Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-07-08

Seldom, if ever, has the City Of WASHINGTON
witnessed such day as that of the Anniversary
celebrated on the day before yesterday For the
most part the FOURTH OF july is here day of
official ceremony day by many persons rather
endured from sense cf national duty, than sought
from the hope ofenjoynent. It is very frequently
a hot and dusty day, and, being holyday in the
public offices, it is the signal for putting in requis-
ton all sorts OF conveyance by which weary ci-
zens may fly from the looming OF cannon and the
rattle Of drums to the quiet shades Of the country
But not SO on this return of our National Ami
versary few left the city, while great muttudes
rushed into it, not only from the immediate vicni-
ty and the adjacent cities, but from opposite and
distant parts of the Union. Since the Inauguration
and the Funeral of HARRISON our streets and public
avenues have never been SO thronged with people,
and never was the day signazed in this capital Of
the nation as it has been on this occasion. The
weather was most propitious heavy rain, falling
in the early part Of the previous day, had cooled
the earth and the air, and giving place to clear and
brilliant sky seemed gladly lend its aid to the Joy
and grandeur of the occasion. The ordinary cars
proved insufficient 10 bring the mutitudes, and ex-
ira trains being added 10 meet the emergency, these
too, were crowded, and continued to deposite load
after load of visiters who spread themselves, all
eye and ear, into every quarter, inquirng for the
Presidents House, the Patent Office, and all the
other localities of which they had heard and read
but which they had now for the first time, an OPP
portunity to behold.
4 ILL, Loco IL ~. 4.
light, sunrise salutes from the arsenal anG navy
yard, the discharge of guns and pistols in the
streets, the popping Of crackers and Liliputan ar
tllery in the yards and vacant lots to say nothing
OF drums and trumpets, and the thrilling notes Of
the buge, put all idea Of sleep out of the heaviest
heads. ~
Very soon we had long trains of Temperance
Societies and Red men streaming along, with their
many-colored banners and their strange emblems,
Fastening TO their several rendezvouses. Here
Sunday school, all in their best, with shining
morning faces radiant with Joy and excitement,
trooped along after their scarcely less delighted in
sructors and guardians. Yonder was drawn
hogshead on wheels, its whitewashed sides glaring
III the sun, with Fountain of health" painted on
it in scroll: WHILE round the corner, more wick
ed-looking barrels, shaded by extempore groves,
were slowly vending their way in carts, with color
ed spectators attendant, bearing tables on their
heads, and " totng" piled-up baskets of cake and
fruit and suspicious looking stone bottles. Pre-
sently came laundering along magnificent fire en-
CINE, all glittering and glancing with brass and
varnish, bearing above huge towering eagle, and
drawn by long lines of Firemen in brilliant uniform,
bearing trumpets and "spanners," and preceded by
torch-bearer boys TO enlighten them where to tread
ALI these were but notes Of preparation, for it
x-a,a To ,Lo
the sidewalks the more interesting and attractive
part of the amusing scene) would be impossible
A more mixed and motley multitude we have rarely
seen, yet all well-dressed and well-behaved What
in Paris, or in almost any European city, would
have been grouped together as canale," was here
mass of happy, respectable population, all bearing
the indications of comfort in their appearance and
of lively intelligence in their look and carriage II
were long to tell OF the many brightribboned coun-
try bonnets which hustled and swayed about in the
crowd, like poppy-heads in garden bed shaken by
the wind Ii were harder to describe the thousand
youthful, yes, and nantine faces, SO full of raised
earnestness-the round eye, the open mouth, the
dumping hands clinging to Mothers dress, or
thrown about Fathers neck and supporting arms.
This was, to lover of men, the feast of the day
how much richer how much sweeter, how much
purer in its joy, than the many feasts, public and
private, pleasant and proper as these were, that
graced the close of the day. Every thing seemed
alive, and the large admixture of strangers greatly
enhanced the interest of the scene.
The Military mastering ground, which was well Sc
lected in Of the openes and most elevated spots
in the city, being the junction Of two broad avenues,
and Immediately in front of the City Hall, present
ed an imposing spectacle. The military assem-
bsge Commanded in chief, for the day, by Major
General QUITsAN, Of the United States army, and
General CADwALADER and Colonel MAY, command
ing specially the infantry and cavalry troops re-
specvely) was unusually large, and the appearance
and discipline of the troops, both regulars marines,
and uniform companies, was highly creditable.
Distinguished officers on their melted chargers were
curvetting about in front of the long lines of men,
whose diferent-coored plumes and rich and various
uniforms gave variety TO what in a regular army,
would have too much of stiff uniformity. Good
bands We'd with each other in playing military airs,
while their notes were often re-echoed by the blithe
tones of the piano, resounding from the open win
dows Of neighborag dwellings,. Windows the
very word calls up the vivid picture of those groups
who crowded them, TO the third and fourth story
leaning out, talking TO one another, and pointing to
some striking figure on horseback, or gracefully
bowling to acquaintance in the crowd. /" Which is
Colonel MAYW "That very large man, with the
great beard, who sits his horse so well, and makes
him cut so many capers." I" Is that hel What
ine-looking man y lis General ScoTT here r.
" No; he's sick, and can't be OUT Ha what
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