Faneuil Hall 

 an Index 



INTRODUCTION 19 



sulieriug in the struggle for iudepeudence. A consider- 

 able number of those of direct Huguenot descent were 

 men of large influence whose ability was widely and 

 cheerfully recognized, and whose names were enshrined 

 in the grateful affections of the people. Of these refugees 

 as a whole body Hemy Cabot Lodge speaks as follows : 

 " I believe that, in proportion to their numbers, the 

 Huguenots produced and gave to the American Republic 

 more men of ability than any other race." 



This statement may, at first, be met with incredulity, 

 but a little investigation of the facts will soon convince 

 one of its correctness. Faneuil Hall, " cradle of liberty," 

 is an index to the part which Huguenots have played in 

 American life. Its four walls have heard the advocacy 

 of every great cause pertaining to the upbuilding of 

 America. Standing in Boston, the old city of the Amer- 

 ican Revolution, it is a constant rebuke to all that is low 

 and degrading in national life, and a constant inspira- 

 tion to every brilliant conception in the American mind 

 that makes for patriotism. The name of Faneuil 

 awakens many precious memories ; thoughts of Hugue- 

 not patriots crowd thick and fast. There was Paul 

 Revere, a leader of the Boston Tea Party and the hero of 

 the famous "midnight ride" ; Richard Dana, the peo- 

 ple's champion in their fight against the Stamp Act ; 

 James Bowdoiu, who proved himself a thorn in the flesh Eminent 

 of the royal governors ; General Francis Marion, " Swamp ^meruans 

 Fox" ; Gabriel Manigault, whose generosity saved the 

 colonial government from bankruptcy ; and a host of 

 others. A Huguenot was the first president of the 

 Colonial Congress, and out of the seven presidents of 

 that body no less than three were Huguenots — Henry 

 Laurens, John Jay, and Elias Boudinot. 



No name in American history has greater prominence 

 and honour than the name of John Jay, the first chief 

 justice of the nation, and president of the Continental 

 Congress, president of the American Bible Society, presi- 



