Papers of John Adams, volume 20
1790]
I have the honor to inform the Vice President of the United States
and to request him to inform cause an intimation to
be given to the Honoble The Members of the Senate that at one oClock to day, an oration
will be delivered at St Pauls Church in commemoration of the
declaration of Independence by a Member of the Society of the Cincannati and that seats
are provided for his and their accommodation. Peculiar circumstances prevented an
earlier communication. The Requisite number of tickets accompany this have been sent to the Secretary of the Senate.1
I have the honor to be with the / most perfect respect Sir / Your Obed Hum st
Vice President of the NY Society of the Cin:
RC (DSI:Adams-Clement Coll.); addressed: “The Vice President of the United States”; internal address: “Vice President of the United States”; endorsed: “Col. Hamilton / 5. July 1790.”
The Fourth of July fell on a Sunday in 1790, shifting national
celebrations to the next day. In New York City and across the country, Americans
marked the anniversary with military parades, cannon salutes, and public readings of
the Declaration of Independence. 390
JA evidently made use of the tickets, and Hamilton’s itinerary was
accurate. Adjourning for one afternoon, a large contingent of senators and
representatives joined JA and George Washington at the president’s house
for wine, punch, and cake. They proceeded to St. Paul’s Chapel on Wall Street, where
New York lawyer Henry Brockholst Livingston gave a “well adapted” oration that was
“received with great applause.” In Boston, the church bells rang at daybreak, and
government officials gathered at the Old South Meeting House for festivities.
Philadelphia residents set off fireworks that evening at the statehouse (Maclay, Journal
, p. 315–316; Washington, Diaries
,
6:85–86; New-York Journal, 9 July; Boston Columbian Centinel, 7 July; Pennsylvania Mercury, 8 July).