Departure from New York: journey from New York to Boston: entry at
Boston: visit to the University of Cambridge: visit to Charlestown
and Bunker’s hill.
We left New York on the morning of the twentieth of August, for Boston,
in the state of Massachusetts. At day light several military corps were
drawn up in front of the hotel, for the purpose of escorting the general
out of the city, where a parting salute was fired from a battery of six
pieces of cannon, two of which had been taken from the English at the
siege of York-town, in 1781. A great number of citizens on horseback,
and in carriages, accompanied us as far as New-Rochelle, where we halted
some time, to give the general an opportunity of receiving some of his
old companions in arms, who being unable to come to New York, had
collected together on his passage, in order once more to see him and
take him by the hand.
At Sawpits we met an escort of cavalry, that joined the escort from New
York, which wished to continue its service as far as _Putnam’s_
mountain, where the young women of the surrounding villages had caused a
triumphal arch to be erected. It was ornamented with the greatest
possible taste, and had an inscription upon it which expressed gratitude
to Lafayette, and alluded to the daring escape of General Putnam. At the
foot of the triumphal arch, I was made to observe the extremely
precipitate descent, down which this intrepid man dashed with his horse,
to escape the English who were in hot pursuit, but dared not follow him
by so dreadful and dangerous a road.
Putnam, before he appeared upon the revolutionary stage, on which he
acted a glorious part, had already emerged from the obscurity to which
his rustic life seemed to have condemned him. When very young, he had
acquired a great reputation among his youthful comrades for strength and
intrepidity, by going down into a cave to attack a she-wolf that for
many years had been the terror of the neighbourhood. In the year 1755,
when thirty-seven years old, he relinquished the plough for the sword,
and took the command of a provincial regiment. In the war which broke
out in America between France and England, he became, as a partizan
leader, the astonishment and admiration of his companions in arms. One
man, alone, could then be compared to him, and this one was a Frenchman,
named _Molang_.[5] In a rencontre between these two chiefs, Putnam was
beaten and taken prisoner; he even owed his life to Molang, who rescued
him from the hands of the Indians, who were preparing to burn him; but
his reputation did not suffer by this affair, because he had by
prodigies of valour and skill, vigorously disputed the victory with
Molang.
The news of the battle of Lexington once more caused him to relinquish
his agricultural life, which he had long since resumed. His long
established reputation soon rallied under his orders a great number of
his fellow-citizens, at the head of whom he appeared at the battle of
Bunker’s hill. From that time, till the end of the campaign of 1779,
when a stroke of palsy forced him to quit the army, he lost no
opportunity of proving that he had devoted his life to the cause of
liberty. His probity was proverbial, and the following anecdote may give
an idea of the inflexibility of his character. An individual named
Palmer, a lieutenant in the tory new levies, was discovered in his camp;
the English governor Tryon, demanded him as an officer in the king’s
service, and threatened Putnam with his vengeance if he did not
immediately release him. Putnam answered him by the following note.
“Sir,
“Nathan Palmer, a lieutenant in the king’s service, was
taken in my camp as a spy, tried as a spy, condemned as a spy, and
shall be hanged as a spy.”
“P. S. Afternoon. He is hanged.”
Through the attention of the corporation of New York, three members of
which had been appointed to accompany us until our return, numerous and
excellent relays had been arranged on the whole rout. Notwithstanding
this necessary precaution, our march was very slow, as we could not pass
a hamlet without being detained some moments by collections of people
from more than 20 miles around. Every village had its triumphal arch,
upon which was almost always inscribed the names of Washington and
Lafayette or the dates of the battles of Brandywine and Yorktown. Every
where announced by the sound of cannon, every where received and
complimented by the magistrates of the people, and every where obliged
to alight to receive the testimonials of the love of the entire
population, it was not until after five days and almost five nights that
the general arrived at Boston, which is but two hundred miles from New
York; I say almost five nights, because we constantly travelled until
near midnight, and set out again at five o’clock in the morning.
However, amid these moving and sublime displays of the gratefulness of a
whole people, we did not dream of fatigue; even our night marches had a
charm which caused us to be forgetful of it. The long file of carriages
escorted by horsemen bearing torches; the fires lighted from place to
place upon the tops of the hills, and around which were grouped families
whom the desire of beholding their guest had kept watching; the somewhat
wild sound of the trumpet of our escort, repeated several times by the
woodland echoes, the sight of the sea which occasionally came into view
on our right, and the distant and decreasing peal of the bells which had
announced our passage, all formed around us a picturesque and enchanting
scene, worthy of the pen of Cooper. In this manner we passed through
Fairfield, New Haven and New London in Connecticut; Providence in Rhode
Island, and finally the route from Rhode Island to Boston.
New Haven is the largest town in the state of Connecticut, and is,
alternately with Hartford, the seat of government. Its population
amounts to more than ten thousand souls. It is delightfully situated on
a bay formed by the East river. The shortness of our stay prevented us
from making more than a hasty visit to the College, which enjoys a great
reputation, not only in Connecticut but throughout the union. It was
founded in 1701 under the name of Yale College, in honour of Elihu Yale
Esqr. of London, its principal benefactor, then governor of the East
India company. The favor which the people have constantly extended to
it, has rendered it a very considerable establishment. At present the
number of students is more than four hundred. It has a president, four
professors, six tutors, a treasurer, housekeeper and purveyor. The
college is directed by a corporation composed of a president,
vice-president, six ancient members of the council, and of ten
assistants, all clergymen. Business is arranged by a committee of three
or four members who assemble three or four times a year. The studies
pursued in the college are the following;—1st, Theology, of which the
president is the professor; 2d. mathematics and natural history; 3d.
chemistry and mineralogy; 4th. languages and ecclesiastical history;
5th. jurisprudence.
In order to enter the 1st class, the candidate must be able to translate
the Greek testament, Virgil and Cicero; and to write Latin according to
Clark’s rules; he must also be acquainted with arithmetic. The price of
boarding is about two dollars a week.
The library contains more than 6,000 volumes, and a fund of about two
hundred dollars a year is devoted to it. The greater part of the
classical works, which are of great value, are the gift of Berkely, the
celebrated bishop of Cloyne in Ireland, amounting to about 1,000
volumes, valued at four hundred pounds sterling.
The chemical laboratory is remarkable for the number and choice of its
apparatus. The mineralogical cabinet which at first contained 2,500
specimens, has been greatly enriched by Colonel Gibbs who has bequeathed
24,000 specimens for the use of the students; these are estimated at
20,000 dollars.
Yale college has also a medical institution in which lectures are given
on the following branches, 1st. theory and practice of medicine; 2d.
surgery and obstetrics; 3d. anatomy; 4th. chemistry, pharmacy and
mineralogy.
The president of the college, the professors and trustees conducted us
through all parts of the establishment and gave us all the information
in their power with a degree of complaisance worthy of our gratitude.
We were informed that there is near New Haven an admirable manufactory
of arms, but the short time the general had to dispose of, would not
allow us to visit it.
Public education, is in the state of Connecticut, as in New York, or
even more so, the constant object of the care and attention of the
people and government; it would be difficult to find in this state a
child of twelve years old, unable to read and write. The law of the
state directs that there shall be a grammar school in every town. There
are every where a great number of academies in which the various
branches of human knowledge are skilfully taught, at a slight expense.
The single town of New Haven, besides Yale College, has sixteen public
and eight private schools.
The school fund amounts to 1,500,000 dollars, the interest of which with
12,000 dollars arising from public taxes are annually expended for
instruction; each town receives a share, proportioned to the amount of
its contributions, and the schools are directed and superintended by a
committee appointed by the inhabitants, who will not allow so important
a matter as public instruction, one of the first safe-guards of liberty,
to be monopolized by any religious sect, or university.
The people of Connecticut are rigid observers of religious customs; but
they have long since freed themselves from the persecuting spirit, which
animated the founders of the colony, whose first ecclesiastical
ordinance, on taking possession of the soil in 1637, was to refuse the
privileges of citizenship to all who did not entirely and unreservedly
submit to the formalities of the established religion. Now that
religious liberty is secured by law, the reciprocal tolerance of the
different communions has established a sort of fraternity among them. We
had a very striking proof of it during the Sunday we stayed at New
Haven. On arriving in town, general Lafayette, that he might not in any
respect act contrary to the habits of the excellent people, from whom he
had received so many affecting proofs of regard, expressed a wish to
attend divine service. The congregationalists and episcopalians, who
formed the principal communions of the town, immediately invited him to
their churches; it was difficult to accept the offer of one without
appearing to neglect the other, and the general answered that he would
willingly go to both. We attended first at the congregational church,
and afterwards at the episcopal; we found them all surrounded and filled
by the crowd without distinction of sect; in both the sermon turned upon
morals, without any discussion of dogmas, and terminated by reference
_to him whom God had so often conducted across the dangers of the ocean,
to secure the liberty of America_. These sermons were listened to with
an equal respect by all, and on coming out of church, the two ministers
cordially shook hands, mutually congratulating each other on the
happiness they had enjoyed of receiving among them the nation’s guest.
The inhabitants of Connecticut have the reputation of being litigious,
which keeps, it is said, among them a great number of lawyers who
necessarily live at their expense. But I believe that this reputation
has no better foundation than that which they formerly had of allowing
their youth of both sexes to live in a state of excessive familiarity
before marriage; and that both these inconveniences either no longer
exist, or at least are considerably diminished by the influence which
time necessarily exercises upon a population daily becoming more
enlightened.[6]
The state of Connecticut contains within itself all the elements of
prosperity; its fertile soil offers rich products, both of the vegetable
and mineral kingdoms. Iron, lead, copper, marcasite, antimony, marble,
porcelain clay, and anthracite coal are found in quantities in some of
the counties. To give an idea of the number, variety and activity of the
manufactures, it is sufficient to say that of a population of nearly
280,000 souls, more than 18,000 persons are constantly employed therein.
Industry is indebted to Connecticut, for many useful inventions; among
others for the following; Chittendon’s machine for making card-teeth,
for the carding machines invented in 1784, and since highly perfected;
this machine is set in motion by a mandrel twelve inches long and one
inch in diameter, each revolution of which makes a tooth; it makes
36,000 an hour.—_Miller_ and _Whitney’s_ machine for separating cotton
from the seeds. Before this invention, the cotton was picked by hand,
and an individual could not pick more than a pound in a day; by this new
method more than a thousand pounds a day are cleaned. The right of the
inventors of this machine was purchased for 50,000 dollars by the
government of the state.—_Wm. Humphrey’s_ machine for spinning wool by
water power; twelve spindles of this machine spin as much as forty
common spindles. The right of constructing this machine costs a dollar
for each spindle. The machine of _Culver_ for clearing out basins, and
removing sand-bars from the mouths of the rivers; by means of this
machine the canal of the Thames has been considerably deepened.
Lafayette experienced keen regret on entering the state of Rhode Island,
on account of his inability to delay his journey for an instant. He
would have enjoyed much pleasure in revisiting places, which recalled so
many of his youthful recollections.
In 1778, Lafayette was detached from Washington’s army with two
brigades, to go to the assistance of Sullivan, who was endeavouring to
get possession of Rhode Island, which the English had occupied since
1776. To render the success of his operations more sure, he waited for
the arrival of the count d’Estaing, who commanded the French squadron,
which having troops on board, offered the double advantage of cutting
off the retreat of the British by sea, and of reinforcing Sullivan in
the attacks he meditated upon Newport. But unfortunately a
misunderstanding took place between Count D’Estaing and Sullivan, the
French troops were not landed, and while Lafayette exerted himself to
restore harmony between the two commanders, the arrival of the English
squadron under Lord Howe was made known. Count D’Estaing profiting by a
favourable wind immediately made sail to meet Lord Howe. Two days were
lost by the admirals in manœuvring for the weather gage, and when, at
length they were just about to come to blows, a dreadful tempest
separated them and injured both squadrons so much, that one was obliged
to seek shelter in New York, and the other hastened into Newport
Harbour. Upon the return of the French squadron, Sullivan hoped to
resume his operations, but the count D’Estaing informed him, that after
having consulted with his officers, he was determined to sail for
Boston; that his instructions, moreover, directed him in case his
squadron suffered any damage, or should be menaced by a superior English
force, that he should seek shelter in that port.
The damage that D’Estaing’s squadron suffered by the tempest, and the
news of the appearance of a very numerous English fleet upon the coast,
may justify his retreat to Boston, but his determination threw Sullivan
and his army into despair. Without the aid of the French squadron it was
impossible to count upon success. Her departure put an end to all the
hopes that had been entertained. Generals Greene and Lafayette were
deputed to visit Count D’Estaing and oppose his fatal resolution. They
talked to him with energy of the glorious advantages which the French
and American arms would derive from his co-operation against the English
garrison of Rhode Island, which could not escape, and of the disastrous
effects which would be produced upon the spirits of the American army by
the withdrawing of an ally, whose presence had at first caused so much
joy. They represented to him the dangers of his retreat across Nantucket
shoals, with his ships in bad trim, and the advantages Newport possessed
over Boston either for repairing his squadron or for resisting the
attacks of an enemy, rendered daring by the superiority of his forces.
They concluded by beseeching him not to sacrifice to little private
quarrels, the glory and interests of two nations united in support of so
admirable a cause. Notwithstanding the importance of all these
considerations, the Count D’Estaing persisted in his resolution, and
sailed immediately. Being thus abandoned by the squadron, Sullivan
summoned the general officers of his army to a council, to advise upon
the course to be pursued; whether to attempt to carry the place by
storm, or to evacuate the island, carrying off all the magazines. The
discouragement of the army caused by the departure of the squadron
rendered the first proposal very difficult of execution; and the second
was exasperating to men who had been so near to success. Sullivan
decided on a middle course, and the council separated with a
determination to raise the siege and retire to the northern extremity of
the island, where behind their entrenchments they would wait the
progress of events; this resolution was carried into execution the
following night by Sullivan, with as much good fortune as skill.
Sullivan once more turned his hopes upon the French squadron, and wished
to make another effort with the Count D’Estaing. Full of confidence in
the great influence which Lafayette exercised over all with whom he was
engaged, he charged him with this delicate mission; Lafayette accepted
it, but not without shewing with what reluctance he left his warlike
companions, at the moment when there could be little doubt but that they
would soon be attacked by the enemy. In fact, during his absence the
English several times attempted, though unsuccessfully to carry the
American post. These different engagements had served to raise the
confidence of Sullivan’s forces. Lafayette was successful in obtaining a
promise that the squadron would return as soon as all its damages were
repaired. Every thing seemed to promise Sullivan the reward due to his
perseverance, when the news of a reinforcement for the enemy of 4,000
men under General Clinton himself, placed him under the sad necessity of
evacuating the island as speedily as possible, or of being himself
blockaded. He prepared to retire with a peculiar degree of skill. The
movement was about to commence, when to the great astonishment of
Sullivan, Lafayette arrived to take command of the rear-guard. He had
travelled the distance from Boston to Rhode Island, about thirty
leagues, in seven hours, a circumstance almost incredible. Sullivan was
highly gratified by this zeal, and gave him the command of the
rear-guard; every thing was executed with so much correctness, that at
two o’clock in the morning the movement was entirely terminated, and the
American troops placed in safety upon the continent from Providence to
Tiverton.
The thanks of Congress were presented to Sullivan for this retreat, and
they also commended Lafayette _as much for the sacrifice of his personal
satisfaction, in consenting to quit the army on the eve of a battle, for
the sake of the interests of the United States, as for the vigorous
conduct he had exhibited in commanding the rear-guard_.
From the joy which was on all sides expressed on our arrival at
Providence, it was easy to perceive that the people of this country had
not lost the recollection of Lafayette’s conduct in the trying times of
the revolution: neither were the expressions of gratitude of Congress
forgotten, as I heard them repeated by many persons, and beheld them
inscribed upon all their triumphal arches. Notwithstanding the
solicitations of the people and magistrates, the general could not delay
longer than was necessary to take some refreshment; we then hastened
towards the frontier of Massachusetts, where two aids of the governor of
that state waited for Lafayette, with other carriages and a fresh
escort. We met them at sunset. Colonel Harris, the governor’s first aid,
regulated our march with so much activity, that we reached Dedham at
eleven o’clock, and at two o’clock in the morning, we arrived by
torchlight in Roxbury, a delightful village two miles from Boston, where
the residence of Governor Eustis was situated, who waited for the
general with eager impatience. In spite of the lateness of the hour, all
the inhabitants of the house were on the alert, having the windows,
avenues and the garden illuminated. The governor received the general in
a frank, plain, and friendly manner, such as became an old republican
soldier, delighted to receive an ancient comrade whose toils he had
shared.
Two hours sleep made us forget the fatigues of the day, and rendered us
fit for entering Boston in the morning. At day-break we were awakened by
the sound of martial music; it was from the light infantry which was
already manœuvring in front of our windows. The sight of the uniform of
this company deeply affected the general, he could not keep his eyes off
it, and exclaimed every moment, “my brave light infantry! such was their
uniform! What courage! what resignation! How much I loved them!” At this
instant the governor’s aid introduced a man, still young, but of a
melancholy aspect; he carried a sword in his hand, which he presented to
the general: “Do you know this sword?” said he. “I find at least,” said
the general, “that it strongly resembles those which I brought from
France to arm the sub-officers of my light infantry with.” “It is one of
them;——my father received it from your hands: it has served gloriously
in gaining our independence. He religiously preserved it in memory of
his general, and would have been happy to have presented it to you
himself; the day before yesterday he still hoped to do so, and this hope
softened his last moments,—on that day he died. He has not bequeathed me
wealth, but has left me this sword, which will be the most precious of
legacies if you sanction his gift.” While he was speaking, the general
had taken the sword and examined it with interest; he returned it to him
immediately, saying, “Take it, guard it carefully in order that it may
in your hands be used to preserve the rights it has so gloriously
contributed to acquire in the hands of your father.” The American
received the sword with joy, and left the room, pronouncing with
tenderness the names of Lafayette and of his father.
Soon after, the procession which was to accompany the general arrived;
the cannon gave the signal for marching. The concourse of people coming
out of the city was so great, and so much obstructed the road, that we
were two hours in riding the distance of only two miles. All the road
was lined with troops on foot, and on horseback. The carters of Boston,
dressed in perfectly white frocks, formed a numerous corps of well
mounted cavalry. Sixty small boys, from twelve to fourteen years old,
organized as an artillery company, and having two pieces of cannon
proportioned to their strength, ran in front of the procession. From
time to time they halted and fired a salute from their battery, and then
pushed forward with rapidity, to take another position, and fire another
salute. At noon we reached the suburbs of Boston. At the entrance of the
city, under a triumphal arch we were met by the corporation; the mayor
alone in an open carriage, stopped by the side of the open carriage of
the general. Both rose to salute each other, when the mayor addressed
him on behalf of the city. The calm and modest appearance of the general
during the discourse, the fine countenance of Mr. Quincy, which became
more animated as he proceeded in his address, the triumphal arch which
shaded the orator and hero, together with the attitude and solemn
silence of so many thousand citizens, offered at this moment to my
astonished vision, the _beau idéal_ of a popular festival, a republican
triumph. After the general had replied, we traversed the city to visit
the state house; during this passage, the evidences of the love of the
inhabitants lavished on the general, were so affecting, that it was
impossible to avoid shedding tears. In front of the state house, upon an
immense terrace, whence the sea might be discovered at a distance
covered with small vessels, was a long double row of girls and boys,
from the public schools, all decorated with _Lafayette badges_; raising
their little hands towards heaven, and uttering cries of joy. One of the
youngest girls advanced towards the general; she was lifted up to his
carriage, placed a wreath of evergreens on his head, embraced him
tenderly, and called him Father. We then entered the senate chamber,
where all the public functionaries were collected, the society of
Cincinnati, the scientific bodies, and as many citizens beside as the
hall could contain. At the moment the general appeared before Governor
Eustis, who received him at the door, the national standard was
displayed from the dome of the state house, and all the troops fired a
volley. After the address of welcome was pronounced in the name of the
government, and in the presence of the citizens of the state of
Massachusetts, the scene of the New York City Hall was repeated; that
is, the general was detained for more than two hours, by the expressions
of regard from all who could approach him. From the state house we were
conducted to Park street, to an hotel prepared for us. The mayor
introduced us to our apartments, which were richly furnished, saying,
“here you are at home; I hope you will find every thing that is
necessary; if you find no superfluities recollect that you have been
received by republicans.” These words of Mr. Quincy were doubtless very
amiable, but I confess they made us think a good deal upon what the
Boston republicans considered _necessary_, especially when we found that
fine horses and carriages had been provided for our use, during all the
time that we should stay.
In the evening we dined at the Exchange Coffee-house with the governor
and staff, the corporation, and all the other public authorities. The
hall was decorated with devices which referred both to the actions of
Lafayette, and the gratitude felt by the Americans for the assistance of
France, when Fortune, still wavering, held her scales equally balanced
between liberty and oppression. The French and American flags waved
united over the head of the president of the banquet, and Chief Justice
Parker gave a toast to the memory of Louis XVI. adding, that none of the
friends of liberty should be forgotten, although they might have worn a
crown.
On the 25th, at noon, we attended the commencement at Cambridge
University, which was conducted with a pomp, the splendor of which was
considerably increased by the presence of a very great number of ladies,
attracted by the desire of seeing Lafayette, who it was known would be
present.
Cambridge is one of the richest and most beautiful villages in New
England: it is situated at three miles distance from Boston, and
contains more than 3,000 inhabitants. Its university, called Harvard, in
honour of its founder, has produced a great number of distinguished men,
both in science and literature. The citizens of Massachusetts are proud
of its success, and support it with a liberality which proves how much
knowledge and education are esteemed in this state. Besides the chairs
of divinity, anatomy, surgery, medical science, chemistry, theoretic and
experimental physics, mathematics, natural philosophy, logic,
metaphysics, Latin, Greek and the Oriental languages, which have been
long established, six new chairs and three faculties have been founded
for about twelve years, as follows.[7]
1st. A chair of natural history founded by private subscription for the
establishment of a botanical garden and the support of a professor.
2d. A chair of Rhetoric and Eloquence, established by a donation of Ward
Nicholas Boylston, Esq.
3d. A chair of Greek Literature founded in 1814, by an unknown
benefactor of Boston.
4th. A chair of the Spanish and French languages, founded by a rich
merchant of Boston, who bequeathed for this purpose a sum of 30,000
dollars.
5th. A chair founded in 1816, by Count Rumford, for the application of
physical and mathematical sciences to the useful arts.
6th. A chair of natural theology, and moral philosophy, founded in 1817.
The three faculties which complete the course of instruction are,
1st. A school of medicine, 2d. a theological seminary in which the
education and all the wants of the students are paid for by
subscription. This subscription is completely filled by persons who are
devoted to the public good. 3d. a law school for those who are destined
to the bar.
The library contains about 20,000 valuable works, and is augmented
annually by private donations.
In short, this university by its revenues, its library and cabinets, the
merit of its professors, and the means it furnishes for the acquisition
of all the branches of education, has not its equal, not only in the
rest of the union, but perhaps even in Europe.
General Lafayette was received at the door of the chapel, in which the
exercises were to take place, by the President of the university, Mr.
Kirkland, who addressed him with an eloquence springing from the
profound emotions of his heart. When the general entered the hall, the
acclamations and transports of the crowd, and especially of the ladies
were so great, that the business of the meeting was for a long time
delayed. It certainly was an enchanting spectacle to behold the vast
galleries filled with young ladies wreathed with flowers, waving their
handkerchiefs in salutation of him, whom they called their father,
friend, defender, and companion of the Great Washington. In vain the
president frequently called for silence, without which it was impossible
to be understood; every voice was drowned with the cries and plaudits
for Lafayette. At length after half an hour had elapsed, quiet was
established, and the exercises began, but were often interrupted by the
eagerness, with which the audience seized upon all the allusions to
Lafayette, that occurred in the discourses.
We returned next day to the university, to be present in the same hall,
with the same audience, animated with equal enthusiasm, at a meeting of
the Hellenic Society.[8] Professor Everett, whose early talents and
eloquence promise a distinguished senatorial orator, delivered the
opening discourse. If mine were a more practised pen, I should attempt
to repeat here this discourse, which notwithstanding its length, was
throughout listened to with vivid interest, and was often suspended by
well merited applause.
The orator proposed to investigate the _particular causes which
contribute most to the developement of intelligence in the United
States_, and without difficulty proved that they were to be _found_ in
the democratic character of our institutions. After a long, but vigorous
demonstration of the superiority of a republican government as it is
understood and practised in the United States, over the monarchic
system, which after having divided a part of the nation into nobles,
privileged priests, and soldiers always armed as an inquisitorial
police, makes of the rest a class of political outcasts. The orator
concluded by paying to Lafayette his tribute of gratitude.
Early on the morning of the 27th, carriages, an escort of cavalry, the
civil and military authorities, and a great number of citizens came to
convey the general to the navy yard at Charlestown, which is only
separated from Boston by an arm of the sea, over which we passed on a
fine bridge a mile in length. We were received at the navy yard by
Commodore Bainbridge, whose name is associated with more than one
glorious engagement with the English navy. After inspecting the works we
ascended Bunker’s hill.
Bunker’s hill is one of those glorious monuments, unfortunately too rare
on the face of the earth, which will remind the latest posterity of the
noble struggles of liberty against tyranny and oppression. It was at
Bunker’s hill that the Americans first dared in a regular fight to brave
the arms of their tyrants. It was there, that men almost without arms,
undisciplined, and far inferior in numbers to their enemy, but
encouraged by the presence of their wives, children and fellow citizens,
who from the heights of Boston made them feel the magic of the words
_Independence_, _Posterity_, sustained with a courage worthy of the
heroic ages, three successive attacks from numerous battalions, which
their experience and skill in the art of war, appeared to lead to an
easy victory. Forced at length to retire before superior numbers, the
Americans withdrew, but in good order, leaving bloody proofs of their
courage and vigorous resistance. It was but a moment before this
retreat, which revealed to the friends of liberty their powers and
hopes, of this retreat which was equal to a victory, that the young and
interesting Gen. Warren fell. Though incessantly engaged in daring
death, he passed through the battle unharmed. But on returning to the
entrenchments which he had left to pursue the English, who had thrice
fallen back in confusion, he received a fatal wound in the loins. He now
rests under a simple pyramid erected precisely on the spot where his
blood stained the soil. It was at the base of this modest monument that
General Lafayette was received by some veteran soldiers, a glorious
remnant of this first combat of the war of Independence. In their
presence Dr. A. R. Thompson addressed the general on behalf of the
citizens of Charlestown. Lafayette was much moved by his address, and
his emotion was communicated to all the byestanders. His answer was
received by the acclamations of the multitude and the roar of artillery.
Immediately after some battalions of young troops led by Governor Eustis
and Generals Brooks and Dearborn filed off before the general to the
sound of cannon and martial music which performed that sublime air, dear
to French patriots, which reminds them that they too have had their
_Warrens_ whose generous blood has watered the tree of liberty, in whose
shade they would at present gloriously repose, had it not been shaken by
anarchy and struck to the heart by the sacrilegious steel of an
audacious soldier.
A simple repast served under a tent terminated this ceremony, after
which we returned to the city to visit the military arsenal; the ancient
city hotel whence the people set out in crowds for the port to destroy
two cargoes of tea sent by the British East India Company, and the Hall
where the declaration of Independence was signed in Massachusetts.
During the course of these visits I collected the details relative to
the history and present situation of this state which will be found in
the following chapter.