Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1855-07-11

ceSSlOn Oh clIlzens, commenced IlarcH IOr
the Island to take part in the exercises of an
occasion so memorable and interesting.
The prayer, by our esteemed townsman,
Rev. VIM. M. FERRY, was exceedingly pathet-
ic and appropriate to the occasion, returning
thanks to God for granting us the rich boon
of liberty, and by its preservation enabling
us to become the great and happy nation that
this returning anniversary now beholds us,
and invoking the divine blessing to enable us
to preserve the rights thus guaranteed to
free people, and to escape those evils and ma
tional follies which may have tendency to
overthrow the great superstructure of liberty,
and doom us to an ignominious national death.
The Declaration, that bill of rights of the
American people, the most renowned docu-
ment in existence, to which every true Amer
lean turns with pride, was read, in the most
happy manner, by R. P. SINCLAIR, Esq
Ofthe grafton, we regret that we are unable
to give more elaborate statement, not being
able to obtain position as near as desirable
to the speaker, and the patriotism Of the boys
at this stage of the proceedings becoming ex-
ceedingly boisterous, and the conversation in
our immediate vicinity, between friends and
old acquaintance CHANGING there to meet
prevented us from hearing but small por-
ton of what is said by others, more fortu-
nate than ourselves, to have been a master
piece of master-workman, and every way wor-
thy the man and the occasion, and what eve
ry one acquainted with the orator might ex-
pect to hear from lips eloquent.
One incident served greatly to deepen the
interest of the occasion, the meeting of near
ly fifty Of the veterans who fought for the
blessings SO literally enjoyed by us. Itmust
have been an interesting scene to them to
look round upon the thousands there as
sembled, on that memorable day, with hearts
swelling with enthusiasm, and reflect that a
nations gratitude and blessing is theirs and
that generations, long after they have passed
from the busy scenes of earth, will rise up
and call them blessed.
Of the dinner we did not partake; but
from the scene presented during its arrange
ment, we presume it was such as might have
been expected to have been prepared for such
an occasion. We, preferred more quiet seat
at the table of mine host" of the Western
which, kind reader, should it suit your inclin-
alton to call thereat, will be found well provi.
ded with the substantials and Injuries of the
season, served up with the kind attentions
and welcoming smiles of its gentlemanly pro
prietors and assistants.
We were unable to return to the Island il
time to hear any of the regular tosts, but
presume, from the character of the commit
tee having that particular part of the exer
cises in charge, they must have been admira
bly, adapted to the occasion. However, some
of the volunteer" ones we thought were de-
cidedly simple.
The torchlight procession in the evening
was fine, and the display of fireworks respect
able; but would have been much more in
teresting if a little more promptness had beer
manifested and less delay occurred between
the exhibition of the different pieces. TIL,
music by the band, however, was admirable
when afforded at those intervals and mitiga
! ted somewhat the tedium.
The fireworks, displayed from the dom,
of the splendid mansion of d. BALL, ESQ.
were highly creditable to the liberality of tina
enterprising gentleman.
On Thursday morning, taking leave O
"mine host" of the Western, and the cit,
of Grand Rapids, we found ourselves one
more on board the Olive Branch, homewar,
bound, in company with nearly the sam
number of passengers as of the day before
A little incident occurred when few mile
below the city which created for few min
utes little excitement on board, causing tn
eye of the stout-hearted for few moment
to brighten with interest, and the heart {
the more timid to pulsate more rapidly
The Empire made her appearance a shor
distance behind the Olive Branch, smokin,
and putting away at rate that gave all t