150 



A VOYAGE TO 



as none of us were near enough to see and bear. It 

 was followed by tbe sbouts of the assembled multi- 

 tude^ and tremendous discharges of artillery, which I 

 tboaght would never cease. The regular troops, four 

 or five thousand, together with the disciplined militia 

 about the same number, had been drawn out, and at th^ 

 close of the ceremony, fired vollies of musquetry. At sua 

 down, the firing of cannon was renewed, first from the 

 different forts in succession, and then from the ships 

 of war; and as the sound was repeated by the echoei^ 

 of the mountains, a tremendous roaring continued even 

 for some time after the firing had ceased. It was m 

 sooner dark, than the illuminations, whose splendo] 

 eclipsed the starry vault above us, displayed them ? 

 selves along the whole front of the city, and alsd 

 from the different forts, from the detached build- 

 ings on the heights, and around the harbor. All th^ 

 vessels, except the Congress, which seemed to mourii 

 the event, were also illuminated in the most curious 

 and tasteful manner. Nothing could have a finer ef 

 feet than the glittering of so many lights, and theij 

 brilliant reflection upon the water. The ingenuity 

 displayed in the arrangement of the illuminations^ 

 was very great. By the aid of small glass lamps of 

 various colors, a great variety of curious and beauti- 

 ful figures were formed, representing triumphal arches, 

 temples, and a number of other objects. Columns 

 and pyramids, were erected for the purpose of ena- ^ 

 bling them to display curious festoons and other 

 figures. Large sums were said to have been expend- 

 ed by individuals, who vied with each other, in the 

 taste and splendor of their illuminations; and in par* 

 ticular, the owner of a country seat fronting the har- 



