and verse to Dennie and his confreres.

JOSEPH HOPKINSON (1770-1842), whose authorship of "Hail Columbia" has
been already referred to, wrote the articles upon Shakespeare that
appeared in the _Port Folio_ between 1801 and 1806. His house at Fourth
and Chestnut Streets was a favorite meeting-place for Dennie and the
wits.

HORACE BINNEY (1780-1875), one of the most distinguished lawyers at a
time when a Philadelphia lawyer was a synonym for skill and cleverness,
wrote in moments, snatched from a busy and almost breathless profession,
some of the clearest and most careful sketches of classical literature,
as well as the shrewdest of political satires to be found in the early
volumes of the _Port Folio_.

HARRIET FENNO, daughter of John Ward Fenno, founder and editor of the
_United States Gazette_, signed her verses "Violetta."

MRS. ELIZABETH FERGUSON was the woman who carried to Washington the
letter written by Dr. Duche urging concessions to the British as the
only means of saving the country from spoliation and ruin. She was a
daughter of Dr. Thomas Graeme, a Scottish physician, and granddaughter
of Sir William Keith. Father and daughter lived for a time in the
Slate-Roof House, then in the Carpenter mansion at Sixth and Chestnut,
and finally at Graeme Hall in Montgomery County. Her life was written in
the _Port Folio_ of 1809 (Page 524). Letters from her appear in various
numbers of that magazine, always signed "Laura." Nathaniel Evans wooed
Miss Graeme as "Laura" in true Petrarchan fashion. The Philadelphia
Library possesses the MS. of a translation of Fenelon by Mrs. Ferguson.

She visited Europe in company with Dr. Richard Peters, of Philadelphia,
and everywhere her brilliant conversation and refined manners won her
recognition and applause in literary society. Laurence Sterne was
fascinated by her. "She took a seat upon the same stage with him at the
York races. While bets were making upon different horses, she selected a
small horse that was in the rear of the coursers as the subject of a
trifling wager. Upon being asked the reason for doing so, she said 'the
race was not always to the swift nor the battle to the strong.' Mr.
Sterne, who stood near to her, was struck with this reply, and turning
hastily toward her begged for the honor of her acquaintance. They soon
became sociable, and a good deal of pleasant conversation took place
between them to the great entertainment of the surrounding company"
(Knapp,