The Rhode Island American, And General Advertiser

THIRD VIRGINIAD.

The celebration of the Third Virginiad commenced at James-Town on Friday morning last, and closed on Saturday evening. The number of persons present were upwards of two thousand, but a more heterogeneous mass, says a gentleman writing from that place, I never witnessed. Two orations were delivered both by very young men; an ode, from the pen of the Petersburg Bard. Mr John M'Creery, Was recited by Mr. M'Cleary, of the Theatre; some patriotick songs were sung; and the landing of Smith and his companions on the island, was represented at Mr. Warrel's Picturesque Theatre; but as a whole, the Festival was greatly marred by a manifest want of plan and union, though there was great enjoyment in many of the parts.

The number of vessels in the bay was double that of the former celebration. Forty-five, many of which were steam boats, were collected at one time; but the evening scene was the most pleasing, owing to the rockets occasionally let off, and the innumerable lights spread abroad in every direction, on the water among the trees, in the tents, in the harbour, and in the mansion house, where the ladies danced. Finding the illumination to give more pleasure than anything else, a coloured man, (a Lascar) named Francis Barr, set fire on Saturday morning at half past 11 o'clock, to the brick house, the second in size and value on the island. All the wood work was consumed, and the incendiary was immediately committed to the jail at Williamsburg.

The festival was according to the original plan, to continue for three days; but most of the company left the island on Saturday afternoon, when the jubilee closed. It is probable that three or four more Virginiads must elapse before another celebration of the first landing of the English in America takes place. The American people have a little fondness for publick pageants. A dinner, an oration, and a military parade, are all we can give on the anniversary of independence, and it is not to be expected that any other event will be commemorated with more splendour.