The Only Journal devoted to the History of our Country THE HISTORICAL MAGAZINE AND NOTES AND QUERIES CONCERNING THE ANTIQUITIES, HISTORY, AND BIOGRAPHY OF AMERICA. THIS Magazine was commenced in January, 1857, for the purpose of furnishings a medium of intercommunication between historical societies, authors, and students of history, and thus supply a want that had long been felt. The work is the organ of the various historical societies-with a corresponding editor in cach-giving official reports of their meetings, the most interesting papers read before them, revolutionary letters, diaries, biographical sketches, local customs, and anecdotes. Every item relating to our early customs or history-every fact to be gleaned from English town or county histories-bearing upon the settlers of this country will be diligently sought for. The co-operation of all gentlemen engaged in literary and historical pursuits, in every part of our country, is earnestly requested. Any persons having valuable papers in their possession, are invited to furnish them for publication; such will be carefully used and returned to their owners. The work is under the editorial care of a gentleman well known for his hearty devotion to the objects of this publication, and a distinguished member of the New York Historical Society, and receives the aid of the best writers in the country. Among the contributors to the past numbers are: Hon. Edward Everett, Hon. Geo. Bancroft, Jared Sparks, LL.D., Hon. Peter Force, Hon. James Savage, W. H. Prescott, Esq., Hon. Robert C. Winthro Wm. Gilmore Simms, Esq., Dr. John W. Francis, Henry R. Schoolcraft, Esq., Benson J. Lossing, Esq., Hon. Henry C. Murphy, Samuel G. Drake. Esq., John G. Shea, Esq.. Sebastian F. Steeter, Esq., Alfred B. Street, Esq., Lt. Col. J. D. Graham, E. B. O'Callaghan, LL.D., Prof. W. W. Turner, Charles Campbell, Esq., Buckingham Smith, Esq., Evert A. Duyckinck, Horatio Gates Jones, Esq., Plowden C. J. Weston, Esq., William Duane, Esq., Brantz Mayer, Esq., Hon. John R. Bartlett, Samuel F. Haven, Esq., Dr. R. W. Gibbs. The publisher will spare no efforts to render the work worthy the liberal patronage of all who feel interested, in saving from the "tooth of time" the fleeting waifs of our country's history. The work is printed on extra quality of paper, small quarto form, and published in monthly numbers at Two DOLLARS A YEAR. Specimen numbers sent upon receipt of fifteen cents in postage stamps. Address all communications to C. BENJAMIN RICHARDSON, Publisher 240 BROADWA▼ NOW VODY SUCCESS OF OUR REPUBLIC. Oration delivered by Hon. Edward Everett, at Boston, July 4, 1860. EIGHTY-FOUR years ago this day, the Anglo-American Colonies, acting by their delegates to the Congress at Philadelphia, formally renounced their allegiance to the British Crown, and declared their Independence. We are assembled, Fellow-Citizens, to commemorate the Anniversary of that great day, and the utterance of that momentous declaration. The hand that penned its mighty sentences, and the tongue which, with an eloquence that swept all before it, sustained it on the floor of the Congress, ceased from among the living at the end of half a century, on the same day, almost at the same hour, thirty-four years ago. The last survivor of the signers closed his venerable career six years later; and of the generation sufficiently advanced in life to take part in public affairs on the 4th of July, 1776, not one probably survives to hail this eighty-fourth anniversary. They are gone, but their work remains. It has grown in interest with the lapse of years, beginning already to add to its intrinsic importance those titles to respect which time confers on great events and memorable eras, as it hangs its ivy and plants its mosses on the solid structures of the past, and we have come together to bear our testimony to the Day, the Deed, and the Men. We have shut up our offices, our warehouses, our workshops, we have escaped from the cares of business, may I not add from the dissensions of party, from all that occupies and all that divides us, to |