American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1823-12-30
FESTIVAL AT HARLEM,


1t was on one ofsummer's loveliess mornings, that
the firing ofcannon and the waving of a white fag"s
from the steeple of the great Church at Haarlem.
announced to the inhabitants OF the city, and to
crowds Of strangers and foreigners collected from
all parts the commencement OF festival, designed
to commemorate the Invention OF Printing With
movable types, the honor of which, so long and so
warmly questioned by the citizens OF Mentz, is now
proved beyond dispute to belong to Laurens Rosters
of Harlem.
| Four hundred years have elapsed since he sent
the product of his genius to the world-and ia that
period what has it not effected! 1t has blunteG
the edge of prosecutions sword--laid open to man
his own heart--struck the scepre from the hard
hand of tyranny and awakened from its inglori1
Gus sumbcrs spirit Of knowledge civilization
liberty. II has gone forth like angel scattering
blessings in it's path--solacing the wounded mind,
and silently pointing out the triumphs Of morality
the truths Of revelation the gaze Of those whom
the want of precept or good example had debased,
and whom ignorance had made scepiical. Yet OF
him whose Imagination conceived, and whose per-
severance executed, those wonder working char
acters--those speaking miracles--the world has
been niggard in its praise, and slow in its appro~
val whilst her trumpet tongue has often exalted
some privileged slayer of his fellow -men--some
daring advocate OF power, whose renown is purchase
ed with the blood, and groans and tears OF thousands
TO the very heaven OF fame.
the different houses displayed leafy garlands and
flags. At eight O'Clock, the doors Of the great
Church were opened and in less than an hour the
sitting places were occupied by more than fonr
Thousand persons, of various ranks and degrees,
In front of the celebrated organ, convenient or
cbestra was erected for one hundred and fifty mu-
slcians, under the direction of the well known A.
Fodor.
| Toens, the justly popular poet, rose, and, III i'm
lpressiye verse, paid homage to the festival.
| One hundred invited guests, consisting of the
whole magistracy of the town, and various civil and
military authorities, banquetted at the Pavilion,
Wetgelegen. where His Excellency, the Governor
of North Holland, commissioned by the King to
shew his Malesiy's participation and interest in the
festival, for time held his residence 1t was here
that the Governor presented portrait Of Laurens
Roster, sent by the king to the magistrates oil Haar-
lem for the purpose OF being hung up in the Sem
ate Chamber.
At ten O'Clock at night splendid fre-work was
Exhibited, the last change OF which represented
illuminated temple, with the name and bust of Lau
rens koster, orDamened with varegsted and brilliant
fires. The wreath, which was composed of rock
Jets, had an admirable effect. This concluded the
first and principal days festival. On the evening
of ths second day, two hundred children from the
city schools, accompanied by the School Commits
sioners, garlanded the railing which enclosed the
statue Of Roster.
/ \ TIC WHOiC VI huS ScSotA dnJ Hpu beSh CclCOiatSN
with rejoicings and various pastimcs, and at night
the city brilliantly illuminated. The streets
and canals were covered with people; but it was
1.-The marketplace, near the statue OF Roster, where
the Printing Press was worked, and the produce
OF it distributed among the multitude, that the
crowd greatest.
There might be seen the sedate old city gentie-
man iostled against some young and handsome
B0erinnetje from Vriesland, with her snowy cap
and golden ornaments; the fopling from the Ha-
que, with his courier and palace phrases impe
ded in hi. progress by some ancient dame from one
of the northern districts, blest with wealth oil flesh
and garments manifold At little distance you
might observe young couple listening to the nu-
sic, and ever and anon the fair-haired girl, with
Sweet eyes
That shine celestial wonder,
looking up in her lovers face as if she drew exis.
tepce from it and, on every side, Joyous groups of
all ranks and stations, gazing contentedy on the
scene before manipulating their innocent tests,
and
| Paying unto Care vassalage.
Thus ended, TO the satisfaction OF the inhabitants
OF the placet Of nnumerable strangers, and without
the least disturbance single accident this truly
national festval--a festival, the remembrance Of
W hch will not easily be obliteraed from the minds
ofthose who wnessedit for the free of all countries
will associate with it the very liberties they enjoy
the privileges they possess and consider that the
glorious art which Laurens Roster has bequeathed
to US, is legacy not intended for few but for ALL
not for Holand-but for the world
On the flag inscribed Lanr. j. f. Costero.
The reoicings confined Hsarlern; at nnrs
drecht the 10th, and Rotterdam the 11h, the
printers paFaded the streets in grand procession.
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| Public houses in Liuerpooi---It appears, from
| Pigots Directory, that there no fewer than