I will not attempt, sir, to embody the emotions excited by the event, nor even to depict the feelings of pleasure awakened by the physical change which has stolen over the city of our pride and affection. A new feature has been stamped upon the face of our metropolis. But yesterday it was the dusty trading mart, unattractive and unadorned to-day the pure mountain stream gushes through its streets and sparkles in its squares. To the noble rivers with which it was encircled by Nature, is now added the limpid stream brought hither by Art, until in the words of the Roman poet, alike descriptive and prophetic, her citizens exult,

" inter fluminanota Et fontes sacros."

But it not for the purpose of dwelling on the grandeur of this noble work,-or is

even its manifold and beneficial influences upon the health and happiness of a vast

population, that I have risen, but rather to draw from the occasion whatever of instruction it suggests.

I would then venture to remark that this stupendous aqueduct, and these splendid

fountains, so worthy of being enjoyed, are equally worthy of being paid for. They owe their very existence to that mighty engine of modern civilization public credit. With borrowed money they have been built. Is there one among us " with soul so dead," as to doubt that this debt will be paid to the utmost farthing ? Is there one among this assembled multitude who would enjoy the benefit, yet basely shrink from the burthen ? The to pay, the debt which has glorious work yet remains, manfully to meet, and punctually been so wisely, so beneficently incurred. Who will venture to predict that this sacred duty will not be fully performed 1 Who can believe that the foul blot of repudiation will ever spread itself over the pure, untarnished credit of this high-spirited community ?