July 5, 1867

Even in its first week, Friday was a light day for the Dominion government with but one order introduced assigning the position of Registrar General to the Secretary of State of Canada. The Registrar General is the keeper of the Great Seal. For the Dominion’s first two years, a temporary one would be used before receiving one of its own (pictured) in 1869. The order will be approved on August 1, 1867.

The Expositor today published an account of the July 1 celebrations earlier in the week:

Monday last, the 1st day of July, was celebrated in this town, in a right loyal manner. The weather was all that could have been desired, and the day was ushered in by the ringing of bells and the discharge of firearms of every description. At an early hour the Grand Trunk Artillery boomed forth a Royal salute, and shortly afterwards the streets presented a lively and animated appearance. Crowds from the country came pouring in from every quarter, and by 12 o'clock the streets were one living mass of human beings bent on doing honor to the birthday of the new Dominion. At 9 o'clock the Christian public met in the Congressional Church, and prayer was offered up for the success and prosperity of the Confederacy.