ALBANY, 
273 
quarter of a mile from the town, we saw sixty 
men drawn up, partly militia, partly volun¬ 
teers, partly infantry, partly cavalry ; the latter 
were clothed in scarlet, and mounted on horses 
of various descriptions. About three hundred 
spectators attended. A few rounds were tired 
from a three-pounder, and some volleys of 
small qtrms. The tiring was finished before 
one hour was expired, and then the troops re¬ 
turned to town, a party of militia officers in 
uniform marching in the rear, under the shade 
of umbrellas, as the day was excessively hot* * 
Having reached town, the whole body imme¬ 
diately dispersed. The volunteers and militia 
officers afterwards dined together ; and so end¬ 
ed the rejoicings of the day; no public ball, no 
general entertainment was there of any de¬ 
scription. A day still fresh in the memory of 
every American, and which appears so glorious 
in the annals of their country, would, it might 
be expected, have called forth more brilliant 
and more general rejoicings ; but the down¬ 
right phlegmatic people in this neighbourhood,, 
intent Upon making money, and enjoying the 
solid advantages of the revolution, are but little 
disposed to waste their time in what they con¬ 
sider idle demonstrations of joy. 
ft 
I 
