[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
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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 time (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).
