AN GAOḊAL.
667
Patrick, in this city — a society distinguished for the
firm adherence of its members to the glorious cause
in which we are embarked.
"Give me leave to assure you, sir, that I shall
never cast my eyes upon the badge with which I
am honored, but with a grateful remembrance of
the polite and affectionate manner in which it was
presented.
"l am, with respect and esteem,
Sir, your most obedient servant,
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
"To George Campbell Esq., President of the So¬
ciety of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, in the
city of Philadelphia."
After which the president (by a card) having re¬
quested the honor of His Excellency's com¬
pany, together with the gentlemen of his suite, at
dinner, at the City Tavern, on Tuesday the 1st of
January, he was pleased to accept the invitation,
and according to the order of the last meeting, the
secretary sent cards to all persons therein specified,
requesting the pleasure of their company at same
place and time, namely 4 o'clock.
At an extra meeting at Geo. Evans' Tuesday the
1st of January, 1782, the following gentlemen were
present:
His Excellency General Washington, Gen Lin¬
coln, Gen. Steuben, Gen. Howe, Gen. Moultrie,
Gen. Knox, Gen. Hand, Gen. M'Intosh, His Ex¬
cellency M. Luzerne, M. Rendon, His Excellency
M. Hanson, His Excellency Wm. Moore, Mr. Muh¬
lenbergh, Col, French Tilghman, Col. Smith, Ma¬
jor Washington, Count Dillon, Count De la
Touche, M. Marbois, M. Otto, M. Holker, — 21
guests.
Geo. Campbell Esq., president, Thos, Fitzsim¬
mons V. P., Wm, West, Mathew Mease, John
Mease, John Mitchell, J. M. Nesbitt, John Nixon
Samuel Caldwell, Andrew Caldwell, James
Mease, Sharp Delaney, Esq. D. H. Conyngham,
George Henry, Blair M'Clenachan, Alexander Nes¬
bitt, John Donaldson, John Barclay, James Craw¬
ford, John Patton, James Caldwell, John Dunlap,
Hugh Shiell, George Hughes, M. M. O'Brien,
Jasper Moylan, Esq., Col. Ephraim Blaine, Col.
Charles Stewart, Col. Walter Stewart, Col. Francis
Johnston, Dr. John Cochran, Wm. Constable.
Henry Hill, Esq., Robert Morris, Esq., Samuel
Meredith, Esq. — 35 members.
This brilliant entertainment, it will be seen was
graced by the presence of the bravest and most
distinguished generals of the allied army of America
and France, — Generals Washington, Lincoln,
Howe, Moultrie, Knox, Hand, M'Intosh, and Bar¬
on Steuben, Colonels Washington, Smith, Tilgh¬
man, Count Dillon (a French officer of Irish de¬
scent, afterward much distinguished in the wars
of the French Revolution), and Count de la Touche.
The French and Spanish ministers, and their sec¬
retaries, etc., were also present. Several of the
First Troop (members of the Society), Colonels
Walter and Charles Steward, Colonels Blaine and
Johnston, with Robert Morris, Samuel Meredith,
and Henry Hill, honorary members.
The next regular meeting (the anniversary meet¬
ing of the Society), was held at George Evans', on
Monday the 18th March, 1782 — and was even more
brillant than the preceding one. General Wash¬
ington, being still in Philadelphia, was present,
with Generals Lincoln, Dickinson, Moultrie, and
Baron Steuben, Messrs Muhlenberg, Moore, and
Hanson, Captain Truxton, of the Navy, etc. Of
the honorary members, John Dickinson, Robert
Morris, Samuel Meredith, and Henry Hill, were
present. Commodore Barry is mentioned as be¬
yond sea, and Wayne, Butler, Irvine, and Cochran
at camp. Generals Hand and Knox, and Cap¬
tain Thomas Reed, were elected members.
But to pursue the history of the Society in fur¬
ther detail would be tedious, suffice it to say that
the usual conviviality. and elegant hospitality,
and the harmony and friendship which had ever
characterized the Society, continued until dis¬
solution. During the long presidency of J. M.
Nesbitt, from June 17, 1782, to March 17, 1796,
the meetings, especially the anniversaries, were
well attended.
(To be concluded in the next)
THE CATHOLIC BENEVOLENT LEGION
STATE OF NEW YORK, INSURANCE DEPARTMENT,
ALBANY December 15th 1886.
JOHN, D. CARROLL, ESQ., Supreme Serectary Oct¬
holic Benevolent Legion, 38 Court St. Brooklyn,
N. Y.
DEAR SIR — Enclosed I send you a copy of the
report of the Department Examiners, except doc¬
umentury exhibits attached, on the recent exam¬
ination made by them of your association.
I am disposed to depart in this instance from my
usual custom in cases of examinations, and con¬
gratulate you on the exceptionally excellent con¬
dition of your Association which this examination
shows — its good business methods and the uni¬
formly honorable conduct of its affairs. It is re¬
freshing as well as satisfactory to find an Associa¬
tion of the age of yonrs, and doing so large a
business, using substantially * all its recipts from
assessments of members without deduction in pay¬
ment of mortuary claims — paying its losses in full,
and during its entire existence, having only a sin¬
gle contested claim out of nearly two hundred
death losses,
Yours very respectfully,
R. A. MAXWELL, Superintendent.
New York Dec. 11 1886.
To the Honorable R. A. MAXWELL, Superintendent
of the Insurance Department, Albany, N. Y.
SIR :
Pursuant to instructions contained in Appoint¬
ment No. 512, the undersigned have made an ex¬
amination of the condition and affairs of The Su¬
preme Council of the Catholic Benevolent Legion,
