| Citation |
NHG-P.766.033
27 Jun 1766:11, 12 (508)
Philadelphia, June 12. . . [48 lines] On Wednesday the 4th
instant, a large number of reputable inhabitants of
Philadelphia, the Northern Liberties, District of Southwark,
&c. in Pursuance of a previous agreement, met on the banks
of the River Schanskill, to celebrate the King's birth-day,
and to testify their gratitude to his majesty and the
parliament, for their condescension in repealing the
Stamp-Act.--At 9 o'clock in the morning, the Franklin Smack,
joined by the large New White Oak Barge, upwards of 50 feet
in length, came up the River, beautifully decorated with a
variety of colours flying, and anchored in the stream,
opposite the place of entertainment. About the same hour,
the Old White Oak Barge, upwards of 40 feet long, fixed in a
cradle on 4 wheels, in the same manner ornamented; a number
of respectable ship carpenters, with their oars, and several
musicians, with their instruments of musick, being seated
under a canopy, were drawn through the most public streets
in the city by 7 stately horses, the musick playing, several
salutes were fired from the Barge in sundry parts of the
city, and every demonstration of joy approved as the pass'd.
On their arrival at the place of entertainment, another
salute to the company there met was fired. At 2 o'clock 430
persons dined at tables, fixed in a beautiful grove, near
the river. After dinner all the favorite and patriotic
toasts were drank, and guns fired by the City Artillery, the
[2 illegible lines of text] following order, to a place
appointed near the city, for the discharging a number of
rockets. . . [12 lines describing the rocket firings]
The pleasantness of the day, the rurality of the prospect,
the loyalty, unanimity, and harmony of the company, together
with the decorum with which the whole was conducted,
contributing to make it, perhaps, the most agreeable
entertainment of any hitherto enjoyed by so large a number,
of this side of the ocean.
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