APPENDIX

CONTAINING

AN ACCOUNT

OF

THE COMMEMORATION OF THE COMPLETION

OF

THE ERIE CANAL

BY THE

CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK,

TOGETHER WITH A STATEMENT OF THE ARRANGEMENTS MADE BY THE MERCHANTS,

CITIZENS, AND SOCIETIES, TO UNITE IN THE CELEBRATION;

WITH A DETAILED REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEES OF THE CORPORATION, FROM GENERAL FLEMING,

WHO, AS GRAND MARSHALL, CONDUCTED THE PROCESSION THROUGH THE CITY, AND FROM

C. RHIND, ESQ. WHO DIRECTED THE AQUATIC DISPLAY; INCLUDING A SUCCINCT

NARRATIVE OF THE WHOLE CELEBRATION FROM BUFFALO TO THE

OCEAN, AND BACK TO BUFFALO, PREPARED BY WM. L.

STONE, ESQ. AT THE REQUEST OF

THE COMMITTEE;

AND ALSO

SEVERAL ADDRESSES, MAPS PRINTS, LITHOGRAPHIC ENGRAVINGS,

&c, &c. &c.

CONCLUDED BY A STATEMENT OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE MEDALS,

AND OTHER TRIBUTES OF RESPECT,

BY ORDER OF THE COMMON COUNCIL.

NEW YORK.

1826.

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MEMBERS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL IN 1825.

Hon. WILLIAM PAULDING, Mayor.

RICHARD RIKER, Recorder.

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MEMBERS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL IN 1826.

Hon. PHILIP HONE, Mayor.

RICHARD RIKER, Recorder.

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IN COMMON COUNCIL,

CITY OF NEW YORK.

On the sixteenth day of January, eighteen hundred and twenty-six, the day on which the newly elected Mayor was to take the oath of office, the Common Council assembled in the Common Council Chamber,

The Honorable WILLIAM PAULDING, Mayor, President.

After the minutes of the preceding meeting, at which the Mayor was chose, were read, his Honor, the Mayor, William Paulding, Esq. informed the Board that Philip Hone, Esq. the Mayor elect, was in attendance, and proposed taking the oath of office in presence of the Common Council: it was then moved and agreed to, that a Committee be appointed to wait upon the Mayor, elect, and conduct him to the Common Council Chamber; accordingly the President appointed Mr. Schieffelin, Mr. Van Wyck, and Alderman Cebra, the Committee. Those gentlemen retired, and in a few minutes returned with Mr. Hone; the members rose on his entrance, and Mr. Schieffelin, of the Committee, introduced him to the President as Mayor elect.

Mr. Paulding then administered to Mr. Hone the oath of office, prescribed by the Charter and the Constitution of the State, and handed him to the President's Chair. Mr. Paulding then delivered the following address: -

"I am pleased, Mr. Mayor, with the opportunity afforded me of inducting into office a citizen, in whom there can, with safety, be reposed a just confidence; and I sincerely hope that your elevation to this distinguished trust, will conduce alike to your own, and the public gratification.

"Mr. President, and Gentlemen of the Common Council, I bid you a respectful farewell: may your labours be such as to promote the prosperity and happiness of this community."

After which Mr. Paulding withdrew.

The newly installed Mayor, after a few minutes, then rose and delivered the following address: -

"GENTLEMEN, - In assuming the office of Chief Magistrate of my native City, I should be doing injustice to my feelings were I to omit the offering of my grateful acknowledgements for the distinguished honor you have conferred upon me, and I am persuaded you will consider the most suitable expression of my thanks to consist in the cheerful acceptance of the office, with a determination to devote my best abilities to the performance of its duties.

"My experience as a Member of the Board has made me acquainted with the arduous and important nature of the services which you, Gentlemen, have undertaken to perform; the same experience has also taught me how much depends upon the punctual and faithful discharge of your duties as Members of the several standing Committees. The municipal concerns of our city have increased to so great an extent as to render it impossible for the Board to bestow upon the various subjects requiring its consideration, all the attention which they may merit, and we must rely upon the Standing Committees for that careful scrutiny, by which alone we may escape the errors of hasty legislation.

"It is to be hoped that the addition to the Board of the Representatives of two new Wards, while it serves in some measure to diminish, by dividing your labors, will furnish us with much additional valuable information, respecting the local wants of the increasing population of the upper part of the City, and will tend to promote a good understanding between the several sections here represented.

"There can be no doubt, Gentlemen, that you will pursue your labours in a spirit of devotion to the public good; and with that mutual harmony, without which your best directed efforts would lose much of their efficacy.

"Finding myself surrounded on this interesting occasion by many of my old associates, and among the new Members of the Board many of my personal friends, I trust an apology will not be thought necessary for making these suggestions.

"I owe it to my respected predecessor to acknowledge the valuable information which I have received from him since my election, and the urbanity and kindness with which it has been communicated.

"I shall rely with entire confidence upon your zealous co-operation and support, but I fear I shall have frequent occasions to claim your liberal indulgence, for the errors and omissions of inexperience, in the discharge of the important duties which have devolved upon me."

As soon as the President sat down the following resolution was submitted to the Common Council, by Mr. Assistant Schieffelin, and passed unanimously.

"Whereas, the Common Council is desirous of retaining a grateful and lasting remembrance of the official fidelity, ability, and integrity of the Honorable William Paulding, Esquire, late Mayor, Resolved, as a testimonial of the same, that the Committee on Arts and Sciences communicate to him a request, that he may permit a Portrait of himself to be taken by an eminent artist, under the direction of the said Committee, and that the same, when finished, be placed in the Picture Gallery of the City Hall."

Attested,

J. MORTON, Clerk.

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