[Illustration: The "Charity School," started by Benj. Day and others in the latter part of the eighteenth century. (See page 194)] [Illustration: The Fire Department. (See page 144)] Fontaine Maury was chairman of this large gathering of the people and signed the resolutions adopted by the meeting. They were then sent to Hon. John Dawson, representative in Congress from this district, who laid them before the extra session of Congress for the consideration of that body. These resolutions, adopted on the 14th of May, 1798, setting forth the principles upon which their authors believed the Union was founded, and upon which the government should be administered, were the basis for the famous resolutions drawn by Mr. Madison and passed by the Virginia Legislature on the 2nd of December of the same year, which have since been the theme of Virginia Statesmen of that school when they would "revert to first principles." The address, which was presented to the meeting and voted down by such a large majority, was directed to the President of the United States, and was as follows: We, the subscribers, inhabitants of the town and corporation of Fredericksburg, in the State of Virginia, assembled at our town house, this 14th day of May, 1798, by a public notice, for the purpose of expressing our sense of the conduct of our government, in regard to its foreign relations, do communicate to you, as the sense of the subscribers, that your several attempts to restore that harmony between the United States and the French republic, which has been so unfortunately impaired, and to reinstate that good understanding between the two nations so desirous to the lovers of peace, have been wise and prudent, and entitle you to the highest evidence of our esteem; and that whatever may be the opinion of foreign nations, with respect to divisions among ourselves, should it be the misfortune of our country to be involved in a war with any nation, you will always find us ready with our lives and fortunes to support and defend the Constitution and laws of our country. After the address had been voted down as not reflecting the sentiments of a majority of the citizens of the town, not to be foiled in their desire to let the President know that they approved his policy, the friends of the administration determined to make three copies of the address and leave it at three places in town for the signatures of those who approved it. The three places named were Wm. Taylor's, George W. B. Spooner's and the Herald office. The following gentlemen signed the address: