23rd, 1783; the Columbian Magazine published in 1789 in Philadelphia and showing in fair detail a plan of the room and some of its architectural treatment; the detail plan of 1858 of Messrs. Bartlett and Hayward incidental to the steam heating of 1858 and enlarging and confirming the above, the location of the historic furniture, and of portions of the old gallery, etc., the coloring of the Chamber on December 23rd, 1783, and also the suggestions that beneath the plaster replacing the ancient fire-place should be sought in the brick work, indication of where the old fire place and the mantel and its pilasters had been placed, and that similar investigation would guide as to the original positions of window seats, gallery, etc., and that the photographs of the old Senate Chamber should be utilized, and gave instruction that in all except one negligible detail, which I shall presently mention, a precise restoration of the time-honored Chamber should be perfected as I have indicated. That one negligible detail was the lowering of the ceiling about three inches, necessitated by the introduction of sufficiently thick steel girders, inter-spaced with concrete to support the floors above. These girders substituted an upholding by a series of chains descending from the roof of the State House and passing through hollow iron pillars to the floor above the Senate Chamber. This expedient is probably no novelty to engineers, but to a mere layman it seems as unique as unsound. However, the costly charcoal iron of the early days was less full of flaws and of a more verified performance than its cheap steel successor of today; and about 1858 when the joists it supported broke away from their walls it sturdily refused to break and deposit the agitated crowd in the Senate Chamber below.

The Advisory Commission's plan of restoration was duly approved by the State House Building Commission. Omitting what repairs to it as a mere portion of State House preservation had to cost, the restoring of the interior of the old Senate Chamber so that it should reproduce in detail the aspect of December 23rd, 1783 has been affected for about $3,500.

Messrs. Josias Pennington and J. Appleton Wilson constituted the efficient architectural committee which carried out the plan of restoration agreed upon.

The memory-haunted old Senate Chamber is once more in appearance, save as to furniture, precisely as it was on that day when George Washington, soldier and gentleman, gave final account of his glorious work for our native land.

What should be housed in that memorable room? Only those things (or their facsimiles) which were there on the great occasion, and the Washington-Lafayette-Tilghman picture and copies of the resignation speech and the reply of Thomas Mifflin, "President of the United States in Congress assembled," and a small reproduction of the Trumbull picture.

In the two rooms just beyond is ample and proper space for any other historic relics of Colonial or Revolutionary times.

With the memorable words accompanying the culminating action of the greatest American, this paper may well conclude.

"According to order H. E., the Commander-in-Chief was admitted to a public audience of Congress; and being seated, the President, after a pause, informed him that the United States assembled were ready to receive his communications. Whereupon he arose and spoke as follows:

"Mr. President :-the great events on which my resignation depended having at length taken place, I present myself before Congress to surrender into their hands the trust committed to me, and to claim the indulgence of retiring from the service of my country.

"Happy in the confirmation of our independence and sovereignty, I resign the appointment I accepted with diffidence; which, however, was superseded by a confidence in the rectitude of our cause, the support of the supreme power of the nation, and the patronage of Heaven. I close this last act of my official life, by commending the interests of our dearest country to the protection of Almighty God, and those who have the superintendence of them to His holy keeping. Having finished the work assigned to me, I retire from the great theatre of action, and bidding an affectionate farewell to this august body, under whose orders I have so long acted, I here offer my commission and take my leave of the employments of my public life."

To which the President replied:—

"Sir-having defended the standard of liberty in the new world, having taught a lesson useful to those who inflict and those who feel oppression, you retire with the blessings of your fellow citizens: though the glory of your virtues will not terminate with your military command, but will descend to remotest ages."

TRIBULATIONS OF A ROYAL COLLECTOR.

Maryland, Sct.

[FROM PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON.]

Came before the Subscriber, one of the Lord Proprietary his Justices of the Provincial Court Robert Stratford Byrne, Surveyor of His Majesty's Customs for Sassafras and Bohemia, and made Oath on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God that on Thursday, the second day of March last, being in Kent County, Maryland, on the great Road leading to Duck Creek, in Pennsylvania, he, this Deponent, fell in with two loaded Waggons. Upon enquiring from whence they came, and Destination, was informed by one of the Drivers they belonged to Duck Creek, and that their Loading consisted chiefly in Rum, Sugar, Coffee, a Drum, Colours, two boxes of piece Goods, etc., chiefly the property of Messrs. Lorain, Bolton & Anderson of Chester Town. That after enquiring of the Drivers if they had Cockets for their Lading, this Deponent was informed in the Negative; upon which he was under the necessity of making a Seizure. That after this Deponent had escorted them on Foot for about Six or Eight Miles, the Waggoners desired to Bait their Horses; that this Deponent, with reluctance, was obliged to comply, as one of the Drivers swore he would act as he pleased; whose Name, he was informed, is Shahahan; that being apprehensive of an attack from the Drivers' behaviour and frequent assembling of People, it growing Dark, and having no assistance made him the more

watchful. That going down to the lower Waggon, where were some People examining the Contents, upon this Deponent's desiring them to keep off, he could perceive a small Cask, which he solemnly believes contained Gunpowder, and was Noticed by several of them, saying they wished it their Property. That in the dark he was attacked by a number of People who were assembled at the Mill of Oliver Gallop; that after getting him down by Force and taking a new Purse from him, they began to rifle his Pockets, and took about Twenty Eight Shillings, a red morocco Pocket Book, two yards of Black Riband and a Powder Horn; that a number of People got upon this Deponent and treated him in a very inhuman manner, and then the general Cry was, Drive on the Waggons and we will take Care of him; on which this Deponent immediately saw the Waggoners put their Horses expeditiously too and drove off. That this Deponent being almost senseless from the pressure of their Bodies, when the Cry of Tar and Feathers echoed, he attempted to struggle hard to avoid the Operation, and could perceive them brought from the Mill of the said Gallop, who by this time had absconded; and that after putting a quantity on his Head and Cloathes they dragged this Deponent several times on the Ground to the danger of his Life; that they threatened to Drown him if he would not drink with them, which he reluctantly comply'd with. At this time they were dragging this Deponent to a Pond, that afterwards they got a Horse saddled and mounted this Deponent several times with his face to the Horse's Tail, shouting Liberty, and driving him about said Mill Yard. That at Intervals this Deponent had several Swabbs of Tar put upon his Cloaths and Stockings; that he several times cried out not to Murder him, and particularly to the Miller Gallop for Assistance, and requested him to admit this Deponent into his House, which was refused, tho' he promised faithfully not to pursue the Waggons; they said they would take care this Deponent should not; that they then by Force mounted this Deponent several times on a raft of Wood supported by a number of People on their shoulders, carrying him about in that brutal Manner. That this Deponent often entreated Mercy, and accused them of robbing him, but in return

received the most opprobrious language. That this Deponent being almost exhausted with the Treatment he had received, begged a drink of Water several times, which was refused him; that he often entreated several People on Horseback to intercede for him, who at first he imagined were only Spectators, but found himself mistaken, as they seemed to be abettors of the Treatment he received. That after this they conducted him, or rather dragged him to another Pond of Water as this Deponent imagines to be about a Mile from the said Mill, where they were going to execute more of their Barbarity. Here this Deponent was so exhausted he was obliged to entreat Mercy on his Knees most fervently; that this Deponent received several Kicks on the Feet, some violent Pressures and a little Tar, continually assaulting him and speaking Words tending to high Treason. They then conducted this Deponent about a Mile further upon the main Road leading to George Town, and struck off into the Woods, he believes about half a Mile from the Road, damning him repeatedly, shouting Liberty and Duck Creek for ever. That after hauling this Deponent some distance, several Motions were made against this Deponent's Life, threatening to Execute him or at least tye him to a Tree til Morning, if he did not comply with the following infamous Requisitions, on compliance with which this Deponent was to be set at Liberty.-Who gave him his Commission? Immediately to quit the Province and inform North if he had been in his place he would have met with worse Treatment. Never to accept the like Office again, with many other words tending to the same Purport, all which this Deponent peremptorily refused, alledging they had treated him so very inhumanly that he disregarded his Life as not worth holding on such Terms, and was now resigned to suffer such further Punishment as his Fate decreed. The Speaker for the Mob upon this Occasion (who this Deponent believes belongs to the Mill) made a motion for conducting him to Duck Creek in order that he might undergo another new Suit, and led him from the Woods back in the same cruel Manner, escorted as before, to the main Road, but this Deponent could observe that many of the Former Horse Men had absconded, and others coming from the Cross Roads shouting and whistling. That this Deponent being so very