LAFAYETTE IN AMERICA
IN 1824 AND 1825;
OR,
JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE
TO THE
UNITED STATES:
BY A. LEVASSEUR,
SECRETARY TO GENERAL LAFAYETTE DURING HIS JOURNEY.
VOL. II.
PHILADELPHIA:
CAREY AND LEA.
1829.
Eastern District of Pennsylvania, to wit:
Be it remembered, That on the sixth day of November, in the
fifty-fourth year of the independence of the United States of
America, A. D. 1829, Carey and Lea, of the said district, have
deposited in this Office the title of a Book, the right whereof they
claim as proprietors in the words following, to wit:
“Lafayette in America in 1824 and 1825; or Journal of a Voyage to
the United States: by A. Levasseur, Secretary to General Lafayette
during his journey. Translated by John D. Godman, M. D.”
In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States,
entitled “An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the
copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of
such copies during the times therein mentioned.” And also to the
act, entitled, “An act supplementary to an act, entitled, ‘An act
for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of the
maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such
copies during the times therein mentioned,’ and extending the
benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching
historical and other prints.”
(Signed) D. CALDWELL,
_Clerk of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania_.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
P.
Maryland Cattle Show—Indian Deputation introduced to Gen.
Lafayette—President’s Message—Extraordinary honours paid to the
Nation’s Guest—National recompense presented by Congress 9
CHAPTER II.
Election of the President—Public character of the President—Public
Officers—Congress—Grand public dinner on the 1st of January 22
CHAPTER III.
Departure from Washington—American Feelings—Sea-Lion—Family of Free
Negroes—Raleigh—Fayetteville—North Carolina 29
CHAPTER IV.
Entrance into South Carolina—Route from Cheraw to Cambden—Monument
erected to Baron de Kalb—Road from Cambden to
Charleston—Rejoicing in Charleston—Colonel Huger—History,
Institutions, and Manners, of the South Carolinians 38
CHAPTER V.
Fort Moultrie—Edisto Island—Alligators—Savannah—Funeral
Monuments—Augusta—State of Georgia 55
CHAPTER VI.
Departure from Milledgeville—Macon—Indian Agency—Meeting with
Indians during a Storm—Hamley—M’Intosh’s Tribe—Uchee Creek—Big
Warrior—Captain Lewis—Line Creek—Montgomery—Farewell of
M’Intosh—Cahawba-State of Alabama—Mobile 70
CHAPTER VII.
Departure from Mobile—Gulf of Mexico—Passage of the Belize—Landing
at the entrenchments near New Orleans—Entrance into the
city—Entertainments and public Ceremonies—Battle of New Orleans 87
CHAPTER VIII.
History and Constitution of Louisiana—Baton-Rouge—Natchez—State of
Mississippi—Voyage to St. Louis—Reception of General Lafayette in
that city 102
CHAPTER IX.
Changes produced in the navigation of the Mississippi since the
introduction of Steam—Arrival at Kaskaskia—The Canadians and
Indians—Singular meeting with a young Indian educated among the
Whites, and returned to savage life—Indian Ballad—State of
Illinois—Departure from Kaskaskia—Separation of General Lafayette
and the Louisiana deputation 129
CHAPTER X.
Cumberland River—Arrival at Nashville—Tennessee Militia—Residence
of General Jackson—Shipwreck on the Ohio—Louisville—Journey from
Louisville to Cincinnati by land—State of Kentucky—Anecdote 150
CHAPTER XI.
Arrival at Cincinnati—Entertainments given by that city—Swiss of
Vevay—State of Ohio—The Vinton family—Journey from Wheeling to
Uniontown—Speech of Mr. Gallatin—New Geneva—Braddock’s
field—General Washington’s first feat of arms—Pittsburgh 172
CHAPTER XII.
Route from Pittsburg to Erie—Commodore Perry’s Victory—Night Scene
at Fredonia—The Indian Chief at Buffalo—Falls of Niagara—Visit to
Fort Niagara—Appearance of Lockport—Passage from Lockport to
Rochester—Aqueduct over the Genessee River—Route by land from
Rochester to Syracuse—Passage from Syracuse to Schenectady, Rome,
and Utica—Grand Canal 184
CHAPTER XIII.
Return to Boston—Reception of Lafayette by the Legislature of
Massachusetts—Celebration of the anniversary of Bunker’s
hill—History of the Revolution familiar to the
Americans—Departure from Boston 200
CHAPTER XIV.
Rapid and hasty visit to the states of New Hampshire, Maine, and
Vermont—Return to New York—Celebration of the Anniversary of
American Independence—American vessels of war—Patriotism and
disinterestedness of the Seamen of New York 208
CHAPTER XV.
Letter of Mr. Keratry on the Anniversary of Bunker’s hill—Fair
Mount Water Works at Philadelphia—Germantown—Mr. Watson’s
Historical Box—Field of the Battle of Brandywine—Invocation of
the Rev. William Latta—Clergy of Lancaster—Return to Baltimore,
lighted by a fire 223
CHAPTER XVI.
Return to Washington—Character of the new President—Visit to the
ex-president, become a farmer and justice of the peace—Government
offers Lafayette a ship of war to return in to France—Presents
made to Bolivar through Lafayette—New homage from the city of New
York—Farewell of the President to the Nation’s Guest—Departure
from Washington city—Embarkation in the
Brandywine—Voyage—Testimonies of attachment and regret of the
crew of the Brandywine to Lafayette—Reception at Havre—some hours
at Rouen—Reception of Lafayette at La Grange by the inhabitants
of his vicinity 241
LAFAYETTE IN AMERICA.
CHAPTER I.
Maryland Cattle Show—Indian Deputation introduced to Gen.
Lafayette—President’s Message—Extraordinary honours paid to the
Nation’s Guest—National recompense presented by Congress.
On arriving at Washington, we went to dine with the president; and after
reposing for twenty-four hours, we set out for Baltimore, where we were
invited as members of the Agricultural Society to the annual meeting of
the farmers of Maryland. The object of this society is the distribution
of rewards and encouragements to all, who in the course of the year have
made improvements in agriculture, or the arts of domestic utility. The
different products are exhibited, without the names of their owners, and
examined by a committee, upon whose report the society awards the
prizes. The show appeared to be rich in products of every description. A
great number of horses, cows, and sheep, remarkable for their beauty of
form, proved how careful the Maryland farmers are in improving their
stock. Models of agricultural implements, linen, cotton, canvass and
woollen cloths, wines and grain, so arranged, as to be open to public
examination, attested the spirit of investigation and improvement which
pervades the industrious class of this rich state. General Harper opened
the meeting by a very instructive discourse upon the progress and actual
condition of agriculture in Maryland, and General Lafayette was charged
with the distribution of the premiums. After these were delivered, the
farmers were arranged in two lines, and General Lafayette passed between
them, shaking hands with every one. We then gaily seated ourselves at
table, where numerous toasts were drank, “to the nation’s guest,” “the
farmer of La Grange,” &c. To these tributes of respect, the general
replied by the following toast: “The seed of American liberty
transplanted to other shores, smothered hitherto, but not destroyed by
European weeds; may it germinate and grow afresh, more pure and
vigorous, and cover the soil of both hemispheres.”
Before leaving Baltimore we visited several farms in the vicinity, at
each of which General Lafayette took accurate notes of various
improvements, whose application he thought would prove useful on his
farm at La Grange. He especially admired a fine steam boiler,[1] at
General Harper’s farm, by which numerous flocks could be more abundantly
and economically fed. Mr. Patterson presented him a young bull and two
heifers of rare elegance of form, said to be of the English Devonshire
breed. We also received from several other agriculturists, wild turkeys
for the improvement of the European breed, pigs of singular size,
figure, &c.; in short, every one wished to present some of his produce
to the farmer of La Grange, who accepted them the more gratefully,
because he saw in each of these presents means of rendering service to
French agriculture.
On returning to Washington, we found the city much more animated than
before our departure. The number of strangers and citizens from all
parts of the Union, which usually assemble at the opening of congress,
were collected this season in much greater crowds, attracted by the wish
of being there at the same time with the nation’s guest, and to witness
the inauguration of the recently elected president. The European
ambassadors and ministers of the new states of South America, had
returned to their posts, which they left during the fine season; Indian
deputations had also arrived from the most distant forests, to make
known the wants of their brethren to the American government. These
deputations came to visit General Lafayette the morning after our
return; they were introduced by Major Pitchlynn, their interpreter; at
their head were two chiefs whom we had previously seen at Mr.
Jefferson’s table during our visit to Monticello. I recognised them by
their ears cut into long straps and garnished with long plates of lead.
One of them, named Mushulatubbee, made an address to General Lafayette
in the Indian language; after he had concluded, Pushalamata, the first
of their chiefs, also addressed the general, congratulating him on his
return to the land for which he had fought and bled in his youth, &c.
This chief expired a few days afterwards: feeling the approach of death,
he called his companions around him, requested them to dress him in his
est ornaments and give him his arms, that he might die like a man. He
expressed a desire that the Americans would bury him with the honours of
war, and fire a salute over his grave, which was promised. He then
conversed with his friends until he gently expired. He was very old and
of the Choctaw tribe, as well as part of those who came to see General
Lafayette; the rest were Chickasaws.
On his return to Washington, the general found messages from all the
southern and western states, expressing the desire and hope of the
people of those parts of the Union that he would visit them: the
representatives of the different states who had come to sit in congress,
daily came to see him, and spoke with enthusiasm of the preparations
which their fellow citizens were already making to receive the nation’s
guest.
He felt that it would be difficult, not to say impossible, to refuse
invitations so feelingly and honourably expressed, and determined to
accept them all; but on account of the advanced state of the season he
could not re-commence his journey till the end of the winter; during
part of which he would remain at Washington, where he could attend to
the debates in congress. As these debates would not begin for some days,
he determined to profit by the intervening time to visit all the members
of General Washington’s family, residing in the vicinity of the capital.
We first went to the house of one of his nieces, Mrs. Lewis, at Wood
Lawn; this lady was brought up at Mount Vernon with Mr. George
Lafayette, and time had not destroyed the fraternal friendship existing
between them. She received us with great kindness, as did her husband
and family. We remained four days at Wood Lawn, receiving the most
delicate attentions, and departed charged with little presents, of great
value to us, because they were almost all objects which had belonged to
the hero of liberty, the immortal Washington.
As Wood Lawn is but a division of the ancient property of Mount Vernon,
we had but a short walk to Judge Bushrod Washington’s. We then revisited
Arlington, the residence of Mr. Custis, of whom I have heretofore had
occasion to speak. His house, built according to reduced plans of the
temple of Theseus, stands upon one of the most beautiful situations
imaginable; from the portico the eye takes in, at one view, the majestic
course of the Potomac, the commercial movements of Georgetown, the
rising city of Washington, and far beyond the vast horizon, beneath
which lie the fertile plains of Maryland. If Mr. Custis, instead of the
great number of indolent slaves, who devour his produce, and leave his
roads in a bad condition, would employ a dozen well paid free labourers,
I am sure that he would soon triple his revenues, and have one of the
most delightful properties, not only of the District of Columbia, but of
all Virginia.
While General Lafayette was visiting his friends, congress commenced its
session on the 6th of December, according to custom. The president’s
message was received by both houses on the 7th at noon; and, on our
return to Washington on the 8th, we read this political paper, always so
important in the United States, but still more interesting this year,
because it was the last great administrative act of an honest man; and
its influence, perhaps, saved the republics of South America, I do not
say from the intrigues, but at least from the attacks of Europe. Those
who wish to learn how, in a legitimate government, the chief magistrate
elected by the people renders an account of the sacred trust they have
confided to him, should read Mr. Monroe’s message of the 6th December,
1824. They will there see with what candour this wise magistrate informs
congress of all the acts of his administration, with what simplicity he
speaks of his treaties with all the kings of Europe; with what frankness
he exposes the wants, the resources, the situation of the state; but
also with what courage and dignity he declares to the whole world that
the republic, faithful to its engagements, will regard as a personal
offence all attacks directed against its allies, and will always repel,
with its whole power, the unjust principle of foreign interference in
the affairs of the nation.
After the reading of the message committees were immediately appointed
by both houses upon the various articles it contained. The committee
charged with what related to the general, was requested to report with
as little delay as possible. Other committees were appointed to arrange
the ceremonial of the general’s public reception by congress; and, on
the 8th of December the joint committee reported by Mr. Barbour to the
house of representatives, that, in order to avoid difficulties, each
house of congress should separately receive the nation’s guest. The
senate then determined upon the manner in which General Lafayette should
be received, and the committee was authorized to act as intermediary to
the senate and him.
On the 9th Mr. Mitchell, in the name of the committees, proposed
resolutions, which were unanimously adopted, that General Lafayette
should be publicly gratulated by the house of representatives on account
of his accepting the invitation of congress, and assured of the profound
respect felt for his eminent services during the revolution, as well as
of the pleasure caused by his return, after so long an absence, to the
theatre of his exploits.
As soon as these resolutions were made known, the troops wished to
parade, to give the reception of the nation’s guest by congress all the
brilliance of military pomp; but General Lafayette, having learned their
intention, requested them to relinquish it, as he considered it
inconsistent, both with his character and situation, to appear before
the national representatives surrounded by the pomp of arms; the troops,
always delighted to do what was most agreeable to him, immediately laid
aside their project. At half past twelve we went in carriages with the
committee of the senate to the capitol; at ten o’clock precisely the
doors of the senate were thrown open, and General Lafayette was led into
the midst of the assembly by Mr. Barbour, president of the committee. On
arriving at the centre of the hall, Mr. Barbour said, in a loud voice,
“We introduce General Lafayette to the senate of the United States.” The
senators standing uncovered received this annunciation with the most
profound silence. The committee then conducted the general to a seat on
the right of Mr. Gailliard, president of the senate; a motion to adjourn
was made immediately after, that each senator might individually pay his
respects to the general. This motion being carried, the senators
successively left their seats, and approached him for that purpose. Thus
terminated the business of the day.
The next morning, the general was again conducted to the capitol, by a
deputation of twenty-four members of the house of representatives. The
procession consisted of merely twelve coaches, but without escort, pomp,
or decorations; our progress through the city was slow and silent. At
the sight of the first coach, which contained the general, the citizens
halted, removed their hats, but uttered no exclamation. This silence,
this simplicity, was really impressive. We were conducted into the
committee room until the session commenced; the public galleries were
crowded from early in the morning; the seats were occupied by foreign
diplomatists and most distinguished persons of the city. That part of
the hall which is not occupied by the representatives, was, on this
occasion, alone filled by ladies.
When the members had taken their seats, Mr. Condict proposed that the
senate should be invited to attend, and the motion was carried by a
large majority. The speaker then requested the members to pass to the
right, in order to give place to the senators. The senate then entered
and took their seats; a few minutes after, two members came for Mr.
George Lafayette and myself, and conducted us into the hall, to a seat
occupied by the public officers. A signal being then given, the doors
were thrown open, and General Lafayette entered between Messrs. Mitchell
and Livingston, followed by the rest of the deputation: the whole
assembly arose and stood uncovered in silence. When the general reached
the centre of the hall, the speaker, Mr. Clay, thus addressed him:
“_General_—The house of representatives of the United States, impelled
alike by its own feelings, and by those of the whole American people,
could not have assigned to me a more gratifying duty, than that of
presenting 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 very 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 our revolution, all have, from impartial history or from
faithful tradition, a knowledge of the perils, the sufferings, and the
sacrifices which you 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 our country. 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 of representatives entertain for
you. Your consistency of character, your uniform devotion to regulated
liberty, in all the vicissitudes of a long and arduous life, also
commands its admiration. During all the recent convulsions of Europe,
amidst, as after the dispersion of, every political storm, the people of
the United States have beheld you, true to your old principles, 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 here you so freely and nobly spilt, in the same
holy cause.
“The vain wish has been sometimes indulged, that Providence 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 levelled, the canals cut, the
highways constructed, the progress of the arts, the advancement of
learning, and the increase of population—General, your present visit to
the United States is a realization of the consoling object of that wish.
You are in the midst of posterity. Every where, 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 venerated name, alike
endeared to you and to us, has since emerged from the forest which then
covered its site. In one respect, you behold us unaltered, and this is
in the sentiment of continued devotion to liberty, and of ardent
affection and profound gratitude to your departed friend, the father of
his country, and to you, and to your illustrious associates 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 vigour, down the tide of time,
through the countless millions who are destined to inhabit this
continent, to the latest posterity.”
The profound emotion experienced by the speaker, which had visibly
agitated him throughout his address, rapidly extended to the hearts of
the auditors, each of whom waited, with benevolent anxiety, for the
answer they expected the general would have ready in writing, for so
solemn an occasion. But every one was agreeably surprised, to see him
advance a few steps towards the speaker, cast upon the assembly looks of
feeling and gratitude, and, after a few instants of recollection,
deliver, in a sonorous voice, distinctly audible throughout the house,
the following extempore reply:
“_Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_—While the
people of the United States, and their honourable 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 honour to fight and bleed, I am proud and happy to share those
extraordinary favours with my dear revolutionary companions; yet it
would be, on my part, uncandid and ungrateful, not to acknowledge my
personal share in those testimonies of kindness, as they excite in my
breast emotions which no words are adequate to express.
“My obligations to the United States, sir, far exceed any merit I might
claim; they date from the time when I have had the happiness to be
adopted as a young soldier, a favoured son of America; they have been
continued to me during almost a 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 the public exertions and sufferings of a whole
life.
“The approbation of the American people, and their 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 principles of liberty,
equality, and true social order, the devotion to which, as it has been
from my earliest youth, so it shall 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 we find an example in this city, whose name itself
is a venerated palladium; in a word, all the grandeur and prosperity of
those happy United States, who, at the same time they nobly secure the
complete assertion of American independence, reflect, on every part of
the world, the light of a far superior political civilization.
“What better pledge can be given, of a persevering, national love of
liberty, when these blessings are evidently the result of a virtuous
resistance to oppression, and institutions founded on the rights of man,
and the republican principle of self-government?
“No, 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, I have been allowed, forty years ago, before a committee of a
congress of thirteen states, to express the fond wishes of an American
heart; on this day, I have the honour and enjoy the delight, to
congratulate the representatives of the Union, so vastly enlarged, on
the realization of those wishes, even beyond every human expectation,
and upon the almost 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 sentiments, a tribute of my lively
gratitude, affectionate devotion, and profound respect.”
I will not attempt to depict the deep impression produced by the reply
of the general, and by this simple yet majestic scene on the spectators.
I fear that it would be understood but by few. As regards my own
feelings, I frankly avow, that I could not avoid drawing a comparison
between this touching picture of national gratitude crowning the civic
virtues, with those pompous ceremonies, in the midst of which the
monarchs of Europe deign to show themselves, surrounded with the glitter
of arms and the splendour of dress: the latter appeared to me only
similar to some brilliant theatrical representation, which it would be
gratifying to behold, if we could forget that they but add to the misery
of the people.
After these testimonies of devotion and feeling, hitherto unknown in the
history of nations, thus tendered by congress to General Lafayette, it
might have been supposed, that all marks of national gratitude were
exhausted. But, in compliance with the message of the president, and
above all, with the expression of public opinion which was daily
manifested in the public prints and in private letters addressed from
all parts of the Union to the members, congress still conceived that
more remained to be done, and hastened to appoint a committee to devise
a mode of presenting to General Lafayette a recompense worthy of the
nation which tendered it. This committee reported a bill on the 20th of
December, in which, after detailing the services rendered by Lafayette
to the American nation, and the sacrifices he had made in the
achievement of its independence, they proposed that the sum of 200,000
dollars, and the fee simple of a tract of land of 24,000 acres, to be
chosen in the most fertile part of the United States, should be offered
as a compensation and testimony of gratitude. This proposition was
received with enthusiasm by the senate, and it was believed that it
would pass without discussion, when at the moment it was about to be
sent to the house of representatives, a senator observed, “that he had
no objections to make either to the sum about to be voted, or to the
services for which it was given; that he yielded to no one in gratitude
and friendship towards General Lafayette, whose virtues and services, he
believed, could not be too highly recompensed; but thought that the
proposed method was defective; that charged with the administration of
the public revenues, he did not believe that congress was permitted to
dispose of them otherwise than for the public service; he thought that
each state might claim with justice, a right to testify its gratitude to
Lafayette; finally, that he voted against the consideration of the
proposition, to avoid establishing a precedent, the consequences of
which might hereafter be fatal.”
The eloquence of Mr. Hayne easily triumphed over this opposition,
arising from a scrupulous attention and care of the public finances, and
the bill having been a third time read, was almost unanimously adopted.
Seven votes only were in the negative; and it was universally known that
even those who opposed the bill, were among the warmest friends and
partizans of the general. Motives of public expediency, and, with some,
the habit of opposing every novel measure of finance, were the only
reasons for their course of conduct.
The proposition was received with equal warmth and good will in the
house of representatives. As soon as the committee presented their
report, all other business was postponed, and the consideration of the
bill commenced. The discussion that ensued, as in the senate, fully
recognized the rights of the general to national gratitude, and only
turned on the legality of the proposed plan. After the third reading the
bill was passed by an overwhelming majority.
During these discussions in congress, General Lafayette, who was wholly
ignorant of their existence, was at Annapolis, whither he had been
invited by the legislature of Maryland. It was not until the day after
his return to Washington, that the two committees of the senate and the
house of representatives waited on him, to acquaint him with the
resolutions of congress.
Mr. Smith, the chairman, presented him the act, and observed that the
congress of the United States, fully appreciating the great sacrifices
made by the general in the cause of American Independence, had taken
that opportunity of repaying a part of the vast debt owed to him by the
country.
General Lafayette was greatly embarrassed on hearing this munificence of
congress towards him. He was at first tempted to refuse it, as he
thought the proofs of affection and popular gratitude which he had
received from the moment of his arrival in the United States, were a
sufficient recompense for all his services, and he had never desired any
other. But he nevertheless felt, from the manner in which this offer was
made, that he could not refuse it without offending the American nation,
through its representatives, and he therefore immediately decided upon
accepting it. He replied to the committee with his usual promptness and
feeling, assuring them of the deep gratitude he felt, as an American
soldier, and as an adopted son of the country, for this as well as other
marks of affection that had been bestowed upon him.
This act of congress was soon spread, by means of the public journals,
through all parts of the Union, and was every where received with
unanimous approbation. Some states even wished to make an addition to
these grants of congress. Thus, for example, Virginia, New York, and
Maryland, were desirous to heap additional favours on the guest of the
nation. It required all the determined moderation of the general to
repress this excess of gratitude, which would have ended in placing at
his disposal all the funds of the United States; for if the states had
once engaged in this struggle of generosity, it is difficult to say
where it would have ended.
Nevertheless, the newspapers, the organs of public opinion, in
applauding these acts of congress, attacked, with a severity which
distressed General Lafayette, those few members of the senate and house
of representatives, who had voted against the national donation. These
attacks, in fact, were the more unjust; for, as I have already said, the
majority of the opponents of the measure were personal friends of the
general, and wholly devoted to his interests; but in voting, not against
the proposition, but against its form, they remained faithful to a
principle they had always adopted, of not disposing of the public funds
for other purposes than those of the public service. Some of them deemed
it proper to explain this to the general. “Not only,” said they, “do we
partake of the gratitude and admiration of our fellow citizens towards
you for the services you have rendered us, but we also think that the
nation can never repay them, and yet twenty-six of us voted against the
proposition in congress.” “Well,” replied the general, in taking them
cordially by the hand, “I can assure you, that if I had had the honour
of being your colleague, we should have been twenty-seven, not only
because I partake of the sentiments which determined your votes, but
also because I think that the American nation has done too much for me.”
This reply soon appeared in all the journals, and, as may be supposed,
only added to the popularity of him who made it.
I have already observed that during the deliberations of congress,
General Lafayette had accepted the invitation of the legislature of
Maryland, who also wished to bestow on him the honour of a public
reception. We left Washington on the 16th of December, accompanied by
Dr. Kent, Mr. Mitchell, members of the house of representatives from
Maryland, and a detachment of volunteer cavalry. On our route, we
visited the family and beautiful farm of Capt. Sprigg, ex-governor of
Maryland, and arrived at Annapolis in the afternoon. The deputies of the
city met the general at a great distance from it, notwithstanding the
badness of the weather, and the troops had advanced as far as Miller’s
Hill. Another corps of militia had marched from Nottingham, which is
thirty miles from Annapolis. The storm had retarded its arrival, but had
not damped the zeal of the citizens. At Carrol’s Lane, about two miles
from the city, the general, notwithstanding the remonstrances that were
made, descended from the carriage, and with his head uncovered, returned
thanks to the troops for the affection they testified towards him. “They
have exposed themselves to the severity of the weather on my account,
and I cannot permit it to deter me from returning them my thanks,”
observed he. At the limits of the district an interesting meeting took
place between him and some soldiers of the revolutionary army, several
of whom had assisted in carrying him from the field of battle at
Brandywine, where he had been wounded. Twenty-four discharges of cannon,
and the display of the national flag on the state house, announced his
arrival in the city.
Conducted into the hall of the legislature, which was filled with
persons of distinction and soldiers of the revolution, he was led to a
seat, where he listened to a discourse from the mayor in the name of the
city. In his reply, he alluded to the fact, that Annapolis had been the
scene of events for ever memorable in the annals of the United States;
it was within its walls that Washington had laid down a power conferred
on him by the nation; and the inhabitants of that city had always been
worthy, by their patriotism, of being the witnesses and participators of
this noble act.
The next day, Friday, 17th December, the militia of the county, the
volunteer battalion of Annapolis, and the United States artillery were
reviewed by him, displaying great discipline and soldierly precision in
their manœuvres.
The following Monday, he received from the legislature of the state, a
repetition of the same honours bestowed on him a few days previous by
the congress of the United States. The day terminated by a public
dinner, at which all the senators and representatives were present, and
by a ball given by the mayor of the city.
Annapolis is a city of about 2500 inhabitants, handsomely situated on
the river Severn, which empties into the Chesapeake Bay. It is the seat
of government of the state of Maryland, but will never become an
important place, at least from its commerce, which is wholly absorbed by
the port of Baltimore.
In returning to Washington, we went by Fredericktown, where the general
was received with enthusiasm by the population, and by a great number of
his former companions in arms, among whom he recognized Colonel
M‘Pherson, with whom we lodged. At the public banquet given him by the
town, the table was lighted by a candelabra supporting an immense
quantity of candles, the base of which was an enormous fragment of a
bomb shell used at the siege of Yorktown.
Fredericktown is, next to Baltimore, the largest city in Maryland. It is
situated in the heart of a fertile country, on the west bank of a small
stream called the Monocacy. Its population, which does not amount to
more than 3000, are generally engaged in manufactures.