Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-11-02
Lafayette at The Tomb of Washington.

| Wv VHsV ~ ~ eo'ss''7 s>s'
To the Editurs Gentlemeu-rhe solemn
AMI imposing sceue of the visit OF Lafayette
10 the tomb Of Washington took place on
Sunday the 18th inst. About ooa O'Clock
the general lett the Steamboat Petersburg at
anchor off Mount Vernon, and WAS received
INTO barge manned aud steered hy captains
of vessels from Arxandria, who tad hand
so'nsiy volunteered iheir se,ices for this in.
ieresting occasion. lie was accompanied in
the barge by his family and suite, and Mr..
Secretary Calhoun. On reaching the shore,
he was received by Mr.. Lewis, the nephew
Of Washington, and by tie gentlemen of tho
family oiJudse Washington THE judge him
self being absent on official dutiesl aud con.
ductet To The ancient mansion, where, forty
years ago, he took the last leave cf his Hero.
hs f'ieod, and our country's preserver.' AZ
Ter r"n,a,ning u few miuntes in the house, the
general Proceeded Ia the vault, supported by
Air. L"wis aud the gentlemen relatives of the
Judg". and accompanied by G. w. Lafayette
and u. w. T.. Gusts, the children of Mount
Vernon. both having shared The paternal care
ofthe grta, chief. Mr.. Gusts wore the ring
suspended from a Cincinnati ribbon. Arrv-
ell at the sepulchre, after a pause, Mr.. Gus
tbs addressed the general as follows:
Last of the Generals of the Army of Iude
pendence AT this awful and impressive mo-
ment, when, forgetting the splendor of a tri-
umph greater Than Roman consul ever had,
! YOU bend with reverence over the remains OF
/ Washington, the child of Mount Vernon pre-
SCENTS you with this token, containing tho
ia'r OF him, whom, while living, you loved,
aud In whose honored grave you now pay
the manly and affecting tribute of patriots
and a soldiers tear.
| The ring has ever been an emblem of the
union Of hearts, FROM the earliest ages Of the
world. and Ibis will unite the affections of all
tue Americans, 10 the person and posteri,y OF
Lata cite now and hereafter; aud when your
descendants of a distant day shall behold this
valued rriict II will remind them Of the heroic
virtues of their lllustrious sire, who received
1t, not IN The palaces of princes, or amid the
pomP and vanitios of life, but AT the laurelled
grave q! w ashlngton. Do you ask
Is this The mauspleum befitting the ashes
at a Marcus Aurelius, or the good Antonius
l Tell you that the father of his country lice
| buried IN the nearls OF his couutrym en-, and
III those of the brave the good, the free
OF all ages and natons. Do You seek for the
tablets which are 10 convey his fame TO i'm
mortality They have long been written in
the freedom and happiness of his country
ihese are the monumental trophies ~ Wash
inSton the Great, and will endure when the
proudest works of art have dissolved aud left
not wreck behind
Venerable mau Will you never tire in the
Cause OF freedom aud human happiness Is
II not lime that you should rest from your ge-
nrrots !ahors, and repose on III, bosom of a
country which delights to love aud honor You,
and viii teach her chiidren's children to
bless your name and memory? Sure where
liberty uw.s, there must be the country of
Lafayette!
Our fathers Witnessed the dawn of yonr
gloiy. pariook Of It's meridian spiendor ond
oi' ! let their children enjoy the benign IA
dance at your setting sun and when il shall
sink IN the horizon OF nature. here, here with
pions duty, we will form your sepuchrc, and
nnIied 10 death, as in life, by the side of tbs.
Great Chief you will rest in peace, ill In,
last trump awakes the snmbering world, and
calls your virtues 10 their great reward
| The Joyous shouts of millions of freemen hail
go your returned foot print our sands
The arms OF millions are opened wide 10 hug
yon 10 their grateful hearts, and the prayers
of millions ascend To The throne of Almighty
Power, and impore that the chuicest bless
ings of heaven will cheer the latter days OF
! Lafayette =
The general having received the ring. uress-
ed II To iiis bosom, and replied
The feelings which, AT this awful moment,
oppFess my heart, do not leave me the pow
'r oi utterance. ] can only thank you, my
dear Gusts, for yor precious gift, and pay il
silent homage In the tomb offhe greatest and
best of men, my paeroal friend"
The general aifectionately embraced the
donor, and tho other three gentlemen, and
gazing inleniy on the receptacle Of departed
greatness, ferveutiy pressed his lips 10 The door
OF the vault, while tears filled tile burrows in
the veterans cheeks The key was now APP
piled to the lock-the door few open, and
discovered The collins strewed with flowers
and evergreens- The general descended the
Steps and kissed the leadeD cells which con-
tanned The ashes of the Great Chief aud his
| venerable consort, and then retired in an ex-
cess OF feeling which language is loo poor to
describe.
| "A tier partaking OF refreshments at the house
ADD making d slight tour IN the grounds the
general returned 10 the shore. Ia descending
The bill to the river the horses became res
tive. Some spirited young men rushed for
/ ward removed the horses, and would have
drawn The carriage themselves but this the
general would NOT permit, aud dlIghting walk
! ed to the slIUfP, Il distance OF nearly quarter
/ Of mile. Pre-, iUns to Recommendations, Mr.
Gusts presented the Cincinnati ribbon, which
bad borne the ring TO The vault, To maj. Ewel
d veteran of the revolution, reque sting bio t.
! takea part OF il and divide the remainder
among young men present, which was done,
add = generous struggle ensued Tor the small
! lest portion Of IL.
| The same barge conveyed the general to
| the Petersburg, the Marine band PLAYING a.
before strain Ui solemn music The ycssel
immediately proceeded on her voyage TO
Yorktown.
! Not soul in'rudsd upon the privacy Of the
visit 10 the tomb nothing occurred TO disturb
IT, reverentih solemnity. The old oaks