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GRAND CANAL CELEBRATION BY THE CITY OF NEW YORK.

The Committee of the Corporation of the City of New York, assisted by the 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, and other Associations, have agreed unanimously to commemorate the Great State Work, which unites the waters of the northern and western Lakes with the Atlantic ocean, in the following manner: -

1. The Grand Salute, which is to begin at Buffalo, on Lake Erie, precisely at ten o'clock A.M. on the twenty-sixth of October, when the first boat enters the Canal from the Lake, will be continued, in rapid succession, from Buffalo to the City of New York, and so down to Sandy Hook, and forthwith returned by cannon, of the largest calibre, from Sandy Hook through the City of New York to Lake Erie - making, in distance, a grand total of one thousand and eighty-eight miles.

2. A National Salute will also be fired from the battery, the moment that the line of cannon shall have announced that the boat has left the Lake, and safely entered the Canal. One hour and twenty minutes is allowed for the information to reach New York, and the like time to acknowledge at Buffalo that we have received it.

3. Alderman Davis and Alderman King, in behalf of the Corporation of the City of New York, have repaired to the seat of the Government of this State, and will from thence proceed to Lake Erie, and communicate to our fellow citizens, through their Committees, the measures that will be adopted on this great occasion by the City of New York, and the high satisfaction that the Corporation will receive by meeting our fellow citizens of the north and of the west, and along the whole line, and from every part of our State, in the waters of the City of New York.

4. On the day that the Canal boat enters the waters of the Hudson River, she will be met by a steam boat, despatched from this City by the Corporation, which shall render to the Canal boat, her consort boats and canoes, with the aborigines from Lake Erie, every facility in passing down the Hudson River, to our City.

5. Upon her arrival within the waters of the City of New York, a Committee of the Corporation, in a steam boat, bearing the large flag of the City, will meet her, and tender to her and to her passengers, the hospitalities of the City.

6. It is expected she will reach our City by day break of Friday, the fourth of November. The precise day will be announced, so as to notify the whole City. Arrangements will have been so made, that she will pass the North battery precisely at seven o'clock, A.M. of the morning of her arrival. She will then receive a national salute.

She will then proceed slowly down the river, attended by steam boats, pilot boats, and barges, all splendidly decorated. Upon passing the battery, to proceed up the East River, she will again receive a national salute. Pursuing her course along the east side of the City, she will pass the ship yards, Corlaer's Hook, the upper ship yards, and dry dock, stopping at the navy yard, where she will again receive a national salute. A frigate will there be dressed for the occasion. At the navy yard, the Officers of the United States Navy, who are the invited guests of the Corporation, will join the Canal boat, and proceed to the battery. The whole flotilla will reach the Battery precisely at nine o'clock A.M. where they will be met by the Mayor, the Corporation, and their guests.

While the Canal boat, attended by the steam-boats, the pilot boats, and the barges, are passing the City, through both rivers, the Corporation, with their guests, will assemble at the City Hall, for the purpose of joining in the Grand Aquatic Display; and the merchants, the citizens, the military officers off duty, and all the Societies, will prepare for the Grand Procession through the City.

REGULATIONS FOR THE GRAND AQUATIC DISPLAY.

1. Charles Rhind, Esquire, assisted by the Committees of the Marine and Nautical Societies, the sea captains and captains of steam boats, the harbour masters and wardens of the port, and the Committee of the pilots and bargemen, will station the whole line of boats, and direct the order in which they shall move. All boats which unite in the procession, and carry passengers, will conform to the regulations prescribed by Mr. Rhind, assisted by the Nautical Committees.

2. To enable Mr. Rhind, assisted as aforesaid, to conduct the whole line of boats to the ocean, and return them to the Battery by three o'clock, P.M. so that the whole aquatic party may unite in the Procession of the citizens and societies, the Corporation will assemble in the City Hall, at eight o'clock, A.M. where their guests will meet them punctually, and proceed on board the boats at the Battery, precisely at nine o'clock, A.M. By this hour it is respectfully requested that all the ships and vessels in the harbour be suitable decorated.

3. The whole Aquatic Procession will leave the Battery for the ocean precisely at nine o'clock, A.M. A national salute will then be fired from the Battery. They will pass Castle Williams, when another national salute will be fired. As the Procession passes Fort La Fayette towards the ocean, it will again receive a national salute, which will be repeated as the Procession returns to the City.

As the flotilla approaches the ocean, it is expected that a deputation from Neptune will be sent to know who the visitors are, and the object of their coming. Upon being informed, it is anticipated that a skilful pilot will be sent to conduct it to his dominions.

When the fleet is met by the monarch of the deep, his Excellency, the Governor, will unite the waters of the Lakes with the ocean.

Dr. Mitchill having obtained the pure waters of the Elbe; the sacred waters of the Ganges, the overflowings of the Nile, the waters of the Amazon, the Oronoco, the La Plata, of Columbia River, of the Thames, the Seine, the Neva, the Tagus, and from every quarter of the Globe; will unite these waters with the ocean, as an emblem of our commercial intercourse with all the parts of the world.

The Honorable C.D. Colden will present to his Honor, the Mayor, at the request of the Committee of the Corporation, a written Memoir upon the importance of the subject. This Memoir will be deposited in the City Archives.

After this, the whole fleet, disposed in due order, will then return from the ocean to the Battery, and anchor in line, precisely at three o'clock, P.M. There they will receive another national salute.

4. The line of boats being formed close to the Battery, the Societies will pass them upon the broad paved circular walk, along the margin of the water, and receive from the Corporation those demonstrations of respect which are so eminently due to so great, industrious, and patriotic an assemblage of our fellow citizens.

REGULATIONS FOR THE GRAND PROCESSION THROUGH THE CITY.

1. The procession will be formed (six in front) under the direction of Major General Fleming, who will act as the Grand Marshal of the day. It will form on the west side of Greenwich Street - its right on Marketfield-street. The line of procession will begin to form at nine o'clock, A.M. and be ready to move at eleven o'clock, A.M.

2. Its right will wheel and pass, the whole line moving at the same time, so that all may see each other.

3. The procession will pass up Greenwich Street to Canal Street and to Broadway - up Broadway to Broom Street and to the Bowery, down the Bowery to Pearl Street, down Pearl Street to the Battery. The procession will reach the Battery by three o'clock, P.M. when the whole Aquatic Procession will have returned from the ocean, and be stationed off the Battery.

4. The whole aquatic party being ready and the boats duly arranged, the procession will pass the boats at the margin of the Battery, upon the broad paved circular walk. This close approach of the boats to the Battery is intended to give the City Procession, and the Aquatic Party, a view of each other, and to enable the Corporation to unite the two together in the Grand Procession.

5. The Corporation, with their guests, preceded by the aborigines from Lake Erie, with their canoes, will fall in the rear of the City Procession, following it under the direction of the Grand Marshal, to the City Hall, where all will disperse.

NOTE. - It is requested that the Committees, of the several Societies who intend to unite in the celebration, will send to the Recorder's Office, in the City Hall, on or before the first of November, an estimate of their respective numbers, to the end that the Grand Marshal may apportion a sufficient space, in which each Society may conveniently form and move in the Procession. And, also, the names of the principal persons from each society, with whom the Grand Marshal may confer.

The bells of the City Hall, and of all the churches in the City, will be rung from seven to eight, from twelve to one, and from four to five o'clock.

ORDER OF THE SOCIETIES, CITIZENS, AND MILITARY.

1. Horsemen, with trumpets.

2. A Band of Music.

3. The Grand Marshal with his Aids.

4. Foresters with axes to cut down the trees, and clear the earth for cultivation.

5. Tillers of the ground, consisting of Farmers and Gardeners, and followed by the Members of the Agricultural and Horticultural Societies.

6. The Tailors, and Journeymen Tailors' Society.

7. Measurers of grain - Millers and Inspectors of flour - of pot and pearl ashes, and of provisions.

8. The Bakers, and the Bakers' Benefit Society.

9. Brewers and Distillers.

10. Coopers, and the Journeymen Coopers' Society.

11. The Butchers.

12. Weavers and Manufacturers of linen, woollen, and cotton cloths.

13. Tallow Chandlers and Soap Makers.

14. Tanners, Curriers, and Leather Dressers.

15. Cordwainers Society.

16. The Furriers.

17. The Hatters.

18. The Masons, and the Journeymen Masons.

19. The Carpenters.

20. Smiths, Nailors and Cutlers, and Smiths' Benevolent Society.

21. Painters and Glaziers, and House Painters' Society.

22. Stone Cutters.

23. Cabinet Makers.

24. Chair Makers, Chair Makers' Society, and Journeymen Chair Makers' Society.

25. Upholsterers.

26. Tinplate Workers and Pewterers.

27. Potters.

28. Brush Makers.

29. Copper, Gold, and Silver Smiths.

30. Carvers and Gilders

31. Coach Makers, Sadlers, and Harness Makers.

32. Shipwrights.

33. Sail Makers, Rope Makers, Riggers and Caulkers.

34. General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen.

35. The Firemen and Fire Department.

36. The Benevolent Societies.

37. The Merchants.

38. The Citizens.

39. The Cartmen.

40. The Teachers' Society.

41. The Printers and Members of the Typographical Society.

42. The Booksellers, Bookbinders, and Stationers.

43. The Students of Columbia College.

44. The College of Physicians and Surgeons.

45. The Medical Society.

46. The Reverend the Clergy.

47. The Bar.

48. The Historical, Philosophical, Philological, and other Literary Societies.

49. The Members of the Academy of the Fine Arts.

50. Strangers of Distinction.

51. The Sheriff and Staff, with the Judicial Officers.

52. The Military Officers.

53. The Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons.

54. The Governor and Lieutenant-Governor.

55. The Senate and Members of the Assembly.

56. Canal Commissioners now in commission, and all former Canal Commissioners.

57. Canal Engineers.

58. State Officers.

59. The Corporation and their Guests.

EVENING CELEBRATION.

1. The City Hall will brilliantly illuminated by special order of the Corporation. It will be superbly decorated with appropriate devices. The illumination will commence at seven o'clock, and close at 10 o'clock.

2. Towards the close of the illumination, there will be a grand display of fire works in front of the Hall. Some of the designs will be entirely novel. This will be done under the direction of Mr. Richard Wilcox.

3. The Corporation respectfully recommend that the Theatres and public buildings be illuminated from seven to ten o'clock.

GUESTS INVITED BY THE CORPORATION TO JOIN THE AQUATIC PROCESSION.

To commemorate this great event in an appropriate and durable manner, the Corporation have ordered Medals to be prepared, one of which will be given to each of the invited guests.

Gentlemen who are thus publicly invited, will be pleased to signify their acceptance of the invitation, by sending their names and address to the Recorder's Office, in the City Hall. Public characters and citizens, who have rendered great services to the Republic, though not named in the general invitation, will receive a special invitation and a Medal.

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CORPORATION GUESTS.

1. The Corporation have engaged for themselves and their guests, the steam-boat Washington, the steam-boat Fulton, and the barge Lady Clinton. These boats will be exclusively under the control of a Committee of the Corporation.

2. The boats, with the barge, will be at No. 1, on the east side of the Battery, precisely at eight o'clock, A.M. on Friday, the fourth of November.

3. The ladies who are invited, with the gentlemen who attend them, need not come to the Hall, but will proceed directly to the steam-boat Fulton, or the barge Lady Clinton. They must be there from eight to half-past eight o'clock, A.M. where they will be received by a Committee of the Corporation.

4. Ladies and gentlemen will be required to produce their tickets - this rule cannot be departed from.

5. The Mayor and Corporation will be at the City Hall to receive the Public Functionaries, the Reverend the Clergy, and all their other guests, who do not take ladies, and proceed from the City Hall, at half-past eight o'clock, so as to reach the Battery one quarter of an hour before nine o'clock A.M.

6. The days being short, the utmost punctuality is indispensible.

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