Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-10-08

to h's skill, and slipped overheard to
swiG. ashore.
Our mex, object OF interest was Fort
Washington. Here a salute was fired,
whilst from the batllemenls the fair, and
others oil the neighborhood, who had Ia
ken position there, gave by the waving
OF their handkercbiels their last farewell
to the General, who responded with the
waving oil his hat, &c.
Ii was now about half past four clock,
when dinner was announced. | confess |
have seen preparations OF the kind IN
steam boats, which demanded and re-
ceived my admiration. But had seen
nothing 10 equal this. We had two Ia
bles and about twenty-five guests, excln-
sive OF the Secretary oil the Navy and La
Fayette and Son and Secretary. had,
by the way, and in the hurry OF this flying
account, forgotten to say who composed
our company. To the foregoing may be
added MAJOR General Blown, Commo
dores BAH bridge and Jones; Captain
Read oil the Navy; the Son and Secrea-
ny OF the Prcsiden, of the United States
the Mayors of Washington and George
town; the Commanding General Smith
and suite; (Col. Nj Kenney, Major Ran
dolph, and Lieut.. w. S. Ringgold,)
Brig. Gen. Jones, and Suite; Mr.. Ora
ham OF the Land Office; Mr. Dupont oil
Wilmington, who had served La Fayette
in l79 as aid, IN France George Wash
ington p GUSTS, and DR.. Kent; Young
Mr.. Huger, whose father had, in conlunc
ton win DR.. Bollman, rescued La Fay
ellie from the prison of Olmutz; Mr..
Somervile, who is going in the Brandy
wine Charge d'Affaires to Sweden; Ge-
neral LaIemand; the Chaplain of the
Brand, vine Mr.. Ogilyie, OF New York,
with several others, including the Gen
,lemen who bad been depuled from New.
Yark,to deliver the splendid present oi
the book of Penmanship.
Before dinner was over il was announc
ed that we were lying of Noun, Vernon
which had just been indicated by the
Marine Band, which accompanied u.s.
in the plain,ive and sweet toned PieyeWS
Hymn. Al that moment | Caught La
Fayette's eye-lt was pensive. HIS COM
munIcative powers appeared suddenly
suspended, and his complexion grew
wan! There was evidently in his breas
avariety of mingled and strongly excited
emotions. He ate no more. When pre-
seDtly it was announced by the Marshal,
that Gen. La Fayette would not wish TO
disturb the company, his only object in
rising being to take parting look a
Mount Vernon. All arose! Leaning
upon the Secretary's arm, be proceeded
TO the deck. Some followed him, among
those was myself. approached to.
wards the spot which he occupied, near
the stern OF the boat did so with feel.
ings of the deepest INTEREST," felt loathe
TO intrude upon the sanctity of the scene
land yet could NOT Jor6ear. took
my position ncer him. saw what |
shall never see again; and the sight al
tected me to tears. 1t was La Faye,e
taking leave, and forever, OF the spoi
which had for him so many associations
ofvirtue, patriotism; of hopes and fears
of social endearment, of veneralion and
love; of the spot where lay the bones OF
his patron and early precep'or; his Fa
ther, and the Father Of our Country: III
q word, of all those scenes of life, when,
in its morning it shone SO brightly. The
objects which had called up all this, wete
now before his eyes, and Tor the last
time ! He spoke not--he we'd not
his eyes were fixed upon Mount Vernon
his head a little inc lined to his right
shoulder, and dowuwards. Thus he
stood for fifteen minutes, and until the
shades of evening dlmmed he scenery
and shut out the prospect, aud from La
Fayettc, forever When, turning sud
denly, he retired, without u,terlng word,
TO the cabin.
This, my dear friend, was monen, OF
sacredness to me-snd to us all. There
was an awe and sancti,y about il which
could not have been increased, had we &C
tually witnessed communion between
the hero who reposes at Mount Vernon,
aDdhis devoted and admiring La Fsyeue
Let cynicks treat such occurrences as
they may choose; still TO me, there is in
them so much Of sancti,y-such an exhi.
bition of the religion Of the heart, as TO
give It m an interest for which trust
may yer lose the relish. | am certain,
my dear friend, OF having in your feelings
refuge for my own. l am not much
concerned therefore, as 10 the value which
others may attach to them, being sure
that even this faint description which
have given ofthe passing Of Mount Yer
non will have charms for you.
The evening had now grown damp,