Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-06-23
Blu N KER HILL.

The CELEBRATION OF THE 17Tn.--The an.
niversary of the Battle Of Bunker Hill, and OF
the completion OF the monument in commence
ration Of il, was celebrated on Saturday, in a
manner worthy Of the occasion. The facilities
Of travelling which have placed our capital in so
near contact with our friends and neighbors,
in every part of the State and Of other States,
brought so many Of them to unite in our cele.
braton, as to give it a grand and imposing effect.
In addition to the 100000 of our city population
there were in the city on Saturday, probably
a hundred thousand more, who came either to
unite in the ceremonies and festivities of the
day, or to be spectator ofthem.
The rain which continued through great
part Of the day on Friday, and effectualy dim.
med the beauty ofthe reception on that day, &C.
casioned also serious forebodings for the sue.
ceedng day. But happily the morning opened
with clear sky, and pure and exhierating at
mosphere. The various military corps, and
other associations which were to form part OF
the procession, were early seen pursuing their
march towards the Common, and those who were
to join it from the State house, assembled there
at an early hour. The procession formed in the
order aud moved in the direction indicated, and
such was the success of the judicious arrange
ments for the occasion, that there was no disor.
der or disappointment. The procession was large
and IMPOSING, and the vast NUMBER and the ex.
emplary order and decorum of the immense
multtudes who lined the streets, and filed the
houses along the route, together with the vari.
Gus embe llishments, presented most gratifying
pectacle.--I'he military part of the process sion
consisting of large number of volunteer com.
panes from abroad, who came to add a lustre to
our exhibition, in addition to those of our own ci-
ty and vicinity, exceeded any display of the kind
which has been seen here. Very many oil
these companies from abroad, among which
were distinguished the four companies of N
York National Guards and others which we
forbear to enumerate, because we know moi
| where to stop, deservedly attracted much atten-
ton by the beauty of their uniform rs well as
the precision of their discipline. Indeed the
whole body OF troops, consisting of sixty one
| companies, numbering from three to four thou.
sand men, and constituting probably one Of the
finest divisions of Light Infantry ever assembled
under the command of one Major General, form.
ed independently Of other parts of the process.
sion, most imposing exhibition.
The vast area between the platform erected
for the Orator and the invited guest on the one
side, and the glacis in front of the Monument
covered with seats and occupied by ladies', on
the other, was soon filled BY the thousands oil
persons who composed the procession. The
multitude who filled this area, 600 feet in width
from right to left, and 300 feet in depth, various
y estimated at 30to 80 thousand persons, (the
former number probably not exaggerated) com
posed the audience whom the Orator was to ad
dress. On the platform by the side of the Ora
tor of the Day and the President of the Monu
mcnt Association, were the President of the
Uulted States--the heads of the Executive De
partment--many Officers Of the Government
and other distinguished gentle ncn invited,
number of survivors of the battle, and the Drec
| tors Of the Association.
| After short and appropriate prayer by the
Rev. Mr.. Ellis, Mr.. Webster rose, and was gree
ted with enthusiastic cheers by the immense
auditory. From the moment when he becar
| until he finished there was breathless silence
and attention, interrupted only by frequent ex
preston of applause. 1t cannot be supposed
that his strong and clear voice filled the whole
area, but it was heard by vast numbers, and ma
ny even to the top of the gacis were able to hea
large part OF the discoursc--Of the discourse
it is not necessary for us to speak particularly
as we publish report of it, which will speal
for itself. We will only remark in general
that it deeply interested the audience, and wa
fell to be not merely appropriate to the occa
sion, by the truth and BUSINESS of its sentiments
but worthy of it by the mpressiveness of it's styl
and the beauty and dignity of it's illustrations,