Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-07-11
BREAKING GROUND Upon TIFF CANAL.
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Tor the District OF Co,unbia-ior the States inter
estcd in an open navigation from the Chesapeake
to the Lakes, and TO the waters OF the Mississippi
for the friends OF Internal Improvement every
where.
On that day, which, by concurrent votes OF the
President and Directors OF Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal Company, and the Corporations of W ashing-
ton. Georgetown, and Alexandria, hal been fixed
upon for breaking ground upon the line OF the Ca
nal, this interesting ceremony took place, in the
order prescribed by the Committee OF Arrange
ment; as heretofore published, which was mos,
success fully carried into effect BY Gen. Thornton
and Col. Stull Marshails o! the Day, an! The Aids
whom they appointed.
At an early hour, the members of the several
corporations, and those who were invited TO accom-
p0ny them, and the President and Directors OF The
Canal Company on this interesting excursion, be-
gan to assemble at T'iiIey's Hotel, anu cordial
greetings were exchanged between them. AT half
past clock the President oh the u States arrv-
ed, escorted by Capt. Turner's and Capt. Tyler's
Troops Oh Cavalry, under the command of Major
Stewart, who politely tendei-l their services on
this occasion, which found highly useful
throughout the day.
Amongst the gentlemen composing the Conpa
ny thus assembled al the invitation oi the Commit
lee OF Arrangement, were (besiies the President
at the u Sates) the Secretaries OF the Treasury,
w ar, and Navy Departments, Mr.. Rush, General
Porter, and MIR Sou.hsr!; the Pest Master Gene
raj, MIR. Lean; Senators OF the United States,
MIR. J. ). Johnston and Mr.. Bougny--and M,.
Washing'on, Representative in Congress; Mi.
Vaughan, the Minister OF Gre al Britain 10 the IT,
States; Baron Krudener, the Minister OF Russia,
and Baron Malliiz, Secretary OF Legation from
| the same Power; the Chevalier Huygens, Minis
| ter from the Netherlands; Baron Stackelberg,
Charge d'AfIares from the King OF Sweden; Mr..
Lsboa, Secretary OF Legation from the Emperor OF
Brazil; Mr. HerStant, Vice Consul General 81
France-ccmprising all the Representatives, OF
Foreign Powers a; This moment in the city and
bic 10 attend Among the other invited guests
hi
and General Stuart and Col. Brooke, Surviving
Officers OF the Revolutionary Army. ihe invita-
tons were necessarily circumscribed within the
limits OF the accommodation which the boats procur
dby the Committee o! Arrangements were cal
cu,ated 70 afford ii was subject OF unniXed re-
greet to the Committee that the same accoinmoda-
ton could not be extended 10 all, which they were
able 10 provide fU: u few only Besides those pvt-
ed, great number OF the most respectable cti-
zcns OF he District and adjoining States either ac-
companied the procession by water, OF kept pace
with ii by land.
About eight o'clock, the Procession was formed
on Bridge-street, and moved ON, 90 the excellent
Music of the full baud of the Marine Corps, TO
High Street Wharf, where they embarked in per-
feet order, as previously arranged, and the boats
Immediately set forward, amidst the cheers Of the
crowds which lined the wharves.
| The Steam Boat Surprize, followed by two 9th
er Steam Boats and line OF bargcs and other boats
led the Procession up the Potomac, coursing the
wild margin OF wha, was the Virginia Shore
still bordering, when it came from the hands
OF Its a!aker, with primitive rocks, anu crowned
with the iuXuriant aud diversified foliage OF its
natural forest kindly sky shed It's refreshing in
iiuence over the water, whose surface the West
wind gently ruti,cd The sun shone now and tho u
from the clear blue Heavens through leecy clouds
All nature seemed TO smile upon the scene. Along
the road on tie Mary land Shore crowds Of moving
spectators attended the voyage of the boats, and
met the Procession on landing above the lower
| termination 9th presen! Canal. On leaving the
"Rivcr OF swans as ii has been lately happily
surnamed, march of a fey hundred yards con
Quoted the Company, in the same order in which
theY embarked, to tie Canal. Boats prepared 10 re
ceiyc them at the Upper Fridge across the Canal.
Seated IN these boats, gently gliding along the
tranquil stream, like "the swan through the sum
uler sea-, the senses oil the Company were regal
ed by scene az once novel and really enciiantina
From the banks Of this Canal OF more tn n forty
years antiquity there shot up, along lis entire
course, variety OF the most bcau.iiu native trees
whose branches, interviewer above, would have
excluded the rays OF the most piercing Sun Be
ncai! these trees, as far Is lIe eye could peneta
on either side, were seen, in bright luxuriailce
growing, every species OF plant and wild flower
recorded ia the Potomac Herbal. They looked as
II they had never known the footsteps OF man. as
they refreshed the sight OF the yoyogcrs, whilst
onward each galley moved.
"By cliff, and copse, and alder tree"
There wa part OF ihis passage, when the mu-
sic OF mooRE's sweet song. of The meeting OF
the Waters poured AS melody GA the ear 80 as to
suspend tue labor OF the boatinen, and charm TO
silence every voice. EoiseiesS, bat IN crowds
the people moved .orv 'rd on the bank OF the Ca
nal, keeping even pace with the long line OF boats
whilst ATS, now animated, now pIaintive, from
the Marine Band, placed in the forward boat !ieh-
tened the toll OF the walk AS the boats neared The
ground destined for tile coi.mcncencnt of the Ca
nal, tie Procession discovered posted OIL the bank
two companies OF R:licincn cOinmande, by Cant
Thomas uad Captain Eacr, scarcely TO b. d,lin-
guisied, in their Uniform o. green from thu, Treas
IN which they stood einbowered, who paid 10 the
President oil the United States, both going and re
turnng. the military honors due TO his station The
multitude now yisibly increased. Thousands hung
upon Tie overlooking hill 10 the North and many
cirEed tie outrageous trees bordering the River
and .le Canal. Perfect order every where r-e-
JAILED.
On landing from the boats, and reaching the
ground lone OF two hundred yards East OF the line
of the present CanlD the Procession moved a.
round t so d TO leave hollow space, in the midst
OF mass o. People, III the centre OF which was the
spot marked out by Judge Wright, the Engineer
OF the chesapeake aCG Ohio CUnai Company for
the commencement; Of the work A moments
pause here occurred, while lie spade, destined TO
commence Tie WORK, ~as selected by The Commit
Tee OF Arrangements, and the spot for breaking
ground was precisely denoted.
At that moment lie sun shone out from behind
cloud and. amidst silence so Intense as 10 chas
ten the animation OF hope and 10 halow the entbu-
sasm oi JOY, the Mayor OF Georgetown handed TO
Gen. Mercer, the President Of the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal Canal Company, the cousecraled insfrti-
ment, which having received, he stepped toward
IRON the resting column and addressed as follows
the listening multitude
Fellow Citizens: There are moments. H. the
progress oftime, which arc the counters Of whole
ages. There are events, the monuments Of which
surviving every oher memorial Of human eXis-
lance, eniernisc the nation 10 whose history they
geiong' alter oil Other vesuges Of lis glory have
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