The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1847-07-27
THE FOURTH OF JULY IN THE LIV-
ERPOOL DOCKS.

On the 4tn SI July, looU, tne snip Wnlcn
commanded, substantial eastern vessel,
built to carry cet,on from New Orleans to
Liverpool and "nothing else," was laying
in the Liverpool Docks, surrounded with
vessels of every nation and every size. Near
est to her was Dutch galliot; within con-
versible distance Danish brig, and next 10
her an old Spanard which might have been
constructed for the flagship of Columbus
There was an air of antiquity about her that
went far to justify such a supposition. A
little farther off was French ship of small
tonnage, hailing from Bordeaux, neat and
clean craft, that even a Yankee would have
been proud to command. The French mer-
chant marine in the cleanliness, intelligence
and good conduct Of men, and the tidiness
of lis ship, is superior TO the Engli:h and
very nearly equal to our own.
had some suspicion that my men meant
10 celebrate the glorious FOURTH, and on
their own decks, too, for they drew part of
their pay on the night of the 3d,-and
should have been glad TO have made ono Of
the company, but that all engagement, pre-
viously made, called me out oftown. From
the mete down to the cabin boy, my men
were natives of the place where the ship was
built and owned.--staunch, steady Maine
boys, each one of whom entering the hawse-
hole, looked steadily TO the quarterback and
cabin. They were full of state and national
pride-swore that Maine vessels were in ev-
cry repect equal 10 those OF Massachusetts
and New York,* and that the three states
could put ahoat feet that would sweep the
seas. The reader will see how happily love
of state and love Of the Union blended in the
hearts of these gallant tars.
They had determined 10 have a proper
observance of the FOURTH, and the incidents
of their celebration | shall describe as they
were related to me the day after.
At sunrise in the morning they went on
board--hoisted the American flag at the
peak, and crowded on the top-masts of the
ship every bit of bunting, the ships tels-
graphic signals included, they could find
Not being allowed to fire salute,t they as
sembed aft, and headed by the mate, who
at home was reckoned tolerable expert in
psalmody and regularly lead the meeting
house choir, sung with a good will ''Hail
Columbia" and " Yankee Doodle" This
done, the men put on their best rig and
went ashore to breakfast, first appointed a
committe to invite the crews of their Dutch,
Danish, Spanish and French neighbors to
Join with them IN their celebration Of the
birthday of freedom.
The committee had some little trouble in
making their intended guests acquainted with
the object of the visit, but by dint ofa grog
can and sundry pantomimic performances
connected withit, the important intelligence
was at length communicated, and invitation
accepted.
By IL o'clock, the men were on beard and
making ready. The lower sails were arran.
ged into an awning, tables rugged up and
spread, and numberless baskets of provisions
unpacked. Atmeridian all hands were cal
led upon to salute the flag of the Union--tbe
glorious ''stars and stripes" The salute
was handsomely returned by the Frenchman
who run up his own flag at his peak, while
ours was displayed at his fore.
The guests now began 10 arrive, the Danes
first, Dutchman next, the Spaniards follow
ing, and eur French friends bringing up the
rear. Very little ceremony was used; the
first mate took the head of the table as pre-.
siding officer, and the man Of the forecastle
raw boned double,jonted down Easter, 81
las Weeks by name, of1iciated as vice. 81.
las was good natured fellow, but wher
he did show grit, it was of the grittiest kind
The party rendered the most ample JUS
tce to the edibles before them--they were
full an hour and a half before they clearet
the table, and as it is a psint of honor witt
Jack never TO leave anything in his kid, the
table was cleared before they stopped eating
Thus much Of the ceremony satisfactorily
got through with, the punch was produced
"a barrel and half prepared after the sal
lor's recipe--'twothirds spirit, one-,hird wa
Ter, and d--n the grog." All the cans be
ing filled, the mate arose with great dignity
and gave the first regular toast
"'The signers of the Declaration Of Inde
pendence."
Our men rose TO their feet in an instant
and drank the toast in perfect silence, thei
guests looking on with no little amazement
as they did not understand word of Eng
lish
The second toast--"The President of tht
United States," was drank with three time
three and one more--the whole compan,
joining in the cheers, though the foreigner
did not understand what they were for.
The third toast--'France," was followed
by the Marsellois sung by our crew. Thi
the Frenchmen understood, and they swell
led the chorus with good heart, like dream
ing that twenty-seven days aferward tn
whole city of Paris would sing out the an
them of the Revolution, beneath the tri-col
or ngain waving in triumph over the Tuilerie.