﻿666
AN GAODHAL.
SOCIETY OF THE FRIENDLY SONS
OF ST PATRICK.
(Continued)
There were five inspectors of the bank, of whom
three, Robert Morris, J. M. Nesbitt, and Blair
M'Clenachan, were members of the St. Patrick.
So was the first of the two directors, John Nixon
and the factor, Tench Francis. All these agreed
to serve without compensation. The several
bonds were executed to the two directors, and
were conditioned for the payment of an amount
not exceeding the sum subscribed by each obligor,
for furnishing a supply of provisions for the arm¬
ies of the United States. The bank opened July
17, 1780. The tenth and last installment was
called in on the 15th of November 1780. The
bank continued in operation till the establishment
of the Bank of North America, Jan. 7, 1782, which
appears to have sprung from it and to have mon¬
polized the glory which belonged to the old Bank
of Pennsylvania, and having rendered essential
service to the country during the revolution.
At length the clouds which had hung eavily
over the liberties of America began to be dissipat¬
ed by the glorious sunburst of victory, and the
surrender of Cornwallis extinguished the last hope
of the British in America. Once more the conviv¬
ial reunions of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick re¬
vived, and in the winter of 1781-2, commenced a
series of brillant entertainments, continued
for several years, which fairly entitle this to the
appellation of the Golden Age of the society.
General Washington had now become acquaint¬
ed with the talents, courage and patriotic devotion
of most of the members of the society; not, to be
sure, at the festive board, but on many a hard
fought field, and by the substantial evidence of
pounds, shillings and pence. The steady courage
of Moylan, Irvine, and Cadwalader, the impetuous
boldness of Wayne, the fiery valor of Thompson,
Stewart, and Butler, the efficient services of the
First Troop were fully appreciated by General
Washington. These had all been among his dear¬
est companions-in-arms — and a fellowship in dan¬
ger, hardship and victory already united them to
him by the strongest ties of affection. It was very
natural, therefore, that when these Sons of St.
Patrick met, during the short intervals of war, and
the close of each campaign, they should desire
that he who had been their commander, their com¬
panion and their friend, amid other scenes, should
unite in their festive enjoyments, to smooth the
brow so long furrowed with care, but now crowned
with laurels.
Accordingly at a meeting of the president of the
society and his council on the 7th December 1781,
General Washington, being then in Philadelphia
by the request of Congress, the secretary was di¬
rected to invite his Excellency and suite, in the
name of the society, to dinner, on the 17th Decem¬
ber, at the City Tavern, "but that this deviation
from the rules of the society should not be deemed
precedent hereafter." General Washington was
prevented by other engagements from accepting
this invitation. On the 17th, however, a numerous
meeting of the society, was held and dined at
Evans' Tavern — Generals Hand and Knox were
proposed as members, and afterward duly elected.
On the same evening, His Excellency General
Washington was unanimously adopted a member
of the society. It was ordered that the president
vice president and secretary wait on his Excellen¬
cy with a suitable address on the occasion, and pre¬
sent him with a medal in the name of the society.
Also, that they invite his Excellency and his suite
to an entertainment to be prepared and given at
the City Tavern, on Tuesday, the first of January
(1782), to which the secretary is requested to invite
the President of the State, and of Congress, the
Minister of France, M. Marbois, M. Otto, the Chief-
Justice, the Speaker of the House of Assembly,
Mr. Francis Rendon, M. Holker, Count de la
Touche, and Count Dillon, with all the general
officers that may be in the city."
In pursuance of this order, the president and
secretary waited on Generel Washington with the
following address;
"May it please your Excellency:
"The Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick
in this city, ambitious to testify, with all possible
respect, the high sense they entertain of your Ex¬
cellency's public and private virtues, have taken
the liberty to adopt your Excellency as a mem¬
ber.
"Although they have not the clothing of any
civil establishment, nor the splendor of temporal
power to dignify their election, yet they flatter
themselves that as it is the genuine offspring of
hearts filled with the warmest attachments, that
this mark of their esteem and regard will not be
wholly unacceptable to your Excellency.
"Impressed with these pleasing hopes, they have
directed me to present to your Excellency, a gold
medal, the ensign of this fraternal society, which,
that you may be pleased to accept, and long live to
wear, is the warmest wish of
"Your Excellency's most humble and respectful
servant,
"By order and in behalf of the Society.
"GEO. CAMPBELL, President,
"To His Excellency General Washington, Com¬
mandar-in-Chief of the Allied Army."
To which His Excellency was pleased to give the
following answer, namely;
"SIR;
accept with singular pleasure the Ensign of
so worthy a fraternity as that of the Sons of St.
