The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-09-22

deep water at our wharyes, through the great man
ufacturing districts Of New England to the Cana
das the lakes, and the great western country. The
length OF the Grand Junction railroad itself ia {
and 6-I0ths miles.
The officers of the company are: President
Samuel ;. Lewis. Directors-David Henshaw,
Charles Paine of Mortified, Vermont; Ichabod
Goodwin, OF Portsmouth,, New Hampshire; and
John w. Fenno, OF Boston. Treasurer-Dexter
Brigham, jr. Clerk. p. Robinson.
We have given above not only an account of the
formal opening of the Grand Junction railroad,
but full history Of its origin and purpose. We
now proceed to give an account of the
Excursion ina the HarbOr,
as furnished by our reporters, beginning with the
S. 8. Lewis, which bore President FILLMORE and
his Secretaries, CONRAD and STUART.
STEAMSHIP S. S. LEwIs.-Another bright clear.
and beautiful morning has dawned upon the sec
ond of the three days festival According 70 the
arrangements, which have thus far been admira-
bly, planned and carried out, Thursday allot-
ted for excursion down the beautiful harbor Of
Boston. The President and suite the Governor
and Council, and other invited guests, enjoyed the
sail in the new steamer s. 8. Lewis AS the most
convenient method, and in order TO give guests
a view OF some OF the numerous railroads which
terminate in Boston, (although the sight was ne
cessarlly an imperfect and cursory one the Pres
ldent and those accompanying him left the depot
OF the Boston and Maine railroad at eleven O'Clock,
and taking at Somerville the Grand Junction rail-
road, which is now 80 far completed as TO connect
! the Boston and Maine, the Lowell, the Fitchburg
and the Eastern railroads, the party arrived at
East Boston at twenty five minutes past eleven
O'Clock, went on board the 5 S. Lewis, which lay
IN the stream bearing the English flag at her fore
the Union jack at her masthead, and the stars and
| stripes floating from her mizen. The Cunard
steamer, the Europa, lay at her wharf beautifully
dressed with tags, pennants. and streamers.
Amidst the roar OF artillery and the cheers of the
multitudes lining the wharves, not only on the East
boston side, but on all the wharves in Boston
proper, and on the tops Of rigging of the ship
ping, from which view of the enivening scene
could be obtained. the President and those who
companied him were conveyed by one of the East
ern railroad ferry boats to this superb propeller
which, shortly after receiving them, proceeded
down the harbor.
The scene at this moment was delightful and
exciting in the highest degree. Flags were float
ing from the mast heads Of all the vessels in the
harbor, 5alutes of artillery fired at East Bos-
ton, and from the revenue cutters Morris and Ham
llton, which accompanying the Lewis were lowed
down the harbor on each side of the steamer John
Taylor, the little breeze that had been blowing
carly III the morning having already exhausted
itself. The cutters both dressed in flags of
all colors and sizes, and presented beautiful APP
pearance. The invited guests and all on board
the ST. Lawrence. the Naushon, and the May
flower, cheered the President enthusiastically,
and followed in our wake swiftly glided
over the sparkling waters of the Boston bay.
The President was accompanied by the gentle
men who have come with him from Washington,
the newspapers. Governor Boutwell, was attended
by his aids, Colonels Chapman, Williams, and
Needham, and also was accompanied by General
Stone, the Adjutant General. The Mayor was left
at East Boston, as also was the Hon. Josiah Quin-
scy, Jr., who returned to the city.
And now let us mention next the distinguished
strangers who were on board, and whose visit to
the city at this time has afforded 80 much gratii
cation. We mention all whose names we could
learn, but some may be unintentionally omitted
Among them were the Hon. Mr.. Champion, the
Charge d'Affaires at Washington, to whose hands
are entrusted the relations Of England with the
United States during the absence OF Sir Henry Bull
wer; the Hon. Francis Hincks, of Lord Elgin's
cabinet; Hon. Joseph Howe, Provincial Secretary
of Nova Scotia; William Young, the Speaker of
the House OF Assembly of Nova Scotia; Colonel
Gudy, OF Montreal, q member of the Provincial
Parliament; Colonel Hall, from Montreal, who
commands the goth regiment; Captains Lye and
Stevens, and Lieutenant Butler and Mr.. Parkin-
son, also OF the goth; Captain Keen and Leuten-
ant Noble, from Montreal, members of the Royal
Corps Of Engineers; Captain Sweedenham and
MIR. Thompson, of the 54th; Mr. Hughes of the
Quartermaster's Department, from Quebec.
OF the American Navy, Commodore Downes,
the commanding officer at the Charlestown Navy
Yard, and the venerable Captain Percival, were
present; and also Captain Tucker, of the Army of
The United States.
There were also ON board, the Hon Amasa
Walker, the Secretary of our own Commonwealth;
the Hon. J. III. Clifford, the Attorney General of
Massachusetts; ex-Lieutenant Governor Reed; |
Lieutenant Governor Cushman, all of the Cover
nor's Council. except the Hon. MIR. Gibson, and
Richard rockingham, jr, the Mayor of Charles
town. Among distin guishsd visitors from other
States, we noticed Judge Phelps of Vermont, c1-
Senator OF the United States Many members of
the Senate and House OF Representatives of Massa-
cbusetts; members of the City Government, and
persons occupying various official stations were
also Of the Presidents party, participating in the
festivities of the occasion, and contributing to the
enjoyment of our visitors from abroad
On our way down the harbor we met the Jabez
Williams, pilot-boat number nine, her way to
the ground intended for the regatta, but unortu.
nately there was too little wind for any exhibition
of the kind. On passing Fort independence we
were greeted with national salute. On our way
to the lower fort, Fort George, came near run
ming aground IN passing through tortuous chan |
mel, but were saved by the skill and readiness of
Captain Cole. and Captain Dolby. our pilot 1t had
been the original intention to carry the President
as far as Minops Ledge, in order to give him and
our other visitors an opportunity to witness the
scene OF the late melancholy disaster; but, owing
to the Presidents other engagements, it became
necessary to return at an earlier hour, and at a |
short distance this side Of the lower light we put
about to return. AT this moment the other steam |
ers crowded with passengers, passed close by US, |
dipped their ensigns, and saluted the President
with loud and repeated cheers, which were return
ed with equal hoartncss but with less powerful
voices from the Lewis. We then came up the har
Dor, accompanied by the steamers whose names we |
have mentioned, and also by the and elegant |
propeller Benjamin Franklin, which was also of !
the party.
During the excursion the President, accompa-
MED by Captain Cole, inspected every part of the
Lewis. and expressed his admiration of the nu- |
merous improvements which have been introduced |
into this model of vessel. Every one on board |
was struck with the facility and steadneas with !
which she moved through the water.
IL Is worthy of comment, and of the highest |
praise considering the ehortnees of the time all on
board the Lewis had had for preparation that every
thing belonging to her in such admirable |
order, and that all the arrangements were 30 COM
plete and satisfactory.
On our arrival off the navy yard, an elegant |
banquet, provided with all the neccssaries and deli
cacies of the season, (never by any means forget
ting to mention chowdcr, which tasted if il had
been concocted by the Hon. Daniel Webster him
Aelf,) was spread in the spacious cabin of the
Lewis, of which all partook with the appetite which
invariably accompanies sight OF the Boston
lighthouse. But short time could be allowed TO |
fill the inner man, when the Hon. Francis Brincy,
who, in the absence of the mayor, presided, an
nounced the following toast, which was drank |
with enthusiasm
"The President of the United States"
The Hon. }. II. Clifford Attorney G General, gave
"Hcr Majesty the Queen"
Benjamin I Reed, esq., proposed the health of
n