, besides many other compounds, to name which
nothing but the luxuriance of American-English could invent a word.
Certainly the preparations in the refreshment way were most imposing,
and gave you some idea of what had to be gone through on this auspicious
day. Martial music sounded from a dozen quarters at once; and as you
turned your head, you tacked to the first bars of a march from one band,
the concluding bars of Yankee Doodle from another. At last the troops
of militia and volunteers, who had been gathering in the park and other
squares, made their appearance, well dressed and well equipped, and, in
honour of the day, marching as independently as they well could. I did
not see them go through many manoeuvres, but there was one which they
appeared to excel in, and that was grounding arms and eating pies. I
found that the current went towards Castle Garden, and away I went with
it. There the troops were all collected on the green, shaded by the
trees, and the effect was very beautiful. The artillery and infantry
were drawn up in a line pointing to the water. The officers in their
regimental dresses and long white feathers, generals and aides-de-camp,
colonels, commandants, majors, all galloping up and down in front of the
line,--white horses and long tails appearing the most fashionable and
correct. The crowds assembled were, as American crowds usually are,
quiet and well behaved. I recognised many of my literary friends turned
into generals, and flourishing their swords instead of their pens. The
scene was very animating; the shipping at the wharfs were loaded with
star-spangled banners; steamers paddling in every direction, were
covered with flags; the whole beautiful Sound was alive with boats and
sailing vessels, all flaunting with pennants and streamers. It was, as
Ducrow would call it, "A Grand Military and Aquatic Spectacle."

Then the troops marched up into town again, and so did I follow them as
I used to do the reviews in England, when a boy. All creation appeared
to be independent on this day; some of the horses particularly so, for
they would not keep "in no line not no how." Some preferred going
sideways like crabs, others went backwards, some would not go at all,
others went a great deal too fast, and not a few parted company with
their riders, whom they kicked off just to shew their independence; but
let them go which way they would, they could not avoid the squibs and
crackers. And the w