wing feasts, with what convivial communings, passed those days and
nights of preparation for the difficult business they were about to
take in hand.

For example, on Monday, the 29th of August, when the four members of
the Massachusetts delegation had arrived within five miles of the
city, they were met by an escort of gentlemen, partly residents of
Philadelphia, and partly delegates from other colonies, who had come
out in carriages to greet them.

"We were introduced," writes John Adams, "to all these
gentlemen, and most cordially welcomed to Philadelphia. We
then rode into town, and dirty, dusty, and fatigued as we
were, we could not resist the importunity to go to the
tavern, the most genteel one in America. There we were
introduced to a number of other gentlemen of the city, ...
and to Mr. Lynch and Mr. Gadsden, of South Carolina. Here we
had a fresh welcome to the city of Philadelphia; and after
some time spent in conversation, a curtain was drawn, and in
the other half of the chamber a supper appeared as elegant
as ever was laid upon a table. About eleven o'clock we
retired.

"30, Tuesday. Walked a little about town; visited the
market, the State House, the Carpenters' Hall, where the
Congress is to sit, etc.; then called at Mr. Mifflin's, a
grand, spacious, and elegant house. Here we had much
conversation with Mr. Charles Thomson, who is ... the Sam
Adams of Philadelphia, the life of the cause of liberty,
they say. A Friend, Collins, came to see us, and invited us
to dine on Thursday. We returned to our lodgings, and Mr.
Lynch, Mr. Gadsden, Mr. Middleton, and young Mr. Rutledge
came to visit us.

"31, Wednesday. Breakfasted at Mr. Bayard's, of
Philadelphia, with Mr. Sprout, a Presbyterian minister. Made
a visit to Governor Ward of Rhode Island, at his lodgings.
There we were introduced to several gentlemen. Mr.
Dickinson, the Farmer of Pennsylvania, came in his coach
with four beautiful horses to Mr. Ward's lodgings, to see
us.... We dined with Mr. Lynch, his lady and daughter, at
their lodgings, ... and a very agreeable dinner and
afternoon we had, notwithstanding the violent heat. We were
all vastly pleased with Mr. Lynch. He is a solid, firm,
judicious man.

"September 1, Thursday. This day we breakfasted at Mr.
Mifflin's. Mr.