CELEBRATION AT GROTON, JULY 4, 1S07. 1 73 



of Arrangements are given in the pamphlet and leave no doubt 

 on the subject. Besides, the brief description of the perform- 

 ance, as given by the Centinel, points clearly to the printed 

 address ; and furthermore a caustic Review, three columns in 

 length, which appears in that newspaper of August 29, ascribes 

 it to Mr. Dana. Mr. Stuart, a native of Peterborough, New 

 Hampshire, was then a law-student in the office of the Honor- 

 able Timothy Bigelow, of Groton, and afterward a member of 

 the Suffolk Bar; but perhaps, for some reason now unknown, 

 the address was read by him. John Stuart was a son of Charles 

 and Esther (Ferguson) Stuart, and was born on September 5, 

 1782. He graduated at Williams College in the Class of 1804, 

 and died in the year 1848. On June 29, 1809, Mr. Stuart was 

 married to Sarah Tayler, only daughter of James and Sarah 

 (Farwell) Brazer, of Groton. 



AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE. 



This joyful and glorious anniversary \Vas noticed by the Federal 

 Republicans of Groton, and the towns in its vicinity, with that "feast 

 of reason and flow of soul," which should ever be exhibited at the 

 recollection of the transactions of '76. The morning was welcomed 

 by the usual artillery discharge of seventeen guns. At 10, A. M. a 

 procession was formed, consisting of Clergymen, Civil and Military 

 Officers, the Preceptor of Groton Academy with his pupils, and a 

 numerous and respectable assembly of citizens of that and the towns 

 adjacent, among whom were with pleasure distinguished many patriots 

 and veterans, who had toiled to produce the event that occasioned the 

 festivity of the day. The procession was escorted to the Meeting- 

 House by the Concord Artillery, under Capt. [Thomas] Heald, and a 

 company of Infantry, under Capt. [Luther] Lawrence, of Groton. 

 The Throne of Grace was devoutly addressed by the Rev, Mr. [Daniel] 

 Chaplin, of Groton, and a number of admirable pieces of music 

 were performed, after which an Oration was pronounced by John 

 Stuart, A. B. a performance which displayed the talents of that 

 gentleman by the beauty of its style and diction, his patriotism by the 

 vigor and manliness of his sentiments, — He reviewed the deeds of 

 those sages and heroes who obtained our Independence, and drew 

 tears for the blood of those who fell in the contest ; — he told " the 



