The 97th anniversary of the "Glorious Fourth" of July1776—when Jefferson's Declaration of Independence first resolved the political distinctiveness of the Union which, then comprising thirteen states and 2,500,000 people, has since extended itself to thirty-six states and nine territories with 1 population of over 36,000,000—was yesterday celebrated with the fervour befitti such an important national event, an was characterised in Shanghai by a cordial exchange of international courtesies. The formal observance of the dey was: begun in the traditional manner at the U. S. Consulate-General, where at 11.45 a.m., Vice Consul-General Bradford read. the Declaration, in presence of a number of citizens of the Republic. No sooner had the ceremony closed, amid a cheer, bumpers and the national chorus from the assembled auditory, than the hour of noon was heralded by the opening report of a national salute from the Hartford; and, in a second, the crash of cannon answering
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.