EVENTS OF THE CELEBRATION. THE following brief summary of the proceedings of the day is embodied in this volume as a permanent record of the manner in which the celebration was conducted. The day opened as usual with the firing of salutes and the ringing of bells, and the first formal event under the auspices of the City Council, was the MORNING CONCERT. This occurred on the Common, and was listened to by many thousands of people with the greatest pleasure. Under the direction of Mr. B. A. Burditt, the Brigade, Germania, Hall's, and Flagg's Bands, as one grand musical association, performed the national airs of America and of several of the nations of Europe, the chords of the opening and concluding pieces being emphasized by guns of the Light Artillery (Cobb's Battery). The effect was grand and exalting in the extreme, and as in previous years, the "Morning Concert" was gratifyingly successful. At its conclusion, the vast and constantly augmenting assemblage of people moved to the parade ground of the Common to witness the MILITARY REVIEW. Before engaging in the escort of the city procession, the three military organizations selected to perform that duty, came upon the Common to be reviewed by the Mayor and City Council. They formed as a regimental line in the following order: The Fourth Battalion of Rifles, (4 companies,) Capt. N. W. Batchelder, commanding, on the right; the Second Battalion of Infantry, (3 companies,) Capt. C. O. Rogers, commanding, in the centre; and the Fourth Battalion of Infantry, (2 companies,) Maj. T. G. Stevenson, commanding, on the left;— the whole being under the command of Major Samuel H. Leonard, of the Rifle Battalion. All of these commands being newly uniformed, and all having been recently in garrison for drill, they presented at once a more attractive and more soldierly appearance than any resident military body which had been on parade in the city for many years. The review was in every respect most satisfactory, and immediately upon its conclusion, the Battalions marched to the City Hall to take up the escort for the CITY PROCESSION. This was composed of the military escort, the City Council, and the members of its subordinate departments, the invited guests of the day, citizens generally, and the Fire Department of the city. The latter paraded the Steam Fire Engines, Hose, and Hook and Ladder carriages, and formed a prominent feature of the procession. The route of march was through Washington and Essex Streets, Harrison Avenue, Dover Street, Shawmut Avenue, Chester Park, Tremont, Boylston, Charles, Beacon, Park, and Winter Streets, to the Music Hall. At the Hall occurred the ORATION AND SERVICES. The Oration, by Mr. PARSONS, was received with great favor, and the other participants in the services performed their appropriate parts of the duties of the occasion with acceptance. The Prayer was by Rev. Mr. Hepworth, and the Reading of the Declaration of Independence by Mr. H. G. Sturtevant. Under Mr. Charles Butler's direction the choir of school children, who sang the hymns and patriotic odes prepared for the occasion, achieved unusual success, and were cheered with unbounded applause. THE CITY REGATTA Took place on Charles River, at ten o'clock in the forenoon. It was witnessed by immense crowds of people, and as it passed off without accident, and was in other respects equal to any contest of the kind ever witnessed in these waters, the interest manifested in this branch of the celebration by the City Council was fully rewarded. The prizes (amounting in all to $680) were awarded as follows: For Wherries-1st, To Joshua Ward, of Newburgh; 2d, to Thomas Doyle, of Boston. Double Scull-boats-1st, To J. D. Parker, Jr., and W. H. Carpenter, of Boston; 2d, to J. Biglin, and Joshua Ward, of Newburgh, N. Y. 66 Four-oared Boats-1st, To the "Stranger," rowed by Westman and others, of Poughkeepsie; 2d, to the "George J. Brown," rowed by D. Leary and others, of New York. Six-oared Boats-1st, To the "Amphritrite," rowed by W. Burnett and others, of Boston; 2d, to the "Fort Hill Boy," rowed by J. Murray and others, of Boston. BALLOON ASCENSIONS. About five o'clock in the afternoon two large Balloons were sent up from the Common, under the direction of Samuel A. King. Both balloons started on their voyage successfully, being freighted with several passengers, who were cheered on their way by a vast assemblage of people. Unfortunately the wind was from the southward, and after reaching a considerable height the aeronauts, finding that they would be swept seaward, without hope of a favoring breeze to waft them again towards land, opened the escape-valves |