endeavor to discharge the duty of a citizen to his country, it has been my good fortune to render some service to the republic, the approbation of my fellow citizens, of which I am this day receiving so signal and so flattering a proof, is an ample reward for any sufferings which I may have endured in the service of my country. Be assured that I shall retain, as long as I live, a grateful and lively recollection of this distinguished and unexpected honor, and shall never cease to regard this, as one of the happiest and proudest days of my life."

Gen. Van Rensselaer then gave the following highly complimentary toast: "The City of Detroit- the headquarters of hospitality and patriotism." By Judge Sibley the vice president at the table - "The President of the United States." By Col. John E. Wool-"The People and the Army of the United States, united in the support of principles which saved America and will save the world." The following are a few among the many toasts:-By Maj. D. Baker, Com't of the United States forces at Detroit "The Heroes of '94, who first taught the savages the immutability of American valor." By Alderman T. Rowland—"Gen. Van Rensselaer our esteemed guest: On the banks of the Miami and the Heights of Queenston, his blood flowed with no stinted tide, may the gratitude of his country flow as freely." By Major Biddle-"The 13th Oct. 1812; its events conferred honor upon more than one of our guests." After Col. Wool had retired.

By Lieut. J. W. Webb "Col. John E. Wool, while the events of Queenston Heights have a place upon the page of history his gallantry will be remembered." By Judge Sibley - "The Governor of the State of New York, the patriot and the statesman, may his country duly appreciate his worth." After the dinner was over, Gen. Van Rensselaer, Col. Wool, and the Hon. A. Conkling took an affectionate leave of the company, who accompanied them on board the steam brig Superior with emotions which may be better conceived than expressed.

CHAPTER XX.

ERIE CANAL CELEBRATION.

The completion of the Erie canal and the celebration of the joyful event in New York city was a splendid exhibition in honor of the entireness, the perfect state of the longest canal in the world. The Erie canal, commenced July 4, 1817, was finished on October 26, 1825. It connects the great lakes of North America with the Atlantic Ocean, passing through the state of New York, a state which seventy years before was a wilderness, thinly peopled by a little more than 100,000 souls. The work has been completed in the short space of eight years, by this single state, and now as a sequence: The CANAL CELEBRATION took place on Friday November 4, 1825. For several days previous, strangers from every part of

the surrounding country had been crowding into the city to witness the interesting event and join in the anticipated festival.

On Wednesday (October 26), at ten o'clock, A.M., the waters of Lake Erie were admitted at Buffalo, and the first boat (Seneca Chief) from the lake commenced its voyage to New York, an object of very great interest. This joyful event was announced to the citizens of the state by the roar of cannon planted in a continued line along the banks of the canal and of the Hudson, at intervals of about eight miles, and extending from Buffalo to Sandy Hook, a distance of about 544 miles. The cannon were fired in succession, commencing at Buffalo at the moment of the entrance of the boat into the canal, and the intelligence thus communicated, reached this city (New York) precisely at twenty minutes past eleven o'clock, at which time a national salute was fired from the battery, and this acknowledgment that we had received the intelligence was then immediately returned by the same line of cannon to Buffalo as telegraphic movements. A sub-committee had been appointed, who had proceeded to Buffalo for the purpose of tendering and receiving congratulations in behalf of the common council of the city of New York on the completion of the grand Erie canal; and to invite a committee from each of the towns and villages on the route to unite with the citizens of New York in celebrating that happy event.

On Thursday, November 3d, at Albany, six steamboats dressed with the flags of different nations were put under the direction of a committee, at whose invitation the numerous guests of the corporation repaired on board, at about ten o'clock; among whom were, besides the committee of the west; the governor [De Witt Clinton] and lieutenant governor [James Tallmadge] of the state.

Generals Stephen, Solomon, and Jacob R. Van Rensselaer-Simeon De Witt, surveyor general; Colonel Schuyler; Judge Spencer, Judges Geddes and Conklin, together with a most respectable delegation from Albany, were among the invited guests. When the guests reached a point between Weehawken and state prison, the committee from New York met― hailed the leading boat of the flotilla, and inquired the place from where she was and her destination, to which the cheering answer was returned by the acting admiral she was "from Lake Erie and bound for Sandy Hook." The newly arrived friends were greeted at New York with the peal of bells, martial music and the roar of cannon. At nine o'clock A. M., Friday, November 4, 1825, all arrangements being completed, the grand aquatic procession commenced and proceeded down the bay. The fleet consisted of thirty-seven boats. The safety barges, Lady Clinton and Lady Van Rensselaer, attached to the steamboat Commerce, were superbly decorated and most tastefully festooned with evergreens and flowers, and were exclusively appropriated to and crowded with ladies elegantly attired, presented a most beautiful spectacle.

The barge with the ladies, among whom was Mrs. De Witt Clinton, proceeded to the ocean in the line of the fleet and returned in its order. The aquatic display transcended all anticipations, such a sight was never before beheld.

Twenty-nine steamboats so gorgeously dressed, with barges, ships, pilot boats, canal boats, conveying thousands of ladies and gentlemen, presented a scene which cannot be described, the movement of the whole flotilla appeared to move as by magic.

The steamboat Washington took the lead, on board of which the honorable the corporation, with the society of Cincinnati, the reverend clergy, of all denominations, the army and naval officers, all the consuls of foreign nations, the judges of all our courts, and very many other citizens and strangers were guests.

As the fleet passed the battery they were saluted by the military, the revenue cutter, and the castle on Governor's island.

As they proceeded, they were joined by the ship Hamlet which had previously been dressed for the occasion with the flags of all nations, and on board of which were the marine and nautical societies. As the fleet passed the narrows, they were saluted by Forts Lafayette and Tompkins. They then proceeded to the United States schooner Dolphin, moored within Sandy Hook at a point in the Atlantic south of Long Is land. Governor Clinton now went through the interesting ceremony of uniting the waters, by pouring that of Lake Erie into the Atlantic. Two barrels of Lake Erie water had been brought from Buffalo on the canalboat Seneca Chief, which was towed down with the fleet. Dr. Mitchill also performed some ceremonies and delivered an address. After which, the bugle then announced to the ladies that dinner was ready, and they found a sumptuous repast was prepared.

Two British packets, at anchor in port, saluted and cheered the line of steamboats as they passed for which our band in return played "God save the King."

The procession on land was formed of all the different societies, fire departments, hook and ladder companies, bands of musicians in dresses of scarlet and gold; the elegant engine of the eagle fire company, was mounted on a car carpeted and beautifully decorated with festoons, and drawn by four horses led by four colored grooms, dressed in Turkish costume; on the top of the engine was the American flag upon the engine-pipe as a flag staff. Standing upon the car was a fireman flanked on either side by a link boy. This was only one of an innumerable specimen of cars all handsomely decorated. There were also a great number of military officers, soldiers and Free Masons.

The festivities of the great day of consummation, of the connecting link between the Atlantic ocean and Lake Erie, were very appropriately closed by a most brilliant pyrotechnic display exhibited upon the roof of the City Hall, which building was illuminated with wax candles and lamps total 2, 306.

On Monday, November seventh, the festivities of New York were appropriately concluded by a Canal Celebration Ball, which was a very splendid affair, it was given in the Lafayette amphitheatre by the militia officers and citizens of New York.

Medals of very beautiful design and workmanship were given to all the invited guests of the corporation, both ladies and gentlemen. On one side is Pan and Neptune in loving embrace with the cornucopia, showing fruits of the land, the sea, and shore with light-house, etc., and the inscription "Union of Erie with the Atlantic."

The reverse showed the coat of arms of the state, with a section of the canal, with its locks and tunnel, the bay of New York, ship in full sail, and the city, with an inscription, "Erie canal commenced 4th July, 1817. Completed 26th October, 1825. Presented by the city of New York." There were fifty-one gold medals struck and sent to the different crowned heads of the world and eminent men; one was sent to Gen. La Fayette.

rocco cases.

There were also several hundreds of silver, but the largest number were of block tin or white metal. The boxes containing the silver medals were made from logs of cedar brought from an island of Lake Erie, in the vicinity of Buffalo. The gold medals were inclosed in elegant square red moThe citizens from Buffalo were furnished with a keg of water taken from the "briny deep" for the purpose of being mingled with the waters of Lake Erie. The keg was handsomely ornamented with the arms of the city of New York, 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." The manner in which the Seneca Chief was fitted up by the committee does them great credit; nor can we omit a more particular mention of two paintings which were executed in Buffalo and sent down on board. One was a view of Buffalo harbor, a section of Lake Erie, Buffalo creek and its junction with the canal, &c., the whole representing the scene exhibited at the moment of starting the Seneca Chief. The other is purely a classic emblematical production of the pencil and is an excellent design for such an occasion. The piece on the extreme left exhibits a frame of Hercules in a sitting posture leaning upon his favorite club, and resting from the severe labor just completed. The centre shows a section of the canal, with a lock, and in the foreground is a full length figure of Gov. DEWITT CLINTON clad, like a Roman, in the toga and sandals, with head uncovered and hair cut short. He is supposed to have just flung open the lock-gate, and with the right hand extended (the arm being bare) seems in the act of inviting Neptune, who appears upon the water, to pass through the lock and take possession of the watery regions which the canal has attached to his dominions. The God of the sea is upon the right of the piece, and stands erect in his chariot of shell, which is drawn by sea-horses, holding his trident, and is in the act of recoiling with his body as if confounded by the fact disclosed at the opening of the lock. Naiades are sporting around the sea horses, in the water, who, as well as the horses themselves, seem hesitating as if half afraid they were about to invade forbidden regions not their own.

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Besides the paintings, the boat carried two elegant kegs, each with an eagle upon it; above and below which, were the words, Water of Lake Erie.' These were filled from the lake and on the arrival at Sandy Hook were emptied into the ocean. The cedar logs used for the medal boxes were brought on this boat. But there was another and perhaps the most novel of all the boats, which started about two hours later, and overtook the party at Lockport. This was "Noah's ark" literally stored with creeping things; she had on board a bear, two eagles, two fawns with a great variety of other animals and birds, together with several fish, not forgetting two Indian boys, in the dress of their nation, all being products of the great West.

Mrs. Sol. Van Rensselaer to her Daughters.

My Dear Girls, New York Monday Eve, Nov. 7, 1825. Your dear Father and Sisters with the Doctor and his Wife [Dr. Jeremiah V. R.] together with Case [Cornelieus G. V. R.] have gone to the Canal Celebration Ball, given by the Officers and Citizens. Mary Bay, too was one of the party. I was proof against all persuasion or would not be so well employed as I am now, and surely not less gratified. If descriptive powers were mine, I should soon fill my paper with incidents of the Grand Canal Celebration; but it would be a hopeless task, so I refer

But

you to the news-papers-will only say, I think it almost impossible to convey an idea of such an impressive splendid scene. The representations are all very tame when recalling the actual existence of the complete view. I was present at the impressive ceremony of uniting the fresh water of Lake Erie with the briny, blue Atlantic Ocean; it was effected by the Governor who made a short address. Dr. Mitchill emptied small bottles filled with water from some rivers in Europe. Mr. Colden too, gave to the Mayor a written document, the history of the canal from its commencement. like the Cat that went to Holland, I saw so much, can say no more. We dined on board- it was a sumptuous entertainment, here we were met and welcomed by Dr. Jeremiah V. R. and on our return to the city accompanied him to his house, receiving a very kind reception from Charlotte. The brilliant fireworks in the evening at Vauxhall Garden and City Hall were greatly enjoyed. Last Saturday morning, your Papa, Elizabeth and Margaretta called at Mr. Jerard Beekmans and promised to make their house our temporary home after the return from Belville. At 3 oclock the same day we started from the Dr's, arriving at Belville just at candle-light and were most cordially received by every inmate of the family. Mr. John Van Rensselaer had been on the lookout for us the day before in New York, but in that multitudinous sea, it was a vain search. Angelica, Henrietta and our girls were in high glee, and General Van Cortland the Beau among all others. Sunday our party attended church.

The neighbors joined our friends and kindly urged us to prolong our stay, which we would gladly have done, to enjoy the amenities of their cheerful home, but for the attractions of the Canal Ball. Tomorrow we spend here at Dr. V. Rs; the day after afe engaged at Cousin Caty Beekmans, and how long, or shortly, you may expect our return, the one who writes next will tell. Your Aunt Maria promised if my dear old mother continued well to spend much of her time with you; it is a great comfort to know it can be so. Tell your Grandmama that the thirty-one years, since I was here, has made great and sad havoc among my acquaintances, and as her old friends are mine, I am anxious she should particularize, that I do not neglect them ascertain their names. Take good care of my little ones, be particularly careful of them, and of every thing in case of another illumination. I will leave this open for them to add a line on their return. May God bless and preserve you all my dear children is the fervent prayer of your affectionate Mother, A. VAN RENSSELAER.

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After Midnight. We are all home from the Ball except Cornelieus, and no accident of consequence, though Charlotte says she has some ribs cracked in the press. We met the world and his wife military heroes, noble statesmen, artificial and natural characters, the audacious, the clownish or vulgarized, the polished and refined, Mantua-makers, Milliners, Tailors and Tailoress's, stylish ladies and courtly gentlemen and a few seemed my ideal of perfection. But we were squeezed to death, are sleepy and heartily tired. The Dr. says "Uncle Solomon has had a good Supper and I have had none." We enjoy ourselves much in this great and splendid City. Good Night, ELIZABETH V. R. Miss Adeline Van Rensselaer, Albany, N. Y.

Grand Canal Ball.

"The celebration of the completion of the great western canal was closed on Monday evening, November 7th - by a fête, equalled only in magnificence by that given in honor of La Fayette. The ceiling of the