IK-V 

 
 RECOLLECTIONS 
 
 OF 
 
 GENERAL LAFAYETTE 
 
 ON HIS 
 
 VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES, 
 
 IN 1824 AND 1825; 
 
 WITH THE 
 
 MOST KEMARKABLE INCIDENTS OF HIS LIFE, 
 
 FROM HIS BIRTH TO THE DAY OF HIS DEATH. 
 
 BY A. A. PAKKEK, ESQ., 
 
 AUTHOR OF "TRIP TO THE WEST AND TEXAS;" "POEMS AT 
 FOURSCORE," &C. 
 
 " Though lost to sight, to memory dear," 
 
 KEENE, N. H. : 
 SENTINEL PRINTING COMPANY, BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS. 
 
 1879.
 
 Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1879, by 
 
 A. A. PARKER, 
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
 
 INTRODUCTORY. 
 
 My Recollections of General Lafayette's visit to this 
 country in 1824 and '25, were narrated in the State House 
 at Concord, N. H., at the request of the Historical So- 
 ciety. It was merely an extemporary affair, as I had 
 nothing then written before me. I was requested to write 
 out, at my leisure, my Recollections for publication, with 
 such emendations and additions as the subject seemed to 
 require. This, I have done ; and the result will be found 
 in the following pages. I have corresponded extensively 
 and searched records, so as to give a connected Sketch of 
 his eventful life, from his birth to the day of his death. 
 
 My object has been to snatch from oblivion and garner 
 up the most remarkable events in the life of a most 
 remarkable man, so that the present generation may be 
 well informed of the true character of one of our most 
 patriotic Major Generals in the American Revolution. 
 Much interesting matter is here presented, never before 
 published ; a large portion of which was obtained from 
 the General himself. On his visit here, it was my good 
 fortune to become acquainted with him, and learn from 
 his own lips, his opinion of men and things, and many 
 remarkable incidents in his life. I was then, as now, a 
 great admirer of his character ; for I deem him to have
 
 been one of the most brave, active and faultless men, of 
 whom we have any account in ancient or modern history. 
 
 The preparation of this Sketch, has been a labor of 
 love ; and while I have entered into the spirit of the times, 
 I have endeavored to be entirely correct ; and believe its 
 integrity cannot successfully be impeached ; but that in all 
 its essential particulars, it will stand the test of talents 
 and of time. 
 
 In this Sketch, I have uniformly applied the title of 
 GENEBAL, to Lafayette, as he publicly renounced that of 
 Marquis, at the time of the French revolution. 
 
 In the Frontispiece will be found a steel engraving of 
 General Lafayette. It was taken from a portrait painting 
 of him in 1824, at the age of 67. It is a most perfect 
 likeness. At the bottom is his autograph.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 General Lafayette's First Visit to America, accom- 
 panied by Baron DeKalb, . . . .10 
 Arrives at Philadelphia, and appointed Maj. -General, 11 
 Returns to France, and Second Visit, . . .12 
 
 Lafayette's Third Visit, 13 
 
 Receptions at New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, 
 and Mount Vernon, . . . . .14 
 
 Reception at Boston ; takes leave of Congress, . 15 
 His Fourth and Last Visit, . . . , .16 
 Reception at New York City, . . . .18 
 
 Reception at Boston, . . . . . .20 
 
 Reception at Portsmouth, N. H., . . . .27 
 
 Returns to Boston and to New York City ; great 
 display there, . . . . . . .29 
 
 Goes up the Hudson River and Returns, . .32 
 
 Visits Washington City, . . . . .32 
 
 Visits Mount Vernon, Yorktown, Richmond, Mon- 
 
 ticello, &c., 33 
 
 Returns to Washington City and visits the Senate 
 and House of Representatives, . . . .34 
 
 Congress grants him $200,000 in money, and a 
 township of land, ...... 35 
 
 Visits the Southern and Western States, . . 35 
 
 Lays the corner stone of Bunker Hill Monument, . 36 
 Visits Concord, N. H. ; incidents of the route, . 47 
 
 Visits Portland, in Maine, 50 
 
 Returns to Concord and leaves for New York and 
 Washington City, and takes passage in the ship 
 Brandy wine, . . . . . . .53
 
 6 
 
 Reflections on his visits, . . . . .56 
 Conversations with Gen. Lafayette, . . . 57 
 The treason of Gen. Arnold; Maj. Andre, . . 64 
 Gen. Arnold's wife, . , . . . .70 
 
 The French Revolution ; General Lafayette leaves 
 
 France and is imprisoned, . . . .72 
 
 Escapes from his dungeon at Olmutz ; is retaken and 
 
 again imprisoned, . . . . . .78 
 
 Dr. Bollman and Col. Huger, . . . .79 
 
 Blannerhassett and Col. Burr, . . . .80 
 
 Gen. Lafayette's wife and two daughters visit him in 
 
 prison, ........ 82 
 
 Released by Bonaparte, and retires to Holstein, in 
 
 Denmark, ....... 84 
 
 Returns to Lagrange, in France ; Death of Madame 
 
 Lafayette, ....... 84 
 
 Gen. Lafayette's birth and childhood, . . .87 
 Death of his mother, and his marriage, . . .88 
 Description of his person, . . . . .89 
 
 His death, . . . ... . .90 
 
 His benevolence ; bought an estate and liberated the 
 
 slaves, ....... 91 
 
 Presents made to Lafayette, . . . . .92 
 
 His liberality, . 93 
 
 His bravery and firmness, . . . . .94 
 Description of Lagrange, . . . . .95 
 George Washington Lafayette, . ' . . .98 
 Gen. Lafayette's daughters, . . . . 101 
 
 Proposed monument in memory of Lafayette, . 102 
 
 Public and private buildings in Concord, . . 104 
 Address to the youths of America, . . . 105 
 
 Reception at Hudson, ..... 106 
 
 Mrs. Willard's school at Troy, N. Y., . . . 108 
 Reception at the Livingstons', .... 109 
 Reception at Xewark, N. J., . . . .110
 
 Reception at Philadelphia, . . . . .112 
 Reception at Baltimore, . . . .116 
 
 Address of Speaker Clay, . . . . .119 
 Gen. Lafayette's reply, . . . . .121 
 
 Farewell address of President J. Q. Adams, . . 123 
 Gen. Lafayette's reply, . . . . .127 
 
 The closing scene, . . . . .129 
 ' ' Ladies' Mount Vernon Association " purchase the 
 home of Washington with 200 acres of land for 
 
 $200,000, 133 
 
 Edward Everett's lecture on Washington, . . 133 
 Major Andre ; sketch of his life, .... 134 
 
 His execution, ....... 142 
 
 Cyrus W. Field erects a shaft at the spot where 
 Andre was buried, . . . . . .143 
 
 Epitaph on the shaft, . . . . . .144 
 
 Captain Nathan Hale, . . . . . .146 
 
 Taken as a spy and executed, .... 147 
 
 Reflections on war, ...... 148
 
 TAUAVFTTI? 
 LArAlmlJl, 
 
 AND SKETCH OF HIS LIFE. 
 
 The great English poet asks, What's in a NAME ? I 
 answer, MUCH. Names are often, not only music to the 
 ear, but expressive of power, and suggestive of noble men 
 and glorious deeds. And when I announce LAFAYETTE, 
 as the theme of my discourse, is it not suggestive of a 
 Statesman, Patriot and Warrior, who most nobly wielded 
 his sword and pen, and gave of his substance liberally, in 
 the cause of human rights, and bravely fought the battles 
 of our Revolution ? 
 
 Permit me then, standing on the verge of time, be- 
 tween the living and the dead, to call your attention to 
 one of the most exciting scenes in the annals of our his- 
 tory since the days of our revolution. In 1824, more 
 than half a century ago, The MARQUIS GILBERT MO- 
 TIER DE LAFAYETTE, for the Fourth Time, visited the 
 United States. His arrival was hailed with universal joy 
 throughout the land ; and he passed through the twenty- 
 four States of the Union, in a round of civic and martial 
 triumphs, unequalled in magnificence and splendor. Dur- 
 ing that visit, it was my good fortune to become acquainted 
 with him, and to witness some of the most splendid dis- 
 plays on that occasion ; and I propose now to relate my 
 recollections of what I saw and heard, in the order of 
 2
 
 10 
 
 events, rather than in the order I obtained knowledge of 
 them. If the narration should be deemed too mueh bor- 
 dering on the sentimental, and withal, too egotistical, I 
 cannot avoid it, without mystifying events and perverting 
 facts. Enthusiastic I must be, for my subject demands 
 it. But in the first place, allusion to his former visits 
 may be interesting and proper as introductory to the last. 
 
 The First Time Gen. Lafayette visited this country was 
 in 1777 , about a year after the Declaration of Indepen- 
 dence. When his intention of aiding the Colonies in their 
 struggle for independence was suspected, or, to some ex- 
 tent known, it caused a great sensation both in England 
 and France. The British Minister at Paris so warmly 
 protested against it that the King of France was induced 
 to issue an order for his arrest ; but he had the sagacity 
 to elude all pursuit, ordered his vessel to an obscure port 
 in Spain, where he embarked, and from thence sailed for 
 the American coast. 
 
 When he fitted out his own ship, freighted with arms 
 and munitions of war, it was the most gloomy time in the 
 revolutionary 'war. The British armies were everywhere 
 triumphant, so much so, that even the firmness of Gen. 
 Washington was shaken. Lafayette's friends urged him 
 to desist from such a hopeless undertaking, but he gal- 
 lantly replied that it was the very time his aid was most 
 needed. 
 
 After a devious and tedious voyage of more than two 
 months, for he had to avoid the numerous British cruisers 
 on the American coast, on the 14th of June, 1777, he 
 landed at Winyau Bay, on the South Carolina coast, 60 
 miles Xortheast of Charleston. lie was accompanied 
 by his friend, the Baron de Kaib, a German officer of 
 rank ; and when their boat touched the shore at midnight, 
 they both pledged themselves before high Heaven, to win 
 Independence or perish in the attempt. And they most
 
 11 
 
 nobly redeemed their pledge ; for they both most bravely 
 fought the battles of the Revolution. Gen. Lafayette 
 passed through all the severe conflicts with only a flesh 
 wound, but the Baron was less fortunate, for, after three 
 years of hard fiii'liting, he was killed at the battle of Cam- 
 den, in North Carolina, August 16, 1780, and was taken 
 from the field with eleven wounds on his body. 
 
 They were, at first, very hospitably entertained at the 
 mansion house of Maj. Benjamin linger, and then pro- 
 ceeded to Charleston. They procured a carriage and 
 started for Philadelphia together. Their route lay through 
 the principal towns, yet the roads were so bad that the 
 carriage soon became a wreck, and they finished their 
 journey on horseback. 
 
 General Lafayette's arrival, at that critical moment, 
 caused no ordinary sensation throughout the country. It 
 was hailed as a happy omen, and gave a new impulse to 
 the revolutionary struggle. 
 
 Although he was then a mere youth, hardly twenty 
 years of age ; yet, so active and patriotic was he, that 
 Congress, on the 31st of July, 1777 , appointed him a 
 Major-General in the Continental Army. As there was 
 no vacancy at the time, no particular command could be 
 assigned him ; but he was invited to the headquarters of 
 Gen. Washington, and became an inmate of his family, 
 and acted as his aid, companion and friend during the 
 war, when not assigned to a separate command. 
 
 On the llth of September, less than a month and a 
 half after his appointment, was fought the battle of 
 Brandywine ; and then, his shrewdness, activity and 
 bravery fully justified his appointment; for it was readily 
 perceived that he had, in an eminent degree, the three es- 
 sential attributes of a successful warrior ; for he was quick 
 to perceive, sagacioiif to plan, and prompt to execute. 
 In that battle he was wounded, and had to be confined for
 
 12 
 
 a time in a hospital ; but it was the only time lie was dis- 
 abled from active duty during the perils of the Revolution. 
 
 On the llth day of February, 1779, he returned to 
 France to obtain men, money and munitions of war. Being 
 successful in that, he returned here a Second Time, on the 
 27th of April, 1780, and rendered very efficient aid in 
 many battles and skirmishes, until the surrender of Lord 
 Cornwallis, at Yorktown, on the 19th of October, 1781. 
 
 Deeming the back of British power in America broken, 
 and that a bold dash would finish it, on the 22d of De- 
 cember, 1781, he again returned to France for an army 
 of men and ships of war. He induced the King of Spain 
 as well as of France, to second his wishes ; and, in time, 
 had obtained 60 ships of war and enlisted 24,000 men, 
 which began to assemble at Cadiz, destined to crush Brit- 
 ish power in America as well as in the West Indies. 
 
 Then the King of England and his ministers took the 
 alarm, began to realize their danger, and acknowledged 
 our independence and concluded a peace. On the 20th 
 day of January, 1783, the treaty of peace was finally 
 concluded and signed at Paris. 
 
 General Lafayette was then at Cadiz, preparing to sail 
 for America and bring the joyful news of peace ; but 
 finding some diplomatic difficulties in Spain which he was 
 requested to adjust, and seeing the need of a commercial 
 treaty between the United States and France, in which he 
 believed his services were needed, he deemed it his duty 
 to remain. But he procured a fast sailing ship of war, 
 called the Triumph, (an appropriate name for the occa- 
 sion,) and sent the despatches, with a letter to Congress 
 and to General Washington, bearing the joyful tidings of 
 peace. The Triumph arrived at Philadelphia on the 23d 
 day of March, 1783, and gave to Congress and the Nation 
 the first news of peace. 
 
 Congress passed strong resolutions in commendation of
 
 13 
 
 the great services of General Lafayette ; and Washing- 
 ton, in a letter to him, said : " To this cause, (alluding 
 to the armament of Lafayette), I am persuaded the peace 
 is to be ascribed." , 
 
 Although Gen. Lafayette was earnestly and most cor- 
 dially invited to visit this country, by Congress and Gen. 
 Washington, he forebore the pleasure until he had settled 
 other matters of more pressing importance. He went to 
 Spain and settled the difficulties there, and then returned 
 to Paris, and was the leading spirit in forming a commer- 
 cial treaty between the two countries. This was a work 
 of time, involving so many conflicting interests, that it 
 was not fully completed in all its details for more than a 
 year. 
 
 On his Third Visit to America, he came in the royal 
 frigate La Nymphe, and landed at New York city on the 
 4th day of August, 1784. It so happened, that in the 
 whole of the Revolution, he had never been in the city of 
 New York ; and its citizens, as if to make up for lost 
 time, gave him a most splendid reception. Among the 
 many great attentions shown him, was a grand entertain- 
 ment the next day after his arrival, at which his comrades 
 in arms appeared in uniform in honor of the occasion. 
 
 He entered the city of Philadelphia with the shouts of 
 the multitude, ringing of bells and firing of cannon. 
 Generals Wayne, Irwin and St. Clair were deputed to 
 congratulate him on his arrival and welcome him to the 
 city. The Legislature of Pennsylvania, then in session, 
 voted him a flattering address, and the citizens at large 
 vied with each other to do him honor. 
 
 On the 14th of August, he left Philadelphia, staid a 
 short time in Baltimore, and arrived at Mount Vernon, 
 the seat of General Washington, on the 19th. An ac- 
 count of this interview between such long-tried and cordial 
 friends, that I may not be accused of bordering too much
 
 14 
 
 on the sentimental, I give in the eloquent words of an- 
 other : ' ' When we reflect upon the principal events in 
 the lives of these two illustrious men the difference in 
 their ages and countries the distance which separated 
 them from each other the circumstances which brought 
 them together the importance of the scenes through 
 wliich they had passed the glorious success of their 
 courageous efforts their mutual anxiety again to embrace 
 each other the tender and truly paternal esteem of the 
 one, and the respect, admiration and filial attachment of 
 the other when we reflect upon all this, we find that 
 everything contributed to stamp this interesting interview 
 with a sublimity of character which had no prototype in 
 the annals of men." 
 
 Twelve blissful days were spent at Mount Vernon, and 
 then he went to the North, and aided in the negotiations 
 with the Indians at Fort Schuyler. The Indians believed 
 in " Kayewla," as they called Lafayette, took his advice 
 and made peace with the whites. After making presents 
 to the Chiefs, he left them, with a treaty fully ratified, 
 and proceeded, through Albany, Hartford and Worcester, 
 to Boston. Enthusastic demonstrations awaited him all 
 along the route ; but it was at Boston that he had the 
 most splendid triumph. A magnificent military proces- 
 sion, bearing the flags of America and France, with a 
 vast multitude of citizens, escorted him into the metropo- 
 lis, and through the principal streets, amid th<5 ringing of 
 bells, firing of cannon, and shouts of the multitude. 
 Illuminations in his honor and fireworks on the Common 
 were the order of the night. 
 
 On the 19th of October, the anniversary of the surren- 
 der of Lord Cornwallis, a grand dinner was given at the 
 City Hotel. A grand procession was formed, composed 
 of the Governor, Council and members of the Legisla- 
 ture, accompanied by the old continental officers, soldiers
 
 15 
 
 and citizens, under escort of military companies, and 
 proceeded to the great saloon of the Hotel, where enter- 
 tainment had been provided for five hundred persons. 
 Thirteen arcades were thrown across the Hall, emblemati- 
 cal of the thirteen States of the Union. Lafayette was 
 seated beneath the centre arch, where a wreath of flowers 
 was suspended. After dinner thirteen toasts were drank, 
 and each one was enthusiastically cheered by the band of 
 music and thirteen guns in State Street. When the health 
 of Washington was announced as the last toast, a curtain 
 immediately fell and disclosed a portrait of him, encircled 
 by laurels and decorated with the flags of America and 
 
 * O 
 
 France. Lafayette arose and gazed at it with a look of 
 pleasure and surprise, when a voice exclaimed, " LONG 
 LIVE WASHINGTON !" The effect was electrical all arose 
 as one man shouts of ''Long live Washington" re- 
 sounded throughout the Hall, and in that enthusiastic 
 manner the feast ended. 
 
 From Boston, he visited the towns of Salem, Marble- 
 head, Gloucester, Beverley, Ipswich-, Xewburyport and 
 Portsmouth, N. H. Returning to Boston, he embarked 
 again in the La Nymphe, which had come round from 
 New York, and sailed away to the theatre of his greatest 
 glory, the Chesapeake Bay. He landed at Yorktown, and 
 it was with no ordinary emotions he viewed the scenes 
 of one of the greatest struggles for American independ- 
 ence. It was in Virginia that he had baffled the manoeu- 
 vres of one of the most accomplished and bravest Gen- 
 erals of Europe, and finally compelled him to surrender 
 with his whole army and munitions of war. 
 
 From Yorktown, he proceeded to Williamsburg, where 
 he received a most cordial reception, and on the 18th of 
 November entered the city of Richmond ; and here he 
 met with a reception transcending, if possible, all former 
 displays. Gen. Washington was in waiting for him here.
 
 16 
 
 and after receiving the enthusiastic congratulations of the 
 Legislature and citizens, he accompanied, once more, his 
 venerable and revered friend to the shades of Mount Ver- 
 non. After staying there about a week, and visiting 
 Alexandria, they proceeded to Annapolis, and here, they 
 took an affectionate leave of each other. Gen. Washing- 
 ton, not satisfied with this one leave-taking, on his return 
 home, wrote him a farewell letter, bordering more on the 
 sentimental than any other of his numerous correspon- 
 dence. They never met again, but corresponded with 
 each other until the death of Washington, in 1799. 
 
 Journeying Northward, he took leave of Congress, then 
 in session at Trenton. Mr. Jay, as Chairman of a Con- 
 gressional Committee, presented the resolutions of that 
 body, with an impassioned address of his own ; to which, 
 Gen. Lafayette exclaimed: "May this immense temple 
 of freedom ever stand, a lesson to the oppressed, and a 
 sanctuary for the rights of mankind." Patriotism now, 
 with a voice that seems to wake the dead, utters the same 
 invocation throughout our wide and extended domain , and 
 rejoices that it has withstood the shock of one of the most 
 gigantic rebellions ever known among men. 
 
 On the 25th of December, 1784, he embarked at Xew 
 York, on board the La Nymphe, which had come round 
 to that port to receive him, sailed for France, and arrived 
 in Paris on the 25th of January, 1785. 
 
 In 1824, just forty years after he had taken his leave of 
 Washington, he paid his Fourth, and Laxt Vixit, to this 
 country. When he signified his intention of visiting his 
 American friends, President Munroe, authorized by Con- 
 gress, tendered him a national ship. This, he declined, 
 alleging that, as he came in no official capacity, but as a 
 private citizen, he preferred to embark in a merchant 
 packet ship. 
 
 When his intention of visiting this country was known
 
 17 
 
 in France, it became manifest to him that the king, Louis 
 XVIII., was opposed to the movement, and would pre- 
 vent it if he could find any plausible pretext for so doing. 
 For the king was well aware that his visit would occasion 
 many public patriotic speeches, which would be reported, 
 and published in France, and cause discontent among the 
 people, and perhaps, danger to the throne itself. There- 
 fore, it was, when he arrived at Havre, and made prepar- 
 ations to embark, he was beset by a large police force, 
 who harrassed his steps ; and when anyone made any 
 demonstration of joy at his presence, he was at once ar- 
 rested and imprisoned. He felt that he was watched, and 
 had he made any address to the crowd, would have been 
 arrested and prevented from visiting this country at all. 
 He, therefore, said not a word, but waved his hand to 
 the people and quietly embarked. 
 
 It was in the American packet ship, Cadmus, Capt. 
 Allyn, that he embarked ; and after a pleasant voyage of 
 thirty-one days, he arrived at the port of New York, on 
 the 14th day of August, 1824. It was Sunday, and by 
 invitation of Vice-President Thompkins, he landed at 
 Staten Island and spent the Sabbath with him. 
 
 On Monday morning, he arose early and walked out to 
 exercise his limbs on shore. It was a beautiful day. The 
 sun rose bright and clear in the East. On turning to 
 look in the opposite direction, he beheld a beautiful, high 
 arched rainbow over the land in the West. He hailed it 
 as a happy omen, and deemed it to be a bow of welcome 
 MS well as of promise. But when he saw the fleet of 
 steamers coming to escort him to the city of New York, 
 lit' was amazed at what he beheld. There was a squadron 
 of eight steamers the Chancellor Livingston, Bellona, 
 Connecticut, Oliver Ellsworth, Henry Eckford, Nautilus, 
 Olive Branch, and the steam frigate Robert Fulton all 
 gaily dressed for the occasion ; with bands of music, flags 
 3
 
 18 
 
 flying, and filled with joyous ladies and gentlemen. On 
 reaching the shore, the Fulton gave a national salute, 
 flags waved as well as ladies' white handkerchiefs, the 
 bands of music saluted and the men shouted a welcome. 
 The General was shouted aboard the steamer Chancellor 
 Livingston ; two others grappled the ship Cadmus, took 
 it in tow, and then all turned their prows to the city of 
 New York, some ten miles away. It was a most beauti- 
 ful day, and when this flotilla of steamers started, led by 
 the Chancellor Livingston, salutes, shouts and cheers 
 awakened the echoes along the shore, and the big guns of 
 Brooklyn uttered their deep toned voices across the water, 
 and made the steamers tremble as they passed. 
 
 On landing at the Battery, he was met by a multitude 
 that no man could number, introduced to many citizens, 
 partook of some refreshment at Castle Garden, and then 
 took a seat with Gen. Morton in an open barouche and 
 proceeded up Broadway to be introduced to the Mayor at 
 the City Hall. As he proceeded, he cast a look above and 
 :i round him, and such a gorgeous display he had seldom 
 or never witnessed, even in excitable France. He there 
 beheld triumphal arches, flags suspended across the street, 
 joyous men, women ami children, on house tops, bal- 
 i-onies, and in windows, on sidewalks and in the streets ; 
 bands of music playing, bells ringing, men shouting and 
 women waving their handkerchiefs ; and then flowers, 
 in bouquets and wreaths, came showering down from all 
 quarters, so that the horses at times literally "walked on 
 flowers ;" made such a display, in extent so unexpected, 
 and in such contrast to the manner of his leaving France, 
 that he was completely overwhelmed ; and, on reaching 
 City Hall, had to step aside into an ante-room to wipe 
 away his tears, and compose himself before entering the 
 audience hall. 
 
 As he had promised a flying visit to Boston to see his
 
 19 
 
 revolutionary friends, before paying his respects to the 
 General Government at Washington, he stayed only four 
 days in the city of New York. Supposing he was to fur- 
 nish his own conveyance to Boston, he sent his servant to 
 procure the needful equipage. The servant soon returned 
 and announced that the carriages would be at the door in 
 less than an hour. When the carriages came, an officer, 
 with an escort, came with them. When he was about to 
 step on board, he inquired of the officer when, where and 
 how much he was to pay for his conveyance to Boston. 
 The officer turned and said, "General Lafayette ! you are 
 the NATION'S GUEST ; you can pay nothing while you re- 
 main in America all your wants will be abundantly 
 supplied by a grateful people, without money and without 
 price." 
 
 And he found the announcement of the officer literally 
 true, for he had not been permitted to expend a dollar on 
 his whole trip throughout the States of the Union. 
 
 He found himself seated in an elegant carriage with a 
 splendid escort, and on his way to Boston. On coming 
 to a toll gate, he observed two men in a carriage before 
 him, who had stopped to pay toll. The toll gate was 
 open, the keeper came to the door of the toll house, 
 waved his hand, and said : " Go ahead ! the road, is free ; 
 General Lafayette travels this road to-day, and no man 
 pays toll." 
 
 He left New York on the 20th of August, and was 
 four days on his trip through Connecticut and Rhode 
 Island to Boston. He had a splendid escort all the way, 
 and great demonstrations of joy were made by the citizens 
 of the several towns and villages through which he passed. 
 He took the lower route near the sea coast, through 
 Bridgeport, New Haven, New London and Providence, 
 R. I. He was so much delayed by the demonstrations on 
 the way, that he had to travel sometimes in the night.
 
 20 
 
 It was midnight when he entered Dedhain, yet he found 
 the village illuminated and the people all wide awake to 
 give him a cordial reception. Late at night, or rather 
 early in the morning, he arrived at the mansion house of 
 Gov. Eustis, in Roxlmry. The meeting between these 
 revolutionary friends was most cordial ; they did, indeed, 
 "cry for joy." 
 
 On Tuesday, Aug. 24, a large cavalcade, and citizens in 
 carriages and on foot, escorted him to Boston. The pro- 
 cession passed through the principal streets, amid the 
 ringing of bells, firing of cannon and shouts of the mul- 
 titude. On the East side of the Common, three thousand 
 school children of both sexes, dressed in uniform, with 
 ribbons on the breast stamped with likenesses of Lafay- 
 ette, were paraded in two lines ; they saluted the General 
 as he passed, and their shrill voices were distinctly heard 
 above the din of the hour. The General's carriage paused 
 for a moment while he turned to salute the children, when 
 a Miss of some ten summers darted from the line, leaped 
 into his carriage and placed a wreath of laurel, interwoven 
 with flowers, on his head. He impressed a kiss on her 
 blushing cheek as she retired. Immediately he placed the 
 wreath on the seat beside him, and found a neatly folded 
 paper attached, containing the following lines, which he 
 read at his leisure : 
 
 "An infaut hand presents these blushing flowers. 
 
 Glowing and pure as childhood's artless hours; 
 
 Twined with the laurel Fame on thee bestowed, 
 
 When thy young heart with patriot ardor glowed. 
 
 Self-exiled from the charms of wealth and love, 
 
 And home, and friends, thou did'st our champion prove; 
 
 And by the side of glorious Washington, 
 
 Did'st make our grateful country all thine own. 
 
 Go, fragile offering, speak the ardent joy 
 
 Our bosoms feel, which time can ne'er destroy." 
 
 Beautiful arches were thrown across many of the prin- 
 cipal streets, covered with evergreens and flowers. One
 
 21 
 
 on Washington street was superb, and contained the fol- 
 lowing' lines : 
 
 "WELCOME, LAFAYETTE!" 
 
 " Our fathers in glory now sleep, 
 
 Who gathered with thee to the fight; 
 But the sons will eternally keep 
 The tablet of gratitude bright. 
 We bow not the neck, 
 
 We bend not the knee ; 
 
 But our hearts, LAFAYKTTK, 
 
 We surrender to thee." 
 
 As the procession came on to Beacon street, it reminded 
 the General of his dear revolutionary friend, Mrs. Han- 
 cock ; and he inquired of the Mayor if she was yet alive. 
 He was assured that she was not only alive, but of quite 
 good health for a person of her advanced age. And then, 
 says the Mayor, you will see her at the window as we 
 pass, and as the sashes are out, you will have a fine view 
 of her. As the carriage came opposite her house, the 
 venerable lady was seen at an open window. General 
 Lafayette arose in his carriage, waved his hat, hand, and 
 bowed to the venerable lady, while she waved her hand- 
 kerchief, hand, and courtesied to him. This pantomime, 
 between two such conspicuous characters, attracted the 
 attention of the crowd, and wound up with loud shouts 
 of applause. 
 
 General Lafayette was left by his escort at the steps of 
 the State House, and proceeded to the Senate Chamber, 
 where were assembled the Governor and Council, Judges 
 of Courts and revolutionary worthies. Ex-Gov. John 
 Brooks was present, and was recognized at once by the 
 General, and they had a cordial meeting. Here he was 
 welcomed, in behalf of the State, by Gov. Eustis ; and. 
 anticipating what might happen, had prepared his address 
 in writing. He broke down before he had Completed the 
 first sentence, and handed it to his aid to read.
 
 22 
 
 The General was then escorted to his headquarters, at 
 the head of Park street. It is a large brick building, 
 built for a club house, and is still standing. It was hired 
 and fitted up by the City of Boston, as a first-class hotel, 
 for the General's particular use and headquarters while in 
 Boston. Being on the corner of Park and Beacon streets, 
 and facing the Common, it is more airy and pleasant than 
 any hotel in the city. Standing but a short distance from 
 the State House on the East, and the Gov. Hancock house 
 about the same distance on the West, he found time to 
 pay a number of visits to the venerable lady Hancock. 
 During the Revolution, and in the lifetime of her hus- 
 band, he had made her house his home while in Boston. 
 She had always treated him with all the kind attentions of 
 an affectionate mother, and he had always esteemed her as 
 one of his most valued friends. 
 
 In 1824, I had the pleasure of seeing the venerable lady 
 Hancock, and looking over the ancient Hancock mansion. 
 It stood on high ground, facing the Common, was said to 
 have been the handsomest house in Boston when built, 
 and then displayed many traits of architectural beauty. 
 But where is it now? Gone! Stern modern improve- 
 ment got hold of that and tore it to atoms ! But the 
 plain, staid, homely " Old South " still remains ; and at a 
 cost and on conditions that will stagger the belief of pos- 
 terity. Verily, there is no accounting for taste.* 
 
 The General was escorted to Cambridge, where he 
 attended the commencement of Harvard College, and was 
 
 * NOTE It is a marvel that some of the wise antiquarians of 
 Boston had not suggested the propriety of preserving intact the 
 muddy shores of the frog pond on the Common, in its primitive 
 ugliness, rather than permit it to be modernized with a neat curb- 
 stone wall and a pleasant gravelled walk. It was the most ancient, 
 as well as the most ugly, of anything in Boston, not excepting the 
 " Old South." Good taste does not incline to preserve anything 
 useless and ugly, however ancient it may be.
 
 23 
 
 welcomed to that institution by the learned President 
 Kirkland. On the Thursday following, he attended the 
 anniversary of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, and listened 
 to the impassioned eloquence of Prof. Edward Everett. 
 
 But 1 cannot relate all his visits, receptions and dinners 
 during the week, in detail ; and, therefore, shall only state 
 that he went to Medford and dined with his venerable 
 friend Gov. Brooks ; and to Quincy, and spent the day 
 with President John Adams. 
 
 And now I come to the climax of his visit at Boston, 
 and to the first time I had the pleasure of seeing Gen. 
 Lafayette. In 1824 and '25 I lived in Concord, N. H., 
 was editor of a newspaper, and was an aid to Gov. Mor- 
 rill, the only time, as far as I know, when an aid of the 
 Governor was of any importance to him, the State, or to 
 himself. Soon after Gen. Lafayette's arrival in Boston, 
 I received an order from the Governor to invite him to 
 visit New Hampshire. It was at the club house where I 
 first saw him, and although he was surrounded by many 
 venerable men, strangers to me, yet at once I designated 
 Lafayette from all others. I was accompanied by Gov. 
 Eustis' aid, who called the Governor's attention to myself, 
 and he introduced me to Gen. Lafayette. In the most 
 fitting words I could command, in behalf of Gov. Mor- 
 rill, I invited him to visit New Hampshire at his earliest 
 convenience. He replied, that his intention was to visit 
 New Hampshire, but .not then. It had been arranged 
 that he should be present and assist in laying the corner 
 stone of the Bunker Hill Monument the next year, on the 
 17th of June, and immediately thereafter, lie should be 
 happy to pay his respects to the government and people 
 of New Hampshire ; and as the Legislature would then 
 be in session, he deemed it to be a favorable time for his 
 visit. I bowed assent, and he retired. The Governor 
 stopped a moment and said : " This is the morning of a
 
 24 
 
 great day in Boston. Many companies of our militia will 
 pass in review before Gen. Lafayette in front of the State 
 House, and a great dinner will be given in a tent on the 
 Common ; and here is a ticket for the dinner. The General 
 will also attend the Theatre at night, which will be filled 
 to overflowing ; but as I have a few reserved seats at my 
 command, I will give you a ticket for the Theatre also. 
 And now, if you will make yourself at home with my aid, 
 he will give you a favorable position to witness the im- 
 portant coming events." And he did. 
 
 Monday, the 30th day of August, 1824, was the great 
 display on Boston Common. Nearly 9000 troops lined 
 the Common, the head resting on Park street gate. At 
 ten o'clock the show began. Gen. Lafayette, accompa- 
 nied by Gov. Eustis, his aids, council and many citizens, 
 were escorted down from the State House to the Common, 
 and formed a line on the high ground at the front. Gen. 
 Lafayette moved a few paces in front and uncovered his 
 head. At that moment, the commanding officer announced 
 in a loud voice, GENERAL LAFAYETTE ! The troops 
 were standing "at ease," with ordered arms; and when 
 this announcement was made they clapped their hands 
 along the whole line ; but as sound comes to the ear ac- 
 cording to distance, it seemed like the prolonged roll of a 
 drum ; and then, with uncovered heads, they tried their 
 voices in loud, rousing cheers. Whether the crowd joined 
 in this, I know not, but I must confess I never heard such 
 rousing cheers before. The order was then given to 
 shoulder and present arms. Then the large band of music 
 at the head of the column gave their thrilling cheers in 
 three times three. In the meantime the General waved 
 his hat and hand in recognition of these demonstrations 
 of joy at his presence. The troops then wheeled by pla- 
 toons and marched. As they passed before the General, 
 it was manifest that enthusiasm conquered discipline.
 
 25 
 
 The best drilled troops, and they were of the first order, 
 continually broke ranks, in spite of all commands and 
 efforts of officers. The General would occasionally smile, 
 for he deemed the temporary disorder not a lack of dis- 
 cipline, but really as complimentary to himself. But 
 sometimes the officer himself lost all thought of his men, 
 gave the salute, faced round, advanced backwards, gazed 
 at the General, and when his advancing men obstructed 
 his view, turned and passed on. If the revolution tried 
 men's souls, it would seem that Lafayette tried men's 
 hearts. 
 
 As the General stood there in bold relief to a countless 
 multitude the "observed of all observers," I could not 
 but notice the simplicity of his dress. The hero of two 
 hemispheres stood there in Nankin pants, swans-down 
 vest, blue broadcloth coat with gilt buttons, and a com- 
 mon beaver hat, and plain shoes on his feet, without 
 any insignia of rank or office on his person. What a com- 
 mentary on dress now ! 
 
 After the review was passed, the troops performed some 
 well executed evolutions, and for the time were dismissed. 
 
 The public dinner was under a large tent on the high 
 ground near the center of the Common. It was the largest 
 and most enthusiastic feast I ever attended. There were 
 six tables 170 feet long, with a cross table on an elevated 
 platform at the head, on which were placed 1600 plates, 
 and all filled. At the cross table, sat the Governor and 
 staff, Gen. Lafayette, and a few invited guests. There 
 were toasts prepared, and a toast-master, but the enthu- 
 siasm was so great that a rule had been made that no one 
 should make a speech or give a volunteer toast, except 
 through the toast-master to be read at his discretion. 
 But if men could not make speeches, or give toasts, it 
 must not be supposed that it was a silent feast. They 
 were not prohibited from talking or cheering ; and when 
 4
 
 26 
 
 the regular toasts were given, they were cheered to the 
 echo, more especially those that in any manner alluded to 
 Gen. Lafayette. The General quietly ate his dinner, 
 took his glass of wine, leaned back in his chair and lis- 
 tened awhile to the toasts, and then he and the Governor 
 retired. No partiality was shown, for the General was 
 most enthusiastically cheered in his going as well as in his 
 coming. I left most of the guests at the table, and how 
 the feast ended I know not, and never inquired. 
 
 At night, I attended the theatre, and entered a box 
 that my ticket indicated near the centre. The house was we'll 
 filled, and soon crowded to its utmost capacity from pit to 
 gallery. The play began ; but no one paid any attention 
 to it, for all were absorbed in the expected General, and 
 could not attend to anything else ; and he was late, for he 
 had to show himself at a levee and a ball, previous to his 
 coming there, to be introduced, more especially, to the 
 ladies. At length, the General, Governor and suite en- 
 tered the house. The audience rose at once, and gave 
 such rounds of cheers as never echoed within its walls 
 before. It was not quite as powerful as a Southern or 
 Western whirlwind, for the high-arched roof held on. In 
 the meantime, the ladies waved their white handkerchiefs:, 
 and the orchestra gave a salute, and then played a national 
 air. And then the curtain arose and showed at the back 
 of the stage a picture of a large castle, with the word 
 " LA GRANGE" at the bottom, in large letters. The Gen- 
 eral arose, waved his hat and bowed his head, in token of 
 recognition of his beautiful residence in France. He 
 afterwards told me, it was a very perfect likeness, and 
 must have been painted from the building itself. And 
 then, an actor appeared and sang a patriotic song of wel- 
 come, which was abundantly cheered and encored. 
 
 But why attempt to describe what is indescribable? 
 The play itself was nowhere. The actors, indeed, had
 
 27 
 
 " their exits and their entrances," but no one paid any 
 attention to them. I did not know at the time, what the 
 play was, Avho the actors were, or what they said; and 
 presume no one else did. The General totally eclipsed 
 everything else, and at an early hour the green curtain 
 came down and the show was over. The General was 
 shouted aboard his carriage, and cheered along the illumi- 
 nated streets ; but the sound at length died away in the 
 distance, and Boston, for a time, was at rest. 
 
 The General did not intend to extend his visit at that 
 time, any further East than Boston, and had made his 
 arrangements to start for New York City on the 2d day 
 of September, at 2 o'clock P. M. But the pressure was 
 so great, and the curiosity to see him so intense, that, 
 through the good offices of the efficient Mayor of Boston, 
 he consented to make a flying visit as far as Portsmouth, 
 N. H., on the condition that he could be returned in time 
 to fulfill his engagements. 
 
 Accordingly, he left Boston at an early hour on the 
 31st of August, took breakfast at Marblehead and dined 
 'at Salem at 2 P. M., staid at Newburyport over night r 
 and appeared at Portsmouth at 8 o'clock, September 1. 
 His visit at Portsmouth was a splendid affair, exceeding 
 anything ever known or attempted there j before or since ; 
 an account of which fills three and a half columns of the 
 Portsmouth Journal of that time. Only an allusion can 
 be made to it now. 
 
 He was met at the line of Greenland by a procession, 
 two miles long, of citizens in carriages and on horseback, 
 and escorted to Portsmouth. On reaching Wibirds' Hill 
 a national salute was fired by a detachment of the Ports- 
 mouth Artillery. At that point, the Straflford Guards 
 from Dover, the Rockingham Guards and Gilman Blues 
 joined the procession and performed escort duty through 
 the streets of Portsmouth. On entering the compact part
 
 28 
 
 of the town, cannon were fired, bells rung, the men 
 shouted a welcome and the ladies flourished their white 
 handkerchiefs. And here, more than a thousand school 
 children lined the street, dressed in uniform, with Lafay- 
 ette badges on the breast ; and their infant voices so vig- 
 orously shouted a welcome, that their shrill voices could 
 be heard, as at Boston, above the deep-toned voices of 
 men, martial music or the ringing of bells. After pass- 
 ing through Middle, Broad, Court and Congress streets, 
 he was landed at Franklin Hall, where he was introduced 
 to revolutionary veterans and many citizens. A grand 
 dinner was given in Jefferson Hall, where more than three 
 hundred young ladies were individually introduced to him. 
 The Hall and principal buildings in Portsmouth were 
 illuminated, and made a most splendid appearance. 
 
 He left the Hall at 10, repaired to the Gov. Langdon 
 Mansion House, where he made his headquarters while in 
 Portsmouth, partook of some refreshment, and at 11 was 
 on his way, under escort, to Boston. Although he had to 
 travel 60 miles, he was in Boston at 7 o'clock the next 
 morning, in good time to perform all his previous engage- 
 ments. He had entered Boston on the 24th of August, 
 and left for New York on the 2d day of of September. 
 His visit at the East was, therefore, only eight days. 
 What a vigorous man he must have been to go through 
 such a round of receptions, dinners and speeches, and 
 travel so many miles in so short a time ! 
 
 General Lafayette, after rest and refreshment, left Bos- 
 ton at 2 o'clock, passed through Lexington and Concord, 
 stopped over night at the home of Col. Wilder at Stowe, 
 who had been well accmainted with the General and his 
 family in France. He then passed through Lancaster, 
 Boston, Sterling and West Boylston to Worcester. Here 
 he was welcomed by a large assemblage of citizens, and 
 escorted through the principal streets. The children of
 
 29 
 
 the schools were out in large numbers, ornamented with 
 badges of Lafayette, and threw laurels in his path as he 
 passed. He was here introduced to a large number of 
 revolutionary officers and soldiers, and the meeting was 
 very affecting to them both. He then passed on to Hart- 
 ford in Connecticut, where his stay was short, but highly 
 gratifying and enthusiastic. Indeed, for the whole dis- 
 tance from Boston to Hartford, he had been conducted by 
 a continual escort and welcomed with great joy by vast 
 multitudes as he passed. 
 
 At Hartford, he took a steamer, called at Middletown, 
 and then passed down the river into Long Island Sound, 
 and was greatly saluted and cheered as he entered again 
 the City of New York. 
 
 But to be more explicit, he returned from his Eastern 
 tour in the steamer Oliver Ellsworth, Sept. 5, at one 
 o'clock P. M. A national salute was fired by the Frank- 
 lin 74 as he passed ; and the wharves and shores on East 
 River for two miles were lined with a great multitude of 
 citizens, who shouted continued welcomes along the whole 
 distance. He was received at the Fulton street wharf, 
 and conducted to his lodgings at the City Hotel, through 
 streets filled with people, whose anxiety to see him had in 
 no wise abated. 
 
 On the 6th of September, the anniversary of the Gen- 
 eral's birthday, for he was then 67 years old, the Cincin- 
 nati Veterans gave him a birthday dinner in Washington 
 Hall ; and he was escorted there by the Lafayette Guards. 
 The room was splendidly decorated for the occasion, and 
 over the chair where the General sat was a triumphal arch 
 of evergreens and laurels, on the centre of which was a 
 large eagle with a scroll in his beak bearing the words 
 Sept. 6, 1757, the day of his birth; on the right with 
 a scroll bearing the words " Brandywine, Sept. 11, 
 7777," and another on the left, with the words " York-
 
 30 
 
 town, Oct. 19, 1781." But the decorations of this Hall 
 were so numerous and splendid, they cannot well be de- 
 scribed in detail. Col. Varick, the president of the Soci- 
 ety, presided, the guests were venerable and numerous, 
 and most of them his comrades in arms during the revolu- 
 tion. It was to the General the most interesting banquet 
 he had attended in America. 
 
 On Tuesday, he visited Columbia College ; and Wednes- 
 day he embarked on board the Chancellor Livingston, 
 visited the most interesting places in the Bay, and wound 
 up the trip at the Narrows, when a national salute was 
 fired at Fort Lafayette. He inspected the fort, equip- 
 ments and soldiers, and the visit was finished by a most 
 delightful repast. 
 
 But time would fail me to enumerate all the honors 
 paid the General at New York. But one was so unique 
 and marvellous that it must not be omitted. On Thurs- 
 day the fire department of New York City and Brooklyn 
 turned out in its full strength and paraded in the Park. 
 The fire engines numbered 46, besides a number of hook 
 and ladder companies. The General appeared on the 
 balcony of a hall near by, in company with a number of 
 gentlemen and ladies, to witness the scene. In the centre 
 of the Park, the ladders of the companies were erected in 
 the form of a pyramid, on the top of which was placed 
 a miniature house filled with combustibles. The engines, 
 charged with water, then approached on all sides at a suit- 
 able distance ; at a signal the house was fired, and when 
 in full blaze, 46 engines, from all sides, played upon it. 
 In a twinkling, the house and fire were nowhere, but 46 
 streams of water from as many powerful engines, accu- 
 rately directed to a common centre, shot the water high in 
 the air like a mighty fountain, and then the spray, like 
 silver rain, came down on all sides ; and as the sun shone, 
 rainbows appeared in all their brilliant colors. The scene
 
 81 
 
 was so enchanting, unique and unexpected, that the Gen- 
 eral, as well as the ladies, could not suppress their dem- 
 onstrations of joy. 
 
 On Tuesday evening, August 15, 1824, at the City 
 Hotel, Gen. Lafayette took an affectionate leave of Capt. 
 Allyn, of the ship Cadmus, and presented him with a 
 superb writing desk. He also presented Daniel Chadwick, 
 chief mate, a beautiful case of mathematical instruments, 
 surmounted with silver ; and to all the other officers and 
 crew he gave a valued keepsake. The next day the ship 
 Cadmus sailed for France. 
 
 But a climax of the displays at New York was reached 
 at last, in a brilliant ball, given at Castle Garden. More 
 than six thousand ladies and gentlemen attended ; and it 
 was, probably, the most costly and splendid ball ever 
 given in the United States. I must leave it undescribed, 
 for it baffles the power of speech or pen. Those that are 
 curious in such affairs, will find an attempted description 
 in the newspapers of the time. It must be admitted, that 
 in extent and variety, the citizens of New York bore the 
 palm in doing honor to Gen. Lafayette. They had the 
 means and the will, and to those was added consummate 
 skill. 
 
 Immediately after the ball, and at the early hour of two 
 o'clock on Wednesday morning, the General, his son and 
 suite, together with a large company of ladies and gentle- 
 men, went on board the steamer James Kent, and pro- 
 ceeded up the river to visit Albany, the seat of govern- 
 ment, and the intermediate towns on the route. It was a 
 most delightful trip, not only in romantic natural scenery, 
 but in artificial displays, at all the principal towns 'on the 
 river. In addition to all this, the river banks were, gen- 
 erally, lined by a joyous multitude of people ; and shouts 
 of welcome echoed from shore to shore all the way to the 
 end of the route. I cannot stop now to describe the many
 
 32 
 
 enchanting scenes of the trip, as it would be too volumi- 
 nous for the present occasion. 
 
 The boat returned to New York early on Sunday morn- 
 ing, and the General repaired to his lodgings at the City 
 Hotel. On Monday he dined with the Grand Lodge of 
 the State. Six hundred of the craft were present, decor- 
 ated with all the Masonic symbols. 
 
 He then received a most interesting address from the 
 children of the village of Catskill, enclosing one hundred 
 and fifty dollars to constitute him a life member of the 
 American Bible Society. The General was much moved 
 at this, and returned a most affectionate reply. 
 
 On Thursday morning the General took a formal and 
 an affecting leave of his New York friends at the City 
 Hotel. He was then escorted to the steamer James Kent, 
 by large troops of horse and a battalion of infantry, ac- 
 companied by an immense multitude to bid him an affec- 
 tionate adieu. The boat left the wharf amidst continued 
 cheers, and the General stood upon deck waving his hat 
 and hand, and bowing his head until lost to sight by the 
 multitude on shore. 
 
 The General then passed on through New Jersey, Penn- 
 sylvania and Maryland, to Washington. Civic and mar- 
 tial honors awaited him all along the route, but must now 
 be imagined rather than described. 
 
 He had a most imposing and cordial welcome at Wash- 
 ington city. Congress was not then in session, but due 
 honors were paid him by the President, officers of gov- 
 ernment and citizens. His stay in Washington was then 
 short, as he intended to return in December, when Con- 
 gress would be in session. 
 
 At noon, on the 16th of September, 1824, he entered 
 the Ancient Dominion, at Alexandria. Due honors were 
 paid him here, and he then passed on to Mount Vernon 
 to pay his devoirs at the shrine of his beloved friend,
 
 33 
 
 Washington. He staid here over Sunday, and on Mon- 
 day he proceeded down the river Potomac to Yorktown, 
 in company with two other steamers filled with ladies and 
 gentlemen. 
 
 His reception at Yorktown was very imposing. The 
 village was turned into a camp, and the veritable tent of 
 Washington was there^, into which Lafayette entered with 
 deep emotion, and there received many of his revolution- 
 ary friends ; and on Wednesday morning he partook of a 
 military breakfast, in the tent of Washington, with his 
 comrades in amis. 
 
 After leaving Yorktown the Gfeneral visited Williams- 
 burg, Norfolk, Petersburg and Richmond. The demon- 
 strations in' honor of Gen. Lafayette need not be described 
 in detail, but suffice it to say that all the magnificent 
 parade, splendid decorations, civic feasts and martial 
 honors that marked his whole progress, from the time he 
 first landed on our shores, were displayed to their full ex- 
 tent in the State of Virginia. 
 
 General Lafayette left Richmond November 2d, and 
 arrived at Monticello, on a visit to his venerable friend 
 President Jefferson, and arrived there on the 4th. The 
 meeting was most cordial and affectionate. They re- 
 .mained locked in each others' arms several minutes before 
 they could find utterance to their feelings. The General 
 was presented to his family and friends, and was most 
 cordially entertained. He passed a week at Monticello, to 
 enjoy the repose of that beautiful seat, under the courteous 
 hospitality of his beloved friend ; and which, also, afforded 
 him some leisure to reply to his nume'rous correspondents. 
 Although the General had an active and efficient Secre- 
 tary, yet his unanswered letters then amounted to nearly 
 four hundred ! 
 
 While here, he visited the University of Virginia, at 
 Charlottsville, some five miles away, and there dined with 
 5
 
 34 
 
 the faculty of the College, and invited guests. The Col- 
 lege was founded by Mr. Jefferson, and he was anxious to 
 attend Lafayette on his visit, but age and ill health pre- 
 vented. He sent a note, however, apologizing for his 
 absence, and in commendation of his friend. 
 
 It may be worthy of note that the Sages 0f Quincy 
 and Monticello, in about a year and a half after their in- 
 terview with General Lafayette, both died on the same 
 4th of July, in 1826 ; and the messengers who bore tid- 
 ings of the event, met at Philadelphia, where they had 
 signed the Declaration o Independence together in 1776, 
 just half a century before. Though diverse their lives, 
 during a portion of their long and eventful pilgrimage on 
 earth, they exchanged friendly salutations years before its 
 close, and at last, on the Birthday of the Nation, started 
 for eternity together ! 
 
 The General then visited President Madison, at Mont- 
 pelier. His reception there was very cordial ; and after a 
 few days he left for Washington City, and arrived there 
 on the 23d of November. He dined on the same day witli 
 the President, in company with the officers of the General 
 Government and city. 
 
 On a pressing invitation, he visited Baltimore to attend 
 the great Cattle Show of the State of Maryland. He was 
 received at Baltimore with unabated cordiality, and was 
 complimented with the delivery of the premiums. On 
 his return to Washington, he made the White House his 
 headquarters. 
 
 When Congress was in session, he was introduced into 
 the Senate by a Committee and most cordially received ; 
 but in the House of Representatives he had a most im- 
 posing reception. 
 
 On Friday, December 10, at one o'clock, he was intro- 
 duced to the House by a committee of 24 members, and 
 when the General appeared, the members of the House
 
 35 . 
 
 - 
 
 and Senate and distinguished pers'ons admitted on the 
 floor of the House, all rose and remained standing, while 
 Henry Clay, the Speaker, in behalf of Congress and 
 nation, addressed the Nation's Guest, in the highest strain* 
 of impassioned eloquence. To which address, Gen. La- 
 fayette replied in a most happy and feeling manner. Th% 
 House then adjourned, and each member, preceded by t 
 Speaker, took the General by the hand and gave him a 
 hearty welcome. So cordial and fervent was the greeting,. 
 that those who witnessed it aver its parallel cannot- boe 
 found in Grecian or Roman history. -a- . 
 
 The scene in the Senate was less imposing, but njot less 
 honorable ; for it is known, that General Lafayette is the 
 only person that ever' had a public reception in that body. 
 On the 22d day of December, 1824, Congress passed 
 a bill granting General Lafayettfc two hundred thousand 
 dollars in money, and also, a township of public land to be 
 selected by the President. President Munroe selected, it 
 is said, what is now called Tallahassee, in Florida. The 
 President personally presented the land warrant, with an 
 appropriate address. Capitalists then offered General 
 Lafayette one hundred thousand dollars for his township ; 
 and as he did not wish to colonize it himself, or sell it by 
 piecemeal, he accepted the offer. He had then three 
 hundred thousand dollars in money, which he deposited in 
 the United States Bank at Philadelphia. 
 
 General Lafayette took his tour from Washington 
 through the Southern and Western States about the first 
 of March, 1825. He visited the principal towns in North 
 and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Ten- 
 nessee, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, Indian^ and Ohio. 
 He passed up the Mississippi river in a steamer, and then 
 up the Ohio river to Pittsburg. He visited Buffalo, Ni- 
 agara Falls, and returned to Albany by way of the Erie 
 canal. From Albany he proceeded directly to Boston,
 
 through Springfield and Worcester, and arrived there on 
 the 16th day of June, 1825. 
 
 On his return to the East, he had visited all the States 
 in the Union, except the two New England States, Maine 
 and Vermont. But he met his revolutionary friend Gov. 
 Eustis no more. IJe had gone to his rest on the 6thof 
 February before. Gov. Brooks had also died during his 
 absence. 
 
 On the 17th day of June, 1825, General Lafayette 
 appeared on Bunker Hill, laid the corner stone of the' 
 Bunker Hill Monument, sat on the platform, surrounded 
 by such a civic and military display as is 'seldom seen 
 among men ; and with a sea of upturned faces, listened 
 to the eloquent address of Daniel Webster on that mem- 
 orable occasion. 
 
 Massachusetts had indicated what might be done, by 
 the splendid display on Boston Common. the year before ; 
 but it seems it was only a prelude to what her people 
 could do. Bunker Hill was, indeed, captured as never 
 befoi-e. 
 
 The celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the , 
 battle of BUNKER HILL, and the ceremony of laying the 
 corner stone of an Obelisk to commemorate that great 
 event, took place on the 17th of Jume, 1825.* t 
 
 A Grand Procession was formed on Boston Common 
 with the utmost, precision, under the direction of General 
 Lyman. The ^uilitary escort was composed of sixteen 
 companies of infantry and a troop of horse, all volun- 
 teers and in full uniform. The survivors of the battle 
 followed in eight carriages, about 40 in number; each 
 wearing a l^adge, '* Bunker Hill, June 17." Then 
 some two hundred officers and soldiers of the revolution, 
 with appropriate badges.' Then the Bunker Hill Monu- 
 ment Association in full numbers. The Masonic proces- 
 sion succeeded, exceeding two thousand of the fraternity,
 
 37 
 
 
 
 with all their jewels and regalia. They were followed by 
 the Grand Encampments of the Knights Templar of 
 Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, Maine, New Hamp- 
 shire and Massachusetts, in full numbers, with banners 
 and implements. And the Grand Lodges of the above 
 named States, and by Royal Arch Masons, and by various 
 subordinate Chapters and Lodges. A full band of music 
 was attached to the Masonic procession. . 
 
 Hon. Mr. Webster, Orator of the Day, and President 
 of the Bunker Hill Association ; the other officers. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Kirkland, Rev. Mr. Thaxter and Rev, 
 Mr. Walker, Chaplain of the Day. 
 
 The Directors and Committees of the Association. 
 Gen. Lafayette -in an open coach and four, with General 
 Lallernand of Philadelphia. * 
 
 The General's son, George Washington Lafayette* and 
 the General's suite, in a carriage. 
 
 His Excellency the Governor. 
 
 The Council, Senate, and House of Representatives. 
 
 Governor Fenner of Rhode Island ; the Secretary of 
 War, James Harbour, and dtjiers. 
 
 Delegations from the several States. _ 
 
 Delegations from thfe Plymouth Society in Plymouth. 
 
 Officers of the Army and Navy, in uniform. 
 
 Citizens. 
 
 
 
 In this order, the whole proceede'd. through several 
 streets of Boston, to Monument Square in Charlestown. 
 The procession was over two miles long, and the front 
 had reached Charlestown bridge when the rear left the 
 Common. 
 
 On arriving at the ground, General Lafayette, at the 
 request of Mr. Webster, President of the Association, 
 assumed a mason's apron, took a trowel *in hand, placed 
 the mortar underneath the prepared, corner stone, and by 
 the assistance of operative masons laid it. in its proper
 
 38 
 
 place. Various articles were placed in a box, sealed up 
 and put underneath the stone. A long inscription had 
 been prepared and afterwards put on the Monument itself. 
 By that it appears thaf John Quincy Aclams was President 
 of the United States ; Levi Lincoln, Governor of Mas- 
 sachusetts ; James Fenner, of Rhode Island ; Oliver 
 Wolcott, of Connecticut ; David L. Morrill, of New 
 Hampshire ; Albion K. Paris, of Maine ; and Cornelius 
 P. Van Ness, of Vermont. 
 
 The platform was of the most ample dimensions, one- 
 half of which was occupied by more than a thousand 
 ladies. Odes were said and sung, and toasts given. The 
 dinner was given under an edifice erected for the purpose, 
 in which were 12 tables 400 feet long, on which were 4000 
 plates^, and all occupied. 
 
 To wind up the ceremonies of the day, Mr. Webster 
 arose, and after a few well chosen prefatory remarks, gave 
 as a toast 
 
 "Health and long life to General Lafayette" 
 
 General Lafayette arose and made a few impressive 
 and feeling remarks, and then gave the following senti- 
 ment : t 
 
 "BUNKER HILL, and the holy resistance to oppres- 
 sion, which has already enfranchised the American hemis- 
 phere. The .next haff century jubilee toast shall be En- 
 franchised Europe." 
 
 According to arrangements made the previous year, the 
 General's next excursion was to New Hampshire. And 
 here began my active part in the movements of Gen. La- 
 fayette. On Tuesday, the 21st day ,of June, 1825,1 was 
 in Boston, fully equipped to escort Gen. Lafayette and 
 suite to the Capital of New Hampshire. I had ascer- 
 tained that besides the General there werefiis so.n, George 
 Washington Lafayette; Emile Lavossiur, his private sec- 
 retary, and his' servant who seemed to be a very capable
 
 89 
 
 "man of all work." My equipage consisted of three car- 
 riages a barouche, drawn by four horses, a four-horse 
 stage coach, and a two-horse covered carriage for bag- 
 gage.. The barouche was precisely the thing needful for 
 the occasion. It was of ample dimensions, the driver's 
 seat was elevated and detached from the body of the car- 
 ria^, and that swung so low on thorough braces .that a, 
 person sitting down inside would be no higher than stand- 
 ing up outside. Very convenient, indeed, for shaj^jig 
 harftls and presenting children. The carriages and^ejays 
 of horses on the road had been provided by Mr. Nathaniel 
 Walker, the regular stage-driver on the route from Boston 
 to Concord, N. EL Thus equipped, and ready to call for 
 the General at his lodgings, I was met by the Governor's 
 aid, who said the Governor had concluded that the honor 
 of the State required that he should escort 'the General, 
 in his own equipage, to the line of the State at Methuen, 
 and we could receive him there without material delay. 
 There did not seem to be anything else to do then but to 
 start at once, and keep out of the way of the Governor's 
 escort. 
 
 Just at this moment a revolutionary soldier from Ver- 
 mont, having attended the Bunker Hill celebration, and 
 having accidentally been left by the stage, begged for a 
 ride as far as Concord on his way home. As I had ample 
 accommodations, he was cheerfully taken on board with 
 me in the barouche. I was not aware of the dilemma I was 
 in until we approached Maiden. Then it was that I could 
 see a great ci'owd in the village, the bells began to ring, 
 cannons were fired, and bands of music cheered, and us 
 we came near could distinctly hear the shouts of ' ' Wel- 
 come Lafayette." I then perceived that the multitude be- 
 lieved the soldier at my side was none other than Gen. 
 Lafayette, and were bound to give him due honors. I, 
 therefore, urged the driver to push his team into the midst
 
 40 
 
 
 
 of the crowd, so that I could undeceive them. With 
 mingled emotions, hard to be described, I arose' in the 
 carriage and with great earnestness exclaimed, " 'See that 
 you do it not;' the gentleman at my side is not Gen. La- 
 fayette, but a soldier of the revolution, ac<^dentally left 
 by the stage, and I am giving him a ride on his way 
 home. I came to Boston, fully equipped to take the Gen- 
 eral there, but the Governor has otherwise ordered. His 
 escort, with Gen. Lafayette aboard, in all the pomp and 
 circumstance of a triumph, will be here in about an- hour. 
 But as your patriotism is up, and this gentleman, at my 
 side, no doubt, is a worthy revolutionary soldier, give him 
 three cheers if you please, and we pass on." t They did 
 this with 'a will ; the soldier arose, gave a. soldier's salute, 
 and we left. . 
 
 I then began to realize the task I had before me, and 
 had my anticipations more than realized by the time I ar- 
 rived at Methuen, for I suppose I made more than twenty 
 speeches to the gatherings at the villages, hotels, stores 
 and cross-roads on the route, and Methuen itself was 
 aroused and had to be quieted. 
 
 At length my speeches began to be irksome to myself, 
 and I tried to introduce variations, but it was of no avail ; 
 for the subject could not be changed, and a mere change 
 of words was no relief. I then began to realize the tq,sk 
 imposed on Gen. Lafayette. He had been here nearly a 
 year, making speeches all over the land often the same 
 in substance, and sometimes nearly in the same words. 
 And his task was double that of mine, for he had to listen 
 to speeches as well as make them, and long, tedious 
 speeches seem to be more irksome to hear than to make. 
 
 It has been suggested to me that I might have put the 
 revolutionary soldier in the coach behind me, let down the 
 curtains and avoided all further trouble. But honor and 
 patriotism forbade. He was delighted where he was, bore
 
 41 
 
 his "blushing honors" with great complacency, although 
 unwittingly bestowed ; and to have placed him in a rear 
 carriage, merely to keep him out of sight, would have 
 been an insult to his dignity. Nor would it have availed, 
 for the stage driver, Walker, had so thoroughly adver- 
 tised his coming with Gen. Lafayette for more than a 
 \\vrk, that the people had assembled along the road, and 
 awaited his coming. And when they saw the portly, 
 honest Walker, driving a barouche, drawn by four horses 
 with flags in their headstalls, and two carriages behind, 
 they would not believe he was making a fool of himself 
 and made all this show for nothing, but that the veritable 
 General must be somewhere aboard, if not readily seen. 
 So that, in fact, demonstrations would have been made 
 had our soldier been invisible. 
 
 But one suggestion has been made that pains me to 
 state : palm off our soldier to the multitude as the veri- 
 table Gen. Lafayette, and they would have been as well 
 satisfied as if they had seen the real General himself. As 
 our soldier was about seventy years of age, of venerable 
 appearance, and well clad, it might, perhaps, have been 
 done with success. But, setting aside its dishonesty, it 
 would not have been good policy, for in time it would 
 have been known, and woe be to the one that did it bet- 
 ter have a millstone about his neck, and cast into the 
 depths of the sea. 
 
 But one thing might have been successfully done wait 
 for the Governor's escort, and follow in its wake. But 
 this I was not inclined to do, as I had no sympathy with 
 it. I preferred making my .monotonous speeches, and 
 these could be short ; and I was not compelled to endure 
 the still more irksome task of hearing any speeches in 
 reply. 
 
 In about an hour and a half the General arrived at Me- 
 thuen ; and after a half hour of hand-shaking, salutes 
 6
 
 42 
 
 and speeches, our carriages were at the door, all aboard, 
 and we on our way. My soldier then took a seat in the 
 stage coach, and the General in the barouche with me. 
 
 Immediately, I stated to the General the dilemma I had 
 been in, and the many speeches I had to make on account 
 of his absence ; but as he was now present, I felt entirely 
 relieved, for I should only be required to hear speeches, 
 and not make them. He laughed heartily at the joke the 
 Governor had unwittingly put upon me, and then said, 
 that he too had made many speeches on the route to Me- 
 thuen perhaps not so many in number as I had, for at 
 some of the crossings, where a few only assembled, he 
 only tendered his thanks, and passed on ; but he supposed 
 that some of his might have been longer, especially at 
 Andover ; but he was willing to call speech-making even ; 
 and now, as you have got your hand in, why not alternate 
 me in speech-making on the remainder of the route to 
 Concord? This was said with such a comical face, that I 
 could not but join him in a hearty laugh ; for it was well 
 known to him, as well as myself, that the desire to see 
 and hear him was so intense that the most eloquent man 
 that ever lived would not be tolerated a moment as his 
 substitute. 
 
 Our acquaintance, thus facetiously begun, was contin- 
 ued in a free, frank and easy manner ; on the route, at 
 Pembroke, where we staid over night, and at all conven- 
 ient times at Concord. We had some most glorious chats ; 
 for he seemed to enjoy his relief from public speeches and 
 receptions. I was then in the full glow of early manhood, 
 and delighted with him ; and when he found I was really 
 interested in him and his, freely imparted all I wished to 
 know. He had a keen eye to all he saw, and gave atten- 
 tion to all he heard, yet we found time for interesting 
 chats about revolutionary times, his family, and his trip 
 through the country. On my part, I was the editor of a
 
 43 
 
 newspaper at Concord, and fairly posted in the affairs of 
 the State and Nation, and could generally give him all the 
 information he desired. He wished to know about the 
 reception at Concord, and what was expected of him ; 
 and I gave him all the desired information. 
 
 We found the scenes on the route in Massachusetts re- 
 produced in New Hampshire ; for at all the hotels, stores, 
 villages and cross-roads, multitudes had assembled to 
 greet him as he came. It was in the rosy month of June, 
 and roses were abundant, especially in and about our car- 
 riage, in the shape of wreaths and bouquets. At times, 
 our carriage became so much encumbered, that we had to 
 throw them overboard in solitary places. 
 
 When about to meet a crowd for the first time, I asked 
 for instructions. He said, "I wish you would speak to 
 the driver to move slow in this crowd ; stop near the cen- 
 tre, and not start till bidden." I can only say that, all 
 along the route, he was greeted by men, women and 
 children ; and babies were presented for him to take in 
 his arms and kiss. At one place, a comely, middle-aged 
 lady became so enthusiastic that she pressed forward, put 
 her arm around his neck and gave him a fervent kiss on 
 the cheek. The General, nothing daunted, returned the 
 compliment. Two things I recollect one was, that I 
 had no objection to be in the General's place ; and the 
 other was, that the air rung with loud shouts of applause. 
 All along the route, the General would rise in his car- 
 riage, wave his hat, and return thanks for the attentions 
 shown him ; but he made no formal address until he 
 reached Concord. 
 
 At Deny Centre Village, the Rev. Dr. Dana was in- 
 troduced to him ; and at his request, the General visited 
 a ladies' school near by, kept by Miss Grant. The Doc- 
 tor introduced the General to the teacher and spoke a few 
 words in regard to the school. A hundred and one fair,
 
 44 
 
 fresh and healthy young ladies composed the school, all 
 dressed alike, each having on a white dress, a blue sash 
 around the waist, and a full-blown rose in the hair. They 
 all arose when we entered, and, at a signal, formed round 
 in single file before the General; and each one, as her 
 name was announced by the teacher, took him by tin- 
 hand. The General made a few remarks in commenda- 
 tion of the teacher and scholars, and we retired. 
 
 As we came out to our carriage, an excited youth was 
 ringing the meeting-house bell with all his might, and at 
 the same time intensely gazing at the General ; but as we 
 passed on, he could not keep the bell-rope in hand and see 
 the General. He then, dropped the rope and stood out 
 with lifted hands, intensely gazing. But the bell stopped. 
 The General shook his sides and said : ' ' That boy thinks 
 the bell is as enthusiastic as he is, and will keep on ring- 
 ing while he is looking." 
 
 We were to dine at the Hotel in the lower village of 
 Deny, on the turnpike, a mile away. When we came to 
 the brow of the hill overlooking the village, we beheld 
 what an excited clergyman might call "a section of tin- 
 day of judgment." Small and great were indeed there, 
 forming a multitude far exceeding anything we had seen 
 on the route. As we approached, the cannon on the hill 
 beyond began to utter their deep-toned voices ; bands 
 played, flags waved, and the sound of many voices was 
 heard in shouts of welcome. The Irish blood was up, 
 and ringing voices betokened healthy lungs, and the shouts 
 were overwhelming. 
 
 The crowd gave way as we approached the door of the 
 Hotel, and we entered. While we were in the wash-room, 
 a message came that the feelings of the people were so 
 intense to see the General, that they begged to see him 
 before he sat down to dinner. As he consented, we went 
 out on to the upper porch, and T announced GENERAL
 
 45 
 
 LAFAYETTE. The shout was repeated, if possible louder 
 than before ; and when we were about to retire, a revolu- 
 tionary veteran stepped out a pace or two in front of the 
 crowd, and with a loud voice made an impromptu speech. 
 The General made a short reply, bowed, and took his 
 leave. At the table, the General said, that was one of 
 the best speeches he had heard since he came to America 
 short, pungent, patriotic, and to the point. 
 
 The Hall was large, and tables all full ; and many of 
 the yeomanry had the pleasure of dining with General 
 Lafayette. 
 
 Our route lay through Suncook Village, at the South 
 end of Pembroke. There, Major Caleb Stark, son of 
 Major General John Stark, lived ; and as he had a slight 
 acquaintance with General Lafayette in the revolutionary 
 war, had written to him a request that he would call at his 
 house, as he very much wished to see him and introduce 
 him to his family. We called, and on introducing him to 
 the General, he seized his hand, and began an animated 
 speech about revolutionary times, which did not seem soon 
 to terminate. His family was standing on the opposite 
 side of the room waiting to be introduced ; but he seemed 
 to have forgotten them. I was acquainted with the Ma- 
 jor, but not with his family, and could not introduce them 
 myself. In this dilemma, the spirited Miss Harriet Stark, 
 no longer able to brook delay, came forward, seized Gen- 
 eral Lafayette's hand, and said : " Permit me to introduce 
 myself to you as the eldest daughter of Maj. Caleb Stark, 
 with whom you are talking, and the grand-daughter of 
 Major-Gcncral John Stark, the hero of Bennington ; and 
 now, permit me to introduce you to my mother, brothers 
 and sisters ;" which she did, with her usual promptness 
 and energy. 
 
 When we were seated in the carriage, Gen. Lafayette 
 said : "Miss Harriet Stark does indeed inherit all the fire
 
 46 
 
 and spirit of her grandfather, and would have been a 
 heroine had she lived in the exciting scenes of revolution- 
 ary times." 
 
 Near the close of a beautiful summers day, one of the 
 longest in the year, we entered upon the long main street 
 of Pembroke. The sun, having moved round his long 
 circle in the sky, was resting in crimson robes on the 
 Western hills, and soon retired for the night. Xot so 
 Pembroke village ; that was wide awake, and gave the 
 General as enthusiastic a welcome as he had received any- 
 where on the route. Sometimes, it seemed, the less the 
 numbers the greater the zeal. 
 
 We had used due diligence and travelled rapidly when 
 not hindered ; but our coming had been so well advertised 
 by the well-known Walker, the stage driver on the route, 
 that it was known to all people, far and near. And so it 
 was, that we were not only detained at villages, hotels 
 and cross-roads, but even at a single cottage. Our ap- 
 proach seemed to have been watched ; and, at the report 
 of a musket or bugle blast, people would rapidly appear 
 from their lounging places, where none were visible be- 
 fore ; and the General must needs pause a moment, take 
 by the hand those near by, and speak a few words. In- 
 fancy and age were alike presented, and the halt and the 
 lame were sitting in easy chairs before the cottage doors. 
 At one of these cottages an invalid old lady, "cadaverous 
 and pale," was brought by two men, in her armed chair, 
 to the carriage; she seized the General's hand with both 
 of hers, and with tearful eyes, exclaimed "Bless the 
 Lord!" 
 
 At Fiske's hotel, on the Main street of Pembroke, five 
 miles from Concord, we rested for the night. A large 
 concourse of people gave the General a hearty welcome, 
 and shook hands with him, and he made a short speech. 
 On my suggesting to the most active men, that the Gen-
 
 47 
 
 oral had had a long and fatiguing day, and needed rest ; 
 the people promptly retired, and Pembroke village eould 
 never have been more quiet. 
 
 After supper, the General leaned back in his easy chair, 
 and said he should sleep better if he sat up an hour before 
 retiring for the night ; and he agreed that I might sit up 
 with him and have; a pleasant chat. I did but little more 
 than make .suggestions and ask questions, all of which he 
 readily and courteously answered. The conversation re- 
 lated to himself, family, revolutionary times, and his trip 
 through the country. So interested I became, that I took 
 no note of time, and am fearful that I kept him up too 
 long ; but he did not seem to be weary or impatient. Of 
 this, and other conversations I had with him, I shall al- 
 lude to before I close ; but I recollect our evening's con- 
 versation wound up by his saying that I was the most in- 
 quisitive man he had found in America ; but I seemed so 
 much interested in him and his, that it was with pleasure 
 he had given me the information I desired. 
 
 Wednesday, June 22, 1825, was the memorable day of 
 his reception at Concord. A committee of the Legisla- 
 ture, consisting of Stephen P. Webster, of the Senate, 
 and four members of the House, came down in a coach 
 and six to escort the General to Concord. Six white 
 horses were attached to our barouche, Mr. Webster and 
 the General aboard, and I took a seat in the stage coach 
 with George Washington Lafayette. The procession 
 started, and a long line of carriages followed. The pro- 
 cession was met at the lower end of the Dark Plains, op- 
 posite the lower bridge over the Merrimac river, by twenty 
 Independent Companies of New Hampshire Militia, the 
 whole commanded by Gen. Bradbury Bartlett, of Notting- 
 ham, and the two wings by Gen. Joseph Towle of Kp- 
 ping, and Col. William Kent, of Concord. After the 
 usual salutes and evolutions, the procession proceeded
 
 under this escort, over the bridge, up Main street, around 
 the old North Church, down State street to Pleasant 
 street, down Pleasant street to Main street again, and up 
 Main street to the gate of the State House yard. The 
 General was then escorted to the Hall of the House of 
 Representatives, in which were assembled the Governor, 
 Council, Senate, Members of the House, Officers of the 
 State, and invited guests, while the gallery was filled with 
 ladies. 
 
 Gen. Lafayette was introduced to Governor Morrill by 
 Hon. Edmund Parker, of Amherst, Chairman of the Com- 
 mittee of Arrangements. Go v. Morrill arose, and gave 
 him a cordial welcome in behalf of the Government and 
 people of the State. To this the General very appro- 
 priately replied ; and here all formality was ended, and 
 each individual took him by the hand. 
 
 In the area below, two hundred and ten revolutionary 
 soldiers, with Gen. Benjamin Pierce at their head, were 
 assembled to pay their respects to Gen. Lafayette. He 
 was introduced to Gen. Pierce, and then he introduced 
 him to each individual soldier. It was a slow process, 
 and very affecting, for all shed tears, and some of them 
 "sobbed aloud." Some of them were recognized as his 
 companions in arms ; among whom was Lieut. Robert 
 Wilkins, of Concord. He reminded the General of a 
 perilous foraging expedition performed at his request, 
 which he remembered, and added some particulars that 
 the modesty of the Lieutenant had omitted. 
 
 After the General had been introduced to them all, he 
 came up to the centre of the line, and gave them a few 
 most affectionate parting words. There was not a dry 
 eye in the room ; and although I was only a looker on, I 
 could not restrain my emotions. 
 
 The General was then escorted to the dwelling house 
 of Col. William A. Kent, on Pleasant street, which was
 
 49 
 
 his headquarters while in Concord. This house was then 
 the handsomest in the village, but it seems, it is removed, 
 and a more modern building occupies its place. 
 
 On the same day, a public dinner was given in honor of 
 the General, under an awning in the State House yard, 
 furnished by John P. Goss of the Columbian Hotel, at 
 which the revolutionary soldiers were invited and attended 
 in a body. 
 
 At this feast, speeches were made, toasts were drank 
 and songs were sung. A volunteer toast was given by 
 Gov. Morrill, another by Gen. Lafayette, and a third by 
 his son. Two patriotic songs were furnished for the occa- 
 sion one by Col. Phillip Carigain of Concord, and the 
 other by Moses L. Xeal, Esq., of Dover; and both were 
 well sung by John D. Abbott of Concord. But of the 
 incidents and enthusiasm of this feast, why need I speak ? 
 Concord and the State did their duty fully, leaving noth- 
 ing to be regretted or desired. 
 
 Many conventions have been held at Concord. It has 
 been honored by the visits of five Presidents of the United 
 States Washington, Munroe, Jackson, Polk and Grant ; 
 and it witnessed the great "log cabin" display of 1840 ; 
 but never was seen, on any other occasion, such a public 
 display and deep-toned enthusiasm as attended the recep- 
 tion of/ren. Lafayette. Words are inadequate to de- 
 scribe it ; and could it be done, the present generation 
 would hardly comprehend or believe it. 
 
 Concord was then full of people, and it could hold more 
 then than now, for there were more vacant lots and fewer 
 houses. The streets were running over, and the vacant 
 lots were full of shanties, awnings and people. The two 
 cannons on the hill back of the State House vied with each 
 other to see which could speak the loudest without burst- 
 ing ; and the solitary church bell of the old North rang 
 out its merriest peal ; and although it found no answering 
 7
 
 50 
 
 voice in kind, yet the martial music, shouts of men and 
 roar of cannon kept it in countenance and cheered it on. 
 
 The General took tea with Governor Morrill at his res- 
 idence, dropped in to hear the N. H, Musical Society a 
 few moments, and then attended a grand levee in the area 
 of the State House and State House yard. The Capitol 
 and surrounding buildings were illuminated, and a vast 
 throng attended. 
 
 At this levee, I introduced my wife and first-born child 
 to the General, and announced his name to be George 
 Washington. He shook hands with the wife, took the 
 child in his arms, impressed a kiss on its cheek, looked at 
 the mother, and then at the child ; and in a subdued, 
 " still small voice," said : "I am reminded of the loved 
 and the lost !" I knew it reminded him of his own be- 
 loved wife ; his first-born child ; and his noble friend 
 Washington all dead! So impressive was the scene, 
 that the mother wept as well as himself, and could not 
 speak of it in after life without tears. An impulsive man 
 of strong sympathies, like Lafayette, must needs have 
 deep sorrows, as well as great joys. 
 
 The evening wound up by another levee at Col. W. A. 
 Kent's. This was designed more especially for the accom- 
 modation of the ladies and gentlemen of Concord. The 
 house, street and surrounding buildings were, so well 
 illuminated that it was as light as day in and around it. 
 I stood in the ample portico by the hour to see the anx- 
 ious throng pressing forward to take by the hand and pay 
 their respects to the Nation's Guest. Men, women and 
 children, high, low, rich and poor, with one intent, came 
 and went in one continuous throng till late into night. 
 It was interesting to see the contrast between the comers 
 and goers. The comers pressed forward with hurried step 
 and anxious face ; while the goers moved along with quiet 
 step and satisfied air to their respective homes. This re-
 
 51 
 
 markable levee was more than half a century ago, and 
 few indeed survive that attended it. 
 
 The next morning, the General took his departure for 
 Portland, Maine. He was escorted by Col. Andrew 
 Pierce of Dover, a member of the Senate, and Col. Wil- 
 liam Smith of Exeter, one of the Governor's aids. He 
 went by the way of Northwood and Durham, stopped at 
 Dover over night, at the mansion of Hon. William Hale ; 
 and the next day, went as far as Saco. He entered Port- 
 land early on Saturday morning, staid there over night, 
 and at 7 o'clock Sunday morning, he quietly left, on his 
 return trip. He came back the same way he went, and 
 staid at Northwood Sunday night. On Monday forenoon, 
 at 10 o'clock, he passed through the main street of Con- 
 cord again and dined at the Phoenix Hotel. In all his 
 trip, due honors were paid him, and his receptions were 
 most cordial and enthusiastic ; can well be imagined and 
 need not be described. 
 
 On an interview with him, he inquired if I had pub- 
 lished an account of his reception at Concord ; and being 
 answered in the affirmative, he requested a copy, and said, 
 he had obtained as many of the accounts of his visits as 
 he well could, so that, on his return to France, he might 
 live the scenes over again, and call to mind the many 
 valued friends he had left behind. On handing him a 
 copy, he gave it to his Secretary; and so, I suppose, a 
 copy of the ' ' Xew Hampshire Statesman " is quietly rest- 
 ing in the library of Lagrange. 
 
 On Monday, June 27, 1825, a six-horse stage coach 
 for General Lafayette and suite, and a two-horse carriage 
 for baggage, were at the front yard gate of the Capitol. 
 I staid by the carriages, while the General went up into 
 the State House to take leave of the Legislature, then in 
 session. While he was gone, a controversy arose who 
 should drive General Lafayette. It was deemed such an
 
 52 
 
 honor to drive a carriage with the General aboard, that it 
 was sought for with great zeal. It appeared that the 
 Northern line out of Concord, having the newest and 
 most elegant coach , had furnished that ; and the Southern 
 line, by which he was to travel, had furnished the horses. 
 Through the intervention of the stage agent, a compro- 
 mise was made the Northern man should drive one relay 
 of horses, and the Southern man the remainder of the 
 route. 
 
 Just at this time, Dr. Dixi Crosby of Gilmanton, after- 
 wards professor at Hanover, came in great haste to be 
 introduced to the General before his departure. I went 
 with him to the State House, and met the General at the 
 steps. After an introduction, we passed down the walk 
 to the carriages. The General put his arm around me, 
 pressed me to his side, gave a cordial invitation to visit 
 Lagrange, took his seat in the coach, waved his hand, and 
 I saw him no more. Let it not be supposed that the 
 General took leave of me in a manner unusual to him ; 
 for that was his mode of taking leave where he had be- 
 come well acquainted ; and was precisely the way he took 
 leave of the Massachusetts Governor's aid at Methuen. 
 
 The driver on the box of a splendid coach, six elegant 
 horses and harnesses to match, flags each side of the stage 
 box and flags on the horses' head-stalls, with Gen Lafay- 
 ette aboard, stretched himself up proudly erect, gathered 
 up his ribbons, six in hand, cracked his whip and was off 
 at a bound. It seemed that the horses felt the excitement 
 of the hour, for they bounded down Main street, up 
 Pleasant street, and over the Asylum Hill at full speed, 
 and soon were lost to sight. 
 
 The General's route lay through Hopkinton, Warner 
 and Claremont in New Hampshire, and Windsor, Mont- 
 pelier and Burlington in Vermont. He spent the Fourth 
 of July at Albany, took a steamer for the city of New
 
 53 
 
 York, and from thence went to Washington City. John 
 Quincy Adams was then President of the United States, 
 and on his invitation General Lafayette made his home at 
 the AVhite House, to rest, for rest he really needed after 
 taking such an exciting and laborious tour through the 
 24 States of the Union. A Roman General might well 
 endure a triumph for a day ; but who can stand a triumph 
 for hundreds of days in succession ? 
 
 When the General signified his desire to return to 
 France, the new frigate Brandy wine, named in honor of 
 the battle of Brandy wine, in which he bravely fought and 
 was w r ounded, was brought round to the Navy Yard at 
 Washington, fully equipped for sea, and all things need- 
 ful for his comfort put on board. It was a new ship, just 
 finished, and had never tried its wings on the ocean. 
 
 On the 6th day of September, 1825, the birthday of 
 General Lafayette, at the Eastern steps of the White 
 House, President John Quincy Adams, in presence of the 
 officers of the Government and a vast concourse of ladies 
 and gentlemen, bid the Nation's Guest a final farewell, in 
 one of the most touching and eloquent addresses that had 
 been delivered to him in all his travels through the United 
 States. The next day the vessel put to sea, and in due 
 time arrived safely in. France. His reception was most 
 cordial far different fi'om the manner of his leaving ; for 
 the King of France had learned that he was a man of too 
 much importance to be trifled with or abused. Bmt re- 
 tributive justice, in time, was measurably done ; for the 
 arrogant King, who abused when he could, and decently 
 treated when he must, in the three days' revolution of 
 1830 was deprived of his power, despised and disowned, 
 and had to flee his country to save his own life. General 
 Lafayette's family met him at Havre, where he landed, 
 and his tenants flocked round him as he drew near La- 
 grange, and gave him a most cordial welcome.
 
 54 
 
 Thus came and thus went the gallant hero, General 
 Lafayette. It seems, that he left France in a private 
 vessel, empty handed, insulted and oppressed ; and re- 
 turned in a national ship, with flags of two great nations 
 flying at the main peak, mizzen and fore, heavy laden and 
 triumphant. 
 
 As General Lafayette came here on the 15th of August, 
 1824, and returned on the 8th of September, 1825, he 
 remained here one year and twenty-three days. Strike off 
 the 23 days as his Sabbath of rest, and it was more than 
 that ; and as the number of States was then 24, just 
 double the months in a year, it would give him just half 
 a month to visit each State, provided he equally divided 
 his time. But as the larger States, like New York and 
 Virginia, required more than his average time, he could 
 devote but a few days to the smaller states. He devoted 
 less than a week each to Maine, New Hampshire and 
 Vermont. 
 
 But when it is considered that he continually visited 
 schools, academies, factories, public buildings, libraries, 
 legislatures, and many of the curiosities of the country ; 
 and then went through a continual round of receptions, 
 dinners and speeches, and travelled thousands of miles 
 over this extended country, often in stage coaches, over 
 hills and rough roads, it is a marvel that he visited the 
 twenty-four States of the Union in the time and manner 
 he did, and live. There were, indeed, steamboats and 
 canal boats in those days, and he occasionally made use of 
 them on the Eastern and Western waters ; but not to any 
 great extent, as they did not often move in the direction 
 he wished to travel. And during all this time he carried 
 on a voluminous correspondence, which caused him not a 
 little trouble and fatigue, notwithstanding he had the ser- 
 vices of an efficient private secretary. 
 
 While he was here he had the pleasure of hearing some
 
 55 
 
 of our greatest orators of the time Henry Clay, at Wash- 
 ington city ; Prof. Edward Everett, at Cambridge Col- 
 lege, Daniel Webster, at Bunker Hill, and last, though 
 not least, President John Quincy Adams, at the Capitol. 
 Many other patriotic and eloquent speeches he must have 
 heard, as well as many tedious and dull ones. But many 
 speeches, tedious or otherwise, addressed to him day after 
 day, and to which he must needs make a reply, must 
 have been exceedingly trying to the nerves, and it is a 
 marvel that he sustained himself as well as he did. 
 
 Thus far, I have endeavored to give my recollections of 
 General Lafayette's visit to this country in 1824 and '25. 
 It is more than half a century ago, and I have to trust to 
 my minutes, memory, and recollections of others ; and 
 may, therefore, be sometimes mistaken in my facts ; yet 
 the exciting scenes of the time are so strongly impressed 
 on my mind that most of the transactions here recited 
 seem as fresh and vivid as the events of yesterday. I was 
 then, as now, a great admirer of General Lafayette. I 
 deem him one of the greatest patriots of the age in which 
 he lived ; yea, one of the greatest patriots of any age. 
 We fought for our own country, firesides and friends. He 
 left the the warm precincts of Lagrange, a beautiful and 
 beloved wife, and against the remonstrance of friends and 
 king, fitted out a vessel at his own expense, and sailed 
 three thousand miles away to fight the battles of another 
 country, struggling for existence and against powerful 
 odds. He could not hope for fame hardly success ; and 
 yet he hazarded his life, spent his substance and time. 
 most disinterestedly and nobly, throughout our Revolu- 
 tion, without compensation or reward. Xo wonder at the 
 great enthusiasm at his presence, for not a few at that day 
 knew of his great services and merits. And should I be 
 accused of exaggeration in describing the scenes of the 
 time, I can only say, that I feel, language is all too poor 
 fully to describe the scenes as they actually occurred.
 
 Ob' 
 
 I turn back half a century in the course of time, and 
 imagine myself standing in the presence of Lafayette ; and 
 the exciting scenes pass in rapid review before me ; and 
 hear, or seem to hear, the shouts of welcome along the 
 streets, and the booming of cannon echoing from the sur- 
 rounding forests and hills. And I feel much like the 
 veteran soldier of many battles, who recounts the perilous 
 conflicts of early days, and stretches up his unpliant limbs, 
 "shoulders his crutch to show how fields are won." AVill 
 it be said that words and sounds are wind? Granted, but 
 wind is one of the most powerful elements of nature it- 
 prostrates forests and tears to atoms the dwellings of men". 
 Let him that doubts the potency of sound turn to the 
 Bible and there learn that the tooting of ramshorns 
 tumbled down the walls of Jericho. 
 
 If any young man desires to live a useful life and per- 
 form noble deeds, in spite of all opposition, let him un- 
 buckle his vest, expand his chest, inflate his lungs, and 
 give an explosion worthy of the days of Layayette. No 
 one knows his powers till he tries them, and noble deeds 
 are never done without an attempt. 
 
 The triumphant tour of Gen. Lafayette through all the 
 States of the Union, at the time and under the circum- 
 stances, was the most remarkable in the history of the 
 world. President Munroe was the last of revolutionary 
 heroes, and the people were much divided in regard to his 
 successor. Members of Congress nominated William H. 
 Crawford, of Georgia ; conventions in the States nomi- 
 nated John Quincy Adams of Massachusetts, Henry Clay 
 of Kentucky, and Gen. Andrew Jackson of Tennessee 
 four candidates, and all alike professed republicans ; the 
 contest was, therefore, more personal than political, and 
 spirited, sharp, and oftentimes severe. The election, in 
 November, resulted in no choice by the people ; and the 
 House of Representatives, voting by States, elected John
 
 57 
 
 Quincy Adams by a majority of one vote, he having 13 
 out of the 24, and was inaugurated President on the 4th 
 of March, 1825. Now, during this severe conflict, Gen. 
 Lafayette visited the United States, and passed through 
 the entire Union in such a succession of triumphs that 
 never had been conferred on mortal man before. And 
 this was entirely universal ; not a discordant voice was 
 heard ; for the presence of Gen. Lafayette, like oil on the 
 troubled waters, hushed to rest the strife of partisan zeal, 
 and all joined together as one man, and gave him all the 
 glory and honor they had the ability to bestow. And this 
 was not mere adulation or outside show, often rendered 
 to office and power ; but from deep, heartfelt emotions ; 
 and to a man who had neither office, patronage nor power. 
 And those who are inclined to despair of the Republic, 
 can turn with pride and hope to this bright page in our 
 history and be comforted. 
 
 And now, I proceed to relate some of the conversations 
 I had with Gen. Lafayette. When I suggested to him 
 that he had made so many patriotic speeches himself, and 
 so many had been made to him with his approbation, and 
 these would be published in France and come to the 
 knowledge of the King, might he not, under some plaus- 
 ible pretext, confiscate his three hundred thousand dol- 
 lars and imprison him. " Ah, sir," said he, " I am well 
 provided against that : I have deposited the three hundred 
 thousand dollars in the United States Bank at Phila- 
 delphia, there to remain, subject to my draft, and will be 
 drawn only as fast as I wish to use it. The Bank has 
 agreed to allow me six per cent, on the money, and send 
 it as I wish to use it, without expense to me. Therefore, 
 the King cannot touch that if so disposed. And as to 
 annoying or imprisoning me, I have now no fears of that ; 
 for by the time I shall have returned to France he will be 
 well aware of the estimation in which I am held by my
 
 58 
 
 American friends, and that they will not see me abused. 
 If the King should make an attack on me, my American 
 friends would rise en masse and vindicate my rights ; and 
 a war with America would dethrone him ; for the Ameri- 
 can trade is all important to the manufactures of France. 
 I shall, therefore, return to France an independent man, 
 financially and politically ; for my funds he cannot touch, 
 and my person he dare not." 
 
 I then inquired of him if these many great public dis- 
 plays which he had witnessed for nearly a year, in which 
 he had taken such an active part, had not, in a measure, 
 affected his health, and whether a less rapid movement 
 might not have been less fatiguing. He replied that rapid 
 movement was his nature, and his military education had 
 confirmed it as a habit. It was more irksome to a spirited 
 horse to be put under the curb than to take his own nat- 
 ural gait. He had, however, been compelled to travel 
 faster, and more in the night, than was agreeable to him ; 
 but he wished to fulfil all his engagements if he could ; 
 and it was unpleasant to feel that multitudes ahead were 
 anxiously awaiting his arrival. But delays were unavoid- 
 able, and the best arrangements failed of performance, 
 where men, women and children were in the programme ; 
 for they could not be handled with the precision and 
 promptness of a military company ; but he felt that all the 
 executive officers had done their duty to the utmost, and 
 rendered his visits as pleasant as possible. On the whole, 
 fatiguing or otherwise, he had enjoyed his trip greatly, 
 and the delightful scenes through which he had passed 
 could never be effaced from his memory. 
 
 But he had learned something by experience ; toned 
 down his feelings and improved every opportunity for rest. 
 The display at Xew York took him entirely by surprise, 
 especially in extent ; and was in such contrast to his leav- 
 ing France, that for a time, he was completely over-
 
 59 
 
 whelmed, and felt the effects of it afterwards. But since 
 then, he had so much disciplined himself that he had wit- 
 nessed displays as imposing, if not as extensive, with 
 composure and joy. Perhaps he had over-estimated his 
 power of endurance ; but he felt that he should finish his 
 tour without materially impairing his constitution, and 
 when he had taken his rest, find himself in his usual fair 
 health. 
 
 In 1784, more than forty years before, he had visited 
 his American friends, and had a most cordial and enthusi- 
 astic reception ; but that was immediately after a success- 
 ful revolution ; and he met many comrades in war, as well 
 as personal friends, and an enthusiastic meeting might be 
 expected ; but after a generation had passed, and few per- 
 sonal friends remained, he did not expect anything more 
 than a generous and quiet welcome. He could not fully 
 comprehend how services rendered nearly half a century 
 before, disinterested and patriotic as they might be, should 
 cause such an enthusiastic display by a people, generally, 
 strangers to him, and in the heat of an excited canvass for 
 the election of a President of the United States. He had 
 attended these enthusiastic receptions for nearly a year, 
 and had not yet fully solved the problem. Although, like 
 the human countenance, they were similar, yet distin- 
 guishable from each other. It had been gratifying, as 
 well as surprising, to witness what the ingenuity of the 
 American people could do ; and yet, there seemed to be 
 so much affection, gratitude and kindness behind it all, he 
 did not feel himself worthy of so much homage. Nor 
 could he claim or appropriate all the honors to himself, 
 but must attribute much to the cause he advocated, and the 
 great love of liberty which characterized the American 
 people. 
 
 He also spoke of the appearance of the country, and the 
 great contrast between his going and coming. Although
 
 60 
 
 he had taken American newspapers, and made many in- 
 quiries of his American visiting friends, yet he could truly 
 say, the half had not been told him. In 1784, when he 
 left this country, neither Florida nor Louisiana had been 
 annexed, and the long tier of States on the East side of 
 the Mississippi river did not exist as States, and were 
 scarcely inhabited by civilized man ; and Washington City 
 itself was a wilderness. He was surprised at the rapid 
 improvement throughout the Western country, and the 
 Eastern did not lag much behind. He marvelled greatly 
 at the city of Rochester, in the State of New York. He 
 said he found in the revolutionary woods a great city, so 
 rapidly and recently built, that the very founders were the 
 men talking to him. 
 
 Although he had spent some of the best days of his life 
 in aiding the American people to gain their independence, 
 he regretted it not, but felt more than amply paid for all 
 his toils and troubles, in witnessing its noble results. In 
 travelling over the States of the Union, he had found 
 improvements far beyond all his expectations, and an 
 intelligent, prosperous and happy people. The first thing 
 he noticed on his arrival, was the absence of squalid 
 poverty, the canaille, sans culottes or rabble, such a 
 prominent and disagreeable feature in Europe, when the 
 people assemble en masse on great occasions. One great 
 attractive feature in the public displays, was the school 
 children, who appeared by hundreds and thousands, 
 especially in the large cities, who were neatly clad, often 
 in uniform, and appeared healthy and happy. It was 
 truly affecting, to hear the joyous shouts of childhood, 
 ringing out shouts of welcome in tones so piercing and 
 shrill, that they could be heard above the din of the hour. 
 And he often paused as he passed, rose in his carriage, 
 and with deep emotion, waved his hat and hand, and 
 bowed his head, in token of his appreciation of their
 
 61 
 
 hearty welcomes. He found the great mass of the people, 
 also, well-clad, intelligent and courteous ; and, indeed, 
 he felt proud of the country ; and could see no reason 
 why it should not improve in the future as in the past, 
 and in time become one of the greatest nations on earth. 
 Thus far, his anticipations have been more than realized ; 
 for his 24 States have become 38, the population more 
 than doubled, and the country greatly increased in size, 
 by the addition of the large territories of Texas, New 
 Mexico and California, counting Alaska nothing. 
 
 When I signified a wish or desire to know the extent 
 of his sacrifices in the cause of American Independence, 
 he saw at once the drift of my wishes, and said : he came 
 here at first, not to make money, but to spend it. His 
 income was then, counting that of Lagrange with his l#rge 
 estates in the South of France together, more than thirty- 
 seven thousand dollars a year ; and he made up his mind 
 to spend every dollar that could be spared in the cause of 
 American Independence. But his income, though ample 
 for an individual, was of but Iktle account in a great war. 
 His greatest services, therefore, he had rendered were in 
 persuading others, especially the Courts of Spain and 
 France, to furnish the needful munitions of war. His 
 importunity sometimes had been so great, that the King 
 of France said to his ministers in his presence, that he 
 thought Lafayette would strip the palace of Versailles of 
 its furniture to clothe the American army ; and he curtly 
 replied, ' ' / would." 
 
 I then said, that a member of Congress had publicly 
 stated, in the House, that he had spent, of his own money, 
 a hundred and forty thousand dollars in the cause of the 
 American revolution, and had never taxed a dollar for his 
 great services in thf- cause. "Ah, well," he said, " I 
 never stopped to count the dollars ; and others may know, 
 perhaps, as much about it as I do ; but this I know, that
 
 62 
 
 whatever it was, it went freely and never for a moment 
 regretted ; but I gloried then, as I do now, that I have 
 made so good a use of what fortune had placed within my 
 control. And as to my own services, whether great or 
 small, I never taxed or received a dollar for them, either 
 in the American or French revolutions." 
 
 I then said to him, that in some of his speeches he had 
 said, or intimated, something like a desire or intention of 
 returning to this country and spending the remainder of 
 his days with us. He said that in the excitement of some 
 of his receptions, he had, probably, intimated something 
 of the kind, for it was painful to think of leaving so many 
 valued friends forever, to meet them no more upon earth ; 
 but prudence dictated to him the propriety of remaining 
 in the milder climate of France in his old age ; nor should 
 he feel so much at home anywhere in the world as at La- 
 grange. And the attachment between himself and family 
 was mutual, and they would never consent to leave 
 France. He had then four children : Anastasia, Virginia 
 and Carolina, his daughters ; and George Washington 
 Lafayette, his only son ; and a larger number of grand- 
 children. They were all united in one harmonious house- 
 hold, and could not be separated while life lasted. His 
 first-born daughter, Henriette, died while he was here in 
 the American revolution. It was a sad affliction to him ; 
 still greater, if possible, to the mother ; and he was sorely 
 tempted to return home and comfort her all he could, but 
 stern duties here forbade. 
 
 But there were other reasons besides these why he 
 should not reside here. The enthusiasm now was too 
 great to last. In time it must come down to the realities 
 of everyday life. Should he live here, he must have his 
 associates and friends. In a Republic there would always 
 be two parties, at least, and should he join one, he would 
 offend the other ; if he joined neither he would offend
 
 63 
 
 both. And then, as he had always been a frank and out- 
 spoken man, his position in society might not be altogether 
 pleasant ; and he had a feeling that he still might be of 
 some service to his native France. 
 
 And, moreover, he should most sadly miss his noble 
 friend, Washington, and his wife. Although he had paid 
 his devoirs at Mount Vernon and ' ' wept full sore " at their 
 tomb, they never could be restored to him upon earth ; 
 and he should miss them more here, where he had been 
 accustomed to see them, than at his home in France. No 
 man could feel more grateful than himself for the great 
 favors bestowed and the kind feelings expressed, and he 
 should leave America sorrowing that stern necessity re- 
 quired that he should take a last farewell of so many 
 noble, generous and devoted friends. 
 
 His friendship for Washington, he said, could not be 
 expressed by words. It was the friendship of David and 
 Jonathan repeated. Although double his own age, and 
 more sedate and less impulsive, yet their cordial intimacy, 
 in the long and vexing scenes of the revolution, had never 
 been disturbed. Although unlike, they were in agreement 
 with each other. If he had at any time been a spur to 
 Washington, more often he had been a curb to himself. 
 Washington had been censured for his want of energy in 
 the prosecution of the war, but he thought, wrongfully. 
 He could not do as he would for the lack of means, and 
 could not disclose to the public his destitution without in- 
 forming the enemy also ; and at times, had the enemy 
 known his condition, it would have been fatal. 
 
 Washington did not lack energy, but it was regulated 
 by prudence. He never made long speeches to his army, 
 or boasted of what he had done, or was about to do ; and 
 yet, when thoroughly aroused, the stoutest heart would 
 quail before him. He had been his aid, when he mounted 
 his charger on the eve of a battle, rode round the army,
 
 64 
 
 took his position in front, while his soldiers passed in re- 
 view before him, and then wave an adieu with his hat, 
 and not a word spoken ; yet his face would glow with 
 emotion, and his appearance and bearing were more pow- 
 erful than words. His soldiers understood him, and were 
 ready to fight to the utmost ; and woe to the foe they en- 
 countered. 
 
 General Lafayette's suggestion that he might yet be of 
 some service to his native France seemed rather prophetic, 
 for in the three days' revolution of 1830 he was called to 
 the command of the National Guards, and through his 
 influence Louis Philippe was chosen Citizen King, peace 
 was restored, and the revolution ended without bloodshed. 
 Although the people clamored for a Republic, and would 
 have made him Chief Magistrate, yet he did not deem 
 this best for France ; and having no ambition for power, 
 he respectfully but firmly declined. 
 
 When speaking of the incidents of the revolutionary 
 war, the General said, one of the most painful duties he 
 had to perform was to sit on the court martial that tried 
 and condemned Major Andre. He appeared to be a gal- 
 lant officer, and not intentionally a spy ; but as he did 
 come within the American lines to induce an American 
 officer to commit treason, he was by military law a spy, 
 and had to be condemned. Gen. Washington was not 
 disposed to deal harshly with him, and permitted him to 
 use his best efforts to get him exchanged for Gen. Arnold ; 
 but that proved unsuccessful. Washington signed his 
 death warrant in tears, and appointed the day of his ex- 
 ecution. When that arrived, it was postponed in the 
 hope that something would occur to relieve the stern ne- 
 cessity of his execution. As nothing in his favor appeared, 
 Major Andre, at last, was executed on the 2d of October, 
 1780, and died as he had lived, a brave man. His death 
 was a sad blow to his mother and three sisters ; for he
 
 65 
 
 was the favorite of the family, who were mainly depen- 
 dent on him for support. The King of England, how- 
 ever, granted the mother a pension, which placed them in 
 comfortable circumstances. 
 
 After the war, Gen. Arnold, with his usual effrontery, 
 called upon the family of Maj. Andre, at their residence, 
 in London. The answer was crisp : "Good looking, or 
 otherwise, he could not be admitted ; they did not wish to 
 see a traitor." Although the British people accepted the 
 treason, they despised the traitor, and he had no friends 
 among decent people where he lived, any more than in 
 his native country. 
 
 The General said that Washington, Hamilton and 
 Knox, as well as himself, had great compassion for Gen. 
 Arnold's young wife ; for they believed her innocent of 
 the treason. But from an investigation of the subject 
 since, I think they were all mistaken, for I believe she 
 was, in fact, the prime mover of the whole matter. And 
 my reasons are, that she belonged to a decided tory family 
 in Philadelphia. And when the British army occupied 
 that city, her father's house was a resort of the British 
 officers, and they were welcome guests at all times, es- 
 pecially Maj. Andre. Miss Shippen (Arnold's wife) and 
 Maj. Andre were intimate friends, and much in each 
 other's company before her marriage, and they corres- 
 ponded both before and after that event ; and, undoubt- 
 edly through her, Gen. Arnold was induced to enter into 
 a negotiation with her early favorite. But what renders 
 the fact of guilt in the treason certain is her own confes- 
 sion. On her way to Philadelphia, she stopped at the 
 residence of Mrs. Prevost, who became the wife of Aaron 
 Burr, and there confessed the whole matter. She said 
 she was glad to throw off the mask and assume her true 
 character before her intimate friend ; for she had induced 
 and helped plan the negotiation with Maj. Andre, and was 
 9
 
 66 
 
 sadly disappointed at its failure ; as, had it been success- 
 ful, she and her husband would have taken a high position 
 in the British Government, and possessed a fortune. 
 
 In regard to Maj. Andre, I inquired of the General if 
 he had any interviews with him, and had learned anything 
 of his early history. He said he had not ; other matters 
 of greater importance occupied his time, and he knew 
 nothing in particular in regard to Maj. Andre and his 
 family. I then said I could post him up in the matter to 
 some extent, for in 1821, when the Duke of York caused 
 his remains to be removed from Tappan, and placed in 
 Westminster Abbey, and a mural slab placed there to his 
 memory, I gathered up some fragments of his life, and 
 wrote a short sketch at the time, which was published. 
 
 It appeared that Maj. John Andre was born in London, 
 in 1751 ; but his parents were from Geneva, in Switzer- 
 land, and he was sent there for his education. On his re- 
 turn he entered a London counting-house, but at the early 
 age of eighteen he formed a romantic attachment for a 
 beautiful lady by the name of Honora Sneyd, who returned 
 his passion, and they became engaged. But the father of 
 the lady interfered, and the premature match was broken 
 off. Andre then abandoned the counting-house and en- 
 tered the army. His first commission is dated March 4, 
 1771, and he went to Germany, and did not return to 
 England till 1773, still haunted by his passion. But, in 
 the meantime, his lady-love had been induced to marry 
 another person, for she had become the second wife of 
 Richard L. Edgeworth, the father of the celebrated Miss 
 Maria Edgeworth. In 1774, Maj. Andre came to Amer- 
 ica as Lieutenant of the Royal English Fusileers, and 
 was captured early in the war, with other officers, by 
 Gen. Montgomery. After his exchange, he was ap- 
 pointed by Sir Henry Clinton, Adjutant-General of the 
 British army with the rank of Major, and served under 
 him until his death.
 
 B7 
 
 His romantic attachment followed him through life, and 
 after his capture, he wrote to a friend that he had been 
 stripped of everything but the miniature of Honora, which 
 he painted in 1769, and which he concealed when he was 
 searched; and added, "possessing that, I yet think my- 
 self fortunate." He was personally pleasing, and gentle- 
 manly in his bearing, and naturally of a festive and ro- 
 mantic disposition. He often indulged himself in poetry ; 
 much of which seems to have been induced by his early 
 love. He designated himself as Damon, and his lost lady 
 as Delia. In early life I used to hear said, or sung : 
 
 " Return, enraptured hours, 
 " When Delia's heart was mine," &c. 
 
 And then again 
 
 " Ah ! Delia, see the fatal hour ; 
 
 Farewell, my soul's delight. 
 O, how can wretched Damon live, 
 
 When banished from thy sight ! " 
 
 His varied and graceful talents and engaging manners 
 rendered him a general favorite, both in the army and 
 among the people. He was the prime mover of all the 
 elegant amusements in camp and garrison. He also in- 
 dulged in writing poetical squibs or lampoons on the 
 American army. His propensity for caricature had re- 
 cently been indulged in a mock heroic poem, in three 
 cantos, celebrating an attack upon a British picket by 
 Gen. Wayne, and the driving into the American camp a 
 drove of cattle by Lee's dragoons. It was written in 
 great humor and grotesque imagery, and represented that 
 Mad Anthony lost his horse on that "great occasion." 
 Three cantos were printed at different times in Riving- 
 ston's Gazette ; and it so happened that the last canto 
 was printed the very day of Andre's capture; and ended 
 with the following ominous lines :
 
 68 
 
 "And now I close my epic strain, 
 
 And tremble as I show it; 
 Lest this same warrior-drover Wayne 
 
 Should ever catch the poet." 
 
 His strong propensity for the ludicrous did not forsake 
 him, even in his prison ; for he amused himself in making 
 a ludicrous sketch of himself and his rustic escort under 
 march, and presented it to the officer in attendance, and 
 pleasantly said, "This will give you an idea of the style 
 in which I had the honor of being conducted to my pres- 
 ent abode." 
 
 Whether I said all this, less or more, I cannot recollect, 
 but I do remember that the General said in reply that he 
 was a very pleasant, gentlemanly man ; very popular in 
 the American camp as well as in the British, and that he 
 was very frank on his trial so much so, that it was not 
 needful for the Judge Advocate to produce any witnesses. 
 Hamilton was almost in daily intercourse with him, and 
 deemed him a well educated gentleman, improved by 
 travel, and of some proficiency in poetry, music and the 
 fine arts. 
 
 But I do not know how to give the public any better 
 idea of the feelings, public and private, in regard to Maj. 
 Andre, at the time of his trial and execution, than what 
 is contained in a letter from General Tallmadge to Col. 
 Webb, one of Washington's aids. The letter says : 
 "Poor Andre, who has been under my charge almost 
 ever since he was taken, had yesterday his trial ; and 
 though his sentence is not known, a disgraceful death is 
 undoubtedly allotted him. By heavens ! Col Webb, I 
 never saw a man whose fate I foresaw, whom I so sin- 
 cerely pitied. He is a young man of the greatest accom- 
 plishments, and was the prime minister of Sir Harry 
 Clinton on all occasions. He has unbosomed his heart to 
 me so fully, and, indeed, let me know almost every motive 
 of his actions since he came out on his late mission, that
 
 69 
 
 he has endeared me to him exceedingly. Unfortunate 
 man ! He will undoubtedly suffer death to-morrow ; 
 and though he knows his fate, seems to be as cheerful as 
 if he were going to an assembly ! I am sure, he will go 
 to the gallows less fearful for his fate, and with less con- 
 cern than I shall behold the tragedy. Had he been tried 
 by a court of ladies, he is so genteel, handsome, polite a 
 young gentleman, that I am confident they would have 
 acquitted him. But enough of Maj. Andre, who, though 
 he dies lamented, falls justly." 
 
 " Never has any man, suffering under like circumstan- 
 ces, awakened more universal sympathy, even among those 
 of the country against which he had practiced, than Maj. 
 Andre. His story is one of the touching themes of the 
 revolution ; and his name is still spoken of with kindness 
 in the local traditions of the neighborhood whers he was 
 captured." 
 
 What a contrast between him and General Arnold ! for 
 the latter was despised when living and execrated when 
 dead and justly. Although he fought like a tiger in 
 battle, yet his courage partook more of the nature of a 
 reckless robber than a truly brave man. And as to treach- 
 ery and meanness, he had no equal. When his innocent 
 coxswain and six bargemen vigorously plied the oar at his 
 bidding, and put him safely aboard the British ship, he 
 coolly turned round and gave them up as prisoners of 
 war ! A fitting climax to his high treason ! But when 
 the facts became known to Sir Henry Clinton, he ordered 
 the barge given up and the men released at once ; and so 
 they manned the boat and returned to their kindred and 
 friends, in spite of the mean treachery of their late com- 
 mander. 
 
 A romance has been thrown around the memory of 
 Maj. Andre, which seems to increase with the progress of 
 years ; while the name of Arnold will stand conspicuous
 
 70 
 
 to the end of time, as the only American officer of note 
 who proved traitor to the glorious cause of his country. 
 
 Mrs. Arnold, on her arrival at her father's home in 
 Philadelphia, was immediately warned by the Executive 
 Council that she could not remain there. Although her 
 father, herself and connections tried every means to have 
 her remain, under a solemn pledge not to correspond with 
 her husband ; yet, so fully did the Council believe her 
 equally guilty with her husband, that her request was 
 firmly denied, and go she must. She was sent at once to 
 her husband at New York city. She feared insult and 
 injury on the way, but her fears were groundless. While 
 the whole country resounded with execrations of her hus- 
 band, and his effigy was dragged through village streets 
 and burnt at the stake, or hung on a gallows, she passed 
 the whole distance without injury or insult. Indeed, so 
 scrupulous were the populace not to make war on a de- 
 fenceless woman, that on her arriving at a village at night- 
 fall, where they had prepared to burn her husband's effigy, 
 they forebore, returned to their homes and left the wife or 
 traitor to sleep in peace. 
 
 Once, only, she visited Philadelphia again, and that was 
 about five years after her exile. And although the war 
 was over and peace established, yet she was treated with 
 such scorn and neglect, that her stay was short ; she left 
 in disgust, and declared she would never come there 
 again. She was a woman of fine personal appearance, 
 good education and many attractions, and tried hard to 
 sustain a fair social position for herself and husband in 
 England ; but only with partial success ; for her husband 
 was generally "slighted and sometimes insulted." She 
 died in London in the Winter of 1796. 
 
 I then said, the course he took in the French Revolution 
 was an enigma to some of our people, for they did not 
 distinctly understand what he would have done had he the
 
 71 
 
 power. He said, he supposed it might be so, especially 
 to those not well versed in the events of t]ie time ; but he 
 could readily explain it. He was not, under the circum- 
 stances, for a Republic. He thought the people of France 
 were not in a condition to form a Republican government, 
 or to sustain one if majde ; and after events showed that 
 he was right in that opinion. He was for an improved 
 and modified Monarchy. He did not wish to destroy, but 
 to reform. Louis XVI. had many good qualities, but he 
 lacked the needful firmness and energy for a successful 
 ruler, especially for the times in which he lived. Marie 
 Antoinette, the Queen, was spirited, firm and aristocratic. 
 The King would seemingly yield everything ; and the 
 Queen, nothing. He found himself between two fires 
 the extreme Republicans disliked him because he advocated 
 a constitutional monarchy ; and the Court party, especially 
 the Queen, did the same, in spite of the great services he 
 had rendered them, because he advocated a reform. At 
 length, the Extremists, led by Danton, Marat and Robes- 
 pierre, ruled ; imprisoned the King and Queen, forbade 
 the army to obey his commands, and ordered his arrest. 
 Satisfied that an arrest would be fatal ; that he, like other 
 prisoners, could have no fair trial, he felt compelled to 
 quit France to save his life. 
 
 The beginning of the French Revolution may be said 
 to have begun at the destruction of the Bastile on the 
 14th of August, 1789. The enthusiasm and power of 
 the mob were so great, that this horrid citadel in Paris 
 was captured in four hours, which was surrounded with 
 seemingly impassable ditches, inaccessible towers, and 
 ramparts covered with powerful artillery, and which had 
 withstood, for twenty-three days, an army commanded 
 by the great Conde. After its capture, it was demolished 
 to its very foundations ; and the key was sent by Lafay- 
 ette to Gen. Washington, who put it into a glass case ;
 
 72 
 
 and probably it may be seen at Mount Vernon at the 
 present day. Had lawless power ended with the destruc- 
 tion of the Bastile, all humane people would have been 
 satisfied ; but one might as well try to direct or control a 
 tempest as a lawless mob. 
 
 On the 19th of August, 1792, he left his native land 
 to seek an asylum for himself and family, until the 
 "reign of terror" was over. At that time, he was at 
 the head of the army, far away from Lagrange, and could 
 not go there and live. But he had a hope, and even 
 belief, that his wife and children would not be molested ; 
 but he did not then fully realize what the madness of 
 lawless mobs might do. 
 
 He wished to come to America, but could not reach the 
 sea-coast ; his only course seemed to be, to flee to some 
 neutral territory, and there find an asylum, or from whence 
 he could embark for America. On reaching Rochefort in 
 Netherlands, he found himself in the neighborhood of an 
 Austrian army. He asked for a passport through the 
 country, and found a prison. He was first imprisoned at 
 Luxembourg, and then placed in a common cart and, 
 closely guarded, was transported to Wessel, on the Rhine, 
 within the Prussian dominions. Here he was imprisoned, 
 with heavy manacles locked on his hands and feet. 
 
 Although he had kept up his courage, and determined 
 to brave the worst, yet, at length, nature yielded in spite 
 of all his efforts. The cold, damp air of his cell, added 
 to the hardships he was compelled to endure, brought on 
 sickness, which, for a time, precluded all hope of recov- 
 ery. The hair all came off from his head, and he was 
 reduced to a skeleton. In this deplorable condition, the 
 King of Prussia said he could be released from prison, if 
 he would assist in conquering France. He met the mes- 
 sage with the scorn it merited ; and bade the officer tell 
 his master he was still LAFAYETTE.
 
 73 
 
 The King; enraged at this, and annoyed at the great 
 importunities from America and Europe for his release, 
 determined to send him to a more gloomy abode, out of 
 his dominion. The dungeons of Wessel were not dark 
 and gloomy enough to suit the monarch's malignity; so, 
 without warning, he was again hurried into a cart at 
 night, and with the utmost secrecy, sent to the dungeon 
 at Olmutz in Austria. Austria is always consistent with 
 herself, and a fitting place for such a horrid dungeon as 
 the fortress of Olmutz. While other nations have im- 
 proved, she has only "marked time," and still is a dark 
 spot on the face of civilized Europe. 
 
 Olmutz is a city of 12,000 inhabitants, and a hundred 
 and fifty miles from Vienna. The dungeon is on an island 
 in the city, and is a relic of the dark ages. Its walls are 
 of stone, twelve feet thick, and surrounded by a moat, 
 more or less filled with water. Lafayette's cell had a door 
 for entrance, and one window two feet square, with a 
 grate outside and in. The wall was so thick that the sun 
 never shone in his prison, nor could he see any outward 
 objects. He always suffered from its dampness, and in 
 the Winter severely by the cold. 
 
 As he entered the cell it was announced to him that he 
 never could come out again alive, nor could he hold any 
 communion witli the outer world, and that his wife and 
 children would never know where he was or what became 
 of him. The jailers were prohibited from pronouncing 
 his name, and all the prisoners must be referred to only 
 by the number of their cells. And, under the pretence 
 that such a state of confinement might induce suicide, he 
 would not be accommodated with knives or forks. 
 
 The dimensions of his room were about 10 by 12 feet, 
 
 and the furniture was an old table, broken chair, and a 
 
 sack of mouldy straw. A scanty allowance of coarse 
 
 food was brought him twice a day. Books were excluded, 
 
 10
 
 74 
 
 and he heard no human voice, except the gruff tones of 
 the jailer. 
 
 After Lafayette's transfer to Olmutz, all knowledge of 
 the place of his confinement was excluded and unknown 
 to his friends. They believed him alive somewhere in 
 Prussia or Austria, and tried hard to discover his dun- 
 geon. At length, after he had been imprisoned for three 
 years one at Weasel, and two at Olmutz, a daring spirit 
 assumed the task, both of finding where he was, and res- 
 cuing him if possible. This was Dr. Erick Bollman, a 
 young German physician, who had just finished his edu- 
 cation and obtained his degrees. Although he had never 
 seen Lafayette, and was personally unacquainted with him, 
 yet he was well posted in his public career, and a great 
 admirer of his character. Not having sufficient funds of 
 his own for the undertaking, after selling his books, he 
 procured the needful amount of a banker in Hamburg. 
 Leaving Hamburg, he assumed the character of a traveller 
 in pursuit of knowledge. He soon learned that Lafayette 
 had been transferred to Austria, and borne away to Ol- 
 mutz. He then selected a place for a temporary retreat 
 if successful, some twenty miles away, near the frontier, 
 and then proceeded to Olmutz. He did not know for a 
 certainty that Lafayette was then there, and could make 
 no direct inquiry, for that would create suspicion and de- 
 feat all his plans. At length, he discovered that several 
 State prisoners were confined in the citadel of Olmutz, 
 and thought it probable that Lafayette was among the 
 number. Acting on this supposition, Dr. Bollman visited 
 the hospital in that city, and made the acquaintance of the 
 first surgeon of that institution, presuming that he also 
 visited the captives in prison. He could not, however, 
 ask him anything about Lafayette ; but obtained the knowl- 
 edge he desired by indirect means. 
 
 The surgeon proved to be an upright and intelligent
 
 75 
 
 man, of good sense and humane feelings. The acquaint- 
 ance seemed to be mutually agreeable ; and after several 
 
 *> o 
 
 interviews the conversation turned on the effect of moral 
 impressions on the constitution by imprisonment, when 
 Dr. Bollman abruptly drew a pamphlet from his pocket 
 and remarked : " Since we are on the subject, you attend 
 the State prisoners at the Fortress, Lafayette among the 
 number, and his health is much impaired. Show him this 
 pamphlet, and tell him a traveller left it with you, who 
 lately saw in London the persons named in it, and that 
 they are as much attached to him as ever, and it will do 
 him more good than all your drugs." Perceiving the sur- 
 geon did not know what to reply, he changed the subject 
 and soon left him. 
 
 Calling at the hospital in a few days, the surgeon, of his 
 own accord, said he had given his pamphlet to Gen. La- 
 fayette, who was much pleased, and wished to know some- 
 thing more of one or two friends named in it. On this, 
 the Doctor, appearing to have a blank piece of paper about 
 him, but prepared for the emergency, for he had written 
 it all over on one side with invisible ink, (lemon juice,) 
 sat down and wrote a few lines on the other side in reply 
 to the inquiries, and finished by saying, "I am glad of 
 the opportunity of addressing you these words, which, 
 when read with your usual warmth, will afford to a 
 heart like yours some consolation." The italic words were 
 a sufficient hint to the quick-minded Lafayette ; and by 
 the heat of a lamp, made the words readable on the other 
 side of the paper. 
 
 To avoid suspicion, Dr. Bollman quitted Olmutz the 
 next day, visited Vienna and other places, and at length 
 called on the surgeon at Olmutz, who then returned him 
 the pamphlet. On examining it, he found the margin 
 had been written over with invisible ink ; from which he 
 learned that Lafayette, on account of feeble health, was
 
 76 
 
 permitted, on certain days, to take an airing in an open 
 carriage, and that must be the time to release him, if at 
 all. Dr. Bollman ascertained that Lafayette had a driver 
 on the box of the carriage, an officer by his side and two 
 soldiers standing up behind, all armed. Deeming that too 
 formidable an array to attack alone, he went to Vienna to 
 find at least one coadjutor. But where could he find a 
 daring spirit like himself? Thus far, he had not dared to 
 reveal his secret to any man ; and to whom could he re- 
 veal it without an almost certainty of being betrayed ? 
 
 In this dilemma, he visited the leading hotel in Vienna, 
 and there saw and became acquainted with a young man, 
 whom he found to be of uncommon talent, decision and 
 enthusiasm. This was Col. Francis Kinlock Huger, of 
 South Carolina, at whose father's house Lafayette first 
 lodged when he came to America in 1777. Francis was 
 then a mere child of three years, and all he remembered 
 of Lafayette was, that he used to dandle him on his knee 
 when at his father's house. His father, Maj. Benjamin 
 Huger, was now dead, but his mother was still alive ; and 
 he, having come to his majority, was making the tour of 
 Europe. Although he had but a slight recollection of 
 Gen. Lafayette, yet he had heard him so much spoken 
 of in his family, and so well posted up in his course in 
 the Revolution, that he was ready to "do and dare" any- 
 thing on his account. It seemed that he was providen- 
 tially there at the time, for it is not probable that Dr. 
 Bollman would have found any other reliable man who 
 would have joined him in such a perilous attempt. Col. 
 Huger at once entered into all his plans with enthusiastic 
 zeal, and devoted himself to their execution. 
 
 Two good saddle horses were at once purchased, and a 
 faithful groom to attend them. In this plight they entered 
 Olmutz, and put up at a hotel as travellers. A relay of 
 horses was obtained, and the groom took them to the
 
 77 
 
 place of rendezvous. On the 8th day of November, the 
 carriage with Lafayette was seen emerging from the town 
 gate, and the rescuers followed after. They were armed 
 with pistols, but loaded only with powder, for they did 
 not intend to take life, and were only to be used for 
 intimidation. At two or three miles from the gate the 
 carriage left the high road, and passed into a less inhab- 
 ited tract and more open country. At length Lafayette's 
 carriage stopped, and he and the officer got out to walk. 
 The carriage, with the guard, drove on, but kept in sight. 
 This was the time, no doubt, for the rescue ; and gallop- 
 ing up, Dr. Bollman dismounted, seized the officer's 
 sword, but before he could draw it from the scabbard, the 
 officer seized it also, but still kept one hand hold of La- 
 fayette. In the struggle all three came to the ground to- 
 gether. Dr. Bollman had the officer by the collar, and 
 held him fast : Col. Huger then dismounted, released La- 
 fayette, gave him a bag of gold, mounted him on his 
 horse, and he was off and out of sight in a minute. 
 When Lafayette was gone the strife ceased. The guard, 
 instead of helping the officer, leaped from the carriage 
 and ran the nearest route to the prison to give the alarm ; 
 and the officer, when released, did the same. 
 
 The rescuers, then, thought it was time to make their 
 own escape ; but they had but one horse. The calculation 
 had been for both to ride the same horse, and both 
 mounted. But, unfortunately, they had given Lafayette 
 the one they designed for that purpose, and the other 
 would not carry double, reared and threw them both off. 
 Col. Huger then said: "This will never do. Gen. La- 
 fayette wants you ; mount the horse and be off, and I will 
 take care of myself." Dr. Bollman soon reached the place 
 of retreat, but Lafayette was not there ! He could have 
 escaped himself well enough, but would not, until he had 
 ascertained what had become of General Lafayette. It
 
 78 
 
 seems, he had mistaken the direction, taken the wrong 
 K*ad, found no relays of horses, and rode some twenty 
 miles until he had exhausted his horse as well as himself. 
 The result was, that all three were separately, and un- 
 known to each other, taken prisoners and put in separate 
 prison cells. Gen. Lafayette was returned to his miser- 
 able dungeon again, put in irons, and still more harshly 
 treated. Three short days only had he been permitted to 
 breathe the pure air of heaven ; and then, returned to his 
 former dismal abode, with no hope that his sufferings 
 would be ended except by death. 
 
 . Col. Huger was chained to the floor in a small arched 
 dungeon, six by eight feet, without light, and with only 
 bread and water for food ; and once in six hours, by day 
 and night, the guard would enter with a lantern, examine 
 the walls and each link in his chains. To his earnest re- 
 quest to know what had become of Dr. Bollman and 
 General Lafayette, he received no answer. To his still 
 more earnest request, that he might send to his mother in 
 America, merely the words, "I am alive," he received a 
 rude refusal. 
 
 Dr. Bollman was also put in chains, and conducted to 
 a dismal dungeon half under ground. Only a faint light 
 came in through an oblique aperture made through a thick 
 wall. Neither light nor books were allowed him, and his 
 food was limited to what could be procured at four cents 
 a day ! The trial of Bollman and Huger was protracted 
 during the whole Winter. The government proceeded 
 with caution, for it was believed that others were in the 
 plot, as it was not deemed hardly possible that two young 
 men, unaided and alone, should, out of mere patriotic 
 motives, attempt the rescue of one personally a stranger 
 to them. At length, by the aid and strong efforts of 
 Count Metro wsky, a nobleman living near the prison, and 
 a friend of Dr. Bollman's family, after eight months'
 
 79 
 
 imprisonment, they were both released on two weeks' 
 additional confinement. After their release, they left 
 Austria at once, and just in time ; for in a few hours after 
 they had left Olmutz, orders came from Vienna for their 
 re-arrest ; and a second trial might have ended fatally. 
 But they were out of Austria and out of the reach of the 
 minions of arbitrary power. 
 
 Col. Huger, having had enough of his European tour, 
 returned, at once, to gladden the heart of his mother in 
 South Carolina. She hailed him as one risen from the 
 dead, for she had given him up for lost. 
 
 In 1824, General Lafayette and Col. Huger accident- 
 ally met in the city of New York. Although they had 
 not seen each other for thirty years, they both recognized 
 each other at once, and had a cordial meeting. Col. 
 Huger accompanied the General in his trip up the Hud- 
 son ; and when they returned to New York city, they x 
 were obliged to part. Col. Huger was on his way to 
 Boston on business ; and General Lafayette, on his way 
 to Washington City. The General regretted very much 
 he could not return to Boston and introduce his attempted 
 deliverer to his friends there. But he did the best he 
 could ; for he gave him a cordial letter of introduction to 
 Mayor Quincy, and begged him to show him all kind 
 attentions, the same as to himself; and the Mayor did it 
 handsomely, for Col. Huger was greatly lionized during 
 his visit. 
 
 It is not known, that Dr. Bollman and the General 
 ever met after that eventful day of the rescue. In a few 
 years, the Doctor came to America, became acquainted 
 with Herman Blannerhassett, a countryman of his, on 
 that paradise of an island bearing his name, in the Ohio 
 river. There, Blannerhassett had built an elegant man- 
 sion house, and surrounded it with beautiful walks, gar- 
 dens and flowers. But there, the cruel spoiler came, a.-
 
 80 
 
 in blessed Eden of old, and induced him to leave all to 
 destruction, and join Col. Burr in an expedition down 
 the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, to colonize lands in Mex- 
 ico, or treason against the United States, whichever it 
 might be. Col. Aaron Burr and Blannerhassett were 
 arrested for treason, and acquitted. Dr. Bollman joined 
 his friend in the expedition, but it does not appear that 
 any crime was alleged against him. He then proceeded 
 to England, and became an eminent physician in London, 
 published a treatise on banking and another on hygiene, 
 and died there in 1821. General Lafayette met two of 
 Dr. Bollman's daughters in Philadelphia in 1824, when 
 on his way to Washington City. 
 
 The Blannerhassett Island comprises an area of some 
 180 acres ; is beautiful by nature, and had been much im- 
 proved by art. Here the proprietor and his accomplished 
 wife and interesting children resided in quiet happiness 
 and peace. When the spoiler came and seduced him from 
 his secluded retreat, an Ohio mob invaded the premises, 
 burnt the buildings, destroyed all the improvements, and 
 laid waste the whole island. He never returned to the 
 island again, but after his acquittal went to his native land 
 in Europe, and died there broken hearted. Who owns 
 the island now, or the condition it is in, I have no means 
 of knowing. 
 
 The reason why the mob invaded the island was because 
 they believed Col. Burr was plotting treason, and pre- 
 paring to make war on the United States, and as Blanner- 
 hassett was associated with him, he was found in bad 
 company, and had to suffer the consequences, guilty or 
 not. 
 
 It seems to us strange, that the rescue of Lafayette, so 
 sagaciously planned and promptly executed, should be 
 productive of such sad results. It may well be asked, 
 why General Lafayette, an invalid as he was, should be
 
 81 
 
 sent off alone, through a strange country, with only slight 
 directions, hastily given. Had it been successful, it would 
 have saved two years of agony that cannot be imagined, 
 much less described. His fetters were so closely fastened 
 to his ancles as to cause great pain ; the iron band around 
 his waist had a chain attached to it, and fastened to the 
 wall ; but so short, that he could not comfortably lie 
 down. Xo light or fire was permitted in his cell, and he 
 was denied suitable food or decent clothes. In the severe 
 Winter of 1795, he suffered severely from cold, and be- 
 came miserably emaciated. And to add to his bodily 
 sufferings, mental anxieties were added. He was made 
 to believe that he was only reserved for public execution, 
 and that his chivalrous deliverers had already perished on 
 the scaffold. Nor was he permitted to know whether 
 his family were yet alive, or had fallen under the revolu- 
 tionary axe. 
 
 But the failure of the rescue was not all evil. It gave 
 his friends and his wife a clue to his place of confinement 
 and the condition he was in. After her husband had been 
 imprisoned, she herself was arrested and sent to her hus- 
 band's estates in the South of France, 320 miles from 
 Paris, and there kept as a State prisoner for more than a 
 year. When her husband's estates were confiscated, as 
 well as her own, she was brought to Paris and there im- 
 prisoned. By the unwearied exertions of Washington 
 and our minister at Paris, she was released, and at liberty 
 to go whither she would. She might have come to Amer- 
 ica, as she was cordially invited to do ; but, just at this 
 time, the news of the attempted rescue of her husband 
 reached her ears ; and that settled at once the course she 
 should pursue. Sending her son, George Washington, 
 to George Cabot of JBoston, to be by him sent to Mount 
 Vernon, she procured passports from the American Min- 
 ister at Paris for herself and two daughters, and started 
 11
 
 82 
 
 for Vienna. She had then three children two daughters 
 and one son. Anastasia was 16, Virginia 13, and George 
 Washington 11. The first-born daughter, Henrietta, died 
 in childhood, when her father was in the revolutionary war. 
 
 On her arrival at Vienna, the Emperor, Francis I., 
 received her coldly ; but after earnest importunity, her 
 request to visit her husband was granted, -but with such 
 conditions that he supposed she would not accept them. 
 They were, that she should carry nothing with her for. the 
 comfort of her husband, and never be permitted to come 
 out of the prison while she lived. Harsh and barbarous 
 as the terms were, she accepted them at once, and she and 
 her tw r o daughters entered the prison. The meeting can- 
 not be described by w r ords ; hardly imagined ! The prison 
 walls rung w T ith a joy that had never echoed there before ! 
 For three long and grevious years, he had not heard the 
 least news of his family ; and there his beloved wife and 
 two daughters stood before him ! Separate apartments 
 were assigned the daughters, each one to her solitary 
 room ; and only eight hours in the twenty-four were they 
 allowed to be with their parents ; and then they were con- 
 stantly annoyed by the visits of the keeper, under the 
 plea that they might be plotting mischief. 
 
 The imprisonment of the daughters, in its details, par- 
 took more of the nature of satanic malevolence than any- 
 thing else. They had committed no crime ; were neither 
 accused nor suspected of any ; and yet, their confinement 
 was made to be needlessly irksome and oppressive. But 
 eight hours in the tw r enty-four were they allowed to be 
 with their parents ; and the other sixteen, were confined 
 in separate rooms, and not allowed to be company for 
 each other ! 
 
 After an imprisonment for more than a year, the emaci 
 ation and feebleness of Madame Lafayette were so great, 
 that her husband urged her to ask leave to go into more
 
 83 
 
 healthy quarters for a time, to recruit her health. She 
 did ; and what was the answer ? Such as a despot might 
 give. She and her daughters might leave the prison as 
 soon as they pleased, but never to return there again, and 
 immediately quit the kingdom. Harsh as the terms were, 
 her husband urged her to accept them for the sake of her 
 children as well as herself. But she turned to him at once 
 and firmly said: "My dear husband, I had rather die 
 with you here in prison, than live at the beautiful La- 
 grange without you." He urged her no more, and came 
 to the conclusion that they all were destined to die there 
 together ! 
 
 But Providence had determined that Lafayette and his 
 wife and daughters should not perish within the prison 
 walls of Olmutz. Austria might well spurn the entreat- 
 ies of America and England, and frown at the words of 
 reproach echoed over the continent ; yet she quailed un- 
 der the stern mandates of Napoleon. The commands of 
 the "Conqueror of Italy" must be obeyed, and Lafayette 
 and his family were set free. On the 23d of September, 
 1797 ? Lafayette, after an imprisonment of over five years, 
 and his wife and daughters, after a confinement with him 
 for twenty-two months, were permitted once more to see 
 the light of day, and breathe the pure air of heaven. And 
 all these enormities and afflictions were endured without 
 judgment of law, or even the accusation of crime ! 
 
 But there must have been a ccmse for his imprisonment, 
 and what was it? Simply this: He was a decided be- 
 liever in, and a powerful advocate for, rational liberty and 
 freedom ; and that kings should not possess arbitrary 
 power, but be subject to laws, as well as their subjects. 
 When he was first arrested and imprisoned, the joyous tid- 
 ings were sent to the crowned heads of Europe, and caused 
 a jubilee among all advocates of arbitary power. They 
 hardly dared kill him by a public execution, but to kill
 
 84 
 
 him in such a manner that none should know, outside of 
 prison walls, what became of him. 
 
 The motives of Napoleon in liberating Lafayette are 
 not distinctly known, for he had not caused his name to 
 be stricken from the "proscribed list," and he could not 
 return to France. He, therefore, sought a retreat on 
 neutral ground, and went to Holstein, a dependency of 
 Denmark ; and at the little town of Welmoldt he enjoyed 
 rest and repose. Little George was sent for, and the 
 family were once more all together. But his patrimony, 
 as well as that of his wife, had been confiscated, and he 
 was destitute of the comforts of life. In this emergency, 
 two English ladies, in token of their deep sympathy, sent 
 him four thousand pounds , which fully relieved him of all 
 his immediate wants. The names of these benevolent 
 ladies are not known. The banker who sent the money 
 was not at liberty to disclose their names, so that the 
 General never knew who his benefactors were. 
 
 In the latter part of the year 1799, the Directory was 
 overthrown and the Consulate established, with the vic- 
 torious Napoleon at its head. When this was known to 
 Lafayette, he went to Paris and demanded of Napoleon 
 his rights as a citizen. His demand was tacitly granted, 
 his name was stricken from the "proscribed list," and La- 
 grange restored to his wife ; but his large estates in the 
 South of France were never restored to him. To the 
 beautiful estate of Lagrange, situated 40 miles East of 
 Paris, consisting of a thousand acres of productive land, 
 on which is an ancient castle of ample dimensions, Gen. 
 Lafayette brought his family, and they were all together 
 again on their native soil. And at this delightful retreat 
 the family lived the remainder of their days. A secluded 
 life the General lived, during the whole of Napoleon's 
 reiom ; although urged at times to take hijfh office in his
 
 85 
 
 On the 24th of December, 1807, died the devoted wife, 
 Madame Lafayette. Although not unexpected, yet it was 
 a shock the family could not bear with composure ; and 
 when she gave them her last smile, bathed her death-bed 
 in tears. She lived ten years after her release from the 
 prison of Olmutz, but never fully recovered her previous 
 health. Her maiden name was Anastasia de Noailles, 
 and daughter of the Duke de Ay en. Her married life was 
 thirty-four years, and she was forty-seven years old at the 
 time of her death. Her life is one of the brightest in the 
 annals of female heroism, conspicuous alike for her pub- 
 lic charities and domestic virtues. 
 
 In 1814 passed another act in the great drama of 
 French politics. Napoleon was dethroned, sent to Elba, 
 and Louis XVIII. was seated on the throne of his fathers. 
 In eleven months Napoleon appeared on the stage again, 
 dethroned the king, and occupied his place. After the 
 battle of Waterloo, Napoleon was deposed, and the king, 
 by the power of his allies, was restored to his throne 
 again. In all these changes Lafayette took no active part. 
 He called once on the king, was decently treated, but 
 never called again. From 1818 to 1824 he had been 
 elected, and sat in the Chamber of Deputies ; but in the 
 last named year, the king put forth all his power and de- 
 feated his election. He thought that was a favorable time 
 to visit his friends in America, which he had for a long 
 time contemplated to do. And his son George was very 
 anxious to visit a country he had heard so much of, and 
 seen so little, and that little was in early youth. His 
 secretary and son were taking notes of the trip through 
 the country, and on their return to France, would be 
 looked over, and if anything could be made out of them 
 worthy of publication, and were printed in his lifetime, I 
 should have a copy. 
 
 Let it not be supposed that the narrative of Gen. La-
 
 86' 
 
 fayette's imprisonment and attempted rescue was mainly 
 derived from him. On all other subjects he was free to 
 converse, but on this his voice faltered, and he became 
 silent ; tears were on his face, and I perceived that the 
 remembrance of his sufferings was too painful, and 
 changed the subject. But most of the facts are obtained 
 from an account given by Dr. Bollman himself, and pub- 
 lished in a magazine soon after the event. 
 
 Nor, let it be supposed that his friends were inactive 
 and silent during all his long imprisonment. General 
 Washington, then President of the United States, did all 
 he could in his official capacity, as well as a private citi- 
 zen, to relieve him from his loathsome dungeon. A num- 
 ber of leading papers in London and Hamburg published 
 a series of articles exposing in sarcastic and cutting lan- 
 guage the infamous conduct of Prussia and Austria, to the 
 scorn of all Europe.' Their perfidy in detaining a pris- 
 oner, contrary to the rights of nations and humanity, was 
 condemned with such eloquence and scathing criticism 
 that the tyrants were goaded to speak in their own defence. 
 And what did they say ? Only this : That the freedom 
 of Gen. Lafayette was incompatible with the safety of 
 the present governments of Europe ! And this was their 
 only apology for their inquisitorial cruelties to him. 
 
 Two attempts were made in the British Parliament to 
 liberate Gen. Lafayette one on the 17th of March, 
 1794, and the other on the 16th of December, 1796. At 
 the latter date, Gen. Fitzpatrick, after a feeling and elo- 
 quent introduction, introduced a resolution into the House 
 of Commons requesting the King to intercede, in such a 
 manner as he deemed proper, for the deliverance of Gen. 
 Lafayette and the other State prisoners. He was sup- 
 ported by Col. Tarlton, who had fought against Lafayette 
 in Virginia, during our revolution ; and by Fox, Wilber- 
 force, Sheridan, and Greg; and opposed by Pitt, Burke,
 
 87 
 
 "Windham and Dundas. Fox, in particular, pleaded the 
 cause of Lafayette in one of the most impassioned 
 speeches he ever made ; but all, all' in vain ! The motion 
 was lost by the large majority of 132 against 32. 
 
 On the Journal of the Congress of the United States 
 of. the 3d of March, 1797, will be found a record which 
 will stand through all time, as a dark spot in the annals 
 of our country. It is some relief, however, to know that 
 it was as odious to the citizens of the country then as it 
 is to the present generation. 
 
 On that day, the orator and and Statesman, Robert 
 Goodloe Harper, introduced a resolution into the House 
 of Representatives, requesting the President to take such 
 measures as he might deem expedient to adopt, to restore 
 to liberty our fellow-citizen, Gen. Lafayette. 
 
 Nothithstanding this resolution was advocated with the 
 glowing eloquence of a Harper, it was rejected by a yea 
 and nay vote of 52 to 32 ! This result, no doubt, may 
 be attributed to the cold, calculating fear of foreign en- 
 tanglements and disputes ; and, therefore, the gallant La- 
 fayette, who had spent his time and substance, and peril- 
 led his life in the cause of our independence, must be left 
 to the tender mercies of a tyrant, with a fair prospect of 
 perishing in a loathesome dungeon ! But, thanks to God, 
 the stern mandates of Napoleon effected what neither the 
 British Parliament nor the American Congress dared to 
 attempt ! 
 
 General Lafayette was born on the 6th of September, 
 1757, in the province of Auvergne, which is in the central 
 part of the Southern division of France, and three hund- 
 red and twenty miles South of Paris. The estate consisted 
 of five thousand acres of land, surrounded by mountains 
 in the distance, and presents the most delightful scenery 
 to be found in France. The ancestral Chateau de Chavag- 
 nac, where he was born, was built in 1701, on the site of
 
 88 
 
 a more ancient one destroyed by fire. It stands amid an 
 amphitheatre of mountains, commanding a magnificent 
 view of encircling mountain summits. Interesting as the 
 birthplace of Lafayette may be, it contains, at this day, 
 hardly any memorials of himself. Even the room in 
 which he was born is not known ; and a single portrait of 
 him, taken in his boyhood, is the only evidence of his 
 early residence there. 
 
 He belonged to one of the most ancient and noble fam- 
 ilies of France. The family, from time immemorial, was 
 noted for ability, patriotism and integrity ; so that the 
 name of Lafayette was but another name for integrity and 
 honor. His father was a Colonel in the French army, 
 and killed in the battle of Minden, a few months before 
 he was born. The care of his infancy and youth was left, 
 therefore, entirely to his mother, who was a woman of 
 education, excellent qualities and rare attainments. 
 
 He entered college in Paris at the early age of 12 ; was 
 fond of books, and obtained a good classical as well as 
 military education. His love of books continued through 
 life, and was a great source of enjoyment in his leisure 
 hours. 
 
 In 1770, at the age of 14, his mother died ; and as he 
 was an only child, he was left sole heir to a large estate ; 
 and, although surrounded by parasites and flatterers, never 
 indulged in dissipation, but applied his great income to 
 some useful purpose, rather than spending it in riotous 
 living, as young men often do. 
 
 In April, 1774, he was married, at the early age of 17, 
 to the Countess Anastasie de Noailles, daughter of the 
 Duke d'Ayen, and brought to his own a heart full of 
 virtue, courage and conjugal affection, as well as large 
 estates ; although she, herself, was the greatest treasure 
 of all. Her estates, together with his own, gave him a 
 revenue of more than $37,000 a year.
 
 89 
 
 He became a great favorite at Court, especially with the 
 brilliant but aristocratic Queen, Marie Antoinette, who, 
 in after life, when he advocated reform, turned against 
 him with the unforgiving and relentless ferocity of an 
 enraged woman. She was an Austrian Princess ; and as 
 her cousin was on the throne at the time of Lafayette's 
 imprisonment at Olmutz, her influence, dead or alive, no 
 doubt followed him there, and caused his extremest suffer- 
 ings. 
 
 General Lafayette was a precocious youth ; or, rather, 
 seemed to have no youth at all, for he appeared to leap 
 from childhood to manhood at a bound ; and while others 
 of his own age were at school, he had obtained his own 
 education, and was in the battle field, bravely contending 
 for the rights of man. 
 
 General Lafayette would be deemed a man of note 
 among thousands. He was nearly six feet in height, 
 broad-shouldered, robust, rather inclined to corpulency ; 
 full and florid face, light complexion, and large, full and 
 expressive eyes. He had great power of face ; and the 
 muscles of his forehead and face would readily move, and 
 instantly change "from grave to gay, from lively to 
 severe." His perceptions were very acute ; and he would 
 readily adapt himself to all persons, times and occasions. 
 On his last visit here, he had been a widower eighteen 
 years ; and when he took leave of President Adams at 
 Washington, Sept. 6, 1825, it was on the anniversary of 
 his birthday ; and he was exactly sixty-eight years of age. 
 He spoke the English language very well, but slower than 
 a native American. He said when he left this country in 
 1784, he could speak English quite fluently; but being 
 40 years out of practice, it took time to express his 
 thoughts in that language. 
 
 General Lafayette lived nine years and eight months 
 after he left this country in 1825, very much at his ease, 
 12
 
 90 
 
 highly respected, and often a member of the Chamber of 
 Deputies. At the beautiful Lagrange, surrounded by his 
 family and friends, full of honors, at peace with himself 
 and all the world, he went to his rest May 20, 1834, aged 
 seventy-six years and eight months the last surviving 
 Major-Gene ral of the revolutionary war. 
 
 " He sleeps his last sleep; he's fought his last battle; 
 No sounds can awake him to glory again." 
 
 His death caused a great sensation in Europe, as well 
 as in America, and due honors were paid to his memory. 
 He was buried in a small cemetery near Paris, by the side 
 of his wife ; and in a few years his son, George Wash- 
 ington Lafayette, was laid there also. Now, all his chil- 
 dren are dead, and there buried ; but numerous grand- 
 children, and great-grandchildren, inhabit the beautiful 
 Lagrange. 
 
 It must be admitted, however, that Gen. Lafayette was 
 a most remarkable man. So varied were the incidents of 
 his life, and so momentous the affairs of the world at the 
 time he lived, that his character cannot be delineated in a 
 sentence. Let us allude to a few prominent incidents in 
 his life : 
 
 In the first place, he was a kind, humane and benevo- 
 lent man. In 1787, afire occurred on Beach street, Bos- 
 ton, which destroyed one hundred buildings, sixty of which 
 were dwelling houses of people in moderate circumstances. 
 When the news reached France, the General sent $1500 to 
 Samuel Beck, to be distributed among the sufferers. In 
 1778, he rescued a British Captain, about to be executed 
 by Gen. Arnold. Near the American camp he found a 
 soldier, meanly clad, sitting at the foot of a tree, with his 
 elbows on his knees and his hands up to his face in deep 
 melancholy. On inquiring the cause of his grief, the sol- 
 dier said, he had lately enlisted, but that he was so sadly 
 poor that he had left his wife and two children at home
 
 91 
 
 entirely destitute. The General at once relieved the fam- 
 ily and clothed the soldier. An Irishman, who had pub- 
 lished a newspaper in Ireland of liberal principles, had to 
 flee his country, and came to Philadelphia. He needed 
 $400 to establish a paper there. The General gave him 
 the sum, and he established his paper and became a patri- 
 otic and useful citizen. On taking leave of Capt. Allyn, 
 of the ship Cadmus, he made valuable presents to all the 
 officers and crew. 
 
 In 1786, he wrote to Gen. Washington to assist him in 
 devising a plan to elevate the African race. He says, 
 "Let us unite in purchasing a small estate, where we may 
 try the experiment to free the negroes and employ them 
 only as tenants." But, impatient of delay, he tried the 
 experiment alone, by purchasing an estate at Cayenne, in 
 South American waters, with all the negroes upon it ; 
 freed them, and had the pleasure of finding his plan suc- 
 cessful. In this, he had the cordial sympathy of Wash- 
 ington, Adams, Franklin, Jefferson, Madison, Patrick 
 Henry, and others. Washington wrote to him, under 
 date of May 10, 1786, "Your late purchase in Cayenne, 
 with a view of emancipating your slaves, is a generous 
 and noble proof of your humanity. Would to God a like 
 spirit might diffuse itself generally into the minds of the 
 people of this country." We have already alluded to his 
 contributing one hundred and forty thousand dollars of his 
 own funds to the cause of American Independence, besides 
 giving arms and uniforms to the Continental army. But 
 why pursue this subject further? His whole life was 
 characterized by kind acts, considerate charities and noble 
 deeds. Turn we, then, to some of the tokens of regard 
 bestowed upon him : 
 
 In the time of the .He volution, Congress presented him 
 an elegant sword ; and a similar one was presented him at 
 New York in 1824, by the Ninth Regiment of Artillery.
 
 92 
 
 Dr. Franklin's cane was presented to him at Philadel- 
 phia, and at Bergen, N. J., he was presented with a gold- 
 headed cane, made out of an apple tree that shaded 
 Washington and Lafayette in 1779. At Mount Vernon, 
 he was presented by Mr. Custis with a ring, containing 
 Gen. Washington's hair, and his Masonic sash and jewels. 
 At Baltimore, he was presented with an elegant carriage 
 by the makers, and he took it with him on his trip through 
 the Southern States in 1825. But I turn to things more 
 etherial and sublime. He has been complimented and 
 honored with innumerable speeches, addresses and letters ; 
 with the deep-toned voices of cannon and bells, the cheers 
 of musical bands, and the shouts of welcome from millions 
 of people, all combined in one harmonious strain, echoing 
 from the great lakes to the greater gulf, and from the 
 Atlantic ocean to the great rivers and mountains of the 
 West. And his name will live live, not only in the 
 hearts of a grateful people, but in the names of moun- 
 tains, forts, counties, towns, corporations and societies, 
 as well as in the names of children and children's children 
 to the latest generation. 
 
 The degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred upon him 
 by many colleges ; the right of citizenship, by the United 
 States ; and the freedom of States and cities was granted 
 to him and his posterity. But to show he was not ambi- 
 tious of worldly honors, it should be stated that many of 
 the high offices and honors he declined. In the French 
 revolution, he refused to be made King ; and afterwards, 
 when he was strongly urged to become President of a 
 French Republic, he firmly declined. He was, also, ten- 
 dered high offices by Napoleon, but declined them all. 
 
 In 1803, he was appointed Governor of Louisiana, by 
 President Jefferson, and urged to accept it ; but he respect- 
 fully but firmly declined the high honor. 
 
 And to show his disinterested patriotism, it is only
 
 93 
 
 needful to state that he refused to receive any compensa- 
 tion for all his services and expenditures in both the French 
 and American revolutions. When urged by the French 
 government to receive some compensation for all his great 
 services, he replied that " his fortune had been sufficient 
 to place him above want, and had sufficed for two revolu- 
 tions ; and if a third should occur, for the benefit of the 
 people, the whole should be devoted to it." 
 
 In addition to all this, and to show he was a man of 
 uncommon liberality, it should be stated that Congress, 
 in 1803, granted him 11,000 acres of land, to be located 
 in the newly acquired territory of Louisiana. His agent 
 located a thousand acres adjoining the city of New Or- 
 leans. In 1807, Congress, seemingly unconscious of this 
 location, granted to the city of New Orleans a large 
 portion of the very land entered by General Lafayette. 
 When informed of the fact, and that his title was unques- 
 tionable, and the value of the land was from fifty to a 
 hundred thousand dollars, he wrote to his agent that he 
 would not consent to inquire into the validity of his title ; 
 for he could not think of entering into a litigation with 
 any public body in the United States ; and gave positive 
 instructions to his agent to relinquish his entry, and make 
 a location elsewhere. He did so, and the new location 
 proved of little value ; but the land relinquished is an 
 important part of the city of New Orleans, and worth 
 millions. 
 
 I have said that General Lafayette was not only need- 
 ful, but essential, to the success of our revolution. And 
 now, in addition to all other considerations, I will state 
 an important reason in confirmation of this. It is a well 
 known fact, that it is difficult to make armies of different 
 nations, even when engaged in the same cause, to act 
 harmoniously together. This was often painfully wit- 
 nessed in our revolution ; and no one but General Lafay-
 
 u 
 
 ette could successfully negotiate between them and induce 
 them to act efficiently together. This, at times, was an 
 arduous task, and taxed his utmost powers. His great 
 exertions were never more conspicuous and essential than 
 in the case of Count D'Estang at Newport, and Count 
 De Grasse at Yorktown. 
 
 General Lafayette was a man of great firmness and 
 personal courage. He stood for the right against all odds, 
 and never deserted a friend. This was fully exemplified 
 in his joining the American revolution at the time he did ; 
 and when other hearts quailed he stood firm. His per- 
 sonal firmness was conspicuous, when he rode up to quiet 
 and disperse a mob in the French revolution. The first 
 salutation he 'got, was a musket shot. He felt the ball 
 whistle by his ear; he changed not his position, but 
 stretched himself up in the saddle, looked sternly at the 
 quarter from whence the shot came, and firmly said : 
 ' ' Bring forth the assassin !" Straightway the mob fell 
 upon the assassin and cut him to pieces ; then shouted 
 loud and repeated cheers for Lafayette, and at once dis- 
 persed. 
 
 Another instance of firmness and courage, that surpasses 
 all ordinary comprehension, occurred at the prison of 
 Olmutz. When the Austrian ministers found they must 
 relinquish their prey, although unknown to Lafayette at 
 the time, they attempted to compel him to receive his 
 freedom on prescribed conditions ; but he distinctly and 
 firmly said, " he would perish within the prison walls, or 
 leave them a free man." 
 
 He seems to have had a charmed life, for he passed 
 through perils of shipwreck and mutiny on the ocean, the 
 perils of a snagged boat on the great Western river ; and 
 faced many a hard fought battle in Europe and America, 
 and escaped all these perils with merely a slight flesh 
 wound on his person. He was more "the man of destiny"
 
 95 
 
 than Napoleon himself, and, like Marshal Ney, was "the 
 bravest of the brave." 
 
 A sketch of Gen. Lafayette would be incomplete with- 
 out a glance at the beautiful Lagrange and its occupants. 
 The castle lies in the fertile district of La Brie, forty miles 
 East of Paris, remote from any thoroughfare, and sur- 
 rounded by forests. A more sequestered spot, distant 
 from the bustling world, can hardly be imagined. Here 
 are prolific orchards, cultivated fields, pleasant walks and 
 antiquated woods. The castle is quadrangular in shape, 
 with a round pointed tower at each angle. The building 
 is ancient, and simply furnished. The wood is divided 
 into beautiful lanes, intersecting with each other, and ad- 
 mirably adapted to solitary walks, or reading, in the dense 
 shade. 
 
 The estate is divided into grass lands and cultivated 
 fields, and dotted here and there w r ith cottage buildings, 
 but no fences. Here may be seen, in their season, 
 orchards of fruit, fields of grain and meadows of grass. 
 
 Here, the General lived in rural simplicity and unosten- 
 tatious hospitality ; and few indeed are the Americans who 
 did not pay their respects to the benefactor of their coun- 
 try. Xo idle ceremony awaited them ; but, simply, a 
 hearty welcome. His breakfast hour was eleven, but the 
 children were served with a morning lunch, and dinner at 
 five -two meals a day. After breakfast came the morn- 
 ing walk, starting all together, but soon separating into 
 different parties, as inclination dictated. Sometimes the 
 General, with his grandson, inspected his farm, his sheep- 
 folds and cattle-stalls ; looked over the peasantry at work, 
 and had a cheerful word for all. Once a week, the peas- 
 antry assembled in an ample room in the castle in winter ; 
 and. in summer, on the lawn, and danced to the merry 
 sound of the violin. In this, the younger portion of the 
 family joined. In the course of the evening an ample
 
 96 
 
 lunch was served to them all. The simplicity in dress of 
 the whole family was remarkable. No finery was seen on 
 any of them, and few ornaments. The General, himself, 
 in youthful days, when ruffled shirts and ruffled wristers 
 were fashionable, would have none of them. Should it 
 be asked, how he could have enjoyed the gorgeous dis- 
 plays in this country, so lavishly exhibited, the answer is 
 plain. He did like splendid scenes and rich ornaments, 
 but not on his person. When a little school girl, in Bos- 
 ton, slipped a crown of laurels, interwoven with flowers, 
 on his head, it came off quicker than it was put on, and 
 placed on the seat beside him. When a like attempt was 
 made at Yorktown, his quick hand caught the wreath and 
 handed it to another. What man of observation was 
 there here, who did not observe that the General, his 
 son, and secretary, passed all over the country in the 
 simplest garb imaginable, without any display of orna- 
 ments on dress. A writer, who visited Lagrange when 
 the family were all alive and together, says : ' ' Simple in 
 dress as in the manner of living ; it would be in vain to 
 seek for splendid dresses, jewels, or any of the trappings 
 of worldly vanity at Lagrange. The jewels of the La- 
 fayette family are those of the mother of the Gracchi." 
 Cannot pious American ladies take note of this ? 
 
 Gen. Lafayette's private apartments consisted of two 
 rooms, on the second floor. His bed room was a fair 
 sized room, with a fire-place, and windows looking out on 
 the lawn and woods in the rear of the castle. From this 
 room, a door opened into his library, which was large, 
 and in the turret, and nearly round. It is adorned with 
 the busts of Washington, Franklin, and other distin- 
 guished Americans. By a window, is his desk, where he, 
 with a spy-glass, could see on his left his whole farm and 
 his stables ; on his right, the park and an elegant lawn, 
 covered with luxuriant grass ; and also see his peasants at
 
 work, and enjoy the extensive scene before him. Here he 
 kept his farm books, in which are registered a record of 
 his crops and improvements, in his own hand. 
 
 Gen. Lafayette had a room in his castle, set apart as a 
 kind of museum, which he called "America," in which 
 were deposited his American gifts, curiosities, newspapers, 
 pamphlets, &c., among which was seen, in a conspicuous 
 place, Dr. Franklin's original printing press. 
 
 In a thorough investigation of the character of Gen, 
 Lafayette, I had come to the conclusion that he was a 
 most noble and perfect man ; and I could say, like Pilate 
 of old, "I find no fault in him;" when I was taken all 
 aback at my stupidity. Two writers, of some note, have 
 discovered a most grievous fault, and it would seem he 
 has most grievously answered it in another world ! One 
 says, "he finds no evidences of a Christian faith on his 
 dying bed ; without which, all other virtues are dim and 
 powerless in such an hour." And the other says, "If, to 
 the noble qualities he possessed, had been added the pure 
 faith and sublime hopes of the gospel, nothing would have 
 been wanting to complete the portraiture of a perfect 
 man." "Evidences and hopes !" and to whom given, to 
 God or to man ? Who presumes to be the vicegerent of 
 the Almighty, and poke his nose into a death-bed scene, 
 and pronounce judgment on a dying man ? 
 
 When or where did Lafayette act or speak a word 
 against the Christian religion? On the contrary, it is well 
 known that he was no bigot, but for the largest religious 
 liberty. Although educated as a Catholic, when the 
 Protestants in the South of France complained of in- 
 fringements on their religious rights, he hastened to that 
 region, carefully investigated all their complaints, and had 
 them redressed. Contrary to all rules of law or justice, 
 these bigots call no evidence, the strongest evidence, and 
 condemn accordingly. 
 13
 
 98 
 
 And has it come to this, that when a remorseless mur- 
 derer appears on the scaffold with his priest, and exhibits 
 some sniveling signs of repentance, proclaims his peace 
 made with God and sins forgiven, is endorsed as a saint and 
 sent joyfully to Heaven ; and a man who has spent a long 
 life in doing all the good he could, but is not sagacious 
 enough to have a priest, or pious deacon, at his dying bed ; 
 and, in his presence and hearing, manifest his Christian 
 faith and hope, is denounced an infidel and sent to perdi- 
 tion ! 
 
 I had supposed that religion was a private matter be- 
 tween man and his Maker, and not between man and 
 man ; and all outside human interference, arrogant im- 
 pertinence. Where do these religionists get the doc- 
 trine that dying confessions take precedence of a long 
 life of "good works?" The Bible says, "by their 
 fruits ye shall know them ! " And by this doctrine I 
 stand, and doubt not in the company of all real Christians 
 throughout the world. It is time that these criticisms on 
 death-bed scenes should be treated with the contempt they 
 deserve. 
 
 To cast a shade over the brightest characters cannot, 
 surely, be a desirable employment for an honest, liberal 
 mind ; yet some men, of narrow minds and strong pre- 
 judices, undertake this insidious task, pursue it with a 
 zeal that never tires, and authoritatively condemn without 
 a particle of evidence whatever. 
 
 George Washington Lafayette, the General's only son, 
 was so completely eclipsed by his father, that little is said 
 or known of him. In most of the published accounts of 
 the General's visits, his name is seldom mentioned at all ; 
 and yet, he was much of a gentleman, of good personal 
 appearance, and well educated. Although he seemed 
 reconciled to his position, yet it must have been rather 
 unpleasant to him to pass through the country under such
 
 99 
 
 a dense shadow as hardly to be seen or recognized, amid 
 the splendid scenes that surrounded him. He could not 
 join in the shouts of welcome to his own father, and must 
 have been often a mere silent looker-on. It must have 
 been some relief, however, to see his father so highly 
 honored, to whom he seemed to be much devoted. He 
 had great fears that his father's strength was overtaxed, 
 his constitution would be impaired, and, after the excite- 
 ment was over, would linger and die. 
 
 When I took my seat in the stage coach at Pembroke, 
 I sat by his side ; and as neither of us cared to pay much 
 attention to the passing events, we had, during two or 
 three hours, an interesting conversation. He spoke the 
 English language very well ; I thought, more fluently than 
 his father ; and when I marvelled at this , he said he learned 
 it in his early youth. That when his mother and two 
 sisters went to seek his father at Olmutz, he was sent to 
 Mount Vernon, staid there more than two years, studied 
 the English language, and spoke it daily in common con- 
 versation. He formed a strong attachment for General 
 Washington and his wife, and did not wonder that his 
 father so highly esteemed them. Although he was kindly 
 treated, and generally enjoyed himself very well, yet he 
 had some very sad hours. He understood that his mother 
 and sisters were in the prison at Olmutz with his father ; 
 but during all the time he was at Mount Vernon, he could 
 not learn anything more, notwithstanding the great exer- 
 tions of General Washington. He could not know whether 
 they were alive or dead, sick or well ; and the suspense, 
 at times, was very severe. He did not let the General 
 and Mrs. Washington know how sad he was, because it 
 would have distressed them on his account, without the 
 power of relieving. At length, the joyful tidings came, 
 that his father, mother and sisters were all alive and out 
 of prison, and he was sent for to join them at Welmbold
 
 100 
 
 in Denmark. He leaped for joy, ran out into the fields 
 to shake off his exuberant feelings, that were too oppres- 
 sive to hold. With all expedition, he embarked, and met 
 them at last. The meeting was very affecting, mingled 
 with joys and sorrows. They found him increased in size 
 and a healthy boy ; but he found them mere skeletons of 
 what they were ; and they appeared prematurely old. 
 They attempted to tell him of the horrors of Olmutz, but 
 could not. In time, they improved in health, were re- 
 stored to Lagrange, and were quite happy. 
 
 The year before, he had gone with his father to visit 
 Mount Vernon, and looked over the buildings and grounds. 
 They were not in such complete order as in the days of 
 Washington. They entered the tomb of Washington, 
 paid their devoirs at his shrine, and wept full sore as they 
 left. His stay was short ; shorter than it would have been 
 had he been alone ; for his father was exceeding sorrow- 
 ful, often in tears, and he urged an early departure. 
 
 Our conversation then turned upon the incidents of 
 their tour through the country ; and I perceived at once 
 that he had been an attentive observer. He said, Amer- 
 ica was a rough looking country compared to France, but 
 very interesting in scenery. Nature had done her work 
 here on a large scale, and the mountains and rivers were 
 wonders. It was something marvellous that they had 
 travelled so many thousand miles, over hills and rough 
 roads in stage coaches, and in steamers on the mighty 
 rivers, and had not been in peril of life or limb but once ; 
 and that was in a steamer on the Mississippi river, when 
 the boat was snagged. The snag was a big tree and 
 pierced the boat entirely through, and came out above the 
 upper deck, so that the boat sank in a few minutes. But 
 another steamboat was at hand, and they were rescued, 
 with the loss of his father's hat, a trunk containing a part 
 of his correspondence, and the beautiful carriage presented
 
 101 
 
 to him at Baltimore. A hatter at Louisburg supplied him 
 with a new hat, but his correspondence and carriage could 
 not be restored. 
 
 We also discussed the political affairs of his country 
 and mine ; and the English and French languages. I 
 said, that the French language was so full of silent letters, 
 and words of different signification were pronouriced so 
 much alike, that it was difficult for a foreigner to speak or 
 understand it. He said, that might be so, but the Eng- 
 lish language was under the same condemnation ; much 
 more, probably, than I was aware of. Now, d^a spells 
 day ; but you must needs add a useless y ; and this applies 
 to a large class of words. And why does ditch need a t 
 more than rich? And how can a foreigner distinguish 
 the difference in pronunciation between ship and sheep? 
 I gave in. 
 
 He was of medium size, darker complexion than his 
 father, and about forty years old when here. He served 
 in the army of Napoleon from 1800 to the peace of Tilsit ; 
 was a brave and efficient warrior, and twice saved the life 
 of his commander, General Grouchy ; was his aid through 
 all the hard-fought battles, and was recommended by him 
 for promotion. But Napoleon would not promote a La- 
 fayette, and struck his name from the list. In 1803, he 
 married the daughter of Senator Tracy, a very accom- 
 plished lady. They had five children, and the eldest 
 daughter was a great favorite of General Lafayette. 
 
 Anastasia, the eldest surviving daughter of the General, 
 married Charles de Latour Maubourg ; Virginia married 
 M. de Lasterie, who bravely fought with his brother- 
 in-law, George Washington Lafayette, in many battles ; 
 but being connected with the Lafayette family, obtained 
 no promotion. General Lafayette's youngest child was a 
 daughter, named Carolina, after a State or, rather, two 
 States of the Union. She was the only child born after 
 the return of Lafayette to Lagrange.
 
 102 
 
 In conclusion, permit me to suggest the propriety of 
 erecting a monument at the State capital, in commemora- 
 tion of the noble deeds of General Lafayette. Monuments 
 have been built, and great honors bestowed on successful 
 generals, many of whom fought to enslave and oppress 
 mankind, and were a curse to the age in which they lived. 
 But a greater Patriot, Statesman and Warrior is here, 
 whose voice, pen, sword and fortune were vigorously and 
 liberally employed in vindication of the rights of man, 
 and the freedom of his race. A large debt of gratitude 
 we owe him, for the manifold blessings we now enjoy. 
 
 Should it be said, that, as he fought for the whole 
 country, and was the Nation's Guest, a monument at the 
 Capital in Washington City would be more appropriate, 
 the answer must be, that he was the Guest of New Hamp- 
 shire also, one of the original States for which he fought. 
 And, moreover, the case seems to be resolved into this : 
 a New Hampshire monument, or none at all. If any one 
 doubts this, let him look at the long unfinished monument 
 of Washington, at the Capital of the nation. 
 
 And will the State of New Hampshire ever enter into 
 such an enterprise as this ? Let it never be asked ; but 
 let the people en masse erect it. After plans have been 
 made, and the cost ascertained, let subscription books be 
 sent to every town in the State, subscriptions limited to 
 one dollar each ; and when the needful amount is obtained, 
 let an agent of each town meet at Concord, and appoint 
 all needful committees for the building of the monument. 
 Let the subscription books be deposited in the archives of 
 the State, so that the autographs of the donors will live 
 in all time to come ; and they will feel that they have 
 contributed their mite to a most noble object, and immor- 
 talized their names. And so great will be the desire to 
 see the autographs of the donors, that a fac-simile will be 
 lithographed, published in a book, and handed down as 
 an heir-loom to the latest posterity.
 
 103 
 
 And now, permit me to make some suggestions in regard 
 to its size and location. The high ground directly in the 
 rear of the State House would seem to be the most fitting 
 place for its location. If buildings are in the way, let 
 them be purchased, and removed. Let there be ample 
 space to fit up a beautiful lot, with a fountain, seats and 
 shade trees. As to its shape and size, let it be an obelisk, 
 similar to that on Bunker Hill ; only let it be made of 
 rubble, or rough hewed granite, laid in cement ; and let 
 it be of sufficient height to over-top all spires and build- 
 ings sharp set against the sky, with no other back- 
 ground but the blue heavens. And then, let it be crowned 
 with a statue of Gen. Lafayette, of colossal or heroic size, 
 facing the East and the State House. 
 
 A small, polished shaft is suitable for an individual 
 grave, or family tomb ; but not appropriate for a public 
 monument. That, like a rugged mountain in the land- 
 scape, should only be seen in the distance. Nature has 
 smooth buttercups and flowers, but majestic trees are rug- 
 ged and rough. 
 
 And when the congregated wisdom of the State assem- 
 ble at the capitol, and ambitious political partisans so far 
 forget themselves as to " give up to party what was meant 
 for manhood." enter into a personal debate, and bandy 
 words that are neither decent nor true, let them take a 
 recess, repair to "Monument Square," and cool off. Let 
 them sit in the dense shade, drink of the cool fountain, 
 read the inscriptions on the monument, and look aloft on 
 the benign face of the image it bears ; and hardened sin- 
 ners indeed they must be who do not return to the State 
 House wiser Legislators and better men. But, if any 
 narrow minded partisan should be impervious to all influ- 
 ences like these, he must be too insignificant to be seen 
 with the naked eye, and become the shadowy shadow of a 
 shade !
 
 104 
 
 And now, as \ve are on the subject of Legislators, let 
 us express the wish, or hope, that they may in the future, 
 as in former days, be "diligent in business," and econom- 
 ical in expenditures ; and never indulge in "talking against 
 time," or charging the State for seven days' labor in a 
 week, for only three days' work actually performed. 
 
 The statue of Lafayette will stand as the sentinel on a 
 watch-tower, the guardian-angel of the city of Concord ; 
 and its benign influence will be felt. Its citizens will 
 honor the name they bear, and concord and not discord 
 will be known, seen and felt throughout all its borders, 
 and the State will justly be proud of its capital. 
 
 Concord has now many prominent features that are an 
 honor to the city and State. Its reformatory and sanitary 
 institutions, state house, halls, churches, stores and hotels 
 are of the first order ; and yet the Lafayette monument, 
 when built, will be the most attractive feature of the city ; 
 save only the asylum for the insane. That stands on such 
 a delightful eminence, commanding such a splendid view 
 of the city and surrounding country, that it is a most at- 
 tractive retreat for the sane as well as the insane. And 
 then, there are such a series of unpretending, yet well ar- 
 ranged buildings, for the comfort, health and enjoyment 
 of the inmates ; so neatly kept throughout all their bor- 
 ders ; and withal, so quiet and still, that one can hardly 
 believe he is visiting an institution inhabited by hundreds 
 of human beings, really insane. And he leaves it at last 
 with the firm conviction that the superintendent, his aids 
 and assistants, are marvellous persons indeed, who can 
 keep so quiet, tidy and neat so many human beings, 
 whose minds have so little control of their bodies, and the 
 premises they occupy in such perfect order. Other insti- 
 tutions of the kind I have visited, of larger size, more 
 costly, and of greater pretensions ; but in all essential 
 features, the New Hampshire Asylum for the Insane 
 equals, if it does not exceed them all.
 
 105 
 
 And the Lafayette monument will not only be known 
 and honored in the State ; but throughout the whole coun- 
 try from the great lakes to the greater gulf, and from 
 the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans. Concord will become 
 the Mecca of the nation, and pilgrims from afar will pay 
 their devoirs at its shrine ; and, if latter-day prophets do 
 not block the wheels of time, for many long ages yet to 
 come. 
 
 Youths of America ! I linger, for I desire to proffer a 
 few parting words. In pondering over this sketch, I 
 doubt not, you have come to the conclusion, that Wash- 
 ington and Lafayette were needful to each other, and both 
 essential to the success of the American revolution. Had 
 either been wanting, it would have been a failure. Un- 
 like in temperament, yet all the more useful aids to each 
 other, and should be held in equaj estimation, and alike 
 honored by the American people. 
 
 In stern integrity, patriotism and noble daring r Gen. 
 Lafayette had no superiors, and few equals, in the Amer- 
 ican Revolution. He had, indeed, in an eminent degree, 
 the essential characteristics of a successful warrior quick 
 to perceive, sagacious to plan, and prompt to execute: 
 While others shrunk from danger, and avoided all perilous 
 positions, he bravely threw himself into the "deadly 
 breach" and buffeted the storm of two revolutions, and 
 became the bright, burnished link between two centuries, 
 and the gallant HERO of two hemispheres. Let us, then, 
 honor his name, imitate his virtues, and all join heart and 
 hand to make this nation, what he prophesied it might be, 
 one of the greatest nations of the earth. Let us then, 
 with one voice and one mind, in trumpet tones proclaim, 
 shout, sing 
 
 Columbia, Columbia, to glory arise, 
 
 The Queen of the world, and child of the skies." 
 
 14
 
 106 
 
 I had concluded to stop here, and close my sketch of 
 Gen. Lafayette ; but, on reflection, I have thought that it 
 might be deemed incomplete without some more particu- 
 lar notice of his many splendid receptions outside of New 
 England. I have room only for a few of them ; the whole 
 would fill volumes. I begin with his 
 
 RECEPTION AT THE CITY OF HUDSON, 
 
 ON NORTH RIVER, STATE OF NEW YORK. 
 
 On landing at the wharf the crowd was so great that it 
 was almost impossible to proceed in any direction, but by 
 the great and active exertions of the marshal of the day, 
 aided by military companies, Gen. Lafayette was con- 
 ducted to an elegant barouche, drawn by four black 
 horses, attended by four grooms in livery, and then pro- 
 ceeded up Warren street, at the head of which an arch 
 had been erected, which, in size and elegance, exceeded 
 anything that had been seen on the route. Half way up 
 the street was another arch, more elegant than the first, 
 and at the end was a third, superior to both ! A'll along 
 the street, more than a mile in length, a dense crowd 
 'cheered the General as he passed, and the ladies, in win- 
 dows and on balconies, waved their handkerchiefs in the 
 air, while Lafayette bowed, or attempted to bow, to the 
 various individuals of that vast multitude. 
 
 The third arch claims a moment's notice. On its top, 
 stood a colossal figure of the Goddess of Liberty, well 
 proportioned and beautifully painted ; holding in her hand 
 the American standard, with a large flag that gracefully 
 floated in the air. To all of the arches were suspended 
 various and appropriate mottoes and inscriptions. 
 
 On arriving at the Court House, the troops opened to 
 the right and left, and all that could, passed into the court- 
 room. This room was most splendidly decorated through- 
 out, displaying great labor, and uncommon taste and skill.
 
 107 
 
 On each side of the entrance to the bar stood a beautiful 
 corinthian pillar, with caps and cornices of the composite 
 oi'der, elegantly wrought and ornamented with leaves of 
 gold. On the top of each of the pillars was placed a 
 globe, and these were united by a chain of flowers of every 
 hue, festooned with vases and laurels. At this enchant- 
 ing portal, the Mayor gave the welcoming address, to 
 which the General, with much emotion, replied. He was 
 then introduced to the officers of the city, and ladies and 
 gentlemen. But the most affecting scene was his intro- 
 duction to sixty-eight veterans of the revolution. It so 
 happened that some of them were officers, and many of 
 them soldiers, who had served under Lafayette in the rev- 
 olutionary army. Each had something to say ; and, when 
 they grasped his hand, were reluctant to release it. What 
 each individual said cannot be recollected ; but one said, 
 You, General, gave me the first guinea I ever had in my 
 life. Another presented the sword given him by the Gen- 
 eral in Rhode Island. But the feelings of the General 
 and his comrades were too great for speech, and could 
 only be relieved by sobs and tears. 
 
 As he passed down to the boat, he called at the hotel, 
 where a sumptuous feast had been provided ; but he could 
 not stop to partake of it, as his dinner awaited him at 
 Albany, and he was then some hours behind time. He, 
 however, took a glass of wine and some refreshment, and 
 passed on to the boat. When aboard, and the boat 
 dashed out into the stream, cheers upon cheers were given 
 by the vast multitude on shore, which were answered from 
 the boat, while the cannons uttered their deep-toned voices 
 from the hills. And thus, the boat was cheered from 
 shore to shore on its route to Albany. 
 
 In some places the display was surprising sometimes 
 comical. On nearing the landing of a small village a sol- 
 itary howitzer gave a national salute ; and when the party
 
 108 
 
 were wondering what next, as no people were visible, a 
 large cannon, concealed in the woods, answered it, while 
 a multitude dashed down to the shore with loud shouts of 
 welcome. And then a veteran soldier, whose enthusiasm 
 could not be repressed, dashed down to the water's edge, 
 fired his heavy loaded musket, swung his hat and shouted, 
 "I give you, General, the best I've got." He was greeted 
 from the boat with loud shouts of applause. 
 
 General Lafayette's trip extended to Troy ; and he 
 there visited Mrs. Willard's celebrated Ladies' Seminary. 
 On arriving at the gate of the Institution he found an ar- 
 bor of evergreens, extending to the building, a distance of 
 200 feet ; and, on entering the house, he was presented 
 to Mrs. Willard ; and she then presented to him her pu- 
 pils. On this occasion, two young ladies presented him 
 the following poetic Address, composed by the principal ; 
 which was sung with great sweetness and pathos by Miss 
 Eliza Smith, of Worcester, Mass. In the choruses, the 
 pupils joined ; and the whole was executed with great 
 effect. The General was much moved ; and at the close 
 of the singing said : "I cannot express what I feel on 
 this occasion ; but will you, Madam, present me with 
 three copies of these lines, to be given, as from you, to 
 my three daughters ?" The request, of course, was readily 
 complied with. 
 
 LAFAYETTE'S WELCOME. 
 
 And art thou then, dear Hero, come? 
 
 And do our eyes behold the man 
 Who nerved his arm and bared his breast 
 
 For us. ere yet our life began ? 
 For us. and for our native land. 
 
 Thy youthful va'or dared the war; 
 And now, in winter of thine age. 
 
 Have come, and left thy loved ones far. 
 
 Then, dear and deep thy welcome be. 
 Nor think thy daughters far from thee ; 
 Columbia's daughters, lo ! we bend, 
 And claim to call thee Father. Friend.
 
 109 
 
 Nor yet, our country's rights alone 
 
 Impelled thee on in Freedom's cause ; 
 No, 'twas the love of human kind, 
 
 Of human rights and equal laws. 
 It was benevolence sublime. 
 
 Like that which moves the eternal mind ; 
 And, benefactor of the world, 
 
 He shed his blood for all mankind. 
 
 Then, deep and dear thy welcome be, 
 Nor think thy daughters far from thee ! 
 Daughters of human kind, we bend, 
 And claim to call thee Father, Friend. 
 
 The General was then conducted back through the 
 arbor, on the sides of which the pupils had arranged 
 themselves in close order, to the number of two hundred, 
 and threw laurels before him as he passed. The visit of 
 Gen. Lafayette at Troy, short as it was, gave him great 
 satisfaction, and he spoke of his visit at the seminary as 
 one of the most interesting and delightful moments of his 
 life. 
 
 RECEPTION AT THE LIVINGSTONS, 
 
 ON THE HUDSON. 
 
 When the steamer arrived at the landing, it was discov- 
 ered that the groves were literally alive with people of all 
 ages and sexes, shouting a welcome to the Nation's Guest. 
 The rocks, glens, and even the trees to their topmost 
 branches, were full of joyous people, who joined in the 
 general shouts of joy. The General was escorted to the 
 ancient mansion house of the Livingstons, then occupied 
 by Robert L. Livingston ; and after a short time of intro- 
 ductions, a splendid picnic was served to the multitude. 
 
 He was then conducted to the more modern, but not 
 less elegant, mansion of Edward P. Livingston. Among 
 the most attractive displays here, was a sumptuous sup- 
 per, served up in a style seldom if ever equalled in this
 
 110 
 
 country. The place selected for this fete, was an extensive 
 green-house, or orangery, and the effect was very impos- 
 ing. The tables had been made for the occasion, and 
 placed beneath a grove of lemon and orange trees, full of 
 fruit, and brilliantly lighted by hundreds of lamps ; while 
 on the outside, the whole atmosphere was, at times, splen- 
 didly lighted up by fireworks. This enchanting scene was 
 ended by a dance, which lasted far into night ; but the 
 General early retired for his much needed rest. 
 
 RECEPTION AT NEWARK, N. J. 
 
 The General's reception at Newark was very unique 
 and imposing. As the procession moved to the green, 
 surrounded by troops, it was met by 24 male singers 
 ranged in two lines, who sung with great pathos the fol- 
 lowing lines : 
 
 Hail to the Gallant Chief, whose fame 
 Is pure as Heaven's etherial flame ! 
 Millions of grateful people cheer 
 And welcome our brave soldier here. 
 O ! strew the blooms of wale and grove, 
 Bright as onr joys, warm as our love ; 
 The present and the past are met 
 To welcome noble Lafayette. 
 
 The General, followed by the procession, passed through 
 the centre of the green until he came near a magnificent 
 bower, where he was received by 24 female singers, 
 ranged in the same order as the men singers, who tuned 
 their voices to the following strain : 
 
 We weave the wreath, we pour the wine. 
 Where smiles like sparkling sunbeams shine; 
 And hail the thousands fondly met 
 To greet thee, matchless Lafayette ! 
 Unseen, around the flowery way 
 Shades of the dead in glory play; 
 While hearts beat high and eyes are wet; 
 The winds of heaven hail Lafayette !
 
 Ill 
 
 The General then passed on between the lines of these 
 ladies, who strewed his pathway with flowers ; and entered 
 a splendid rural temple, erected for his reception. The 
 base of the temple was 40 feet in diameter, in front of 
 which was a beautiful portico, composed of 13 arches, 
 representing the 13 original States, over which was a 
 dome, representing the Western hemisphere. The pillars 
 which sustained the dome were 15 feet in height, and 
 wreathed with evergreens and flowers. On both sides, 
 and directly back, were colonnades of twelve arches, 
 forming arbors for the ladies. The tower was lofty, and 
 supported by four triumphal arches ; on the summit stood 
 a large golden eagle, with a crown of laurel in his beak, 
 and an olive branch on the liberty cap which he held in 
 his talons. In front of the portico, was the name of La- 
 fayette in large letters, made with white blossoms. In 
 the centre was a platform on which were two large chairs ; 
 and over the one occupied by the General, was a canopy 
 in the form of a cone, wreathed with brilliant flowers of 
 various hues. On the arches forming the portico, were 
 the following inscriptions : on the West, " Now I am 
 going to serve you ;" on the South, " For him whom the 
 nation delights to honor ;" on the North, " We ne'er shall 
 look on his like again ;" on the East, " His laurels shall 
 never fade." 
 
 The workmanship of this temple was as neat as the 
 design was classical. Everything was interwoven with 
 such skill and compactness as to form cornices, capitals, 
 and fretwork, with as much exactness as could be made in 
 sculptured marble. It was, indeed, a fairy palace as seen 
 at a distance, and resembled the beautiful palace in the 
 garden of Versailles in France, which it was designed to 
 imitate. 
 
 The foregoing account is but an item in the display at 
 Newark ; but by this, judge the rest.
 
 112 
 
 RECEPTION AT PHILADELPHIA, PA. 
 
 Early in the morning, the General left Frankford for 
 Philadelphia, distant five miles. The population of the 
 city poured forth to meet him, in carriages, on horseback 
 and on foot, and filled every avenue for the whole dis- 
 tance ; while the windows, balconies and platforms were 
 filled with ladies all joyous and shouting welcomes. But 
 human voices could not give full utterance to the feelings 
 of overflowing hearts. In a field of 50 acres, near the 
 city, a division of militia, 5500 strong, composed of cav- 
 alry, artillery and infantry, were drawn up in a hollow 
 square to meet him ; and his approach was announced 
 by 100 rounds of artillery. The General proceeded in 
 his carriage to the centre ; arose, and waved his hat and 
 bowed to the troops all around him in succession, while 
 salutes and shouts of welcome, loud and long, greeted 
 him on all sides. He made the review on foot, but re- 
 ceived the saluting honors in his carriage. 
 
 The line of march was then taken for the city, and the 
 procession was more than three miles long. A full de- 
 scription of this procession, and the numerous decorations 
 and arches on the route, cannot be given in detail. A 
 mere outline must suffice. 
 
 1. A cavalcade of 100 citizens. 
 
 2. One hundred mounted field and staff officers. 
 
 3. Five hundred cavalry troops. 
 
 4. A mounted band of music. 
 
 5. A company of 150 cavalry. 
 
 6. A brigade of 2000 militia. 
 
 7. Committee of arrangements on horseback. 
 
 8. General Lafayette and Judge Petters, in a splen- 
 did barouche. 
 
 9. Four other barouches, with Go vs. Shultze and 
 Williamson and suites, the General's family, and other 
 distinguished individuals.
 
 113 
 
 10. Three cars of large size, splendidly decorated, 
 made for the occasion, containing 120 revolutionary heroes. 
 Each carriage had the name of Washington in front, and 
 Lafayette in the rear; and on one side, "Defenders of 
 the country," and on the other, "The survivors of 1776." 
 
 11. Four hundred young men on foot. 
 
 12. Various trades, led by a car of printers at work, 
 both at the case and press, and printing and distributing 
 patriotic odes. 
 
 13. Typographical Society, with banner, /Lafayette. 
 
 14. Two hundred shoemakers, with banners, badges 
 and emblems. 
 
 15. Three hundred weavers, with decorations. 
 
 16. One hundred and fifty rope-makers, with emblems. 
 
 17. One hundred and fifty lads dressed in uniform. 
 
 18. One hundred ship-builders, with banners. 
 
 19. Seven hundred mechanics of various occupations. 
 
 20. One hundred and fifty coopers, fitting staves and 
 driving hoops. 
 
 21. One hundred and fifty butchers, mounted, and in 
 white frocks. 
 
 22. Two hundred and sixty truckmen, mounted, with 
 white aprons trimmed with blue. 
 
 23. One hundred and fifty rifle men, in frocks. 
 
 24. A full company of artillery, with two field-pieces. 
 
 25. A brigade of 1800 infantry. 
 
 2(>. A company of New Jersey cavalry. 
 
 27. The Red Men of the State. 
 
 28. The Lafayette Society. 
 
 29. " The True Republican Association." 
 
 30. " The German American Association." 
 
 31. A body of 300 sturdy farmers concluded the 
 procession. 
 
 The appearance of this grand procession was august 
 and imposing. As it passed, "LAFAYETTE, LAFAY- 
 15
 
 ETTE ! " sprang from the voices of a multitude that rolled 
 on, and on, and on, like the waves of the ocean, in num- 
 bers estimated at a quarter of a million. Lafayette beat 
 in every heart ; Lafayette hung on every tongue ; Lafay- 
 ette glowed on every cheek ; Lafayette glistened in every 
 eye, and swelled on every gale. The country and the 
 whole city appeared arrayed in all their glory, beauty and 
 strength ; at once, to witness and adore the majesty of the 
 spectacle and to honor the Nation's Guest. 
 
 The procession, after passing through the principal 
 streets of Philadelphia, halted in front of the old State 
 House, in which was signed the Declaration of Indepen- 
 dence in 1776. Here, the General alighted, passed un- 
 der a most magnificent triumphal arch into the hall, which 
 had been decorated in a most splendid manner for this oc- 
 casion. Among the decorations was a statue of Wash- 
 ington, and portraits of AVilliam Penn, Dr. Franklin, 
 Robert Morris, Francis Hopkinson, Generals Greene, 
 Wayne, Montgomery, Hamilton, Gates, Rochambeau ; 
 and also, of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Jefferson, 
 Hancock, Adams, Madison, Munroe, and Thompson. 
 Here were assembled the city authorities, the society of 
 Cincinnati, the judges of the courts, &c., &c. The 
 mayor of the city then gave him a most eloquent address, 
 to which the General gave a feeling reply, in a faltering 
 voice, for he was manifestly overcome by his emotions. 
 
 At night, the whole city was brilliantly illuminated ; in 
 which the United States Bank building presented a most 
 enchanted appearance. The lights were so placed as not 
 to be seen, and the doors being thrown open, it appeared 
 like a palace of transparent marble. 
 
 Among the numerous arches was one of gigantic size 
 and splendid appearance, after the plan of one of the fa- 
 mous arches of Rome. It was constructed of wood, cov- 
 ered with canvas, and painted in perfect imitation of stone.
 
 115 
 
 Its front was forty-five feet, embracing a basement story 
 of doric order, from which an arch sprung to the height 
 of twenty-four feet. The spandrels on each front were 
 decorated with the figure of Fame painted in elegant style, 
 with arms extended and holding a civic crown over the 
 key stone. The wings were of the Ionic order, and dec- 
 orated with statues of Liberty, Victory, Independence and 
 Plenty, with suitable mottoes ; the whole surmounted 
 with an entablature of thirty feet. In the centre, under 
 the arms of the city, and on each side, were placed the 
 statues of Wisdom and Justice, with appropriate em- 
 blems. The superficial surface of painted canvas ex- 
 ceeded 3000 feet. 
 
 The next day, a grand levee was held in the State House, 
 where thousands took him by the hand ; and he received 
 no less than fourteen addresses : one each from the Old 
 Soldiers, Philosophical and Bible Societies, the Univer- 
 sity, Chamber of Commerce, the Bar, the Young Men, 
 the French Citizens, the Washington Grays, the Lafay- 
 ette Association, the Revolutionary Officers, and the 
 Young Ladies of the several schools. 
 
 A grand civic ball was given in the new theatre, ex- 
 ceeding anything of the kind ever witnessed in the 
 city before. Seventeen hundred ladies and gentlemen 
 were present, exhibiting an unrivalled galaxy of elegance 
 and splendor. But the details of this brilliant assembly 
 cannot be given in words, and must be left to the imagi- 
 nation. Of the company present were Mrs. Robert Mor- 
 ris, the two Misses Bollman, daughters of Dr. Erick Boll- 
 man, Gov. Schultze, Gov. Williamson, John Quincy 
 Adams, Gen. Barnard, and two hundred citizens from the 
 various States of the Union, together with thousands of 
 joyful spectators. 
 
 The next day a most beautiful spectacle was exhibited 
 in the State House yard, where 2000 school children were
 
 116 
 
 assembled, all dressed in uniform, to greet and receive 
 an address from Gen. Lafayette. 
 
 In fine, we must cut short this interesting display, and 
 leave it half untold. Suffice it to say, the General spent 
 *ix days at Philadelphia in one continual round of visits 
 and receptions, unequalled, perhaps, in the annals of time, 
 and departed, at last, amid the roar of cannon and shouts 
 of the multitude, for Washington city. 
 
 RECEPTION AT BALTIMORE, MD. 
 
 After leaving Philadelphia, the General passed through 
 the principal towns of Delaware, where he was enthusi- 
 astically received, and arrived at Frenchtown in the even- 
 ing;, and went on board the steamer United States, which 
 
 O 7 
 
 had come down from Baltimore to receive him. On board 
 the boat, he was highly entertained by his friends, and 
 staid all night. Here, he had an unexpected meeting with 
 his old friend, Capt. Du Boismarten, who procured for 
 him, and commanded the vessel that first landed him in 
 this country in 1777. The Captain was a venerable 
 Frenchman of 83 winters, many of which had been cheer- 
 less and bleak, for he was sadly poor. He was greatly 
 overcome in meeting Gen. Lafayette, and left him, at 
 last, with a lighter heart and heavier purse. 
 
 The next morning, the boat proceeded to Baltimore, and 
 on entering the Patapsco river was met by five steamers, 
 all beautifully dressed for the occasion, full of joyous 
 ladies and gentlemen, which sailed round the steamer 
 United States, and cheered the General as they passed. 
 These five steamers then rounded to, and followed in the 
 wake of the United States to Fort McHenry, where Gen. 
 Lafayette was to make his headquarters while in Balti- 
 more. 
 
 The General was received on the platform of the Fort
 
 117 
 
 by Col. Hindman, of the U. S. Army, where the 3(>th 
 and 3<Sth Regiments had their stations. On entering the 
 gate, the troops opened to the right and left, which brought 
 to view the identical tent of Gen. Washington, used by 
 him in the revolutionary war. Here Gov. Stevens greeted 
 him with an animated address. He was then conducted 
 into the tent, where he found members of the Cincinnati, 
 and patriarchs of the revolution. The meeting was most 
 affecting ; the General embraced them all, and all were 
 convulsed with tears of gratulation and joy. 
 
 When the first emotions had subsided, Lafayette cast 
 his eyes round the tent, and discovering a part of the 
 well known camp equipage of Washington, in a subdued 
 voice said, "I remember, I remember! Language can- 
 not express my feelings in meeting my brothers in arms 
 in the tent of Washington." There was silence and tears 
 in the tent for a time. 
 
 The company then proceeded to an adjoining marquee, 
 where breakfast had been prepared for the occasion. At 
 the close of this repast, the General was conducted to a 
 most splendid two seated barouche, made expressly for 
 the occasion, and exceeding in beauty anything of the 
 kind in America ; which was presented to the General 
 when he left by the makers, and he took it with him on 
 his Southern tour. The venerable Charles Carroll of 
 Carrollton, Gen. Smith, and Col. Howard, took seats in 
 the carriage with Gen. Lafayette ; and when it left the outer 
 gate of the fort was met by a thousand cavalry, which 
 formed his escort through the city. In passing Federal 
 Hill, a salute of twenty-four guns was fired to denote the 
 number of States in the Union. After passing under 
 splendid arches, the General beheld, at the head of Market 
 street, ten thousand men, in companies, completely armed 
 and in full uniform. Here, all his companions left the 
 carriage, and the General, alone in the barouche, passed
 
 118 . 
 
 along the whole line, then took a fair position, and the 
 troops passed in review before him. The appearance of 
 Market street was most animated and spldndid every 
 house-top, window, balcony, door and sidewalk being filled 
 with joyous spectators. 
 
 The city of Baltimore was filled by a vast multitude of 
 people as never before nor since ; yet the utmost order 
 prevailed, and the General was greeted throughout all the 
 streets with all the tokens of welcome that human feelings 
 or ingenuity could bestow. 
 
 At the Exchange, he was received and addressed by the 
 Mayor, and introduced to the Councils, and others. He 
 then proceeded to a pavilion on Light street, at the en- 
 trance into Market street, where he received the final 
 passing salutes of the military companies. Language 
 would fail to describe this splendid pageantry, which lasted 
 nearly two hours. 
 
 At 5 o'clock a sumptuous feast had been provided, at 
 which the Mayor presided. Among the guests were Win. 
 Patterson, Gov. John B. Morris, John Quincy Adams, 
 then Secretary of State ; Gen. Macomb, of the U. S. 
 Army ; Col. Howard, Gen. Samuel Smith, Geo. Wash- 
 ington Custis of Arlington ; Generals Strieker, Stuart, 
 Reed, Benson, Harper, Stansbury and McDonald ; the 
 Colonels commanding regiments in the State and city, 
 together with a large number of guests from the various 
 States in the Union. 
 
 In the procession, was proudly borne the standard of the 
 brave Count Pulaski, who fell at the assault on Savannah, 
 fastened to one of the spears of his legion, to which his 
 sword was attached by his cross-belt, now in the posses- 
 sion of Col. Bentalo, as an affectionate memorial of his 
 departed friend. 
 
 In the evening, the city illumination was most splendid ; 
 especially, the Exchange, Dispensary, Banks, Theatre and
 
 119 
 
 Museum, and the arches were in a full blaze of light ; 
 while pyramids of fire at the bridge, and a revolving star, 
 three feet in diameter, had an imposing effect, hard to 
 describe. The whole scene was interspersed with trans- 
 parencies, mottoes and devices, all appropriate to the oc- 
 casion. 
 
 The ball-room in the evening was most splendidly 
 decorated and illuminated. After the ceremony of intro- 
 ducing the General to the ladies and gentlemen was over, 
 at the signal of a bugle blast, the dancing instantly began. 
 In time, supper was announced, and the managers escorted 
 the General into a hall no less splendid than the ball-room 
 itself. The cheerful conviviality, appropriate and cordial 
 hilarity, may be considered as the finishing touch to the 
 magnificent fete at Baltimore. 
 
 The addresses to and from General Lafayette were so 
 numerous, that I have given them merely a passing 
 notice ; but the official addresses at the seat of govern- 
 ment in Washington city, I give entire. 
 
 v ADDRESS OF SPEAKER CLAY. 
 
 IX THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, DEC. 10, 1824. 
 
 GENERAL : The House of Representatives of the United 
 States, impelled alike by their own feelings and by those 
 of the whole American people, could not have assigned 
 me a more gratifying duty than of being its organ to pre- 
 sent to you cordial congratulations upon the occasion of 
 your recent arrival in the United States, in compliance 
 with the wishes of Congress ; and to assure you of the 
 high satisfaction which your presence affords on this early 
 theatre of your glory and renown. Although but few of 
 the members who compose this body shared with you, in 
 the war of the revolution, all have a knowledge from im- 
 partial history, or from faithful tradition, of the perils,
 
 120 
 
 the sufferings and sacrifices, which you have voluntarily 
 encountered, and the signal services in America and in 
 Europe which you performed for an infant, a distant and 
 an alien people, and all feel and own the very great extent 
 of the obligations under which you have placed this coun- 
 try. But the relations in which you have ever stood to 
 the United States, interesting and important as they have 
 been, do not constitute the only motive of the respect and 
 admiration which the House entertains for you. Your 
 consistency of character, your uniform devotion to regu- 
 lated liberty, in all the vicissitudes of a long and arduous 
 life, also commands its highest admiration. During all 
 the recent convulsions of Europe, amidst, as after the 
 dispersion of, every political storm, the people of the 
 United States have ever beheld you true to your old prin- 
 ciples, firm and erect, cheering and animating with your 
 well known voice the votaries of liberty, its faithful and 
 fearless champion, ready to shed the last drop of that 
 blood which you so freely and nobly spilled in the same 
 holy cause. 
 
 The vain wish has sometimes been indulged, that Prov- 
 idence would allow the Patriot, after death, to return to 
 his country, and to contemplate the intermediate changes 
 which had taken place to view the forests felled, the 
 cities built, the mountains leveled, the canals cut, the 
 highways constructed, the progress of the arts, the ad- 
 vancement of learning, and the increase of population. 
 General, your present visit to the United States is the 
 consoling object of that wish. You are in the midst of 
 posterity. Everywhere you must have been struck with 
 the great changes, physical and moral, which have occurred 
 since you left us. Even this very city, bearing a vener- 
 ated name alike endeared to you and to us, has since 
 emei-ged from the forest which then covered its site. In 
 one respect, you behold us unaltered, and that is in this
 
 121 
 
 sentiment of continued devotion to liberty, and of ardent 
 affection and profound gratitude to your departed friend, 
 the Father of this Country, and to your illustrious associ- 
 ates in the field and in the cabinet, for the multiplied 
 blessings which surround us, and for the very privilege 
 of addressing you, which I now exercise. This sentiment, 
 now fondly cherished by more than ten millions of people, 
 will be transmitted, with unabated vigor, down the tide 
 of time, through the countless millions who are destined 
 to inhabit this continent, to the latest posterity. 
 
 GENERAL LAFAYETTE'S REPLY. 
 
 MR. SPEAKER, AND GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF 
 REPRESENTATIVES : While the people of the United 
 States, and their honorable Representatives in Congress, 
 have deigned to make choice of me, one of the American 
 veterans, to signify in. his person their esteem for our 
 joint services, and their attachment to the principles for 
 which we have had the honor to fight and bleed, I am 
 proud and happy to share these extraordinary favors with 
 my dear revolutionary companions ; and yet, it would be 
 on my part uncandid and ungrateful not to acknowledge 
 my personal share in these testimonials of kindness, as 
 they excite in my breast emotions which no adequate words 
 can express. 
 
 My obligations to the United States, sir, far exceed 
 any merit I might claim. They date from the time I had 
 the happiness to be adopted as a young soldier, a favored 
 son of America. They have been continued to me during 
 almost half a century of constant affection and confidence ; 
 and now, sir, thanks to your most gratifying invitation, I 
 find myself greeted by a series of welcomes, one hour of 
 which would more than compensate for all the public ex- 
 ertions and sufferings of a whole life. 
 
 The approbation of the American people, and their 
 16
 
 122 
 
 Representatives, for my conduct during the vicissitudes of 
 the European revolution, is the highest reward I could 
 receive. Well may I stand firm and erect, when in their 
 names, and by you, Mr. Speaker, I am declared to have, 
 in every instance, been faithful to those American princi- 
 ples of liberty, equality, and true social order the devo- 
 tion to which, as it has been from my earliest youth, so 
 shall it continue to be to my latest breath. 
 
 You have been pleased, Mr. Speaker, to allude to the 
 peculiar felicity of my situation, when, after so long an 
 absence, I am called to witness the immense improvements, 
 the admirable communications, the prodigious creations, 
 of which I find an example in this city, whose name itself 
 is a venerated palladium ; in a word, all the grandeur and 
 prosperity of these happy States, which reflect on every 
 part of the world a superior political civilization. 
 
 What better pledge can be given of a continued national 
 love of liberty, where these blessings are evidently the re- 
 sult of a virtuous resistance to oppression, and the institu- 
 tions founded on the rights of man, and the republican prin- 
 ciples of self-government. Xo, Mr. Speaker, posterity has 
 not begun for me, since in the sons of my companions and 
 friends, I find the same public feelings, and permit me to 
 add, the same feelings in my behalf, which I have had the 
 happiness to experience in their fathers. 
 
 Sir, forty years ago, to a Congress of thirteen States, 
 I was allowed to express the fond wishes of an American 
 heart. On this day I have the honor, and enjoy the de- 
 light of congratulating the Representatives of the Union, 
 so vastly enlarged, on the realization of those wishes, 
 even beyond every human expectation, and upon the al- 
 most infinite prospects we can with certainty anticipate. 
 
 Permit me, Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House 
 .of Representatives, to join to the expression of those sen- 
 timents, a tribute of my profound gratitude, devotion and 
 respect.
 
 123 
 
 FAREWELL ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT 
 JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. 
 
 SEPTEMBER <5, 1823. 
 
 GENERAL LAFAYETTE : It has been the good fortune 
 of many of iny distinguished fellow-citizens, during the 
 course of the year now elapsed, upon your arrival at their 
 respective places of abode, to greet you with the welcome 
 of the nation. The less pleasing task now devolves upon 
 me, of bidding you, in the name of the nation, Adieu. 
 
 It were no longer seasonable, and would be superfluous, 
 to recapitulate the remarkable incidents of your early life 
 incidents which associated your name, fortunes, and repu- 
 tation, in imperishable connection with the independence 
 and history of the North American Union. 
 
 The part which you performed at that important junc- 
 ture was marked with characters so peculiar, that, realiz- 
 ing the fairest fable of antiquity, its parallel could scarcely 
 be found in the authentic records of human history. 
 
 You deliberately and perse veringly preferred toil, dan- 
 ger, the endurance of every hardship, and the privation 
 of every comfort, in defence of a holy cause, to inglorious 
 ease, and the allurements of rank, affluence, and unre- 
 strained youth, at the most splendid and fascinating Court 
 of Europe. 
 
 That this choice was not less wise than magnanimous, 
 the sanction of half a century, and the gratulations of 
 unnumbered voices, all unable to express the gratitude of 
 the heart with which your visit to this hemisphere has 
 been welcomed, afford ample demonstration. 
 
 When the contest of freedom, to which you had repaired 
 as a voluntary champion, had closed, by the complete tri- 
 umph of her cause in this country of your adoption, you 
 returned to fulfil the duties of the philanthropist and 
 patriot in the land of your nativity. There, in a consis- 
 tent and undeviating career of forty years, you have main-
 
 124 
 
 tained, through every vicissitude of alternate success and 
 disappointment, the same glorious cause to which the first 
 years of your active life had been devoted, the improve- 
 ment ftf the moral and political condition of man. 
 
 Throughout that long succession of time, the people of 
 the United States, for whom, and with whom, you had 
 fought the. battles of liberty, have been living in the 
 full possession of its fruits ; one of the happiest among 
 the family of nations. Spreading in population ; enlarg- 
 ing in territory ; acting and suffering according to the 
 condition of their nature ; and laying the foundations of 
 the greatest, and, we humbly hope, the most beneficent 
 power that ever regulated the concerns of man upon earth. 
 
 In that lapse of forty years, the generation of men with 
 whom you co-operated in the conflict of arms, has nearly 
 passed away. Of the general officers of the American 
 army in that war, you alone survive. Of the sages who 
 guided our councils ; of the warriors who met the foe in 
 the field or upon the wave, with the exception of a few, 
 to whom unusual length of days has been allotted ,by 
 Heaven, all now sleep with their fathers. A succeeding, 
 and even a third generation, have arisen to take their 
 places ; and their children's children, while rising up to 
 call them blessed, have been taught by them, as well as 
 admonished by their own constant enjoyment of freedom, 
 to include in every benison upon their fathers, the name 
 of him who came from afar, with them and in their cause, 
 to conquer or to fall. 
 
 The universal prevalence of these sentiments was sig- 
 nally manifested by a resolution of Congress, representing 
 the whole people, and all the States of this Union, re- 
 questing the President of the United States to communi- 
 cate to you the assurances of grateful and affectionate 
 attachment of this government and people, and desiring 
 that a national ship might be employed, at your conven- 
 ience, for your passage to the borders of our country.
 
 125 
 
 The invitation was transmitted to you by my venerable 
 predecessor ; himself bound to you by the strongest ties 
 of personal friendship ; himself one of those whom the 
 highest honors of his country had rewarded for blood early 
 shed in her cause, and for a long life of devotion to her 
 welfare. By him the services of a national ship were 
 placed at your disposal. Your delicacy preferred a more 
 private conveyance, and a full year has elapsed since you 
 landed upon our shores. It were scarcely an exaggeration 
 to say, that it has been, to the people of the Union, a 
 year of uninterrupted festivity and enjoyment, inspired by 
 your presence. You have traversed the twenty-four States 
 of this Confederacy. You have been received with rap- 
 ture by the survivors of your earliest companions in arms. 
 You have been hailed as a long absent parent by their 
 children, the men and women of the present age. And 
 a rising generation, the hope of future time, in numbers 
 surpassing the whole population of that day when you 
 fought at the head and by the side of their forefathers, 
 have vied with the scanty remnants of that hour of trial, 
 in acclamations of joy beholding the face of him whom 
 they feel to be the common benefactor of all. You have 
 heard the mingled voices of the past, the present, and the 
 future age, joining in one universal chorus of delight at 
 your approach ; and the shouts of unbidden thousands, 
 which greeted your landing on the soil of freedom, have 
 followed every step of your way, and still resound, like 
 the rushing of many waters, from every corner of our 
 land. 
 
 You are now about to return to the country of your 
 birth, of your ancestors, of your posterity. The execu- 
 tive government of the Union, stimulated by the same 
 feeling which had prompted the Congress to the designa- 
 tion of a national ship for your accommodation in coining 
 hither, has destined the first service of a frigate, recently
 
 126 
 
 launched at this metropolis, to the less welcome, but 
 equally distinguished trust, of conveying you home. The 
 name of the ship has added one more memorial to distant 
 regions and to future ages, of a stream already memora- 
 ble, at once in the story of your sufferings and of our 
 independence . 
 
 The ship is now prepared for your reception, and 
 equipped for sea. From the moment of her departure, 
 the prayers of millions will ascend to Heaven that her 
 passage may be prosperous, and your return to the bosom 
 of your family as propitious to your happiness, as your 
 visit to this scene of your youthful glory has been to that 
 of the American people. 
 
 Go, then, our beloved friend return to the land of 
 brilliant genius, of generous sentiment, of heroic valor ; 
 to that beautiful France, the nursing mother of the twelfth 
 Louis and the fourth HENRY ; to the native soil of BAY- 
 ARD and COLIGNI, of TURENNE and CATINAT, of FENE- 
 LON and D'AGUESSEAU. In that illustrious catalogue of 
 names which she claims as of her children, and with hon- 
 est pride holds up to the admiration of other nations, the 
 name of LAFAYETTE has already for centuries been en- 
 rolled. And it shall henceforth burnish into brighter 
 fame ; for if, in after days , a Frenchman shall be called to 
 indicate the character of his nation by that of one indi- 
 vidual, during the age in which we live, the blood of 
 lofty patriotism shall mantle in his cheek, the fire of con- 
 scious virtue shall sparkle in his eye, and he shall pro- 
 nounce the name of LAFAYETTE. Yet we too, and- our 
 children, in life and after death, shall claim you for our 
 own. You are ours by that more than patriotic self- 
 devotion with which you flew to the aid of our fathers at 
 the crisis of their fate. Ours by that long series of years 
 in which you have cherished us in your regard. Ours by 
 the unshaken sentiment of gratitude for your services
 
 127 
 
 which is a precious portion of our inheritance. Ours by 
 that tie of love, stronger than death, which has linked 
 your name, for the endless ages of time, with the name 
 of WASHINGTON. 
 
 At the painful moment of parting from you, we take 
 comfort in the thought, that wherever you may be, to the 
 last pulsation of your heart, our country will be ever 
 present to your affections ; and a cheering consolation 
 assures us, that we are not called to sorrow most of all, 
 that we shall see your face no more. We shall indulge 
 the pleasing anticipation of beholding our friend again. 
 In the meantime, speaking in the name of the whole 
 people of the United States, and at a loss only for lan- 
 guage to give utterance to that feeling of attachment with 
 which the heart of the nation beats, as the heart of one 
 man I bid you a reluctant and affectionate farewell. 
 
 GENERAL LAFAYETTE'S REPLY. 
 
 Amidst all my obligations to the General Government, 
 and particularly to you, Sir, its respected Chief Magis- 
 trate, I have most thankfully to acknowledge the oppor- 
 tunity given me, at this solemn and painful moment, to 
 present to the people of the United States, with a parting 
 tribute of profound, inexpressible gratitude. 
 
 To have been, in the important and critical days of those 
 States, adopted by them as a favorite son ; to have par- 
 ticipated with them in the toils and perils of our unspot- 
 ted struggle for independence, freedom and equal rights ; 
 and, in the foundation of the American era, of a new so- 
 cial order, which has already pervaded this, and must, for 
 the dignity and happiness of mankind, successively per- 
 vade every part of the other hemisphere ; to have received 
 at every stage of the revolution, and during forty years 
 after that period, from the people of the United States. 
 and their Representatives, at home and abroad, continued
 
 128' 
 
 marks of their confidence and kindness, lias been the 
 pride, the encouragement, the support of a long and 
 eventful life. 
 
 But how can I find words to acknowledge that series 
 of welcomes, those unbounded and universal displays of 
 public affection, which have marked each step, each hour 
 of the twelve months' progress through the twenty-four 
 States ; and which, while they overwhelm my heart with 
 grateful delight, have most satisfactorily evinced the con- 
 currence of the people in the kind testimonies, in the im- 
 mense favors bestowed upon me by the several branches 
 of their Representatives, in every part, and at the central 
 seat of the Confederacy. 
 
 Yet, gratifications still higher await me, in the wonders 
 of creation and improvement that have met my enchanted 
 eye ; in the unparalled and self-felt happiness of the peo- 
 ple, in their rapid prosperity and insured security, public 
 and private ; in the practice of good order, the appendage 
 of true freedom and a national good sense, the final arbi- 
 ter of all difficulties. I have had proudly to recognize a 
 result of the republican principles for which we have 
 fought, and a glorious demonstration to the most timid 
 and prejudicial mind, of the superiority over degrading 
 aristocracy or despotism, of popular institutions, founded 
 on the plain rights of man, and where the local rights of 
 every section are preserved under a constitutional bond of 
 union. The cherishing of that union between the States, 
 as it has been the farewell entreaty of our great paternal 
 Washington, and will ever have the dying prayer of every 
 patriotic American ; so it has become the sacred pledge of 
 the emancipation of the world ; an object in which, I am 
 happy to observe that the American people, while they 
 give the animating example of successful free institutions 
 in return for an evil entailed upon them by Europe ; and 
 of which a liberal and enlightened sense is everywhere
 
 129 
 
 more and more generally felt, show themselves every 
 day more anxiously interested. 
 
 And now, Sir, how can I do justice to my deep feel- 
 ings, for the assurances, most peculiarly valued, of your 
 esteem and friendship ; for your kind references to old 
 times, to my beloved associates, to the vicissitudes of my 
 life, for your affectionate picture of the blessings poured 
 by the several generations of the American people on the 
 remaining days of a delighted veteran, for your affection- 
 ate remarks on this sad hour of separation, on the country 
 of my birth, full I can say of American sympathies ; on 
 the hope, so necessary for me, of seeing again the country 
 that had deigned, near half a century ago, to call me 
 hers ! I shall content myself, refraining from superfluous 
 repetitions, at once before you, Sir, and this respected 
 circle, to proclaim my cordial confirmation of every one 
 of the sentiments which I have had daily opportunities 
 publicly to utter, from the time when your remarkable 
 predecessor, my old friend and brother in arms, transmit- 
 ted to me the honorable invitation of Congress, to this 
 day, when you, my dear Sir, whose friendly connections 
 with me, date from your earliest youth, are going to con- 
 sign me to the protection across the Atlantic, of the heroic 
 national flag, on board the splendid ship "Brandywine," 
 the name of which has been not the least flattering and 
 kind, among the numberless favors conferred upon me. 
 
 God bless you, Sir, and all who surround us. God 
 bless the American people, each of their States, and the 
 Federal Government. Accept this patriotic farewell of 
 an overflowing heart such will be its last throb when it 
 ceases to beat. 
 
 At the close of the President's address, the General 
 embraced him in his arms, saluting him in th French 
 manner on each cheek. And on pronouncing the last 
 17
 
 130 
 
 sentence of his answer, he advanced, and while the tears 
 poured over his venerable cheeks, again took the Presi- 
 dent in his arms. He retired a few paces, but, overcome 
 by his feelings, again returned, uttering in a broken voice, 
 and with great emotion, "God bless you; farewell; God 
 bless you ! " The scene was at once solemn and moving ; 
 as the sighs and stealing tears of many nay, of all who 
 witnessed it bore testimony. The greetings were contin- 
 ued, when self-possession had been recovered, till each 
 individual had shared in the pledge of kindness. In bid- 
 ding adieu to one of the sons of Mr. Adams, whom the 
 General long held by the hand, his eyes beamed with 
 paternal affection. With Mr. Clay, whose countenance 
 gave token that he had not escaped the " soft infection," 
 the General held much converse ; and while the refresh- 
 ments of the hospitable mansion were in circulation, the 
 company gathered around the Guest, to take another and 
 yet another farewell look, and to seize once more "that 
 beloved hand which was opened so freely for our aid when 
 aid was so precious, and which grasped with firm and 
 undeviating hold, the steel which so essentially helped to 
 achieve our deliverance." 
 
 The procession being formed, a salute of 24 guns an- 
 nounced the order for its movement. On the appearance 
 of the President, with the guest, in the Court in front of 
 the house, a general salute was given to the President by 
 the troops. 
 
 The General was then attended to his barouche by 
 Messrs. Clay, Southard and Rush, who rode with him. 
 The procession then moved in the prescribed order ; the 
 brigades of volunteers passing before the President in 
 review. 
 
 When arrived near where the " Mount Vernon " steam- 
 boat was gallantly riding on the Potomac to receive him, 
 the guest took a station, in his barouche, when the whole
 
 131 
 
 military escort, commanded by Gen. Smith, passed him 
 in review, paying him the customary honors. After this, 
 Mrs. Custis, Mrs. Lewis, (of the Washington family,) 
 and other friends, took their leave individually. He then 
 descended, and was escorted to the steamer,* which at 
 half past three o'clock mov,ed from the wharf, under a 
 farewell salute of 24 guns, the huzzas of many thousands 
 crowning the eminences, and the broken shouts of scattered 
 multitudes assembled on the shores. 
 
 As the boat passed the Point, the Navy Yard and the 
 Fort, salutes were fired in succession ; and the shouts of 
 adieu continued till the boat was entirely lost to the view. 
 Thus terminated a day which memory and history will 
 cherish, and which will be reverted to with feelings of 
 pride and rapture by our descendants, when those who 
 were the actors in it shall have passed from the theatre of 
 human, existence. 
 
 It is now a hundred years since Gen. Lafayette first set 
 his foot on American soil, and more than half a century 
 since his last visit. But few now living have ever seen 
 him ; and less memorials of him than of Washington now 
 remain. And as Lafayette was a foreigner, and but a few 
 years in this country, he never was so well known as 
 Washington. Nor has he been so fortunate as to have a 
 Marshall, Sparks or AVashington Irving to write his life 
 and times. Small volumes and brief sketches have been 
 published, but very incomplete, and sometimes erroneous. 
 
 * In explanation of the guest's going on board a steamer at the 
 Navy Yard, it should be stated that the Brandywine, in which he 
 was to embark and return to France, was a sailing vessel, depend- 
 ing on the wind, and of such a large size that it could not be readily 
 handled in the upper waters of the Potomac ; and therefore it was 
 anchored some 20 miles down the stream, where the river was much 
 larger and the water deeper.
 
 132 
 
 Nor has he ever to the public appeared or been esteemed 
 at his real worth. Many have supposed that as he was an 
 impulsive Frenchman, he was fickle-minded and super- 
 ficial. But he was very far from all this ; for he was a 
 man of a strong mind, a deep thinker and a ripe scholar. 
 Impulsive he was, and did nothing by halves ; but what 
 his hand found to do that ought to be done, he did with 
 all his might. That less should be known of him than of 
 Washington, is no marvel. And far be it from me to 
 eulogize the one at the expense of the other. 
 
 In early life I was taught to venerate the name of the 
 Father of his Country, who was pronounced to be first in 
 war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his country- 
 men. It is said that republics are ungrateful. Whatever 
 truth there may have been in ancient republics, ours does 
 not come under that condemnation. 
 
 In early manhood, I lived three years in the State of 
 Virginia. In that time, I travelled much over the State ; 
 and, in addition to its curiosities and matchless scenery, I 
 visited the place of Washington's birth, on what is called 
 the "Northern Xeck," in the County of Westmoreland, 
 between the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers. The 
 house in which he was born was in ruins ; as was also the 
 house where he and his widowed mother had lived, op- 
 posite to the city of Fredericksburg. He was said to 
 have been an athletic youth, and beat all his associates in 
 sports that required great muscular strength, such as leap- 
 ing and tossing the bar. He was said to have been the 
 only youth that could cast a stone across the Rappahan- 
 nock river at Fredericksburg. I tried my hand at it, but 
 could throw a stone only about two-thirds of that distance. 
 His mother spent her last days in that city, and was there 
 buried. 
 
 I also beheld, with awe and veneration, Mount Vernon, 
 the home of Washington, and the tomb where his mortal
 
 133 
 
 remains repose. These scenes impressed me profoundly 
 at the time, as the remembrance of them does now. 
 
 And, moreover, the patriotic ladies of the land, in 
 1858, formed a society called the " Ladies' Mount Vernon 
 Association," appointed agents throughout the whole 
 country, raised money by subscription and donation, and 
 purchased Mount Vernon with two hundred acres of land, 
 at the large price of two hundred thousand dollars. Two 
 hundred thousand dollars is a large sum to be raised by 
 voluntary contribution, but the patriotic ladies were equal 
 to the task. They induced the great orator, Edward Ever- 
 ett, to write and deliver throughout the land, one of the 
 most touching and eloquent lectures on Washington that 
 was ever written. And this lecture was delivered in the 
 principal towns and cities sixty-five times ! One might 
 well suppose that a lecture, continually repeated by the 
 author, would in time pall upon the senses, and become 
 tame and insipid, and listlessly delivered. But the tra- 
 dition is, that he stood up to the work like a martyr, and 
 delivered it the last time with the same energy and pathos 
 as at the first. And all this was done without any com- 
 pensation to himself, and the large sums obtained as ad- 
 mission fees, were added to the purchasing funds. 
 
 And this Association of ladies, having completed the 
 purchase of Mount Vernon ; by their agent, now occupy 
 the premises, put the same in complete repair, as in the 
 days of Washington, and dedicated it to the nation as a 
 place of public resort and pilgrimage forever. 
 
 And now what more can be said or done in regard to 
 Washington? In his case, surely, the republic has not 
 been ungrateful. 
 
 As to General Lafayette, what more can be done to 
 show a nation's gratitude? Lagrange, his beautiful home 
 in France, is not purchasable, as his posterity still occupy ; 
 and if it could be, it is in a foreign country, and could
 
 134 
 
 not be made a place of resort for the American people. 
 But these pages will show abundant manifestations of 
 gratitude to Gen. Lafayette, and nothing now seems 
 needful to be done but to erect monuments to his mem- 
 ory, the same as to Washington himself. There is not 
 so much said or done in regard to Lafayette as in former 
 times, for the present generation do not know him as well, 
 and I feel that he ought to be known and esteemed as in 
 times past. To this end have I written, and I hope not 
 in vain. 
 
 And now, most respectfully, I dedicate this brief sketch 
 of the life of Gen. Lafayette to the youth of America, in 
 the hope and fervent wish that his noble life will influence 
 theirs, even more than it has that of the author. If that 
 wish should be gratified, we shall have no more selfish, 
 narrow-minded and dishonest politicians ; but honest men 
 and true patriots will bear rule, and the country will be- 
 come, what Gen. Lafayette prayed it might, the greatest 
 and most glorious nation on earth. 
 
 MAJOR ANDRE. 
 
 [The following Sketch of the unfortunate Maj. Andre 
 was written in 1821, and published in the newspapers of 
 the time. It gives so much more information of him than 
 the brief notice in my " Recollections," that I insert the 
 article entire.] 
 
 As the gallant, amiable but unfortunate Major Andre 
 has again been brought into notice by the removal of his 
 remains from Tappan, a notice of the causes which led 
 him to join the army in America and his ignominious exit 
 on a gibbet, may not at this time be unacceptable. His 
 family resided at Claptan near London for the most part
 
 135 
 
 of the time ; and consisted of his mother, three sisters 
 Maria, Anna and Louisa and his brother William. They 
 were very respectable, moved in the first circles and had 
 many friends ; for there seems to have been something 
 very fascinating and cordial in their manners, together 
 with an engaging personal appearance that riveted the 
 affections of all their acquaintances. The family were 
 well acquainted at Litchfield, a pleasant village, 120 miles 
 from their residence, and took much delight in their visits 
 there ; especially John Andre, the hero of our story. He 
 seems to have been formed by nature to love and be 
 beloved. His personal appearance was noble and fascin- 
 ating, and his acquirements were such as to give an addi- 
 tional attraction to the advantages of nature. He had 
 invoked the muses with considerable success, and was a 
 musician and painter. He was a belles lettres scholar and 
 well versed in history and politics ; and in short, his 
 acquirements were such as to enable him to shine in any 
 circle, and become, as in fact he did, the idol of his family 
 and friends. At the age of eighteen, he became more 
 particularly attached to a young lady of Litchfield, by the 
 name of Honora Snyed. His attachment appears to have 
 been something more than the evanescent kind, which 
 vanishes with its object ; for it neither abated nor dimin- 
 ished by time or distance, but continued to the last 
 moment of his life. It appears, he was not indifferent to 
 his fair Honora ; she received his addresses, and avowed 
 a reciprocal attachment. Honora's health at this time was 
 very delicate ; so much so, that she was forbidden to cor- 
 respond with any one ; the intercourse between them was 
 continued, however, through the medium of her sister 
 Anna, in whose letters Honora would add a postscript. 
 
 As the family did not possess an independent fortune, 
 Maj. Andre established himself in the mercantile business 
 in TVarnford Court, London. The drudgery of a count-
 
 13(5 
 
 ing-room illy agreed with his ardent imagination, and 
 nothing but the soothing idea, that he 'was acquiring 
 property to share with his Honora, rendered his situation 
 tolerable. He is sometimes very pleasant and sportive in 
 his letters to Anna Snyed ; and in a measure, seems to 
 have overcome his dislike to the occupation of a merchant. 
 He says : 
 
 " I no longer see it in so disadvantageous a light. In- 
 stead of figuring a merchant as a middle-aged man, with 
 a bob wig, a rough beard, in snuff-colored clothes, grasp- 
 ing a guinea in his red hand ; I conceive a comely young 
 man, with a tolerable pig-tail, wielding a pen with all the 
 noble fierceness of the Duke of Marlborough brandishing 
 a truncheon on a sign-post, surrounded with types and 
 emblems, and canopied with cornucopias that disembogue 
 their stores upon his head ; Mercurys reclined upon bales 
 of goods ; Genii playing with pens, ink and paper ; while 
 in perspective his gorgeous vessels, " launched on the 
 bosom of the silver Thames," are wafting to distant lands 
 the produce of this commercial nation. Thus all the 
 mercantile glories crowd my fancy, emblazoned in the 
 most refulgent coloring of an ardent imagination. I see 
 sumptuous palaces rising to receive me ; I see orphans, 
 and widows, and painters, and poets, and musicians, and 
 builders , protected and encouraged ; and when the fabric 
 is pretty nearly finished in my shattered pericranium, I 
 cast my eyes around, and find John Andre, by a small 
 coal fire in Warnford Court ; not so tall as he has been 
 making himself, and in all probability, never to be much 
 more than he is at present. But oh ! my dear Honora ! 
 it is for thy sake only I wish for wealth ! " 
 
 In the mercantile business he spent a number of years, 
 alternately relieving his mind from the tediousness of his 
 employment, by visiting his friends at Claptan, and his 
 dear Honora at Litchfield. But alas ! misfortune had
 
 137 
 
 marked him for her prey. His Utopian castle, which his 
 " ardent imagination " had reared with such enthusiasm, 
 vanished from his view ; and left him wretched, although 
 not entirely hopeless. To Honora's father, Maj. Andre 
 had never been a great favorite, after his attentions to 
 his daughter ; for what reason, is not known ; but, prob- 
 ably, because he concluded Andre's turn of mind was illy 
 calculated for the acquirement of property ; at any rate, 
 after using his influence to dissolve the connection without 
 success, he exerted his parental authority and accomplished 
 his purpose, but at the expense of the happiness of his 
 daughter, and her noble, gallant Andre ! Four years 
 after this event, Honora was induced to marry another 
 gentleman ; but was melancholy and unhappy, and died 
 of consumption a few months previous to the execution 
 of Maj. Andre in America. 
 
 When the match was thus authoritatively broken off, 
 Maj. Andre obtained a commission in the British army, 
 served a while in Germany, and then came to America 
 early in the revolutionary war. In time, he was appointed 
 by Sir Henry Clinton Adjutant-General, with the rank of 
 Major, and became a great favorite with officers and sol- 
 diers of the British army. 
 
 In 1780 Gen. Arnold had communications with the 
 British officers for the purpose of surrendering into their 
 hands West Point, the strongest fortress in America ; in 
 which were deposited supplies for the army, and which 
 completely guarded the pass of the Hudson river, through 
 the Highlands. To accomplish this, the British sloop of 
 war, Vulture, commanded by Capt. Sutherland, came 
 up the river to Haverstraw Bay, about twenty miles from 
 West Point, with Col. Beverly Robinson, an American 
 who adhered to the royal cause, and Maj. Andre. To ef- 
 fect a meeting, Gen. Arnold sent Joshua H. Smith, who 
 resided near the bay, with a flag of truce to the Vulture 
 18
 
 138 
 
 in the night. The object was to effect a meeting on shore 
 between Maj. Andre and Arnold; but, to blind Smith, 
 the request was made for Col. Robinson. When Smith 
 arrived at the Vulture, and delivered his message to Rob- 
 inson, he excused himself from meeting Arnold on account 
 of ill health, and introduced to him Maj. Andre, under 
 the assumed name of Anderson, and said all the purposes 
 could be effected by his going ashore instead of himself. 
 The place of interview was at the foot of Long Clove 
 Mountain, on the Western shore ; and on the arrival of 
 Smith and Maj. Andre, they found Gen. Arnold among 
 the fir trees. Arnold pretended to be vexed and disap- 
 pointed at not seeing Col. Robinson ; but requested Mr. 
 Smith to stay with the hands at the boat while he confer- 
 red with Mr. Anderson. Smith staid till the dawn of 
 day, and then thought it prudent to apprise them of it. 
 Soon after, they both came down to the beach, and Arnold 
 requested Smith to conduct Mr. Anderson on board the 
 Vulture. But as the distance was so great, and the 
 hands fatigued, and as it would be impossible to go and 
 return before sunrise, he refused. Smith accordingly re- 
 turned the boat to the place where he had embarked, and 
 Arnold and Andre, mounted on horseback, rode up to 
 Smith's house. When Smith arrived at the place to leave 
 the boat, he observed a cannonading from Gallows Point 
 against the Vulture, which compelled her to drop down 
 the river. When he arrived at his own house, he found 
 that Andre and Arnold had arrived long before, and ap- 
 peared vexed that the ship had been compelled to leave 
 her position. After breakfast, Smith retired to recover 
 from the fatigues of the night, for he was in ill health, 
 and left Arnold and Andre the greater part of the day 
 together. Towards evening Arnold came to him and re- 
 quested that he should convey Mr. Anderson to the Vul- 
 ture, which had then nearly regained its former position.
 
 139 
 
 But, as Smith had then an ague fit upon him, he was un- 
 able to comply. Arnold then requested him to accom- 
 pany him a part of the way to New York, by land, when 
 his ague fit left him. To this he made no objection. Soon 
 after, Arnold said a difficulty had occurred, of which he 
 was not before apprised : Mr. Anderson had come ashore 
 in military dress, and as it would be impossible for him to 
 travel in that dress, he requested a loan of one of Smith's 
 coats ; the other part of his dress required no change. 
 Smith accordingly furnished a coat ; and Arnold, having 
 given a pass to Maj. Andre, by the name of John Ander- 
 son, to go to White Plains ; and Smith, with a flag of 
 truce to go there and return, left them and returned to 
 .West Point. Andre appeared disconsolate and sad, and 
 Smith tried to amuse him by showing him from the top of 
 his house the beautiful prospect over the capacious bay 
 and the opposite shore ; but he cast an anxious look to- 
 wards the Vulture, and with a sigh wished himself safely 
 aboard. 
 
 At length, Smith, finding himself better, ordered the 
 horses, and they reached the ferry at Stony Point before 
 dark. They called at the Sutlers' and drank with them, 
 then crossed the river and rode on five or six miles, when 
 they were challenged by a patrol party. The command- 
 ing officer demanded a countersign, and a reason for their 
 travelling in the night. Smith told him they had pass- 
 ports from Gen. Arnold, which they had that day re- 
 ceived ; that they were on public business of the utmost 
 importance, and that he would be answerable for their de- 
 tention a moment. On coining to a light, they presented 
 their passports, and satisfied the officer. He, however, 
 advised them not to proceed {n the night, as patroling 
 parties of both armies were out, and there was little 
 chance of avoiding them ; ana added, he had heard a 
 firing a few minutes before meeting; them. Alarmed at
 
 140 
 
 this intelligence, they concluded to go no further that 
 night, although Andre was anxious to proceed. They re- 
 turned a short distance and obtained lodgings. 
 
 They both slept in the same bed, and Smith was often 
 disturbed by the restless motions and uneasiness of mind 
 exhibited by his bed-fellow, who, on observing the first 
 dawn of day, summoned the servant to prepare the horses 
 for their departure. They rode cheerfully towards Pine's 
 bridge, over Croton river, a branch of the Hudson, with- 
 out interruption ; and as they were passing along, the 
 countenance of Andre brightened into a cheerful serenity ; 
 he became affable, and displayed a knowledge in the belles 
 lettres, music, painting, poetry, and general history, be- 
 yond what his companion had any idea he possessed. So 
 fine was the morning, so pleasant the converse, and so 
 rich the scenery around them, they became insensible of 
 time and distance, and were surprised to find themselves 
 so soon at the bridge ; the contemplated place of their 
 separation. After breakfasting at a low Dutch house near 
 the bridge ; and after Smith had given his companion the 
 necessary directions of his route to the White Plains, on 
 crossing the bridge ; they took an affecting leave of each 
 other, and Smith returned to his family in safety. 
 
 Andre, on arriving at the fork of the roads, concluded 
 the one by the White Plains would be circuitous to go to 
 New York, and having a good horse, he boldly ventured 
 to take the other down the river. He had proceeded about 
 six miles, when he was stopped in a narrow part of the 
 road near Tarrytown, by three New York militia-men, 
 John Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac Van Vest, 
 who were on a scouting party between the outposts of the 
 two armies. One of them having seized his horse by the 
 bridle, Andre, instead of producing his passport, asked 
 where they belonged to. They answered, " To below." 
 Xot suspecting deception, he replied, " So do I;" and
 
 141 
 
 declaring; himself a British officer, entreated that he might 
 
 O O 
 
 not be detained, as he was on pressing business ! On 
 finding himself in the hands of his enemies, he offered 
 them a valuable gold watch to let him pass ; but this led 
 to further suspicion ; they, therefore, took him aside into 
 the bushes, and searching him, found his papers lodged 
 in one of his boots ! The captors then took him to Col. 
 Jamison, where he still passed under the name of Ander- 
 son ; and with a view of providing for the safety of Gen. 
 Arnold, requested permission to send a line to inform him 
 of his detention. Astonishing as it may appear, his re- 
 quest was granted. Maj. Andre's messenger arrived at 
 Gen. Arnold's lodgings, (which were then, at the house 
 formerly occupied by Col. Robinson, on the opposite side 
 of the river from West Point, and a short distance from 
 the shore,) before the messenger Col. Jamison despatched 
 to Gen. Washington with Andre's papers, and also a letter 
 from Andre, disclosing his real name and his rank in the 
 British army, arrived. Gen. Arnold, on the receipt of 
 the letter, seized the messenger's horse, rode furiously 
 down a precipice, almost perpendicular, to. the river, 
 jumped into a boat, and ordered the hands to row down 
 to the Vulture ; but he had scarcely passed Vcrplank's 
 Point, when Col. Hamilton arrived with orders to stop 
 him ; for about the time Washington reached Robinson's 
 house, on his return from Hartford, the packet from Col. 
 Jamison arrived. 
 
 Maj. Andre was captured on the 23d of September, 
 1780 ; and conducted by a strong guard to Robinson's 
 house, where he was examined by Gen. Washington ; he 
 was then conducted by water to Stony Point, and by land 
 to Orange Town, or Tappan. On the 25th of September, 
 Gen. Washington appointed a board of fourteen general 
 officers to examine into Maj. Andre's case, and report in 
 what light he was to be considered, and to what punish-
 
 142 
 
 ment liable. Maj. Andre, before the board of officers, 
 nobly disdaining to shield himself under any evasive sub- 
 terfuge, and solely anxious to place his character in the 
 fairest point of view, voluntarily declared even more than 
 was required ; and palliated nothing in which he himself 
 had been concerned. No witnesses were examined before 
 the board ; and after taking time for consideration, they 
 concluded to report, although it is said not unanimously : 
 " that Maj. John Andre, Adjutant- General of the 
 British army, ought to be considered as a spy from the 
 enemy, and that, agreeably to the law and usage of 
 nations, he ought to suffer death" After this report of 
 the Court of Inquiry was known, the British officers used 
 every possible exertion that ingenuity could invent, to 
 snatch the gallant Andre from his impending fate ; flags 
 of truce were continually passing and repassing between 
 the armies ; letters were written in the most masterly 
 manner, calculated to touch the feelings of Gen. Wash- 
 ington ; conferences were held between the officers of the 
 opposing armies, &c., &c. ; but all, all proved unavail- 
 ing ! Andre, understanding that his fate was fixed, and 
 the mode of his death, addressed a letter to Gen. Wash- 
 ington, in which he says : " Let me hope, sir, that if 
 aught in my character impresses you with esteem towards 
 me ; if aught in my misfortunes marks me as the victim 
 of policy, and not of resentment, I shall experience the 
 operations of these feelings in your breast, by being in- 
 formed I am not to die on a gibbet " As the mode of his 
 execution was determined on, the feelings of Maj. Andre 
 were spared, by not answering this letter. On the morn- 
 ing of the 2d of October, the unfortunate Andre was led 
 forth to the place of execution. As he passed along, the 
 American army were astonished at the dignity of his 
 deportment ; anS the manly complacency of countenance 
 which bespoke the serene composure of his mind. The
 
 143 
 
 scene was overwhelming ; every heart throbbed with an- 
 guish, while tears of sensibility flowed from every eye. 
 He bowed to those he had known during his confinement ; 
 and coming in view of the fatal spot, and seeing the 
 preparations for his execution, he stopped, as if absorbed 
 in thought ; then quickly turning to the officer next him, 
 exclaimed ' ' What ! must I die in this manner ? " Being 
 told it was so ordered, he instantly said, "I am reconciled, 
 and submit to my fate, but deplore the mode it will be 
 but a momentary pang ; " and proceeding with calmness, 
 mounted the scaffold, adjusted the fatal cord himself, 
 and requested the surrounding spectators to bear witness 
 to the world, THAT HE DIED LIKE A BRAVE MAN. His 
 body was interred in an open field, near the place of his 
 execution ; a consecrated spot, where friends and foes 
 mingle their sorrows, and together deplore the untimely 
 exit of a man possessed of such rare accomplishments, 
 fascinating manners, and nobleness of mind. His name 
 is immortal, not only as being connected with the great 
 events of the revolution, but as it exhibited to the world 
 a character truly amiable and heroic, and universally ad- 
 mired by adversaries and friends. 
 
 IN MEMORIAM. 
 
 On the second day of October, 1879, Cyrus W. Field 
 erected a shaft at Tappan, N. Y. , to mark the spot where 
 Maj. Andre suffered the extreme penalty of the law, Oct. 
 2d, 1780. It stands in the old orchard on Andre Hill, in 
 Rockland County, near the village of Tappan. The 
 workmen had placed the shaft in position, and it was un- 
 covered at noon, the same hour that Andre was hanged. 
 Not more than twenty persons were present, and not a 
 word was spoken by any one. 
 
 The shaft is of Maine granite, and is 3 feet square 
 and 5 feet in height. It stands on two granite stones as
 
 144 
 
 bases, which in turn rest on a heavy stone foundation 
 under ground. There is no ornamentation, the smooth 
 and glistening surface being relieved only by inscriptions 
 in the most modest lettering. On the side toward the 
 West the longest inscription is carved, as follows : 
 
 Here died, Oct. 2, 1780, MAJOR JOHN ANDRE, of the 
 British Army ; who, on entering the American lines on a 
 secret mission to Benedict Arnold for the surrender of 
 West Point, was taken prisoner, tried and condemned as 
 a spy. His death, though according to the stern code of 
 war, moved even his enemies to pity, and both armies 
 mourned the fate of one so young and so brave. In 1821 
 his remains were received at Westminster Abbey. One 
 hundred years after his execution, this stone was placed 
 above the spot where he lay, by a citizen of the States 
 against which he fought, not to perpetuate the record of 
 strife, but in token of those better feelings which have 
 since united two nations one in race, in language and in 
 religion, with the earnest hope that this friendly union 
 will never be broken. 
 
 Beneath was the name, 
 
 "Arthur Penrhyn Stanley, Dean of Westminster." 
 On the South side the inscription reads as follows : 
 " Sunt Lacrymse rerum et mentem mortalia tangunt." 
 
 Virgil, ^Eneid I, 462. 
 
 The only other inscription is upon the North side, and 
 is this : 
 
 ' ' He was more unfortunate than criminal ; 
 An accomplished man, and a gallant officer." 
 
 George Washington. 
 
 An inscription will be placed on the East side next 
 year, the centennial of the execution. 
 
 This Andre shaft stands on a high elevation, about two 
 and a half miles from the Hudson, and not more than 
 thirty yards from the New Jersey line, overlooking a 
 beautiful country. Mr. Field has bought thirteen acres
 
 145 
 
 of land in the immediate vicinity, running to, but not 
 crossing, the New Jersey line. He purposes to convert 
 this property into a park, with two entrances, and car- 
 riage-ways leading to a circular drive around the shaft, 
 which will be surrounded by an iron railing. It is stated 
 that when completed he will present the property to the 
 citizens of Tappan. Four trees, two English arid two 
 American, either oak or elm, will be planted at the cardi- 
 nal points around the monument. 
 
 Some doubts have been raised as to the exact spot 
 where Andre was buried, but Mr. Field entertains no 
 doubt that he has selected the right place. David D. 
 Brower, John H. Cutwater, and John J. Griffith, old 
 residents of Tappan, agree that the spot now marked by 
 the shaft is the exact spot where they saw Andre's remains 
 exhumed in 1821, when the British Government sent the 
 Duke of York to America to convey them to their resting 
 place in Westminster Abbey. 
 
 The members of the party from New York were the 
 guests of Mr. Whittemore, and in his company visited the 
 old mansion used by Washington as his headquarters, in 
 the parlor of which he signed Andre's death warrant, the 
 Maby Tavern or " '76 Stone House," in which Andre was 
 confined during his trial and from which he walked to his 
 execution, the site of the church in which Andre was tried, 
 and the camping ground of the hostile armies. 
 
 19
 
 140 
 
 CAPT. NATHAN HALE. 
 
 It is said that Mr. Field intends to erect a shaft to the 
 memory of Capt. Nathan Hale of the Continental army, 
 on the spot where he was executed as a spy by the British 
 in 1776. That place is said to be on the public grounds 
 near Hamilton Park, in the city of New York. The 
 execution of Capt. Hale was four years previous to that 
 of Maj. Andre, and the circumstances attending it are in 
 strong contrast with each other ; although between the 
 two men there seems to have been a striking resemblance. 
 Both died in the full vigor of early manhood : Hale was 
 aged 21, and Andre 29 years. 
 
 Hale was born in Coventry, Ct., on the 6th of June, 
 1755, and graduated at Yale College with distinction in 
 September, 1773 ; and like Andre had wooed and won a 
 fair lady at the early age of eighteen. And in person 
 there was a strong resemblance, while in mind, manners 
 and acquirements, they were on a par with each other. 
 After Hale left college, he became a school teacher, and 
 was universally beloved and popular, both with parents 
 and pupils. A lady of his acquaintance said: "Every- 
 body loved him, he was so sprightly, intelligent and kind, 
 and so handsome." 
 
 He was teaching school at New London, Ct., when an 
 express arrived bringing tidings of the battles of Lexing- 
 ton and Concord. A town meeting was held, and young 
 Hale was one of the most ardent speakers. He urged an 
 instant march to the scene of hostilities, and offered to 
 enlist himself. He writes to his father: "A sense of
 
 147 
 
 duty urges me to sacrifice everything for my country." 
 He went at once, and served as lieutenant in the army 
 before Boston ; and prevailed on his men to extend their 
 enlistment, by giving them his own pay. For his good 
 conduct, he received from Congress a commission as 
 Captain. 
 
 He was attached to Col. Knowlton's regiment ; and 
 after the disastrous battle of Long Island, Gen. Washing- 
 ton applied to that officer for a competent person to pene- 
 trate the enemy's camp, and learn the condition of the 
 British army. The patriotic Hale promptly volunteered 
 to perform that perilous task, though fully aware of the 
 consequences if captured. 
 
 In the character of a school-master, he crossed the 
 Sound from Norwalk to Huntington, on Long Island ; 
 visited the British encampments unsuspected, made draw- 
 ings of their works, and took notes in Latin. This com- 
 pleted, he turned his steps to Huntington, where a boat 
 from the American shore was to meet him and convey him 
 back to Connecticut. Unfortunately, a British guard ship 
 was anchored round a point out of sight, and had sent a 
 boat ashore for water. It being the time and place of the 
 expected boat, young Hale stepped aboard of the British 
 boat, and found himself a prisoner. He was searched, 
 and his papers were found in the soles of his shoes, which 
 clearly proved him to be a spy. He was taken to the 
 headquarters of General Howe, in New York city, and, 
 after a brief parley with a court martial, was ordered for 
 execution the next morning at daybreak ! He asked for a 
 Bible, but the infamous Cunningham refused the request, 
 and seized and destroyed a letter he had written to his 
 mother; and said, "The rebels shall never know they 
 have a man who Ciin die with such firmness." But his 
 patriotic spirit shone forth in his dying words ' ' I only 
 regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."
 
 148 
 
 Now, here are two men, guilty of the same offence ac- 
 cording to martial law, and both suifered the same pen- 
 alty ; but how unlike the circumstances attending their 
 execution ! Maj. Andre was granted all the privileges 
 compatible with his situation, and died lamented by both 
 armies ; Capt. Hale was executed in hot haste, denied all 
 grantable privileges ; cursed while living, and execrated 
 when dead ! If British officers could take any pleasure 
 in such enormities, no decent man will envy them their 
 feelings. 
 
 In the present state of society, wars, more or less, will 
 exist, and efficient, but merciful, generals or command- 
 ing officers will be needed ; but we may be thankful that 
 some improvement has been made, both in the criminal 
 code and martial law. The ancients crucified criminals, 
 and enslaved, or tortured and put to death prisoners taken 
 in war. Now, criminals are executed without needless 
 pain ; and prisoners taken in war are exchanged, or set at 
 liberty on parole, and permitted to return to their own 
 homes again. To prevent wars, strong but just govern- 
 ments are needed. Well it may be asked, why are there 
 no Indian wars in Canada? Simply this, the strong 
 government there renders it impossible for lawless back- 
 woodsmen to exist. The Indians have rights there which 
 white men are bound to respect. If such power were ex- 
 erted on this side of the line, there would be no more In- 
 dian wars in the United States. 
 
 It may sometimes be needful to spy out an enemy's 
 camp, but a commander does not seem justified in induc- 
 ing any one to enter upon such a perilous undertaking. 
 Better employ balloons, as was done in the last German 
 and French war. But war is a savage operation at best ; 
 and as brute force is not argument, and settles nothing, it 
 is time that wars should cease, by the universal consent of 
 
 all mankind. 
 
 FINIS.
 
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