Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-07-08
From the National Journal.
THE FOURTH OF JULY.
Breaking ground upG;i NE Canal

sary Of The Declaration of the Independence OF
tie Uni,ed States, was proud day for the Dis
trict OF Colo mbia--for the States interested IN
AN open navigation from the Chesapeake to
the Lakes, and to the waters of he Mississippi
for the friends Of Internal improvement every
where.
On tina, day which, by concurrent votes Of
the President aud Directors Of the Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal Company, and the Corpora
tons Of Warrington, Georgetown, and Alex
andr;a, had been fixed upon for breaking
ground upon the line of the Canal, this INFER
= es,ine ceremony. took place, in the order pre-
scribrd b. the COMMITTEE OF Arrangements,
sas heretofore published. which was most sue
cessfullv carried into effect by Gen. Thornton
and Col. Stull the Marshals OF the Day, and
the Aids whom they appointed.
At an early hour, the members oil the several
Corporations, and those who were invited 10
accompany them and the President and Dnec-
tors of he Canal COMPANY on This interesting
excursion, began 10 assemble at iliiey's ho>
tel. and cordial greetings were exchanged be-
tween them. A; half pas, O'Clock the Presi-
den, Of the Uolted States arrived, escorted by
Caniain Turner'S and Captain Tylcr's troop,
of cavalry. urder command Of Major Stewart,
who politry rendered tfeir services on this &C
casion which were foundhghly useful through.
Out he day.
Anon est the gentlemen composing the COM
nm, ,bus assembled al the Invitation Of the
Gem i,ee &c Arrangements; were (besides the
Prr>iien, OF the United Siat,s) The Secretaries
of The Treasury, Wa, and Navy Departments,
MIR. Rush Gen. Porter, md MIR Southland;
the p 81 Mas,er General, Mr. Milan; Srna
TORS Of III. United ates, Mr.. S Johnston
and Mr. Bouli.ny-and MIR Washington, Rep
resru,a,ive in Congress; Mr.. Vaughan, she
Minister OF Great Britain Aer tf Il Rasss, and
Baron Malt,tz, Secretary OF Legation from the
same power, iht Chevaier Huygens, Minister
fum the Nth, rlanAs; Baron Stack lberg,
Charge d'Affaires fcom ,he King Of Sweden;
MIR Lishoa, Secretary OF Legation from the
Emperor nr B ~ / MIR Hersan', Vice Consul
Gepe,a al Of Fraac,: omprising all Representa-
ii, e. OF For, IGN Powers AT this moment In the
civ, and able 10 attend Among the other lu-
v;ted guests was the Commander OF The Army,
Gen. Macomb, ard Gen. Stuart aud Col.
Brooke, surviving oficers OF The Revolutions
nv Army The invitations were necessarily
circumscIibed wi hin the limits of tae accom-
mediation which the boats procured by the
Committee Of Arrangements were calculated
70 affGrd. II was subject OF unmixed regret
70 The Commiuee that the same accommoda
lion could no, be- extended to all, which they
were able TO provide for few only. Besides
those invited a great number OF the most re-
snrctable cr,izrns Of the Distric, and adjoining
States either accompanied the procession by
water, OF KEEP. pace with il by land
About eieb, o'clock, the Procession was
formed on Bridge-stre,t, and moved on, 10 The
excellent Music Of the Full band OF the M rinr
Corps, 10 High Street Wharf, where they
embarked in perfect order, as previously
arranged, and the boats immediately set
forward, amidst the cheers Of the crowds which
lined the wharves.
The Steam Boat Surprise, followed by two
other Steam Boats and line Of barg's & Other
boat. led The Proce ssion up the Potomac. cours
inp the wild margin Of what Wa once the Vir-
mia Shors-s.il bordered, as when II came
from The hands of its NJ ker, with primitive
rocks. and crowned with the luxuriant aad dl>
verified foliage Of It's natural forest. A kindly
sky she'd lis refreshing Influence over the wafer,
whose surface The West wind gently ruff -
The Sun shown now end taen from ,hv clear
blue Heavens through ieecy clouds. All Ma
ture seemed to smile upon 'hs scene Along
The road on the MARYLAND Shore, crowds OF
moving spectators attended the voyage OF The
boats. and me, the procession on landing abnvr
the lower termination of The presen, Canal. On
leaving the River Of Swans, as i, has been LACEY
b,npiIy surnamed, march Of few hundred
wards conducted he Company, in the same or
Ger i'm which they embarked, 10 the Canal Beats
prepared % receive thrm al the upper Bridge
across the Canal. Sealed IN these boats, gen
,ly gliding along the tranquil stream, like 1.-THE
swan through The Summer sea" the senses OF
the Company were RECALLED by scene, a, once
novel and re ally enchanting. From the banks
of this Canal Of more than forty years an,iqui-
~ there shot up, along its entire course, ,ari-
CIV Of the mos, beautiful native trees, whose
branches interviewer above would have txclud-
ed the rays Of the most piercing Sun. Beneath
tbesr trees, as far as the eye could penetrate
ON either side, were seen, in bright luxoriance
growing, every species OF plant and wild flower
s.co,d,d in the Potomac Herbal. They looked
IS IL .hey had never known the footsteps Of man,
ms they refreshed the sight Of the voyagers,
whilst on each galley moved,
"By cliff, and copse, and alder trees"