| Citation |
NHG-P.777.026
1 Aug 1777:12 (2/8)
Philadelphia, July 8th, 1777. Last Friday the 4th of July,
being the anniversary of the independence of the United
States of America, was celebrated in this city with
demonstrations of joy and festivity. About noon all the
armed ships & gallies in the city were drawn up before the
city, dressed in the gayest manner, with the colours of the
United States and streamers displayed. At one o'clock, the
yards being properly manned, they began the celebration of
the day by a discharge of thirteen cannon from each of the
ships, and one from each of the thirteen gallies, in honour
of the thirteen United States.
In the afternoon an elegant dinner was prepared for
Congress, to which were invited the President and Supreme
Executive Council, and Speaker of the Assembly of this
State, the General [ ] and Colonels of the army, and
strangers of eminence, and the members of the several
Continental Boards in town. The Hessian band of music,
taken in Trenton the 26th of December last, attended and
brightened the festivity with some fine performances suited
to the joyous occasion, while a corps of British deserters
taken into the service of the continent by the State of
Georgia, being drawn up before the door, filled up the
intervals with feux de joice. After dinner a number of
toasts were drank, all breathing independence, and a
generous love of liberty, and commemorating the memories of
those brave and worthy patriots who gallantly exposed their
lives, and fell gloriously in defence of freedom and the
righteous cause of their country.
Each toast was followed by a discharge of artillery and
small arms, and a suitable piece of music by the Hessian
band.
. . . [23 lines describing the rest of the festivities,
which included the ringing of bells and discharging of
fireworks]
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