USA > Maryland > Anne Arundel County > Annapolis > The history of Annapolis, the capital of Maryland: the state house, its various public buildings together with a full history and description of the United States Naval Academy from its origin to the present time > Part 4
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MARINE CORPS.
Within the past two years the Marine Station at the Naval Academy has been made a permanent post, which is now in successful operation. Every morning at 9 o'clock there is a dress parade and guard-mounting by the marines, and on Mondays they have a review and inspection at 10.30 A. M. There is also a daily drill in the forenoon on week days.
THE DAGUERREAN GALLERY
At the Naval Academy is in successful operation, and has been since its establishment in 1868, under the auspices of Vice- Admiral (now Admiral) Porter, then Superintendent of the Academy. It is a commodious brick building, and is located on the northeast margin of the Academy grounds, and in the rear of the Engineer's department and laboratory.
THE DEPARTMENT OF STEAM ENGINERY.
At the foot of the main avenue leading into the Academy grounds, near the sea wail, is a large building known as the department of Steam Enginery. It stands back from the or- dinary foot pavement, leaving room for an enclosure, which is handsomely ornamented with a fountain surmounted by a statue of Neptune. The entrance gate is composed of guns , captured from the British frigate " Confiance " during the last war with England, and the grounds otherwise ornamented with flower vases and the trophies of war. The front of the building bears a beautiful monogram in blue and gold. En- tering by the middle door, the stranger has presented before him a scene that is at once glittering and bewildering. He instinctively hesitates to step upon the spotless, highly polished floor. Massive wrought-iron columns, whose surfaces reflect a thousand images, support the broad ceiling. All the sur- roundings are glittering and bright in this apartment, called the Model Room. Upon a large pedestal in the centre of the room are erected two beautiful models of marine engines, one a
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working beam with paddle wheels attached, and the other what is known as an oscillating engine. These are complete, and can be put in operation by means of compressed air contained in a tank beneath the floor. At the extreme end of the room stands a perfect working model of the latest type of marine engine as applied to men-of-war, which is very curious and in- teresting, being provided with plate-glass coverings to the prin- cipal parts, through which its interior machinery may be seen in full operation. To the right and left, on all sides, the eye is dazzled by a maze of attractive objects, including delicate in- struments and a variety of curious specimens, altogether be- wildering to the stranger who is unacquainted with their uses. The surrounding walls too are enriched with peculiar paintings done in white upon a dull black ground, which makes them conspicuous from opposite sides of the broad room.
This apartment is also used for general lectures to an entire class when occasion calls for them. On either side are offices, one for the use of the Chief Engineer, and the other for assistant instructors. Passing through a doorway beyond the offices, we enter the main body of the building, a room about one hundred feet long and forty wide. A large open gallery sup- ported upon polished wrought-iron columns, and surrounded by a handsome brass rail, admits light from above, whilst from the centre of the ceiling overhead depends a chandelier. A neat iron floor extends throughout this vast room. Our bewilderment amidst the surroundings of the first room is now absorbed in astonishment at the principal object here presented before us. Upon a raised platform is erected the ponderous machinery of a ship-of-war, complete in all its details, from the boilers in which the steam is generated to the powerful propeller which imparts motion to the ship. This is no model, but the actual thing itself as originally constructed for practical use. Nothing can exceed the neatness of this beau- tiful piece of workmanship. Two boilers at the farther end of the room are used in generating steam for putting the en- gines in motion, whilst the other pair are made accessible, having the inner surfaces painted white and illuminated with
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gas, for purposes of instruction. On either side of this room are extensions containing machine and blacksmith shops, store- rooms, &c., also a room containing a handsome steam fire-en- gine for use in.case of fire within the Academy walls. As- cending by the wide stairway to the second floor, we get an ex- cellent view at a glance over all the glittering objects below. Upon this floor are four comfortable recitation-rooms, where the students recite daily when not receiving practical instruc- tion in the engine-room ; also a room for drawing, and a model shop, where models are made as required to illustrate what is not made clear in the text.
In this department Cadet midshipmen are taught not only the theoretical part of marine steam enginery but the actual manipulation in practice.
MEMORIAL TABLETS.
Inserted in the walls of the Chapel are handsome tablets bearing the following inscriptions :
Lieut. Commander ALEXANDER SLIDELL MACKENZIE, killed in battle with savages, Formosa, June 13, 1867, aged 26 years. Erected by the officers and men of the United States Asiatic Squadron.
This tablet was gotten up in Italy, and manufactured out of the best Italian white marble.
To the memory of Professor WILLIAM H. WILCOX, U. S. N., Head of the Department of Mathematics of the United States Naval Academy. Died August 20, 1870, aged 47 years.
A faithful and talented officer, whose death is regretted by all who knew him.
This tablet is erected by the officers and professors of the U. S. Naval Academy, Oct. 1870.
In memory of Lieut. JOHN G. TALBOT, U. S. Navy, PETER FRANCIS, Quartermaster, JOHN ANDREWS, Coxswain, JAMES MUIR, Captain of the Hold, all of the U. S. S. Saginaw, who were drowned Dec. 19, 1870, while attempting to land on the Island of Kauai, in the North Pacific Ocean, after a boat voyage of fifteen hundred miles, voluntarily undertaken in search of aid for their wrecked shipmates on Ocean Island.
To commemorate their adventurous voyage, in admiration of their hero- ism, and to keep alive the remembrance of their noble and generous devo-
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tion, this tablet is erected by their shipmates and by officers of the U. S. Navy.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
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Hon. Jeremiah Townley Chase.
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The Hon. Jeremiah Townley Chase was born in Baltimore Town, May 1748. He was from an early period of his life until nearly the close of it, a public man, in various important departments, in all of which he acquitted himself with hon- orable and distinguished reputation.
He took an early and decided part in the arduous, awful and long doubtful contest with Great Britain, in support of the violated rights of his country, which terminated in the inde- pendence of America and her emancipation from a foreign yoke. During the whole period of that awful conflict he ex- hibited the most active patriotic zeal, undeviating rectitude, and unshaken firmness. At the commencement of his public services he was appointed a member of the first committee of observation in Baltimore town, where he then resided, and was a private in one of the first military companies raised in Mary- land. In February 1775 he was elected by Baltimore county, of which the town was then a part, a member of the Convention of this State, and in 1770 a member of the convention which formed the constitution and government of this State, and was. one of that body which united in the Declaration of Inde- pendence on the part of Maryland.
After the formation of the Government he was elected, and continued to be a representative of Baltimore town until his removal to Annapolis in 1779, and was elected a member of the Executive Council, in which capacity he continued to serve to the end of the Revolutionary War; the active and important services of which Executive in procuring supplies of flour and cattle for the American army received the acknowledgments
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of General Washington. He was a member of Congress in 1783, when the father and saviour of his country closed his glorious career by the resignation of his commission. And in 1784 he was appointed one of the Executive Committee of that body to act in the recess of Congress. During all the awful scenes and alarming vicissitudes of the Revolutionary War he never deserted his post, nor shrunk from the faithful and vigi- lant discharge of his duty.
After the close of the war, and the treaty of peace with Britain which ratified and established the high destiny of America, he was elected a member of the Convention of Mary- land, which passed on the adoption of the Constitution and system of national government which was finally ratified.
In 1789 he was appointed a judge of the General Court of this State. On the abolition of that court he was appointed chief judge of the third judicial district, and chief judge of the Court of Appeals. In June 1824 he resigned his office of judge, for reasons assigned in his communication to the exec- utive. The dignity, firmness, ability, and impartiality of his conduct in his judicial capacity are too much matters of recent notoriety and general recollection to make any further detail necessary.
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APPENDIX.
In the year 1769 the General Assembly appropriated the sum of £7500 sterling to be applied to the building of the present State House on the site of the old State House, which was destroyed by fire in the year 1704. The foundation-stone was laid on the 28th day of March, 1772, by Governor Eden. On his striking the stone with a mallet, which was customary on such occasions, tradition informs us there was a severe clap of thunder, although a cloud was not to be seen, the day being clear and beautifully serene. In 1773 this building was covered with a copper-roof, and in 1775 this roof was blown off during the equinoctial gale, and the water is said to have risen three feet perpendicular above the common tide during the storm. The dome was not added to the main building until after the Revolution. The architect of this building was a Mr. Joseph Clarke. Mr. Thomas Dance, who executed the stucco and fresco work on the interior of the dome, fell from the scaffold just as he had finished the centre piece and was killed.
An historian, in speaking of the American theatre, admits that Annapolis has the honor "of having erected the first theatre, the first temple to the dramatic muse." Of this fact there can be no doubt, for as early as the year 1752 a theatre was built here, and in which was performed some of Shaks- peare's best plays. In the Maryland Gazette of June 18th, 1752, appears the following advertisement :
By permission of his Honor, Benjamin Fasker, Esquire [the then Presi- dent or Governor of the Province], at the new Theatre, in Annapolis, by the company of commedians from Virginie, on Monday next, being the 22d of this instant [June], will be performed " The Beggars' Opera ";
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likewise a farce called the "Lying Valet," to begin precisely at seven o'clock. Tickets to be had at the printing-office. Box 103., pit 78. 6d. No persons to be admitted behind the scenes.
It appears that this theatre was suspended for several years ; for on Saturday evening, the 18th of February, in the year 1769, we find that this theatre was again opened by the Ameri- can company of comedians with the tragedy of " Romeo and Juliet." This company appear to have been held in high es- timation by the citizens of Annapolis for their performances, especially of the tragedy of " Richard III."
Governor Eden succeeded Governor Sharpe immediately on his arrival, and continued to govern the affairs of the Province until 1776, when he returned to England, in consequence of the Revolution and the formation of the Provisional Govern- ment of Maryland, which was at this period established. Governor Eden is represented to have been a gentleman "easy of access, courteous to all, and fascinating by his accomplish- ments." When he had taken his departure his property was confiscated. In 1784 he returned to Annapolis to seek the restitution of his property. He died soon after his arrival, in the residence of the late Dennis Claude, now occupied by Mayor Fendall. He was buried under the pulpit of the Episcopal Church on the north side of Severn, within two or three miles of Annapolis. This church was many years ago burned down.
A correspondent writing a letter dated Annapolis, February 20, 1770, to a friend in England, says : "On Saturday last our little city appeared in all its splendor. It was the anni- versary of the Proprietary's birth. The Governor gave a grand entertainment on the occasion to a numerous party ; the company brought with them every disposition to render each other happy, and the festivity concluded with cards and dancing, which engaged the attention of their respective votaries until an early hour. I am persuaded there is not a town in England of the same size of Annapolis which can boast a greater number of fashionable and handsome women; and were I not satisfied to the contrary, I should suppose that the ma-
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-jority of our belles possessed every advantage of a long and familiar intercourse with the manners and habits of your great metropolis."
Annapolis has always been celebrated for the elegance and beauty of her female population, and the compliment paid to them in 1770 is equally true at the present time.
The building occupied by General Luthur Gittings, and op- posite the residence of Hon. George Wells, on Charles Street, is said to. be the most ancient house now standing in the city .. It was used as a printing-office of the Maryland Gazette at its establishment. The house in which the cashier of the Far- mers' National Bank resides was formerly a tavern, and kept by a Mr. William Reynolds. The small brick house on Doctor's Street, now in the occupancy of Judge Hunter, was a stocking manufactory ; it was regarded as a great curiosity, but did not succeed.
West Street, then called Cowpen Lane, had at this period, 1752, but three houses built on it. The most considerable one was a tavern; it was afterwards used as a circulating library. It was formerly the residence of Chancellor Johnson, and is now owned by Mr. Joseph Bellis, and is known as the National Hotel. The house in which the Misses Cowan live, and that formerly known as " Hunter's Tavern," were both erected about this time. The next house built on that street was the Hallam Theatre. It stood where Adams Express Company hold their office. The building now owned and occupied by Judge Mason was built by Governor Ogle as a family resi- dence; additions and improvements were made to it by his son.
In 1764 the " Old Ball-room " (on the site of which the New Assembly Rooms are erected) was built from the proceeds of a lottery drawn here for that especial purpose.
The winter of 1765 was one of uncommon severity. On the 5th of February a very merry set of gentlemen had a com- modions tent erected on the icc, between the town and Greens- bury's Point, where they had an elegant dinner, &e., and in
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the afternoon diverted themselves with dancing of reels on skates and divers other amusements.
St. John's College was opened and dedicated on the 11th of November, 1789, with much solemnity, in the presence of a numerous and respectable concourse of people.
The magnificent mansion now owned and occupied by Miss Hester A. Chase, on Maryland or the Naval Academy Avenue, is among the most ancient and prominent structures of our city. It was erected about the middle of the 17th century by the venerable Samuel Chase, one of the illustrious signers of the Declaration of Independence. The building immediately opposite, and now occupied by Judge Robinson, of the Court of Appeals, was built some years subsequently by a Mr. William Hammond.
The dwelling-house now occupied by Judge Chas. S. Welch, on Hanover Street, was built in the year 1763 by an English gentleman named Thomas A. Rutland. The Episcopal rectory on the same street, and also the house belonging to and occupied by Mrs. Tilton, on Maryland Avenue, with others now standing, were built in the same year by the same individual.
The residence of the late Dennis Claude, situated on an eminence in the southern part of the city, and now occupied by Major Fendall, was built by Dr. Scott of the British army in 1760; these figures are still to be seen cut on the fireplace. It was built after the style of English manor-houses, and is enclosed by a large brick wall, embracing three acres of ground.
The former residence of the late Hon. James Murray, on the outskirts of the city, and now in the occupancy of James R. Howison, Esq., was built in the year 1762 by Mr. William Hammond, an Englishman.
All these relics of antiquity were built of brick imported from England.
On the northeast margin of the State House Hill is mounted a great curiosity in the shape of an "old cannon " taken out of St. Mary's River in the year 1633, and presented to the
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State by the Rev. Joseph Carbury. This was one of the - cannon brought to Maryland by the first settlers under Lord Baltimore. This relic, as may be supposed, is very unlike in every particular those of the present day, and is a centre of attraction to strangers who visit the "ancient " city.
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