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Show FOURTH of JULY Celebration FOURTH OF JULY first was observed ob-served as a holiday with a "public levee at the home of the President" in 1786, three years after the close of the Revolution, it is revealed in papers brought to light by the historical research department de-partment of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, states a writer In the Washington Star. The first of these is a letter from Rufus King to Elbridge Gerry, both of whom were members of the Continental Con-tinental congress, then meeting In New York. It reads: "D'r Gerry, In consequence of an order of Congress a public levee was held from 12 to 3 ocl'k at the House of the President at which were present the members of Congress, Con-gress, Officers of the Great Departments, Depart-ments, Foreign Ministers, etc., etc. The Cincinnati are in the highest prosperity, they celebrate the Day with a splendor exceeding any tiling within the practice of Government Govern-ment of course draw the Huzzas and admiration of the Multitude. The Chapter of these Knights appointed a deputation of four members to present the anniversary congratulations congratula-tions to the President and members of Congress, they attended the Levee, and I was witness to the deg-redation deg-redation of Government in seeing them reed. etc. etc." That same day the New York Dally Dal-ly Advertizer printed an account of the celebration: "The morning was ushered In by the ringing of bells and a discharge of cannon. At 12 o'clock a grand procession (headed by city watchmen watch-men and closed by citizens) ... to the house of his excellency the Governor Gov-ernor and from thence to the house of his excellency the president of Congress, where the compliments of the day were first paid to his excellency ex-cellency by the Governor, and afterwards after-wards by his worship the mayor, in behalf of the citizens of New York. From whence they returned to Cor-re's Cor-re's tavern, where a cold collation was provided by the corporation. And the day was closed by the zinging zing-ing of bells and the firing of cannon." can-non." There follows an account of the meeting of the Cincinnati at Corre's tavern in commemoration of the day, at which suitable orations were delivered by Cols. Hamilton and Walker. One of the 13 toasts was, "May the powers of Congress be adequate to preserve the General Union." |
