New England Religious Herald

A Pleasant Fourth of July.

We spent Independence day in a manner rational and pleasant, with many others of similar tastes. As the threatening clouds broke away in the morning, we left this city for the beautiful grove of Mr. Gillette in Bloomfield, where a goodly company of temperance friends assembled and improved the hours in advocating that excellent cause. A band of teetotallers from the Emerald Isle discoursed music from their various instruments a la Nebuchadnezzar, while the Granby glee club raised their voices in temperance songs. The Declaration of Independence was read by N. H. Morgan. Addresses were delivered before dinner by Messrs. Gillette, Hale, Marsh and Chapman. After the large company had dined, toasts were offered, and then followed brief remarks by Messrs. Ripley, Patton, Fox, Clarke, Chapman, Loomis, Hale, Gillette and other friends. The day was as bright as the boys could desire, and there under the trees, far from the noise and dissipation of the city, we enjoyed a peaceful celebration of that glorious, spirit-stirring anniversary. We are glad to say that the American slave was remembered from time to time in the remarks of the speakers. What a blessed day will that be, when this country shall proclaim liberty to all its inhabitants, and when its professed freemen shall emancipate themselves from bondage to alcohol!