paintings, statuary, &c., were profuse and selected with care, and the grounds laid out with exquisite taste.

Joseph Bonaparte's residence was perhaps the finest in America Thousands of people visited it from all parts of the country, and were always treated courteously. He was profuse with his money, and gave a great impetus to business in the little town. The Philadelphians, finding that he had apparently no ead of money, and that he used it to benefit business generally, regretted, when it was too late, that they had refused to let him locate among themselves; and, to make up for their mortification, would always taunt Jerseymen with having a king-with importing the King of Spain to rule over them; they were called Spaniards and foreigners on this account. But these taunts harmed no one, as the Jerseymen lost nothing by their allowing him to settle among them; and the term 'foreigner,' jokingly applied to Jerseymen, has come down to us long after its origin has been forgotten except by a few men of the past generation. Many years ago, during the reign of Louis Phillipe, we believe, both Bonaparte and Murat found they could safely return to Europe, so they sold out and returned."

I have only a few remarks to make in connection with a communication handed me by a member of this Society, Miss Sarah Smith Stafford, regarding the flag of our country used by Commodore Barry, in 1776, and also alluding to one that was used by Captain John Paul Jones, on board the Bon Homme Richard, which was rescued by her gallant father, James Bayard Stafford, and hoisted on Board the Serapis after she was captured in company with the Countess of Scarborough, as related in history. I present for your perusal Miss Stafford's state ments, and believe I can attest their credibility, as I have seen the flag used on board the Alliance by Captain Barry, and his original letter attesting the bravery and services of her father cn many trying occasions. She has many interesting relics besides this flag in her possession, and as a chronicler connected with some of the most distinguished men and brilliant achievements in the war of the Revolution, she is eminently entitled to our respect and confidence. Those who are curious to read the report of her ancestral celebrity and patriotic achievements, are re

ferred to its publication in the Proceedings of the Society in January, 1862.

Much conjecture still exists in relation to the origin and insignia of our star-bearing banner, which is now the glorious ensign of the independence and sovereignty of a free people. As a subject of pride and interest in our country's annals, its illustration in history is of importance. A new treatise upon its origin and emblematic devices, connected with records, songs and anecdotes concerning it, is now being prepared by Captain G. Henry Preble, an officer in the U. S. Service, at Charlestown, Mass., and I have been requested to give him what in formation I possess, regarding the flags used and preserved in New Jersey. As my first duty is to refer the subject to your consideration, I do so, with the following reflections.

You will notice that the flags alluded to in Miss Stafford's paper were used by Jones and Barry, before Congress issued the ordinances and laws respecting it. From some reports lately in circulation here, the first time that enactment of the Continental Congress was observed, was by Gen. Washington, in the critical and hurried stand he made, to repulse Cornwallis at Assunpink Bridge, on the 1st of January, 1777. Now at this conflict, which was the turning point in connection with what succeeded at Princeton, of the struggle for our Nation's independence, and the glorious consequences which have since followed, does not that remarkable baptism, with the regenerated hope and confidence there restored, seem proyidendial? Freedom's vital spark was there rekindled, and our own country and the civilized world are now illuminated with its beams.

As to the origin of the honored emblems of the flag of our Union, and who suggested them, much has been conjectured and more may still be, without arriving at the exact truth. My own opinion is in favor of the supposition that, in some way, the devices on the family arms of Washington were known at the beginning of the war, and out of respect to the commander-in-chief, the stars and stripes were used by some few patriotic individuals, whilst some of the states had other emblems used in their service. But eventually the United States, by an enactment of Congress, sanctioned their general's adoption, adding to the number of stars as new states might be admitted. But whence the original emblems on the shield of the Washington family came, how they were derived, and what they designated, are questionable problems.

They were probably of Roman origin. Virgil speaks of "return

ing to the stars," (redire ad ostra) implying a Home of Peace and Happiness, and we know the Romans worshipped the stars which bore the names of their gods.

They also used scourges producing stripes on the bodies of those they punished or terrified, to extort corfession from.

From these symbolic antecedents, then, we may (I do not say we did) derive the design of our star-bearing banner, the heaven sent ensign of our " Union, freedom, and independence," with the stripes to be used in their defence as a scourge to our enemies and a terror to evil-doers, and may God long allow it, with increasing glory, "to wave o'er the land of the free and home of the brave;" not for its spangles or tasseled drapery, but for the glorious free principles it upholds, and the rights of popular sovereignty, peace, good order, and independence which it protects. As the palladium of the Union let it be the shield of each and all the states, and while each has its own Coat of Arms to be rightfully cherished, let all rally round the flag, with every State a fixed star. E Pluribus Unum.

C. C. HAVEN.

THE FLAG OF THE "BON HOMME RICHARD."

FROM MISS SARAH SMITH STAFFORD.

The ladies of the "Old Swedes Church," of Philadelphia, net together, and assisted by John Brown, Esq., Secretary of the United States Marine Committee, formed the flag that was used on board the "Bon Homme Richard," in the naval engagement with the British Ships of War, the "Serapis " and "Countess of Scarborough," on the 23d of September, 1779.

The presentation of the Flag was made to Captain John Paul Jones, by Misses Mary and Sarah Austin,* of Philadelphia, in behalf of the patriotic ladies of the city.

When the "Bon Homme Richard" was sinking, in the naval combat with the "Serapis," that flag was rescued, and Captain Jones went on board the American Ship of War Alliance with it, and it was used on said ship until the war ceased.

"The ship that James B. Stafford was attached to, was captured by a British Man-of-War, and re-captured by Captain John Paul Jones, of Bon Homme Richard," just before the encounter with the

the

* Commodore Barry was twice married, his first wife was Mary Burns, his second wife was Miss Sarah Austin, one of the ladies herein mentioned.

Serapis" and "Scarborough," so in the space of ten days he was twice a prisoner of war, and volunteered in its service, where he received, in defending and securing the flag, a severe sabre cut on the left shoulder, which from unskillful treatment re-opened after a time, disabling both his arms, and occasioning him great suffering for years.”*

At the close of the War, the frigate Alliance was sold to Robert Morris, the great American financier, and the vessel was re-fitted for a merchantman for the East India trade.

The Secretary of the United States Marine Committee, wrote to Lieut. James Bayard Stafford, "that the Marine Committee with the advice of "Commodore John Barry had decided that they would present to him "the "Flag," a "Tower Musquet," and the "Medicine Chest," on ac"count of his risqueing his life, by nailing up the flag on board of the ""Bon Homme Richard," when it had been cut down by a British "officer when the ships were lashed together," and by so doing, had his shoulder blade cut in two.

Those precious relics have been and are still retained in the family of Lieutenant James Bayard Stafford, The "Flag," the " Musquet" and the "Medicine Chest," are now in my possession, and have been exhibited to C. C. Haven, Esq., of Trenton, N. J., and many others of my friends for years past. The "Flag" is much injured, but still it shows thirteen strips and twelve stars, the number of States then confederated, the Musquet has the word "Tower" engraven thereon, with a crown, and the letters G. R. (for George Rex.) The Musquet weighs ten pounds and a half.

SARAH SMITH STAFFORD,

Only daughter of Lieut. James B. Stafford.

*** In a subsequent communication MISS STAFFORD gives the following extracts from the Life of John Paul Jones, confirmatory of the facts stated in the foregoing paper.

C. C. HAVEN, Esq.,

WASHINGTON CITY, January 17th, 1872.

SIR-According to promise, I have looked over the life of Captain J. P. Jones.

The engagement took place on the 23d of September, 1779-the Bon Homme Richard engaged the Serapis-" both ships (the Bon Homme Richard and Serapis) were set on fire, the scene was dreadful beyond description."

*See report of Congress, 36th Congress, 1st Session

"Three of my under officers were timid, and the gunner run aft to strike the colors, when fortunately for me, a cannon ball had struck the flag staff and carried it away," (here I presume was the time when J. B. Stafford nailed it up, and in so doing was cut on the shoulder by a British officer, which prostrated him,) "the ships were lashed together," and Jones writes, if the Serapis had not been made fast to the Bon Homme Richard, she would have escaped. When the latter ship was sinking, Jones and his crew escaped to the Serapis, and he had command of her from the time the Richard sunk, until she was remasted and fitted for sea, at the Texel.

I observe that one of the Flags Captain Jones had, had no stars nor blue field, it consisted of thirteen stripes with a rattlesnake in a running position, somewhat similar to the flag of Virginia, that was used by that State during our revolutionary struggle.

FROM JAMES B. COLEMAN, M.D.

The enclosed telegram was received August 16th, 1858, in Trenton about four o'clock in the afternoon, by John H. Wright, Esq., on a House Telegraph Machine. This important message is the first that ever crossed the Atlantic. Mr. Wright was notified that the despatch would be sent. He substituted the silk strip in the place of the ordinary paper, wishing to preserve the first message in the most lasting form. It came and this is the result. Communication soon ceased by the first cable, and some years passed before another line was laid across the Atlantic, and telegraphing this great distance through the ocean became perfectly established.

Mr. Wright is one of the oldest operators in the country, having been twenty-two years in the service, and now the Active Agent at Trenton, of the Pacific and Atlantic Telegraph Company. In his behalf, and in his name, I present this reminder of the past, and the evidence of the progress of the Arts and Sciences in our day, to the New Jersey Historical Society for their benefit and safe keeping.

JAMES B. COLEMAN.

TRENTON, N. J.. Jan. 18th, 1872.

The message is printed on pink silk, and reads as follows;