[Pamphlets. American history]

58
THE DINNER.
The company entered the hall about five o'clock, and seated themselves at tables spread with good fare, prepared by that well-known
caterer, John Wright. At the tables at the head of the hall, were G.
Washington Warren, Esq., the President, and on his right, Hon. Edward Everett, and on his left, His Excellency Governor Briggs.
Among those present whose names are not enumerated below as responding to sentiments, we noticed Justice Dewey, of the Supreme
Court, Chief Justice Wells, and Associate Justices Mellen and Hoar,
of the Court of Common Pleas.
After a very satisfactory attack had been made upon the eatables, a
blast from Flagg's bugle announced that the intellectual feast was
about to commence.
The CHIEF MARSHAL called the company to order, and announced
the PRESIDENT OF THE DAY, who arose and addressed them as follows:
Fellow-citizens and soldiers:* —In the name of the city of Charlestown and of the Bunker Hill Monument Association, I give you a
cordial welcome to this commemorative festival. The Bunker Hill
Monument Association is that band of patriotic and persevering men,
who, a little more than a quarter of a century since, formed the design of rescuing the battle-field of Bunker Hill from common and
private uses, and of dedicating it to posterity and to the world as consecrated ground; and who, by their arduous and benevolent efforts,
succeeded in rearing that noble structure, as a fit emblem of the
gratitude of this generation for the services of their fathers. And
the city of Charlestown now displays herself upon that ancient site,
which, seventy-five years ago this day, was swept over by the devouring flames of a conflagration more frightful than the battle, and when,
in one short hour, was destroyed the slow and substantial growth of
almost a century and a half. But now she has risen up like the phoenix
from her ashes, forming one of those beautiful cities which environ
the metropolis, protected on her side by those naval armaments of
war,-some of which have been constructed in the capacious building
in which we have this day been assembled,-and surmounted by that
lofty monument, the work of the Association, which, in the language
of DANIEL WEBSTER,-one of the foremost of its friends, and whose
eloquent words, uttered twenty-five years ago this day, gave to the
national mind a sublime conception of it long before it was com* The tell military companies, with their bands, and the military officers in uniform, presented a very imposing appearance at the tables.