Newspaper Report 6 of Pennsylvania Convention Proceedings (December 13, 1787)

On the evening of the public rejoicing for the ratification of the Federal Constitution, a number of ship carpenters and sailors con-ducted a boat, on a wagon drawn by five horses, through the city, to the great amusement of many thousand spectators. On their way through the different streets, they frequently threw a sounding line, and cried out, "three and twenty fathoms, foul bottom"; and in other places, "six and forty fathoms, sound bottom-safe anchorage"; alluding to the numbers that composed the minority and majority of the late Convention of Pennsylvania, which ratified the Federal Constitution.