51 



living family, excepting Messrs. William Hall, John 

 Donnaldson, Robert Wharton and John Graff, who have 

 been preserved in health to ages, beyond the venerable 

 period of three score and ten, and neither of them are at 

 present members. Each in his day had his full cup of en- 

 joyment, at the Colony and State in Schuylkill. A new 

 generation has succeeded, and they in the natural order 

 of events, must give way in the sobriety of ripened years, 

 or satiety of youthful amusements, to their active succes- 

 sors to the oar and angling rod. 



On the first day of May 1794, according to established 

 usage, the gay month of Flora was greeted by an agreea 

 ble assemblage at the long forsaken Castle. 



In the language of the facetious Secretary, Col. Frank 

 Johnston. 



" At half past three o'clock, the company sat down to 

 a delicious and plentiful entertainment, accompanied by 

 a numerous train of convivial and pleasing guests, of 

 whom it may be truly said, that the edge of wit was sharp- 

 ened, the voice of melody was softened, and hilarity and 

 good humour promoted through every rank." 



On the 4th July 1794, a numerous and respectable com- 

 pany of members and their friends, celebrated the day at 

 the Castle. The first anniversary meeting there, for 

 aught that appears by the records, for several years. It 

 is probable however, the fact is otherwise, and that the 

 omission was the Secretary's, and not the members, to 

 pay the accustomed honors to the memorable birth day of 

 Independence. 



