Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-10-16

"A group OF % young g,rls,
/, 'a' was n IN hite, intended IL represent the
.i'Sia,es and the District of Columbia each
wearing IA wreath of flowers, and bearing in
Der hand y miniature national flag, with the
name os one of the States inscribed upon it.
when The one representing the District ad'anc-
Ell and arrested his progress, and, in short
speech, neatly and m0desty delivered THEN /
welcome to the Nations Guest. After which |
each of the young ladies presented her naad
to the Generai, which lac received in the most
astec;ionate manner, and with the kindest ex-
pressions. He then passed double line Of
girls, properly dressed, from the Schools,
who strewed his way with flowers. Leaving
the girls, he passed lines of the Students oil
the Colleges and Summaries, with their res
pective banners, and company of Juvenile
Infantry, dressed in uniform, and armed IN
suil,ble manner aud then the younger boys
from ihs Schools. All these formed nu-
merous and highly Interesting \assemblage.-
Arriving at the north wing of the Capitol, OF
General was conducted by the Committee
Arrangement through he great door up the
grand staircase, into the central rotunda of the
Capitol, which, though Of immense size, was
filled with ladies and gen,lsmeu sand, through
it, received, on every side, demonstrations OF
| the most ardent and grateful respect. On
leaving the rotunda, he passed under the ven
1
a'Ss. na.n'nsionarY. officers, and other gentle
men, TO the front OF IT, r--,;-- ~r,i,e Capi,al,
neatly carpeted on which was erected tn.
tent he was introduced to the Mayor. who
introduced him to the Mayor of Georgetown n.
aud the Members of the Corpora ton, and
other gentlemen present, when, advancing to
Inc front OF the portico, in the presence oil
many thousand spectators, the Mayor deiiy-
cred to him the following address
| General In beholding you again in our
country, after lapse of forty years, and in the
Capitol of our Nation, on the vesthule Of this
magnificent temple, dedicated to its liberty,
and At the door of that tent which, for eight
years, formed the principal hatitatiun of the
acheYer of our freedom (; that tent in which
you have so often partaken of his cares, and
participated in his councils, the citizens OF
washington feel emotions beyond the power
Of utterance.
j The gratitude and admiration which have
been exhibited by our countrymen, since yeul
arrival in the land which your exertions con
triDnted 10 render free, are evidences of the
estimation IN which we hold him who brave
~ aud generously aided i'm the attainment OF
tue blessings wenow enjoy. But the admin.
ton and gratitude already displayed canno,
exceed what we feel on this occasion. nor
what the whole American nation must fe ell. in
behoiding the associate Of their Washington
and ihe brave defender of their country The
splendid and dIsinteresteG actions of your
youth nave been deeply interviewer with the
memory OF the old, and transmitted To the
young of the present day. Actuated by IN,
principles of our glorious Revolution, and an
imated by the example of its illustrious Chief
we have rejoiced to behold you, in every con.
aiiion IN which destiny has placed you, the
same undertaking and Interchangeable friend %
liberty and of man.
We will refrain from enumeratiDg all this
disInierested and splendid services YOU have
rendered to our country; but, permit us par.
Hcuiariy to refer to that awful period when
commanding IN chief in the commonwealth nj
Virginia. you fOlled the most renowned Can.
laiu oil our enemy, combining him to tho mar
| row precincts of Y orktOwn, where he was soop
compelled to surrender to the combined arm
under Washington Of the u. States. and al
| nur good friend, ard f,ata-.t - m a an.-.: -,
ally, Louis the Sixteenth, King of France in
which memorable siege you acted a leading
and distinguished part.
| With these recoIlections, we welcome YOU
with our whole hearts, to the Metropolis OF our
Nation, created, since you left us, out of a
wilderness---a city especially founded by
our people as the permanent memorial of their
liberty. To render it, AT the same time, the
perpetual monument of their grateful venera-
ton for the pure, wise, brave, and consummate
leader OF our armies and founder of our Re-
public, they bestowed on it the immortal
name OF Washington ; under whom Won
| learned the art of war; under whom Won be-
came great and mighty prop to our cause.
ways commanding the confidence of vour
chlefln the hours of gloom and peril and. af
Ter our conntry's freedom and safety had
crowned your united efforts with irnperishabIe
glory, enjoying his steady sincere, and nn-
varying esteem and friendship to the latest
i moment of his life.
10 winch the General replied in the follow
| ing allectiunate aud impre ssive terms:
me KIND and hatterng reception with
when am hoDored by the citizens of Wash
.no,on' eacneS the most lively feelings Of graf
itude I: Those grateful feelings sir. at every
step of my happy visit to the u States could
not but enhance the inexpressihle delight
| have enjoyed at the sight of The imHense
wonderful improvements, so far beyond even
the londest anticipaiions of warm American
heart, and which, in the space of forty wears.
nave SO Sloriously evnced the superiority Of
popular institutions and self government over
me 700 imperfect state of political ci,iliza-
uoh iounu 10 every part of the other bemis.
Phere. In this august place, which bears The
most yenerated of all ancient and modern
names, haye,sir, the pleasure TO contemnl,,e
not only centre of that constitutional ,,nion
SO necessary to these states, so important 70
the interest of mankind, but also great uolite
cal school, where attentive observers Cron,
other parts Of the world may be taught the
practical science Of true sociai order. Among
the circumstances of my life, TO which Won
have been pleased TO alIude, none can afford
me such dear recOllections as my having been
early adopted as an American soldier SO there
Ia ftftf