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RETURN OF THE SENECA CHIEF TO BUFFALO.

The boat arrived in our harbor, from the Atlantic, on Wednesday the twenty-third instant, after a pleasant and quick passage, laden with a rich cargo of merchandize from New York, having on board a goodly number of passengers, a healthy crew, and an elegant keg filled with water taken from the "briny deep," which was presented by the Corporation of New York to the citizens of this village, for the purpose of being mingled with the waters of Lake Erie. This keg was handsomely ornamented with the arms of the city, over which were the words, in letters of gold "Neptune's Return to Pan," and under the same, the words "New York, 4^th Nov. 1825." Upon the other side of the keg were the words "Water of the Atlantic."

After welcoming the return of the boat, with the Buffalo Committee, it was resolved that the ceremony of mingling the waters should take place on Friday, the twenty-fifth instant. On that day a large and respectable number of ladies and gentlemen, with the village band of music, repaired on board the boat, at the upper dock, and were towed from thence through the basin into the Lake, by several yawl boats, which were politely furnished by the masters of the different vessels then lying at the wharves. At ten o'clock, A.M. the ceremony of mingling the waters under a salute from Captain Crary's artillery, was performed by Judge Wilkeson, who delivered the following address: -

"FELLOW-CITIZENS,

"The joyful event of the completion of the Erie Canal was a few days since announced to us, since which we have heard or witnessed the congratulations of a grateful people, and the honors which seem, by a simultaneous impulse, to have been awarded to the founders of this great work.

"The delegation sent by you, in the first boat from the Lake, to receive and reciprocate the civilities upon the borders of the Canal and the Hudson, have performed the duties assigned to them, and from the Western Seas to the Atlantic, have had the gratification of beholding all the evidences of public gratitude, which could be elicited by one continual round of joy and festivity.

"It would be ungrateful in the Committee, not to notice the hospitality which distinguished their reception at the great commercial emporium of our country. There, in pursuance of arrangements marked with peculiar splendor and magnificence, the waters of the Lake were mingled with those of the Ocean; and we, in return, now unite those of the Ocean with the Lake.

"This, fellow-citizens, closes the ceremonies which have grown out of an event hereafter to be held in grateful remembrance, and commemorated by annual demonstrations of gratitude, as one of the most important which has distinguished the history of mankind, and one from which not only the present, but generations yet unborn, even to the latest posterity, are to derive innumerable blessings."

After which the boat was towed back to the dock, and the company dispersed, with all those feelings of gratification which the interesting ceremony was calculated to produce. In the evening, the gentlemen of the village assembled at the Eagle Tavern, and unanimously expressed the following sentiments: -

"RESOLVED, - That the citizens of this village do with unfeigned pleasure tender to the Corporation and citizens of New York, their sincere acknowledgements for their very polite and hospitable treatment to the Committee from this place, in the late celebration.

"RESOLVED, - That the Corporation, Committees, and citizens of Albany, are entitled to the like thanks and acknowledgements, for their highly esteemed and patriotic conduct on the same occasion.

"RESOLVED, - That it is due to the different Committees and citizens of their respective villages on the whole line of the Canal, who were engaged in the late proud celebration, to acknowledge the exceeding kindness and hospitality to the Committee and guests on board the "Seneca Chief," while performing her first voyage from Lake Erie to the Atlantic.

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IN COMMON COUNCIL,

Monday, Nov. 21, 1825.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY, - That the thanks of the Board be presented to the Grand Marshal Major General Fleming, for the very able manner in which he conducted the Civic Procession through the City.

And as a further mark of respect, IT IS ORDERED, that a Silver Medal, a Box, and a Copy of the Memoir of Mr. Colden on the New York Canals, be presented to him, and to each of his Aids, in the name of the Corporation.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY, - That the thanks of the Board be presented to Charles Rhind, Esq. for the very able manner in which he conducted the aquatic demonstrations of joy.

And as a further mark of respect, IT IS ORDERED, that a Silver Medal, a Box, and a copy of Mr. Colden's Memoir, be presented to him, in the name of the Corporation.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY, - That the thanks of the Board be presented to the several Societies, their Officers, and Committees, for the aid afforded by them in the late celebration.

And as a further mark of respect, IT IS ORDERED, that the several Societies be presented with a Medal, a Box, and a copy of Mr. Colden's Memoir, and that their respective Officers and Committees each be presented with a medal in the name of the Corporation.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY, - That the thanks of the Board be presented to the Steam-boat Companies, - the Captains of the several steam-boats, - the Members of the Marine and Nautical Societies who assisted in the Aquatic Celebration, - the Pilots, Bargemen, and Whitehall Watermen, and all other Associations who aided the Corporation upon the waters.

And as a further mark of respect, IT IS ORDERED, that a Medal be presented to them, respectively, in the name of the Corporation; and a Medal, a Box, and a copy of Mr. Colden's Memoir to the several Companies or Associations.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY, - That the thanks of the Board be presented to the Merchants, the Military, and the citizens, - the Fire Department, the Literary and Scientific Institutions, and to all other Associations who assisted in the Civic Celebration in the City.

And as a further mark of respect, IT IS ORDERED, that a Medal be presented to each Member of the several Committees as a tribute of respect to the Bodies they represented; and that the Fire Department, the Literary and Scientific Institutions, and all other Associations who aided the Corporation in the Celebration in the City, be presented, in the name of the Common Council, with a Medal, a Box, and a copy of Mr. Colden's Memoir.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY, - That Medals, Boxes, and Copies of Mr. Colden's Memoir, be reserved to be hereafter distributed under the special direction of the Common Council.

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CLASS I.

To all the invited guests of the Corporation - Ladies and Gentlemen, each a Medal.

To all the Committees and Officers of the different Societies who united in the Celebration, each a Medal.

To the President of each of the said Societies, for the use of the Society, a Medal, a Box, made of maple brought in the first Canal-boat the Seneca Chief, and a copy of Mr. Colden's Memoir on the New York Canals.

To the Committees from the West, the North, and from every part of the State, each a Medal, a Box, and a copy of the Memoir.

To the several Colleges of the States, - to the City Library, - to the Historical Society, - to the Philosophical and Philological Societies, - to the Public School, - to the Apprentices' Library, and all the other incorporated Societies for the promotion of literature, in the City of New York, each a Medal, a Box, and a copy of the Memoir.

To the Officers of the Army and Navy of the United States, on this Station, each a Medal.

To the respective Commandants of the Army and Navy of the United States, on this Station, a Medal, a Box, and a copy of Mr. Colden's Memoir, as a testimony of the high respect which the Corporation entertain for the Army and Navy of our country.

To the Editors of the public papers in this City, and to the Artists who have assisted the Common Council to commemorate the event, each a Medal, a Box, and a copy of the Memoir.

To all other persons who may have aided the Municipal Authorities in the Celebration, an appropriate tribute of respect, by a special vote of the Board.

CLASS II.

To the Vice-President of the United States, - to the Heads of the Departments of the United States, - to the Governor and Lieutenant-Governor of the State of New York, - and to the Governors of each of the States of the Union, a silver Medal, a Box made of maple, brought in the first Canal-boat, the Seneca Chief, and a copy of Mr. Colden's Memoir.

To the Foreign Ministers of the United States, a silver Medal, a Box, and a copy of the Memoir.

To the former Governors and Lieutenant-Governors of this State, a silver Medal, a Box, and a copy of the Memoir.

To the Officers of the Revolutionary Army who belonged to the New York line, and who served before the capture of General Burgoyne, and until after the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, a silver Medal, a Box, and a copy of the Memoir.

To the Members of the Common Council of eighteen hundred and twenty-five and eighteen hundred and twenty-six, each a silver Medal, a Box, and a copy of the Memoir.

To other distinguished persons by a special vote of the Board.

CLASS III.

To the family of George Washington as a tribute of profound respect for the memory of him who "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his fellow-citizens," covered the American name with imperishable glory, a Medal of gold of the highest Class, a Box made of maple, brought from Lake Erie in the first Canal-boat the Seneca Chief, and a copy of the Memoir of Mr. Colden; the same to be presented on behalf of the Corporation of the City of New York, and in the name of the City.

The same to the three surviving Signers of the Declaration of Independence, as a tribute of profound respect for those memorable patriots who, in its support, pledged "their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor." - JOHN ADAMS, of Quincy, Massachusetts; CHARLES CARROLL, of Carrollton, Maryland; THOMAS JEFFERSON, of Monticello, Virginia.

The same to the last surviving Major General of the Army of the Revolution, as a tribute of profound respect, for those officers and soldiers whose valour and patriotism, secured to us the blessings we now enjoy - Major-General La Fayette.

The same to the Senior Officer, now living, of the Navy of the Revolution, as a tribute of profound respect for that infant power which promises to be the future bulwark of the Republic.

The same to the President and Ex-Presidents of the United States, as a tribute of profound respect to those citizens, who by eminent public services have attained the highest office in the gift of the Republic.

The same to the family of Robert Fulton, as a tribute of profound respect for the memory of him, who by applying the power of steam to the purposes of navigation, justly ranks amongst the greatest benefactors of his native country, and of the world.

The same to the author of the Memoir, CADWALLADER D. COLDEN.

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