of our Councils takes place, which circumstance will prevent them, as well as myself, from participating in the enjoyment of seeing a flow of wholesome water passing through your streets — equal in magnitude, and more effective in the arrangements and stability of the work, than any other extant. May the citizens of your great city appreciate and enjoy the health and blessings produced by your spirit of enterprise. With great respect, Your obedient servant, FREDERICK GRAFF. To Messrs. CLARKSON CROLIUS,Jun.,1 E. D. WEST, *> Committee of Invitation. WILLIAM DODGE, The fourteenth of October arrived, and a more beautiful day never broke upon the earth. A brilliant sun, a sky veiled but not clouded, and a breezy atmosphere were in harmony with the occasion, and with the joyousness of the multitudinous population crowded into the city from all surrounding regions, to witness and share in the grand jubilee. At sun-rise one hundred guns were fired, the bells of all the churches and public places were rung, and in less than an hour the streets were alive with moving masses. The first ceremony of the morning, was the presentation at the Mayor's office, at 9 o'clock, in accordance with the recommendation of the Committee, of a Banner to the Fire Department. This ceremony passed off as follows : CROTON AQ.UEDUCT. 261 PRESENTATION OF THE BANNER TO THE NEW-YORK FIRE DEPART- MENT. Mayor's Office, New York City, 9i o'clock A. M., ) Ikth October, 1842. \ Present — His Honor, Robert H. Morris, Mayor ; Adam Pentz, Esq., President of the Fire Department ; the Trustees of the Fire Department Fund ; several of the Grand Marshals of the day, with their Aids ; Members of the Common Council ; and the gentlemen composing the late Joint Committee on Fire and Water. Cor. B. Timpson, Chairman of late Joint Committee on Fire and Water, said, — Mr. MAYOR — Want of time compels me to be brief, and to exclude some remarks I had intended to make on this occasion. I hold in my hand a resolution which was pre- sented to the Common Council by Thomas R. Lee, Esq. late Assistant Alderman of the 8th Ward, and unanimously adopted by both branches of the City Government, and ap- proved by His Honor, the Mayor. It is as follows : " Resolved, That a suitable banner be provided at the expense of the City, under the direction of the present members of the Joint Committee of Fire and Water, and that the same be presented to the Fire Department, by his Honor, the Mayor, on the occasion of the celebration of the introduction of the Croton Water into this city." Adopted by the Board of Assistant Aldermen, May 2, 1842. " " " Aldermen, " 9, " Approved by the Mayor, " 14, " SAMUEL J. WILLIS, Clerk of the Common Council. At the time this resolution was offered, it was supposed that the celebration of the introduction of the water of the Croton into this city would take place on the approaching 4th of July, the day we celebrate as that on which our glorious national independence was declared, and the committee to whom it was intrusted, consisting of Abraham Hatfield, Morris Franklin, Daniel Ward, Daniel D. Briggs, Wm. Adams, and myself, were prepared on that day to comply with its requirements, but unavoidable circumstances caused delay until the present time ; and now, sir, in relin- quishing our trust, permit me to say that this splendid banner was designed and executed by Allan Smith Junr., Esq., of this city. The front represents the Fire Department as having achieved a victory over the devouring element, receiving the blessings and thanks of the widow and her orphans for the protection and benefits derived from it — beautiful emblems of power and beneficence — helplessness and gratitude. They are attended by a hero of the flames. Erect, above all, stands old father Neptune, evidently delighted with the victory he has accomplished over his ancient enemy, the Demon of Fire, by the aid of 66 262 CELEBRATION OF THE his skillful and intrepid allies — the Firemen of New York. On the other side of the ban- ner the Queen of Cities, represented by a female wearing a crown, is calling attention to a picture, a view of the dam on the Croton River — the origin of the aqueduct. On the lower part of the border surrounding the picture, are emblazoned the arms of the city of New- York in basso relievo. The silk on which the design is portrayed, measures nine and a half feet by seven and a half feet. Its color is a rich mazarine blue — the fringe, tassels, and cord, are amber and crimson. The banner is surmounted