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The 'Philadelphia Sojourn of Samuel Vaughan

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The 'Philadelphia Sojourn of Samuel Vaughan The 'Philadelphia Sojourn of Samuel Vaughan AMUEL VAUGHAN was one of that group of English Whigs who felt, during the latter part of the eighteenth century, the most S compelling, lively, and whole-hearted interest in human freedom. Unlike Price,1 who put his pen at America's service, and Priestley,2 who finally found asylum in the new country, Vaughan neither wrote, made scientific experiments, nor played a deep politi- cal part. A wealthy West Indian merchant with a taste for science and the polite arts, his aid was unobtrusive, his role more that of an observer. "He cannot help being interested in the liberties of man- kind," his wife wrote to her girlhood friend, Mercy Warren.3 As a Whig and a supporter of John Wilkes in his parliamentary struggle, Vaughan had acquired a deep distaste for the ministry in power during the sixties, a distaste heightened by several personal experiences; America seemed early to him a very happy refuge. But it was not until after the American Revolution that he finally left England to attempt a new mode of life for himself and the younger members of the family. The two eldest sons4 were well established in London, but there were numerous younger sons to be provided for. As early as 1775 he had meditated at least a visit to the colonies, and was in Jamaica when trouble broke out on the Continent. But much as he longed to rush into the war on the side of the Americans, he had thought it better to wait until spring to "throw in his small 1 Richard Price, 1723-1791, noncomformist minister and author of Observations on the Nature of Civil Liberty, the Principles of Government, and the Justice and Policy of the War with America (London, 1776). 2 Joseph Priestley, 1733-1804, noncomformist minister and scientist. 3 Sarah Hallowell Vaughan to Mercy Warren, May 11, 1792, Chamberlain Collection, Boston Public Library. 4 Benjamin Vaughan, 1751-1835, West Indian merchant and secret service agent during the peace negotiations after the Revolution, who settled in America in 1796. William Vaughan, 1752-1850, merchant and author of several treatises on London docks. 459 460 SARAH P. STETSON October mite/'5 Spring found matters much worse; it was not until eight years later that it was possible to make a final move. His son John was sent ahead to make the arrangements, secure a home, and safe- guard the Vaughan interests until it was feasible for Samuel himself to come. John Vaughan was as anxious as his father to become an American. He had registered himself as "American" in August, 1778, while in France learning the wine business, and had tried unsuccessfully to become a citizen at long range. After many attempts, he set sail from Spain in 1782, armed with letters and papers, for what proved to be a very boring trip across the Atlantic. There was nothing boring, however, about the finish of the voyage—the Quebec frigate cap- tured the ship, and Vaughan, along with Colonel Livingston,6 was taken a prisoner to New York. He was soon released, and made his way to Philadelphia. This city had been selected as their headquarters by the family ostensibly because it appeared to be a spot destined to become the heart of America, the seat of arts and government. But their decision was undoubtedly influenced by the fact that it was also the home of Benjamin Franklin, their patron saint, "that good old man,"7 the long-time friend and intimate of their family. It was a lucky intimacy for John Vaughan when he arrived with only the clothes he wore, his letters torn up and thrown into the sea to avoid capture. The Baches immediately took him under their wing; he was introduced to the city from that comfortable vantage point, Robert Morris gave him the necessary credit, and he finally got himself established. At the very first he was disappointed; Philadelphia was far from what he had anticipated. There was not the slightest trace of republi- canism in the mode of life he saw; he sought in vain for Quaker sim- plicity. Instead there was luxury in everything, a pronounced copy- ing of the French,—French ideas, French manners, French fashions, "Gay and extravagant rather beyond our capacity."8 Congress gave 5 Samuel Vaughan to Benjamin Franklin, June 24, 1775.1. Minis Hays, Calendar of Frank- lin Papers in the Library of the American Philosophical Society (Philadelphia, 1908), I, 171; hereafter cited as Franklin Calendar. 6 Henry Brockholst Livingston, 1757-1823, private secretary to his brother-in-law, John Jay, in Spain prior to 1782. 7 John Vaughan to Samuel Vaughan, September 10, 1775, Peabody Institute Library. 8 John Vaughan to William Temple Franklin, October, 1782. Franklin Calendar, IV, 86. 1949 PHILADELPHIA SOJOURN OF SAMUEL VAUGHAN 461 a fete in honor of the Dauphin, and the young merchant was shocked at the cost—the amount spent on fireworks and display was a sum sufficient to make a man feel wealthy, if it were in his own pocket. And instead of solidly debating the issues of the day, the town was divided into two camps to argue the rival merits of two Parisian hairdressers.9 John Vaughan was uneasy; his father had worked his imagination to such a height that he would undoubtedly be disillusioned in what he actually found. But as Samuel was set on coming, his son resigned himself to the fact that it would soon be apparent that "Americans were men, not angels/'10 The family arrived on September 8, 1783, to be welcomed by John in Philadelphia, and they immediately lodged with the Baches. The arrival would have been more completely joyous on Samuel's part if he had suffered less from the gout, but the ladies of the family were all pleasure. They took an instant liking to Mrs. Bache, who re- minded them so very much of their friend Mrs. Priestley back in England.11 As Mrs. Priestley was, by her husband's own statement, not only strong-minded, educated, and affectionate, but a good housekeeper as well,12 the likeness could only be construed as an especial compliment—the doctor might, they declared, be hard put to distinguish which sentiments were his wife's,13 were the conversa- tions of both ladies put on paper. Mrs. Bache was equally interested in her new friends; in fact, she was so much occupied with them that she was obliged to leave the letter-writing, the announcement of their arrival, for her husband to communicate to Franklin.14 The relationship of the Vaughans to Franklin had many facets. Samuel Vaughan was a member of the "Club of Honest Whigs," Franklin's London Coffee House club, of which he spoke so affection- ately. Benjamin, the eldest son, himself vitally interested in many of Franklin's pursuits, had published the first collected works of Frank- lin15 and had much and varied correspondence with him. While in 9 May 18, 1782. Ibid., IV, 77-78. 10 October, 1782. Ibid., IV, 86, u William Vaughan to Benjamin Franklin, October 31, 1783. Ibid., Ill, 121. 12 Memoirs of Dr. J. P. Priestley, by himself (London, 1806), 46. !3 William Vaughan to Benjamin Franklin, October 31, 1783. Franklin Calendar, III, 121. 14 Richard Bache to Benjamin Franklin, September 9, 1783. Ibid., Ill, 105. !5 Benjamin Vaughan, ed., Political, Miscellaneous and Philosophical Pieces . written by Benjamin Franklin, now first collected (London, 1779). 462 SARAH P. STETSON October London, Franklin was always welcome at Wanstead, the Vaughan country place, or at the town house, for dinner or the week end; he brought American friends to their attention and their table, sure of their welcome. And when he went to Paris, he became a sort of father confessor and financial aid to those young Vaughans who happened to be on the Continent from time to time. He was always ready to do what he could for the distressed people the Vaughans sent him— Americans had ready access to Samuel and his sons. Before long the Vaughan family were established in quarters of their own, not suitable, but serving for the present; they soon fell into the ways of the city. The first and most elaborate plan had been for the purchase of an estate in the country. That of General Charles Lee, in western Virginia, had actually been bought, but before the transaction was completed, Lee died on his way to make the final arrangements in Philadelphia. The whole matter fell into so much confusion that the idea was given up. Samuel did take out lottery tickets for the family in the Northumberland lottery of 1785,16 but there was no settlement in that part of the country. During their American stay, Philadelphia remained their headquarters. The colonial acquaintances they had made in England took pains to call upon them. Visitors to Philadelphia who had known the sons in Europe paid their compliments while in the city—John Jay, for instance, "cultivated their acquaintance" as a gesture to his friend Benjamin Vaughan.17 The society of the city welcomed them, noting the great attention and politeness displayed by the English ladies whenever tea was taken with Mrs. Vaughan and her daughters. They entertained, they made excursions, taking along various Philadelphia young ladies on their short trips by wagon, making long, leisurely journeys in their carriage to more distant regions. Mrs. Vaughan, a member of the Hallowell family, was Boston born, and old friend- ships were renewed in that city. The Livingstons were visited at their Hudson manor.
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