The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-03-04
ENQIIIjiER- OFFICE,
II true and f0uhfui account
OF The GRAND ILLUMINATION.
RICHMOND, Wal March 4, 1875.
AZ IN oI-n hirhest et,Le

~ in oUR highest atyle,
u. For the imitation u all fufure Descyi6 RS
The illumination, which the Mayor had
recommended TO take place OH the night e
the 21st UT. in honour of the Peace, had
bsen put Of from time to time in consequence
Of the extraordinary spell # bad weather,
which has lately visited US. Wednesday, last
however, I" the windows of heaven began to
be stopped, and the rain from heaven was re-
strained" The sun began 70 revisit our di-
urnal sphere--and the MAyor availed him
self of the first .fou'Oradie ohenirg to address
his Card to his fellow -cit'zeus, inviting then.
to have the jec1F ofthe lights on Thursday
night. THURSDAY night camc, AMI never did
there come night more propitious for the
purpose. The arr was bal,ny and still the
heavens were Illuminated only by the twink-
ling stars tile " darkness" was almost {" vi
sible." Rcaoer If y Il shoul conceive there
Is too much pomp in cur description Vt the
scene, you must recollcCt the good old rue
that tn. style should ris, with the subject for
we Soiemniy assure you that ih..r re lew
events which have reused so much Interest
in this city, as the afor said I!lu Mn tion The
War or the Peace vas scare ly more talked
OF : men, women & children, Z" horse, D.. ni &
dragons" had been travelling over it for
the last ten days. 1t seen Ell to be "A subject
SO peculiarly calculated for the level Of oil
sorts of capacities The city was actually
torn into contenai . factions. The drawing
room and the bedroom rulg with the DIS
cussion ct this great question. From the
lea table 20 the Coffee room, scarcely any
thing WAS heard but the illumination, the IL
h'nltndtio7l--One party took sides 7vith the
Mayor, and another against him. " What
could the Mayor do VIII 1t ought the May
or To do ?" was the question. The Ladies
too, who, blessings upon their sweet tongues |!
are seldom Characterised by" lack of argu-
ment," rushed open-mouthed TO the great de-
bate. Som Ut them Thought II best 20 take
the IiiUmil alton in the first gusl # public
feeling Love at first sighs, was their max
i'm. The others protesttd d, that they would
let their candles remain in their windows
for whole month, sooner than not have a
proper right for the exhibition.
Well-the night came, IS we said before
the night big with the fate OF candles and of
gIeas, lit came to- sooth all excitement, to
reconcile al parties. Even the cfigy-nen
were appcased and but one feeling remain
ed-wh should shine most in the Patriot-
ism OF Greas - who should be most brilliant ?
who most happy
AS" Gray Even" came slowly on, every
heart began to beat with expectation, and
every ear listened for the expected signal
| The tocsin at length sounds the artillery
| roars four times how som does the Lightning
succeed this thunder Then started the bla-
| yes of light, as if by enCbantmcnt, in all di
REGIONS and in every variety Of form. upon
the enraptured eye. Every hill was tipped
with gold & every valley reheeted pillar OF
| light. But It was not the blazing easement
alone. which invited the rowing vision--the
boH-frcs bla2ed upon the hills, and the tow
ering ockets darted to the skies. In sober
| style, il was a right merry scene 20 look up
on and sad must have been that heart, or
| tasteless that sense, which could not catch
one ray OF happiness from the brilliant spec
| tacle.
| The houses were soon deserted, save by
the busy housewife or the trusty centne, who
supcriutenOed the blazing light or trucking
grease within. The THE Of population poured
into the streets. But the Capitol Square &
the Main Street were the most fsvorite re.
sorts Of the gAzins multitude.
There was a profusioh Of Transparencie'
exhibited At the windows OF the Nam Street
On the right hand of this Street, US you de.
scorded towards the bridge, tie eve, rtsteC
for moment upon the decorations, which
we're put up at the Wsx-work Museum. Al
the right hand window, transparent scroll
with the name CT Jaekso,i--at the left, an in