broad low desk was immediately in front of the dais, and overlooking, too, the large table near the middle of the room upon which the members of the body using that room-until the Revolution they were the Council appointed by Lord Baltimore and then for many years the Senate chosen by electors chosen by the people were wont to have their books and papers and to do what writing they pleased upon leaving their ordinary positions in arm chairs clustered near it. I have been told that in the olden times the evening sessions were lit by many candles held in such a brass chandelier as then swung, and now, too (but at present in facsimile), swings from the middle of the ceiling, and by some candles standing in candlesticks upon the table and on the desks of the Presiding Officer and of the Clerk. Be that as it may, we know that whatever light there was in that room fell upon waxed floor, and upon walls and lattice window shades of green, and on ceiling and gallery and wood-work including fire-place, all white, except the chair-board which was painted black. Portions of plaster were found back of the cornice untouched since December 23rd, 1783, despite the restoring of that cornice in 1858, and beneath two thickness of brown paint covering the plaster in the niche back of the President's chair, remains the green color, thus confirming the Trumbull picture painted in 1814 and now in the Capitol in Washington, and representing the historic Resignation of December 1783. As I have sketched the old Senate Chamber in Annapolis it existed on the memorable 23rd of December, 1783. It was first refurnished in 1838 and the desks, chairs and table then in it were sold. Mr. George R. Shafer of Annapolis has kindly searched for me the records as to any expenditures for refurnishing that Chamber between December 23rd, 1783 and 1838 and reports that there is no mention of any such furnishing. We may accept the fact, therefore, that the furniture indicated was in that same room and was used on the great occasion of that 23rd day of December, 1783, and on January 14th, 1784 when the treaty with Great Britain was there ratified; and on September 11th, 1786 when in that same historic room, too, there sat the delegates from six of the States in a convention to consider how to bring about a more effective Federation, which efforts we know resulted in the calling of the Federal Constitutional Convention of 1781. Perhaps on those occasions individual desks were provided for members; but I am not possessed of evidence to that effect. Of the furniture used on those occasions the Clerk's desk is again in that chamber. The chair which Washington used on December 23rd, 1783, has been traced and can be bought. Some ten or twelve of the other chairs have been traced and can probably be bought. This last I learned through an inquiry for general information as to the appearance of the old Senate Chamber which the Baltimore Sun inserted at my request under instruction of the Advisory Commission upon the Restoration of the old Senate Chamber. The Restoration of the old Senate Chamber? Yes. Its restoration practically to its original condition and using many of its original parts, discovered here or there, for having remained practically intact through the various changes I have mentioned, and numerous small and more negligible ones, and its second re-furnishing in the re-adaptation of 1858 and its sharing with the State House generally in the instalment of a new steam-heating arrangement, which resulted in closing the old fire-place and removing the chimney. It was practically changed altogether in aspect in 1878 through the reshaping of the dais, and the removal of the gallery, the window seats, and inside window shutters, fireplace and chimney, and by the covering of the niche, the redistribution of window lights, new hardware trimmings, and the recoloring of the walls. At the same time it was refurnished. The extreme wall measurements of the old Senate Chamber remained, but practically all the rest had been changed. But there had been many public and private objectors to that transformation who made their views felt through talk and writing. So time passed with public opinion dissatisfied on this question. Finally, on February 2nd, 1894, the Senate ordered, on motion of Senator Thomas G. Hayes, "That J. Appleton Wilson of Baltimore, and Mr. Frank B. Mayer, of Annapolis, be requested to investigate and report the feasibility of restoring the Senate Chamber to its original condition and the probable cost of making the required changes. Provided the said gentlemen are willing to perform such service without compensation." And on March 19th, 1894, on the presentation of Senator Hayes, there was read to the Senate the following report of Messrs. Wilson and Mayer: To The Honorable, The Senate of Maryland: Gentlemen:-The Committee appointed by your Honorable Body, to consider the feasibility of restoring the Senate Chamber to its condition when Washington resigned his Commission within its historic walls in 1793, and to ascertain the cost of such restoration, beg leave to respectfully report: First. That they consider the restoration feasible, and that there is a widespread desire throughout the State to see it accomplished; that it is yet practicable to restore with accuracy the chamber to its original condition, as material and memories which may soon be lost, still exist, and your committee have been singularly fortunate in obtaining data, both for the architectural detail, as well as for the furnishing, as the result of persistent research. Secondly. Your committee recommend that the work of restoration should be entire to be satisfactory. Any partial restoration, while better than none, can only have an incomplete and unsatisfactory effect, and will fail in accomplishing the end sought. They would respectfully advise the following: 1. Replacing niche behind Speaker's chair, with columns and entablature. 2. Replacing ladies' gallery and stairway to reach it from lobby. 3. Rebuilding chimney breast, only twelve inches projection, and replacing mantel and fire-place. The latter will be for appearance only, unless the flues remain in the wall, which is believed to be the case. 4. Replacing panelled window seats, and the restoration of the original shades. 5. The removal of the beam in the centre of ceiling, by sinking it in the depth of the floor. It is at present a serious disfigurement, and entirely changes the original character of the ceiling. It can be arranged as proposed, without impairing the strength of the floor above in the slightest. Your committee has diligently used the time at its disposal in getting reliable estimates of the cost of the proposed work, which they find can be done as before mentioned, by responsible persons, in the best manner and of the best material, for the sum of $4,250.00 including the preparation of the necessary drawings, travelling and clerical expenses and supervision. Search for any of the original furniture in existence has engaged the attention of your committee, and among other objects they have been able to locate the Speaker's chair and desk, as well as one of the member's chairs, with a desk, and the desk of the clerk. This furniture is of solid mahogany and of handsome design. The chandelier is an important feature in the appearance of the room. It was placed in the centre of the ceiling, and its restoration may even be regarded as an architectural element. It can be made. and supplied with electricity in imitation of the original candles. The furniture and chandelier can be reproduced for the additional sum of $1,900.00. We would suggest, that in view of the historical value and importance of the work, that these sums appear small. They could be made available in annual instalments, and your committee earnestly recommend that the work may be authorized at once. J. APPLETON WILSON, But nothing further was done. Gradually public interest in the rich and various phases of History made in, by and through Maryland, found organic expression through the many efficient Patriotic Societies which have done such good service in that fertile and strangely too long neglected field. One of the most practical and efficient Executives in that work was the Honorable Edwin Warfield, now Governor. With such a chief executive things historical in our State shone brighter. And as Governor he seized the opportunity to induce the State House Building Commission to make possible the restoration of the old Senate Chamber in Annapolis to its condition when therein General Washington resigned his commission as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army. That State House Building Commission consisted of His Excellency Governor Edwin Warfield acting as chairman, Thomas J. C. Williams, Esq., who acted as Secretary, and Messrs. Gordon T. Atkinson, Murray Vandiver, James McSherry, Samuel D. Schmucker, Spencer C. Jones, Peter J. Campbell, John P. T. Mathias, and Ferdinand C. Latrobe, and came into existence through a resolution offered by Senator Spencer C. Jones in 1902 for the purpose of "constructing and erecting an addition to the present State House, in which shall be located the State Senate Chamber and the House of Delegates and appropriated $250,000 with which to begin the work." In 1904 $600,000 additional was appropriated to complete the work above indicated and for repairing the old State House. Governor Warfield secured their consent to restore the old Senate Chamber as I have said, and to have that work directed through an advisory Commission representing a number of Patriotic Societies each of which appointed its representative. Of that Commission also His Excellency Governor Edwin Warfield was chairman. The delegate of the Maryland Historical Society was J. Appleton Wilson, Esq., Clayton C. Hall, Esq., represented the Society of the Revolution, Jas. Davidson Iglehart, M. D., represented the Society of the American Revolution, Jno. S. Gittings Esq., the Society of the Cincinnati and DeCourcy W. Thom, chosen secretary, represented the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Maryland. And as additional members there were appointed by Governor Warfield, Messrs. Josias Pennington of Messrs. Baldwin and Pennington, architects, constructing the State House annex, etc., Hon. J. Wirt Randall, and George H. Shafer, Esq. That Advisory Commission held a number of formal meetings and many informal, and took into consideration such data as the Trumbull picture painted in 1814 after careful study of the old Senate Chamber and representing the great scene of December |