VIEW IN ALBANY. HOUSE OF THE FIRST DUTCH GOVERNORS.

[From 7. Milbert's Picturesque Sketches in America. Published in Paris in 1826.]

He went to Baltimore, to Washington, to the capital of Virginia, and on, as before stated, to every quarter of the Union. With the June roses of 1825 he was again in New England. The following is an extract from the Boston Centinel, June 18, 1825: "The celebration of the fiftieth anni versary of the memorable battle of Bunker Hill, and the ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of an obelisk to commemorate the great event, have taken place. As public journalists, it is our duty to record the proceedings of the day; but we feel unable to do anything like justice to the splendor of the scenes which passed, or to the excellent spirit and enthusiastic good-feeling which animated with an unanimous impulse an assemblage which it is believed to be no exaggeration to estimate at one hundred and fifty thousand, collected from every state in the Union.

"One of the old soldiers who took a part in the Bunker Hill battle was present at the celebration, wearing the same coat which he wore in the battle, and which has in it no less than nine bullet-holes."

The most novel and humorous entertainment given to Lafayette and his suite was at the State in Schuylkill, on the 25th of July, 1825, a short time before he returned to France. The Club, or Fishing Company, that invited him to their little domain, then within seven years of its one hundredth birthday, was the oldest club in America.* It owned one acre of land on the beautiful river, fenced in and improved, with buildings suited to its purposes, called the State in Schuylkill; and it had an independently organized government, and a code of laws of its own. The 1st of October was its annual election day, when it chose a governor, five members for its miniature legislature, a sheriff, and a coroner. The governor appointed a secretary of state. On these important occasions the club usually feasted on barbecued pig prepared by the members, sirloin steaks, and the products of the rod and gun. The steaks were cooked over wood coals quickly, being constantly turned, and served the instant they were ready, thereby losing none of their flavor and juices. Neither fork nor knife were ever allowed to penetrate the meats of these Schuylkill epicures, but beefsteak tongs, imported from England, were used in turning them. The various fish were boiled or broiled with the greatest skill and ceremony. The highest officers of the State were often seen battling with a twelvepound salmon, or nailing a shad to a board to be roasted before the fire.

* It was founded under the name of the "Colony in Schuylkill," in 1732, but received its present charter name on the declaration of its independence. "Unique in its character, it is unequaled in its permanency, as it ever has been unsurpassed in the success of its sportive citizens, and their general respectability, as members of the community." "An Authentic Historical Memoir of the Fishing Company of the State in Schuylkill: from its establishment on that romantic stream, near Philadelphia, in 1732, to the present time. By a member: 1830." N. Y. Hist. Soc.

WATER WORKS ON THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER.

[From J. Milbert's Picturesque Sketches in America. Published in Paris in 1826.

The coroner was an important personage in the club kitchen, and inspected all the work of the citizens who were appointed in turn to market for the banquets. The club had a famous punch-bowl, with a curious wooden dipper, and to this bowl the citizens, tradition says, brought their male infants to be baptized by the governor, as the bowl was large enough to admit of total immersion. The heir so baptized would naturally inherit the father's citizenship. An English writer, in 1759, said of this club: "The first and most distinguished people of the colony are of this society, and it is very advantageous to a stranger to be introduced to it, as he thereby gets acquainted with the best and most respected company in Philadelphia." The club closely resembled the famous Beefsteak Club of London, three years its junior. The original minutes of its meetings, in reference to inviting Lafayette "to eat with the club," and in preparing for his reception, are, through a curious chain of circumstances, at this moment in the hands of the writer. The bill of wants for the banquet, as first drafted, was as follows:

William Milner, esq., secretary of the State in Schuylkill, wrote to Thomas Morris, on the 22d of July:

men.

DEAR COZ: As I am engaged entirely with the general, I must get you to attend to all the arrangements for his reception at the Castle on Thursday, and rally all the fisherI have invited Judge Peters, an old member, and would suggest that we invite the committee of councils. You can put the mayor down on your list. I would propose a meeting for arrangement, elect the general an honorary member, present him with a certificate, and let him sign his name in our minute book. On his arrival let the governor and council, with the members, meet him at the north end of the castle, give him welcome, let the Belles, I mean the Bell, be rung, let the standard be supported on his arrival by 3 bearers, and the old one should also be produced. On such an occasion a little extra expense may be incurred by having some fruit, and an Ice Cream, and if Market Street hill produces a Rock fish let us have it. I will try to procure a shad or two.

I shall bring the general at about one o'clock. A small Ham would be well, and in lieu of a table cloth the general should at least have a napkin, and silver spoons would not be amiss. Let there be no servants, but every man have a clean apron to put on at

dinner.

These are some of the outlines. The Rule as to invitations of one for each member to be observed, except the governor and council should give a special invitation.

Yours,

W. M.

"Thomas Morris, esq."

On the 24th Morris wrote to Milner:

"I would propose you should get the seal of State to place upon the certificate of our newly elected member. The Hat I have sent by my boy; you will please tell the general it is the one in which he was initiated."

Lafayette was received by the company, habited in fisherman's garb, with white linen aprons and ample straw hats, formed in open file facing inward, near the south front entrance to the Castle, the three banners supported on the right, and was addressed thus:

"The Governor, council, and citizens of Schuylkill greet you, and the gentlemen accompanying you, with a cordial welcome to the State in Schuylkill. Your visit here completes your tour to all the States in the Union. We possess but a limited territory and population, but there are no limits to the joy we feel on this auspicious occasion. It is now nearly a century since some of the worthiest and most eminent men of our parent colony of Pennsylvania associated on the banks of our beautiful river, and founded this institution, with a view to occasional relaxation from the cares and fatigue of business. The waters and woods furnished abundance of game, and the pursuit of it and its preparation for the festive board at once contributed to the delight and the health of the sportsNo event (save the war of the Revolution, in which you, sir, bore so distinguished a part) ever interrupted the amusements of the Fishing Company of the colony in Schuylkill. Its independence is coeval with the close of that contest, when its surviving citizen soldiery, exchanging the sword and the musket for the angling-rod and fowling-piece, reassembled as freemen, declared the independence of the State, and adopted that constitution of government, under which, like her associated sisters of the Union, she has continued to prosper, and her citizens to enjoy those sporting privileges and frugal festivities you will witness and partake of this day.”

men.

To which the general promptly replied:

"I feel sincere pleasure in visiting your ancient institution, so pleasantly planted on the banks of your beautiful river. It is the more grateful to me, as it completes my tour to all the states in the Union. About half a century ago I first crossed this stream in time of peril; far different now are the sensations I realize in meeting my friends on so pleasant an occasion. I feel honored by your polite invitation to your most agreeable state in Schuylkill-may you long continue happy and prosperous."

The whole party then proceeded to inspect the interior arrangements of the Castle, culinary establishment, fleet, and grounds of the company, with which, and its novelty, the visitors expressed themselves highly delighted. Having been presented on his entrance with a certificate of honorary membership as a duly qualified citizen, Lafayette was adorned with a