Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-10-28

that had escaped the disasters which had
overwhelmed France. WhGn his plans
were made known, our government Of
fered to place national vessel at his dis
posal but he declined accepting it, and
embarked at Havre in merchantman,
and arrived at New York, August l5thH.
1924 He was ct this time siXty-seven'
years old.
| Ills reception i'll this country, and
trumphal march through it, is one of the
most remarkable events in the history of
the world. Such gratitude aud unbound
ed affection were never before received
by man from IA foreign nation. AS he
passed from Staten Island New York,
the bay was covered with gay barges de-
corated with streamers and when the
beautiful fleet showed away, the bands
struck up, 'Ou peut-on dre mieuz qa'au
sein de Sa famiHe" " Where can one bet
ter be, than III the bosom of his family
! Never did his tavorite French air seem
so approprlate-not even when the shat
tered Old Guard closed sternly around
It's Emperor, and sang 1t amid the fire of
the enemy's guns-as when the free peo-
pie thus chanted 1t around the venerable
Lafayette. AS he touched the shore, the
thunder of cannon shook the city-old
soldiers rushed weeping into his arms );
and, Welcome Lafayette ! waved from
every banner, rung from every trumpet,
and was caught up by every voice, till
WELCOME, WELCOME = rose and fell in
deicaning shouts from the assembled
thousands. During the four days he re-
manned in the city, 1t was one constant
D jubilee and when he left for Boston, all
+ along his route, the people rose to well
come him. lie travelled every night,
till IL o'clock, and watch6res were kept
burning Oh the hlll-tops, along his line
of progress. Blazing through the dark
t ness, they outshone the torches that her
!, aided him while III the distance the
: pealing Of bells from every church spire,
q announced his coming. The same en-
thusiastic JOY received him at Boston
and when he returned to New York, the
J. city was wilder than ever with excite
: ment. In Castle Garden there was a
!. splendid illumination in honor of him -
+, the bridge leading TO it was surmounted
by pyramid sixty feet high, with baz-
ing star at the top, from the centre Of
which flashed the name of Lafayette
- The planks covered with carpets. and
trees aud flowers innumcrable lined the
passage. Over the entrance was a tri-
q. umphal arch of flowers - huge columns
!. arose from the area supporting arches OF
e flowers, and flags, and statues. As he
entered this wilderness Of beauty, the
bands struck up, See the conqucrne
hero comes and shouts shook the cditice
to its foundation. lie had scarcely ta-
g ken his seat i'll a splendid marquee, pre-
d pared for his reception, when the curtain
before the gallery, in front of him lifted
and there was beautiful transparency,
representing La Grange, with lis grounds
l., and towers, and beneath it, This is my
/. hOme.' Nothing could be more touching
e and aflectionale than this device and as
e Latayette's eye fell upon 1t, tear was
seen to gather there, and his lip to quiy-
er with feeling.
Thus the people received the 'peo-
pe's friend From New York he went
TO Albany and Troy, and one long shout
OF Welcome rolled the length of the
Hudson, as he floa,ed up the noble
stream. Retaining, he went TO Phlla-
= delphla and passed through the same
scenes that had been enacted 10 every
- city he had visited, continued hIs route
:. to Mount Vernon, to visit the tomb o
q. W ashlnglon. The laundering Of can
non announced his arrival nj the consc
Grated ground calling to his mind the
T. time when he had seen that, now lleles.
- chieilalu, move through the tumult OF bat
tie. Wishing no one TO witness his EN-
otons, as he stood beside the ashes o.
his friend, he descended alone into the
vault. With trembling steps, and un
covered head, he passed down TO the
40 tomb. The secrets 0i that meeting o
y, the living with the dead, no one knows
bu, when the aged veteran came lorlf
again, his face was covered with tears
lie then took his son and secretary by
". the hand, and led them into the vault
He could not speak-hls bursting hear
was too full for utterance, and he mute
~ ly pointed TO the coffin Of ashlngton
They knelt revcrenlly beside It, klsse'
il, then rising, threw themselves mt
"a. Laiayelte's arms, and burst into tears
IN 1t was a touching scene, the'e IN the 81
=, lent vault, and worthy the noble sleeper
From thence he went 10 Yorktown
where a magnificent reception was CIV
en- him. Proceeding South, he passe,
- through all the principal cities, to New
Orleans, and thence up the Mlssss'p
pi, to Cincinnati, and across to Pits
burg, and finally to western New York
through which he FASTENED rapidly L
Boston, to be present at the laying q
the corner stone OF the Bunker-llI
monument.
- Previously to his southern trip, how
ever, he had visited Congress, aud bee
, received by that body with disIlneushc
Ss honor A few days after, a bull wa
Of passed, giving him hundred and fort
re Thousand dollars, as payment, IN par
an Tor the money he had expended IN on