An Historical Account of the Old State House of Pennsylvania Now
Independence Hall, 1876. FRONT VIEW. AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT UK THE OLD STATE HOUSE OF PENNSYLVANIA NOW KNOWN AS THE HALL OF INDEPENDENCE « BY / FRANK M ETTING WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS BOSTON JAMES R. OSGOOD AND COMPANY 1876 Copyright, 1874, By FRANK M ETTING KIVERSIDE, CAMBRIDGE: •EREOTYPED AND PRINTED BY H. O. HOUGHTON AND COMPANY. PREFACE In the work that I had " found for my hand to do," it became necessary to examine carefully into the details of the building of the State House of Pennsylvania ; much that surprised me came to light not only in the circumstances of its erection but in its subsequent C history. Instead of Dr. Kearsley, to whom the credit had been as- cribed, I discovered that its Architect and actual Builder was one of the greatest men ever fostered by Pennsylvania ; and that every important movement, from the very inception of the efforts of the colonists to assert their constitutional liberty, first assumed shape either within this building or under the shadow of its walls. A friendly suggestion thrown out induced me to extend still further my investigations, with a view of preserving the information in print in some accessible form. This desire was enhanced by the hope that the general public would ultimately share in the interest which every brick of this old build- ing possesses for me, and thus be inclined to lend each his individual aid towards its preservation, and to insure its proper custodianship for all time. The desultory way in which, from causes unnecessary to be detailed, my memoranda have been thrown together, must leave its impress, and I cannot expect to be exempt from inaccuracies ; but having done my best without fee or reward, present or prospective, I have no apologies to make to the public for claiming their notice.
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