Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 03.pdf/45

Benjamin Chew's handwriting is the best and clearest of all the Chief-Justices since James Logan, and is that of a man who had sufficient control of his hours to form his letters, and was educated to form them decently. His house that he built in the country, like James Logan's, still stands; and besides being a relic of colonial elegance and ease very comfortable to see, it is of historic interest from the shelter it gave certain Brit ish soldiers at the battle of Germantown, whom Washington's men were unable to batter out of its solid walls, leaving the bullet-holes to record their attempt. We may gather something of the unofficial side of Mr. Chew from the following extract quoted by Mr. Keith from the diary of John Adams, who dined at the Chief-Justice's with Washington and others on the 22d September, 1774, — "ye were shown into a grand entry and stair case, and into an elegant and magnificent cham ber until dinner. . . . Turtle and every other thing . . . sweetmeats of 20 sorts . . . whipped silla bubs . . . and then a dessert of fruits. . . . Wines most excellent and admirable. I drank Madeira at a great rate, and found no inconvenience in it."

It is pleasant to note at what an early period in our history distinguished Yankees began to be struck with the excellence of the Philadelphia cuisine; and equally pleasant to observe that their heads were so well trained before coming down here as to find no in convenience in drinking Madeira " at a great rate." Benjamin Franklin has a few lines in his Autobiography which seem to confirm as a principle what Mr. Chew's dinner was only a single instance of : — "My activity . . . was agreeable to the gov ernor and council . . . and I was consulted by them in every measure. . . . Calling in the aid of religion, I propos'd to them the proclaiming a fast, to promote reformation, and implore the blessing of Heaven on our undertaking. They embrac'd the motion; but as it was the first fast ever thought of in the province, the secretary had no precedent from which to draw the proclama tion. . . . My education in New England . . . was here of some advantage." Note. — The author wishes to thank the Hon. James T. Mitchell and the Librarian of the Historical Society for their great courtesy in furnishing the portraits for this article, and for much useful information. He is also indebted to the writings of Mr. Lewis and Mr. Keith, whose valuable work has much assisted him.