ΝΟΤΕ. THESE orations and addresses are reprinted from the HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER for October, 1875, where they appeared with the consent of their authors and of the municipalities, associations, or committees, under whose auspices they were delivered. To these we have annexed very full reports of the other proceedings at the most important centennial celebrations in the years 1874 and 1875. The orations have been revised by their authors; and the reports above referred to, for which we are chiefly indebted to the daily papers of this city, have been corrected wherever an error or omission has been discovered. The advantage of having these discourses and proceedings gathered into a single volume will, we are confident, be duly appreciated by librarians, collectors of books, and historical students. For the portrait of the most distinguished martyr in the battle of Bunker Hill which accompanies this volume, we are indebted to his relative, John C. Warren, M.D., of Boston. To George Tolman, Esq., of Concord, to the Hon. Charles Hudson, of Lexington, and to all who in any way have aided us in revising the proceedings, we return thanks. For the care and labor given to this work, we shall be amply rewarded in the feeling that we have helped to circulate among the people, and to place in many domestic and foreign libraries, a collection of learned, eloquent and patriotic discourses upon themes of vital interest to the friends of "liberty regulated by law" throughout the civilized world. With these will also go out the record of fraternal utterances by representatives of all sections of these reUnited States, the forerunner, we fondly hope, of enduring concord and universal prosperity. BOSTON, NOVEMBER, 1875. ALBERT H. HOYT, Committee. CONTENTS. PORTRAIT OF JOSEPH WARREN. By ABNER C. GOODELL, Jr., Esq. AN ORATION ON THE ONE-HUNDREDTH ANNIVER- SARY OF THE BATTLE OF LEXINGTON, APRIL 19, By RICHARD H. DANA, Jr., LL.D. . AN ORATION ON THE ONE-HUNDREDTH ANNIVER- SARY OF THE FIGHT IN CONCORD, APRIL 19, 1775. AN ORATION ON THE ONE-HUNDREDTH ANNIVER- SARY OF THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL, JUNE By the Hon. CHarles Devens, Jr. AN ORATION ON THE ONE-HUNDREDTH ANNIVER- SARY OF WASHINGTON'S TAKING COMMAND OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY, JULY 3, 1775. By ANDREW P. PEABODY, D.D., LL.D. AN ORATION ON THE ONE-HUNDREDTH ANNIVER- AN ADDRESS ON THE ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MEETING OF THE PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE IN SALEM, OCT. 5, 1774. By ABNER C. GOODELL, Jr., Esq., of Salem. ONE NE of the most striking and suggestive fables of Greek History is the story of the founder of Athens. Arrived at manhood, Theseus parts from his mother, lifts the stone under which lie concealed the patrimonial sword and sandals, and proceeds on his eventful way. Wielded by his vigorous arm, his trenchant blade now parries the tremendous club of Corynetes, and now pierces the obdurate hide of the terrible Phæa. He crowns his triumphant progress by still greater deeds of renown; he safely threads the dismal and intricate labyrinth of Crete, frees its despairing captives, and slays the monster Minotaur. Returning thence, he calls together the sons of Hellas, and raises the standard of united Attica. The true story we are assembled to commemorate finds in this fable a parallel. Sprung from a nation the proudest and greatest in all history, the genius of independence was first transplanted to these rugged shores of the Massachusetts Bay. Nurtured long in the severe and heroic discipline of this western wilderness, as if preparing for its majestic mission, at length, in this ancient town, it first officially repudiated the control of the motherland, and, fully comprehending the greatness of its destiny, girded itself for desperate conflict. Later, it lifted and laid the corner-stone of the Republic, in the immortal Declaration at Philadelphia, and turned the sword, already unsheathed in self-defence, to deeds of aggressive war. Against formidable obstacles and discouragements, with matchless fortitude, through eight dreary years of conflict, it parried the thrusts of treason, pricked the sides of apathy and halting discontent, vanquished that unnatural monster, -a hireling foe, and compelled the ministers of tyranny to acknowledge the victory. Meanwhile, it had successfully threaded the labyrinth of the untried inter-colonial system, delivered these youthful states from the frowning walls of doubt that environed them, and raised the standard of an harmonious confederation. In one important feature, however, the parallel fails. The noble Æthra, looking upon her son as the heaven-favored scion of Pelops' line, and swelling |