“At night one would suppose the crowd would lessen. Not so. The illuminations, the fireworks, the many-colored lanterns, and the general gas and spermaceti demonstrations gave to Broadway a carnavalesque appearance which it is almost impossible to describe. Beginning with the clever design of the New York Club down to the Park there was a succession of illuminations and transparencies of every possible sort. The great bazaars vied with each other in the number and variety of their mottoes and designs, both for day and night; but, passing by all of them, we were especially struck with the following distich on the side of a car:
“ ‘With wild huzzas now let the welkin ring,
Columbia’s got Britannia on a string.’
“ ...The firemen’s torch-light parade concluded the day’s festivities. It was exceedingly beautiful, and as the long line moved through Broadway surrounded by an enthusiastic crowd on every side, and lighted by thousands of torches, candles, and colored lanterns, one might easily have imagined himself in a fairy-land. It was long after midnight before the great assemblage dispersed, and even then the streets did not resume their wonted aspect.... The fact is, that an avalanche of people descended upon us, and New York was crushed for once; but we do not lay Atlantic cables every day.”
On the 2d of September, at seven o’clock, a dinner ended the celebration.
“There were six hundred guests who sat down to as sumptuous a dinner as ever was laid on any great occasion in this city. The bill of fare was laid beside each plate:
MUNICIPAL DINNER
BY THE
COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
TO
CYRUS W. FIELD,
AND OFFICERS OF
H. B. M. Steamship Gorgon and U. S. Steam Frigate Niagara,
IN COMMEMORATION OF THE
LAYING OF THE ATLANTIC CABLE.
METROPOLITAN HOTEL, SEPTEMBER 2d, 1858.
——
OYSTERS ON THE HALF-SHELL.
SOUPS.
Green Turtle.
Gumbo, with rice.
FISH.
Boiled Fresh Salmon, lobster sauce.
Broiled Spanish Mackerel, steward’s sauce.
BOILED.
Turkey, oyster sauce.
Leg of Mutton, caper sauce.
ROAST.
Young Turkey.
Ribs of Beef.
Ham, champagne sauce.
Lamb, mint sauce.
Chickens, English sauce.
COLD DISHES.
Boned Turkey, with jelly.
Chicken Salad, lobster sauce.
Patties of Game, with truffles.
Ham, sur socle, with jelly.
ENTRÉES.
Tenderloin of Beef, larded, with mushroom sauce.
Lamb Chops, with green peas.
Chartreuse of Partridges, Madeira sauce.
Forms of Rice, with small vegetables.
Timbale of Macaroni, Milanaise style.
Wild Ducks, with olives.
Breast of Chickens, truffle sauce.
Soft-shell Crabs, fried plain.
Stewed Terrapin, American style.
Squabs, braisées, gardener’s sauce.
Sweetbreads, larded, with string-beans.
Fricandeau of Veal, larded, with small carrots.
Flounders, stuffed, with fine herbs.
Reed Birds, steward’s sauce.
Broiled Turtle Steaks, tomato sauce.
Croquettes of Chickens, with fried parsley.
Tenderloin of Lamb, larded, poivrade sauce.
Pluvier, on toast, Italian sauce.
RELISHES.
Raw Tomatoes.
Spanish Olives.
Pickled Oysters.
Currant Jelly.
Celery.
GAME.
Partridges, bread sauce.
Broiled English Snipe.
VEGETABLES.
Boiled and Mashed Potatoes.
Stewed Tomatoes.
Sweet Potatoes.
Lima Beans.
PASTRY.
Apple Pies.
Plum Pies.
Peach Pies.
Plum Pudding.
Fancy Ornamented Charlotte Russe.
Maraschino Jelly.
Fancy Fruit Jelly.
Pineapple Salad.
Gateaux, Neapolitan style.
Champagne Jelly.
Pineapple Pies.
Custard Pies.
Pumpkin Pies.
Cabinet Pudding.
Peach Méringues.
Madeira Jelly.
Punch Jelly.
Fancy Blanc Mange.
Spanish Cream.
Swiss Méringues.
CONFECTIONERY.
Méringues, à la crême, vanilla flavor
Rose Almonds.
Fancy Lady’s Cake.
Quince Soufflée.
Vanilla Sugar Almonds.
Ornamented Macaroons.
Mint Cream Candy.
Butterflies of Vienna Cake.
Vanilla Ice Cream.
Savoy Biscuit.
Variety Glacé Fruit.
Dominos of Biscuit.
Fancy Variety Candy.
Roast Almonds.
Conserve Kisses.
Chocolate Biscuit.
Fancy Diamond Kisses.
Preserved Almond Kisses.
ORNAMENTS.
Queen Victoria, of Great Britain.
James Buchanan, President of the United States.
Cyrus W. Field, with his Cable.
Professor Morse, as Inventor of the Telegraph.
Dr. Benjamin Franklin.
The operative Telegraph of the Metropolitan Hotel.
The Niagara, Man-of-War of the United States.
The Agamemnon and Niagara paying out the Cable.
Cyrus W. Field, surrounded by the flags of all nations.
The Coats of Arms of all nations, on a pyramid.
Pocahontas, with real American design.
Temple of Liberty.
Grand Ornamented Fruit Vase.
Temple of Music.
Frosting Tower.
Sugar Tower, with variety decorations.
Flower Pyramid.
White Sugar Ornament.
Fruit Basket, supported by Dolphins.
Fancy Decorated Flower Vase.
Tribute Temple.
Pagodi Pyramid.
Scotch Warrior, mounted.
Ethiopian Tower.
Floral Vase, decorated.
Frosting Pyramid.
Mounted Church.
Pyramid of Cracking Bonbons.
Chinese Pavilion.
Triumphant Temple.
Sugar Harp, with floral decorations.
Variety Pyramid.
Fancy Sugar Temple.
Ornamented Sugar Tower.
Temple of Art.
Lyre, surmounted with Cornucopia of Flowers.
DESSERT.
Almonds.
Peaches.
Pecan Nuts.
Grenoble Nuts.
Hot-house Grapes.
Coffee.
Citron Melons.
Bartlett Pears.
Raisins.
Filberts.
Coffee.