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APPENDIX.
295
and wealth to our Republic--a pattern for our Sister
States to imitate--an exhibition of the moral force of a
free and enlightened people to the world." Mr. H., at
the conclusion of his Address,
paid
a
tribute to
"the
projectors who devised,
the statesmen who
assumed
the responsibility of
the
undertaking, at
the hazard of their reputation, the legislators who
granted the supplies, the commissioners who planned, the
engineers who laid out, and the men who have executed
this magnificent work;"--their memories are commended
to posterity. To this Address a suitable reply was made
by Oliver Forward, Esq. in behalf of the citizens of
Buffalo.
Every thing being prepared. the signal was given, and
the discharge of a thirty-two pounder from the brow of
the terrace announced that all
was in
readiness, and the boats under way! The Seneca Chief,
of Buffalo, led off in fine style, drawn by four grey
horses, fancifully caparisoned, and was followed by the
Superior, next to which came the Commodore Perry, a
freight boat; and the rear was brought up by the
Buffalo, of Erie. The whole moved from the dock under a
discharge of small arms from the Rifle Company, with
music from the band, and the loud and reiterated cheers
from the throng on the shore, which were returned by the
companies on board the various boats. The salute of
artillery was continued along from gun to gun, in rapid
succession, agreeably to previous arrangements; and, in
the short space of one hour and twenty minutes, the
joyful intelligence was proclaimed to our citizens.
The news having been
communicated in the same manner to Sandy Hook, and
notice of its reception returned to the City, the return
salute was commenced at Fort La Fayette, by a national
salute, at twenty-two minutes past eleven o'clock. After
the national salute from that fortress, at thirty
minutes past eleven o'clock, a repeating gun was fired
from Fort Richmond, and followed at Governor's Island
and the Battery, at thirty-one minutes past eleven
o'clock, A. M; and the sounds of our rejoicing were then
sent roaring and echoing along the mountains and among
the Highlands, back to Buffalo, where the answer was
received in about the same time occupied by the sound in
travelling to the Ocean. Meantime, at Buffalo, the
festivities proceeded. The boats having departed, the
procession returned to the Court House, where a finished
Address was delivered by Sheldon Smith, Esq., after
which an original Ode, written for the occasion, was
sung to the time of “Hail Columbia." A public dinner
succeeded; and the festivities of the day were closed by
a splendid Ball, at the Eagle Tavern, where beauty,
vieing conspicuously with elegance and wit, contributed
to the enlivening enjoyment of the scene. |
