THIS boat arrived in our harbor, from the Atlantic, on Wednesday the twenty-third instant, after a pleasant and quick passage, laden with a rich cargo of merchandize from New York, having on board a goodly number of passengers, a healthy crew, and an elegant keg filled with water taken from the " briny deep," which was presented by the Corporation of New York to the citizens of this ^village, for the purpose of being mingled with the waters of Lake Erie. This keg was handsomely ornamented with the arms of the city, over which were the words, in letters of gold “Neptune’s Return to Pan,” and under the same, the words "New York, 4th NOV. 1825" Upon the other side of the keg were the words ”Water of the Atlantic."

     After  welcoming  the  return  of  the  boat,  with  the  Buffalo  Committee,  it  was  resolved  that  the ceremony  of  mingling  the  waters  should  take  place  on  Friday,  the  twenty-fifth  instant.  On  that day  a  large  and  respectable  number  of  ladies  and  gentlemen,  with  the  village  band  of  music, repaired  on  board  the  boat,  at  the  upper  dock,  and  were  towed  from  thence  through  the  basin into   the  Lake,   by  several   yawl  boats,  which  were  politely  furnished  by  the  masters  of  the  dif-

334                                                      APPENDIX.

ferent vessels then lying at the wharves. At ten o'clock, A. M, the ceremony of mingling the waters, under a salute from Captain Crary's artillery, was performed by Judge Wilkeson, who delivered the following address:­

”FELLOW-CITIZENS,

”The joyful event of the completion of the Erie Canal was a few days since announced to us, since which we have heard or witnessed the congratulations of a grateful people, and the honors which seem, by a simultaneous impulse, to have been awarded to the founders of this great work.

    "The delegation sent by you, in the first boat from the Lake, to receive and reciprocate the civilities upon the border` of the Canal and the Hudson, have performed the duties assigned to them, and from the Western Seas to the Atlantic, have had the gratification of beholding all the evidences of public gratitude, which could be elicited by one continual round of joy and festivity.

    "It would be ungrateful in the Committee, not to notice the hospitality which distinguished their reception at the great commercial emporium of our country. There, in pursuance of arrangements marked with peculiar splendor and magnificence, the waters of the Lake were mingled with those of the Ocean ; and we, in return, now unite those of the Ocean with the Lake.

     "This, fellow-citizens, closes the ceremonies which have grown out of an event hereafter to be held in grateful remembrance, and commemorated by annual demonstrations of gratitude, as one of the most important which has distinguished the history of mankind, and one from which not only the present, but generations yet unborn, even to the latest posterity, are to derive innumerable blessings."

     After which the boat was towed back to the dock, and the company dispersed, with all those feelings of gratification which the interesting ceremony was calculated to produce. In the evening, the gentlemen of the village assembled at the Eagle Tavern, and unanimously expressed the following sentiments:--

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APPENDIX.                                                              335

”RESOLVED,-- That the citizens of this Village do with unfeigned pleasure tender to the Corporation and citisens of New York, their sincere acknowledgments for their very polite and hospitable treatment to the Committee from this place, in the late celebration.

”RESOLVED,-- That the Corporation, Committees, and citizens of Albany, are entitled to the like thanks and acknowledgements, for their highly esteemed and patriotic conduct on the same o~oo.

”RESOLVED,-- That it is due to the different Committees and citizens of their respective villages on the whole line of the Canal, who were engaged in the late proud celebration, to acknowledge the exceeding kindness and hospitality to the Committee and guests on board the "Seneca Chief," while performing her first voyage from Lake Erie to the Atlantic."

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The opening of the Erie Canal drew praise from around the world and around the nation, with luminaries like former President Thomas Jefferson adding their congratulations. (Click the image to enlarge it)

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