the pleasure to welcome you within its limits. Many, who then hailed
your arrival with pride and exultation, have descended to the grave,
and cannot greet you on your long desired, return. But, thanks to a good
providence, many are yet alive, who recollect with grateful sensibility,
the universal joy of that occasion. Your disinterested zeal in embarking
is a cause, deemed almost hopeless--your personal sacrifices in quitting
a home, endeared by all the blessings with which affection and virtue
can adorn life--your toils and perils in the conflicts of war, and
the vicissitudes of a discouraging service--your modest dignity and
enthusiasm on receiving the homage of a free people--these were all
fresh in their memories, and gave an interest to the scene, which cannot
be described, but which time has hallowed with his most touching grace.
I stand now in the presence of some, venerable in age and character, who
were the delighted witnesses of that interview, and whose hearts again
glow with the feelings of that happy day.
"To us of a younger generation--the descendants of your early friends
and companions in arms, a different but not less interesting privilege
belongs. We are allowed the enviable distinction of meeting in his riper
years, one, whom our fathers loved in their youth. We welcome you to our
country, to our homes, to our hearts. We have read the history of your
achievements, your honors, and your sufferings! They are associated
with all that is dear to us--with the battle-grounds, consecrated by
the blood of our heroes--with the tender recollections of our departed
statesmen--with the affectionate reverence of our surviving patriots.
Can we forget that our country was poor and struggling alone in the
doubtful contest for Independence, and you crossed the Atlantic at the
hazard of fortune, fame and life, to cheer us in our defence? That you
recrossed it to solicit naval and military succors from the throne
of France, and returned with triumphant success? That your gallantry
checked in the southern campaigns, the inroads of a brave and confident
enemy? That your military labours closed only with the surrender at
Yorktown, and thus indissolubly united your name with the proud events
of that glorious day? We cannot forget these things if we would--We
would not forget them if we could. They will perish only when America
ceases to be a nation.
"But we have yet higher sources of gratification on the present
occasion. You have been not merely the friend of America, but of France,
and of liberty throughout the world. During a long life in the most
trying scenes, you have done no act for which virtue need blush or
humanity weep. Your private character has not cast a shade on your
public honors. In the palaces of Paris and the dungeons of Olmutz, in
the splendor of power, and the gloom of banishment, you have been the
friend of justice, and the asserter of the rights of man. Under every
misfortune, you have never deserted your principles. What earthly prince
can afford consolation like this? The favor of princes, and the applause
of senates, sink into absolute nothingness, in comparison with the
approving conscience of a life devoted to the good of mankind. At this
very moment you are realizing the brightest visions of your youth, in
the spectacle of ten millions of people prosperous and happy under
a free government, whose moral strength consists in the courage and
intelligence of its citizens.--These millions welcome your arrival to
the shores of the west with spontaneous unanimity; and the voice which
now addresses you, feeble as it is, repeats but the thoughts that are
ready to burst from the lips of every American."
The General's reply was in his usual manner.--It was brief,
affectionate, and full of feeling.
An impressive circumstance occurred in the delivery of the
address.--When the Judge came to that part which says, "_We could not
forget them if we would; we would not forget them, if we could_;" the
spontaneous assent of the assembled people to the sentiment, was given
by "_No, never_;" repeated by thousands of voices, and accompanied by
deafening shouts of applause.
A great number of introductions to the General took place. Of them, were
several revolutionary officers and soldiers.
At Beverly and Ipswich he received from the assembled inhabitants, the
same cordial welcome with which he had been greeted in other towns,
through which he passed. The selectmen of these places waited on him,
and offered him the congratulations of their fellow citizens; the people
greeted him with repeated cheers of "_welcome, welcome Lafayette_;" and
arches were erected at several public places, containing appropriate
mottoes. The houses of the villages through which he passed, after the
evening set in, were brilliantly illuminated.
It was evening when he arrived at Ipswich, and the weather was very
inclement. The inhabitants had, therefore, assembled in the meeting
house to receive him. Thither he was conducted by a committee of the
town; and on his entrance, he was greeted with great exultation and joy.
One of the committee addressed him as follows:--
"GENERAL LAFAYETTE,
"Accept from the people of Ipswich, their cordial congratulations on
your arrival in their country and within their own borders. To this
ancient town, sir, we bid you a joyful welcome.
"Having devoted to our beloved country, in her weak and critical
situation, the vigor of your youth and the resources of a mind intent
on the cause of freedom and humanity, and committed to a common lot with
her, your own destinies,--that country can never forget the services
you rendered, and the sacrifices you incurred, for her defence and
protection, when assailed by overbearing power.
"We rejoice in having an opportunity of presenting ourselves in this
house, consecrated to the worship of the God of our fathers, who has
kindly raised up friends and patrons of the cause of our country and of
liberty, to pay to you our grateful respect for your eminent labours.
"Most of those who acted in, or witnessed the great scenes in which you
bore so conspicuous a part, have now descended to the tombs of their
fathers. The present generation can rehearse only what they have heard
with their ears, and their fathers have told them. But the name of
Lafayette is not confined to any generation. While the liberties of
America shall endure, it will descend from father to son, associated
with those of the immortal Washington, and other heroes and sages of our
revolution, as the friend of our country, of liberty, and of man.
"Illustrious benefactor--may the blessing of Heaven ever attend you, and
may your remaining days be as happy, as your past have been perilous,
useful and honorable."
To which the General made the following reply:--
"SIR,
"The attentions paid me by my American friends, I receive with
inexpressible gratitude. I regret that so many of my friends here,
should be exposed on my account to this storm. I have ever considered it
my pride and my honor, that I embarked in the cause of Independence in
this country; and I rejoiced when I found myself again landed on the
American shores. You, kind sir, the people of this town, and all who are
assembled in this solemn place, will please to accept my thanks for
this expression of your attachment, and receive my best wishes for your
individual prosperity and happiness."
He reached Newburyport a little past ten o'clock, where he passed the
night. His lodgings were the same which Washington occupied, when he
made his tour through the northern states, in 1789, the first year of
his presidency. The following address was made to him, by the chairman
of a committee of that town:--
"GENERAL LAFAYETTE,
"The citizens of Newburyport are happy in this opportunity of greeting,
with the warmest welcome, a distinguished benefactor of their country.
"The important services, which you rendered this people in the day of
their distress; the devotedness which you manifested in their perilous
cause, and the dangers which you _sought_ for their relief, are
incorporated in our history, and firmly engraved upon our hearts.
"We would lead you to our institutions of learning, charity and
religion; we would point you to our hills and valleys covered with
flocks, and smiling in abundance, that you may behold the happy effects
of those principles of liberty, which you was so instrumental in
establishing.
"Our children cluster about you to receive a patriot's blessing. Our
citizens press forward to show their gratitude. Our nation pays you a
tribute, which must remove the reproach that republics are ungrateful.
"As the zealous advocate for civil liberty, we bid you welcome; as
the brave defender of an oppressed people, we make you welcome; as the
friend and associate of our immortal Washington, we bid you welcome."
General Lafayette replied in his usually courteous and animated manner,
and evincing his great sensibility to the kind and friendly greetings
with which he had been received. He here also met several veterans of
the revolutionary army; a gratification which he enjoyed in almost every
place he visited. Though the number is rapidly lessening, a few remain
in most of the populous towns of the Commonwealth.
He left Newburyport Wednesday morning for the capital of New-Hampshire.
The escort contemplated to have attended on his way to the bounds of
the state, was prevented by the heavy rain. It was at his urgent
request that it was dispensed with. The committee of the town however,
accompanied him to Hampton; where he was met by a deputation from
Portsmouth, and conducted on his intended route. When passing through
Greenland, a procession of the citizens was formed, by which he was
attended through the villages. Here he was welcomed also by salutes from
an artillery company, by civic arches and repeated acclamations of the
assembled people. One of the arches was supported by two young ladies,
representing LIBERTY and PEACE. One presented him a wreath, adorned with
flowers, and said, "_Venerable sire, condescend to receive this emblem
of the hero's glory, as the token of a nation's gratitude and love_."
The other presented him the olive branch, saying, "_Good and faithful
servant, peace and happiness await you_." He received these with
complacency, took each young lady by the hand, and made an affectionate
reply.
He then proceeded to Portsmouth, where he arrived about noon. He was
conducted into this town by an escort on horseback, and a procession
of carriages, (the whole extending two miles) composed of the civil,
judicial and legislative authorities; officers of the United States
and of New-Hampshire, &c. &c. The margins of the avenue leading to the
centre of the town, was lined with children, with the inhabitants of
both sexes in the rear; who greeted him with their cordial welcomes and
repeated acclamations. Salutes were fired, and the bells rang a joyous
peal; and the streets through which the procession passed, were crowned
with arches, decorated with wreaths of evergreen and garlands of
flowers. The procession moved through several streets to Franklin Hall:
and here, when General Lafayette alighted, the chairman of the selectmen
addressed him thus:--
"SIR,
"The selectmen of Portsmouth, in behalf of their fellow citizens, most
respectfully and heartily bid you welcome.
"Enjoying, as we do, the happiness of a free government, we cannot but
feel grateful to all, by whose exertions it was obtained. Those intrepid
men among ourselves, who in the hour of danger stood forth in defence
of their country's rights, have a lasting claim upon our regard. But
in contending for the liberty of their country, they were striving to
secure their own happiness, and the prosperity of their children. _They_
found a motive for exertion in their own interest; which, while it
derogates nothing from the value of their services, places in a strong
light, the pure zeal and contempt of private advantage, which led _you_
to our aid, from the shores of a foreign land. _Their_ love of liberty
was necessarily the sentiment of patriotism; _yours_ was an ardent
desire for the general welfare of mankind.
"After an absence of forty years from our country, most of which have
been passed in scenes of unexampled excitement and perplexity, it gives
us peculiar pleasure to find you still the firm and consistent friend of
liberal principles. We have watched the progress of your eventful
life, with unaffected sympathy; and whether at the head of the National
Guards, in the dungeons of Magdeburg and Olmutz, or in the Chamber of
Deputies, we have found nothing to lessen our esteem for _the early
friend of America_.
"Permit us then to receive you as our guest; and to pay you such honors
as are in our power to bestow. They are the voluntary tribute of warm
and grateful hearts. We wish our children to learn, that eminent virtue
affords the highest claim to honorable distinction; and that among a
free people, merit will not fail of its appropriate reward.
"We beg you to accept our sincere wishes for your health and happiness,
and our prayers will be offered, that your example may animate the wise
and good in every nation, to contend manfully and perseveringly for the
freedom and happiness of the world."
To which the General made the following reply:--
"GENTLEMEN,
"It would have been to me an inexpressible gratification on this first
visit to the eastern parts of the Union, after so long an absence, to
have been able to present the several towns of New-Hampshire with my
personal respect, and to have witnessed the great improvement of
a State, to which I am bound by early sentiments of attachment and
gratitude.
"Obliged as I find myself, to take a southern course towards the seat
of government, at Washington, I am happy to revisit at least the town
of Portsmouth, where the remembrance of past favors, mingles with
most grateful feelings for your present affectionate and flattering
reception.
"I thank you, gentlemen, for your constant concern in my behalf, during
the vicissitudes to which you are pleased to allude. The approbation of
a free, virtuous and enlightened people, would be the highest reward
for any one who knows how to value true glory; still more so, when it is
bestowed on an adopted son.
"To the citizens of Portsmouth and their worthy selectmen, I offer my
most respectful and affectionate acknowledgments."
Gov. Morril gave him the hearty welcome of the State, in the following
address:--
"GENERAL,
"Forty years have rolled away since you left this asylum of liberty,
for your native country. During this eventful period our cities have
advanced, and villages have been reared; but our Langdon, our Cilley,
our Poor, our Sullivan, and our Washington have passed from the stage of
human action, and are gone to the land of their fathers. Although they
are gone, their sons survive, and the patriotism and love of liberty
which animated their breasts and excited them to those glorious acts,
during our revolution, in which you, sir, shone so conspicuously, are
now cherished in the bosoms of their posterity;--and we rejoice to
be numbered among them;--and in the name of the patriotic citizens of
New-Hampshire generally, allow me to say, that it is with no ordinary
emotions we receive and welcome you to our State.
"We receive you, sir, as the friend of our nation, of liberty, and the
rights of man.
"We welcome you as the magnanimous hero, who in early life, from the
most pure and disinterested motives, quitted your native country,
and repaired to these Colonies, then the seat of war, (contending for
Independence) to embark in the struggle for the preservation of those
rights, and the achievement of those privileges, which are more precious
to the patriot than life itself. And, sir, it is our ardent desire, that
the gratitude of Republics, but more especially of the Republic of the
United States, and the smiles of Heaven, may rest upon you to the last
period of your life."
The General, in his characteristic reply, alluded very affectionately
to his departed associates; and the interesting changes which have taken
place since he left the country. It is not necessary to add, that he
expressed with emotion his acknowledgments for the cordiality of his
welcome.
There was a very splendid ball in the evening, in honor of Lafayette,
which he attended, and where a great number of ladies were presented
to him. He left Portsmouth, 11 o'clock at night, to return to Boston,
having engaged to be there on Thursday morning. While at Portsmouth he
received pressing invitations to visit Exeter and Dover, but was obliged
to decline them. He reached Boston about 7 o'clock, Thursday morning;
and after taking some necessary repose, he received a number of
revolutionary officers and soldiers; and deputations from several towns
in the interior, lying on his rout to Connecticut. He then repaired to
the Council Chamber, and took leave of the Governor and other members of
the Supreme Executive: and afterwards set off for Lexington and Concord,
and thence to Boston on his way to Worcester. He left Boston at about
two o'clock, in a carriage provided by the State for his accommodation,
and attended by the committee of arrangements of the city, and by the
Governor's aids, who waited on him to the bounds of Connecticut. When
he left the City, he expressed the gratification and delight he had
experienced from the interesting recollections which had occurred to his
mind, and from the great cordiality and affection with which he had been
received. The Mayor assured him, that he and others were happy in the
opportunity they had to manifest their attachment and respect to the
early and faithful friend of the nation, and the firm and uniform friend
of civil liberty.
When he passed through West Cambridge, the whole population of the
town were assembled to honor the friend and guest of the nation, and
to gratify their patriotic feelings by beholding this justly celebrated
personage. Artillery corps stationed on the eminences adjoining the
public road saluted him as he passed; and the country rung with loud
huzzas and joyful acclamations. At the line of Lexington, he was
received by a troop of horse and cavalcade of citizens, who conducted
him into that ancient town. On his way, he passed under an arch, bearing
this inscription--"_Welcome, friend of America, to the birth place of
American liberty_." Salutes were again fired, and he was then conducted
to the monument erected in memory of the attack of the British troops
upon the militia of that place, April 19, 1775. He was here welcomed
and addressed by one of the citizens in behalf of the town. Near the
monument, he was introduced to _fourteen_ of the militia company, which
had assembled at that time, and on whom the regular troops fired, when
eight of the number were slain.
After this very interesting scene, General Lafayette proceeded to
Concord, and was met at the line between that place and Lexington, by
a committee of the town and a respectable cavalcade of the intelligent
yeomanry of the vicinity; there was also an escort composed of several
companies of militia. The procession, thus formed, moved forward to the
village, and the distinguished visitor was conducted to a spacious bower
prepared for his reception, and tastefully decorated with evergreens and
flowers by the ladies of Concord. As he entered the village, he received
a salute from the artillery corps, and the vocal salutations of the
inhabitants of both sexes, who had assembled to present him their
grateful offerings. The peals of the village bell prolonged the
acclamations of the admiring throng. The following inscription was to
be seen in a conspicuous place in the arbor--"_In 1775, the people
of Concord met the enemies of liberty; In 1824, they welcome the bold
asserter of the rights of man, LAFAYETTE_." A sumptuous repast was
provided for the occasion; and the tables were covered with all the
delicacies the season and country could afford.
When General Lafayette had entered the arbor, one of the citizens
addressed him by the following speech:--
"The inhabitants of Concord, by this delegation, welcome you, General,
to their village. We thank you for affording us an opportunity here to
offer our humble tribute of gratitude for services long since rendered,
but still held in lively recollection. You, sir, now behold the _spot
on which the first forcible resistance_ was made to a system of measures
calculated to deprive the whole people of these States of the privileges
of freemen. You approved this resistance. A just estimate of the
value of rational liberty led you disinterestedly, to participate with
strangers in the toils, the privations, and the dangers of an arduous
contest. From the 19th day of April, 1775, here noted in blood, to the
memorable day in Yorktown, your heart and your sword were with us. Ten
millions of grateful people now enjoy the fruits of this struggle.
We can but repeat to you, sir, the cordial, affectionate, respectful
welcome offered to you at your first arrival on our shores, and which we
are assured will be reiterated wherever you move on American ground."
The General was, as usual, extremely happy in his reply, and alluded
with sensibility to the memorable scenes of April 19, 1775.
The ladies of Concord and vicinity were present at this civic and
patriotic repast; and it added much to the interest and splendour of the
scene. Coffee was served up, as a counter-part of the entertainment; and
Lafayette appeared to be highly pleased with the hearty reception which
he met in this hospitable town. Some revolutionary characters called
upon him here, who had not before seen him since he arrived; and were
received with great cordiality. He spoke of the gun which had been shown
him in Boston, by an inhabitant of Concord or vicinity, and which was
first fired against the ministerial troops of Britain. He said, "it was
the alarm gun to all Europe and to the world. For it was the signal,
which summoned the civilized world to assert their rights, and to become
free."
The visit at Concord was necessarily short as he had engaged to pass the
night at Bolton, about twenty miles distant. He left Concord at sun-set;
and was escorted on his route to Bolton, by a company of cavalry and
several gentlemen of distinction belonging to that place and vicinity.
He was every where greeted by the people, who collected in companies
at various places, to offer him their hearty welcome. The houses on the
road were illuminated, and bonfires were kindled on the adjoining hills.
The militia of Bolton were assembled to receive him, though it was
late in the evening when he arrived. The selectmen offered him their
salutations and welcome in the name of the town. He passed the night at
the hospitable mansion of Mr. W----, where taste, variety and elegance
contributed to render his reception very distinguished. Mr. W---- had
resided much in France, and was particularly acquainted with Lafayette
and family. Committees from Lancaster and Worcester waited on him at
Bolton, to learn his plans and the probable hours of his being in those
places, and to communicate the desires of the people to present him
their tribute of affection and regard. He visited Lancaster early on
Friday morning, where all classes of the inhabitants were assembled to
bid him welcome, and to express the affectionate sentiments by which
their glowing bosoms were animated. A corps of cavalry still escorted
him--a national salute was fired--and the turnpike gate, at the entrance
of the village, was ornamented with garlands of flowers and evergreens,
and displayed this inscription, "_The_ FREE _welcome the_ BRAVE." He
was conducted through lines formed by the citizens of both sexes, to an
elevated platform, prepared in the centre of the village, and near the
church; where he was addressed by the Reverend Pastor--
"General LAFAYETTE,