The state chronicle., 1893-05-17
years. I find myself again

years. I find myself again
on the soil of North Carolina
on this interesting spot. then q sort
Of wilderness, now the seat of gov
ernment-old remembrances, long |
cherished connections of revolu
tionary times, mingle with present
gratitude to enforce my enjoyments
in the kind and honorable welcome
conferred upon me by the people OF
this State by citizens of this me-
tropolis.
"The value you are pleased to at
tribute to my exertions, and your
appreciation of my conduct in both
hemispheres are highly gratifying.
While [ cordially join in your
wishes, hope do not deceive my
self when I corroborate your ex-
pectations that the example OF
American liberty, prosperity and
happiness will not be lost on the
1 othe other side of the Atlantic.
cat the conclusion, the veteran
soldiers, General Lafayette and Col
Polk, rushed into each others arms
and again wept their gratitude, that
they who had borne the brunt Of
battle together in their youthful
prime, had been spared to meet
again On peaceful plains and in
happier hours.
| General Lafayette was then lean
ing on the arm of Miss Betsy Hay
wood (sister Of DR.. E Bnrke Hay
wood, Of Rale,gh,) conducted to
that chef d'ouvre of Roman art, the
statue of Washington by Conova.
General Lafayette was pleased to
observe that the likeness was much
better than he expected to see,
and seemed deeply interested
! in examining the historical de
signs on the pedestal, and
expressed his appreciation of
the exquisite workmanship of the
whole. This great work of art was
destroyed by fire with the State
Capitol in 1881, but an engraving
of Lafayette at the statue of Wash
ington hangs on the walls Of the
executive Office, (placed there by
the writer) and also in the Senate
chamber, and 81 part ct the ruins
may be seen in our State Museum.
The evening in Raleigh was closed
with banquet at the Governors
mansion and grand ball.
In responding to the toast: Gen.
Lafayette our illustrious guest
the eloquence Of gratitude is 81
lence," the General arose and ex-
pressed his thanks to the company
for their kindness, and proposed the
folio wing: "The State of North
Carolina, it's metropolis, and the
Goth May, l775, when a generous
people called for independence and
freedom-of which may they more
and more forever cherish the prin-
ciples and enjoy the blessings"
| This toast was afterwards.'followed
by one from Col. William Polk, who
presided on the occasion
Lafayette, the last of the Revo-
lutionary General officers-may the
evening of his life be as happy and
serene as the meridian of his days
have been great and glorious"
Some of the faculty and greater
part OF the students of the Univer-
sity came to Raleigh to see the
great French General-many of
them walking the whole way.
The most striking thing to the
writer in all this visit is the toast of
Lafayette. He was fresh from Mon.
ticello, where he had spent week
with ex President Thomas Jeffer-
son. The man who presided on the
occasion of the banquet was Col.
William Polk who was born in
Mecklenburg county, and always
boasted that when but youth #
nineteen years, be was present at
the meeting in Charlotte on the
Goth of May, ITS, VIXEN Mecklen-
burg declared It's independence;
the Governor of the State, then
present, who ff9red the volunteer
toast "The man who estimated as
but dust in the balance ali the
blessings of this life when in the
opposite scale were placed Liberty
and Independence"-a native of
Granville, an educated man, a law
Yer, who had lived in Mecklenburg,
and been member of Congress and
Attorney General Of the State, sat
quietly by and heard the toast of
Lafayette to the patriots of May 20,
lf|5, and no one said it was May
81, while some who have been born
long since and never saw those
worthless contend that they did not
know what day of the month it was.
JOHN B NEATHERY.