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ACCOUNT

OF THE

GRAND FEDERAL PROCESSION,

PHILADELPHIA, JULY 4, 1788.

TO WHICH IS ADDED

MR. WILSON'S ORATION.

On Friday, the fourth day of July, 1788, the citizens of Philadelphia celebrated the Declaration of Independence made by the thirteen United States of North America, on the fourth of July, 1776, and the establishment of the constitution, or frame of government, proposed by the late general convention, and now solemnly adopted and ratified by ten of those States.

The rising sun was saluted with a full peal from Christ Church steeple, and a discharge of cannon from the ship Rising Sun, commanded by Captain Philip Brown, anchored off Market Street, and superbly decorated with the flags of various nations. Ten vessels, in honour of the ten States of the Union, were dressed and arranged through the whole length of the harbour, each bearing a broad white flag at the masthead, inscribed with the names of the States respectively in broad gold letters in the following order :New Hampshire opposite to the Northern Liberties; Massachusetts to Vine St.; Connecticut to Race St.; New Jersey to Arch St.; Pennsylvania to Market St.; Delaware to Chestnut St.; Maryland to Walnut St.; Virginia to Spruce St.; South Carolina to Pine St.; and Georgia to South St. The ships at the wharves were also dressed on the occasion, and as a brisk wind prevailed through the

whole day, the flags and pendants were kept in full display, and exhibited a most pleasing and animating prospect.

According to orders issued the day before, the several parts, which were to compose the grand procession, began to assemble at eight o'clock in the morning, at the intersection of South and Third streets.

Nine gentlemen, distinguished by white plumes in their hats, and furnished with speaking trumpets, were superintendents of the procession, namely, General Mifflin, General Stewart, Colonel Proctor, Colonel Gurney, Colonel Will, Colonel Marsh, Major Moore, Major Lenox, and Mr. Peter Brown. The different companies of military, trades and professions had previously met at different places in the city of their own appointment, where they were separately formed by their officers and conductors, and marched in order with their respective flags, devices, and machines, to the place of general rendezvous. As these companies arrived in succession, the superintendents disposed of them in the neighbouring streets in such manner as that they might easily fall into the stations they were to occupy in forming the general procession, as they should be successively called upon. By this means, the most perfect order and regularity were effectually preserved.

After a strict review of the streets of the city, it had been determined that the line of march should be as follows: to commence at the intersection of South and Third Streets, thence along Third to Callowhill Street; thence up Callowhill to Fourth Street; thence along Fourth to Market Street, and thence to Union Green, in front of Bush Hill, William Hamilton, Esq., having kindly offered the spacious lawn before his house at Bush Hill for the purposes of the day. The street commissioners had, the evening before, gone through the line of march, and directed the pavements to be swept, the trees to be lopped, and all obstacles to be removed.

About half after nine o'clock, the grand procession began to move; of which the following is as correct a detail as could be procured:

No. 1.

Twelve axe-men, dressed in white frocks, with black girdles round their waists, and ornamented caps, headed by Major Philip Pancake.

No. 2.

The first city troop of light dragoons, commanded by Captain Miles.

No. 3.

INDEPENDENCE.

John Nixon, Esq., on horseback, bearing the staff and cap of liberty; under the cap, a silk flag with the words, "fourth of July, 1776," in large gold letters.

No. 4.

Four pieces of artillery, with a detachment from the train commanded by captains Morrel and Fisher.

No. 5.

FRENCH ALLIANCE.

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Thomas Fitzsimmons, Esq., on horseback, carrying a flag of white silk, having three fleurs-de-lys and thirteen stars in union over the words "sixth of February, 1778,' in gold letters. The horse he rode belonged formerly to Count Rochambeau.

No. 6.

Corps of light infantry, commanded by Captain A. G. Claypoole, with the standard of the first regiment.

No. 7.

DEFINITIVE TREATY OF PEACE.

George Clymer, Esq., on horseback, carrying a staff adorned with olive and laurel. The words "third of September, 1783," in gold letters pendent from the staff.

No. 8.

Colonel John Shee, on horseback, carrying a flag, blue field, with a laurel and an olive wreath over the words "Washington, the friend of his country," in silver letters; the staff adorned with olive and laurel.

No. 9.

The city troop of light dragoons, Captain William Bingham, commanded by Major W. Jackson.

No. 10.

Richard Bache, Esq., on horseback, as a herald, attended by a trumpet, proclaiming a new era; the words "new era," in gold letters, pendent from the herald's staff, and the following lines:

"Peace o'er our land her olive wand extends,

And white-rob'd innocence from heaven descends;
The crimes and frauds of anarchy shall fail,
Returning justice lifts again her scale."

No. 11.

CONVENTION OF THE STATES.

The Hon. Peter Muhlenberg, Esq., on horseback, with a blue flag; the words "seventeenth of September, 1787," in silver letters.

No. 12.

A band of music, performing a grand march, composed by Mr. Alexander Reinagle for the occasion.

No. 13.

THE CONSTITUTION.

The Hon Chief Justice M'Kean, the Hon. Judge Rush, and the Hon. Judge Atlee (in their robes of office,) in a lofty, ornamental car, in the form of a large eagle, drawn by six horses, bearing the constitution, framed, and fixed on a staff, crowned with the cap of liberty. The words, "the people," in gold letters, on the staff, immediately under the constitution. The car was made by George and William Hunter; the carriage painted light blue, twenty feet long, hind wheels eight feet, and the front six feet and a half in diameter; the body, fixed on springs, was thirteen feet high, in the shape of a bald eagle; from head to tail, thirteen feet long; the breast emblazoned with thirteen silver stars, in a sky-blue field, and underneath, thirteen stripes, alternately red and white. The dexter talon embraced an olive branch, the sinister grasped thirteen ar

rows.

No. 14.

Corps of light infantry, commanded by captain Heysham, with the standard of the third regiment.

No. 15.

Ten gentlemen, representing the states that have ratified the federal constitution; each bearing a flag with the

name of the state he represented, in gold letters, and walking arm in arm, emblematical of the Union, namely, No. 1. Duncan Ingraham, Esq., NEW HAMPSHIRE; 2. Jonathan Williams, Esq., MASSACHUSETTS; 3. Jared Ingersoll, Esq., CONNECTICUT; 4. Samuel Stockton, Esq., NEW JERSEY; 5. James Wilson, Esq., PENNSYLVANIA; 6. Col. Thomas Robinson, DELAWARE; 7. Hon. J. E. Howard, Esq., MARYLAND; 8. Col. Febiger, VIRGINIA; 9. W. Ward Burrows, Esq., SOUTH CAROLINA; 10. George Meade, Esq., GEORGIA.

No. 16.

Colonel William Williams, on horse-back, in armour, bearing on his left arm a shield, emblazoned with the arms. of the United States.

No. 17.

The Montgomery troop of light-horse, commanded by Captain James Morris.

No. 18.

The consuls and representatives of foreign States in alliance with America, in an ornamented car, drawn by four horses. Captain Thomas Bell, with the flag of the United States of America. Barbe de Marbois, Esquire, vice consul of France. J. H. C. Heineken, Esquire, consul of the United Netherlands. Charles Hellstedt, Esquire, consulgeneral of Sweden. Charles W. Lecke, Esquire, carrying the flag of Prussia. Thomas Barclay, Esquire, carrying the flag of Morocco.

No. 19.

The Honourable Francis Hopkinson, Esquire, judge of admiralty, wearing in his hat a gold anchor pendent on a green riband, preceded by the register's clerk, carrying a green bag filled with rolls of parchment, and having the word admiralty in large letters on the front of the bag. James Read, Esquire, register, wearing a silver pen in his hat. Clement Biddle, Esquire, marshal, carrying a silver oar, adorned with green ribands.

No. 20.

The wardens of the port, and tonnage officer.

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