| Citation |
NHG-P.770.019
8 Jun 1770:13 (712)
Boston, May 31. Yesterday being the Anniversary for the
Election of Chancellors, agreeable to the Royal Charter, his
Honor, in obedience to the mandates of a minister of state
appointed the General Court to convene at Cambridge, whereas
the express letter of the law ordains the election to be
made in Boston, being the most proper, convenient as well as
ancient seat of government of the Massachusetts Bay. The
morning was ushered in with musick parading the streets, and
an ox, which on the afternoon before was conveyed thro' the
town decorated with ribbons, flowers, &c. was early put to
the fire at the bottom of the common; the novilty of an ox
roasting whole, exciting the curiosity of the people, and
incredible numbers from [ ] and the neighbouring towns
resorted to the spot, to view so unusual a spectacle, at 11
o'clock the several batteries in the town discharged their
cannon, presently after, divine service began at the Old
Brick Meeting-House, the Rev. Mr. Samuel Mather, the worthy
descendant of the excellent Doctors Increase and Cotton
Mather, and legitimate heir to their political as well as
religious principles, opened the solemnity with prayer, the
Rev. Dr. Chauncy, that inflexible assertor of our civil and
religious rights, entertained a numerous and very
respectable audience with an animated discourse well suited
to the occasion, from Psalm xxii, ver. 4. Our fathers
trusted in thee; they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
Publick worship concluded with an anthem admirably performed
by a select company procured for that purpose. The clergy
and a great number of principal gentlemen from this and the
neighbouring towns then proceded to Faneuil-Hall, where an
elegant entertainment was provided, and attended with that
chearfulness, decency and good order peculiar to the
favourites of freedom and science. After dinner the
following toasts were drank, and saluted with loud huzzas
and the discharge of guns.
1. The King, ordained for the good of the people.
. . . [51 lines, including 23 more toasts]
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