After this reception, General Lafayette was conducted to Washington Hall amidst a constantly increasing crowd.—A splendid dinner was here served up; all the public officers were present, and numerous toasts were drank. One was drank to Greece regenerated, wishing her a Washington for a leader, and a Lafayette for a friend.
At night, a population of one hundred and twenty thousand souls, augmented by forty thousand strangers from various parts of the union, walked about by the light of an illumination, celebrating the exploits of the champion of liberty, and these rejoicings of the people, which in Europe under the protection of the police would have been signalized by murders, robberies, and accidents of all sorts, here passed without the slightest disorder. The next morning the mayor, Joseph Watson, came to visit General Lafayette. He brought in his hand the report from the high constable, which he showed us. “See there,” said he with an expression of lively satisfaction, “see how freemen behave! More than forty thousand strangers have come to participate in the rejoicings of my fellow citizens, and I have not found it necessary to increase the number of watchmen. We have but a hundred and sixty, who are unarmed, and they have not had a single tumult to repress in this night of joyous and popular effervescence! Examine these reports! not a single complaint—not the slightest trouble,” and joy sparkled in the eyes of this virtuous magistrate, whose chief happiness has its source in the excellence of those over whom he presides. In my opinion the mayor of Philadelphia would make a very bad prefect of police in Paris.
On the succeeding days the general received in the Hall of Independence, the addresses of various regularly constituted bodies, such as the clergy, the Philosophical Society, Bible Society, the University, the Chamber of Commerce, the bar, children of the public schools, Washington Light Infantry, Lafayette Benevolent Association, the revolutionary soldiers, the French residents of Philadelphia, &c. &c. To each of these addresses General Lafayette replied extemporarily with an elegant facility, so appropriate to the various circumstances by which he was surrounded or was reminded of, that the admiration and surprize of the public constantly increased.
The deputation of the clergy presented a very interesting picture, and was well suited to fix the attention of an European. Led by the venerable Bishop White, who was chaplain to Congress during the revolutionary war, it consisted of nearly eighty pastors of almost every different sect, but all animated with the same sentiment of tolerance and charity. The orator always expressing himself in the name of the ministers of all denominations proved himself the faithful organ of their unanimous sentiments in the following address.
“General,
“The Ministers of the Gospel, in this City and its Liberties, present to you their congratulations on your arrival in the United States, and assure you of the interest which they take in the satisfaction manifested universally by their fellow-citizens, on the occasion: the effect of gratitude for your services, in the infancy of their national existence.
“As Pastors of different religious denominations, we are thankful to the Bestower of all Good, for the enjoyment of a Government of equal laws, extending its protection to professors of religion in every form, not hostile to the peace and the due order of civil life. Possessed of this sentiment, we honour and esteem those who have contributed to the establishment, or to the stability, of the liberal institutions of our country. Among them we cannot but perceive a conspicuous station to be occupied, by the eminent person whom we have now the honour of addressing.
“It is gratifying to us, that having hazarded his person and his fortune in the cause of our commonwealth, in the season of her difficulties and her dangers, he has revisited her after such a lapse of years; and become a witness of her subsequent prosperity, and of her progress in whatever can adorn society, or ensure its safety.
“With our congratulations, general, we request you to accept of our affectionate wishes, and the assurances of our prayers, that under the blessings of a gracious Providence, your remaining days may be as happy, as the former have been glorious.”
The following is General Lafayette’s answer.