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VII-A. CELEBRATIONS, SPRINGFIELD, MASS., 29 JULY 1788
represented, the Time when, and the Majority by which the Constitu-
tion was adopted-On the opposite Side of the Bridge, disconsolate
and alone, was a Standard for North-Carolina, three Quarters raised,
with a small Flag, a Label mentioning the Name of the State, and the
Time of the Meeting of their Convention, with this Motto-"It will
rise."-But in a still more disconsolate Situation was a bare Pole, rep-
resenting poor Rhode-Island, pointing the opposite Way from North-
Carolina, raised to about the 45th Degree from the Horizon, with a
Paper affixed to it, on which was written, - ["]Rhode-Island in Hopes."-
The Standard of France (the great and good Ally of America) was also
erected on the Parade, near the Bridge.-These Standards were con-
tinued in this Situation the Remainder of the Day.-A Procession was
formed on the Market Parade, and moved, with Drums beating and
Colours flying, to Federal Hill-where, precisely at Eleven o'Clock,
Eleven heavy Cannon were fired, in Honour of the Eleven confeder-
ating States, and after mutual Gratulations and three hearty Cheers the
Whole dispersed.-At Three o'Clock Eleven Cannon were fired on the
Bridge, by Col. Tillinghast's Independent Company, and Eleven Cheers
given.-A Number of young Gentlemen equipped themselves with Arms,
&c. under the Command of Col. Whipple-and after marching through
the Town, with martial Music, they discharged twice Eleven Rounds on
the Bridge, by Platoons.-Eleven heavy Cannon from Federal Hill closed
the Day.-What makes this great Event more particularly joyous is, that
from the best Accounts we had previously received from New-York, there
was every Appearance of the Constitution being partially rejected, by a
conditional Adoption.
1. The Newburyport, Mass., Essex Journal, 13 August, reprinted a slightly shorter version
with minor changes in wording.
Springfield, Mass.
29 July 1788
Springfield Hampshire Chronicle, 6 August 1788
Yesterday se'nnight arrived in this town Mr. William Stimpson, on his
way from New-York to Charlestown, near Boston, who brought the agree-
able intelligence of the adoption of the Constitution by that State.-
Soon after the news arrived, a number of the respectable inhabitants
of this town met and proceeded to Federal Hill, where they expressed
their sentiments of genuine Federalism by the discharge of eleven can-
non, in honour of the States which have ratified the New Government.
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