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[
LAFAYETTE,
Gilbert du Motier, marquis de]
Lettre autographe signée William Milnor, “Secretary of State”
de la “Colony in Schuylkill”
Philadelphie 20 juillet 1825
1 p. in-4
LA FIN DU
FAREWELL TOUR
.
EXEMPLAIRE DE LAFAYETTE. ÉTONNANTE LETTRE DU
SECRÉTAIRE D’ÉTAT DE “SCHUYLKILL” : LE PLUS VIEUX
CLUB DU MONDE ANGLO-SAXON DONT LAFAYETTE
DEVIENT MEMBRE LE 21 JUILLET 1825.
THE END OF THE
FAREWELL TOUR
.
LAFAYETTE’S COPY. A SURPRISING LETTER FROM THE
SECRETARY OF STATE OF “SCHUYLKILL :” THE OLDEST
CLUB IN THE ANGLO-SAXON WORLD, WHICH LAFAYETTE
JOINED ON JULY 21, 1825
“The Governor, Council and Citizens of the
State in Schuylkill
understanding that yourself and Suite, will favor them with a visit at
their Castle, to-morrow, have requested me officially to express to you,
the high gratification your presence will afford them. As Caterer of the
day, I have the Honor to bid you all a most hearty welcome to our
ancient Fishing establishment”
The
Schuylkill Fishing Company of Pennsylvania
, also known
as the
State in Schuylkill
, was the first angling club in the
American Colonies and remains the oldest continuously
operating social club in the English-speaking world. The
Schuylkill Fishing Company of Pennsylvania
, styling itself the
State in Schuylkill
, was founded in 1732 under the terms of a
treaty with the Delaware Indians under which they and their
descendants gained rights to fish the Schuylkill River ; its
officers adopting governmental titles, such as Governor and,
as here, Secretary of State, and its clubhouse being styled
the
Castle
. In 1737, membership was limited to twenty-five. After
the American Revolution, in 1782, the club changed its name to
“State in Schuylkill”, but retained its rules and organization. The
club claims to be the oldest in the world. The
Beefsteak Club of
London
antedates it, but was suspended for a while
“General Lafayette was received by the citizens and magistrates, who,
in the costume of fishermen, awaited his arrival at the frontier of their
state. In a short and eloquent address, the secretary of state recounted
to him the history of the republic, from its establishment to the present
time, and concluded by announcing to him that the title and all the
rights of citizen had been granted to him by a unanimous vote. As soon
as the general had expressed his acceptance of the honor and his
gratitude, he was invested with the national costume, and, his head
being protected with the large straw hat, he entered into the occupation
of the community” (Levasseur,
Journal
, II, pp. 233-234).
The club maintained a rather ambiguous claim to state
sovereignty throughout its early history. During Prohibition in the
United States, it claimed that it was unaffected, and continued
to openly manufacture and drink alcoholic beverages. The club
is reputed to have been the origin of
Fish House Punch
, an
alcoholic drink consisting mainly of rum.
The writer of this letter, William Milnor (1769-1848), had
served two terms in Congress as Representative from
Pennsylvania and in 1829 was elected Mayor of Philadelphia.
But he is perhaps more widely remembered as author of
An
Authentic Historical Memoir of the State of Schuylkill : from its
establishment on that romantic stream, near Philadelphia, in
the year 1732, to the present tim
e (1830), a minor classic of
piscatorial literature that was to be re-issued in 1889 and 1932,
in which he gives us a long account of Lafayette’s visit (pp. 92-
102), and quotes the present letter in full (p. 100) :
“The Company habited in the Fisherman’s stile, with white linen aprons
and ample straw hats. were formed in open file, facing inwards, near
the north front entrance to the Castle. The three banners supported on
the right. General Lafayette, and suite, and the gentlemen in waiting
on him as escort, deputed by the City authorities, alighted at the lines
of the State... The General was then conducted between the open
files towards the Castle, near to which he was met by the Secretary
of State [Milnor], who addressed him... “Dear General, The Governor
Council, and Citizens assembled, greet you, and the gentlemen
accompanying you, with a cordial welcome to the
State in Schuylkill
.
Your visit here, completes your tour to all the States in the Union...
No event (save the War of the Revolution, in which you Sir, bore so
distinguished a part,) ever interrupted the amusements of the Fishing
and Fowling Company of the Colony of Schuylkill (...) The General in his
usual felicitous manner, promptly replied : “My Dear Sir, I feel sincere
pleasure in visiting your ancient Institution, so pleasantly situated
on the Bank of your beautiful river. It is the more grateful to me, as it
completes my tour to all the States of the Union. About half a century
ago, I first crossed your beautiful stream in times of peril ; far different
now are the sensations I realize, in meeting my friends on so pleasant
an occasion (...) After being introduced to all the gentlemen assembled
individually, the General and attendants refreshed themselves with
the pleasant beverage of Iced Punch, Lemonade, &c., and then
proceeded to inspect the interior arrangements of the Castle, culinary
establishment, fleet and grounds of the Company, with which and its
novelty, all expressed themselves highly delighted. Preparations were
made for
le banquet extraordinaire
, and members and visitors sat
to work industriously. The General expressed a desire as a member
to do his duty, and was duly invested by the Counselors with a hat
and apron, and introduced to the kitchen where he was initiated into
business, by attention to the turning of the beef steaks on the gridiron.
All were pleased with the affability and condescension of the illustrious
guest. Seldom an occasion presented itself since his arrival on our
shores, for him and his company and assembled visiters [sic], to be so
perfectly at home” (pp. 93-96).
The certificate of membership that he signed that day and
which Milnor quotes (p. 95) is now at the
Historical Society of
Pennsylvania
(Gottschalk,
Guide
, p.197).
3 000 / 5 000
€