While at Boston the Fœderal Constitution as submitted to the people by the Convention was received there with great Pleasure—a Convention of the People was called, in which Governor Hancock sat as president—& on the 9th February on the Question being put, either to adopt or reject it—it was adopted by a Majority of 19—after the Question was decided, many of the Members in the Minority who had been violently opposed [to] it, declared that as it had passed, they were determined to give it all the Support in their Power, and immediately set their Names to it.—the next Day the following curious Procession took Place.
Sixteen Forresters with Axes & Brush Scythes
Music
A Plough
drawn by two Horses & two Yokes of Oxen with
a Person holding it & others clearing
away the Obstructions.
Three Sowers with Baskets, strewing
Grain & smoaking their Pipes.
A Brush Harrow drawn by a Horse.
A large roler drawn by a Horse & pair of Oxen.
Four reapers with Sickles &c
Four Mowers with Scythes followed by
eighteen Haymakers with rakes &c
Eight Husbandmen with Hoes, Spades &
other farming Utensils
A Cart drawn by a Yoke of Oxen, with
Flax dressers at Work.
A Yoke of fat Cattle with Killers
properly equipped.
A Cart loaded with Beef, followed by eight
Master Butchers in clean Frocks.
Seventy three Blacksmiths
carrying Implements of their Craft
decorated with ribbons &c
Forty three Shipwrights
with Tools decorated.
Seventy five Ropemakers
—their Waist encircled with Hemp—with a
Cable sled drawn by Workmen decorated
with Colours, & attended with Martial Music.
Thirty Mastmakers
with Tools decorated.
Thirty Sailmakers
with their Tools
Thirty four Ship Joiners
with their Tools
Thirty Blockmakers
with Tools
Six Mathematical Instrument Makers
with Instruments &c
Twenty three Coopers
with Tools
Twenty Boat Builders
with Tools
Twenty Painters
with Pallets &c
Twelve Carvers
with Tools
Eighteen Riggers
with Tools
Sixteen Glaziers & Plumbers
with Tools
Forty Bakers
with Tools
Twenty eight Tanners & Curriers
with Tools
Fifty Shoemakers
with Lasts &c
Fifty six Taylors
with Measures &c
Twenty six Hatters
with Tools
Eight Tallow Chandlers
with a Miniature Press—Moulds &c
The Ship Fœderal Constitution
On runners drawn by thirteen Horses Manned with a Captain—two Lieutenants—Master—Purser—and thirteen Seamen & Marines—Colours flying—followed by Captains of Vessels—eighty five Seamen dressed in Ribbons & 150 of the principal Merchants of Boston.
Twenty Ship Builders
with a Work Yard drawn by thirteen
Horses in which were eight Vessels on the
Stocks with the Men at work.
One hundred & thirty six Carpenters
with Tools of every Sort decorated
Thirty Masons
with Trowells &c as at work
Thirty Cabinet—Coach Makers
W[h]eelwrights
with the Insignia of their Crafts
Fifteen Printers
with a Stand drawn on a Sleigh
and Compositors at work.
Twelve Sadlers
with Tools
Fifteen Goldsmiths
with Hammers &c
Twenty Leather Dressers
dressed in Skins
Twelve Card Makers
with Wire &c
The Committee of Trades
in a Sleigh drawn by four Horses
The Republican Volunteers
closed the Procession—
In this Order the whole proceeded by the Houses of the several Gentleman who represented the Town in Convention & testified their Approbation of their Conduct by three Huzzas from the whole Line & Salutes from the Ship & Volunteer Company—When the Procession passed the State House they were saluted with thirteen Guns by a Company of Artillery.