A progressive state is necessary to the happiness and perfection of man. Whatever attainments are already reached, attainments still higher should be pursued. Let us, therefore, strive with noble emulation. Let us suppose we have done nothing, while any thing yet remains to be done. Let us, with fervent zeal, press forward, and make unceasing advances in every thing that can support, improve, refine, or embellish society. To enter into particulars under each of these heads, and to dilate them according to their importance, would be improper at this time. A few remarks on the last of them, will be congenial with the entertainments of this auspicious day.

If we give the slightest attention to nature, we shall discover, that with utility, she is curious to blend ornament. Can we imitate a better pattern? Public exhibitions have been the favourite amusements of some of the wisest and most accomplished nations. Greece, in her most shining era, considered her games as far from being the least respectable among her public establishments. The shows of the circus evince that, on this subject, the sentiments of Greece were fortified by those of Rome.

Public processions may be so planned and executed as to join both the properties of nature's rule. They may instruct and improve, while they entertain and please. They may point out the elegance or usefulness of the sciences and the arts. They may preserve the memory, and engrave the importance of great political events. They may represent, with peculiar felicity and force, the operation and effects of great political truths. The picturesque and splendid decorations around me, furnish the most beautiful and most brilliant proofs, that these remarks are far from being imaginary.

The commencement of our government has been eminently glorious: let our progress in every excellence be proportionably great. It will-it must be so. What an enrapturing prospect opens on the United States! Placid Husbandry walks in front, attended by the venerable plough. Lowing herds adorn our valleys: bleating flocks spread over our hills: verdant meadows, enamelled pastures, yellow harvests, bending orchards, rise in rapid succession from east to west. Plenty, with her copious horn, sits easy smiling, and in conscious complacency, enjoys and presides over the scene. Commerce next advances in all her

splendid and embellished forms. The rivers, and lakes and seas, are crowded with ships. Their shores are covered with cities. The cities are filled with inhabitants. The arts, decked with elegance, yet with simplicity, appear in beautiful variety and well adjusted arrangement. Around them are diffused in rich abundance, the necessaries, the decencies, and the ornaments of life. With heart-felt contentment, industry beholds his honest labours flourishing and secure. Peace walks serene and unalarmed over all the unmolested regions-while Liberty, Virtue, and Religion, go hand in hand, harmoniously protecting, enlivening and exalting all! Happy country! may thy happiness be perpetual!

The several light companies were then drawn off by Captain Heysham to an eminence nearly opposite, where they fired a feu-de-joie of three rounds, also three volleys, followed by three cheers, to testify their satisfaction on this joyful occasion.

After the oration, the company went to dinner.

No spirits or wines of any kind were introduced. American porter, beer and cider were the only liquors. With these were drank the following toasts, announced by the trumpet, and answered by a discharge of artillery—a round of ten to each toast; and these were in like manner answered by a discharge from the ship Rising Sun, at her moorings.

1. The people of the United States.

2. Honour and immortality to the members of the late federal convention.

3. General Washington.

4. The king of France.

5. The United Netherlands.

6. The foreign powers in alliance with the United States. 7. The agriculture, manufactures, and commerce of the United States.

8. The heroes who have fallen in defence of our liberties. 9. May reason and not the sword, hereafter decide all national disputes.

10. The whole family of mankind.

It should not be omitted, that the several trades furnished the devices, mottos, machines, and decorations themselves, and at the expense of their respective companies-and that by much the greater part of the work exhibited on that day, was completed between Monday morning and the Thursday evening following.

The military in general, horse, artillery, and infantry were completely dressed and accoutred, according to ther uniforms of their respective corps, and made a most martial appearance; being distributed in various parts of the line, they gave a beautiful variety to the whole, and evinced that both soldiers and citizens united in favour of the new go

vernment.

The whole of this vast body was formed, and the entertainment of the day conducted with a regularity and decorum far beyond all reasonable expectation. The footways, the windows and roofs of the houses were crowded with spectators, exhibiting a spectacle truly magnificent and irresistibly animating. But what was more pleasing to the contemplative mind, universal love and harmony prevailed, and every countenance appeared to be the index of a heart glowing with urbanity and rational joy. This pleasing idea was much supported by a circumstance which probably never before occurred in such extent; namely, the clergy of almost every denomination united in charity and brotherly love-may they and their flocks so walk through life!

It is impossible to be precise in numbers on such an occasion; but averaging several opinions, there were about five thousand in the line of procession, and about seventeen thousand on Union Green. The green was entirely cleared by six o'clock in the evening, and the edifice, ship, and several machines being withdrawn, the citizens soberly retired to their respective homes. The weather was remarkably favourable for the season-cloudy without rain, and a brisk wind from the south during the whole day. At night the ship Rising Sun was handsomely illuminated in honour of this great festival.

Such is the account we have been enabled to give of this memorable exhibition-it is very probable there may be some omissions; if so, the committee can only assure their fellow citizens that no neglect or offence was intended to any individual or company whatever-the shortness of the time, and the complicated nature of the task they have undertaken, must be their apology.

OBSERVATIONS on the FEDERAL PROCESSION on the FOURTH of JULY, 1788, in the city of PHILADELPHIA; in a letter from a gentleman in this city to his friend in a neighbouring state.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

Herewith you will receive an account of our late procession in honour of the establishment of the Federal Government. It was drawn up by Judge Hopkinson, a gentleman to whose patriotism, ingenuity, and taste, our city is much indebted for the entertainment.

To this account I cannot help adding a few facts and remarks that occurred during the day, and which were of too minute or speculative a nature to be introduced in the general account published by order of the committee of arrangement.

The procession gave universal pleasure. Never upon any occasion during the late war did I see such deep-seated joy in every countenance. Foreigners speak of it in the highest terms, and many of them, who have seen the splendid processions of coronations in Europe, declare, that they all yield, in the effect of pleasure, to our hasty exhibition instituted in honour of our Federal Government.

The connexion of the great event of independencethe French alliance-the Peace-and name of General Washington, with the adoption of the constitution, was happily calculated to unite the most remarkable transports of the mind which were felt during the war, with the great event of the day, and to produce such a tide of joy as has seldom been felt in any age or country. Political joy is one of the strongest emotions of the human mind. Think then, my friend, from the objects of it which have been mentioned, how powerful must have been its action upon the mind on this occasion.

The first thing that struck me in viewing the procession, was, the occasion of it.

It was not to celebrate a victory obtained in blood over any part of our fellow-creatures-no city reduced to ashes -no army conquered by capitulation-no news of slaugh

tered thousands brought the citizens of Philadelphia together. It was to celebrate a triumph of knowledge over ignorance, of virtue over vice, and of liberty over slavery. It was to celebrate the birth of a free government, the objects of which were to lessen the number of widows and orphans, by preventing the effusion of human blood; to save human nature from the disgraces and desolations of war, and to establish and extend the blessings of peace throughout the continent of America.

The order of the procession was regular, and begat correspondent order in all classes of spectators. A solemn silence reigned both in the streets and at the windows of the houses. This must be ascribed to the sublimity of the sight, and the pleasure it excited in every mind; for sublime objects and intense pleasure never fail of producing silence!

Perhaps a greater number or a greater combination of passions never seized at the same time, upon every faculty of the soul. The patriot enjoyed a complete triumph, whether the objects of his patriotism were the security of liberty, the establishment of law, the protection of manufactures or the extension of science in his country. The benevolent man saw a precedent established for forming free governments in every part of the world. The man of humanity contemplated the end of the distresses of his fellow-citizens in the revival of commerce and agriculture. Even the selfish passions were not idle-The ambitious man beheld, with pleasure, the honours that were to be disposed of by the new government, and the man of wealth realized once more the safety of his bonds and rents, against the inroads of paper money and tender laws. Every person felt one of these passions; many more than one, and some all of them, during the procession. No wonder then that it gave so much and such delicate pleasure. But this was not all. The emblems afforded food for the understanding likewise. The history of the most important events of the war, and the inscriptions and devices upon many of the flags gave occasional employment for that noble power of the mind, and added much to the pleasure of the sight. Even the senses partook of the entertainment, for the variety of colours displayed in the various ornaments of the machines and flags, and in the dresses of the citizens, together with an excellent band of music, at once charmed the eyes and ears of the spectators, and thereby introduced