THE LONDON COFFEE HOUSE.

The London Coffee House, p. 393. The cut is a very good representation of the building still standing (in 1878) at the south-west corner of Front and Market streets, the back building having been built a story higher. Here was the Pennsylvania Journal "printed and sold by William and Thomas Bradford," and "where persons may be supplied with the paper at ten shillings a year, and where advertisements are taken in."

P. 395. (See Pennsylvania Gazette, June 1st, 1749; also January 10, 1748-49: "Thomas Lloyd, two doors below the Widow Roberts' Coffee House.")

There is the following notice in the Pennsylvania Evening Post by B. Town: "The London Coffee House, corner of Market and Front streets, will be opened this day by E. Smith."

For many years most of the leading events narrated in Watson took place or culminated at this corner and in this house. Burning Stamp-Act papers, whenever found, took place here, and the mariner (Captain Wise) who brought the news of the repeal of the Stamp Act was feasted and wined amid great excitement. The effigies of Governor Hutchinson of Massachusetts and Alexander Wedderburn with double face were burnt in effigy in May, 1774, for their insults to Dr. Franklin. The royal arms from the court-house were publicly burned here after the reading of the Declaration of Independence by John Nixon. Leigh Hunt's father was brought here in his coat of tar and feathers and made to humbly acknowledge his wrong; also on the same day his sympathizer, Dr. Kearsley, was carted here, and allowed to quaff a bowl of punch to quench his thirst, caused by great excitement; he afterward became insane. Here occurred the personal attack by General Thompson on Justice McKean which led to a challenge, but which McKean declined as a violation of the laws he was appointed to maintain.

It is owing to the good taste of its owner, Samuel Croft, that the building still stands in its original condition. While this place was styled a coffee-house, and coffee was the principal liquid drunk there, liquors were also sold, and it was really only a genteel tavern. The capital to build it was raised by subscription and loaned to William Bradford-two hundred and thirty-two persons subscribing thirty shillings each.

William Bradford, in addition to keeping the coffee-house, was publisher of the Pennsylvania Journal. When his uncle Andrew came back from New York in 1712, where he had been with William, the first printer in this country-who was father of Andrew and grandfather of the William under notice, the third of the name-he established the Mercury in 1739-40, and took his adopted nephew into partnership. Owing to the latter

not agreeing with Andrew's second wife, he left his uncle and went to England, purchased a stock of books and materials for printing, and opened a store in Second street between Market and Chestnut, at the sign of "The Bible," and commenced the publication of the Pennsylvania Journal, which became successful. When he opened the coffee-house he removed his business to the store adjoining on Market street. He joined the volunteer militia in 1755, was elected captain, and afterward major, and was active in public matters, particularly about the Stamp Act and Non-Importation Agreement. He was wounded at Princeton in 1776, and made colonel; was a member of the Navy Board and chairman of the committee for arresting inimical persons, and served in resisting the siege of Fort Mifflin. When the British evacuated the city in 1778 he returned and resumed the publication of the Journal, and reopened the coffee-house. He continued the latter only two years, as it did not prove profitable, the more elegant City Tavern, in Second above Walnut, having attracted the best custom. Its prestige was gone as a centre for news, auction sales, and public events. Gifford Dally next rented the place from John Pemberton, who had received it from his father by will.

THE STATE HOUSE.

The State House, p. 396.-The Assembly of Pennsylvania, governing the colony after its settlement by the English, met in various places, such as the Quaker meeting-house; in Whitpain's, Carpenter's, and other private houses; in the school-room of Thomas Makin, and, after the purchase of the State House lots, for about five years in a building which was there at the time of purchase. As the city grew it became evident to the Provincial government of Pennsylvania that there should be provided a permanent and commodious building for the sessions held by the Assembly and for the accommodation of the courts and public offices of the colony. It was considerably discussed in 1707 and '8, the proposed amount of six hundred and sixteen pounds being a large amount to raise by tax. The idea was commenced to be carried out in February, 1729, by the petition of the inhabitants requesting that the House would build a State House in High street near the prison, followed by the appropriation on the 10th of May of two thousand pounds by the Assembly for the building of a State House, the money to be paid out under the direction of Thomas Lawrence, Andrew Hamilton, and John Kearsley. The building of the house was not commenced until the summer of 1732, owing to a contrariety of opinion among the members of the building committee, and was completed in 1741,

though the finishing touches were not given till 1745, but part of it was occupied by the Assembly in October, 1735. The doorway as at present seen is quite modern, and copied from the doorway of the former St. James's Church in Seventh street above Market.

The ceiling and upper work had to be done, for which competent workmen were scarce. Curtains of some sort, apparently inexpensive, were ordered for the windows; and a handsome silver inkstand was made for the Speaker's table by Philip Syng, silversmith, at a cost of £25 168.

Kearsley had favored the petition of the citizens, who wanted it near the prison on Market near Third street, in conjunction with a market, and drew up a plan. Hamilton drew up one, and his plan and choice of location on Chestnut street were preferred by a majority of the committee. Kearsley constantly objected, and finally had nothing to do with its building, and Lawrence, having full confidence in Hamilton and his superintendence, had but little to do with it; so that the structure may be said to have been built by and under the plans of Andrew Hamilton. The plan adopted included only the present main or central building, and was designed to accommodate the Assembly, the Supreme Court, and the governor's Council.

Andrew Hamilton was a member of the governor's Council in 1720, and attorney-general of the Province from 1717 to 1726; prothonotary of the court and recorder of the city for fourteen years, and at the same time a member of the Assembly from Bucks county, and was the Speaker for ten years; he was judge of the vice-admiralty court in 1739. He won great fame by his bold and able defence of John Peter Zenger and the liberty of the press at his trial in New York in 1735. Zenger was prosecuted for a libel against the king and the governor, and his paper was ordered to be burnt by the hangman. Zenger was acquitted, and the city of New York presented Hamilton with the freedom of the city in a gold box. He resided at Bush Hill, a property granted him by the Penns. He died August 4th, 1741. A lawyer at the head of his profession, retained in all important cases, and consulted by the governors, he was able, fearless, and honest; on the popular side in his feelings, he maintained the cause of liberty, and helped to make laws whose benefits we enjoy at this day. He was called by Gouverneur Morris "the day-star of the American Revolution." His portrait is in the National Museum. Another Anthony Hamilton was governor of Pennsylvania from 1701 to 1703; he was Col. Anthony Hamilton, but no relation of this one.

As originally designed and constructed, there was neither tower nor steeple, nor were arrangements made for the staircase. The bell originally in service was the one used by the Assembly to call the members together and as an accompaniment to official proc