The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-01-04

New ORLEANS Dec. g. 1872
RECEPTION OF Mr.. CLAY.-New Orleans has sci.
dom, If ever, witnessed such pageant as was exhi-
bed yesterday, previous to, during, and after the re-
cepton of Hon. Henry Clay, the American Citizen
the American Statesman. AT at early hour in the
morning vast crowds of people were on foot, we nd
ing their way towards the boats that were to meet
him at Carrollon, and to convey him to the city !;
and general animation among the people, betoken-
cd, though iainty, the enthusiasm which was to en-
sue.
AT little after nine o'clock, the splendid steamer
Grey Eagle, Capt Shallcross, with numerous
hrong, both OF gentlemen and ladies on board, left
the levee-Gubichi's superb band striking up ma
tional air. In a few minutes the Grey Eagle was
Joined by the steamers Great Western, Giraffe, Phe.
nix, Missouri and Henry Clay, the latter of which,
though fully loaded and Just arrived from above
wheeled into the line without dlscharging pound
of her downward freight. She deserved andreceiv-
ed great commentator therefor
Nor must we omit TO mention the beautiful boat
manned by crew from the ''Lady of Lyons Boat
Club She danced merry over the bosom of the
river, while the flags fiutered in the breeze She at
tended the procession at the beginning, as also at
the close, and was always sin he midst of the
fun"
As The line of boats passed up along the shining
it was greeted with cheers from Sailors watermen
draymen and all other classes of persons possible TO
be imagined, on the shore The Shipping from
deck to truck" and from "clue to caring" were
decorated with their hags-the colors of other
nations, and every variety of signal known to the
ship book. The first salute fired by the ship
Pennsylvania" as the Grey Eagle passedby, which
was repeated, one for each boat. The little Giraffe
answered them.
At quarter to IL o'clock precisely, the Luda, on
which Mr.. Clay, Judge Porter, the Clay Committee,
and several distinguished gentlemen, was discover
ed, dashed broadside to, with the -" Ambassador, {"
both laden with cotton-besides Clay, that other
valuable cargo. The Luda fired two bow guns, and
the procession answering them rounded in, with
the band playing " Hail Columbia towards the
Luda-ana when the boats in succession came so
near her as to discover the eagle eye and marble
forehead OF the great statesman, shout went up to
heaven, louder than Alpine thunder.
Just at that moment the sunshine cleaned out
from the clouds as though omlnous of the brlliance
crossing slowly, the other boats got into line, of
which The following was the order Luda, Grey
Eagle, Henry Clay, Ambassador, Great Western,
Missouri and Phenx
As they passed down, the levee was filled with
spectators, whose numerous throngs seemed to
backen the ground Then there the same sue
cession of human shouts, and the same salvos OF
ship artillery.
hrongs and the ladies as each boat passed, waved
their handk erchiels. This was a most imposing
sight
As we passed rapidly by, we caught the names of
only few of the many vessels which opened their
cannon for Mr.. Clay's welcome. These were the
Pennsylvania, ship Sheffield, Avola, Vile de Paris,
bark Bremen, and three others opposite the upper
Cotton Press.
thcker-denser and more compact, the crowd be-
came Every box, barrel, ost, boat, had its eager
tenants, and there was another shout from the
mouths OF sixty thousand people, we presume, as
the first gun was discharged by the "Canoners,"
at the Place de Arms, under command Of Major
Galy and immediately answered by the Washing
ton Battalion of Artillery, at the foot of Canal street.
under the command of Col. f. L Tracy.
We had like to have omitted, that the steamer
New York, commanded by the popular CAPT. Wright,
fired sharp salute az the procession passed his
vessel.
Just before rounding to, to come up, the process
sion of boats crossed the bows of the beautiful
Texas ship of war Austin, when, CONNER cing with
either side altcrnatel y-producing a cheering and
beautiful effect The Texas brig of war Wharton,
fired the same number of heavy guns as the boats
passed her at anchor-a of which was responded
10 by the passengers they came near enough, with
"Three Cheers for Texasr' AT a quarter to noon,
the boats arrived at the levee when Mr. Clay after
little delay, landed The crowd was immense be-
voifd conception, and so Dense that much of the
arrangem intended on the part of the military to
make his egress easy, fell short. The crowd min
gled with the soldiers, and made better Roadway
with enthusiastic hearts and elbows, than proved to
be the case with swords and bayonets.
Mr. Clay was greeted on his landing, by Colonel
William Chrsty, IN neat, pertinent speech of
about ten minutes. Mr.. Clay, ,cih has hair floating
TO re ,cnos-his bro,c bare, and his eye flashing the
A,rora Porealis of a thousand contending enot,ons
replied in speech OF remarkable power, aptitude
and eloquence. SO clear was his voiceso anima-
ted his words, and significant his gestures, hatthe
effect Of his oratory went Tar into the crowd-rt-
brofng ii to The fopn,osf thrill Of patriotism. The
pen fails us in re-ouchlug what he said. A tremen-