The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-07-06


The Diplomatic Corps.
The Reverend Clergy.
William + Bayly Mar-hal.
Independent Order Of Odd Fellows.
7 he Senate Of the United states.
The House of Representatives Of the United States
Charles w B0teler. jr, Marshal.
The Order Of Red Men.
Governors Of states.
Delegations from the States.
Second Dipison.
Major $. R. Hobb'e, Marshal of Division,
F. Cunningham, arshal
Temperance Orders.
Charles r.. Ball. Marshal.
Rechabites.
Tho Corporate Aui horites OF
Alexandria. Georgetown and Washington
A. J. Joyce, Marshal.
The Washington Benevolent Society.
A. Keese. Marshal.
The German Benevolent Society.
Literary A, sociations Colleges and Schools.
Tkird Drison
Capt. ]. A. Blake, Marshal Of Division.
Citizens not Delegates from States
Open Barouehe, with Evolutionary Officers and
Barouches with Mrs Madison and Mrs Hamilton.
Maj Gen Winfield Scott and staff , mounted
The Orator OF the Day and the Chaplain.
The Monument Soce ETY.
J. " Thomas, Mar, hal.
Ma onic fraternity.
Major General Scott and staff were not present
The military made fine display infantry, caval-
~ and artillery the Mas ons, the Odd Fellows, the
Rechabltes, and the Red-men turned out 10 large
foicc, IN good costume, and with imposing BAN
ners end regalIa but the firemen, In their bright
and picturesque uniforms, and in the tasteful man
ming and decoration OF their engines, formed the
most novel and attractive feature IN the procession
The pIocesson eight abreast, occupied three quar-
tiers OF an hour in passing, at a steady marching
pace, any given point AT Fourteenth street, the
line whe ed TO the left, and crossed the canal
under tIlumphal arch, the sides each bearing the
names of fifteen of the States, and the keystone
the single word " Independence" On crossing
the Canal, The Mall, or Public Common, ex-
tends 10 The rght or westward, fourth of a mile
to the broad river, and eastward three quarters of
mile to the foot of The capitol the entire COM
mon being about mile in length BY quarter in
wldth-an unduatng plain, commanding fine
we" OF the city and It's beautiful scenic surround
irgs: AT the western extremity OF this plain, or
nearly on the banks of the Potomac, is the site of
the national monument.
. An examination of the locality disclosed the
following arrangements: An excavation of eighty
feet square for the shaft, which is to rise tout Of a
corresponding collonaded panheon) 500 feet
high In the northeast corner of this exca--
vaticn lay large block of white. marble, of
many tons weight, being OF some six feet cube
This was the corner stone. 1t had large square
cavity equal to a bushel and half in the centre,
and cap stone, suspended on block aud buckle,
tobe let down at the proper time. Thanking the
west and north sides of this excavation at fifty feet
distance, large elevated scafiodng Of seats,
foimlng two sides OF right angle trIang e, was
erected The whole scafloldIng was covered with
an awning, and the seats wtr. capable OF accom-
modaiing some four thousand people, according to
our estimate Between the northern wing Of this
arrangement and the excavation. there was a
smaller st ging, shaded with an awning, capable of
holding some two hundred persons, the outside
waited to look over the Top Of this Intervening stag
ing, which we shall call the official platform. At
the northwest corner of the excavation, was the
rostrum Of the orator Of the day. some ten feet high
close to the right Of the official PLATFORM and III the
corner of the angle formed by the outside staging.
On the south side OF the excavation, there tall
masonic arch erected, the keystone bearing the
symbols OF the order. On the eastern side, over
trum. From the public staging on the west side Of
the excavation, was
VIEW TIE SCENE.
AS the procession came up from the eastward It
was brilliant and beautiful to look upon. To the
rghtwas the broad Potomac, stretching away down
TO Mount Vernon; tor the vrw extended to that turn
III the river Here and there a sail dotted the
surface, and close at hand stretched the long
city, or the one. house which occupies the site
OF that commercial emporium. Behind us, across
the stream, were the wooded heights OF Arlington,
the scat Of G; w. p. Custis, Esq, one Of the last
OF the Washington famlly--tO the lett or the
the noIthavard, on its elevated site, was the
White House and its beautiful gardens in full view,
with the mass OF the city, including the majestic
buildings OF the federal government, churches, Ne,
Directly to the eastward, a mile of, on its lofty
elevation, was the capitol itself, rising from It's
groves as from adense forest, and standing out full
relief, IN all Its imposing grandeur. Intervening halt
going upIn elegant STYLE promising. indeed, to be
the most beautifully picturesque edlfice on the con
tlnent. diatey in front and extending over an
area OF the plain, equal TO half mile square, the
pageant, the procession, aud the main body OF
spectators were congregated. As the line wheeled
INTO the PLAIN, divided INTO two columns. the mi
lltary, debouchng to the right, and the civ,c so
cieties to the left, approaching the excavation
When they had taken their positions around II, we
should say that ON the seats, and around the site,
and over the plain, there were not less than
10000 people collected, may persons estimating
the assemblage at 25,000. The gay uniforms OF the
military. and civic societies. the brilliant display
OF the fire companies, the dashng appearance, OF
the numerous marslals of the day, the warlike
aspect OF the Dragons, surrounded by the null
tiiudc Of lookcrs-on including thousands OF LADIES'
the pealing Of artillery, the ringing. OF bells,
the music of brass bands, the Haunting OF banners.
the cleaning OF arms--thc regular formation o.
organised columns, amid the confused movement
of The dcnsc mass surrounding them, were tne
exciting and lively features of this branch OF the
entertainments of the day En- pdssiat, the APP
roaches 10 and the outsdcs of this mss meeting
were literally supplied with booths for refresh
Inents. such as ice cream, lemon ide, root peer,
gins eIbread,. Mc., and the operators in these
branches of domestic exchanges appeared TO drive
a brisk business for several hours Several organ
grinders were also on the look out Ter ens,o ahon
over The plain by the temperance people, 70 keepah
hands cool and sober; and we believe they sue
ceeded, for we saw NOT one drunken man ON the
ground. H al1
THE CERF MONIES. Hf..
order being achieved, a most iervent and elo-
guent PRAYER was offered up tothe Throne of Grace,
from the masonic tribune, by the Rev j. N. Nc
Jilon, Of Baltimore.
The whole throng then Joined in Old Hundred,
10 he hymn. The first verse ct which is as follows
Before Jshovah's awful throne,
q f We nations bow with sacred Joy;
Know that tho Lord Is God alone
t He can create and he dcstroy.p
The official platform was occupied by the Presi-
lent and Cabinet, foreign Ministers, members Of
jcngcss, officers Of the corporation, the editorial
orps, and last though not least, by number OF
ladies', among whom were Mrs.
\ exandcr Hsmilton, lover so years of ag,,) aud
lrs. Ex-President Madison. Accident so ar
auged it to place the writer Of this description
y the side Of Mrs. Hamilton and her daughter,
nd we would not have given up this honor for the