American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-07-13
To the Editor of the Watchman.
wiz 10 Illhl
July 10.

Mn. ED1ToR,-AsI am persuaded that you friend
Of peace of virtue and your country Il am induced to
lens short account of noble celebration of the 4h of
July OH the third inst at the village OF M this State
As all important occasions due time must be taken to
make the necessary preparations, so IN this instance, at
east days occupied i'll making arrangements to
the anniversary OF our Independence in
Snaa6le heroic and vtruouS manner. This much know
that the of TIE day had the whole OF Friday TO
pose his Grafton, and the same time was allowed to the
reader of the Declaration Of Independence, 10 study his
lesson You will also readily believe, that in the list opre
parations, dinner and rum not forgotten.
At day-bre ak Saturday morning gun was discharg
ed which supposed made considerable noise, but owing
my being aseep did not hear it but another discharge
which took place at sunrise, am confident distinctly
heard in my not far distant. These announced the
of those exploits which must do immortal
honor to the village OF Nj.
After this, very little hustle observed until The hour
of 10 IL, when number of patriots from the village OF
BID and other distinguished places in the neighbor-
hood, began to assemble. | am almost ashamed to say,
that for three hours they kept themselves toeraby
still and orderly but they doubt waiting for the
well known inspiration of wine and whiskey, OF which
when they had parlaken pretty plentifuy, they fully
deemed their characters from the charge of dronlsh mac
witty, and gave themselves up to unbounded enthusiasm
Respecting the Grafton and the transactions at dinner,
say but little they not public as other things
but suppose that great many suitable and expressive
toasts drank indeed was credlby informed that
one was supereXceent that gentleman ct the party
thought it worth stealing and actually drank it as his own
this wonderfully excited the wrath of the author and right
full owner, and it with some difficulty that he could be
prevented from giving the tTansgresSor complete cuTn5
and ruJJing dorm.
So high was the spirit Of the disappointed oaster raised
that late in the afternoon lie boldly declared, (Which per
haps no other person would have done) with tremeE
dous stamp of the foot and brandishng of the ARM thai
sc he 4DaS a man, and1v0uluf fight Ike man.
After dinner number of rounds fired from the ter
rife Sc ocer and at each discharge cheers ard glass
were given to Bacchus, the god OF the day.
Now sir, follows practical comment on the Declaration
of Independence.
are created eguu &c. and of thought these logica
gentlemen, we all have an equal right
To swear and fight,
To kick and bite
And make most horid noises;
To show our spunk,
Get heastly drunk
And break each others noses
So at it they went with might and main, and
sued which dees description. Groans and curses were
heard amidst the breaking Of benches and throwing o
chairs that for the space Of halt an hour or more m
Public House appeared to be possessed by any thing els
than human beings was not until the company
PEELED from the house and the doors closed that an en-
could be put these loving and patriotic transac ions
After they had into the open air. their zOHe and
course, their Patriotism began TO evaporae but yet Their
were few valiant knocks and kicks given in the porch
and considerable skrmshing in the street, before thes
Iafectionae brethren could tear themselves from eac
others embraces This glorious light was behed by nun
Der of Spectators and among the rest bya few blacks VII
expressed their disapprobaton of such doSs, and som
Of them had the impudence to think and even to sa
de 7he people be turning niggers ~ All now was quie
except the noise which The boys made in the dusk of Oh
evening, when they engaged III kicking about
couple Of fire balls which exercise appeared to me NOR
4 rational than that of kicking mems heads.
The exercises of the day closed by the loud au
and good natured sparring of the blacks, who thnkn
that sufficient heroism had already been displayed an
desparng Of successfully initiating the whites, were cor
ltened with little fun. On this memorable OCCASION m'c
brohery love shewn in the ardent huggng and blow
which were given and receved-much patriotism, in t
blood that was shed in self-defenceand speak solemn
y) much base ngratude 10 Great Creator, who has
richly blessed the inhabitants of these United States i.
i Upon the whole, sir, hope you will highly recommen
the preceding to the serious consideration OF
your fellow citizens, in every section OF the Unio
I CINIS.