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IN COMMON COUNCIL,

November 10, 1825.

The Recorder presented the following Report, as Chairman of the Committee appointed by the Common Council, to commemorate the completion of the Grand Erie Canal, which unites the waters of the great Lakes with the Atlantic ocean.

The Committee of the Corporation of the City of New York, to whom it was referred to concert measures to commemorate the great event of uniting our inland seas with the ocean, in a manner corresponding with its vast national importance, with the feelings and wishes of their fellow citizens, and with the honor of the City,

RESPECTFULLY REPORT,

That the Celebration, both by land and by water, has been in a style of unusual magnificence and splendor: That it has so far transcended all anticipations, and been so ably conducted, by the gentlemen to whom it was more immediately confided, as to require a full and detailed Report.

The Committee, therefore, respectfully recommend the adoption of the following Resolutions: -

"Resolved, - That a select Committee be appointed to make a full and detailed Report to this Board, in relation to the late Celebration by the City of New York, of the completion of the Erie Canal.

"Resolved, - That the said Committee report to this Board, the names of, and the duties assigned to, the several gentlemen who distinguished themselves in aid of the municipal authorities of the City, and what, in the opinion of the said Committee, will be an appropriate tribute of respect for services thus rendered.

"By order of the Committee,

"R. RIKER, Chairman of the Committee."

Which was approved, and the Resolutions adopted.

The Mayor appointed the original Committee, viz.: -

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The Committee of the Corporation of the City of New York, to whom the duties contained in the preceding Resolutions were referred,

RESPECTFULLY REPORT,

That they have supposed that the wishes of the Common Council will be most satisfactorily carried into effect, by the Committee reporting to the Board all the preparatory arrangements which were made to commemorate the great event of uniting the Lakes with the Atlantic ocean; and that instead of the Committee giving a detailed account of the unparalleled magnificence and grandeur of the Celebration, it would be better to refer to the special and separate Reports of the gentlemen, under whose direction it was conducted.

That, by adopting the course, your Committee would be enabled to do more ample justice to the different societies and classes of their fellow citizens, who united with the municipal authorities of the City; that, it would give your Committee, a wider scope to furnish to the Board a distinct account of the means employed to give effect to a great civic Celebration; and, that it would not be without its use, by shewing to posterity how cheerfully, at this day, the magistrate and the citizen unite in the exultations and in the duties of patriotism.

These preparatory arrangements for celebrating the completion of the great Canals, will be found in the documents which follow. They are classed in the order of time in which they took place, and will explain themselves.

The Committee, therefore, content themselves with submitting to the Common Council the following brief statement - that, in making the arrangements for the "Grand Canal Celebration, by the City of New York," they were assisted by Sub-committees, representing the Merchants and Citizens, the several Mechanic Societies, the Military, the Fire Department, the Literary and Scientific Institutions, the Members of the Bar, the Steam-boat Companies, the Marine and Nautical Societies, the Pilots, Bargemen, and Whitehall Watermen, and other Associations.

That, in order to enable the Corporation to contribute its utmost to commemorate the great event, large portions of its members were detailed upon Committees. Alderman Davis and Alderman King, were selected to represent the Corporation at Buffalo, and to assure the Committees of that place, and the Committees along the whole line of the Canal, that the City of New York would gladly receive them, as well as our brethren of the north, and from every part of the State, with the warmest affection and respect. Upon the Canal boats entering the waters of the Hudson river, Alderman Davis and Alderman King were also authorised, in the name of the Common Council, to invite all the Committees to proceed with them, and under their care, to the City of New York where they should be received as guests of the City.

This invitation was accepted, and the steam-boat Chancellor Livingston, under the command of Captain Lockwood, was appropriated by the Corporation of the City of New York, for the use of their Special Committee and their invited guests. Alderman Davis and Alderman King conducted every thing confided to them in a manner no less acceptable to our visitors, than honorable to themselves and to the Common Council.

Alderman Wyckoff, and Mr. Assistant Hone, were detailed to meet Alderman Davis and Alderman King, with the Committees from the west and the north, as they, with the Canal boats, entered the Hudson river. They were directed to tender to them, in the name of the Corporation of the City of New York, every facility which they might require in passing down the river to our City. This Committee executed its duties to the entire satisfaction of the Common Council. Mr. Assistant Hone delivered, in the Capitol, at Albany, to the assembled Committees, an appropriate address, which will be found in the report of that Committee. The answer of Lieutenant-Governor Tallmadge is also subjoined thereto.

Alderman Cowdrey, Alderman Webb, Mr. Assistant Hedden, and Mr. Assistant Agnew, were appointed a Sub-committee, to meet the flotilla from the Lakes, as they entered the waters of the City of New York.

For the above purpose, the steam-boat Washington, bearing the large flag of the City, was employed by the Corporation. Captain E.S. Bunker commanded her, and, with the Committee, met the fleet of boats from the Lakes, at sun-rise of the morning of the fourth of November, eighteen hundred and twenty-five.

The hailing, and other nautical proceedings, will be found in Mr. Rhind's Report. They were conducted by Captain Bunker, from the deck of the Washington, in behalf of the City, and Mr. Rhind, from the deck of the Chancellor Livingston, in behalf of the flotilla from the Lakes. Alderman Cowdrey, delivered an address to Governor Clinton, and to the Committees from the west and north, and along the line, which was answered by his Excellency in appropriate terms. The address and replay follow the Report of that Committee.

The novelty of the scene, the magnitude of the occasion, and the unexampled spectacle of seeing a mixed assemblage of steam-boats, canal-boats, pilot-boats, ships, and barges, all elegantly dressed, - moving in the most perfect order, - obeying, with the utmost exactness, the previously arranged signals, and displaying themselves upon our Bay, which is not surpassed by any in the world, induced the ladies of our city, almost universally, to join in the Celebration.

The barge Lady Clinton, attached to the steam-boat Commerce, commanded by Captain J. Seymour, was especially devoted to the matrons of our City, and to their daughters. A select Committee of the Corporation was appointed to attend them. The Committee were Alderman Reed, Mr. Assistant St. John, Mr. Assistant Dunscomb, Mr. Assistant Burtsell, and Mr. Assistant Rathbone.

Every precaution was used to prevent any accident. The barge was safely secured to the Commerce, and being superbly decorated, and crowded with ladies, elegantly attired, presented a most beautiful spectacle. The barge, with the ladies, proceeded to the ocean in the line of the fleet, and returned it its order. Such a sight was never before beheld.

The Sub-committee conducted every thing connected with their duties, in the most appropriate and respectful manner, and have received the thanks of the ladies for their kind and polite attentions. Your Committee refer for further details on this subject to the Report of that Committee.

The steam-boat Fulton, Captain R.S. Bunker, and the steam-boat Providence, Captain Tomlinson, were also employed by the Corporation, for the use of their guests.

When the whole fleet were about to pass from the waters of the City, and enter the arm of the ocean, below the Narrows, Alderman King and Alderman Taylor were deputed a select Committee, to wait upon his Excellency the Governor, the Lieutenant-Governor, and the Committees from the west and the north, and from every part of the State. The Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, and Committees, were still on board the Chancellor Livingston, which, as before stated, had been employed by the Corporation to conduct them to the City. Alderman King had left the Chancellor Livingston, and come on board the Washington, to join his Honor, the Mayor and the Corporation. The Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, and the Committees, were conducted through the waters of the City in the Chancellor Livingston, under the care of the several Sub-committees of the Corporation before named. As the Governor is the constitutional Admiral of the navy of the State, it was thought most appropriate to receive him on board the Washington, as she was about to enter the arm of the ocean, and, at that moment, he, with the Lieutenant-Governor, and all the Committees, left the Chancellor Livingston, conducted by Alderman King and Alderman Taylor, and came on board the Washington.

His Honor, the Mayor, representing the Corporation, received them, in the name of the City, and congratulated them on the completion of the great State Work, which we were then celebrating; and assured his Excellency the Governor, the Lieutenant-Governor, and all the Committees, that the City of New York rejoiced to meet them, and would gladly show them every mark of respect and hospitality.

The Committee have the satisfaction to note, that these sentiments of affectionate regard, so justly expressed by the Chief Magistrate of our City, in behalf of the City, have been reciprocated by the Governor, the Lieutenant-Governor, and by our brethren of the country, in terms, the most flattering to the City, and gratifying to the Corporation.

The most distinguished respect was shewn by the officers of the army and navy of the United States, to the Corporation. They united ardently with the City Authorities in the Celebration; national salutes were fired from the public ships, and from the forts.

Your Committee cannot but observe, in this place, that so long as the army and navy of our country continue to identify themselves with their fellow-citizens, and pursue the path of patriotism and honor, as they have heretofore done, they will live in the grateful recollections of the Republic and of the people.

Upon the fleet entering the arm of the ocean, it was saluted by the United States armed schooner, the Porpoise, under the command of Lieutenant Zantzinger, after which Governor Clinton poured the waters of Lake Erie into the sea, and Dr. Mitchill mingled therewith the waters from different quarters of the world, as emblematic of our commercial intercourse with every part of the globe. The speech of Governor Clinton, and that of Dr. Mitchill, will be found in the sequel.

The Committee of the Corporation then waited upon Mr. Colden, for the Memoir, which, at their request, he had written upon the occasion. The Memoir was delivered by Mr. Colden, to his Honor, the Mayor, in the presence of the Committee. The observations made by Mr. Colden upon presenting the Memoir to the Mayor, are mentioned in the Preface. The Mayor assured him, in behalf of the Common Council, that he received it with great satisfaction, and that it should be laid before the Board, at its next meeting.

By the arrangements which had been made to commemorate the completion of the New York Canals, it will appear that, at a meeting of the Committee of the Corporation, assisted by the Sub-committees from the Merchants and Citizens, the Military, the Fire Department, the Nautical, Marine, and other Societies, held at the Recorder's Office, in the City Hall, on the seventeenth day of October, eighteen hundred and twenty-five, Major-General Fleming was chosen the Grand Marshal, to conduct the Procession through the City, and Charles Rhind, Esq. was announced as having been appointed by the Committee of the Corporation to direct the aquatic display.

The means adopted by these gentlemen, to carry into successful effect their arduous duties, and the names of the Officers and Committees of the respective Societies, will be found in their Reports.

To General Fleming, and to Mr. Rhind, your Committee cannot do adequate justice. So able, judicious, and accurate were the arrangements concerted by them, and so exactly were those arrangements carried into effect, that the Grand Procession through the City, and the Grand Aquatic Display presented One Entire Whole, surpassing in novelty, magnificence, and grandeur, any exhibition which is recorded in history.

The procession through the City was composed of nearly seven thousand citizens, of different Societies, with massy cars, bearing their respective standards and the implements of their arts. It passed through columns of people, whose numbers exceeded one hundred thousand. The procession was entirely civic. The citizens were left to their own guidance, yielding only a willing homage to social order, and to the laws. It was a sublime spectacle. So strict was this vast assemblage in the voluntary observance of their duty as good citizens, that the Grand Marshal of the day, moved the whole procession, with the celerity, almost, of a disciplined army. In his telegraphic communications with the aquatic party, he was constantly ahead of time. In every respect the Procession, through the City, has received universal approbation; and, what is of much more consequence, all enlightened and philanthropic men will point to this example, to show, how a well-informed people can govern themselves.

The Aquatic Display transcended all anticipations. Twenty-nine steam-boats, gorgeously dressed, with barges, ships, pilot-boats, canal-boats, and the boats of the Whitehall watermen, conveying thousands of ladies and gentlemen, presented a scene which cannot be described. Add to this, the reflections which arise from the extent and beauty of our Bay - the unusual calmness and mildness of the day - the splendid manner in which all the shipping in the harbour were dressed, and the movement of the while flotilla. Regulated by previously arranged signals, the fleet were thrown at pleasure, into squadron or line, into curves or circles. The whole appeared to move as by magic.

It was impossible to behold this wonderful movement upon the waters, unaided by a breath of air, without feeling how vast a debt of gratitude we own, and the whole word owes, to the mighty genius of our immortal countryman, Robert Fulton.

The Committee conclude by recommending that an appropriate vote of thanks be passed, by the Common Council, to all who have aided the municipal authorities of the City, in the late Celebration: that, in the distribution of the medals, and other testimonials of respect, the several Societies, their officers and Committees, be duly noticed: that each of the officers of the army and navy of the United States, on this station, be presented with a medal; and that a copy of Mr. Colden's Memoir of the New York Canals, elegantly-bound, be given to the respective commandants at this place, as a testimony of the high respect which the Corporation entertain for the army and navy of our country: that the Committees from the west, the north, and from every part of the State, be severally presented in the name of the Corporation of the City of New York, with a medal, and a copy of the Memoir: that medals, and other testimonials of respect, be transmitted to citizens, and families of citizens, who have rendered pre-eminent services to the Republic: and that medals, and other testimonials of respect, be reserved, to be given hereafter, to such as shall merit the freedom of the City, for any signal act of patriotism.

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Transcribed from the original text and html prepared by Bill Carr, last updated 5/21/99.