Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1886-03-19
Lafayette in America.

Louisville GOuFtcF-sfOUTgaaf writes: Con-
gress learning that Gen. Lafayette had
expressed an anxious desire 20 visit this
country. the independence of which his
valor, blood, and treasure were so i'm
strumentai in achieving. requested the
president of the United States TO ascer-
tain the time when it would be most
agreeable for him TO perform this visit,
and that he offer TO the general
conveyance to this country in one Of our
national ships
Gen. Lafayette declined this offer of a
public ship. He sailed from Havrc in
the packet-ship Cadmus. accompanied
by his son, George Washington Lafa-
yctte, and arrived ut New York on the
10Th of August. 1921. Ills reception in
the city was all that his heart could de-
sire. He soon proceeded on tour
through the United States. Everywhere
he was received and honored as 'sThc,
national guest. For more than a year
his journey was complete ovation.
When the time of his departure drew
near, new frigate, the Brandywinc,
named in honor of the gallant exploits
of Gen. Lafayette at the battle of
Brandywine, was provided by congress.
to convey him to France. It was deem-
ed appropriate that he should take final
leave of the nation ut the seat of gov
ernment in Washington. President
Adams invited him to pass few weeks
in the presidential mansion. During
his sojourn at the capital he visited eN-
President Jefferson, Madison and Mon
roe at their several places of residence
Having paid his respects to these ven
Grated sages, the ..nation's guest pre-
pared to take his final departure from
the midst of grateful people. The
7th of Sept, 1925, was the day appointed
for taking leave. At II o'clock the Off
GERS of the general government. civil,
military, and naval, together with the
authorities of Washington, Georgetown
and Alexandria, with multitudes of citi-
zens and strangers. assembled in the
presidents house. Mr.. Adams then adj
dressed him in an appropriate speech
copy a single paragraph:
You have traversed the twentv-four
states of the great confederacy; YOU
have been received with rapture by the
survivors of Your earliest companions
i'm arms; YOU have been hailed, as II
long-abscnt parent, by their children
the men and women of the present age;
and Il rising generation, the hope of flI-
ture time, in numbers surprising the
whole population of that day when you
fought at the head and by the side of
their forefathers, have We'd with the
scanty remnants of that hour of trial in
acclamations of joy at beholding the
face of him whom they feel to be the
common benefactor of ALL You have
heard the mingled voices of the past,
tho present, and the future age joining
in one universal chorus of delight at
your approach; and the shouts Of nn-
hidden thousands, which greeted your
landing on the soil of freedom, have
followed every step of your way. and
still resound like the rushing Of many
waters from every corner of our land.
Gen. Lafayettes happy reply closed
with these words:
God bless You. sir. and all who sur
round us. God bless the American peo-
pie, each of their states, and the federal
government Accept this patriotic fare
well Of an oyeriiowing heart Such
will be its las. throb when it ceases TO
beat. I"
The moment Of departure at length
arrived, and having once more pressed
the hand Of Mr.. Adams he entered the
barouche, accompanied by the secretar-
les of state, of the treasury, and of the
navy, and passed from the capitol. An
immense procession accompanied him
to the banks of the Potomac, where the
steamboat Mount Vernon awaited to
carry him down the river TO the frigate
Brandywine. The next morning this
boat anchored IN safety near the Brandy
winc. Here Lafayette took leave Of the
secretaries of state. the treasury. and
navy, and the guests who had accom-
panied him from Washington. together
with many military and naval officers,
and the eminent citizens who bad as
senbled in various crafts near the frig-
ate to bid him farewell.