Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-10-19

/ Civic Escort, under DR.. Jamss Carson, at
] iendani upon Gen Ia Fsyette
lodges & officers OF the Court in Carriages.
Officers OF the Army and Navy mounted
| All Officers OF the MiIitis OF The District,
and neighboring States in Uni-
form and Mounte.d.
| And the uholes was clos ed With
Cavalcade OF Citiz ems.
Marshal.
The Procession entered tie town thro'
Columbus stree,--went tbro ugh part OF
King into Fsyette. thence to prince, down
Prince and up Fairfax 10 Cameron, and
up Csmeronto Washington street. Du-
ring the passage OF the procession, the
windows'of the houses were filed with
ladies, who, as they waved their bandker-
chiefs, told to the General that be was
welcome. On the Procession reaching
Washington street, the Militia ~ proceed
ed TO King, and then formed in line, the
right resting on Washington treet, tbelef'
Royal. About 8 o'clock, 9 en-. La Fa'
yette, accompanied by the re sdue OF me
Procession, passed through the Grsnd
Arch. under a national Salute Of "a guns.
OF this arch we can, indeed, 'say, that for
simplicity Of style. and YET for oil the
'besuties of design and ornament, it ex'
eeeded our most ssnguine expectations.
|lte1tended from the one side OF Washing
ron street to the other. forming front "a
feet, and 10 height 40 feet. From the co..
lumns on which the arch rested, rose two
pyramids, .urmoanted with Gag stats up
on one of which was boisied the National
Flag OF France, and on the other, that OF
the United States. On The north front OF
the Arch, in large letters, was painted
Welcome, La Fayetss-a Nations grats'
tade thy due" On the south front, For
Nation to be free. u 10 sufficient that 'he
w;lL it," On the top of the Arch was
Liberty Cap, and real mountain eagle,
which was politely furnished by Dir. I.
Mountford, of the Museum. As the Ge-
neral passed the Arch, on the first gun
being fired, The eagle spread bis wings,
and showed TO much advantage. A ship,
fully rugged, embIamatical of The Navy.
was huag beneath The arch, and added
much to tbe appearance. The columns
were splendidly ornamep,ed with national
designs. From the large Arch two small.
er ones were thrown over the side pave.
ment, tastefully decorated; Oh The top of
one was an elegant 6gure, representing
Peace. on the other, one representing
Plenty, On the north front OF the side
Arches the following inscriptions were
placed: ''Washingson 1924, La fsyetts, -
"La Fsystts l777, Warrington" On
| the south front, Honor Virtatss premi-
sm, 1891" "Ubi hbertas .bi patria,
1918" The portraits Of Washington and
| La Fayette were conspicuuusIy hung on
| the sides OF the columns. The whole was
| handsomely ornalnented With towers, the
| cedar, the laurel, the oak, and various o.
| tber products OF the forest. Nothing on
paper can give proper idea OF the beau.
ty of the whole. Ii was not only the adj
Giration Of our own citizens, but strangers
from all quarters spoke OF it in high terms.
This Arch was erected by the patriotic
citizens Of the town, and as free will of
fering OF the spirit OF our town, we should
hope that il might be allowed to stand; it
is ornamental, and it at least might abide
as it j. ill the General returns.
But we are s,raying from our intention,
which was to give q narration Of the e.
vents fibe day. After Gen. La Fayetts
bad beer conducted through the Arch, he
passed the line of troops in King street,
who were at presented arms. On bis ar
rival at Royal street, an impressive cere'
mony occurred, which, in sublmity and
moral effect, surpasses all: one hundred
young girls and one hundred boys, from
seven 10 twelve years of age, were array.
| ed in lines, extending to the Reception
Room. They were neatly dressed, the
females in white, with blue sashes and
badges, and Leghorn bonnets; the boys in
blue, with pink sasbes and badges. As the
general approached, Miss Ro'alia Tpylor,
beautiful little girl, daughter OF R.l.Tay-
Tor, esq. stepped out, and spoke with be.
coming grace and manner, the following