washington County, and formerly in the Legislature. They were anxious for the repeal of the Excise Law (as I be- 262 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF lieve a majority of the State was) and encouraged the people to oppose it, but had no intention of carrying matters to such lengths as they had gone. But you cannot say to such peo- ple as they had to deal with, a hardy, warlike race, thus far you may go, but no further. It was not in their power to govern those who acted under them. After several meetings were had about this business, it is probable if Marshall or Bradford had advised moderate measures they would in- stantly have lost their influence, been insulted and abused, and perhaps shot. It unfortunately happened that in gene- ral, men of prudence and influence avoided these meetings, and left the most violent to do as they pleased. Smilie, Find- ley, and Gallatin* were much blamed. I do not, however, believe they deserved any censure, but on the contrary, that they did everything in their power to jirevent the people from acts of violence. It is possible that their being suspected of fomenting the disturbances, made them more anxious to put a stop to them than they otherwise would have been. Much complaint was made by the prisoners of the treat- ment they received from General White, who commanded the party that brought them to Philadelphia. They said, when they were first arrested, he had them confined in a damp cellar, tied back to back, and kept there from Thurs- day night until Sunday morning with hardly any victuals or drink. Certainly, none of them deserved such treatment, and some of them were brave fellows who had served with reputation during the Revolution, and were afterwards proved to be innocent of the crimes laid to their charge. When they reached the ferr}^ at Schuylkill they were ordered to put a piece of paper in their hats, with which they were paraded down Market Street. It was pretended that this was done to distinguish them from their guards, but their dress was sufiicient to make them known, without this dis- * I was well acquainted with these gentlemen. The two former I have mentioned before as members of the Supreme Executive Council. Mr. Gallatin is allowed by his enemies to be a man of superior talents. They were all of the same political party. — Author's notk. CHARLES BIDDLE. 263 graceful badge. I believe no complaint was made by the prisoners of any officer but General White. Hugh H. Brackenridge, in order to justify himself from charges made against him, published "Incidents of the In- surrection in the Western Parts of Pennsylvania." It appears from Mr. Brackenridge's own account that he acted a double part, which he thought his situation at that time not only justified but rendered meritorious. There is no doubt but that personal motives, more than public justice, actuated some of his enemies. In one part of his book he says, " At Parkinson's Perry I fell in with Benjamin Parkinson carry- ing down a board, with an intention to fix it upon one of the liberty poles. I read the inscription ; it was : — " ' Equal taxation, and no excise. No asylum for traitors and cowards.' " Thought I, there are two of us, then, that ought t'o be away ; for you are a coward, and I am a traitor, for I do not mean to go to war ; and if you do, you will not fight." In another part he mentions his being consulted by one Fergus Ferguson, collier, who was taken up as an insurgent. " I was of opinion that as his employment and residence were subterraneous, he could plead the not belonging to the sur- face of the earth ; or, if in strictness this would not bar the jurisdiction of the court, it would at least have weight with the Executive, to direct the Attorney-General to enter a nolle prosequi, inasmuch as he had been under ground through the summer, and had not heard of the insurrection until it was over." Mr. Brackenridge is now, 1805, one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of Pennsj-lvania. Major Lenox, the Marshal, who went up to serve the writs, is a native of Xorth Britain, a very worthy, good fellow. He was a captain in the American service, and was taken prisoner at Fort Washington. About the middle of April, 1796, in riding out to dine, I felt in the upper part of my back something like a small boil. In the evening it gave me some pain; however, I went to bed without saying anything about it, expecting it would 264 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP soon be well. In the night the pain increased and made me very restless, and it was painful all the next day, but not so much SO as to prevent my going to court and attending to other business. Being much fatigued when I went to bed, I slept soundly until near daylight, when I was awakened with a most excruciating pain which made me jump out of bed and order a light. Mrs. Biddle looked at the supposed boil, and thought if it was opened with a lancet, that it would immediately relieve me. I sent for Mr. Wolf, who dressed me, and who was a good bleeder, and ordered the servant to tell him to bring a lancet. He came just at daylight, when going to the window I pulled off my shirt and desired that he would immediately open the boil. He told me it had a very strange appearance, that it looked purple and green, and that he did not think it was in a proper state to be opened. He begged me to send for the doctor — he went himself — and Dr. Wistar, understanding from Mr. Wolf that he had left me in great pain, came immediately. Upon looking at the supposed boil he told me it must not be opened, that it would confine me some time, and directed a poultice of bread and milk to be immediately made, and applied to it. He gave me some drops in which I believe there was laudanum. The next day he told me it was an anthrax, and must be cut out. I lay with my back poulticed for near three weeks before it was supposed to be fit to cut. Previous to this he advised calling in Dr. Kuhn, who attended every day with Dr. Wistar. After this Dr. Wistar told me that he should not have occa- sion to use the knife again. He was, however, mistaken, for in a few days he and Dr. Kuhn having examined my back, informed me that it would facilitate the cure if I was again cut, and Dr. Wistar was proceeding to say something about a person who had fallen a sacrifice to his obstinac}', when Dr. Kuhn stopped him. Dr. Wistar said he would perform the operation that day, or put it oft' some days. I told him if he thought it necessary I would prefer his doing it immediately. He went home, brought his students with him and his in- struments, and began. This was the longest in performing and most severe of any of the operations he had performed. CHARLES BIDDLE. 265 The sweat ran down my liollow clieeks, and n^y shirt was as wet as if it had been in the river. I did not, however, utter a complaint. The Doctor was pleased to say that he never saw any one bear cutting so well. Soon after this I began to mend, and in a few days was well enough to ride out. The second or third time of my going out I had the curiosity to go into a neighbor's and get weighed. 'My long confinement had reduced me from one hundred and eighty to one hundred and thirty-four pounds weight. A sore mouth, such as young children have, I had after the anthrax was cut out, and for which the doctors gave me a great deal of vitriol. To this I imputed the loss of several of my teeth, which loosened and came out without any pain. Standing one day at the door waiting for the carriage, to go riding, being so weak that I was obliged to be supported by -a servant. Captain Welsh, an old acquaintance, came up to me and exclai^ied, "My God! is this Captain Biddle?" I shook him by the hand, and told him it was the remains of Captain Biddle, whom he formerly knew in the Bay of Honduras. " And is it possible," he again exclaimed, " that such a beautiful young man as you then were should be so much altered." His ex- clamation about my beauty^ wreck as I was, made me laugh. There must have been a great alteration from the time my honest friend ha,d seen me in the Bay ; then I was llorid, young, strong, and active, with an excellent set of teeth. He now saw me pale and weak, with the loss of some of my fore- teeth, and reduced to a skeleton. !N^otwithstanding vnj wretched appearance, my spirits were good, nor were they depressed during my confinement, which probably occasioned my recovery. A few days after my first leaving the house, an intimate friend called to see me. When I informed him of my being better and expecting soon to leave the room, he expressed much satisfaction, saying he had understood from the doctors, one or the other of whom he saw every day, that they had very little hopes of my recovery. Such per- sons should never be permitted to come into a sick-room with- out being cautioned as to what they may say. They dci)ress the spirits, by which means they may injure a sick person 266 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF materially. At one time I was of opinion myself that my disorder would prove fatal to me, in. consequence of wliich I made my will, w^rote a letter to Governor Mifflin requesting, should I not survive my complaint, that he would appoint some friend to my office who ^vould collect the fees that would he due my family, and made every other preparation in my power for my departure. Although very few people had more to make life desirable than myself, being in good circumstances, happy in my famil^^ and friends, yet knowing the uncertainty of life, I prepared to suffer with fortitude a removal from this world, which, however, I never found so bad as many people have represented jt. In fact, I believe very few have had less reason to complain of the world than myself, having my full share of the pleasures and comforts of life. During my confinement Dr. "Wistar would frequently agree to let me have meat or butter, but Dr. Kuhn v/ould never consent to any indulgence whatever. After riding out for some time my brother James purchased a fine green turtle for me which I had ever been very fond of, but when it was mentioned to Dr. Kuhn he requested me not to taste it. I was very weak for a long time, and in the fall had some apprehensions of being confined again. It, however, went off, and I have felt nothing of it up to this present year, 1805. There being some bank troubles about this time, it was said that Governor Mifflin had overdrawn on the bank for a considerable amount. He was so much affected by the report that he took to his bed, and sent to request me to call on him. Having some particular business to attend to, I did not wait on him that day. The next morning he sent Col, Febiger, the Treasurer, who told me the Governor was very anxious to see me. When I went he was much affected, saying he was afraid I had left him, and would not call to see him. I soon eased his mind. What occasioned the report was that his relation, John Mifflin, who was Cashier, and on whom he entirely depended to keep his bank account, had let some notes lent the Governor by Chief Justice McKean and the Surveyor-General, Brodhead, lie over when they should and would have been renewed had these gentle- CHARLES BIDDLE. 267 men been applied to. In money mattervS few men were more careless than Governor Mifflin, If he had what he wanted for to-day, he thonght not of to-morrow. If he had a sum by him that he knew he would be called upon for the next day, he could not refuse it to any of his friends who called to borrow. By this unfortunate weakness he was continually kept in want. In the year 1797 I met with an irreparable loss in the death of my brother James. He went from town the thirteenth of June to hold a court at Norristown, and returned home in the evening. I called at night to see him. His daughter told me he was well, but complained of being very much fatigued, and had gone to bed. In the night he was taken extremely ill, and in two days we lost him. A better man I believe never lived. To me he had ever been the most affectionate brother. ISTo father could have taken more care of me than he did. Hardly anything could have been so severe a blow to me as this loss. He was remark- ably cheerful and good-tempered. I hardly ever remember seeing him out of temper. He was careless of his health, and in money affairs very few men more so. I believe no man ever lived more beloved than my brother James. Two years before his death he went to Long Branch with an old schoolmate, Mu. Tench Francis. The day after they got down they stripped to go into bathe. Just as they were going in Mr. Francis stopped my brother, and said to him, " James, are you sick ?" "■ No." " Do you think bathing will make yon feel better?" "It cannot, for I never was better in my life." " As tliat is the case," says Mr. Francis, " let us put on our clothes, for I am of your opinion, that, being perfectly well, we cannot be better by bathing." Accordingly they dressed themselves, and did not go into the sea all the time they were at the shore. The loss of my brother having contined me a good deal to the house, I thought it would be of service to take a journey, and being advised by a friend who had been at BalLstown Springs, and who intended going there again, to take a jaunt there, I left town the first of August, taking my son 268 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF William with me. We got to Paulus Ilook that evening;, and intended to stay there all night, but finding the mosqui- tos very troublesome we crossed over to Is^ew YorK, where we arrived before ten o'clock. I do not think riding this distance in one day that a person feels more, perhaps not so much, fatigue as going forty or fifty miles in the same time ; at any rate it is so with me. We were some days in New York before we could get a passage to Albany. During our stay at ISTew York we passed our time very agreeably among the hospitable inhabitants, to several of whom I had letters of introduction. I intended before we left the city to have called upon Mr. William Seton, a very respectable merchant, who, I had some reason to think, was the same Mr. Seton who behaved so friendly to me when at St. Lucar in the year 1763, but the continual engagements I was under made me conclude to postpone my visit to him until my return from Ballstown. We embarked on board one of the Albany sloops, and were tolerably well accommodated. I do not think this the best way to go from New York to Albany. The most agree- able, and often the most expeditious way, I believe is to go to Poughkeepsie by water, and then to take the land stage. We arrived at Albany two days after a great fire that destroyed a considerable part of the town. We were received and entertained very hospitably bj^ the gentlemen to whom we had letters, particularly by Judge Taylor, who did every- thing in his power to make the place agreeable. There is nothing remarkable in Albany except it is the great number of stages. You can be accommodated with one here for almost any part of the continent. After remaining a few days here we went to Ballstown, distant from hence about thirty-seven miles,, and a tolerably good road. Ballstown is surrounded by hills. I do not think it is an agreeable place, at least it was not so during the time of my being there. The houses were too much crowded for an invalid to receive much benefit. This may be remedied by building more houses, but you cannot bring the springs from the low ground, and there is no pleasant place to ride or walk to. CHARLES BIDDLE. 269 We one day made up a party to spend a day at Saratoga Springs. At the tavern there we had a most execrable dinner ; the victuals were bad, and the cooking worse. An old acquaintance of mine, Col. Willet, of New York, who was one of the party, during the time we were dining kept praising the dinner, declaring he had never seen such a one before (this we all believed to be true), and said we ought to come often there to dinner. The landlord, who thought him serious, said he should be always glad to see him, and very gravely assured him that he should have as good a dinner whenever he came, provided he would give him notice of his coming. From what was mentioned to me while at Ballstown, I believe the waters are very good in some dis- orders, particularly^ in the grflvel. A very respectable gentle- man, James Reed, of Philadelphia, whose veracity could not be doubted, told me that before he came to the Springs he was so much afflicted with the gravel that his life was a burthen to him ; that by drinking the waters, which he did in greiit quantities, he was perfectly cured. It was eight years before I saw him there that he first visited the Springs, and he had no return of his complaint. He came this season to accompany a friend. The most agreeable place to spend some days in the summer that I know is I^ong Branch. There you have good living, a fine country to ride or walk in, a number of vessels constantly in sight, and generally good society. I have heard Major Lenox, who has been at most of the watering places in England, say there is none in that country so pleasant as Long Branch. If Major Lenox had any partiality, it would be in favor of England. After being a week at Ballstown, we heard that the yellow fever had broken out in Philadelphia. As soon as it was confirmed to me by a letter from Mrs. Biddle, I set off imme- diately in the stage for Albany, where I arrived in the even- ing, and set off* the next day for Kew York. Had it not been for the fever in Philadelphia, I should have stopped a day or two with my old friend, Gen. Armstrong, who lived a small distance from the road, but the reports of the fever 270 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF being very bad, induced me to go on without stojDping. The road over the Highlands was at this time very bad. Near Tarrytown we were shown the tree under which the militia guard were playing cards when the unfortunate Major Andre was passing. If he had not been off" his guard at the time, or had he pushed on Avhen they challenged him, it is proba- ble he would have escaped, an event few Americans would have lamented, although the conduct of Paulding, Williams, and Van Wert, who apprehended him, was highly merito- rious, and they well deserved the reward given them. For my own part, I sincerely wished he had escaped. It was late in the night when Ave reached isTew York. The next morning I waited on Col. Burr, and requested he would go with me to Mr. Seton's. W^hen we called, one of his sons told us that he had been taken very ill the day be- fore, that the doctor who attended him was afraid it was something of a paralytic stroke. I now regretted exceedingly my not calling on him on my way to Albany. I left a note with Mr. McCormick for Mr. Seton, requesting to know if he was the same gentleman whom I had known at Mr. David Ferrier's, at St. Lucar. Mr. McCormick, who was soon after in Philadelphia, informed me that Mr. Seton was the same person I supposed him to be, that he remembered me per- fectly well, and lamented very much his not seeing me, and was very angry that they did not bring me into his room. He told Mr. McCormick that he had such a strong impres- sion of the little fellow (as he called me) that he was sure he would immediately know me. In this I suppose he would have been mistaken, for thirty -four years will make some alte- ratio7i in most men, and as I was a boy when Mr. Seton knew me, it is not probable he would have remembered me. Having staid in town the morning to see Mr. Seton, in the afternoon I crossed the river and set oif in the stage for Phila- delphia. At this time there was no difficulty in getting a passage there. Most of the inhabitants who could do so, were leaving the city, and very few going in. The dismal accounts we heard on the road made me very impatient to get there. We stop23ed at Mr. Lardner's, about ten miles CHARLES BIDDLE. 271 from the city, and there I found Mrs. Biddle and some of the children, all well. I intended to ride into the city myself the next day, but Mrs. Biddle, when she found she could not persuade me to stay out, would go in with me. Just before we got to the door, two boys were going along the street, and one by accident pushed the other against the horses, which knocked him over, and I believe hurt him much. His compan- ion helped him up, and was leading him down the street, when I got out of the carriage and was following them in order to bring him into the house, but Mr. Lewis, my clerk, ran after me and begged me to return, for a few doors below a person had just died of the fever. The city at this time presented a most melancholy appearance. We only staid to take out some articles of clothing of which we were in want, and to give directions to Mr. Lewis and a servant, who preferred re- maijiing in town to leaving it (for I would not at this time even request a servant to stay). "We crossed the bridge at Schuylkill, and went that evening to my friend. Judge Jones's, who, as well as Mr. Lardner, had sent his carriage down as soon as he heard of the fever being in town, to bring the family out to his house. Mr. Jones had before done that, when many people in the country were afraid to see any per- son from the city, and Mr. Lardner would have done the same. Such friends are invaluable. My clerk, ]\Ir. Lewis, declared he was hot the least afraid of staying in town. The black girl, however, told us he was very much alarmed, and she expected he would not stay long. It appeared that she was right, for a few days afterwards he begged me to get him a place in Germantown, which I immediately did. There was very little doing at the otfice, and it was contrary to my inclination that he staid in town. I had informed him that go when he would, his salary should be continued. We passed our time between Mr. Jones's and Mr. Lardner's until the latter end of October, when the fever abating we moved into town. If it had not been for what we felt for the suiferings of those in the city we should have had an agreeable time of it, for it was remarkably healthy in the vicinity of the city, and the weather very fine. Those from 272 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF the city, who could aiFord it, and the people in the country generally, subscribed liberally for the distressed persons in the city. We had some little alarm after we moved into town, one of our neighbors having died the day after we got in. The cold weather, however, soon set in, and our fears were over. In 1798 the yellow fever again visited us, and all ray family except Mrs. Biddle, who would not leave the town without me, staid at my friend Jones s. Soon after, when the fever got to be very bad, I was obliged to go with her to Mr. Jones's. What hurried us from town was a woman who came into the oflice for a deed. As she looked pale and sickly, I desired her to sit down, inquired if she would take anything, and what part of the town she lived in, and if she was unwell. She replied no, she was only fatigued, that her husband was at the hospital, and she had been attending him. " And what is the matter with your husband ?" " Why, the doc- tors say he has the yellow fever," Although alarmed my- self, I could not refrain from laughing at two men who hap- jDened to be in the ofticc on business, and who ran out as fast as they could, not waiting to get their papers. When they were gone I told the woman it was of no consequence to her to have the deed at present, that after being at the hospital she should not be running about town, and to go immediately and take care of her husband, and see that he wanted for nothing that she could do to restore him to health. She ap- peared sensible that she was wrong in leaving him, and went oil'. When she was gone my honest clerk, Lewis, exclaimed, " There, Mr. Biddle, now I will be bound she has given it to us. We have got it." I felt uncomfortable, but told him not to he afraid ; as Ave neither of us had touched her, there was no danger of her giving us any disorder. If there was danger we escaped it. The fourth of August this year there was an attempt made to rob the Bank of Pennsylvania, but the villains were frightened before they had done any mischief. After this the two porters belonging to the bank were armed, and ordered to sleep in the bank. The last of August ISTath'l CHARLES BIDDLE. 273 Potter, one of the porters, died of the yellow fever. At this time no person in whom confidence could be placed would sleep there, so that Thomas Cunningham, the other porter, remained alone in the bank. The second of Sep- tember, early in the morning, Mr. Annesley, the runner, went to the bank about some business, when to his great surprise he found the back door and the cash vault open. He called Cunningham, who either was, or pretended to be, asleep. When he came down he expressed as much surprise as Annesley, declaring he had never heard the least noise. The runner went to Mr. Smith, the cashier, who lived a short dis- tance from town, and informed him of the discovery he had made. Mr. Smith sent for the president, who immediately came to town. Upon their going to the bank they found that the locks must have been opened by false keys, as the wards were not the least injured. The money taken in gold and notes amounted to something more than one hundred and sixty thousand dollars. Everything was done by the officers of the bank and the directors that was possible to discover the villains who committed the robbery. Several persons were taken up in the city on suspicion, among others Patrick Lyon, a smith, who had been employed about the locks. Lyon had gone oif a short time before the robbery to Cape Henlopen. When he heard that he was suspected of being concerned* in the robbery he came up to town and delivered himself up, notwithstanding which many of the directors believed that no other person could have picked the locks but Lyon, who is certainly very remarkable for his skill in the business. However, his coming to town made me suppose him innocent. He was for a long time confined in gaol. After some time one Isaac Davis, a house carpenter, who had been employed doing some jobs about the bank, was observed to alter his mode of living. He left off work, Y>re- tending he had made a great deal of money by an adventure he made to some of the West India Islands. He next set up his carriage and lodged a considerable sum in the Bank of Pennsylvania. It was also found he had deposited money in 18 274 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF the Banks of the United States and North America. When this was ascertained by the cashier little doubt was enter- tained of Davis being the robber. The cashier, without ex- citing any suspicion in Davis, got him to his house ; the presi- dent was there. By threats and promises of a pardon he acknowledged his guilt, and declared that no person was concerned with him but Thomas Cunningham, the porter, who was taken ill with the fever and died in a few days. Davis delivered up all that he said he had, which, upon counting, was found to be something more than one hundred thousand dollars. They then took Davis before Robert Wharton, the Mayor, when he made a further confession. He said that the day Cunningham was taken ill, he sent for him and delivered him the remainder of the money in his possession. The president and cashier then went to Davis's house where they obtained what he had, which together with what was before received, amounted to within three thou' sand dollars of what had been stolen. His horses and car- riage were also taken. Davis appears to have remembered the old saying, " honor among thieves," for he expressed much more unwillingness to give up what he called Cunning- ham's share than his own part of the booty. At first no suspicion whatever was entertained of Davis or Cunningham, and if Davis had behaved with prudence his villainy might have remained a secret forever. Davis and Cunningham were both born in Chester County. Cunningham was recommended by a number of respectable people to the directors of the bank, and probably if he had never been in it, would have supported the character of an honest man. It is my opinion, as well as that of others, that a young man from the country is not so proper to be employed in a bank, as they are more strongly tempted to commit a rob- bery than those who have been in the habit of seeing much money. Judge Peters says all the great and strange people we have in Pennsylvania are from Chester County. He kept a list of all he knew ; at the head of it was Governor Mclvean ; the next was Mrs. Ginnes, a very celebrated young woman that was with our army most of the war, and who behaved well in CHARLES BIDDLE. 275 lier care and attention to our sick and wounded officers. She had a trial in our court a few years since, and while there a person was speaking. She inquired of a man near her who he was. She was answered, " One of the gentlemen of the Bar." "Oh, no I" says she, "that cannot be, for I know all the gentlemen of the Bar." Purchasers of property being often plagued about old judgments that were in my office for which there was no limitation as to the time of their being a lien upon land, I applied this year, 1798, to the Legislature, and procured an act declaring that no judgment should be a lien upon land for more than five years, unless revived by scire facias. This act was the occasion of my losing a great many costs, for many people never ])aid until there was a seai'ch, and judg- ments found against them. However, I considered the law of great public benefit, and therefore did not regard any loss that would accrue to me from it, and, as public officers or their sureties (or if dead their heirs or executors) were liable to a suit at any length of time, I had it inserted in the act that the suit should be brought within seven years from the time in which the cause of action should have happened. I knew the, heirs of a security upon an administrator's bond paid a great number of years after he had been dead, when had he or the person for whom he had been surety been living, it is probable fliey could have satisfied the parties that brought the suit that there was no cause of action. I was determined this year, 1799, to purchase a place within a short distance of town, that if we were obliged on account of yellow fever to leave it, we should not have occa- sion to trouble our friends. Ten acres of land with a small house being for sale in February, by the sherifi", situated in Islington Lane,* which is a little more than three miles from town, I purchased it. The infamous and menacing conduct of the French at * Islington Lane still retains its name, running from Ridge Avenue, near Twenty-sixth Street, past Glenwood Cemetery and Odd Fellows' Cemetery to the Lamb Tavern Road. What was once "three miles from town" is now twelve miles inside of the northeastern limit of the citv. 276 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF this time to our Ambassador had aroused the resentment of our country against them. Before this time their horrid cruelty to man}^ of their own best citizens, particularly to a number of excellent females, had occasioned a general disgust to them. It was suggested that it would be well for those excused by age from militia duty to associate to co-operate with the militia. This was mentioned to me by an old friend of mine, who appeared very anxious that something should be done by the old citizens. He was one who had been in Mr. "Wilson's house when it was attacked, and said he was afraid from the number of foreigners that something of the kind would' again happen. Approving of the idea, I did everything in my power to promote it. We had several large meetings at Dunwoody's tavern, and I was very much pleased to see such a number of hardy, jovial veterans as we mustered, many of whom, and some were upwards of seventy, were fit for almost any military duty, and would have fought as well as any men in the world had they been called into action. We had the following articles of association drawn up, and unanimously agi'fed to. " To preserve our country from insult, outrage, and dis- honor, to preserve her from a foreign yoke, and to maintain our freedom and independence, the Congress and Executive of the United States are adopting the most vigorous and energetic measures, the Governor of our State has issued a proclamation for enrolling, organizing, and equipping the great body of the militia, our sons have already associated in arms ; at so awful a crisis. We, the subscribers, citizens of the United States, and inhabitants of the city and liberties of Philadelphia, above the age prescribed by law for the per- formance of militia dut}^, holding ourselves indispensably obliged to contribute to the public safety to the utmost of our ability, do agree, " First, That we will, as early as possible, provide ourselves each with a good musket, bayonet, cartridge box, and twenty- four charges of powder and ball, and keep the same in good order at our resj)ective houses, or such other place as may be hereafter agreed upon. CHARLES BIDDLE. 277 " Second, That when any company have associated together in sufiieient number we will proceed to chose one suitable person as captain, one lieutenant, and one second lieutenant, by ballot or otherwise, as shall be agreed upon ; and such other ofhcers as may be found expedient. " Third, That when the companies are completed the officers shall apply to the Executive for such commissions as it may be deemed proper to grant them, and make a tender of this association for the defence of the city and liberties, and sup- port of the civil authority. " Fourth. That if the militia and volunteers of the city and liberties of Philadelphia be drafted or ordered to actual service at a distance from home, we will make diligent inquiry, in our respective wards or townships, into the state of their families, and administer to their comfort and relief in the best manner in our power." Mr, Richard ISTorth and myself went about in the ward we lived in, North Ward. It was requested that I would sign it tirst, which I did. Those in the ward that signed were, Charles Biddle, Peter Cross, John Capp, " Joseph Donnaldson, Jacob Miller, David Sickel, John Fretwell, Ty. Matlack, William BeTll, John Kebler, Mich'l Gunkle, Christopher Byerlt, John Spooner, Richard Rundle, John Evarhart, Sr., John Steinmetz, Jacob Eckfeldt, Benj. Severn, John Perot, Joseph Horsfall, Gervas Hall, John A. Lewis, Martin Summers, The Rev. Doctor Smith Michael Albright, signed in this way : Christian Kouch, Wm. Smith, D.D., wishes John Little, to associate with his old friends Charles Souder, Sr., in any character, lay, clerical 5 or mixed, as they may think he can be useful. 278 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF We talked of forming a troop. If we had we should most of us have been like the old City Troop, very few of whom after the war could mount without going to a fence or horseblock. The fever breaking out soon after prevented our getting organized. At the last meeting advertised at Dunwoody's the fever was so bad in town that no one attended but my- self. My old friend, who first spoke to me on the business, reminded me of what I had heard in the beffinnino; of our Revolution of a Kew England colonel. The colonel was met going from his regiment when it was engaged. The person that met him inquired where he was going. He said he had " set them at it, and, as the Major understood fighting better than he did, he thought it best to come away." So my old friend set us at the business, and then left us, for he never attended after the first meeting. Mr. Levi Ilollingsworth, a very public spirited merchant, was on this occasion extremely active, as he always was when anything that he thought would be of service to his country was to be done. It was in the month of Februar}^ this year that my friend Commodore Truxtun 'captured the French frigate Insurgent. When it is considered that he had not an officer on board but young lads, who, as well as most of the crew, had never seen a gun fired in anger before, this must be considered as a very gallant action. His manccuvering so as to lose but few men showed his skill as well as courage. After the capture he wrote me an account of it, and informed me that he had ap- pointed Mr. Henry Bainbridge, who married his eldest daugh- ter, agent for himself and crew. As I considered Mr. Bain- bridge a very good young man, this appointment gave me pleasure ; it was not long, however, after this before Mr. Bainbridge called upon me to inform me of his being very much embarrassed, ai)d that he found he could not meet his engagements. I advised him to immediately stop pay- ment, which is what every man should do when he finds himself in such a situation. He told me afterwards, that some months before he had found this must happen, in con- sequence of which he had called upon a respectable merchant on whom Commodore Truxtun had given him a credit, CHARLES BIDDLE. 279 to consult what he had best do, and that he had advised him to go on as long as he could, perhaps something would turn up. This advice he unfortunately pursued until he called on me, when he had very little left, having lost a great deal on notes he sold. Although I considered Mr. Bainbridge as a good young man, I knew he was not prudent, and therefore thought it a duty in me as the friend of Commodore Truxtun to inform him of Mr. Bainbridge's situation. I therefore wrote immediately to the Commodore, who was by this time arrived at JSTorfolk. The letter I showed to Mr. Bainbridge. The Commodore wrote me by return of the post to beg I would take upon myself the agency. Although I did not wish to have anything to do with it, my friendship for the Commodore would not permit me to refuse it. Commodore Truxtun set up Mr. Bainbridge in the grocery business, and put into his hands ten thousand dollars, besides o-ivino; him a credit for near three thousand dollars more. It would have been better for both had he only given him one thousand dollars. Mr. Bainbridge is sober and indus- trious, but having so much money in his hands, he entered into foolish speculations that he would not have thought of had his funds been more limited. Putting too much money into the hands of young men frequently occasions their ruin. On settlement^ for the prize money, I found that nineteen out of twenty had sold their shares for a mere trifle, some for not more than ten dollars ; the shares for the Insurgent amounted to one hundred and six dollars and eighty cents each. This perhaps could in some measure be remedied, if the agent was not allowed to pay the crew on power of attor- ney, without some proof of the seamen not being defrauded. During the fever while at my place in the country, a man came there who said his name was Wni. "Williamson, that he had been a marine on board the Constellation, that in coming from Georgetown, Maryland, wdiere he lived, he had lost his prize ticket and did not know what to do, that he was in great distress, not having a farthing, and begged me to let him have his prize money. I asked him respecting the officers of the ship, all of whose names he knew, and men- 280 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF tioned several circumstances relating to the capture. I asked him whom he knew in Maryland or Virginia. lie said Gen- eral Washington knew him very well, and he could get any security to return the money I gave him. Having not the least doubt from the plausible manner in which he spoke that what he told me was true, I gave him what money was in the house, and after he had his dinner he went oif, saying he would go back to Maryland. A few days after, happen- ing to be in town, he called again, just after one of the officers of the Constellation went out. At this time he over-acted his part. He said he came to town to see a friend and was taken sick, and then had a fever. I told him if that was the case to go immediately away, and come when the fever was over. He wanted to get something, but I obliged him to go away. Had he not said he was sick, he would have got more money. A few days after a man called with a power of attorney, from a woman Avho had taken out letters of admin- istration on the estate of Williamson. I mentioned to this man the circumstance of Williamson being at my house. He appeared surprised, said he would write to the woman who had sent him the letters of administration. Shortly after, to my great surprise, another man came and said he was the Williamson who had been in the Constellation, but had lost his ticket. I told him of the man who had been with me and received part of the money, and of the letters of adminis- tration. He knew very well the woman who took out the letters of administration. He said it was reported he was dead, and he supposed she believed it. The man he could give no account of, but thought it was some fellow who had heard him complain of the loss of his ticket. This man looked like an honest country lad. He said he was a blacksmith by trade, and as the fever was nearly over he would get work in town, that he did not want anything until he brought some of the officers who knew him. He accordingly went to work, informing me where he could be found. Soon after one of the officers being in town, I sent for the blacksmith, who was the true Williamson, and he had found his ticket, which on his producing I paid him his prize money. The CHARLES BIDDLE. 281 fellow that came to my house I could never find. It is prob- able he left the State. My house in Islington Lane being too small, I had to build an addition to it. The building went on slowly until the be- ginning of August, wdien we had a report of the yellow fever being in town. This induced us to hurry the carpenters. It was, however, the last day of the month before we could any how be accommodated, and then it was very badly, for we had but one room below to sit in, one above, and a garret for the family to sleep in ; no outside doors hung, and the wind coming in from all quarters. However, being all in good health and spirits, we made out tolerably well, and as we had ten or a dozen carpenters at work, we were every day getting better. When we first moved out, my neighbor, Mr. Moylan, very politely offered me an empty house of his near ours; we, however, concluded it was better to stay where we were. While we were in this situation, I heard some per- son at the gate inquiring for me; it was my old friend. Com- modore Truxtun, who was on his way to visit General Wash- ington, who had written to him, requesting he would pay him a visit. He had left the stage at Frankford, and hired a carriage to call on me. As it rained very hard, I could not think of his leaving me that day, and we prepared a berth for him in our room below. He' staid with us three or four days, when I took him as fiir on his way as General Robinson's, on Naaman's Creek, from whence he went in the stage as far as Mount Vernon. Shortly before this, Commo- dore Truxtun thinking himself injured by the President ranking Commodore Talbot above him, had resigned his com- mission in the navy. By the appointments General Wash- ington made, Talbot ranked higher than Truxtun, but there were only three frigates fitted out, which were commanded by Barry, iSTicholson, and Truxtun, and their commissions were numbered one, two, three, and Talbot not going into the service for a long time afterwards, Truxtun thought Tal- bot should not rank above him ; and I believe he was right. Had it been determined by a board of officers, neither could have complained. President Adams, I believe, seldom con- 282 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF suited any one ; he determined the rank against Truxtun, who immediately sent in his commission. I am sure Mr. Adams did what he thought was right, for he knew Truxtun well, and had a great regard for him. Knowing it would be a loss to the navy for Truxtun to leave it, I went with General Wilkinson up to Trenton to speak to Mr. Stoddert, the Secretary of the ISTavy, about get- ting him again into the service. Mr. Stoddert made some difficulty on account of the other captains, who he thought would resign. I told him it was not probable they would, that although most of them" were very brave men, as a naval officer none of them were equal to Truxtun. "Wilkinson and myself after some time persuaded the Secretary to send Trux- tun his commission, and it was understood that Talbot and he were not to be on the same station. At this time our Ministers or Commissioners, Messrs. Ellsworth and Davis, were here preparing to embark for France. Mr. Hamilton, and some others, were at Trenton, who, with Messrs. Pickering and Wolcot, were endeavoring to prevent their being sent.* However, the President thought it right they should go, and nothing could move him to change his opinion. For my own part, I thought then, and still think, it was the best thing we could do. It was certainly our business to be at peace with France if it could be done without submitting to improper terms. Taking this method, could not, in Mr. Adams, proceed from want of spirit, for none possessed more firmness than he did. Besides, he had promised he would send ministers out when it was assured they would be well received, and those assurances were given. This fall Chief Justice McKean was elected Governor in the room of Governor Mifflin. I wrote to him for a renewal of my commission as Prothonotary. I believe it was some time before he made up his mind on the subject, for my com- mission did not come down until Ions: after the other officers o * This refers to the well-known intrigue to rule the administration of President Adams by the disaffected faction in the Federal party. CHARLES BIDDLE. 283 in the city had received theirs. I knew he was very much provoked at some severe pieces written against him by my nephew, Mr. Marks John Biddle. However, Governor McKean and myself had always been upon good terras, and I had a high esteem for him, believing him to be a very honest man, although a very violent one who had no command of his temper, but spoke whatever he thought upon all occasions. General Craig and Mr. Graydon, for whom I had formerly procured the office of Prothonotary, dined with me soon after the election. Mr. Graydon had shortly before married the daughter of Charles Pettit, whose son, Mr. Andrew Pettit, was married to the daughter of Governor McKean. On account of this alliance, and Graydon's merit and talents, it was thought he would have a great deal of influence with the Governor, which Craig begged he would use for a friend of his, whom he wished kept in oflice ; but, to the surprise of most people, Graydon was one of the first removed from office. This led me to believe there was some truth in the report about town, that before the election there was an agreement between the Governor and some who had agreed to support him, what officers should be removed. After the removal of Graydon, and considering the violent pieces of my nephew, Mr. Marks John Biddle, and the knowledge the Governor had of my intimacy with Mr. Ross, his rival candi- date for the office of Governor, it would not have surprised me if some person had been appointed to the office held by me. My friend Governor Mifflin was obliged to leave town soon after the election in consequence of a process taken out against him by one of his relatives. He sent to inform me of his situation, and to request me to come out to see him. He was then at his place at the Falls of Schuylkill. I imme- diately went, and found him in bed. At seeing me he was very much affected, and I was not a little so myself seeing him so different from what he was a short time before sur- rounded by his friends or rather his acquaintances, and in high spirits, as he was elected a member of the Legislature, who were to meet soon at Lancaster. I thought it best he should go there, and advised him to it. " But what, my 284 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF dear friend, shall I do when the sessions are over?" "That must he thought of afterwards, when we meet at Lancaster, which will he shortly." He went there the next day. Shortly after he had gone to Lancaster, Mr. Anthony Morris (formerly Speaker of the Senate) called on me. He told me he was very sorry to hear I had blamed him on account of the writ taken out against the Governor, that he had nothing to do with it. I told him he was misinformed, that I had spoken ver}^ freelj" of those who took out the writ, as it could answer no good purpose, but never supposed he had anything to do with it. This was the last time I ever saw Governor Mifflin. He died during the session. His situation preyed upon his spirits and rendered his life a burthen to him. General Mifflin was below the middle size, and very well formed ; his countenance open, cheerful, and agreeable. Coming to see me one da}^ he put a young lady and her mother from the country, who happened to be in the house, to the blush. After looking attentively at the girl, he said to her, " any one could tell you to be a Biddle." Had he known the mother was present he would not on any account have said it, but he really supposed the girl to be my daughter, and thought there was a strong family likeness. He was a kind, benevolent man. On the 14th of December, 1799, died General Washington. The loss of this great and good man was most deeply lamented. Grief was pictured in every countenance when we had a certain account of hife death. I had seen him during the war at my brother Edward's, and in camp. When he was in the Convention I dined several times in company with him, and had the honor of his company to dine with me. When he was elected President of the United States, he lived during the whole of the time that he was in Philadelphia nearly opposite to me. At that time I saw him almost daily. I frequently attended his levees to introduce some friend or acquaintance, and called sometimes with Governor Mifflin. The General always behaved politely to the Governor, but it appeared to me that he had not forgotten the Governor's opposition to him during the Revolutionary war. He was a CHARLES BIDDLE. 285 most elegant figure of a man, with so much dignity of manners, that no person whatever could take any improper liberties with him. I have heard Mr. Robert Morris, who was as intimate with him as any man in America, say that he was the only man in whose presence he felt any awe. You would seldom see a frown or a smile on his countenance, his air was serious and reflecting, yet I have seen him in the theatre laugh heartily. Dr. Forrest, who laughs a great deal, desired me, one night at the theatre, to look at General "Washington. " See how he laughs, by the Lord he must be a gentleman." The General was in the next box, and I believe heard him.* He was much more cheerful when he was retiring from the oiRce of President than I had ever seen him before. Commodore Barry, Major Jackson, and myself were appointed a committee of the Society of the Cincinnati to wait upon him with a copy of an address, and to know when it would be convenient to him for the society to wait upon him. He received us with great good himior, and laughing, told us that he had heard Governor Morris (I believe of I^ew Jerse}^) say that when he knew gentlemen were going to call on him with an address, he sent to beg they would bring an answer. If this were done to him, he observed that it would * Anecdotes of Washington, however homely or trivial, are sure to be interesting. Perhaps this may excuse the record here of what has no other connection with the text. AVithin the memory of the present writer, an aged Phihidelphia mechanic being asked if he remembered General Wash- ington replied, "General Washington! oh yes, I remember General Wash- ington well; T once see General Washington kick a fellow down stairs." He proceeded to relate that he and a fellow journeyman were once sent to the President's house to do a job of jjainting or glazing. Arriving early, they were admitted by a servant-maid who led the way up stairs. Whilst ascending the stairs his companion attempted some liberties with the girl, who gave a loud shriek as they reached the second story. Immediately the General sallied forth from the front room, half dressed and half shaved, and demanded the cause of the disturbance. Hearing the girl's story, he rushed at the man in a rage and started him down stairs with a violent kick from behind; at the same time he cried out, " I will have no woman insulted in my house," and called for Colonel Lear to put the rascal out the front door. The language of the narrator was more graphic, if less decorous, than in the above repetition. 286 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF save liim a great deal of trouble. He was in Philadelphia a short time before he died, and I thought he never looked better than he did at that time. He enjoyed remarkable health, hardly ever having been confined by sickness. The loss of no man was ever more severely felt by his countrymen than General Washington. He was called the American Fabius, but Fabius was not equal to George Washington. He sutiered Tarentum to be pillaged when it was traitorously delivered to him, and his opposition and jealousy of Scipio rendered the Roman unequal to the American hero. The visit of Commodore Truxtun in the fall was a very unfortunate one to my family. Two of my sons, James* and Edward, hearing so much about the navy, took an inclination to enter the service, and although I would not recommend it to them it was not disagreeable to me, for if they found it disagreeable to remain in the navy they would' be qualifying themselves to command ships in the merchant service. As to Edward I did not wish him to follow the sea. Although but little more than sixteen years of age he was one of the best mathematicians in the country. I thought a short cruise would be of service to him. I applied to Mr. Stoddert, then Secretary of the N'avy, and on the 14th day of February, 1800, he sent them both warrants as midshipmen. As they were to join the frigate President, then fitting out at Xew York for Commodore Truxtun, it was not until July following that they were wanted on board the ship. The 5th of July, 1800, I set oif with them for ISTew York. It now o-ives me the most painful sensations to think of this journey, which was the most disagreeable I ever made. A thousand melancholy reflections filled my mind, and a hundred times I secretly wished some accident would happen to put a stop to it. We, however, reached Xew York without any accident the 7th of July. My mind at this time was so uneasy that it would have given me pleasure to have heard the ship was burned or sunk. The day we arrived was excessively hot, and the place we lodged at was a tavern near the water-side, and was * Afterwards Commodore James Biddle, U. S. Navy. See note E. CHARLES BIDDLE. 287 dirty and disagreeable. Soon after our being at the tavern Colonel Burr called with a servant to take our baggage and insisted on our going to his house. This was a very agree- able change to us, and his accomplished daughter (since married to Mr. Alston) did everything as well as her father, to make the place agreeable. We had every day during my stay some gentlemen to dine, among others. General Hamil- ton. At this time he and Colonel Burr appeared to be on good terms. The General invited Mr. Burr and myself to dine with him, but my short stay prevented me. I remained with the boys three days, and then left them to the care of Col. Burr and Commodore Truxtun. Just before leaving New York I sent a note to Commodore Truxtun, of which the fol- lowing is a copj : — ■ New York, July 9, 1800. 2)e«r Sii^ : James and Edward, whom I have left with you, have ever behaved in such a manner as to gain the love and esteem of all their relatives and friends. They have a good education, and you, I suppose, will make them good officers. They know the advantage of being w4th you, and are in- formed that nothing will gratify me so much as meeting your approbation, nothing give me more pain than their not doing it. The heart of their mother has been torn vdth anguish at partiyg with them, and I feel everything that a parent, who would sacrifice his life for their happiness, can feel. The distress of their mother has affected them both ; however, this they will soon get over. I shall only add that your care of them will be the greatest favor you can possibly confer on me, and will ever be remembered as the highest mark of your friendship. Yours sincerely, Charles Biddle. Commodore Truxtun. Commodore Truxtun in his answer assured me in the strongest terms that he would do everything. I left New York very early in the morning. Both the boys came with me to the wharf. It is impossible to describe 288 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF what I felt at taking leave of them. My eyes were not re- moved from them, as they stood on the wharf, until out of sight, and theirs were fixed on the boat. I had engaged to visit them at Amboy, as soon as the ship dropped down to the watering place. Accordingly when Commodore Truxtun wrote me that the ship was there, I set off with Mrs. Biddle for Amboy, about the eighth of August. When near Commodore Truxtun's we saw them walking the piazza ; their tender mother was ready to jump out of the carriage as soon as she had a sight of them. The next day we crossed Staten Island to the watering place, a distance of about eighteen miles, and went on board the frigate. We found everything in excel- lent order, and their mother was more reconciled to their go- ing than she was before she saw how well they were accom- modated. Tom,* a faithful black who had been born and brought up in the family, agreed to enter on board the frig- ate and go with them. As we knew he would be a faithful servant, his going was a great consolation to their mother and myself. We arrived on Wednesday and staid with them until the Monday following. The parting between Mrs. Bid- die and the boys was an affecting scene ; to me a very pain- ful one. They did not leave Sandy Hook until the begin- ning of September. Shortly after they sailed, we had some severe gales of wind. These gales reminded me of what I had somewhere read : — " The winds howl with peculiar horro« to him whose ojff- spring is on the waves ; the beating tempest of a winter's evening is painfully alarming to that parent whose social hearth seems forsaken through the absence of one that is at sea." At this time parties were very busy about the election of President and Vice-President; and as usual on these occasions much abuse was published against the candidates. Believ- ing it of little consequence to the country, whether Mr. Adams or Mr. Jefierson was President, I gave myself no * The same servant that staid in town at our house during the yellow fever of 1793. — Author's kotk. CHARLES BIDDLE. 289 trouble about the election. I was indifferent as to Colonel Burr being elected Vice-President, for it was my opinion that it would be better for him to remain at the Bar, where he was making a fortune, than to be Vice-President of the United States. This, I believe, he afterwards thought himself. From the great exertions made by the partisans of Mr, Jeffer- son and Mr. Burr, I had little doubt of their succeeding. A number of my friends were as anxious about this election as if everything they had in the world depended on it, when in fact it was of as little importance to them which of the can- didates succeeded, as it was to an inhabitant of Africa. Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Burr having an equal number of votes, the Federal party thinking of two evils they would choose the least, did everything in their power to have Mr. Burr President. Some people blamed Mr. James Bayard, of Delaware, for not behaving with that ffrmness he ought to have done. Mr. Bayard is a respectable man, and no doubt did what he thought right. It was said Mr. Burr intrigued to get appointed President. If he did, he managed badly, for he should have gone to Washington, where he certainly could, if he wished it, have been elected. It was owing to the chapter of accidents that he had not more votes from the electors than Mr. Jefferson. Colonel F. IN^ichols, who informed me he was spoken to by some members of the Legislature to be one of the Federal electors for Pennsylvania, was by acci- dent prevented from being at Lancaster, by which means another person was chosen in his room. Colonel Nichols has told me often since, that knowing the Federal party could not carry their man, he was determined to give a vote for Colonel Burr, under whom he had served, and for whom he had a great esteem. He lamented that he did not ride up and get his friend Coleman to give a vote for Colonel Burr. Mr. Coleman, who was one of the electors, has frequently told me he intended to vote for Colonel Burr, and was with diffi- culty persuaded from it, and Colonel Robinson, of Delaware, who was an excellent officer of the Pennsylvania line, informed me that when he was spoken to to be one of the electors, (which he had always been) he informed his friends he should 19 290 AUTOBIOGRAPHYOF vote for Burr, wlio was one of the officers of the Revolution. One of the electors who came in as they were voting told Mr. Coleman that he intended to vote for Colonel Burr, and wished to speak to him, but had not an opportunity. Cole- man was sorry he did not, as he would have advised him to vote for Burr. In October, while in court, Mr. Kitchen, keeper of the City Tavern, called me out, and informed me that he had just received an account of Commodore Truxtun's safe arrival in the West Indies. On account of the violent gales we had for some days after he sailed, this intelligence gave me great pleasure, and knowing how pleasing it would be to their mother, I imme- diately went to our place to inform her. A few days after- wards we had letters from James and Edward, who were pleased with their shij) and commander ; and Commodore Trux- tun wrote me he was much pleased with their conduct since they had been with him, and that he had no doubt of their being an honor to their country. They wrote afterwards b}^ seve- ral opportunities. In December I received a letter from Edward, giving an account of St. Kitts, and mentioning how much he was pleased with his situation and with his commander, and that he and James were very hearty. A day or two after, as I was dressing to go out, one of my clerks came from the office, and told me a gentleman wanted to speak to me. When I went into the office it surprised me to find.it was Mr. Thomas Biddle, a cousin of mine, who wanted me. I was laughing at him for being so ceremonious, when I was stopped by per- ceiving that something extraordinary was the matter with him. He inquired in a faltering voice if I had heard any- thing from the President. Surprised at the question, I said I had not expected to hear from him, having no business with him. During this time it never entered my head that he alluded to the frigate President, but had supposed it to be Mr. Adams. He then put a letter into my hands. It was from Mr. Blake, one of the midshipmen belonging to the frigate, to Mr. Tilghman, giving an account of the death of Edward! Of Edward! so dear to his friends. Of Edward! CHARLES BIDDLE. 291 SO beloved by his parents andfamily. An aifectionate parent, who has unexpectedly an account of the loss of a most excel- lent son whose life was infinitely dearer to him than his own, may form some idea of what I felt on this occasion. None but such can know the inexpressible anguish this fatal letter gave me. I cannot at this time think of it without being greatly, very greatly aftected. I put the letter in my pocket, and went up stairs with an intention of sending for some of ]Vfrs. Biddle's female friends to break the dreadful intelli- gence to her, but my clerk, Lewis, coming into the parlor to speak to me, and seeing Mrs. Biddle reading, had no doubt but it was the letter that contained the melancholy news. He said, with a countenance expressive of great concern, how very sorry he was for the loss of — . He had proceeded thus far ivhen she looked wildly at him, and ex- claimed, " What loss ? What do you mean ?" Perceiving she was not acquainted with what had happened, and frightened at the terror he had occasioned, he would not utter a word. Finding he was gone without answering her, she immediately- thought of James and Edward, and screamed, " Oh, Mr. Biddle 1 Mr. Biddle! What is the matter? What is the matter?" I ran immediately down stairs ; she was now frantic with terror. I carried her up stairs, and did every- thing in my pov^er in vain to soothe her. I sent for some of her female friends in town, and expresses to her sister Mrs. Lardner, and her very dear friend, Mrs. Jones. It was a long time before we could get her any way composed ; her screams even now seem to strike my ear, and never shall I forget this melancholy scene. Her friends came round her, and at last, being quite exhausted, she was put to bed. Mrs. Jones set otf for town as soon as she received the note I sent her. l!^ever shall I forget the looks of this amiable woman when she entered the house. It was a loi!g time before she could utter more than, " Oh, Mr. Biddle ! What a loss we have sus- tained!" Being a lady of great fortitude I got her soon composed enough to see her unfortunate friend. No person could console her so well as Mrs. Jones, who was a native of North Carolina, and intimate with Mrs. Biddle from her 292 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF infancy. Mrs. Jones was very fond of all onr children, par- ticularl}" Edward, who had the year before, when she was un- well, attended her to the seashore, and she felt the affection of a parent for him. She staid with us a we6k, and during this time Mr. Thompson, chaplain to the frigate President, who brought the fatal letter, arrived in Philadelphia. Although extremely anxious, I dreaded to see him, for I was under great apprehension for James, who had not written by Thompson, nor had Commodore Truxtun. He afterwards told me that he felt too much distressed to write. Mr. Thompson relieved us about James, who was on shore when he left the ship, M^hich he had done suddenly and unexpect- edly. He assured me that James, although greatly distressed, was in good health. He informed nrie that he did not appre- hend Edward to be in the least danger until the morning he died, nor should he then, but when he went to his cot, he found Tom, who lay under it, in tears. Tom told Thompson softly that he was much afraid his master Edward was very ill. Thompson went up and finding Edward awake, inquired how he was. He answered that he was better. He then said, " Edward, do you know me ?" The dear youth ap- peared irritated, and replied, " Know you, Thompson? To be sure I do. Wliy do you ask such a question ?" These were the last words he ever spoke. In half an hour after this a person came to the mess to inform them that he was no more. What must have been the feeling of my dear James at this time ? I should have felt my loss much more if it had not been for the situation of Mrs. Piddle, which obliged me to make exertions that nothing else would have done. One of the ofhcers of the frigate wrote to his friend a letter, which was published in Pelf's paper, giving an account of our dear Edward's loss. He writes : — " From Prown's paper of Dec. 30th, 1800. Extract of a letter from a gentleman on board the frigate President, to Mr. Peter Delamar, Professor of Mathematics in the Philadel^Jna Acad- emy, dated St. Pierre, Nov. 20th, 1800. " On the 14th inst., to windward of Deseada, at 8 o'clock, CHARLES BIDDLE. 293 we had the misfortune of losing your friend and pupil, Mr. Edward Biddle, midshipman, aged sixteen years, who died of a fever after a few days' illness, universally lamented. To form an estimate of the merit of this accomplished youth, would he, with a good disposition to unite all those rare qualities of the head and heart, which, when properly blended and matured, constitute the philosopher and the hero. jSTature, Avhich had so highly gifted his mind, had been equally profuse in forming his person, which was at once elegant and interesting, his stature near six feet, and his limbs finely proportioned. In a word, he was one of those figures from which we might draw a Hercules or an Adonis. " ' As into air the purer spirits flow And sep'rate from their kindred dregs below, So flew his soul to its congenial place.' " To the foregoing extract it may be added that Mr. Bid- die's education was liberal and finished ; but he principally excelled in an extensive knowledge of the mathematics, for which his penetrating genius and solid judgment seemed particularly fitted." So great was his acquaintance with this abstruse and difli- cult science, that at the age of fifteen, when he quitted school there was not a teacher in this city who could yield the least assistance, and perhaps he was the only person of that age, the celebrated Clarant excepted, who ever made himself complete master of Sir Isaac ]!^ewton's Principia without the help of a tutor. Read, oh youth ! and emulate. Our friend Mrs. Jones came to town in February to spend a few days with us. I was much shocked at seeing her so much altered. I believe her grief for the loss of Edward, and the melancholy that she saw preying upon the spirits of her friend, brought back a complaint in her stomach which it was thought had been entirely removed. Soon after her return home she was confined to her bed, from whence she never rose. She lingered until the first of April, when this best of women departed this world. To lose such a friend, and such a son as Edward, in a few months was almost too much for Mrs. Biddle, and it affected me greatly. 294 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 9 My friend Judge Jones intending to go to the Warm Springs in Virginia, and being anxious I should accompan}^ him, we set oiFfrom his house, about twelve miles from Philadelphia, on a Sunday, the latter end of July, and the next Sunday, in the evening, arrived at the Warm Springs, a distance of near three hundred and forty miles, part of it a very rough road. We travelled in a light Jersey wagon that I purchased for the purpose, and we had a pair of very stout horses belonging to Mr. Jones. Perhaps ,two better horses could not be found in any country, and I believe we could not have travelled the distance in the same time in any other carriage than one of these Jersey wagons. Two of the days that we were on the road it rained very hard. We went through Lancaster, York, Hagerstown, Martinsburg, Winchester, and Staunton. The road from Winchester to Staunton is good, and the country is excellent. The accommodation on the road is generally good. The tavern at Martinsburg was one of the best I ever was in, indeed there are few gentlemen's houses in which one could be better entertained. I understood that the landlord, Mr. Gather, had been a man of fortune, but that some unfortunate atfair had occasioned his keeping tavern. He had the manners and appearance of a gentleman. When we reached the Springs we fortunately had some of the Philadelphia papers, printed the day before we set off; otherwise, some of the good people at the Springs would have thought we were mistaken as to the time when we left Philadelj^hia. The Warm Spring is most delightful to swim in. It is a large body of water, perfectly clear, and just warm enough to be agreeable. I never was in so charming a bath. It is pal- lisaded round ; you enter by a small door into a room where you undress. The entertainment, when we were there, was very bad, for which reason we staid there but one day, when we went to the Hot Springs, which are five miles from the Warm Springs. Here there was a very good tavern. This Hot Spring is very extraordinary. My friend went in every day, expecting it would be of service to his gouty complaints, and he told me that it was. We met here with Colonel Washing- ton who behaved so gallantly in South Carolina. I remember CHARLES BIDDLE. 295 it was a saying during the Revolution, when speaking of Col- onels Lee and Washington, that Lee would never attack the British but when he liad an advantage, that "Washington would whenever he had an opportunity. They were both excellent officers. Colonel Washington was going to Philadelphia. He advised me to go to the Sweet Springs, saying that it was very pleasant there, and it was worth taking the ride if it were only to see Major Jack Willis, one of the biggest men in the world. Having nothing to do at the Hot Springs, I went there, about forty miles further up the country, over a rough and hilly road. One mile on this side the Sweet Springs are the Red Springs, the waters of which are much the same as the Sweet Springs. It is a pleasant, healthy country, and if it were not for the number of gamblers who always frequent this place it would be very agreeable. I think this place and the coun- try round it preferable to Ballstown' Springs. If the water be not, the ride to either must be of service to almost any invalid. I saw here the celebrated Major Willis. He was by very far the largest man I had ever seen. It was mentioned by some who knew him when an officer in the army, that he was then a slender, genteel man. The year before I saw him, he had been on board a British man-of-war in Hampton Roads, and he astonished all the crew. As they were not permitted to go on the quarter-deck, they manned the tops, shrouds, and yards to get a sight of him. He was very active for one of his size. After staying two weeks at the Sweet Springs, I returned to the Hot Springs, and with much pleasure found my friend Jones ready to return to Philadelphia. Having no gout noi- any other disorder, I did not go into the Hot Springs, but, one evening, sat over it, and washed my feet. The water is warmer than you could wish for that purpose ; in a few minutes my shirt was almost as wet with my perspiration as if I had gone into it. We left the Hot Springs on a Wednesday, and the next Wednesday dined at Mr. Jones's. Notwithstanding we drove 296 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF near fifty miles the last day to dinner, the horses came home so fresh that when near Mr. Jones's there was hardly any keeping them in. I never saw so good a pair. In the after- noon I got one of ]Mr. Jones's horses and rode home. Wishing to leave the house in which I had long lived, in Market Street, which brought to the recollection of the family our dear, lost Edward, I rented a house in Chestnut Street, and the owner dying soon after, I purchased it.* It is of advantage to most people to leave a house after they have lost a relation or friend very dear to them. One evening in May, 1802, a letter was thrown into the entry of my house, directed to me under the signature of " Charles Belmont." It was written in capital letters, so that it was not easy to find out the author. The writer begins by saying: "You are rich, I am at present poor. You must deposit in the post-office three hundred dollars directed to me. It shall be returned in three months with honor. If you neglect doing it, your son Nicholas, or one of your daugh- ters, shall be stabbed. This you may depend upon shall surely be done, if what I have requested is not complied with ; and what then will be your reflections when your son or daughter is brought home dead ?" He said a great deal more to induce me to do what he requested. From some parts of the letter I was convinced that, whoever the author was, he had frequently been in company with me. Unfortunately I w^as out when the letter was thrown into the house, and Mrs. Biddle received it. Upon my return home I found her greatly agitated, and with difficulty could compose her. If it had not been on her account, I should not have felt the least uneasiness whatever, being convinced that a person in- tending to murder would never mention it. The next day, agreeably to his directions, I put a letter in the post-office, not, however, with bank notes, but with some pieces of news- * This house stood on the present site of No. 431, the office of the Penn- sylvania Company for Insurances on Lives and Granting Annuities. The old number was 159. Charles Biddle's house in Market Street, from which he removed, was No. 243. The President resided at No. 190 Market Street. CHARLES BIDDLE. 297 paper; and desired Colonel Patton, the postmaster, to inform his clerks that they should be handsomely rewarded if they would apprehend the person who called for the letter. After waiting two weeks, and no person calling for it, I mentioned the circumstances to several of my friends and acquaintances. A few days after I received another letter from the same Belmont, saying I must certainly take him for a fool to sup- pose he would so soon have called for the letter, that he knew the directions given to Patton's clerks, that if I had waited a month without sajnng anything he should have called and been taken, and his being taken would have made more noise in Philadelphia than anything that ever happened in it before. I strongly suspected an unfortunate foreigner to be the author of these letters, and never afterwards met him without endeavoring to discover sometliing to justify my suspicions. I let him know it would give me pleasure to render him any services in my power. He expressed himself as very grate- ful, but always declared he wanted for nothing. I sometimes thought he supposed himself suspected as the author of the letters, for he knew of them. If the gentleman had requested a loan of the sum mentioned, or more, I would have lent it to him, even if I had been certain it would never have been returned, for he was much to be pitied, having been driven from his country where he had lived in affluence. He was at this time much altered from what he had been ; from being cheerful and easy, he was dull and melancholy. He soon after left America, and not long after left the world. Some- time afterwards, mentioning the aifair to one of my neighbors, he told me he had received such a letter, and being alarmed for his family had sent the money as directed. We had in December of this year a very curious trial in the Court of Common Pleas, between Dr. Glenn and Captain James King. Captain King was riding in a chair with his daughter and another young girl, when between Germantown and Frankford by carelessness he overset the chair. The girls were very little hurt, but it was thought King's legs were both broken. He was carried into a house near by, and surgeons were immediately sent for. The first that came 298 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF was Dr. Glenn, wlio being a young man, would do nothing more than make preparation for amputation, until some more experienced surgeon came. Dr. Shippen soon afterwards made his appearance. He immediately declared it would be necessary to amputate both legs. King swore they should take oif but one. Dr. Shippen, who is a ver}^ eminent sur- geon, tried to persuade him of the necessity of taking both off; telling him it was probable that his life depended on it ; but King was obstinate and declared, let the consequence be what it would, they should take off but one. They then took off his right leg, and set the left as well as they could, and Glenn living near attended him constantly. King's pleas for not paying Glenn's bill were, that it was in the first place exorbitant, and that he came merely to get an insight into his business. He wrote his attorney that " Shippen and Glenn were ignorant of their business, that they made a mistake by talking oif his left leg, that was not broken, instead of his right that was broken in two places. To prove this he had the bones of the leg and foot that were taken oif ready to be seen by any person that chose to examine them." His letter was not allowed to be read. As Dr. Glenn was proved to be a regular bred surgeon, a man of very good charactei", to have constantly attended King during his con- finement, and his bill to be reasonable, the jury gave a verdict in his favor without going out of court. Dr. Wistar, who was also called on (King said if he had been so fortunate as to have had Dr. Wistar at first he would not have lost the leg Shippen took aft'), told me that although the right leg was not broken, the flesh was torn in such a manner that it was absolutely necessary to take it oft". King, in his letter, which Mr. Hallowell showed me, gave a humorous account of his doctors ; he wrote as he spoke, like an old sailor. This year, December, 1802, 1 purchased the house the family now reside in. I took the house of Mr. John Field, merchant, who had married Miss Williams, daughter of Mr. Daniel Williams, who built it. I gave to Mr. Field eleven hundred dollars for two years. There was some expectation at the time the house was leased to me, that it would be sold to pay CHARLES BIDDLE. 299 a debt of Mr. Williams. I therefore made Mr. Field give me security that he would keep me in peaceable possession of the house for the terra he had leased it, which as he did not, I recovered five hundred dollars of his surety. When he found the house would be sold, he called to beg I would not interfere with his wife. However, before the sale she died, which released me from my promise, and I purchased it for nine thousand one hundred dollars. It would have been struck off to me for seven thousand five hundred dollars, at which price it stood a considerable time, but a friend of mine came in and ran it up to the price I gave. lie declared he did not know he was bidding against me. This was not probable, as I stood near the sheriff and bid loud. However, the house was cheap at the price it sold for, and it was not my'wish to get it for less. I had made up my mind to go much higher for it. My son James sailed this j^ear up the Mediterranean with Commodore Murray. They cruised off Tripoli for some time , and had nearly captured a number of their gunboats, having got within gunshot of the rear, and were getting fast up with them, when the pilot declared, if they did not haul off imme- diatel}^ they would lose the ship. They fired at some troops drawn up on the beach, and set them scampering. James and some of the other young officers blamed Commodore Murray for not standing in longer, but Murray was certainly right. In his situation it would have been wrong to run any risk of losing his ship. Soon after James returned, he was ordered on board the frigate Philadelphia, commanded by Captain Bainbridge. They sailed from Philadelphia in July, 1803. The last of October following, she chased one of the Tripolitan cruisers close in shore, and in hauling off", when they supposed themselves entirely out of danger, they struck upon a reef of rocks. Although Captain Bainbridge is a valuable oflicer, it appears from the deposition of Lieu- tenant Porter that they first endeavored to force her over the shoal, which was certainly wrong. I do su]3pose if a small anchor had been carried out (they had no boat to carry out one of their bowers) with two cubbs bent to it, and they had 300 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF hove upon them as they lightened her forward, it is probable she would have been got off. It is not, however, easy to say what could have been done by a person not on board. When Captain Bainbridge found the ship was inevitably lost, he sent Lieutenant Porter and James in the barge to in- form the Turks that they had surrendered. Just as James was going into the boat he put into his boots four half eagles. When they were boarded by the galleys they stripped him of his coat, waistcoat, etc., but left his boots, by which he saved his money. They were taken immediately on shore in the barge, and upon landing they were surrounded by a mob that he expected would have massacred them before they reached the palace. The loss of this ship to such an enemy gave great uneasiness to those related or connected with the prisoners. To my family it was a severe blow ; we had, however, the day after we heard of the capture, a letter from one of the young officers, giving an account of their being all well and that they were well treated. When we first had an account of the loss of the ship (which was four months after the accident happened, by a vessel that arrived at Liverpool from Malta, and published an account of it in one of the English papers), I intended to fit out a fast-sailing vessel, taking in a cargo for Leghorn or Malta, and after land- ing it, to go off Tripoli in order to assist in procuring the liberation of the prisoners, at any rate to get James liberated ; and this I should certainly have done but for a letter I re- ceived from Mr. Jefiierson in answer to one written him by Captain Gamble, J. Douglass, Esq., and myself, each of whom had a son among the prisoners. It was a matter of regret to me afterwards, that I had not gone on this expedition, as it is jDrobable I should have per- suaded Commodore Preble to have concluded a peace with the Bey ; for he has since told me, it was his opinion that peace should be made, and he would have done it if Captain Chauncey had arrived a few hours later than he did. And he would have done it after his arrival, if Chauncey had not told him it was expected in America he would be able to make peace and get the prisoners without paying anything. CHARLES BIDDLE. 301 In tliis he was certain!}' mistaken, nothing of the kind was expected, it could have been made on very honorable terms, and if it had been done at that time, it wonld have left a strong impression in fovor of the Americans; they wonld have said, if those people with so small a force can bring the Bey of Tripoli to such terms, what cannot they do with a fleet of frigates? At any rate, it is probable had I gone I should have prevailed on the Commodore against sending in the fireship, or whatever she was called, commanded by Somers, whom I had known from the time of his being a small boy. It has always appeared to me that those gallant and valuable young oflicers, Somers, Wadsworth, and Israel, were foolishly sacrificed. This vessel, if sent in at all, should never have gone without being convoyed by the galleys, or some way have been contrived to have got them oft". As they went it was almost going to certain destruction. I have been told, and have no doubt of the fact, that she was iu no way fitted for such an enterprise. 302 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF CHAPTER V. The 12th of July, 1804, while we were at breakfast, my neighbor, Mr. William Bell, called and told me it was re- ported about town that General Hamilton had the day before killed Colonel Burr in a duel. Persecuted as I knew Colonel Burr had been, I felt distressed. Soon after another gentle- man came and said the report was that Burr had killed Hamilton. This proved to be the fact. Judge Peters, an intimate friend of Hamilton's, was talking of him and Burr when ]SIr. Bell came in. He was mentioning that Hamilton had said to him some short time before, that they were not as bad as we were in their political disputes ; that in ]^ew York, although they differed in politics, they never carried party matters so far as to let it interfere with their social parties, and mentioned himself and Colonel Burr, who always behaved witli courtesy to each other. It is impossible to conceive the noise that this duel made in ISTew York; there Avas as much or more lamentation as when General Washing- ton died. What occasioned much more noise than other- wise would have been made, were the violent pieces for some time before published against Colonel Burr in the American Citizen. The editor of this paper, who had done everything in his power to set Burr and Hamilton to fighting, affected the most violent grief at the death of Hamilton. Having an acquaintance and some business with Mr. Pen- dleton, the second of General Hamilton, I wrote to him the day after we heard of the duel to know if everything was fair and proper on the part of Colonel Burr. He answered me by the return of the post, and his letter I now have, that the CHARLES BIDDLE. 303 only thing the seconds ditferecl about was, which fired first. Certainly it was of no consequence which first fired. It was said Burr had practised for some days before the duel in firing at a mark ; but this was not true, he had no occasion to practise, for perhaps there was hardly ever a man could fire so true, and no man possessed more coolness or courage. Judge Burke, who was his second when he fought Church, told me that there w^as not the least alteration in his behavior on the ground from what there would have been Kad they met on friendly terms. He said that when he loaded Colonel Burr's pistols, by mistake he put a wad with the ball, and was hammering to get it down, when Burr called to him, and told him not to mind it, if he missed him then he would hit him the next shot. However, after the first fire Mr. Church made an apology. I think General Hamilton would have done so had he fortunately been missed.* It will be perceived by the correspondence between Gene- ral Hamilton and Colonel Burr that there was an evasion in General Hamilton's first letter of what he at last Aartually confessed. General Hamilton was certainly a man of very superior talents to most men, and I sincerely lamented his death, but as an old military man Colonel Burr could not have acted otherwise than he did. I never knew Colonel Burr speak ill of any man, and he had a right to expect a different treat- ment from what^he experienced. Commodore Truxtun dined in company with Hamilton and Burr the week before the duel ; he has since told me he had not the most distant idea of there being any difference between them. When I found what a disturbance there was in l^ew York about this unhappy affair, I wrote to Colonel Burr, and re- quested he would come and stay with me. He came in two or three days. Here there was a great clamor about the duel, and several of my friends were angry at me for having him at my house; and some peojole, it was said, came from New York with an intention of taking him. In consequence of * This duel took place Sept. 2, 1799, and is described in Parton's Life of Burr, p. 240. 304 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF this report (my family being at my liouse in the country where I used to go every evening) I staid with him several nights. He would not have been easily taken. I received a letter, of which the following is a copy, from Mr. Van JS'ess, the second of Colonel Burr: — Dear Sir : I shall answer without hesitation the interros;- atories you have put to me, as I conceive it my duty to com- municate with freedom the circumstances that attended the interview between Colonel Burr and General Hamilton. After the necessary preparations had been made, which you will iind detailed in the printed statement of the seconds, the parties took their places ; General Hamilton raised his pistol as if to try it, and again lowering it, said, "I beg pardon for delaying you, but the direction of the light sometimes renders glasses necessary." He then drew forth his spectacles and put them on. The gentleman whose duty it was to give the word, then asked the parties whether they were prepared, which being answered in the affirmative, the word " present" was then given, on which both parties presented. The pistol of General Hamilton was first discharged, and Colonel Burr fired immediately after. On this point I have the misfortune to differ from the friend of General Hamilton, and without doubting the sincerity of his opinion, I can safely declare that I was never more firmly convinced of any fact that came under my observation. On the discharge of General Hamil- ton's pistol, I observed a slight motion in the person of Colonel Burr, which gave me the idea that he was struck. On this point I conversed with Colonel Burr, when we returned, who ascribed the motion of his body to a small stone under his foot, and added, the smoke of General Hamilton's pistol for a moment obscured his sight. When General Hamilton fell, Colonel Burr advanced towards him, hut I immediately urged the importance of his repairing to the barge. He complied with my request, and in a few minutes I followed him. "When I arrived at the boat Colonel Burr was just stepping from it. He said to me, "I must go and speak to him," I replied it would be obvi- ously improper, as General Hamilton was surrounded by the CHARLES BIDDLE. 305 surgeons and bargemen, by wliom he ought not to be seen, but that if he would remain I would go and see the General, which I did, and on mj' return to the boat ordered the barge- men to proceed immediately to the city, which was done. Thus, sir, I have related to you such circumstances respect- ing the late unfortunate interview between Colonel Burr and General Hamilton, as have not hitherto been published. It is but justice to add that Colonel Burr so far from exhibiting any degree of levity on the occasion to which I have alluded, or expressing any satisfaction at the result of the meeting, his whole conduct while I was with him was expressive of regret and concern. Yours, etc. etc. W. P. Van Is^ess.* Had General Hamilton in his answer to the first note sent by Colonel Burr mentioned what he afterwards did, viz., that he did not intend any reflection on the private character of Colonel Burr, everything would have been settled, but he himself threw down the gauntlet. Colonel Burr told me a short time before the duel, when he was in Philadelphia on his way to New York from Washington, that ho was deter- mined to call out the iri*st man of any respectability concerned in the infamous publications concerning him. He had no idea then of ha\nng to call on General Hamilton. Burr was much blamed for challenging Hamilton. If in this he acted as a sinner, Hamilton did not act as a saint in accepting it. General Hamilton in giving an account of Major Andre, very justly observes, " That a man t)f real merit is never seen in so favorable a light as through the medium of adversity. The clouds that sun^ound him are so many shades that set off his good qualities. Misfortune cuts clown little vanities that in prosperous times serve as so many spots in his virtues, and gives a tone of humanity that makes his worth more amiable. His spectators who enjoy a happier lot, are less prone to detract from it through envy ; and are much disposed by compassion to give the credit he deserves, * See note F. 20 306 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF and perhaps even to magnify it." This was the case as to General Hamilton. In July, 1804, my friend General Armstrong was appointed Ambassador to France. Wishing to get my son Nicholas with him, as his secretary, I spoke to him and he agreed to take liim. Nicholas left us the last of July.* The following letter was sent open to me to be forwarded to Governor Bloomfield. General Smith and Giles M^ere afterwards among the most violent of Colonel Burr's enemies. Washington, Nov. 24, 1804. Sir : We whose names are written at the end of this letter, Senators of the United States, have seen with much sensi- bility and concern a prosecution instituted, and as far as we are informed, still continued in one of the Courts of New Jersey, upon a charge of murder against the Vice-President of the United States and President of the Senate. Our feel- ings have been still further excited by information that attempts are now making to demand the person of the Presi- dent of the Senate to answer tlie alleged oflence, as a fugitive from justice. We understand the real offence charged to have been committed by him, is causing the death of the late General Hamilton in a duel, every circumstance attending which was marked with all the etiquette and fairness usually observed amongst gentlemen upon similar occasions. Whilst we wish to avoid every expression which might give any sanction or approbation whatever to the custom of duelling, or call in question the policy of the laws of New Jersey which makes no discrimination between a death thus produced, and that by a common murder with premeditated malice and without the survivor exposing his own life to an equal hazard, yet we cannot help observing that there exists a great difference in the two cases in the opinion and usages of most civilized nations, of the jieople of the United States, and particularly of that part 6f the United States where the offence in the present instance is said to have been committed. In support of this we beg leave to call your Excellency's at- * See note G. CHARLES BIDDLE. 307 teiition to two cases of a similar nature which have occurred in the same county within a few years past, and others bear- ing near resemblance to these might also be cited. The first, the case of Mr. Livingston and Mr. Jones ; the othci-, the case of Mr. Eaker and the younger Mr. Hamilton. We are informed that no judicial proceedings were had in either of these cases, and that shortly after the unfortunate fate of Mr. Jones, Mr. Livingston w^as promoted to one of the highest judicial offices in the State of New Yc»rk, in wdiich Ave be- lieve he continues with advantage to his country and honor to himself; and we believe Mr. Eaker also shortly after the untimely fate of young Mr. Hamilton, received some judicial appointment. These cases demonstrate not only that the same rules of judicial proceedings have not been applied to difterent persons in similar situations. But the general understanding of society discriminates widely between this ofi'ence and the case of a common murder ; so much so, that in the cases referred to, instead of the survivor receiving the reprobation attached by society to common murderers, the oftences have been deemed no obstacle to judicial preferment. N^or can we help remarking in the present case, that although we are advised that the laws of New Jersey make no diflter- ence between the oflences of principal and second in the event of a death by a duel, and although the seconds are as well and generally known as the surviving principal, yet as far as we are informed no judicial proceedings have been had against either of them. Whilst, therefore, we are willing to rely implicitly upon the ultimate justice of the Courts of Xew Jersey, we are constrained to express our regret that the same rule should be so unequally applied to different indi- viduals in similar circumstances, and particularly that this inequality should be directed against the President of the Senate whilst engaged in the discharge of ofiicial duties ; nor can we avoid intimating the unpleasant embarrassment of the Senate if the attempt meditated of demanding his person whilst thus engaged should be prosecuted. Under such circumstances it would, in our judgment, be conducive to the public interests, and particularly gratifying 308 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF to our feelings that the prosecution should be discontinued, thereby to facilitate the public business by relieving the President of the Senate from the peculiar embarrassments of his present situation, and the Senate from the distressing imputation thrown on it, by holding up its President to the world as a common murderer. Avoiding the expression of any opinion in every other respect whatever, it is but justice to the President of the Senate to add, that in that character he has at all times, as far as our observ^ations have extended, acted with dignity, ability, and impartiality, and has thus been instrumental in promoting the public business. In this delicate state of things we confide in your Excellency's firm- ness and patriotism to take this subject into consideration, and to adopt such measures therein as may be consistent with right, and the laws and usages of New Jersey. Be pleased, sir, to accept assurances of our high considera- tion, etc. etc. (Signed) Thos. Sumter, Robert Wright, Wm. B. Giles, Wm. Locke, Stephen R. Bradly, Geo. Logan, T. Worthington, S'l Smith, James Jackson, Jos. Anderson, John Smith. To His Excellency, Gov. Bloomfielc. Governor Bloomfield was the intimate friend of Colonel Burr, and had been from the time they were boys. He fre- quently expressed to mj-self and others the utmost esteem and regard for Burr ; but he would not issue a nolle prosequi, saying he did not think the Constitution of New Jersey gave him the power of doing it. But I believe the real cause was the fear of injurying his popularity ; and the same reason induced him to oppose the friends of Colonel Burr from CHARLES BIDDLE. 309 applying to the Legislature for a law in his favor. The Gov- ernor is a worthy man, but he is too much influenced by his wish to keep well with all parties. This is hardly possilSle to do ; almost every man who attempts it is called a trimmer, and often loses his consequence with all parties. Hamilton and Burr were about the same age ; both small, well-made men. They were considered in the army as very valuable officers, and had they been of the same political party would have been very good friends. If General Hamil- ton had not opposed Colonel Burr I have very little doubt but he would have been elected Governor of 'New York, and if he had it would have been a fortunate circumstance for the country, as well as themselves and their families. In this unfortunate affair Mr. Rufus King was blamed, I think deservedly, for not endeavoring to prevent this fatal duel. He is the moderate, judicious friend General Hamil- ton alludes to in the paper inclosed in his will. ' Mr. Van Ness told me that the morning of the duel, when he went to Colonel Burr, he found him in a very sound sleep. He was obliged to hurry on his clothes to be ready at the time appointed for the meeting. In April, 1803, I lost a worthy old friend. Dr. Enoch Edwards. He was as entertaining a man as I ever knew, and although seldom well, was always in good spirits and cheerful. He,*as well as his brother. Major Evan Edwards, served during our Revolutionary war with great reputation. He was the thinnest man I ever knew, had a spitting of blood for upwards of thirty years, was cadaverous, and had a very bad cough. He used to tell a great many stories about himself. He. said that he had the advantage of all his friends, they all changed, but he never could look worse. He said he went on business to a farmer in Montgomery County. The man was not at home, the wife asked his name. He told her he was Dr. Edwards. " Dr. Edwards !" says the woman, " why my husband said you were the thinnest and ugliest man he had ever seen. I don't think you are so very ugly." The husband coming up soon after, the Doctor laughing, told him what his wife had said; at which he was 310 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF much confused. He went to England in 1793. Part of his business was to sell some land for Mr. Nicholson, who told him he should be careful not to let the people who wanted to pur- chase the land know he was born on it. Some years before he died, walking down Market Street, he received an acci- dental stroke in the breast from a porter, who was hauling a cask out of a cellar. The stroke would have done no injury to a person in health, but it almost killed the Doctor. He went home that evening, and in the night was taken very ill, and early in the morning sent for me. T immediately went up to his farm, which was in Byberry, about thirteen miles from town. He informed me that he was verj'' ill and desi- rous of making his will, which he did. In the night, Mrs. Edwards was sitting on one side of the bed, and myself on the other, expecting from the pain he was in that he would hardly live out the night, when rousing himself up and smil- ing, " JSTow," says he, " I have been thinking for some time, that if Mrs. Biddle goes off" (she was then every day expect- ing to be confined) " and I should go, as probably will be the case, you two would be married in six months." He, how- ever, lived many years afterwards, making a voyage to England, and after that to France, whence, at Paris, he wrote me that he had a severe fit of sickness. From what was told him by his French acquaintance, a person would suppose that all Paris was alarmed and inconsolable about him. He spoke highly of their politeness and attention to him. It appears incredible that these people should be guilty of crimes dis- graceful to human nature. It has often been mentioned that Mr. Monroe encouraged Thomas Paine to write the infamous letter he sent to General Washington. The Doctor often told me that Monroe sent him to Paris and did everything in his power to prevent his sending or publishing the letter. Paine told him that anything Mr. Monroe wrote, it was of no conse- quence whether it was suppressed or not, but what he wrote was for posterity. Paine as a Avriter was certainly eminent, but in every other respect he was and is truly contemptible. He took great care during our Revolutionary war to keep out of danger. In 1793 the Doctor and several of my friends CHARLES BIDDLB. 311 who were displeased with Governor Mifflin, wanted me very much to let them run me for the office of Governor in oppo- sition to him ; but independent of its being a very troublesome office, I had a sincere friendship for Mifflin. Being anxious to get Commodore Truxtnn again in the navy, I wrote a letter in 1805, to Mr. Dallas, the intimate friend of Mr. Secretary Smith, saying that I was very certain the Commodore had no intention whatever of resigning his commission when he resigned the command of the Mediter- ranean squadron, and that I understood the Secretary, after the appointment of Morris, said he hoped Commodore Trux- tun would not resign. Mr. Dallas inclosed my letter to the Secretary, whicli brought on a correspondence between Trux- tun and the Secretary. The Secretary wanted some proof that he had no intention of resigning, and the Commodore ap- plied to Captain Dale and myself. I mentioned wliat he had written me at the time ; and Dale, what he had said to«hira.'^ The Secretary gave Truxtun reason to suppose he wished him in the navy again, and that it was very probable he would soon be called into service. If he wished him in ser- vice, he took a very improper method to obtain it, for he wrote to all the captains in the navy to give their opinions * Copies of the letters between Commodore Dale and myself. Philadelphia, Sept. 7, 1805. Dear Sir: — When you arrived at Norfolk from the Mediterranean did you understand from Commodore Truxtun that, when he gave up the com- mand of the squadron to Morris, he had resigned his commission in the navy, or have you at any time since heai'd him say he had resigned ? Your most obedient servant, Commodore Dalk. C. B. Answer. Philadelphia, Sep. 7. Dear Sir : — In answer to your inquiries of me, respecting what I heard when I arrived at Norfolk from the Mediterranean about Commodore Trux- tun's resigning, I can with confidence say that I did not understand so at that time ; and from that time to the present I have heard Commodore Truxtun say he did not resign his commission. I am yours respectfully, C. BiDDLE, Esq. Kichaud Dale, 812 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF whether Commodore Truxtun ought to be again in the navy and hold the rank he had before he left the Chesapeake. This, as was to be expected, ended in their all, except Com- modore Murray, being against his holding the rank he form- erly had. Truxtun thought the calling upon the captains in the navy in this way, a very improper mode of proceeding, and I believe few would think otherwise. Truxtun wrote to the Secretary that he had acted like a base hypocrite, that he w^as a coward and scoundrel. I suppose the Secretary thoughi it would be foolish in him to tight every officer that con- ceived himself injured. ' In Sej^tember, 1805, to the intinite joy of the family, James returned from Tripoli.* He was in perfect health, for his usage was much better than we could expect from such an enemy. He was but a short time home before he was ordered to take charge of Gunboat ]^o. 1, then lying at Charleston. If it had not been perfectly agreeable to him he should not have gone, but should have 'resigned. As he w^as, however, anxious to go, I would not oppose it. lie was appointed lieutenant, and had rank from May, 1804. The latter end of January, 1806, I went with my friend John Dunlap to Lancaster. The business that carried me there was that my commission as Prothonotary had not been renewed, although all the other officers of the government in the city had received theirs, and I knew not whether Gov- ernor McKean intended to renew mine. I was received by the Governor with great kindness, and he ordered my com- mission to be made out and given to me immediately, it having been neglected by mistake. During the time we were there Mr. Dunlap and myself gave a dinner to the Governor, the Speakers of both Houses, and some of the members. This dinner reminded me afterwards of what I had heard of a Dutch merchant who had a turtle sent him as a present. He said he hoped no person would send him another, for he gave a dinner to a large party Avhich cost him a considerable sum, * The officers and crew of the Philadelphia were held prisoners at Tripoli from October, 1803, until June, 1805. CHARLES BIDDLE. 313 and he had disobliged many of his friends hj not inviting them. Some of our acquaintances in both Houses were dis- pleased at not being of the party, and this with their hatred of the Governor* I believe was the occasion of a law being passed soon after, that the Prothonotaries of the County courts should annually pay into the treasury all the fees they received exceeding fifteen hundred dollars. As this would make my office of no value, I returned to Lancaster, and pro- cured an alteration in the law ; but it was not such a one as it should have been. The law is obviously unjust, for in some of the county ofiSces it had no eflfect at all. The true way of making it bear equally was to have laid a tax upon writs. I have reason to believe that this dinner was the occasion of this law. At this time I cared very little about the oflice, in fact I only wanted it put into the hands of some person who would collect and pay the fees due me. During this summer Mr. Burr was frequently in Phila- delphia, and my family being in the country, he was often with me. The latter part of it he spent chiefly at Morris- ville.f His daughter, Mrs. Alston from Georgetown, was there with her son. General Moreau lived there, and he and Colonel Burr, I understood, were often together; as military men this was natural. From this place Colonel Burr wrote to me that he had some business of importance to communi- cate to me, and 'that he Avould soon be in town. A few days afterwards he called, and after conversing on different sub- jects, he told me that a number of gentlemen of the first respectability in every part of the Union wished him to form a settlement on the Mississippi of military men ; that the Spaniards he knew were ripe for a revolt, and it would make the fortunes of all those concerned in revolutionizing that country. I told him that such a plan, if carried into eft'ect, would probably involve us in a war with Spain, and I would * The (Governor at this time spoke with tlie utmost contempt of the majority of the Legislature, calling them geese, ignoramuses, clodhoppers, rascals, and scoundrels. They certainly were not very enlightened men, nor was the Governor the mildest of men. — Author's note, t Opposite to Trenton. 314 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF therefore haVe nothing to do with it. He said whether we invaded the country or not, we should have a war with Spain. I mentioned Miranda's expedition as one that sliould have never heen countenanced by any person in this cdtintry. He said Miranda was a fool, totally unqualified for such' an ex- pedition. Finding I would not listen to his plans, and that no arguments he could use would have any weight with me, he expressed great regret. After a silence for some time, he said he never was more at a loss than he was to know whether he should communicate this business to Commodore Truxtun. I told him, of that he was the best judge, and then left him. He afterwards went to see the Commodore and opened him- self much more full}' to him than he had to me. I was sorry afterwards, on his account, that I had not let him proceed, and heard the whole of his plan. It is probable an imme- diate stop would have been put to it, which would have been fortunate for him. He told me he would not do anything that could injure his country. I believed then he thought so, and at this time, 1813, have not changed my opinion. He would have collected a number of military men round him near the lines, formed a barrier between us and the Spaniards which would have prevented their ever disturbing us. From the intimacy between Colonel Burr and myself, many people believed me perfectly acquainted with his intentions, but I have related everything known by me respecting this (to Colonel Burr) unfortunate business. Colonel Burr soon after this went into the Western country. In December, this year, a servant boy named Virgil, born in tlie family in N'orth Carolina, had been out late for several nights. One night, after the family were in bed, he opened the cellar-door and went to a dance, and did not return until after daylight. Being determined to put a stop to such practices, the next evening I took him in the garret, and locked him up, telling him that in the morning he should have a new cowskin worn out on his back. In the morning, to my very great surprise, I found he had contrived to get the room door opened, and had moved off. I immediately sent off to J^ew York, and had advertisements put up on the CHARLES BIDDLE. 315 road, offering a reward of forty dollars and a pardon if he would return, bat could hear nothing of hira. On Jthe first of January, about twelve o'clock at night, I took two con- stables with me, and we searched every house in the lower part of the city and in Southwark that we could hear of there being any dance at. We disturbed some parties of whites, blacks, and mulattoes all dancing together, but could hear nothing of Virgil. He was a very handsome black, and a most excellent servant until he got into bad company, which kept him out at night. Had I punished him in the evening instead of locking him up he never wOuld have thought of running away. Soon after he left us Mr. Bennet, who keeps a tavern at Long Branch, and who knew him well, saw him in I^ew York. He told Mr. Bennet that he was there with me. As we never heard of him since, it is probable he went to sea, and was lost. In the month of February, this year, 1807, I received a letter from the unfortunate Colonel Burr, informing me that notwithstanding the grand jury had acquitted him he was apprehended, and was on his way to Washington under a guard. He rec[uested me to inform liis friends of his situa- tion ; that he could write nothing but what was to be seen by the officer who commanded the escort.* I sent a copy of * Coj))] of Col. Burr' s Letter. "Fort Stoddeht, 22d Feby, 1809. _ "Z)'?- Sir : — I was arrested a few days since by a party of the United States troops near this place and am now moving towards the city of Washington under military escort. This proceeding is the more extraordinary as the grand jury summoned for the purpose, before the Supreme Court in Adams County (Natchez), the day before my departure from that place, uctjuitted me in the completest manner of all unlawful practices or designs. The re- port of this grand jury also censured the conduct of government in some particulars concerning me, and for this reason I am told that the printers have not thought it discreet to publish that report entire. The pretence of my having ibrfeited a I'eoognizance, though sanctioned by the proclamation of Governor Williams, is utterly false. The details of the prosecutions against me cannot now be given — they are beyond all example and in defiance of 316 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF his letter to Colonel John Swartwout, who, as well as his brother, I knew were his warm friends, and who would do everjT^thing in their power to serve him. One of the brothers, Mr. Samuel Swartwout, a brave, generous young man, was with him at Richmond, and challenged General Wilkinson after the trial. I also sent a copy of the letter to Mr. Van Ness, his second in the unfortunate duel with Colonel Hamil- ton. During the trial Colonel Burr was very anxious for my being at Richmond. He said that although I could not be a witness, my being with him would be of importance to him ; but, as my own opinion was different, I concluded not to go. For a great number of years no three men Avere more intimate friends than Wilkinson, Burr, and Truxtun. At this time Truxtun would not speak to Wilkinson, and was not upon good terms with Burr. Wilkinson and Burr .were bitter enemies. I was intimate with them all, and nothing in this unpleasant business interrupted the harmony that had always subsisted between us. They all Avrote to me from Richmond. Truxtun abused Wilkinson as having acted the part of a base hypocrite ; and AVilkinson wrote of him in such a manner that they would have fought had they seen each other's letters. Truxtun told me that Wilkinson, in his dispatches (cipher letter) from New Orleans, had mentioned him and myself as being concerned with Burr. He was much disappointed when I told him if it was so it gave me no concern whatever. I, however, wrote to Wilkinson to know if it was true. He declared upon his honor that it was a most infamous falsehood, and wished to know who had informed me. I wrote him that this was not necessary, as his denying it satisfied me it was not true. At the time of all law. Please to communicate this to my friends in New York. What I write must be inspecteil by the officer of the guard." The following is an extract from tlie finding of the grand jury : — " The grand jury of the Mississippi Territory, on a due investigation of the evidence brought before tliem, are of opinion that Aaron Burr has not been guilty of any crime or misdemeanor against the laws of the United States or of this Territory, or ffiuen any just cause of alarm or inquietude to the good people of the same." CHARLES BIDDLE. 317 Colonel Burr's being in the Western country my old friend Truxtun and myself had several conversations about the intended expedition. lie would sometimes get oftended at what passed between us, and would not come to my house for several weeks. Meeting him one morning he told me he had not closed his eyes all night. "What ailed you?" " Did you not see in the Aurora of yesterday the mention that ' a distinguished American commander w^as con.cerned with Burr ' ?" " Yes, I saw that in the Aurora, but why should that give any uneasiness ? " Why, because the per- son alluded to must be me." " And are you concerned with Colonel Burr?" "You know I am not." "Then why uneasy at anytliing said in the papers about this ' distin- guished commander' ?" " Let me ask you, my friend, if you would not. be hurt at such a publication?" " Xot in the least. I should not have the vanity to suppose it was intended for me." He was highly oiiended at some part of what was said, and for a month did not speak to me. After the trial of Colonel Burr, Wilkinson was in Balti- more, and for something H— — ■* had done he challenged him. H (as Randolph had done before) refused to fight him, saying that ho must acquit himself of the charges that were against him, before he would put himself upon a footing with him. Wilkinson told me, that as soon as he reached Balti- more he should challenge II , that if he was to meet him in the street he did not believe he could command himself so much as to refrain from attacking him. When Truxtun heard of H refusing to fight Wilkinson, he called on me. " Well, you see H would not accept of Wilkinson's chal- lenge." I told him a poltroon always found some excuse for not fighting. " Why, you do not think me a coward, and I would not accept a challenge from him." I told him my opinion was, that until a man was found guilty of a dishon- orable action, and held a commission in the army, he was upon a footing with any gentleman. Something more passed upon this occasion, for which he again did not speak to me for several weeks. * Possibly General Hampton. 318 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF Although Colonel Burr always spoke of giving freedom to the people of oSTew Spain with enthusiasm, I have no doubt he would have given up his expedition if he could have pro- cured any appointment that would liave made him indepen- dent. JSIy reason for thinking so is that on the resignation of Judge Shippen he requested me to speak to Governor McKean, and endeavor to get him appointed in his room. This, as Colonel Burr then stood, I thought would be improper, and told him so. However, I spoke to the Governor's son, Joseph B. McKean, who being of the same oj)inion as myself, the Governor was not spoken to on the subject. Nor do I believe Wilkinson was over concerned or knew what Colonel Burr intended until Mr. Swartwout informed him. I do know that some of Colonel Burr's friends in N'ew York were very anxious to know how Wilkinson would receive him ; but I thought then, and shall ever think, that from the long intimacy and friendship he always professed for Colonel Burr, that he should have informed him of the consequence of his proceeding upon his expedition. If he had done this Burr would have desisted, and it would all have died awa3^ This I told Wilkinson when he came here, but he seemed to think it was necessary for him to act as he did. It was always a mystery to me how it happened that General Dayton was not tried, as well as Colonel Burr. It was generally believed that he was concerned in all his schemes, whatever they were. It w^as thought by man}'^ that Dayton would keep out of the way, but he w^as too much of a soldier for that. It is to be lamented that such men should be thought of being tried as traitors to their country. Burr was always of opinion that Bonaparte would give us some trouble in IN'ew Orleans, and wanted, long before this time, to take measures that would put it out of his power to do us any injury ; but Mr. Jefferson either was afraid of Bonaparte, or had a better opinion of him than he deserved.* The latter end of June we had an account of the attack of the Leopard upon the Chesapeake. Although many people blamed the Government for not delivering up the men claimed * For some letters relating to this period see note F. CHARLES BIDDLE. 319 by Captain Douglass, every American felt indignant at the manner in which the attack was made. In Philadelphia we had, on the first of July, a town meeting. Matthew Lawler, the Mayor, was in the chair. We entered into a resolution to support the General Government in every measure they should adopt to avenge the insult offered to our flag, and pledged ourselves to make any sacrifices and encounter every hazard. Several other resolutions were entered into. As the inhabitants of ISTorfolk and its vicinity had behaved well, I oftered a resolution thanking them for their gallant and manly conduct. This was unanimously agreed to. We then appointed a committee consisting of Mr. Lawler, Charles Biddle, Paul Cox, David Lenox, Thomas Forrest, Richard Dale, Walter Franklin, George Clymer, Michael Lieb, Thomas Leiper, Francis Gurney, James Engle, Joseph Hopkinson, George Bartram, Edward Tilghman, M. Bright — nine Demo- crats and seven Federalists. The afternoon of the day we were appointed, a number of people collected on board an English brig called the Fox, lying at Pine Street wharf. It was reported that she was loaded with provisions and water for the fleet in the Chesapeake. Upon hearing of it I went immediately down to the wharf, and found there was a great number of people on board very busy i^i unbending her sails and unrigging her. Some other gentlemen of the Committee coming on the wharf, we sent and procured a company of militia, commanded by Captain Wharton, to come down. He soon restored order on board the brig. On the wharf the people seemed very much disposed for a riot. One of the crew^ of the Fox hearing a person damning the British for a set of cowardl}^ j-ascals, for attacking the Chesapeake in the manner they had done, swore they were cowardly rascals that called them so; that he w\is an Englishman, and he would fight any damned Yankee in the country. He was pulling ofl* his jacket to prepare for battle, and several fellows were gathering round to seize him, wdien I went up to him, and with some difiiculty got him out of the crowd and persuaded him to go to his lodging. He was a short, well-built young man, whose name I was afterwards sorry I did not ask him. 320 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF IsTelson could not have behaved with more intrepidity than this brave fellow, who was perfectly sober. Returning from the theatre the night after the town-meet- ing, with two ladies, when near Mr. Bond's (the British Con- sul) house, there were two large stones thrown from across the street at it. They struck the door and rebounded very near us. I immediately crossed the street, when the fellows ran away. After seeing the ladies home, I went to Mr. Bond's and staid with him until it was late. Mr. Bond did not apprehend any danger, but he felt very indignant at the insult offered to him ; and the family were much alai*lTied. Although Mr. Bond had gone from Philadelphia with the British (at the time of the Revolution), he deserved no insult ■from the inhabitants, for while in England and in Philadel- j)hia he took every opportunity of serving his countrymen. When my son James went out with Commodore Bainbridge, he gave him letters to some of the British officers in the fleet up the Mediterranean, and to Sir Alexander Ball, Governor of Malta. This gallant officer behaved with great kindness to James, and after his capture by the Tripolitans, sent him porter, cheese, and other articles he wanted. I wrote to thank Governor Ball and pay him for what he so generously supplied James with, and nothing would have gratified me more than an opportunity of convincing him how much I considered myself obliged to him.* * Letter from Sir Alexander Ball. Mat.ta, 25th June, 1805. Sir : — I beg le;ive to offer you my sincere oongratulations on your son's release from Tripolitan slavery, and particularly on his having obtained it by a peace the most honorable ibr the United States. I am glad to find his health has not suffered by his exile, and with respect to liis mind, it is pro-: ble he will he will be a better and happier man by the adversity he has ex- perienced. I did not answer your letter acquainting me Avith your Avish to purchase your son's redemption, because I saw the necessity of" abstaining from an act that might raise tlie demands of the Bashaw and hurt tlie American cause. I was persuaded from your character that on this I should be antici- pating your patriotic spirit, more especially as I foresaw and predicted that CHARLES BIDDLE. 321 One of the ladies retiirnino- from the theatre with me when stones were thrown at Mr. Bond's house, was Mrs. Ashley, an English ladj, who was very much alarmed, for I believe that she thought the stones were intended for her. Late that night a set of vagabonds went before Mr. Ashley's door and played the Rogue's March. Mr. Ashley, a very respec- table English merchant, thought they were complimenting hmi, and was going down to order them wine, when one of the servants told him the tune they were playing. In September this year, the ship Argo, from I?ew Orleans, ' ! ^^ bound to Philadelphia, struck a rock upon the Bahama Bank' and bilged. The crew and passengers took to their boats. The small boat was driven into the Gulf Stream, where they fell in with the ship Comet, Captain Dixey, on board of which was the Hon. Daniel Clarke,* the owner, who being in- / formed of the disaster, determined to cruise for the crew of the long boat, which they did for four days, when they were discovered on the Great Isaac Rock and taken on board the Comet. Mr. Clarke had property in the Comet to the amount of one hundred thousand dollars, which was jeopardized by his deviation. Mr. Wharton, who m'hs on boaixl the Argo when she was wrecked, having mentioned the generous and humane conduct of Mr. Clarke in a company where Mr. Henry Pratt, some others, and myself were spending the evening, we thought a public dinner ought to be given^im, and Mr. Pratt agreed to call upon me in^the morning, which he did. When we were near the house at which Mr. Clarke lodged, Pratt stopped. " Biddle," said he, " we are going to invite Mr. Clarke to a dinner in the name of the citizen's of Philadelphia, are we not?" "Yes." "And how do you know whether we can get subscribers." "That, I do not a persevering blockade oiihj would soon terminate tlie war to the honor of the United States. I beg you to command my services when they can be useful. I have the honor to be, with much esteem, Your most faithful and obedient servant, Chas. Biddle, Esq. Alex. J. Ball. * The Mr. Clarke who was afterwards so prominent in the controversy growing out of Burr's expedition. 21 322 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP know, but if we cannot get subscribers, we can get a com- pany, and you are rich and can pay for the dinner. If you do not choose that, I will pay one-half, for he deserves and must have a public dinner." We agreed to make up any deficiency, and went on to Mr. Clarke's lodging. He told us he had done nothing but what any other man would have done ; that, however, he could not refuse the honor done him, and would dine with us on any day we should agree upon. We appointed the 30th of October, when we gave him a splendid dinner. We had Messrs. Jeiferson and Bray from the theatre, and some others of the company that sang remarkabl}^ well. Most of the toasts were made by Major Jackson, who was often called upon on these occasions. The first was made by m}^ son William : — " Our distinguished guest ; the wreath of honor belongs to him who saves his fellow men." Mr. Clarke at this time had no difference with Wilkinson. He complained that both Burr and Wilkinson gave him a good deal of trouble about their affairs. A few days after the dinner given him, he went to Washington to attend Congress, of which he was a member. He had been there but a short time before he joined Randolph in everything he did to ruin Wilkinson. Mr. Clarke was friendly to Burr, and perhaps Wilkinson's conduct to that most unfortunate of men had some influence on Mr. Clarke. A transaction that Wilkinson would have been much gratified to hear, and which would probably have been of great service to him, came to my knowledge at this time, but as it was communi- cated in confidence I could not mention it. Wilkinson wrote me respecting his dispute with Clarke, and wanted to know if I could give him an}' information of what passed between Burr and him in Philadelphia. What I did know could not be communicated; I therefore did not answer him. Colonel Burr at this time kept himself concealed in a French boarding house. When I used to call of an evening to see him, he was generally alone with little light in his room. He was very pale and dejected ; how different from what he Jiad 'been a short time before when few persons in the city CHARLES BIDDLE. 323 were not gratified at seeing him at their tables, where he was always one of the most lively and entertaining of the com- pany. It would not have surprised me on going there to have found he had ended his sufferings with a pistol. If ever man could be justified in committing such an act it M^as Colonel Burr. To have found he had could hardly have given me more pain than I have sometimes felt on seeing him in this melancholy situation. Groing one night to see him with a friend from l^ew York, we mistook the house, and as it was not customary to knock, we went upstairs and opened the door that we supposed to be his, when to our surprise we found ourselves in the bed-chamber of some ladies. We effected a retreat without any ill consequences. While in the city this time Mr. Burr was taken by the sheriflf at the suit of Mr. Wilkins, of Pittsburgh. Mr. Burr de- clared that he owed Wilkins nothing, that he (Wilking) had not complied with his contract. Late at night he was brought to my house, and the sherift' waited a considerable time with him and Mr. Pollock for me to come home. Mr. Pollock is a highly respectable gentleman, intimate in my family, a re- lation and friend of Colonel Burr, and a man of large fortune. It was very distressing to all my family to know that these gentlemen were in my office with the sheriff's officer. Colonel Burr was perfe^ctly composed; at this "time scarcely anything could disturb him. At length one of my neighbors was sent for, Mr. Hollowell, a gentleman of the Bar, who came imme- diately and pledged himself to be answerable for Mr. Burr's appearance in the morning. In the morning Mr. Pollock was accepted as the bail. Owing to some mistake of the plaintiff's attorney Mr. Pollock was discharged from the bail. Having suffered severely by being bail, I had made up my mind never to be security for any person whatever, but in this case I could not have seen Mr. Burr carried from my house to gaol. I would lend any money I had cheerfully, but not endorse a note, or run any risk of involving myself or family. Early in the year 1808, I was consulted by my friend 324 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP Judge Jones about his son Richard's leaving the navy.* lie was at this time only a midshipman, commanding a gunboat at New York. As there was no prospect of a war, and he was about getting married, I advised him to leave the service. / Our administration was unfriendly to a navy, and, in fact, to ' ,' commerce. Having had much plague as executor to the estate of Mrs. Brodhead (before she married General Brodhead, the widow of Samuel Mifflin, Esq.) I did not intend ever acting again, but within a few j^ears past three of my old friends died leaving me their executors, Dr. Enoch Edwards, whom I formerly mentioned, General Jacob Morgan, and Joseph Donaldson, Esq., a respectable merchant. General Morgan was a friend of mine from my first going to sea. At one time he rendered me a very important service, by calling on me, and preventing my doing what I should ever after have regretted. He was Major to Dickinson's regiment, to whom the Quaker Light Infantry was attached. The General had been an officer in the Provincial service. He was a brave, active, intelligent officer, in whom the regiment had the utmost confidence. He was with us when the regiment was at Elizabethtown Point, and at the water side when we embarked on the expedition I have mentioned. One of the men who was to have gone with us was, or pretended to be, taken suddenly so ill just before we embarked that he could not go with us. Major Morgan would have gone in his room, but we all thought he was of too much importance in camp to leave it, and there were enough privates glad to go. The sick person is now, 1813, living and hearty. He had much better have insisted upon going, even if he had died in the boat, for whether he was really sick or not, he was suspected of being shy, and treated with some degree of contempt. As * Young Mr. Jones had been a prisoner at. Tripoli with James Biddle, afterwards Commodore Biddle, son of Charles Biddle. There were with them several other Philadelphians — James llenshaw, Benj. Franklin Reed, and Bernard Henry. The last named was father of the present Mr. Morton P. Heury of the Piiiladelphia Bar. CHARLES BIDDLE. 325 executor to the estate of General Morgan I bad but little trouble. I used frequently early in the morning this summer to take two or three of the boys with me in a chair near the Ui^per Ferry on the Schuylkill to learn them to swim. One morning after bathing and dressing myself I walked on, leaving the children, when they were dressed, to follow me in the chair. It was but little after sunrise. In crossino; the common I saw three shabby looking fellows coming towards me. After consulting together, one, who was lame, walked to a fence at some distance ; the other two who had bludgeons in their hands came directly towards me. I looked anxiously round the common to see if there was any person to call on, but none was to be seen but these vagabonds. I had in my hand a cane that had the appearance of a sword cane. As they drew near I stopped, and holding the cane in a position as if going to draw they very civilly inquired the time of day. Telling them I had no watch they passed me, when the fellow at the fence halloed out, " You damned cowardly rascals! you are afraid of one man." They then v^^alked up to him. By this time, although I did not quicken my pace, supposing if I had done so they would think me afraid and chase me, I was much pleased at reaching Market Street. If I had then met any person^to have joined me I would have pursued them, and if we could not have caught them all we would have got the lame fellow. I went after them when the boys over- took me with the chair, but they were not to be found. ISTothing prevented my being robbed and perhaps murdered, but my having a cane which they supposed was a sword cane. This year Mr. McKean's time expired as Governor of the State. Many of my friends thought I would obtain more votes than anj^ other Federal candidate, and therefore wished me to be set up. For my own part I had no wish to be Governor of the State had it been in my power ; it would have obliged me to live out of the city a great part of the year, which I did not wish. Mr. James Ross, of Pittsburgh, was fixed upon. He had been the candidate opposed to Gov- ernor McKean. As usual with men set up for public office 326 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF they had many stories to tell against Mr. Ross, that he was a lancl-johher, a miser, and wliat was against him with some people, he was a lawyer. The Democrats, for what reason no one could tell, took np Simon Snyder ; they had many among them hotter qnaliiied. The only reason I ever heard assiirned for his being taken up was, that he was a German, and that they wanted a German Governor (the descendants from all other countries born in America call themselves Americans, and why these people should call themselves Germans I never could learn). The Germans are a very use- ful, good class of citizens, but I remember when a boy, when the Germans were much more numerous in the city than they now are it was a great disgrace to a boy to have it said a Dutch boy beat j-ou, even if he was much older and stouter. It is to be hoped the distinction will be dropped, and every man born in the country will be proud of calling himself an American. Mr. Snyder was elected, and such. a Governor no State could produce. I do not believe him a bad man, although much has been said against him ; but he has nothing to re- commend him to that station. Since his election to this time, now 1813, he has never been in the city. When the Legislature met, Mr. Dorsey of the Senate wrote to beg I would come up to Lancaster, and speak to the Gov- ernor about renewing my commission. He said the Gover- nor spoke of me in the most favorable terms. I informed him it would be inconvenient and, in my opinion, useless, to see Mr. Snyder. He then wished me to send up one of my sons, but as this w^as equally disagreeable, it was declined. The Governor in appointing a person in my room as Pro- thonotary, gave as a reason that there ought to be frequent changes in a Republican government, that although no fault whatever could be found with me, I had held the otfice for many years. Long before this, I wished to resign the office, but as there were fees due to me to a large amount, I wished to have a successor who would collect them for me, and not keep them himself The tax on the office had made it of lit- tle value. The first notice I had of my removal, was seeing a notice in the Democratic Press, that Frederick Wolbert CHARLES BIDDLE. 327 was appointed Protbonotaiy for the county of Philadelphia. The next day Mr. Wolbert called upon me. He declared he never made any application for the office, how much he re- spected and esteemed me, and that he would agree to any arrangement I pleased to make. As he was a man who I thought would take some pains to collect my fees, his ap- pointment was not disagreeable to me ; but no man that is in embarrassed circumstances should be appointed to an office where he is to receive public money. Mr. Wolbert was soon obliged to resign, or was dismissed for' not settling his accounts. The last ten months that I was in office, I paid in over three thousand dollars, as will be seen by the treasury accounts. It was early in this year that Mr. Sloan, of Jersey, made a motion for a removal of the seat of government from Wash- ington to Philadelphia, and it had nearly carried. I was always of opinion that Trenton would have been a hiuch better place than either Washington or Philadelphia. It is situated between Philadelphia and ISTew York, in a fine; pleasant, healthy country. Washington, notwithstanding all that can be said in favor of it, I believe would never have been thought of for the seat of government, but for the good and o-reat man it is called after. MadHime Pechon, wife of Mr. Pechon, Charge d'Affiiires of France, told me that when i she first went lo Washington, it was late in the night, the roads excessively bad, and very dark before they got there. Some time before they reached the tavern, she called to the coachman, " How long before you get to Washington ?" " Why, madame," says the fellow, " you have been in Wash- ington this hour." She had not seen a house. In the beginning of December of this year, in walking from the Cotfee House, the conversation turned upon the advantage it would be to the country, if we could get an office established for the insurance of lives, granting annui- ties, reversions, etc. We met the next day and agreed to call a meeting of some of our friends and acquaintances, which we did that evening. Messrs. Paul Beck, Edward Burd, S. Meeker, W. Qaw, A. Denman, M. Levy, David 328 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF Lewis, Robert Wain, E. Kane, Henry Pratt, William Poyn- tell, and myself agreed to be managers. We opened a sub- scription a few days afterwards for a capital of half a million of dollars. As the citizens had co-nfidence in the managers, it was tilled immediately, and a much larger sum could have been obtained. Such a number came forward to subscribe that we were obliged to limit the number of shares each per- son should have. It was with difficulty we could keep the crowd off. We sent two gentlemen up to Lancaster to get an act of incorporation. The Legislature would have passed the act we wanted, but another company being formed, the members of the Legislature supposed it would be very profit- able, and postponed the Ijill until the next session. As we only wanted to see such a company formed, and as the others applied, we gave ourselves no further concern about the bill. One of the gentlemen who went up said that during the debate on the bill, one of the German members spoke against it. " Mr. Speaker, I am against dis bill, and I will tell you for what. If you bass dis bill, old McKean* will get his life insured, and so we shall never get rid of him." This was not to be got over. At the next session the bill of the other company was lost by a small majority. The session after- wards, they obtained an act but with many alterations made by persons totally unacquainted with the business. In May, 1810, Mrs. Spaight, the widow of Governor Spaight, who came from JJsTorth Carolina the summer of 1809, sent for me to consult with me about her children, two sons and a daughter. When I waited upon her she com- plained of a cold and a slight pain in her breast ; she spoke cheerfully, and I did not suppose her by any means danger- ously ill. After some conversation about the children, I left her. Two days after, the person she lodged with sent me word she was dead. She was a most amiable woman, and a few years before her death one of the most lovely of her sex ; but from the time of the death of the Governor until her own she was very seldom out of her room, and she kept her * Then Governor of tlie State. CHARLES BIDDLE. 329 children constantly with her, never letting them go outside of the door. Had she lived a few years longer, she would have destroyed their constitutions. When they were left to my care, I had them taken out every day when the weather would permit it, and sent a few miles from the city in a healthy part of the country, and they are now fine, hearty children. Their father, Governor Spaight, was killed in a duel hy John Stanley, Esq., since that time a memher of Con- gress. The Governor, as well as myself, were intimate with the father of Mr. Stanley, and had often heen at the house together when the son was a child. The duel was occasioned by some good-natured friends carrying tales from one to the other. The duel would have terminated without injury to either party, but for a scoundrel that was second to the Gov- ernor. The}^ fought on the Common, near Newbern, and great numbers of the inhabitants were looking on. Some of them would have interfered, but this rascal of a second sVore he would shoot any man who attempted to do so. They fired five shots before Mr. Stanley's took eftect. The Gover- nor some years before this fatal duel had been extremely ill, so much so that he was reduced to a skeleton, and as helpless as a child of a month old. The first physicians on the con- tinent were consulted, but they could doliothingfor him, and gave him up as incurable. Some person recommended him to apply to Mrs. Bran, a woman well known at that time in the city, as is her daughter Patty now (1813). Mrs. Bran made a perfect cure of him, and for some years before his death he was as hearty a man as any in the world. He was broken out in sores all over his face, all his limbs and body, so that from being a handsome, he was a most miserable object. I believe it was with malt tea she made the cure. A short time before the election this year a committee of the City Conference called on me to know if I would consent to be run as State Senator. They were pleased to say they could carry me, and that they did not know an}^ other Feder- alist they could get elected. I told them there were other gentlemen who would command as many, and perhaps more votes than myself, and, if elected, it would be disagreeable to 330 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF me to spend the winter at Lancaster; I must, therefore, request they would place some other person on the ticket. Going soon afterwards a journey in the country, I was sur- prised upon my return to find my name on the ticket to be run as Senator. Mrs. Biddle advised my sending to the Committee to request they would put some other person on the ticket in my room, but, as I had no expectation what- ever of being elected, I declined it. To my surprise the ticket was carried by some hundreds. My son Nicholas was at the same time elected a member of the House of Repre- sentatives. Mr. B and some of my Democratic acquain- tances said it was they who occasioned my being elected. I thought that its being known that I was opposed to the Meclianics and Commercial banks, then applying for charters, would have prevented my election. Enos Clark, an honest Irish tenant of mine, called on me the morning of the elec- tion in much distress. He said just as he was putting in his ticket, one of his friends called to him to come down ; that he put in the ticket and came to him, when he said : " Clark, do you know what you have been doing ?" " Yes, to be sure, I have been putting in the ticket that D. S gave me, and he, you know, is one of us." "Damn you; do you know you have been voting against your landlord, who has been so kind, and so good to your family ?" " I hope it is not so, Mr, Biddle, for I would not do that for all the world." I comforted this good fellow by assuring him that on this occasion I did not want his vote. At the opening of the session I went to Lancaster with Mr. Barclay, of the Senate, and Messrs. Morgan and McEuen, of the House of Representatives. We agreed to lodge at Slough's,* who we knew kept an excellent house, and we * When Judge Jones and myself were going to the Virginia Springs, just before we readied Lancaster we overtook Mr. Edward Badger, a young lawyer of Philadelphia. He was talking to a countryman. AVhen he joined us at the tavern he told us he had a curious conversation with the farmer, who inquired where he intended to put up in Lancaster. Badger told him he did not know, he was a stranger. Well, says the farmer, come with me to Adam Weaver's, he keeps a very good house. Badger told him he heard Mr. CHARLES BIDDLE. 331 could not possibly have been better accommodated than at this house. Mr. Slough had been a captain in the army under General St. Clair, and was shot through the body at the time the General was defeated by the Indians. ISTot with- standing this he was remarkably strong and active, and very attentive to his guests. The most important business that was before the Legisla- ture this session was the application of the Trustees of the Bank of the United States for a charter. This they did after Congress had refused to renew their charter. Although I had some doubt whether giving them a charter would not be a disadvantage to the Bank of Pennsylvania, of which I was, and had been ever since it was first instituted, a director, I thought it would be of advantage to the State, and, therefore, voted, and used what interest I had for it. My son in the House of Representatives made a speech in favor of it that was much admired. But there was a majority of both Houses who were informed that the shares were held by foreigners, and who thought the shares should be held by our own citizens. The refusing to grant the charter I considered as a loss to the State of the sum the trustees would have given, which was six hundred thousand dollars. Mr. Girard bought the banking house, which he has opened on his own account. Our Government acted a shameful part in selling out the shares belonging to the United States at an advance of forty -five per cent, shortly before the charter expired, and then refusing to renew it. One evening during this session, Mr. Barclay, Senator from the county of Philadelphia, sent over to Slough's to request I would come to the House immediately, as the question was about being taken on a bill he was ver}^ anxious should pass. I went over with the doorkeeper, and took with me Mr. Brady, a member of the Senate, who happened to be at Slough kept a very good house. " Oh yes, be sure, Slough he keeps a good house, but tliat won't do for you and me, for none but gentlemen go there." Badger had on a short jacket, which he declared he would never ride in ajjain. — Authok's note. 332 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP Slough's. When we went into the Senate I offered a new section to the bill, which Mr. Barclay opiDosing, Brady and myself voted against his bill. Had he not sent for us he would have carried his bill. At the end of this session I intended to resign my seat, but some of my friends, having business in the Legislature, begged me to serve the next session, but it was with much reluctance that I consented. My son Nicholas being engaged to be married, refused standing a candidate for the House of Representatives. In October he was happily married.* Charles had married a few years before equally to my sat- isfaction, f At the anniversary meeting of the Cincinnati this year, 1811, I offered the following resolution, which was unani- mously adopted :— Resolved^ That a committee of this society be appointed to prepare a plan for raising by subscription such a sum of money as they shall deem sufficient for erecting a monument to the memory of the late Father of his Country, General George Washington. That the plan, when prepared, shall be submitted to the standing committee, and when approved by them, shall be carried into effect. That ■ be a committee for the above purpose. The blank was afterwards filled up with the names of Major Lenox, Judge Peters, Major Jackson, Mr. Biddle, and Mr. Binney. The committee agreed to the following address and plan:— To the People of Pennsylvania. Friends, Countrymen, and Fellow-citizens. Under a deep and heartfelt impression of its proprietj^, and as the most grateful subject that could engage their atten- tion, the preceding resolution was unanimously adopted by the Pennsylvania State Society of the Cincinnati. As a por- tion of the surviving military associates of the immortal * To Miss Jane M. Craig, daughter of Mr. John Craig. t To Miss Ann II. Stokes, daughter of Mr. James Stokes. CHARLES BIDDLE. 333 Washington, they believed they should render an acceptable service to their fellow-citizens by becoming the organs of their wish to consecrate the memory of the patriot, hero, and statesman, who was not only the boast and delight of our nation, but an object of veneration to all mankind. As the committee appointed to carry the resolution of the society into effect, it is our pleasing duty at this time to address you, and as no argument could be adduced to increase the influence which expands every American heart with grati- tude, love, and reverence for the great Father of our Country, we beg leave to submit to your consideration the annexed plan for erecting a monument to perpetuate the remembrance of his glorious achievements, and to transmit to posterity the grateful expression of a people's love. (Signed) David Lenox, Richard Peters, William Jackson,' Charles Biddle, Horace Binney. Plan. First. In order to make the proposed monument a peculiar testimony of the veneration in which our immortal patiiot is held by the citizens of the Commonwealth, it is the intention of the Cincinnati* not to solicit contributions from persons who do not reside in Pennsylvania, but to make application to citizens of this State as particularly as possible, and to give to every one an opportunity within his own county of offering his donation to persons acting under the appoint- ment of the society ; with this view books will be sent to two or more persons in each organized county in the State with a request that they will receive subscriptions for the object. Similar books will be committed with a like request to several of the citizens of Philadelphia, and after the books are closed, which will be on the fifth of July, 1812, they will be deposited among the archives of the society, as a perpetual memorial of such of the citizens of this State as had virtue to honor the illustrious character of General Washiijgton, 334 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF and gratitude to consecrate a portion of their means to this lasting commemoration of his services. SecQnd. Subscribers under twenty dollars will pay their subscriptions at the time they are made ; for, or above that sum, they may j^ay it when it is made, or when they shall afterwards be called upon for that purpose. Third. All moneys received will be forwarded or handed over to Charles Biddle, Esq., Treasurer of the Cincinnati of Pennsylvania, and by him be deposited in one of the banks of the city of Philadelphia, subject only to the draft of a majority of the committee. Fourth. As soon as the books are closed and the amount of subscriptions ascertained, the committee will proceed with the utmost promptitude to carry the resolution into etiect. The splendor of the monument must depend essentially upon the extent of the subscriptions. But the committee have no doubt that neither the affection nor the pride of Pennsyl- vania will be satisfied with any memorial which shall not be w^orthy, in some small degree, of the hero it is to commemorate. When the books were ready Majors Lenox and Jackson, and myself went to every ward in the city, and engaged eight gentlemen in each ward to go round their wards and obtain subscriptions. We also procured twenty-four gentlemen in Southwark, and as maiiy in the ^Northern Liberties for the collection in their districts, and we forwarded books to the several counties in the State. In order to prevent it being considered a party affair we chose gentlemen of each party to collect subscriptions. To forward the business my son Nicholas delivered an oration, which was mvich admired.* At the commencement of the session I attended the Legis- lature at Lancaster. The trustees of the Bank of the United States again endeavored to procure a charter from the State, but in vain ; the real or pretended fear of British influence prevented anything being done. Had the charter been granted, it would have been of great advantage in improving the State, * The monument is at this time (1883) being cast in Germany, and is to be phiced in Fairmount Park. CHARLES BIDDLE. 335 and it would have prevented the Legislature from chartering such a number of banks as they have since done. Some violent resolutions were brought forward by Mr. Gemmil in the Senate, and adopted by both Houses of the Legislature. The Federalists wanted to have France, who in my opinion behaved much worse than the British, included in the resolutions, but they could not. I believe these resolu- tions occasioned the war, as our Senators at "Washington would not have voted for it but for them. Mr. Gemmil, who introduced them into the Senate, was a clergyman from Chester County, a man of talents and highly respectable, but a most bitter enemy to the British Government. I believe he imbibed these prejudices from some renegade Englishmen, who spoke of their administration as the most corrupt upon earth. I always found those wretches more violent against their country than any American. At the end of the session wlien I returned to the city, it was the general opinion we should not have a war. T, how- ever, thought otherwise, for it was pretty certain if we did not, that the present administration w^ould be turned out. Mr. Madison, I believe, did not wish for war, but he wanted firmness to oppose such men as Giles, Williams, Clay, and a few others, who supposed they could soon bring Great Britain to their own terms. ]Slr. Porter, a member of Cono-ress from the neighborhood of Canada, declared we had nothing to do but send a few men there and erect a standard, and the w^hole country would join us. The probability of a w^ar induced my son Thomas to solicit me to permit him to join the army. This I reluctantly consented to, and he obtained a captain's commission in Colonel Pike's regiment. Colonel Izard soon after wishing him in his regiment, and Thomas consenting, he was transferred from the infantry to the artillery. As soon as war was declared my son John told me he must go in the army. I was much more averse to his going than to his brother Thomas, as his temper was too warm, and I knew he frequently took offence when none was intended. He ap- peared, however, so unhappy that I was obliged to consent, and his brother iS'icholas writing to Mr. Monroe, he had a 336 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF commission sent him of second lieutenant in the Third Regi- ment of Artillery, commanded by Colonel McComb. James not being attached to any ship, went to 'New York to ofl'er his services as a volnnteer with Commodore Rodgers. He, however, notwithstanding his utmost exertions, and no per- son could have made more, did not arrive in New York until Rodgers had got to Sandy Hook. He hired a boat but could not get on board. In the unprepared state of our country I was much opposed to the war, and I was of opinion that although we had cause of complaint against Great Britain we had much more against France. As parties ran high I expected we should have some dis- turbances, and therefore wished to see the citizens above the age of forty-live associated in order to preserve the peace of the cit3\ I had spoken to some gentlemen on this subject, when I observed in one of the Democratic papers a meeting called at Oellers's tavern, next door to me. As the notice was general for all those above the age prescribed for mili- tary duty, I went there. The room was full ; all of them were our warmest Democrats. Among them were Messrs. Matlack, Barker, Mayor of the city, Leiper, Patterson, Smily, Brown, etc. As I was well acquainted with these citizens they all expressed themselves glad to see me. Soon after my entrance it was proposed having the meeting organized. I was unanimously called to the chair, and George A. Baker, Esq., ap»pointed Secretar3^ As soon as I mentioned that we were ready for business, and requested whoever had given the notice to come forward with his plan for an association, immediately a little, dark-looking foreigner came forward, and, with much ceremony, handed me a paper which he begged should be read. It began : — " Whereas, our beloved country being involved in a war with the most cruel enemy upon earth, and, whereas, we have a great many traitors among us. Therefore Resolved." Here followed a number of violent resolutions against what he called the friends of Great Britain. It provoked me to hear a fellow lately come among us talk of our " beloved country," CHARLES BIDDLE. 337 After reading them myself I put them in my pocket, telling him, with a look of contempt, that it was not the intention of the meeting to enter into such resolutions, but for the purpose of associating to preserve the peace of the city, or defending it in case of attack. He appeared much mortified, but retired without saying anything. If I had not been at the meeting it is probable these resolutions would have been carried unanimously. This man's name was Puglia ; I believe he belonged to the Board of Health. After some time it was observed that a meeting to form an association was to be held at the Indian King in a few days, and we adjourned to meet there. Before this meeting took place I prepared some resolutions which I knew could, by my speaking to a few of the members, be easily carried. We met at the Indian King on the first of July ; there were present a great many respectable citizens of both parties, and there were some that did no credit to the party thej^ belonged to ; amongst these was Mr. Puglia. At this meeting I was called to the chair, which as soon as I had taken Mr. Huston, a stout man, whom Puglia had oftended at Oellers's, came up to me, and asked me if I would allow him to kick Puglia out of the room. It was with some difficulty I could persuade him to let him alone, that he was not worth his notice. We passed the following resolutions unanimously: — Resolved^ That in the present interesting situation of our country it is the duty of every man to contribute by all the means in his power to promote the public welfare ; that an association of the citizens of Philadelphia, the ISTorthern Liberties, and Southwark, above the age prescribed by law for the performance of militia duty, to aid the civil authority in the preservation of domestic order and tranquillity, and for the defence of tlie City and Liberties in the absence of the 3'ounger citizens, would be highly expedient. Resolved^ That the members of this meeting hereby agree to form an association for said purpose, and that the follow- ing persons be a committee to prepare a plan for organizing this Association, viz., Charles Biddle, Chairman ; for the City, John Miller, Alex. Cook, George A. Baker, John Barker, 22 338 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF Wm. "Wray, Paul Beck, B. McMahon, R. Patterson, Wm. Smiley, Conrad Hance, Levi Ilollingsworth, J. E. Smith, Cap- tain Wm. Jones, and John Douglass. We also appointed seven from the ]^orthern Liberties, and as many from South- wark. We passed other resolutions that when the Com- mittee were ready to rej)ort they should call a meeting at the State House. After several meetings we agreed upon a plan, and met at the State House to carry it into effect ; but before we held this meeting there were several violent publications by the Society of American Republicans reprobating the war, and abusing the administration. This gave great offence to some of the Democrats, and we were not by any means as sociable as before. One of the Democrats proposed we should call ourselves " The Friends of Government ;" one of the Federalists that we should be called " Supporters of the Law." For my own part I thought it of little consequence. We at last broke up without doing anything. One evening in August hearing there was a mob in Dock Street going to tar and feather an Englishman for sa^ang something against the Americans, I went there with Mr. Keppele, the Mayor. We found a great concourse of people, most of whom were for punishing the poor devil, particularly a man of the name of Alcorn, who said the fellow was an Orangeman. I inquired of the man what he had said or done. He declared that he had said nothing ; that the man who occasioned his being taken up was a ladies' shoemaker, and that they had a dispute as to which was the best workman. Finding he was in liquor, we thought it best to lodge him in gaol and bind over Alcorn to keep the peace. The binding over this man, it is probable, put an end to any further dis- turbance during the summer. We had in the city at this time a number of vagabonds who would have been pleased to see the same proceedings here that had disgraced Baltimore the year before. Expecting there would be some disturbance at the election, I advised Mr. Keppele, the Mayor, to hire a few men to assist the constables in keeping the peace. This he did. On the day of the election Alcorn marched up at the head of a pack CHARLES BIDDLE. 339 of shoemakers. The Mayor met him, and there had like to have been a serious scuffle. Alcorn and his gang passed on, and after voting dispersed. In the evening seeing a number of people going into the Court House, where I knew Mr. Keppele then was, and apprehending some disturbance, I went over. When within the door, seeing Captain Sprogel and a few others who could be depended on, I desired they would prevent any more from entering ; this with great difficulty they did. About nine o'clock the crowd about the door had increased very much, and they wei-e very clamorous. One man whose name was Reynolds, who from his size was called Big Ben, was let into the room where the Mayor, Mr. Wharton, and a few others of us were assembled. He told us that he was as desirous to have the election conducted in a peaceable manner as any man in the city, that if the Mayor and Mr. Wharton would go home he would pledge himself that the people at the door should disperse, and no injury be done ; but if they did not go home he believed both their houses would be pulled down, and then addressing me, he said, "And the people are very much displeased with you, Mr. Biddle, for they think the Mayor is directed altogether by you." I told him that as to what the people, as he called the mob at the door, thought, it was a matter of perfect indifference to me ; and inquired if the people at the door, without Mr. Keppele and Mr. Vharton going home, could not be dispersed. He said he believed not. " And what do you intend to do?" " To stand by the people." " What, whether they are right or wrong ?" He answered, yes. I then gave it as my opinton that it would be both dangerous and disgraceful for the Mayor to go home, or any of those with him, and requested Reynolds to retire, which he immediately did. I now thought of poor Lingan murdered at Baltimore.* Mr. Wharton told me after- vv'ards that he was also thinking of the massacre at Baltimore, and he thought it probable if the villains at the door broke * In the political riots in Baltimore, in 1812, General Lingan was killed, and General Lee, Light Horse Harry Lee of the Revolution, was crippled for life. 340 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF in, we should be treated as bad as those in gaol were at that place. At this time Captain Morrel came to me and said, " Mr. Biddle, only give the word, and Captain Ross, Cadwal- ader, and some others of the Light Horse are ready, and will be here in a few minutes and disperse these fellows. I was much pleased to hear this, but wishing to prevent the effu- sion of blood, and believing we could keep the door from be- ing forced, I thought it best for them to remain ready to act. I was sorry afterwards we had not directed the horse to gallop to the door, and halt before it, to see the rascals run. We all went quietly home about eleven o'clock. The Democrats carried the election by a large ma;jority, which I believe was in a great measure owing to the Federalists leaving the ground at an early hour, and this has frequently occasioned the loss of the election. The President of the United States this year appointed me one of the Commissioners for signing the Treasury Notes. When Mr. Smith, the Cashier of the Bank of Pennsylvania, mentioned this to me, I told him there must be some mistake. He, however, answered me that it was so. This was a busi- ness I did not want to have anything to do with ; however, having three sons in the service, I thought the refusing to sign the notes would appear as if I was unfriendly to the ad- ministration. This induced me to sign them. Before sign- ing them, I did not suppose I could have written my name so often in a day. Some days I signed fourteen hundred ; and one day eighteen hundred. At the time I was preparing to set oif for the Legislature I was informed that there was a memorial sent to the Speaker of the Senate, requesting that an inquiry should be made whether my signing these notes did not vacate my seat as a Senator. Upon conversing with some of my friends on this subject, T found they diftered in opinion. Mr. Ligersoll, the Attorney-General, when I first spoke to him, laughed at it ; but he afterwards thought it was such an appointment as did vacate the seat. His altering his opinion it was thought by some gentlemen was owing to his conversing with his son Charles about it. As Charles was a Democrat, perhaps he CHARLES BIDDLE. 341 was consulted before the memorial was signed, I do not mean any reflection on Mr. IngersoU, who is a worthy and highly respectable man. I waited in the city until the Legislature adjourned for the holidays. An influential member told a friend of mine that it was not worth while for me to go up, for he knew there was a large majority in the Senate who considered signing the notes as vacating the seat, and who would vote accordingly ; and that he was very sorry it was so. JSTotwithstanding this, the wishes of my family, and my not caring how the Senate should vote, I considered it my duty to go up to prevent this being brought into a prece- dent. I therefore sat off one of the coldest days we had in January, When we reached Downingtown a gentleman from Harrisburg handed me a letter from Mr. Lane, the Speaker of the Senate, informing me that the Committee had reported the seat vacated. Notwithstanding this I was de- termined to proceed, "When the sleigh was about a mile from Downingtown, Mr. Morgan, a friend of mine, going to put on his gloves, found he had left them at the tavern. I laughed at him, and observed he must be a very thoughtless fellow to leave his gloves such an extra cold day. As my ears at this time felt very cold I went to put my great coat round them, when I found it was also left at the tavern. Upon my arrival at Harrisburg I went immediately to the Senate and soon found my seat -should not be considered as vacated, a large majority coming round me and expressing their satisfaction at my appearance amongst them. The report of the Com- mittee was taken up a few days after my being in the Senate. On this occasion Mr. Gemrail made a speech that affected the audience very much. After expressing his opinion very fully upon my right to retain the seat, he spoke of my family, mentioned my three sons then in the service, of Edward whom I had lost with Commodore Truxtun, of my brother lost in the Randolph, and something flattering of me. Mr. Beale, who was in the chair, was a considerable time before he could speak. After some time Mr. Weaver answered Mr, Gemmil. He declared there was no member of the Senate had a higher opinion or greater esteem and respect than he 342 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF had for Mr. Biddle, but that he was sworn to support the Con- stitution, and he believed the appointment given tome by the President vacated my seat. The question was then taken and decided against the report. When the Speaker resumed the chair the yeas and nays were called for on adopting the re- port of the Committee of the Whole, and were as follows : Yeas, Messrs. Baird, Barclay, Beale, Brady, Burnside, Erwin, Gemmil, Graham, Gross, Hamilton^ Laird, Lowrie, IS'ewbold, Roe, Rehm, Ralston, Watson, Wilson, Lane, Speaker — twenty, The Nays were Messrs. Bender, Gilliland, McFarland, Shoe- maker, Smith, Stroman, Weaver, Worrel— eight. So it was determined that the seat was not vacated. The eight who voted against the vote of the Committee all came up to me after the question was taken and expressed their satisfaction at the report being adopted, and except one I believe they really were so. I lodged this session at Harrisburg with my old friend, Captain Graydon, a gentleman who has published his memoirs, in which he has mentioned an affair that happened at the commencement of our Revolutionary war: we went out to fire at a mark, and my ball striking a child at a great distance. He also mentions the assistance I gave him in get- ting him appointed Prothonotary for Dauphin County. This session the Legislature voted a sword to my son James, for his gallant conduct on board the Wasp when she captured the Frolic. Towards the close of the session, I was anxious to have some provision made for the defence of the Delaware, and for this purpose read a bill in the Senate granting dollars for the defence of the bay and river Delaware. The blank for a small sum would have been readily filled, but when I moved to fill the blank with a hundred thousand dollars, most of the members thought it too high and voted against it. They would have given ten thousand dollars, but I thought it was not worth while to take so small a sum, and therefore had the bill postponed. Soon after my return to the city, the Secretary of the IS'avy wrote to my son James to know if he would take command CHARLES BIDDLE. 343 of the flotilla fitting out for the defence of the Delaware. James accepted the command with pleasure. This made me more anxious than I was before to have a suflacient force to meet any attack the British should make. A few who were as desirous as myself to have something done, had two or three meetings without being able to effect anything. After the brutal conduct of the British at Havre de Grace, about twenty of us met at the Coffee House and subscribed one hundred dollars each. At this meeting it was the opinion of Mr. Daniel W. Coxe and some others, that if I would take the chair we could have committees appointed in each ward and the Districts, and we could have a sufficient sum collected to build what barges we should want, and some galleys that would answer our purposes much better than Mr. Jefferson's gun boats, which were not by any means equal to those we had during the Revolutionary war. I took the chair, and Mr. John Sergeant acted as secretary. At this meeting, which was held the 6th of May, 1813, the following gentle- men were appointed a committee to assist the officers of gov- ernment in building barges, and manning the flotilla, viz : Charles Biddle, Henry Pratt, Daniel W. Coxe, Henry Hawk- ins, Charles McCallister, Robert Wain, Chandler Price, James Josiah, Richard Dale, David Lenox, William McFadden, John Connolly, Thomas W. Francis, Manuel Eyre, and Dan- iel Smith. Major Lenox and Mr. Smith never met the com- mittee. We had committees appointed in each ward and district, and had a handsome sum collected, but we found that many of our richest citizens gave little or nothing. We therefore presented a memorial to our City Councils, and with some difficulty got them to agree to give us thirty thousand dollars, upon which we determined to return the money we had collected from our generous fellow citizens, many of whom had paid more than they could aftbrd. We built six large barges, much superior to any the British had, and a schooner. We procured some seamen from New York. The barges and schooner went down the river about the mid- dle of June. As these would protect the inhabitants near the shore from the British barges, they had now no pretence 344 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP for supplying them with anything ; before we could give them this protection, we had no right to complain of their connection with the enemy. After the barges got down, we heard no more of the British burning our craft coming up with wood and lumber. About this time the Secretary of War, Armstrong, wrote General Bloomfield, that if the city would advance sixteen or twenty thousand dollars, he would build a fort at the Pea Patch. I had some time before mentioned to (xeneral Bloom- field the importance of having a strong fort at this place, believing it would forever prevent the British from making an attack upon Philadelphia, and would be a protection to New Castle and Wilmington. The Secretary mentioned further, that if we would get a cession of the soil and juris- diction, he would return the money advanced. I thought this of so much importance, that I agreed to go with General Bloomfield to Dover, where the Legislature was in session. To them we applied, and with the assistance of Mr. George Read, we got a law passed giving the United States the soil and jurisdiction. The expectation of a peace prevented any- thing further being done. The Committee got the Secretary of the !N"avy to take the barges, schooner, etc., on account of the United States, so that the city was at very little ex- pense and had the shallops coming up from the bay eftectually protected from the enemy. The Legislature meeting the first Tuesday in December, I sat oli" on Monday the 6th, and arrived there the next day. In crossing the Swatara we were very near being overset in the middle of the creek, and if we had, some of us must have perished, as it was very cold, the creek high, and the stage full, with the curtains all fastened down. We soon, however, tore the curtains loose. Expecting we should have to swim I stripped my clothes off. A boat coming to our assistance we got safely on shore. At this time they were building a bridge which was so far finished that we passed over it on our return to the city at Christmas. At this session we passed a law for establishing a number of banks, which the members from most of the counties were CHARLES BIDDLE. 345 anxious to have. I thought that in some of the counties banks would he useful, and would liave voted for them ; hut this bill I thought would be injurious, and therefore voted against it. By an agreement among the members they carried it by a large majority. " Do you vote for the bank in my county, and I will vote for yours ;" and this, although they must have known the bill would be against the interest of the State, by lessening the value of their stock in the other banks they had so much of their money invested in. The Governor, with great firmness, did everything in his power to prevent the bill from passing, but he could not do it. He returned the bill to the House of Representatives, where it originated, with his reasons for not signing it, but they had a majority of more than two-thirds, and soon passed it. In the Senate it had nearly been lost. Mr. Gemmil was sick in Harrisburg, and we tried to get him out, but he was too unwell to leave his room. His vote would have desti'oyed the bill. Upon my arrival at Harrisburg after the holidays, I found my old acquaintance General St. Clair. He had applied to several members of the Senate from the "Western counties, in one of which he resided, to present a petition praying. for an alteration in a law passed in his favor. But the General was unpopular in those counties ever since his defeat by the In- dians, and he could get none of the members to present his petition. When this was told to me I called on him, received his petition, and presented it, and upon my application to the Committee, got them to report a bill in his favor. Some of his friends and myself had a good deal of ditficulty in getting the bill passed the House of Representatives. It was, how- ever, done, and the General went home in high spirits. He had served his country faithfully in the field, and as Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States, but was now so much reduced as to live in a miserable hut on the Allegheny, where, it is said, he sold whisky and entertained foot travellers with lodging. He was now upwards of eighty years of age. James O'Hara, an old Revolutionary soldier who had been 346 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP applying in vain to Congress for a pension, begged me to try if he could not be put on the State pension list, but as he belonged to Hazen's regiment there was some doubt about his being entitled to anything from the State of Pennsylvania. I presented his petition and had it referred to a committee who reported a bill in his favor. Upon reading the bill a second time, I mentioned that I had known O'Hara for a great number of years, that he was a quiet orderly man, and was old and infirm. Mr. Barclay, who sat near me, said in a low voice, " O'llara lives near me in the Northern Liberties. He is a noisy vagabond." Mr. Watson, a member from Lan- caster, got up immediately, and observed, " There must be some mistake about this O'Hara. The gentleman from the city says he is a quiet, orderly man. The gentleman from the county, who lives in the Northern Liberties near one James O'Hara, says he is a noisy, worthless vagabond. They cannot mean the same man. We had better postpone the bill generally." While Mr. Watson was speaking. General Baird, who was anxious that O'Hara should get the pension, came round to me, and begged me to have the bill postponed for the present, until we could speak to Watson. I told him to make himself easy, as Watson should soon be satisfied. When he sat down I told the House that Mr. Barclay and myself did mean the same person ; that O'Hara differed from us in politics ; that I never heard him noisy except when ringing his bell, which was often the case, as he was crier to the constable's vendue ; or at the time of an election, when he made a good deal of noise by huzzaing for Jefferson, or Madison, or Snyder, or some of the i:)arty. When he saw me he would change his note, and huzza for General Washing- ton ; but at all other times he was a quiet, orderly man. Mr. Barclay saying he seldom saw him but at the time of elec- tions, and that he could not doubt anything I said about him, the bill passed immediately. At the end of the session I returned with much pleasure to the city, being determined never to suffer my name to be put up as a candidate for any office that could occasion my going to Harrisburg ; not that I had any complaint to make of the CHARLES BIDDLE. 347 place, for it is a handsome village, and will, I have no doubt, in time be an important place. But it was very disagreeable for me to leave my family for so long a time as it was neces- sary for me to be from home. During the four years I served in the Senate in Lancaster and Ilarrisburg, I never was absent at any meeting of the Senate Avhen I was at the seat of gov- ernment, which was nearly all the time the House sat. If they met two or three times in the twenty-four hours, I always attended, which I do not believe any other but my- self did. It was about the last of March when I returned home. My son Thomas was then about marching for Canada with a very fine company, and John was soon afterwards ordered to join his regiment on Long Island. The latter end of June Mrs. Biddle, our tAvo daughters, and m^^self set oif for I^ew London. We lodged the first night at Bristol, the second at Brunswick, and arrived the next day by twelve o'clock at New York. I had heard much said in favor of the steamboat plying between N^ew York and Paulus Hook, but I did not expect to find it such an excellent mode of conveyance across the river as we found it to be. Having several times crossed in the ferry-boats I was sensible of the great advantage of the steamboat. It is much better than a bridge, for you are as safe, and you enjoy a fine prospect while Crossing. During our stay we lodged in Broad Street at the house of Mrs. Wilkinson, an amiable lady, whose situation in the early part of her life had given her reason to believe she should never be under the necessity of keeping a boarding- house. I was acquainted with some of the most respectable people in New York, and had letters of introduction to Governor Tompkins, Mr. Clinton, the jViayor, and many others ; but the first person I inquired for, and went to see, was my unfor- tunate friend. Colonel Burr. He lived in a small house in Wall Street. He was much aftected at seeing me, and I was not a little so at seeing him. How different was his situation when I was at New York in 1800 ! He was then surrounded 348 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF by a number of persons who called themselves his friends, and who were with him to concert measures for procuring his election as Vice-President, and was on good terms with General Hamilton and most of the leading Federalists. I know no man whose prospects at that time were more flat- tering than those of Colonel Burr. I had been informed that he was very much altered, that he appeared much older than he was, and his spirits broken by his misfortunes. The scenes he had gone through were enough to break down any man. He, however, did not appear to me or my family much altered. He called several times at my lodgings to see me, and was at times as cheerful as usual, but the loss of his amiable daughter, Mrs. Alston, and his grandson had weaned him from the world, and it was a matter of perfect indiffer- ence to him when he left it. I was sorry to find that some of his old friends did not visit him. Men that are unfortu- nate are often neglected. We left New "York on Saturday, the 2d of July. We were informed that if we attempted to travel the next day Ave should be fined and stopped at the first town we came to. Being determined to travel we rode on to Fairfield, break- fasted, and proceeded. When M'ithin four miles of ]S"ew Haven a man on horseback rode up to the carriage, and, in a loud voice, demanded the occasion of our travelling on that day. Mrs. Biddle being unwell, and having her great coat on, I told him we had a sick lady in the carriage. He bowed, said travelling on that day was contrary to law, and rode ofi:* without saying anything more. We proceeded to New Haven without any further interruption, and stopped at Ogden's, one of the best houses of entertainment on the con- tinent. The next day being the 4th of July we were awak- ened by the firing of cannon. Our landlord, who was much opposed to the war, did not like this rejoicing. After break- fast we proceeded on our journey ; we stopped at Gruilford, and intended to dine there, but we found the tavern full of people, and nothing to be had without waiting a considerable time. An oration was to be delivered by a Mr. Tod at twelve o'clock, which we had some thoughts of staying to hear, but CHARLES BIDDLE. 349 were apprehensive of being detained too long. The militia made a handsome appearance, but their music was more adapted to a country tavern than to a company of soldiers. It consisted of fiddles and some wind instruments. The tune they marched to must have been excellent, for it set us all a laughing. The citizens, who marched in the rear of the militia, were well clothed and very orderly. We proceeded that evening to Pratt's at Saybury. This is a good house, but not equal to Ogden's. In the morning we crossed the ferry, which was such a one as I had never seen before. The flat our carriage was put in was towed across the river by a sail-boat lashed alongside of her. We had a fair wind, and, as it blew fresh, we soon crossed. In a calm or head wind it must be a very tedious matter. Three miles from Isew London we met James and his purser in a gig.* James got into the carriage, and Mr. Zantzinger and myself drove ofi' in the gig to bespeak dinner. After having dined we went in the Hornet's gig up the river. Being late we passed the U. S. Ships Macedonian and Hornet without going on board, and landed about half amile from Nor- wich, at a most delightful place that James had taken for us. After remaining a week at this place, during which time we frequently went onboard the Hornet, which was well manned * The Hornet, Captain Biddle, with the Macedonian and United States, all under command of Commodore Decatur, were at this time blockaded by a large British force. The otHcers were, of course, greatly chagrined that they were prevented from seeking fresh laurels on the ocean, but tluit they managed to keep up their spirits may appear from the following inci- dent. Alderman Binns, of Philadelphia, was deputed to present to Captains Decatur and Biddle the swords which had been voted by the Legislature of Pennsylvania. Decatur, not being a ready writer, was quite uneasy as to the set reply which he ought to make, and showed to Biddle the result of his cogitations, asking his opinion of it. The speech was approved, perhaps with amendments. When the time came for the formal presentation, the junior otticer of the two, according to rule, was to make the first reply to Binns's oration. To Decatur's dismay, Biddle responded by repeating, word for word, the speech which had been submitted for his criticism, and which a quick memory had enabled him to retain. The joke gave no offence, and all went off in great good humor. 350 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF and in excellent order, we proceeded by Hartford for New York. While at 'New York I went with General Williams* to visit Castle Williams and the other fortifications in the' harbor. In viewing the castle I unfortunately mentioned that in my opinion the embrasures were not of suflacient width. My good friend Williams took up so much time to convince me of my mistake that we were detained until the middle of an excessively hot day. A day or two after this I received a letter informing me of the death of my much lamented friend and relation, Colonel Clement Biddle, one of the best of men.f General Washing- ton, with whom he corresponded until the General died, always expressed the highest esteem and regard for him. We set off a day or two afterwards, and reached Philadel- phia in two days, being just three weeks on our journey. At this time the enemy were in the Chesapeake, robbing and plundering the defenceless inhabitants. In August they destroyed Washington. Had an able otRcer commanded there this would not have happened. General Winder, who com- manded, was much esteemed, but he had very little expe- rience, and had too many to advise with, and unfortunately an opinion prevailed that the British would never attempt to make an attack upon Washington. Mr. Secretary Jones has been much blamed for burning the vessels in the navy yards. He expected the British would burn them, to prevent which he had them burned himself; in doing this he was certainly wrong. He was accused of cowardice, but I have reason to believe him to be a brave man. It is much easier to find out after an affair of this kind has happened what should have been done than before. The burning of the capitol roused the people everywhere. In Philadelphia a meeting of the city and adjoining districts, agreeably to public notice, convened the 26th of August in the State House yard. There was a very large and respect- able meeting. Thomas McKean was appointed President, and Joseph Reed, Secretary. Messrs. J. Ingersoll, C. Biddle, * General Jonathan Williams. •)• Sec note H. CHARLES BIDDLE. 351 J. Sergeant, John Goodman, Eobt. McMullen, T. Leiper, and John Barker were appointed to consider what measures were necessary for protection and defence. They reported the following resolutions, which were unanimousl}^ adopted : — Resolved^ That Charles Biddle, Thomas Leiper, Thomas Cadwalader, James Steele, George Latimer, John Barker, Henry Hawkins, Liberty Brown, Charles Ross, Manuel Eyre, John Connolly, Condy Raguet, William McFaden, John Sergeant, John Geyer, and Joseph Reed, for the city of Phila- delphia ; and Jon. Williams, John Goodman, Dan. Groves, John Barclay, John Naglee, Thomas Snyder, I. W. ISTorris, Michael Leib, Jacob Huff, and James Whitehead, for the Northern Liberties ; and James Josiah, R. McMullen, Jos. Thompson, E. Ferguson, Jas. Ronaldson, P. Minken, R. Pal- mer, P. Peltz, for Southwark, etc., be a committee for organ- izing the citizens of Philadelphia and the districts for defence, with power to appoint committees under them; to corres- pond with the governments of the Union and the State; to receive the oiFers of service from our fellow-citizens in other parts of the State and Union ; to make arrangements for supplies of arms, ammunition, and provisions, places of ren- dezvous, and signal of alarm ; and to do all such matters as may be necessary for the purpose of defence. Resolved^ That the committee be authorized to make such applications as*they may deem necessary for the purpose of procuring an adequate disbursement of the funds provided by the Commonwealth for military purposes. Resolved^ That the committee be authorized to call upon the City Councils, and upon the corporations in the Northern and Southern Districts in the name of the citizens, to make such appropriations as may be necessary for the purposes aforesaid. Resolved^ That the committee be authorized and requested to make provision for the families of such of the drafted militia and volunteers, as during their absence in service may be in want of assistance. (Signed) Thomas McKean, Chairman. Jos. Reed, Sccfy. 352 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF The next day twenty-seven of the committee met, and chose me as their chairman, and J. Goodman, secretary. Two of the committee, Messrs. Barclay and Norris, never attended, and several of them but seldom. The city and districts put into our hands four hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, and many of the citizens subscribed hand- somely for the relief of the volunteers and militia, but many of our richest citizens gave nothing. We appointed different committees, and did everything that we possibly could to put the city in a state of defence. All the best young men in the city and districts turned out cheerfully, and were pro- vided in the best manner we could. Our Governor for the first time since his election visited the city, but his presence was of no service. The day of the election he was grossly insulted. This I was very sorry for, believing him to be an inoffensive man. The account of the death of General Ross* was received in the city with much satisfaction. It is to be lamented that such a man should have fallen in such a cause. It is said that two lads had straggled from the camp, and seeing some British officers standing under a tree, they concealed them- selves among some bushes, and advanced towards them. "When getting near, one of them observed to the other, " That man," pointing to General Ross, " is a general." " Why do you think so ?" " Because all the officers, as they come up, salute him ; and I will have a crack at him." lie fired and killed him. November 10, 1815. Walking with Mrs. Biddle this afternoon, we were stopped by a man I did not recollect to have ever seen before. After looking very earnestly, he very civilly inquired if my name was Biddle. Having answered him, " Captain Biddle, I presume." " Yes." " My name, sir, is Gilbert, I am a potter." It struck me immediately he was the son of the man Captain Gray don or myself had hit when practising with our pistols in 1776 ; or that perhaps, he was the person. I told him if he had anything to say to * In the attack on Baltimore. CHARLES BIDDLE. 353 me, to call at my house. He made a low bow, and said he would. The year I moved to Philadelphia from Reading, I became a member of a club that once a week dined, and spent the evening at each other's houses. The club consisted of twenty. The following gentlemen were natives of Ireland : Stephen, John, and Jasper Moylan, brothers ; John and Alexander ISTesbit, General Walter Stewart, Commodore John Barry, James Collins, George Campbell, Sharpe Dulany, Matthew Mease, and afterwards Michael Morgan O'Brien. They were all of them very respectable, and most of them rich. They have all of them long since retired from this (I hope) to a better world. The rest of the club were Americans, three of whom with myself are still here, July, 1816. Our Irish members generally remained longer at the table and drank more than the others, except one American ; this was Major Moore, who was in the service all the war, and was an excel- lent ofhcer. He would drink and eat, I believe, more than any two of the club; and this, it is probable, was the occasion of his soon following our Irish friends. The Irish are gene- rally generous and brave. You will seldom find among them a miser or a coward ; but they are thoughtless and extrava- gant. Most of the friendly, good fellows I have mentioned left their families in distressed circumstances. The 8th of August I set olF with Mrs. Biddle and my daughters for Schooley's JMountain. When we reached Mitchell's Bridge, which is thirty-five miles from the city, three laborers he had employed building a house broke ofl:* from work and set ofi:' on foot for Philadelphia to see the un- fortunate R. Smith, condemned for the murder of Captain Carson, executed. After being a few days at Schooley's Mountain we went to Sussex Court House, and from thence to Easton. We intended to have gone from Easton to see my friend General Craig, but upon inquiry, I found he was in Easton. I requested a gentleman who was going there, to look for him, and to tell him a person at the tavern wanted to see him, and told him not to mention my name. The General was very much surprised at seeing me. He held me 23 354 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF * in his arms for some minutes, and it was some time after before he could speak. He was so much agitated that I was sorry I had surprised him. He reminded me that it was just seventeen years since he left my house in the city, from which time we had not seen each other. This brave and generous man, who never could be provoked to strike a man he had a regard for, could not now, although seventy-four years of age, keep his hands off a fellow who he thought be- haved like a rascal, and he was then attending the court for committing an assault upon a fellow who lived in his neigh- borhood.* There are few men at this time he could not beat, there are none from whom he would suffer an insult. Generals Craig and Wilkinson I was intimate with before the Revolution, as also Captain A. G raj- don, who was a cap- tain in the service when Fort Washington was taken, with Commodore Truxtun and Colonel Burr during the Revolu- tion. All these are at this time, September, 1816, hale, hearty men ; they have all been unfortunate. The sufferings of General Wilkinson and Colonel Burr are well known. A few weeks before the general election this year I thought it would be of great service to my friend Truxtun, if he could do so, to reside upon his farm in Jersey in the summer, and in the winter in the city, and to be Deputy Sheriff. Having very little to do, and his estate not being productive, I thought he wanted some employment, and this office would employ him, and he could make more by it than would main- tain his family. At this time the Deputy Sheriff, Elliot, who was a very good officer, had been agreed upon by the Federal conferees to be run as Sheriffi When I mentioned Truxtun they all agreed he deserved the office, but that he was a Jerseyman, and could not be commissioned if he had * General Thomas Craig, a Revolutionary officer of great merit, entered the service as captain in 1776, and was in the Canada campaign. He was afterwards colonel of the Third Pennsylvania Regiment, and was present at the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth, and at Valley Forge. After the war, in 1783, he was lieutenant of Northampton County. In the next year he was Associate Judge in Montgomery County, but shortly returned to Northampton and died in 1832, aged 92 years. CHARLES BIDDLE. 355 a majority of votes, that it was too late to think of him, and that by running him we should get in a Democrat for a Sheriff. My opinion being otherwise I went with him all over the county, and, some other of his friends and myself using our exertions, we got him elected by a very large majority. Owing to the sureties being obliged to give a judgment bond we had much difficulty in procuring persons who would join in his bond. I offered Mr. Conrad Wile five hundred dollars to sign it, but although he wished to serve me he was afraid it would injure him in his business. We, however, afterwards obtained sureties without paying any- thing, twelve men of large property engaging the sureties should suffer no loss. Thinking Truxtun would have some difficulty at Harrisburg, I went there with him. Our ride to Harrisburg was a very disagreeable one ; we left the city in the rain about 8 o'clock in the morning, and at seven the next morning were at Harrisburg, having stopped only about two hours in the night at Elizabethtown. At Middletown the landlord told us we would probably be overset, but that it would only be in the mud. When we arrived at Harris- burg we found there was a memorial against the election. In it they said they could prove Truxtun Avas a citizen of Jersey, etc. We, however, procured the commission. If Truxtun had not been run we should have had a Democrat for our Sheriff. In October, 1817, 1 was foreman of the grand jury for the District Court of the United States. Among other present- ments there was one against Jacques Tardy for murder. It appeared that this man, who was called Dr. Tardy, took passage in a schooner at Boston bound to Philadelphia, com- manded by Captain Norton, who related that Tardy was on the wharf every day while the schooner was loading. He had with him a servant man, and requested a passage for a poor fellow, who he said, had been shipwrecked, and wanted to get to his friends in Philadelphia. The morning after they sailed Captain Norton observed something white on the sugar. Upon inquiring of the steward what it could be, he said he did not know what it was, but believed it was flour. 366 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF iN'orton, although he had no suspicion of its being poison, threw it overboard. The next morning after breakfast the crew and a German passenger were taken witii a violent vom- iting. ISTorton inquired of the doctor what could be the mat- ter with them. He told him they were poisoned, but he would soon cure them. He gave to each a teaspoonful of sweet oil. Norton not finding himself relieved, spoke to the doctor who told him he must take some laudanum. Norton told him laudanum had always a bad effect upon him, and he and the crew refused to take any. The German had taken some before Norton refused to take it. About twelve o'clock Tardy came to Norton and told him the German was dead and he should be buried immediately. Norton told him they must keep him until the next morning. The doctor said if his body was kept it would infect all the crew. He then with his servant and the sailor passenger hove the remains of the poor German overboard. The captain and crew re- mained sick for some days, but they recovered and arrived safe. The doctor told Norton that the German, just before he died, told him that for his care and attention he should have everything he had on board. Upon this Norton let him take everything he had out of the vessel, A few days after this the doctor met a young man named Jones, whom he had formerly known in South Carolina. Upon inquiring of Jones what he was doing, he told him he had a wife and two chil- dren, was out of employment, and did not know what to do. Tardy told him he would do something for him, and desired him to call upon him the next day. When he called the doc- tor took him into a private room, and after telling him he must be secret as to what he was going to communicate, he told him he had taken his passage with Captain Harrison for Charleston, tliat when they should be at sea he intended to poison the captain and crew and take the vessel to some of the West India islands, sell the cargo and divide the proceeds ; that he understood navigation well, and could take the ves- sel into any port. He said he had been used ill by the Amer- icans, and would be revenged. Jones was shocked at what this man proposed. He agreed to go to Captain Harrison CHARLES BIDDLE. 357 and engage his passage. He went to Captain Harrison and inquired if a Dr. Tardy had engaged a passage for himself and servant. Harrison replied that he had, and also wanted a passage for another person. Jones then related what had passed between the doctor and himself. They then w^ent be- fore the Mayor, and made oath to what they knew respecting the doctor ; upon which a bill was found against him for the murder of the German. Before this he was tried for a mis- demeanor in attempting to poison Captain N"orton and his crew, and sentenced to hard labor for seven years. There was not a man upon the grand or traverse jury, but what be- lieved Tardy murdered the German. The charge of Judge Washington saved him. The grand jurj^ among others, put the following questions : Did Tardy understand navigation ? He answered that he did, he had been an old privateersman. Did he know you had a valuable cargo on board ? He did, for he was on the wharf every day while the vessel was load- ing. I^othing of this was mentioned before the traverse j ury. Judge Washington in his charge said, " What object could this man have in destroying the crew ? He knew nothing of navigation ; nor does it appear that he knew of her having a valuable cargo on board." What the Judge said about his not understanding navigation saved this wretch from the gallows. January 1st, 1818. I feel perfectly well, but my sight is not as good as if has been. I can, however, write as well as ever. I never have used spectacles. May the 12th. I went to the Court of Oyer and Terminer to get an old friend from serving on the grand jury. Upon my representation the Court excused hira. I remained in court until the grand jury was called, when finding me Judge Rush called upon me and requested I would serve. Having no excuse, I"served, and was appointed foreman. June 1st. I feel perfectly well, but I know this is frequently the case with men at my time of life, just before leaving the world ; and this is infinitely better than a lingering illness. I was elected to the Cincinnati in 1789. In 1785, when 358 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF Dr. Franklin was elected President of the State of Pennsyl- vania, and I was elected Vice-President, we had a procession of all the members of the Legislature, public officers, etc., that went from the State House in Chestnut Street to the Market House in Second Street, Avhere the Doctor was pro- claimed President, and myself Vice-President. There was assembled an immense concourse of people in order to see the Doctor, and among others who were in the street was Baron Steuben. The Baron was to us a very valuable officer in dis- ciplining our army. He was about fifty-five years of age, five feet five inches high, and stout made. He was in the crowd to see the procession, and pulled ofi" his hat to the Doctor as he passed. Dr. Franklin hurt himself in taking oft' his hat, and remarked to me that it was very wrong to pull oS your hat to any gentleman in a procession. Mr. Wolf, who was in the family of Steuben, speaks very highly of him as an officer, but thought him an unprincipled man. The Doctor was very glad when the procession was over, but made no complaints at the march we had. In walking to the bank two or three months since with my friend Mr. Haga,* he observed to me, " You have such an iron constitution that no weather whatever seems to affect you." I believe few men ever regarded the weather less than I did, and unless it rained or snowed, however cold, I never wore a great coat, and would not then had I not thought it improper in a j)erson of my age to be seen without one. Mr. Haga and myself were elected directors of thfe Bank of Penn- sylvania in the year 1793. He was frequently confined with the gout. May 10, 1819. I have now no complaint whatever, except a weakness in one of my eyes. I, however, can write now without spectacles. I spent five weeks this summer at Schooley'-s Mountain. This I believe to be a very healthy spot, and if there was a good * Mr. Godfrey Haga, who resided in the house known as the "Gothic Mansion," Chestnut Street above Twelfth. CHARLES BIDDLE. 359 house, or houses, it would be a pleasant place. Mr. Heath, the proprietor, is a worthy man, but he has not capital enough to put it in good order. On Monday the 26th of October this year, I went to Bor- dentown to see the improvements made by Joseph Bonaparte, the late King of Spain. The place he resides at I frequently visited in the year 1777. Mr. J. Douglass, a friend of mine, then lived there. The place was much improved, but in my opinion it could have been made much better for less than one-half the $150,000, which Mr. Hopkinson in- formed me it cost the Count Survilliers, the title he has now taken. The Count is a very affable, unassuming man. I understand he does not expect any particular attention paid to him, but he is pleased when it is tendered. Charles Biddle died April 4, 1821, at his residence No. 310 Chest- nut Street (now 1108), to which lie had removed in the year 1818. He was buried in Christ .Church burying ground, Fifth and Arch streets, in his own family vault. His three sons, William Shepard, James, and Charles, and his daughter, Mrs. Ann Hopkinson, are also buried there. His son Nicholas lies with his wife's family in St. Peter's Churchyard. Edward was buried at sea, John at Detroit, Major Thomas Bijdle at St. Louis, and Richard at Pittsburgh. His daughter, Mrs. Mary Biddle, was interred at Laurel Hill Cemetery. NOTES. NOTE A. (Page 1.) William Biddle, one of the early Proprietors of West Jersey, having served, it is believed, as an officer in the Parliamentary Army during the civil war, whilst still a young man had joined the Society of Friends. Shortly after the Restoration in 1G60, the Quakers were subjected to violent persecution under pretence that they were aiding and abetting the schemes of the "Fifth Monarchy" men. In the " Abstract of Sufferings of Quakers; London, 1738," vol. iii. p. 269, is a " Ijist of Persons Imprisoned by Mayor Brown," 337 in number. William Biddle is upon this list, which was of date 1660-61. In Best's Sufferings of Quakers, vol. i. p. 366, under the year 1650, we find ' ' In the months called December, January, and February he sentTRither [to Newgate] Two Hundred and Eighty persons whose names are distin- guished in the Index hereto annexed." Amongst those so "distinguished" are William Biddle, Thomas Biddle, and Esther Biddle.* It seems probable, therefore, that he was born about A. D. 1630, or a few years prior thereto. From the minutes of Friends' meeting in Bishopsgate Street, London, it appears that he married Sarah Kemp, 12th month, 1665 (February, 1666), and that the names and dates of births of their children were as follows : — * Elizabeth, born 4th mo. 25, 1668, died in childhood. William, born 10th mo. 4, 1669. John, born 10th mo. 27, 1670, died in childhood. Joseph, born I'ith mo. 6, 1672, died In childhood. Sarah, born 10th mo. 2, 16 78. At page 24 of a very rare pamphl(^t,f a copy of which is in the Library of * Esther or Hester Biddle was one of the most zealous of the early Friends, both as writer and preacher. Quite a number of her Tracts are to be found iu the Bodleian Library — "Something in Short unto the Sons and Daughters of Men as I was Moved by the Lord;" ",Wo to the Town of Cambridge;" "The Trumpet of the Lord Sounded forthe unto these Three Nations, etc." Dixon, in his "Life of Penn," says : "Hester Biddle forced her way into the presence of the grand monarch of Versailles, and commanded him in the name of God to sheathe his destroying Sword." His reference is, " Gerard Croese, 468." t "An Abstract or Abbreviation of Some Few of the Many (Later and Former) Testimonys from the Inhabitants of New Jersey and other Eminent Persons who 362 NOTES. Mrs. Brown Carter, Providence, Rhode Island, is given "An Abstract of a lietterfrom Daniel Wills to William Biddle (then living in Bishopsgate St., London) who, with his wife and family, is this present 5th month, 1681, with several servants, gone for New Jersey." This letter, dated 6th of 11th month, 1679-80 (February 6, 1680), somewhat abbreviated, and with some changes in phraseology, is copied into Smith's History of New Jersey, p. 115, with a note appended, giving the time of removal as "the summer of 1681." In the "Records of Friends' Meeting at Burlington," begun in 1678, the name of William Biddle appears as a witness of the marriage of Thomas Barton and Ann Bourton, "the 8th day of the 4th month, 1681" (June 8, 1681). This would indicate a removal at an earlier date than that given above. In Hotten's List of Emigrants to America, p. 446, is found : " Barbados, Anno, 1680," "List of inhabitants in and about the Town of St. Michael's, Barbadoes," in which is the entry of " Wm. Biddle and AVife, Two Chil- dren, 1 Hired servant, 3 Slaves." It is possible, but not probable, that this is the same person who came in the next year to New Jersey, since many of the early settlers of the Middle Colonies came hither, as we know, after a brief sojourn at some of the West India Islands.* In Philadelphia there was a Barbadoes Company before 1700, and the Barbadoes House stood at the N. AV. corner of Second and Chestnut streets. In a tract, printed at Philadelphia in 1699, by the pugnacious Governor Jennings,f "Truth Rescued, etc.," he says in reference to Billing, with whom he was now at daggers drawn (if we may so speak of quarrelsome Friends) : — "It was his intent suddainly to come and settle the affair to thtet hearts content of all concerned ; and to back all this, a Ship was then newly arrived in which were Passengers, William Biddle^ Elias Farr, and Ben- jamin Scott, witli divers others, but these I mention as of most note, and intimate with Billing, who declared," etc. The context, however, does not fix the exact date, nor has it been found possible to ascertain it with greater precision. Smith, in his History of New Jersey (p. 109) includes William Biddle in a list of persons "who arrived at Burlington about this time [1678], and a few years afterwards." have wrote particularly concerning That Place." London, Printed by Thomas Milborn in the year 1681. * In 1(J81, "Many families [in Barbadoes] unable to endure the rigor of his [Governor Dutlin's] administration abandoned the country and sought elsewhere an asylum from the persecution which they suffered at home." — Poyer's History, p. 116. t Reprinted in fac-siniile in 1881 by Mr. Brinton Coxe, himself a descendant of Dr. Daniel Coxe, of London, Governor of West New Jersey in 1687, and at that time the largest proprietor. NOTES. 363 It has been mentioned above, that William Biddle, before coming to America, was residing in London. The family, however, which is identical with that of Biddulph, was originally seated in Staffordshire, whence different branches spread into Warwickshire and Gloucestershire. From the latter county came the famous Socinian divine, John Biddle, usually called "the father of English Unitarianism." Recent researches of Mr. John Biddle-Cope, now resident in England, lead to the belief that William Biddle was himself born in Staffordshire, and removed to London, at the same time with several others of the Bid- dulph family, to engage in trade. Some authorities as to the name of Biddle will be found at the end of this note. He was accompanied to America by his two surviving children, William and Sarah, eleven and two years of age respectively. More than five years prior to his embarkation William Biddle had, undoubtedly, along with many other Friends, seriously considered this important step, and in contemplation of it had made three purchases of proprietary interests in the province of West Jersey. His total purchases of those interests were as follows: — 1. January 23, 167G. From William Penn, Gawen Lawrie, Nicholas Lucas, and Edward Byllinge — one-half share. 2. April 1, 167 7. From Thomas Hutchinson and Joseph Helmsley — one- fourth share. 3. October 29, 16 78. From Nicholas Bill — one-sixth share. 4. August 8, 1684. From Joseph Helmsley — one-fourth share. 5. August 21, 1684. From Samuel Clay — one-sixth share. 6. May 20, 1686. From Thomas Hutchinson — one-fourth share. 7. November 10, 1G91. From executors of Anna Salters, widow, de- ceased, less first dividend — one-sixth share. By these purchases William Biddle became entitled to 42,916| acres of the province. The* deeds for the above purchases, and a transcript of his land account, are in the possession of his descendants. As one of the proprietors his name is affixed to "The Concessions and Agreements of the Proprietors, Freeholders, and Inhabitants," etc. (See Appendix, "Smith's History, N. J.," page 521 and 539 ) Shortly after his arrival in West Jersey he selected a spot for his residence on the bank of the Delaware, at what is now known as Kinkora, about midway between Burlington and Bordentown, where he took up 500 acres on the mainland, and 278 acres, the area of an adjacent island, which still bears the name of Biddle' s Island. To this homestead, or as he styled it "Plantation," he gave the name of " Mount Hope." It may not be amiss to state that his much esteemed friend William Penn, under erroneous im- pressions as to riparian rights, laid claim to a part of this island. He writes to Logan : "Tho' the channel goes between that [the island] and Penns- bury, yet it always belonged to the Indians of our tribe that lived at Scpassin, now Pennsbury. Move in it as most prudent or advisable." — Penn and Logan Correspondence, vi. p. 294. 364 NOTES. Their respective claims were submitted to the adjudication of a committee, duly appointed according to the "discipline" or rules for the government of the Society of Friends, and by that committee the title of the island was declared to be vested in Biddle. That he was esteemed by his fellow citizens a man of honorable principles and sound judgment may be inferred from his repeated appointment to public offices requiring such qualifications. He became a member of the Governor's Council, of the General Assembly of the Province, of the Board of Com- missioners for Laying out Land, and of the Council of the Proprietors of West Jersey. These appointments were as follows: — The Assembly of West Jersey, In the year 1G8'2, elected him one of the ten members of the Council, one of the Justices of the Peace for Burlington County, and one of the ten Commissioners for Laying out Land (Smith's History, New Jersey, p. 152). Again, on the 15th day of the 3d mo., IGS'i, the Assembly re-elected him one of the Council, and one of the Com- missioners for Laying out Lands. The duties of the members of Council are stated as follows : — " The engagement and promise of the Council elected by the Assembly. We, underwritten, being elected and chosen by the general free assembly members of council, to advise and assist the governor in managing the affairs of the government, do solemnly promise, every one for himself, that we will give our diligent attendance from time to time, and him advise and assist to the best of our skill and knowledge, according to the laws, commissions, and constitution of this province ; and do further promise not to reveal or dis- close any secret of Council, or any business therein transacted, to the pre- judice of the public" (Smith's History, New Jersey, pp. 1G4-165). At a meeting of the proprietors of West Jersey, held the 14th day 12th mo., called February, 1G87, it was decided to appoint eleven of their number "Commissioners and Trustees" to conduct the business of said proprietors. At tliis meeting he was appointed one of the Board, called the council of the proprietors wlio were to hold office until "the tenth day of the second month, A. D. 1G88" (Smith's History, New Jersey, pp. 199-201). He was re- elected a member of this body for the ensuing year (Smith's History, pp. 203-204), and probably for many years thereafter, as in the years 170G and 1707, he was president thereof (Smith's History, pp. 285-288). And, to end the list, we find that when the proprietors of East and West Jersey surrendered to Queen Anne their riglits of governing these provinces, and ]jord Cornbury, having been appointed Governor of New Jersey, convened the General Assembly at Perth Amboy, on the 10th of November, 1703, William Biddle was elected one of the ten representatives of the western division in this Assembly (Smith's History, New Jersey, p. 27G). That he was equally respected as a member of the religious society of Friends would appear from the fact that for "a considerable time" one of their meetings for worship, on the first day of the week (Sunday), was held at his residence, where also "Burlington Quarterly Meeting was held from NOTES. 365 1682 to 1711" (Smith's Manuscript History of Pennsylvania," chapter 20, in Library of Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Hazard's Register, vol. vii. pp. 101, 102).* Sarah, wife of William Biddle, died on the 27th day of 2d mo., 1709, O. S., in the 75th year of her age, and he departed this life in the early part of the year 1712, N. S., at a very advanced age. The following facts relative to his last will, which is on file in the office of the Secretary of State of New Jersey, at Trenton, are interesting. It was executed June 23, 1711, proved at Burlington, March 3, 1712, and approved and sealed by his excellency. Colonel Hunter, and the probate seal, the 24th March, 1711, O. S. (April 5, 1712, N. S.). By it the following bequests were made : — His plantation of Mount Hope, containing 500 acres, and the island, known as Biddle's Island, containing 278 acres, to his son William and Lydia the wife of his son, during their lives, and the life of the survivor, and then to their son William, his heirs and assigns forever. To his cousin, Thomas Biddle, 500 acres of hind. To Thomas, Sarah, and Rachael Biddle, children of his said cousin, Thomas Biddle, each a small legacy in money. To his aforesaid grandson, William Biddle, £75. • To each of his four granddaughters, Elizabeth, Sarah, Penelope, and Lydia Biddle, £37 10s. To his grandson, Joseph Biddle, 500 acres of land and £37 10s. To his grandson, John Biddle, 500 acres of land and £37 10s. To each of his executors, Samuel Bunting and John Wills, £7 10s. To William Plumstead, son of Clement Plumstead, of Philadelpiiia [by his second wife], £7 10s. To his cousin, Dorothy Sherwin, 100 acres of land. To William Satterthwait, 100 acres of land. "And lastly, all the rest and residue of my estate, both real and personal, of what kind or quality soever and wheresoever, I give, devise, and bequeath unto my said son, William Biddle, and to his executors and assigns forever." Of the five children of William and Sarah Biddle, it has been already stated, two only survived to accompany their parents, in the year 1681, from England to America, namely, William 2d, and Sarah. Of William 2d, but little is known by his descendants, now surviving. He married, about 1695, Lydia Wardell, of Shrewsbury, N. J., a member of the Society of Friends, a great- gi-anddaughter of Thomas Wardell, and a granddaughter of Eliakim A\'ardell,t French Huguenots, who settled in New England, much earlier in * Smith's History of New Jersey, being without an index, the following refer- ences are given to William Biddle and his son William : pp. 95, 109, 115, 152, 16i, 165, 200, 203, 204, 276, 285, 286, 538, 554. f For an impartial account of the persecution of Eliakim Wardell and his wife {nSe Perkins), see page 102 of a remarkably able work, recently published, enti- 366 NOTES. the 17th century. The minutes and records of Shrewsbury Monthly Meet- ing, for some years prior and subsequent to her marriage, were for a long time mislaid, and consequently the precise date thereof has not been ascer- tained. On the 2d day of November, 1703, William Biddle, Jr., John Wills, and John Reading were appointed by the Council of Proprietors of West Jersey, Commissioners to "go up to the Indians above the Falls, and particularly to Caponockous, in order to have the tract of land lately purchased of the Indians marked forth, and get them to sign a deed for the same," etc. (Smith's History, New Jersey, note, p. 95). Having, on the death of his father, in the early part of the year 1712, inherited an ample fortune, he continued during the remainder of his life, at least thirty years, to reside at Mount Hope. His landed property was largely increased after his father's death, his share of what was called the " Lotting Purchase" amounting to 12,905 acres. This was a large tract of land ^Jurchased from the Indians above the Falls of the Delaware, and allotted among such of the West Jersey proprietors as had contributed money to make the purchase. Sarah, daughter of William and Sarah Biddle, was, on the 21st of October, 1695, O. S., married at the residence of her father, to William llighton, of Philadelphia, and as he was not a Friend the marriage ceremony was per- formed in the presence of three justices of the peace. Out of regard, pro- bably to the feelings of her parents, the Friends did not "disown" her. Her husband having died very soon after their marriage, she returned from Philadelphia to Mount Hope, and resided with her parents, having no issue. On 1st mo. (March) 14, 1703-4, O. S., she was again married, by Friends' ceremony, at the residence of her father, to Clement Plumstead, of Phila- delphia, who, subsequently, in the years 1723, 173G, and 1741, held the office of Mayor of the city. The guests at the wedding were the first families in Philadelphia and New Jersey : Governors Samuel Jennings and William Penn, Jr., Robert Monposson, Francis Davenport, Joseph Kirkbride, James Sansom, John Wills, and Samuel Carpenter and William Hall, of Salem County. The only issue of this marriage was a son named William, who died when a few months old. On the 17th of the 6th mo., 1705, Sarah Plumstead died leaving no issue, and consequently all the descendants of William Biddle, first, and Sarah his wife, now surviving, are descendants of tlieir son, William 2d. William 2d, leaving no will, it is presumed that his estate was divided amongst his children under the intestate laws of the Province. He probably died about the year 1743, aged 73. He had by his wife Lydia seven tied " The Quaker Invasion of Massachusetts," by Richard P. Hallowell, Boston, 1883. "The first child born at this place [Shewsbury] was Elizabeth, daughter of Eliakim Wardell, afterwards wife of John Wills, in 1667."— Smith's M3. Hist, of Penna., chapter xx. NOTES. 367 children, namely, William, Elizabeth, Sarah, Penelope (m. Whitehead), Joseph, and John; the last named being born in 1707. Joseph Biddle, second son of William (2d) and Lydia, his wife, married (1st) Lydia Howard, and was the only one of the three bi-others who remained in New Jersey. His children were Mary (m. Shinn), Arney, Joseph. By a second marriage, he left issue, William (died young) and Sarah (m. 1st Monroe, and 2d Joseph Harker). It is believed that no descendants of Joseph bearing the name of Biddle now remain in New Jersey, but that there are a number who are descended from Thomas Biddle, cousin of William (1st), and mentioned by the latter in his will. From Arney Biddle, son of Joseph, there are many descendants of the name in Ohio and other northwestern States, and one, the Rev. Arney Biddle (Presbyterian), now resides at Cabin Hill, Delaware County, in the State of New York. William Biddle, the eldest son, and John Biddle, the youngest son of William Biddle (2d) and his wife Lydia Wardell, both removed to Phila- delphia between 1720 and 1730, and were the progenitors of the great number of the name in that city.* William Biddle (3d) married Mary Scull, April 3, 1730, d. 175e, and had issue : — James, b. Feb. 18, 1731. , Nicholas, b. 1733, died in infancy. Lydia, b. 1734. John, b. 1736. Edward, b. 1738. Charles, b. 1745. Abigail, b. 1747, died young. Mary b. 1749, dk;d unmarried. Nicholas, b. 1 750. Thomas, b. 1752. I. James, eldest son of William Biddle (3d) and Mary Scull, his wife (see page 236), born 1731, m., June 30, 1753, Frances Marks, and had issue: Thirteen children, of whom eight died under ten years of age ; the others were — * It is believed that still another Biddle came early to Philadelphia, whose descendants cannot now be traced. Some of the same name were in New England as early as 1(539; " the name being sometimes spelled Biddell or Beadle." — See Savage's Dictionary. At a much later period, about 1760, there came to Delaware three brothers, Mark, Luke, and John Biddle, whose elder brother Matthew remained iu England. These were of the Gloucestershire branch of the family, still living near Wottou- under-Edge. 368 NOTES. (!) Joseph, lost at sea, page 139. ("2) William, lost at sea, page 141. (3) Marks John, b. 1765, d. 1849. (4) Lydia, m. James Collins. (5) Elizabeth, m. George Eckert. Marks John Biddle commenced the practice of law in Berks County about 1788, and at once entered upon a large business which he retained until advanced in years. In 1817 he was in the State Senate, and was appointed by Governor Heister Prothonotary of Berks County. His life was marked by a lofty sense of professional and private honor, and he was up to its close in the enjoyment of the highest respect and affection of the people of Read- ing. He m. Jane Dundas (niece of Sir Ralph Dundas, JMajor-General in the British Army, and a cousin of Sir Ralph Abercrombie) in 1793, and had issue: — 1. James Dundas m. Frances Wood (1815), and d. 1822. Issue: Marks John and James Dundas. Marks John Biddle m. Isabella Hamilton, and theii' son, John C. Mercer Biddle, b. 1856, is, by right of descent, the legal representative of the William Biddle who first came to New Jersey. 2. Hannah D. m. Jonathan D. Good, and 2d Abraham Addams, and died 1859. Had issue by 1st marriage — John, Thomas. 3. Frances Dundas m. Joseph R. Priestley [grandson of the famous Dr. Priestley], and d. 1878. Had Issue: Joseph (m. Hannah Taggart), Eliza (m. Thos. Lyons), Marks J. B. (m. Mary Taggart), Fanny (m. Henry Toulman), Jane (m. Conyers Button). 4. Lydia m. David F. Gordon, of Reading [Judge of Common Pleas, Berks County], and d. 1848. Had issue: James B., d. s. p., Elizabeth F., Jane Dundas (m. J. Brinton White), Clara. 5. Elizabeth Eckert m. Edward Anderson, and d. 1876. Issue: Alex- ander (m. Anise Hull), J. Lesley' (m. Hester Agnes Carroll), JNIarks Biddle. 6. Jane, d. unm. 1849. 7. Ann, d. unm. 1882. Lydia, daughter of James Biddle and Frances Marks, m. James Collins. Issue: Frances m. Saml. Wood. Issue: Marks John, d. young, and Lydia M. (m. 1st Pawling, 2d Osborne, and left issue), Jane B. m. Robt. Frazer (issue, Robert and Fanny B., m. Herbert Welsh). Elizabeth, daughter of James Biddle and Frances Marks, m. Geo. Eckert. No issue. II. Lydia, daughter of William Biddle (3d), m., December 3, 1752, Captain William McFunn, who had been an officer of the British Navy, and held high office in Antigua. He d. in 1767 or 1768. Issue: — (1) William Biddle McFunn, who changed his name to AVm. McFunn Biddle, m. (1797) Lydia Spencer, dau. of the Rev. Ellhu Spencer. He d. in 1809. INIrs. Biddle removed to Carlisle in 1827, and d. in 1858, aged 92 years. Her children were : — NOTES. 369 1. Lydia Spencer m. Samuel Baird, and had issue: William M., Samuel, Spencer F. [now at the head of the Smithsonian Institution], Rebecca P., Lj'dia Spencer, Mary D. [married Major Henry J. Biddle, who died July, 1862, of wounds received in the seven days' battle before Richmond], Thomas. 2. Valeria, dan. of Wm. M. Biddle, m. Charles B. Penrose [a descendant of John Biddle and jSIary Owen], and had issue : William McFunn, Richard Alexander Fullerton [Professor in the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania], Sarah C. [married William S. Blight], Clement Biddle [Judge of Orphans' Court, Philadelphia], Lydia, Charles B. 3. William M., son of Wm. M. Biddle, ra. Julia Montgomery, and had issue : Lydia Spencer, Thomas M., Edward M., Mary M., William McFunn, Julia M. 4. Mary E. D., dau. of Wm. M. Biddle and his wife Lydia Spencer, m. Major Bluney, U. S. Army, and had issue : Valeria Biddle, Catharine M., William Biddle, Lydia Spencer. 5. Edward Biddle, son of Wm. M. Biddle, m. Julia A. Watts, and had issue: David W., Lydia Spencer, Charles Penrose, Frederick W., Edward W., Wm. McFunn. (2) Mary Biddle,* dau. of Captain Wm. McFunn and his wife Lydia Biddle, m. (1773) Colllnson Read, and had issue: — 1. James, Major U. S. Army, d. s. p. 2. Tiiomas, unm. 3. Edward, unm. 4. Charles, purser, U. S. N., killed in mutiny, d. unm. 5. George, unm. 6. Susan, m. Thos. Collins, of Pittsburgh, 4 children. 7. Safah, m. General William Gates, U. S. Army (d. 1865), 6 children. 8. William M., t^. S. Army, 4 children. 9. Lydia, d. unm. 10. Maria, m. John Dennis, of New Brunswick, N. J., 5 children. III. John, second son (omitting from the enumeration an infant, dec'd) of William Biddle (3d), m. Mrs. Sophia Boone. He was Deputy Quarter Master In the Pi-ovincial Army in General Forbes's Campaign against Fort Du Quesne. At the time of the Revolution he held office as Collector of Excise of Berks County, and, though opposed to the measures of the govern- ment, was, like many prominent Whigs of the day, not in favor of separation from the mother country. In 1778 his property was confiscated, and he was banished to New York, whence he proceeded to Nova Scotia, where he remained until the time of his death. His family, after the war, returned * For this information we are indebted to the " Provincial Councillors of Penn- sylvania," recently published by Mr. Charles P. Keith, a work of immense research and remarkable accuracy. 24 370 NOTES. to Pennsylvania, and resided at Reading and Greensburg. His children "were:- (1) Edward, ni. at Mackinac, Mich. Issue : Sophia, John m. Ashman, Sarah m. Durfee. (2) James, resided in Pittsburgh, m. McNichol. Issue: two children. (3) Sophia m. Michl. P. Cassily, of Cincinnati, and had issue: Ann (m. Dr. V. Marshall, one dau., Sophia), Mary (m. Wm. A. Adams, four chil- dren), Henrietta (m. B. B. Whitman, ten children), Edward (m. Hunt, one child), Charles (m. Lee), William. (4) Lydia m. Mr. DeFord. No issue. (5) Sally m. Andrew Boggs. Issue : two children (one of whom, Biddle Boggs, still living). (6) Mary, d. unm. IV. Edward Biddle, third son of William Biddle (3d), see page 75, and Note C, m. (1761) Elizabeth, dau. of Rev. Mr. Ross, and had issue: — (1) Catharine m. George Lux, of Baltimore, and had two children, both dying in infancy. (2) Abigail m. Dr. Fall, of Md., d. s. p. V. Charles Biddle, son of William Biddle (3d) and Mary Scull, Author of this Memoir, b. 1745, d. 1821, m. (1778) Hannah Shepard, and had issue: — * (1) William Shepard, b. 1781, d. 1835, m. Circe Deronceray ; 2d Elizabeth B. Keating (nie Hopkinson). No issue. (2) James, b. 1783, Commodore U. S. Navy. See Note E; d. unm. 1848. (3) Edward, Midshipman U. S. Navy, d. November 14, 1800, on board the frigate President, off' the Island of Deseada, AVest Indies. (4) Nicholas, b. 1786, d. 1844. See Note D ; m. Jane M., dau. of John Craig. Issue : — ^ 1. Edward m. Jane J. Craig, n4e Sarmiento. Issue: Edith (m. Van Rensselaer), Frances, Agnes (m. Ward), Edward (m. Emily Drexel), Mildred. 2. Charles John, member of the bar, entered the U. S. Volunteer Army at the time of the Mexican War as Captain of Voltigeurs, breveted Major for gallantry at the storming of Chapultepec, City of Mexico. In 1861, Colonel of 42d Pennsylvania Regiment, until he took his seat as member of 3 7th Congress in December of that year. Died 1873. m. Emma Mather. Issue: Emma (m. Thos. E. Dixon), Charles, John Craig, Adfele, Dillon, Alexander Mercer, Catharine. 3. Craig, member of the bar, member of the Legislature of Pennsylvania, aid-de-camp of Gen. Patterson in his Campaign in the Shenandoah Valley, military aid to Governor Curtin, of Pennsylvania, 1861 and 1862, and now Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Pliihidelphia; m. Mary C. Rockhill (d. 1852). Issue: Mary, d. in infancy. NOTES. 371 4. Meta Craig m. James S. BIddle. Issue: Jane Craig, Nicholas (m.. Eliza I. Butler), Meta Craig. 5. AdMe. 6. Jane. (5) Cliarles Biddle, b. 1787, engaged in business in Philadelphia until 1826, admitted to the bar, Nashville, Tennessee, in 1827. In 1835, being a -warm personal and political friend of General Jackson, was sent by him as commissioner to report upon routes for trade across Central America and the Isthmus of Panama. In 1836, at Bogotd, he obtained a concession of the right to navigate the Cruces River, and to construct a railroad or a maca- damized road to Panama ; also the exclusive right to steam navigation on the Magdalena River. Died 1836. m. Ann H. Stokes (1808). Issue:— 1. Sarah m. Major Jno. S. Lytle, U. S. Army. Issue: Eliza L. (m. Robert Campbell ; children, Sally, Helen). 2. Charles, d. in infancy. 3. Mary m. Peter Vandervoort, of New York. Issue : Anna, Charles, Mary, Catharine, Theodore, Elizabeth, Meta, Gertrude. 4. Ann, m. Saml. Leonard. Issue: Catharine (m. Edw. S. Harlan), James ^. (m. Catharine Pepper), Rosalie. 5. Catharine C. 6. James S., entered U. S. Navy, 1833 ; resigned 1856. m. Meta Craig Biddle (1846). Issue: Jane Craig, Nicholas (m. Eliza I. Butler), Meta Craig. 7. Hannah S. 8. Elizabeth N. (6) Thomas, b. 1790, entered the army in 1812, served with distinction as Captain in Colonel Pike's Regiment on the Canada frontier. He was afterwards transferred to the artillery, and was twice wounded at the battle of Lundy's Lane, »nd again in the defence of Fort Erie, being breveted Major for the latter service. General Winfield Scott always referred to Captain Riddle's conduct in action under him with affectionate enthusiasm (see his Autobiography). In 1820 he accepted an appointment as Pay- master, and was stationed at St. i^ouis. In 1831 he fell in a duel with Mr. Spencer Pettis, member of Congress, in a quarrel arising out of a violent political contest. He m. Ann, dau. of John Mullanphy, and died without issue. See Simpson's Imminent Philadelphians. (7) John, b. 1792, d. 1859, also entered the army in 1812 with his brother Thomas, and served in the same operations, being also promoted to major. Resigning after the war, he settled in Detroit, was a delegate in Congress in 1829-31, and President of the Convention which formed the first Constitu- tion for the State of Michigan, m. Eliza Bradish. Issue: — 1. Thomas, d. s. p. 2. Margaretta m. General Andi-ew Porter, U. S. Army. Issue : Biddle Porter m. Elizabeth M. Rush. 372 NOTES. 3. William S. m. Susan Ogflen. Issue: Susan, Eliza, John, Stratford, Margaret, Andrew, William, Annie. 4. James m. Margt. Terry. Issue: Louisa and Catharine. 5. Edward J. m. Frances Davidson. Issue : Beatrice, Nicholas, Con- stance, Violet, Guy. ' (8) Richard, b. 1796, d 1847 ; an eminent member of the Pittsburgh Bar, member of Congress 18.37-41 , author of "Life of Sebastian Cabot." m. Ann Anderson, of Pittsburgh. Issue: — 1. Richard. 2. Grace m. Rev. Hall Mcllvaine (issue: Annie, Grace, Edith). (9) Mary, d. 1854, m. John G. Biddle (who d. 182G). Issue: — 1. Anne E. Biddle'. (10) Ann, b. 1800, m. Francis Hopkinson, and d. 18G3. Issue: — 1. Hamilton, d. unm. 2. Thomas. 3. Charles, d. unra. 4. Ann m. Rev. Edw. A. Foggo, D D. 5. Emily m. Alden Scovell, of Camden, N. J. (issue: Emily, Florence, Alden C). VI. Nicholas, fifth son of William Biddle and Mary Scull, b. 17.50, killed on board frigate Randolph, 1778, unmarried. See page 109 and Note D, also Simpson's Philadelphians. VII. Thomas, youngest son of Wm. Biddle and Mary Scull, b. 1752, became doctor of medicine, and died, February, 1775, at Georgetown, South Carolina, unmarried. John, the youngest son of William Biddle (2d) — refer back to pages 366-7 — was born in 1707, and March 3, 1736, m., by Friends' ceremony, Sarah Owen ; among the witnesses were Nicholas and Abigail Scull, William (3d) and Mary Biddle, and Mrs. Penelope AVhitehoad (sister of the groom). Issue : — 1. Owen, b. 1738. 2. Clement, b. 1740. 3. Sarah. 4. Ann. 5. Lydia. I. Owen Biddle [see Note H] b. 1738, m. Sarah Parlce, and had issue: — (1) Jane. (2) John m. Elizabeth Canby, and had issue : Samuel, S.arah, Margaret, Jacob (m. Hopkins, onedau.), James C. (m. Sally Drinker. Issue: Eliza'th m. Rev. Mr. Halsey, Henry D., Hetty D., Mary D.), Frances (m. Thos. C. Garrett. Issue : Eliz'th, Rebecca, Frances, Philip C, John B., Martha, Hetty B.), William (m. Eliz'th C. Garrett. Issue: John W., Samuel), Edward C, President of Westmoreland Coal Company (m. Hetty H. Foster. NOTES. 373 Issue: Hetty F., William F.), Rebecca (m. Alfred Cope. Issue: James B.), John, President of Locust Mt. Coal Company (m. Mary B. Foster. Issue; Hetty B., John, d. young, Mary, Elizabeth). (3) Rebecca m. Peter Thompson, 4 children. (4) Sarah. (6) Tacy B. (6) Owen m. Eliz'th Rowan, 4 children. (7) Thomas B. (8) Robert B. (9) Clement m. Mary Canby. Issue : — Martha. Robert m. Anna M. Miller. Issue : Charles M. (m. Hannah Mcllvaine), Henry C. (m Anna Mcllvaine), Hannah M. (m. J. C. "NV. Frishmuth), Elizabeth (m. Frishmuth), Martha C. William Canby m. Rachel M. Miller Issue: Clement M. (m. Lydia Cooper), Frances Canby (m. Clement A. Griscom), Helen (m. George B. Thomas), Mary (m. Howard Wood), Hannah N. (m. Charles Williams). Henry, d. young. Clement m. 1st Susan T. Walton. Issue: William W. (m.,Mary Taggart), m. 2d Susan W. Cadwallader. Issue: Canby, d. young, Francis C. (m Sarah Pennock), Anne. (10) Anne m. John Tatum. II. Clkment Biddle,* son of John Biddle and Sarah Owen [See Note H], b. 1740, m. 1st Mary Richardson, '2d Rebecca Cornell. Issue, by second wife only : — (1) Francis, d. in infancy. (2) Thomas, b. 177G, d. 1857. the eminent banker, founder of the house of Thomas A. Bidctle & Company, m. Christine Williams. Issue : — 1. Clement, d. unm. 2. Thomas Alexander m. Julia Cox. Issue: John, Henry W. m. Jesse Turner, Anna m. Andrew A. Blair, Alfred, AVm. Lyman, Francis, Julia m. Ai'thur Biddle. 3. Henry J., Adjutant-General'of Penna. Reserve, d. July, 18G2, of wounds received in the seven days' battle before Richmond, m. Mary D. Baird (descendant of Wm. Biddle (3d) and INIary Scull), and had issue; Jonathan W., Lydia M. (m. Moncure Robinson, Jr.), Spencer F. B., Christine, Henry J. 4. Alexander, Lieutenant-Colonel of 121st Pennsylvania Regiment in war of 1861-5, and specially distinguished at Gettysburg, President of Board of City Trusts, m. Julia W. Rush. Issue: Alexander W. (m. McKennan), Henry R., Julia, James W., Louis A., Mariamne, Lynford. * A full statement of the descendants of Clement Biddle, prepared by Mr. Walter L. C. Biddle, has recently been printed in Bougher's Repository. 374 NOTES. 5. Jonathan Williams, d. 1856, m. Emily Meigs. Issue: Christine (m. Richard M. Cadwalader), Charles M., Williams, Mary, Thomas, Emily W. (3) George Washington, d. 1812, at Macao, China. (4) Mary, eldest daughter of Clement Biddle, m. General Thomas Cad- walader. Issue: — 1. John, Judge of U. S. District Court, d. 1879, m. 1st Mary Binney. Issue: Mary B. (m. Wm. Henry Rawle), Elizabeth B. (m. Geo. H. Hare), and m. 2d Henrietta M. Mcllvaine, nee Bancker. Issue : Sarah B., Frances, Thomas, Charles E., John (m. Mary Helen Fisher), Ann (m. Rev. H. J. Rowland), George. 2. George, Major-General in the Mexican War, and in the war of 18G1-5, d. 1879, m. Frances Mease. 3. Thomas. 4. Henry, U. S. Navy, d. 1844. 5. William. (5) Rebecca C, daughter of Clement Biddle, d. 1870, m. Dr. Nathaniel Chapman. Issue: — 1. Emily C, m. Jno. M. Gordon. Issue: Chapman, John M., Susan F., Emily, Rebecca C. 2. John Biddle, m. Mary Randolph, of Virginia. Issue: Gabriella m. the Marquis de Podestad Fornari, and Emily m. Prince Joseph PignatelH DeAragon. 3. George W., Lieutenant U. S. Navy, d. 1853, m. Emily Markoe. Issue: Mary R. m. John B. Thayer, Elizabeth C. m. Wm. D. Winsor, Henry C. m. Hannah Megargee, Rebecca m. Jas. D. Winsor, George, d. in infancy. (6) Clement Cornell Biddle, son of Clement Biddle, d. 1855; entered the navy 1799, resigned 1804, commanded Penn. Regt. Light Infantry (volunteers) in 1812-14, the principal founder and for many years Presi- dent of Philadelphia Savings F'und Society, writer on political economy, m. Mary S. Barclaj'. Issue : — 1. John B., Professor of Materia Medica, Jefferson College, m. Caroline Phillips. Issue : Anna C. m. C. S. Phillips, Harriet m. DeGrasse Fox, William P., Lieutenant U. S. Marines, Clement, Surgeon U. S. Navy, Elizabeth R. m. Samuel M. Miller, M.D., Caroline. 2. George Washington, eminent member of the Bar of Philadelphia, m. Maria McMurtrie. Issue : George m. Mary H. Rodgers, of New York, Algernon Sydney m. Frances Robinson, Arthur m. Julia, dau. of Thomas A. Biddle. 3. Chapman, d. 1880, member of the Bar of Philadelphia, commanded the 121st Pennsylvania Regiment in the war of 18G1-5, was present at the battle of Fredericksburg, and greatly distinguished on the first day of Gettys- burg, where he commanded a brigade and was wounded, m. Mary L. Cochran, of New York. Issue: Mary C, Clement C, d. young, AValter L. C. m. Pauline Davis Carter. NOTES. 375 (7) Ann, d. in infancy. (8) Lydia H., d. young. (9) Sarah T., d. young. (10) Ann W., dau. of Clement Biddle, d. 1878, m. Thomas Dunlap. Issue : Sally, Juliana, Lydia, Mary, Rebecca, Nannie m. George M. Conarroe, Thomas m. Margaret A. Levis. (11) John G., son of Clement Biddle, banker with his brother Thomas Biddle, d. 1826, m. Mary Biddle (dau. of Charles Biddle, writer of this work). Issue: Ann Eliza. (12) James Cornell, son of Clement Biddle, d. 1838, a member of the Bar of Philadelphia, m. Sarah C. Keppele. Issue :^- 1. Thomas, U. S. Minister to Ecuador, d. at Guyaquil, 1875, m. Sarah F. White. Issue: Caldwell K., Harrison AV., Sarah, James C, Elizabeth C- 2. Caldwell K., d. 18G2, m. Elizabeth Meade, n^e Ricketts. 3. Catharine K. m. William P. Tatham. 4. Rebecca, d. unm. 5. James C. m. Gertrude G. Meredith. Issue: Catharine M., Sarah C. (13) Edward R., son of Clement Biddle, removed to New Yoi"k. Mar- ried. Issue: Edward R., James (Major U. S. Army). HI. Sakah Biddle, dau. of John Biddle and Sarah Owen (refer to page 372), m. 1st James Penrose, 2d John Shaw, 3d Rudolph Tellier. By first marriage left issue : — Clement Biddle Penrose m. Anna Howard Bingham. IV. Ann, dau. of John Biddle and Sarah Owen (page 372) m. General James Wilkinson, U. S. Army. Issue : "John, James, and J. B. V. Lydia, dau. of John Biddle and Sarah Owen (page 372), m. Dr. James Hutchinson, and died without issue.* * The ffenealogical matter inserted in this note has been put together as pro- bably of some interest to the members of the family, and with this view alone. It would have required much time and labor to have made it complete, but it is believed that what is here recorded is accurate, and will enable those who may be so disposed to pursue the subject On the next page is a table brought down to the 3d or ith in descent from William Biddle (1st). it bl) -o 5^ P5 ^3 a •S " a ^ 5 S = a; E S a o § :=: ir - o 2 a a ^'6 = • W o C?-^ '^ ^ '^ ^ C3 ;::; C S (^ O ^ ^-1 OQ e fiscal operations of the department, enables them to reconcile all the demands of the Treasury, with all the demands of trade ; at the same time they preserve the whole currency of the country in that due proportion to demand which makes it, and which alone makes it sound and invariable Sir, the project of the Secretary of the Treasury surprises me — it is the clearly avowed design to bring, a second time, upon this land the curse of an U7ij-egidated, uncontrolled State bank paper currency I should regard that man as one of the greatest benefactors of his country, who would devise, for the use of this people, some control over the paper currency of the State banks, and relieve us from the perpetual recurrence of constitutional doubts and party contention to which the career of a Bank of the United States seems, necessarily exposed. Control of some kind is essential — it is indispensable ; there can be no property, or what is the same thing, no security or uniformity to its value, without it." President Jackson, at the commencement of his term of office, declared his hostility to a renewal of the charter of the United States Bank. In his first message, in 1 829, he called the attention of Congress to the subject, declaring "that it could not too soon be presented to their deliberation." It was again brought forward in his subsequent messages of 1830 and 1831. Our space will not allow us to enter into the details of the political contest which en- sued. Mr. Biddle was, by his official position, placed in antagonism with his former political associates. In 1832, a bill for the re-charter of the Bank passed both houses of Congress, but was vetoed by the President. Notwithstanding the hostility of the Government, and of the dominant poli- tical party, the Bank maintained its credit throughout the commercial world 27 418 NOTES. to the last moment of its existence. The charter expired by its h'mitation on the 3d March, 1836 ; and here ends the history of the last "Bank of the United States." Its name, however, was afterwards borne, with very dif- ferent fortunes, by another institution. The stockholders of the late Bank received from the Legislature of Pennsylvania a State charter, by an act entitled " An Act to repeal the State tax, &c., and to charter a State bank, to he called the United States Bank." There was at this time no man living who enjoyed a higher reputation as a financier than Nicholas Biddlc. He was urgently solicited to accept the Presidency of the new bank. JEIe assented, and continued at its head until March, 1839, when he resigned, and retired to a country-seat on the river Delaware, called "Andalusia," which his wife had inherited from her father. At the time of his resignation, the stock of the bank was selling at one hundred and sixteen dollars a share, with other indications of soundness and prosperity. Two years afterwards, however, it stopped payment, assigned its assets, and was declared to be insolvent. Whether this failure was attributable to causes incident to the financial condition of the whole country, and the anomalous position of the State Bank ; or to measures pursued subsequent to, or during the admini- stration of Mr. Biddle, were questions vehemently discussed at the time, and which cannot, now, be reviewed within the limits of this sketch. The following succinct statement is from a biography of Mr. Biddle, by an eminent citizen of Pennsylvania, jmblished in the last edition (1854) of the "National Portrait Gallery:" — "The 'State bank,' called the 'United States Bank,' began and ended its career in a period of general expansion, over-trading, and over-banking. When the destruction of the Bank of the United States was decreed, it was the system of State banks — not a specie currency — that was put forward as the efficient substitute. To the State banks the public treasure was confided, and they were made the subjects of continued favor and laudation from the President in his messages, the Secretary of the Treasury in his reports, and the party presses that echoed the sentiments of the party leaders. The 'Globe,' the official organ at Washington, teemed with apjieals to the State Legislatures to create more banks, and any tardiness in compliance was charged — as everything, almost, was charged in those days — to the influence of 'Biddle and the United States Bank.' 'The State banks,' said General Jackson, ' are found fully adequate to the performance of all sei-vices re- quired of the Bank of the United States, quite as promptly, and with the same cheapness.' ''By the use of the State banks,' he repeats, in a subse- quent message, ' it is ascertained that the moneys of the United States can be collected and disbursed without loss or inconvenience, and that all the wants of the community in relation to exchange and currency, are supplied as well as they have ever been before.' "Under such Angorous stimulus the number of banks was more than doubled ; the amount of what was termed ' banking capital' more than trebled ; the notes of banks in circulation rose from 61,000,000 to 185,000,000 NOTES. 419 of dollars ; loans and discounts were increased proportionally. The restrain- ing influence once exercised by the Bank of the United States was scoffed at as an odious and obsolete oppression; and President Jackson, in an an- nual message, congratulated the State banks on the extinction of their former 'enemy.' State governments, too, caught the general contagion, and issued bonds, contracted debts, and entered upon vast schemes of lavish expenditure. In vain were warning voices raised. Daniel Webster declared in the Senate, ' We are in danger of being overwhelmed with irredeemable paper, mere paper, not representing gold and silver ; no, representing noth- ing but broken promises, bad faith, bankrupt corporations, cheated creditors, and a ruined people.' Henry Clay predicted tliat, ' There being no longer any sentinel at the head of our banking establishment to warn them by its information and operation of approaching danger, the local institutions, already multiplied to an alarming extent, and almost daily multiplying, in seasons of prosperity will make free and unrestrained emissions Inordinate speculation will ensue, debts will be freely contracted, and the explosion of the whole banking system will be the ultimate effect.' We re- cur now to these events not in a captious spirit of censure, but in justice to one upon whom it was afterwards sought to chai-ge the consequences of ti system which he always combated, against which he openly protested — the very opposite of that established and perfected by his efforts, under which the country so long enjoyed a sound and uniform currency, based upon and always convertible into gold and silver. In the perilous condition of things to which we have adverted, the United States Bank of Pennsylvania had even more danger to encounter than other State institutions. Its unwieldy capital was forced to seek investment in every part of the country, in stocks, loans, bonds, and like securities, which, when the crash came, went down, and carried the bank down with them. Whether its fate could have been averted by Mr. Biddle, if he had continued in the direction of its affairs, we do not undertake to decide. He had never been found unequal to any crisis ; and his tact, and skill, and fertility in resources might have warded off some of the blows that proved most fatal. That his efforts could have availed in the later, as they had in the former trials of the bank, can neither be certainly affirmed or denied. Speculation upon what might have hap- pened, if events had been other than they were, is mostly very fruitless." After Mr. Biddle's retirement from the bank, he delivered two addresses before the Agricultural Society of Philadelphia County, of which he was the President, and discussed some topics of public interest through the press ; he earnestly advocated the resumption of payment of the State interest, and the admission of Texas to the Union ; but his health was broken, and he died on the 27th of February, 1844, of a disease of the heart, aged fifty- eight years. He had married, in 1811, the daughter of John Craig, one of the old merchants of Philadelphia, eminent for wealth, integrity, and public spirit; this lady, whose virtues insured the happiness of his domestic life, survived him for some years. His character was marked by great energy 420 NOTES. und resolution. Mr. C. J. Ingersoll, a political opponent on the bank ques- tion, in his sketch of the late war, says: "Nicholas Biddle was as iron- nerved as his fjreat antagonist, Andrew Jackson, loved his country not less, and money as little." His manner was peculiarly attractive; it was not a display of artificial graces, but the natural expression of a genial nature and cultivated mind, and it had a powerful influence over those with whom he was associated. In youth, the beauty of his person was remai-kable, and time dealt gently with it; he was fond of exercise on foot and on horseback, and though hospitable, his personal habits were simple and abstemious. He was a leading member of many societies and public institutions for useful and benevolent purposes, and his private charities and benefactions were as liberal as they were unostentatious. He was an ardent advocate of the im- provement of his native State, and aided in the prosecution of the most im- portant public enterprises. The Hon. Wm. F. Packer (now the Governor of Pennsylvania), in a speech in the State Senate, advocating the connection of Philadelphia with the Lakes, said: "This, sir, was the favorite project of Nicholas Biddle, of your city ; and whatever may be said of him as a politician or a financier, all agree that on questions of internal improvement and commerce, he was one of the most sagacious and far-seeing statesmen in this Union. His fault was, if fault it be, that he was twenty years in ad- vance of the age in which he lived. Sir, his towering mind enabled him afar off to ' See the tops of. distant thoug-hts, Which men of common stature never saw.' Had he lived and maintained the strong hold which he once had on the affections of Philadelphia, that city would long since have been placed, in relation to the trade 1 have attempted to describe, where New York and Boston now are." His taste was formed upon the classic models with which his studies and travels had rendered him familiar; to it the city owes two of the finest specimens of Grecian architecture — the United States Custom-House (form- erly the United States Bank), and the Girard College — the plans for which were adopted at his instance. He delivered many speeches and addresses, and his style was remarkable for purity, terseness, and vigor. — Simpsoti's Eminent Philadelphians. NOTE H. (Pages 350 and 390.) Clement and Owen Biddle, sons of John Biddle and Sarah Owen, were first cousins of Charles Biddle. Of Owen, the elder brother, the following sketch is taken from the Pennsylvania Historical Magazine, vol. iii. Owen Biddle, of the city of Philadelphia, a great-grandson of William NOTES. 421 Biddle, one of the proprietors of West Jersey, and for many years of the Governor's Council of tliat Colony, was born in Philadelphia in the year 1737. He was engaged in mercantile pursuits, and with his brother, Clement, signed the celebrated Non-importation Resolutions of October 25, 1765. He was a delegate to the Provincial Conference Jan. 23, 1775; member of the Committee of Safety from June 30, 1775, to July 22, 1776, and of the Council of Safety from July 24, 1776, to March 13, 1777 ; mem- ber of the Board of War March 13, 1777 ; of the Constitutional Convention of July 15, 1776, and, in June, 1777, Deputy Commissary of Forage. His name appears in the list of Philadelphia merchants headed by Robert Morris, who became personally bound for various sums, amounting in the aggregate to over £200,000 sterling, for purchasing j^rovisions for the army at a time when there was great difficulty in procuring supplies. During the occupancy of Philadelphia by the British, the enemy destroyed his residence, (Peel Hall) which was on the site of the Girard College grounds. He was an early and active member of the American Philosophical Society, one of its curators from 1769 to 1772, and secretary from 1773 to 1782, when he became one of the councillors, continuing as such until his death. He was one of the committee of thirteen appointed by the Society to observe the transit of Venus on 3d of June, 1769. These obsej-vations were made with eminent success by three members of the committee, Mr. Rittenhouse being stationed at Norristown, Dr. Ewing at Philadelphia, and Mr. Biddle at Cape Henlopen. Mr. Biddle died at Philadelphia on the lOthi of March, 1799. His descendants have always taken a prominent part in the benevolent and business enterprises of the metropolis. Clement Biddle was born in Philadelphia, May 10-, 1740. Descended from one of the early Quaker settlers and proprietaries of AVest Jersey, he retained his connection with the Society of Friends until the commencement of the War of Independence. In early life he engaged in commercial pursuits in his native city. Not- withstanding the discipline of the religious society in whose tenets he had been educated, he united, in 1764, in forming a military corps for the pro- tection of a party of friendly Indians, who had sought refuge in Philadelphia from the fury of a lawless band, known as the Paxton Boys, who had re- cently massacred some unoffending Conestoga Indians, at Lancaster. These banditti, powerful in numbers, had advanced to within five or six miles of the city, threatening destruction to all who should oppose them, when the vigor of the military preparations checked their further progress. Scarcely had this local disturbance been quieted, when news was received of the re- solution of the British House of Commons to impose certain stamp duties on the colonies. The feeling engendered throughout the whole country by this step, was nowhere deeper than in Philadelphia ; and the consummation of the resolve of the Commons, by the passage of the Stamp Act, induced, in 422 NOTES. that city, the celebrated non-importation resolutions of October 25, 1765; one of the most decided measures adopted during the early part of the struggle with Great Britain, for the preservation of the civil rights of the colonists. Tliis agreement was subscribed by the principal merchants of the city ; among them we find the names of Clement Biddle and his brother Owen Biddle. The course subsequently pursued by the British Govern- ment destroying all hope of a peaceful adjustment, Clement Biddle em- barked early and zealously in the defence of the liberties of America, and was greatly instrumental in forming the " Quaker" company of volunteers, raised in Philadelphia in 1775, of which he was elected an officer, before the corps joined the army. Congress having, in June, 1776, for the protection of the middle colonies, directed the immediate establishment of a camp of ten thousand men, to be furnished by Pennsylvania, ]\Iai'3'land, and Dela- ware, on the 8th of July following, appointed Colonel Biddle the Deputy Quartermaster-General for those forces, as well as for the militia of Penn- sylvania and New Jersey, ordered to assemble at Trenton. At the close of that year, Colonel Biddle took part in the battle of Trenton, and with an- other officer, was selected by Washington to receive the swords of the Hes- sian officers. He was also engaged in the stoutly-contested victory at Prince- ton ; the battle at and retreat from the Brandywine ; the attack upon the British forces at Germantown ; and during the winter of 1777-8 shared the privations of the American army at the memorable cantonment at Valley Forge. There, as Commissary-General under Greene, he rendered import- ant services in several critical junctures, when the disbanding of the army, from want of the necessaries of life, seemed almost inevitable. Many letters from General Washington, written at this period, and now in the possession of Colonel Biddle's family, attest his activity in the commissariat depart- ment, the urgency of the sei'vice he was engaged in, and the confidence re- posed in him by the father of his country. He was again in action at the battle of Monmouth. After the war of the Revolution, he renewed, for a short time, his con- nection with military life, by serving as Quartermaster-General of Pennsyl- vania in the expedition, under Washington, to suppress the " AVhiskey Insurrection." Colonel Biddle la>''>»'ed earnestly in the early political movements of the patriot party of hi , advocating effectively the revolutionary State Con- stitution of ] 776, 1 .aming of which his brother, Owen Biddle, shared, as a member of the Convention. After the organization of the Federal Govern- ment, under the Constitution of 1787, Colonel Biddle was appointed United States Marshal for Pennsylvania. At a later period he engaged in business as a notary public, and became well known in commercial circles for his ability in adjusting marine losses. He preserved the friendship and enjoyed the intimacy of General Washington until the close of the life of that great man, and maintained with him a familiar epistolary correspondence until within a few weeks of the General's decease. NOTES. ■ 423 Greene and Knox were also his warm personal friends and coiTespondents ; and when the former was selected for the command of the southern army, one of his first preparations for the campaign, was an effort to obtain the services of Colonel Biddle as Qiiartermastei'-General. By his marriage with Miss Rebecca Cornell, he had a numerous family. His sons have occupied prominent and honorable positions in their native city ; of his daughters, one was married to General Thomas Cadwalader, another to Dr. Nathaniel Chapman, and a third to Thomas Dunlap, Esq., of Philadelphia. His distinguished and useful career ended on the 14th July, 1814, at Philadelphia, in the seventy-fifth year of his age. — Sinqyson's Eminent Philadelphians. >/ R B 9. 3. 1 L6Mr'3fl ^ A '^ o iO V* ^"^^^ -^o^ 0' v-^^ 0' o V <"" . .0- <^^ ' ^' ^""■A ^v^ ^ ^ -% ' J^^ OOBBSBROS. .A^*^ "■.^Sm^." .'^^•^'^ -I ^ , ST. AUGUSTINE ^ "=^^S!m'%"' 7^^ - *Jt(fl^^ * -\^ " "^^^l^*^" "^ vO.?' ^"'^^.