liberty, retaining the ashes of the fathers of the revolution, contain yours also, they may be preserved as relics. to lighten up the name of liberty to future generations. But, while remaining here, or returning, we can only express to you our sincere gratulations on this occasion, and leave the issue with Him, in whose special care and direction may you be continued, whilst here, and afterwards be received to enjoy the rewards of the virtuous. And to Him who maketh and unmaketh, who humbleth and exalteth at his will, we commend you." General Lafayette gave the following reply: "I am very happy to find myself once more among the patriotic citizens of Marblehead. The very active part they took in the Revolution; the scenes and sufferings they have experienced, I am well acquainted with. To be thus cordially received, is, to me, a source of joy and satisfaction. Accept the testimony of my pleasure and gratitude, for the affectionate feeling you have evinced towards me." He then partook of a public breakfast, after which he was introduced to the citizens, among whom he recognised many of his old revolutionary friends. At his request, he was introduced to Mrs. Robert Hooper, a daughter of General Glover, and expressed much feeling, on meeting a member of the family of the late General, to whom he was warmly attached. He was then escorted to the Salem line, under a salute of twenty four guns. Here he was welcomed by Colonel Putnam, chairman of the selectmen of Salem, in the following address : "General,―The citizens of Salem, through their selectmen, bid you welcome to the town. When our town was last honoured by your presence, you witnessed the gratitude of the generation, for whom you had fought, and whose liberties you had aided in establishing. You now find, Sir, a new generation, ready to welcome you. The forty years that have elapsed, since you last honored us, have not dimmed the recollection of your services, or cooled the ardor of our gratitude. Your steady and unwavering devotion since that period to the cause of liberty in the old world, has raised for you in our bosoms, a monument of gratitude, which will endure, whilst our memories retain an image, or our hearts a feeling. And, Sir, permit me to add, that I shall always consider that day the proudest of my life, on which I had the honor of introducing General LAFAYETTE into the ancient town of Salem. : General Lafayette replied in substance, as follows:"That he recollected with gratitude the attention that was paid him when he last visited Salem; and that it gave him great pleasure, to be welcomed, in so flattering a manner, by a new generation of the inhabitants of this ancient and patriotic town." The General then took his seat in an elegant barouche, accompanied by the Hon. Judge Story, president of the day. A long procession was then formed, of the cavalry, and cavalcade of citizens, escorting the General, who was followed by carriages, containing the suite of the General, the officers of the town, and citizens generally, and moved into town under a salute of artillery. Arches were thrown over the south bridge, ornamented with flags, and bearing a label, with the following inscription : "Welcome, Illustrious Chief!-Receive the pledges of thy children, to sustain, with fidelity, the principles that first associated Lafayette with the destinies of America." The procession entered Essex street, under an elegant arch, which was enwreathed with evergreen, and decorated with standards of military companies. On this arch were inscribed the names of Washington, Lafayette, and other distinguished Revolutionary soldiers. At the head of North street, another beautiful arch was erected, covered with wreaths of evergreen and spruce, from the centre of which were suspended portraits of Washington and Lafayette. On this arch was inscribed "Honour to him who fought and bled for the The procession entered Boston street, under another elegant arch, ornamented in a similar manner, and bearing the following inscriptions : "Lafayette, the friend of liberty, we welcome "He did not forget us in our adversity-In our It entered Federal street, under another arch, elegantly decorated with evergreen and spruce, and bearing the likeness of Lafayette. A drapery of evergreen flowers, &c. was drawn across North street, on which was the following inscription : "Leslie's Repulse, 1775. The procession passed down Brown street, and entered the mall under the eastern arch, which was enwreathed with evergreen and flowers, and bore the following inscription, in large letters, formed of box leaves : Lafayette." 66 It then passed between the two lines of the pupils of the different schools, all bearing Lafayette badges, and entered the street, under the western arch, which was likewise decorated with wreaths, and bore a label, on which was inscribed, in large letters, formed of oak leaves, La Grange.' The General was conducted to the Lafayette coffee house, where he received the following beautiful address from the Hon. Judge Story: "GENERAL LAFAYETTE, SIR-Forty years have elapsed since the inhabitants of this town had 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 in 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 succours 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 labors 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 na 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 assertor 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 ar rival to the shores of the west with spontaneous unaimity; 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." GENERAL LAFAYETTE'S REPLY. "On my happy return to this shore of liberty, I had anticipated the pleasure to revisit the town of Salem, to witness her so much increased prosperity, to recall with surviving old friends our revolutionary recollections.— But in the affectionate welcome of the new generations, I find additional causes for delightful gratification. You have been pleased, Sir, to allude to several circumstances of my life. The first of them I shared in common with my dear companions during our American glorious struggle. In the transactions of another hemisphere, I have made it a constant object not to be unworthy of the American education it had been my happy lot to receive. |