an adequate appreciation of the exalted character, high ideals and genuine patriotism of the men who risked their all in the cause of independence.

It is not too much to say that, taken as a whole, their equal as a legislative body has been seen in no assemblage in England or America since their time. In the qualifications of education, moral character and business capacity they measured well above any similar body of their day or since.

Of the fifty-two signers, all but six were graduates of colonial or European colleges, or some one of the excellent academies of the times; or were the sons of wealthy men who had seen to their education at the hands of competent tutors - a custom that was much followed at that time.

In short, all but six were men who began life with broad, classical educations. Of the six who commenced their careers without such equipment, one was Benjamin Franklin, probably the best informed man in an all-round way of his own or any other age. Another, Roger Sherman, began his lifework as a shoemaker, but was enough of a scholar in later years to be made Treasurer of Yale College; two were surveyors. Another, Josiah Bartlett, became Chief Justice of his state. Eight of the signers were graduates of Harvard, five of Yale, three of William and Mary College, three of the College of Philadelphia, two of Princeton, one of the College of New Jersey, ten of Oxford, Cambridge and other English colleges, while sixteen were liberally educated at the smaller colleges and academies or at the hands of private tutors. With all our boasted educational facilities, where can a body of men be found, each so well equipped for the duties of a public career?

It was of such men that Lord Chatham in the British House of Lords said: "For myself I will affirm

that for strength of purpose, wisdom, sagacity and force in the face of trying circumstances no men or body of men in all history ever equaled that Continental Congress at Philadelphia."

These men were thoroughly imbued with the spirit of liberty, and independence, and with the ideas of the rights of man as embodied in the writings of the radical philosophers of England, France and Germany.

As late as in 1876 when Hon. John Lee Carroll was Governor of Maryland, well thumbed copies of the writings of Locke, Hobbs, Selden and Puffendorf in English, Latin and German, as well as many French books of the same character were to be found in the library at Doughoregan Manor where they had been used by the illustrious signers of the Declaration of Independence. They are probably all there to-day bearing the notations and comments of their first

owner.

In a home-made blank book of foolscap paper with blue pasteboard covers marked in his own handwriting, "Some things I want to remember." Mr. Carroll had made extracts from and references to many of these radical writers. Some comments in this book also referred in a half humorous way to a speech made in the British Parliament by a member, who said, "If we do not completely crush the Americans there is great danger of their coming over here and making slaves of us."

An effort to unearth this book failed and the present Mr. Charles Carroll of Carrollton thought it might be in Italy where some of the papers had been taken.

The comments and extracts showed that even then, Mr. Carroll did not entirely agree with Jefferson in some of his more radical views. Mr. Carroll thought the Declaration of Independence more expressive and impressive in the form that it was adopted than it

would have been with the sentences that Congress struck out. In this view he differed from Adams and Franklin whose opinion he freely quoted in this connection. This book showed above everything else the high esteem in which Mr. Carroll held the views of Washington on questions of peace as well as of war, and how closely the two had coöperated to the very end of President Washington's great career. One line in this book written after a series of events very depressing to the Americans read, "The despair of a brave people always turns to courage."

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The story is often told that Mr. Carroll wrote his name "Charles Carroll," when some one said, "I see several millions gone by confiscation," and another replied, Oh, there are several Charles Carrolls.' Mr. Carroll took his pen and added " of Carrollton." This story is not true. The signer wrote his name "Charles Carroll, of Carrollton," and his cousin Charles wrote his "Charles Carroll, barrister."

But Mr. Latrobe felt sure of the truth of the dialogue between Judge Chase and Dr. Franklin. When twenty-seven had finished signing, Judge Chase seriously remarked: "Having taken this step, we must hang together.”

Franklin laughingly replied: "If we don't do that, we will hang separately."

Mr. Latrobe first gave this story to the public as it came from Judge Chase himself.

CHAPTER XIV

WORK IN STATE AND NATIONAL LEGISLATIONDEATH OF FATHER AND WIFE

Charles Carroll of Carrollton with Samuel Chase and John Penn were sent by Congress to the army to look fully into its conditions.

On August 22, Mr. Carroll wrote to Governor Johnson telling him of the arrival of Howe's fleet with the army on board and thinks he intends to form an encampment on the peninsula. He asks if the Assembly should be convened. He thinks Howe will recruit his army from the disaffected of Delaware and the Eastern Shore, and move on Philadelphia. He also gives the Governor news of the army of the North.

The letter mentioned above was written from General Smallwood's headquarters.

Sept. 14th General Smallwood wrote Governor Johnson that he was setting out for Philadelphia to join General Washington's army and Mr. Carroll added a postscript saying he would remain with General Smallwood and then either return home or go into Congress.

On the 22d of September he wrote to General Washington, making some suggestions and said as Mr. Smith, one of the delegates, was going home, he would have to go on to Congress to keep the State represented.

On the 27th of September he writes General Washington from Lancaster, Pa., making some further suggestions, and regrets that two officers of the army were much addicted to liquor and asks what confidence can be reposed in such men. He makes some further suggestions and adds: "My zeal for our Country, and