July 4, 1790 in Philadelphia

Letter 768  To my Father and Mother*  Philadelphia  Arch Street  July 10 1790 — Saturday

 ...On Monday every restraint being taken off, the ebullations of hilarity obtained their utmost latitude — 

The bells were clamorous, the colors displayed, and the Cannon discharged — The military of every description was concluded by a display of fire works from the State House, and a superb illumination of Schuylkill gardens — 

The Proprietor of that Elysium, had advertised a variety of additional exhibitions, such as an artificial Island, a [Tavern] house, garden etc  to be represented in the evening, upon the River, splendidly illuminated — a number of heathen Deities rendered luminous, and distinguished by their insignia — Bridge dressed in shrubbery, and appropriate Colours for every state in the Union — The Arms of America and France entwined by Liberty — a rich display of Fire works, exhibited from the Lawn, in front of the Federal temple — 

Thirteen Boys, and an equal number of Girls, issuing from the Grove, habited as shepherds, and shepherdesses, and proceeding to the Federal Temple, chanting responsively, an Ode to Liberty, with a number of songs, Odes, and Choruses, in honour of the auspicious event, which the day commemorated.  

An advertisement of this kind, originated the highest expectations — It produced in the gardens a vast concourse of people, upwards of six thousand persons, Candidates for the pleasure of the scene — In an assembly so multifarious, characters of every description, you will not doubt, were collected — Urged by curiosity, my husband, supposing it would be unpleasant crossing the floating Bridge, took me in his Carriage to the middle of the ferry — never did I behold a scene more truly enchanting than Nature then presented, upon the Banks of the Schuylkill — 

The river was divinely serene, and the margin was ornamented by romantic, and beautifully variegated imagery — But crossing the stream we approached the scene of riot — Never did my Fancy in its most tumultuous, and capricious combinations, sketch a view so replete with wild disorder, and confused uproar — With much difficulty we obtained tickets of admission, and when we reached the grounds, the unlicensed Mirth, the prevalent anarchy, boisterous manifestations of unbridled joy, and rude elbowing of the promiscuous throng, was really distressing — 

In vain, in the midst of those sweetly rural, and enchanting recesses, where we had recently enjoyed so much, we sought the honeysuckle arbour, or embowering shade — upon every seat, and in every embosomed haunt, noisy frolick, with rude unmannered stare had taken its stand, and it was well if the thronged croud allowed us to keep our feet — All ranks of people were grouped together — 

The Orchestra, that beautiful seat of harmony, was taken by the Mob, and from the correct mind, every idea of enjoyment was of necessity banished — so great was the croud that to obtain the smallest refreshment, was out of the question, and our only remaining wish, was to gain a passage out of the gardens — To effect this was, however, impossible [—] 

Thick and lawless ranks lined the gates — all our addresses, and perseverance, proved abortive and I was nearly sinking upon the spot, when a friend taking compassion upon our sufferings, led us through a flight of rooms, into a subteraneous passage through which, winding our way, we once more found ourselves safely conducted into a spacious street — when instantly mounting our Carriage, and crossing the floating bridge at the risk of our lives, from the pressing horses, chaises, Coaches, and throngs of people, we very cheerfully left behind us illuminations, fire works, heathen Gods, and Goddesses etc etc most sincerely felicitating ourselves, upon our happy escape — 

By the depredations of the Mob, we are told the Paradise recently so beautiful, is greatly injured but time I hope will restore it to accustomed Order and neatness...

*To Winthrop Sargent and Judith Saunders Sargent, her parents

1775: What is a Tory? A Whig? JSM defends her Uncle

Letter 18    to Mr Murray    Gloucester    June 17th 1775 

You demand an account of our last week's peregrinations, and solicitous to evince my readiness to fulfil the duties of a punctual Correspondent, I hesitate not to meet your wishes — We commenced our little tour on this day, the morning was beautifully serene, and the earth was cloathed in its richest verdure — At a short distance from Gloucester, we were accosted by a person of a decent appearance.  You will conjecture his character, from the ensuing conversation — as our party consisted only of my sister, and myself, I suppose he felt authorized to address us very familiarly 

"Ladies your most obedient — You ha[v] it very pleasant" — Rather warm we think Sir — "Pray where are you from Ladies?" — From Gloucester Sir — "Pray are you driven from thence?"  No Sir, we drive — "Ah — Pray are not most of the people driven from that Town?" The females I believe have pretty generally left that place — "Pray is Mr S— gone, or doth he remain there?" — He remains there Sir — "Does he intend to remain there?" — I believe he does — "Perhaps he thinks himself safer than any other person" — I fancy not. — Why should he Sir? — "His principles you know."  What are they Sir? — "Why he is a Tory."  I believe it would be difficult to prove Mr S— a Tory, Sir.  True, he is a friend to peace and he is a Lover of Order — But, if an invariable attachment to the interests of America constitute a Man a Whig, then I believe that title belongs to Mr S— as much as to any of the Congressional Members. 

"Pray do you not suspect your self of being a Tory."  I am a Woman Sir and therefore do not pretend to constitute myself a judge of the contest so unhappily subsisting — but I may be allowed to assert a fact,  I sincerely rejoice when I hear of the prosperity, freedom, and welfare of my country — With regard to the terms Whig and Tory  I am free to own I do not understand them — I have heard they are of various signification — but I am not soli[ci]tous to define them — "If you were to talk so favourably  of Mr S— among Whigs, you would be called a Tory" — Possibly — but having the honour to be nearly allied to  Mr S— I have listened to him in the most confidential moments, and I admire his integrity, the universal benevolence of his character — Sir, Mr S— is a Citizen of the World, and it is only necessary to know him, and you will assuredly love, and honour him —  

Fortunately, the parting of the road, separated us from this disagreeable associate — We reached Byfield about the hour of dining, and were received by our relatives, who are sheltered there, with every possible mark of the most cordial affection — My Aunts are situated in the midst of a woody Vale, surrounded by tall oaks, and hills almost perpendicular — Early on friday morning we pursued our way to Salisbury, over a beautifully level road, and, if I held the pen of description, I would assay to sketch the fascinating views, which, as we passed along on either hand seized, and commanded our admiration —  

Nature is now in her prime, the vegetable, and flowering World, clad in gay variety, the air breathes perfume, and every object seems calculated to inspire the heart of the enraptured beholder, with unbounded gratitude.  At one time we were presented with a view of wide extensive Lawns skirted by venerable Woods, which seemed to reach the heavens — On either hand finely flourishing grain, in rich variety, with expressive oratory seemed to proclaim — "we will, when hoary Winter puts on all her horrors, afford you a wholesome, and plentiful repast when the storms are abroad, when the fields are white with snow, we will support, and invigorate, the sons and daughters of infant industry, and they shall experimentally know, how sweet is the bread of the Labourer["] — 

So variegated was the scene before us:  Hills, Vallies, woods, plains, rich meadows, flourishing fields, streams, rivulets, and all so enchantingly interspersed that our hearts could not but be attuned to pleasure[.] Thus, amid a thousand delightful sensations we reached the dwelling which affords a temporary residence to my Uncle D— where our reception corresponded with our most sanguine expectations — 

My Aunt is, you know, a truly amiable Woman, and their residence is uncommonly pleasant — The house is built upon an eminence, you would imagine, while seated at the parlour window, that you were upon a speck of earth in the midst of the sea, but the view from the back room exhibits a striking contrast — trees of different growth and the most refreshing verdure, thick woods interspersed as far as the eye can reach with little romantick dwellings, The prospect is sweetly rural, and, as I said beautifully contrasts the front view — There the extensive River is out spread before you — boats continually passing, and repassing, for the various purposes of business, and pleasure — Musick solemn, plaintive, or gay, according to the disposition of the passengers in the barge, is not unfrequently wafted upon the kindly breeze — 

Upon the whole, during this hostile period, the retreat of my Uncle is indeed a delightful refuge — The voice of war reaches it not, neither drums, nor fifes, nor instruments of death molest, or deform the calm serenity of the peaceful scene — 

Passing a few hours in this peaceful Elysium, we took leave of our friends, who greatly regretting our departure, justly observed, that the pain of parting, overbalanced the pleasure of meeting.  We returned to Byfield in the evening, and on saturday afternoon commenced our journey homeward, reaching Gloucester about sunset — The heat was intolerable — We called upon Mr S— and Lady, at Ipswitch, and were welcomed with marks of friendship. 

*Judith Sargent Stevens to John Murray

Notes:

In the beginning of the letter Judith is referring to the treatment of her Uncle Epes Sargent Jr., when he and his wife were strong-armed into leaving Gloucester for their Loyalist views.

Judith Sargent Murray published a strongly-worded essay about the incident in the February 1794 edition of the Massachusetts Magazine. (See Blog post on The Repository No. XVII.)

As Judith states in the first sentence of her essay, she wrote the piece many years earlier – probably in March of 1775, after a special meeting of Gloucester voters on March 6. 

Epes Sargent had been summoned before the town to “show that he was a harmless citizen” due to his loyalty to the “mother country.” Sargent refused to obey the summons. On March 6, the town cited Sargent and “forbade the inhabitants of Gloucester to hold further commerce with Epes Sargent in order to force him to leave the town through fear of starvation.

This measure had the desired effect, and he moved to Boston where the torrents of hatred and abuse which overwhelmed all who were of his political faith were heaped upon him. He decided to leave Massachusetts and prepared to sail for Halifax, but, on assembling his family for leave-taking the evening before his departure, his spirits were so depressed by the dread of this separation that he determined to return to Gloucester and endure what might await him.”

In 1775, Epes Sargent Jr. was 54. His wife Catherine Osborne Sargent was 53. Their children, two adult sons, were 27 (Epes Sargent III) and 25 (John Osborne Sargent).

Epes III was married, and he and his wife, Dorcas Babson Sargent, had lost their first child – Epes IV (b. Nov. 1772, d. May 1773). Their daughter Catherine was born on Apr. 26, 1774.

So in March of 1775, Epes Sargent Jr. had an infant grandchild and lots more family and Universalist friends he would have to leave behind. 

• Uncle D— is Peter Dolliver of Gloucester, who married Esther Goldthwaite Rogers, a cousin.

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Quotes from Epes Sargent of Gloucester and His Descendants, Emma Worcester Sargent arr., biographical notes by Charles Sprague Sargent (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1923).