Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-09-13

From a Correspondent of the National Intel
ligenccr.l
The moment of separation arrived.
The Mount Vernon received her vene-
rable freight, and the General from the
midst of the suite whom the Govern
ment had detailed as an escort OF ho-
nor, waved his hand and bowed, to the
thousands who thronged the shores, an
aHec,ionate adieu.
Under the discharge Of artillery, and
the fervent benedictions of the vast as
semblage, who still fingered and look
ed, when they no longer spoke, a last
farewell, the Mount Vernon proceeded
on her way.
On passing Alexandria, the wharves
and shipping were crowded with cit-
zens and neighbors, all business was
suspended, and the "hum of men" was
hushed in The respectful silence which
pervaded this "parting hour" The
General, uncovered, took the station
which would place him nearest to his
friends, where he could best give and
bes, receive the salute Of mutual at
tachment and esteem So distracted
from ordinary considerations were the
minds of all parties, that the steersman
neared the town till the General be-
came enveIoped in the smoke OF the
cannon, which, however appropriate to
enemies, were nearer than is usual to
friends The boat, after passing, re-
turned, and repassed the town, again
and again producing the most enthusi-
astic expressions of affectionate fare
we'll. The ramparts of Fort Washing
ton paid their honors, as the mansion,
the groves, and the tomb OF Mount
Vernon opened to view. The progress
of the little fleet was arrested; it remain
ed motionless on the broad bosom OF
Potomac's wave-that the last Of the
Generals might pay his pious homage
and 6lial duty to the tomb OF the pater-
nal Chief.
La Fayette arose-the wonders which
he had performed for a man Of his age,
in successfully accomplishing labors
enough to have tested his meridian vi
cor, whose animation rather resembles
the spring than the winter of life, now
seemed unequal to the task he was a
bout to perform: to take a last look at
the grave Of Washington! He advanc-
ed 10 the efFort-a silence the most i'm
pressive relgned around, till the strains
Of sweet and p~laintive music compile
ted the grandeur and sacred solemnity
of the scene. All hearts beat in uni
| son with the throbbings ofthe veterans
bosom as he, looked, and that for the
last time, on the ~scpulchre which con-
tains the ashes Of the First Of Men,
He spoke not, bu' appeared absorbed
in the mighty recollectlons which the
place and the occasion inspired. Yet a
voice seemed borne on the air. 1t APP
peared to say to the names OF the Illus
trious dead, WAsHINeToN, thou friend
and father Of my youth, under whose
heroic banner l first gained renown in
the fields Of Fame, when, combating
fer the rights and liberties Of man-in
whose bosom l was cherished in the
earliest, the happiest, days of life
whose affections descended with me
from the palace to the dungeon
whose arms were opened 10 receive my
child, when forlorn and a wanderer
from his native land, he sought in thee
a friend and found a father-Most tru-
ly great and glorious of men, while
such an humble mound alone contains
thy ashes, thy monument is based on
an hemisphere, and thy fame will cen
otaph thy memory in ages yet unborn
Accept the last duty which flial no.
mage pays to the tomb CT Washington
in the tear Of Lafayette. The General
as he was about to return to his cabin,
affec,ionately and feelingly embraced
Him who too was an adopted child of
the Chief.
After this noble scene, the character
istics Of which were Of the puresl, the
highest order, the fleet resumed its
course, and after a voyage OF safety and
expedition, anchored neal the Brandy
wine the ensuing morning. The &C.
neral was received in the Commodore's
barge, and repaired, through very in
clement weather, TO the gallant bark
which is 10 bear him to his other home.
He was placed on the deck Of the ship
by al ornamented chair, rugged for the
special purpose, and under a salute
from the main battery-the music of
the band, and the greetings of the Com
modore, his officers, and many guests,
who were assembled for this interest
ing event-but above all, by the warm
embrace Of the Revolutionary worthless,
Gen. Smith, Col. Bentalou, and J. w.
McCulloch, Esq. who, with many gen
tlemen from Baltimore, had repaired
to the ship to take another farewell of
their beloved associate of the heroic
time. After a sumptuous collation.,
served in the Captains cabin, and a
number of feeling and appropriate
toasts, the moment of separation arri-
we'd Gen. Smith and his venerable
companions, first advanced, when the