We arrived at Albany before sunrise, on the 12th of June, and some hours afterwards we had already crossed the Hudson, and advanced rapidly towards Massachusetts, whose western border is traced parallel to that river at about twenty-five miles from the left bank; we had still to travel one hundred and fifty miles before reaching Boston, but the excellence of the roads insured us a rapid journey, and hence General Lafayette was certain of arriving in time to fulfil his engagements. Nevertheless, he determined to stop only for such time as was absolutely necessary for repose. We therefore entered Boston on the 15th at a little before noon. In publishing this happy arrival, the newspapers caused much astonishment and joy, throughout the Union. Few persons believed in the possibility of his return for the anniversary of Bunker’s hill, and every one considered the journey he had performed as almost magical. In fact, had he not travelled, in less than four months, a distance of upwards of five thousand miles, traversed seas near the equator, and lakes near the polar circle, ascended rapid rivers to the verge of civilization in the new world, and received the homage of sixteen republics! And our astonishment is increased, when it is recollected that this extraordinary journey was performed by a man of 67 years of age! The plan of this journey had been, it is true, ably and skilfully planned by Mr. M’Lean, the postmaster-general, General Bernard, and Mr. George Lafayette; and had been followed with a precision and exactness, that could only have resulted from the unanimity of feeling which animated both the people and the magistrates of the different states; but, during so long a journey, amidst so many dangers, it would have been impossible to foresee accidents, one of which, by delaying us only a few days, would have deranged all our calculations, and yet our good luck was such that we never lost a moment of the time so exactly portioned out, and arrived on the precise day fixed upon.
In returning to the city of Boston, where so many old and firm friends expected him, General Lafayette would have experienced unalloyed satisfaction, if he had not been obliged to deplore the loss of two sincere friends, whom death had snatched away during his short absence, the ex-governor Brooks and Governor Eustis, who departed this life, in possession of the esteem and regret of all who knew them, and had experienced their sage administration. This was the commencement of the accomplishment of the prophetic words of Lafayette’s companions in arms, who all, in shaking him by the hand, had exclaimed, “We have again seen our old general—we have lived long enough!”
The day after our arrival, in accordance with an invitation that had been given him, the general went to the Capitol, where the new governor, Mr. Lincoln, the senate, house of representatives, and civil authorities of Boston, had united to receive and compliment him. After we had taken our places in this assembly, the governor rose, and in the name of the state of Massachusetts, congratulated the guest of the nation on the happy termination of his long journey.
As soon as the general had made his reply, the members of the two houses left their places, and crowded round him to offer him an individual expression of their feelings, and sincere congratulations were showered upon him from the galleries, which were filled by a great number of ladies anxious to see him once again. Among the strangers of distinction who were present at this scene, we recognized with much pleasure, Mr. Barbour, appointed secretary of war since Mr. Adams had entered on his functions as president; Colonel M‘Lane of the state of Delaware, Colonel Dwight, Drs. Mitchill and Fisk, General Courtland and Colonel Stone of New York, who had all arrived within a few days to be present at the ceremonies of the 17th of June.
On leaving the capitol, the general was reconducted by a numerous escort of friends to the house of Senator Lloyd, where we found our accommodations prepared the preceding evening, through the hospitable attentions of his amiable family.
The sun of the fiftieth anniversary of the battle of Bunker’s hill arose in full radiance, and thousands of voices uniting with the joyous sounds of the bells and reports of artillery saluted it with patriotic acclamations. At seven o’clock in the morning, passing through a crowd, agitated by glorious recollections of the 17th of June 1775, General Lafayette went to the grand lodge of Massachusetts, where deputations from the grand lodges of Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, and New Jersey, had joined the officers of the chapter and knights of the temple, to receive and compliment him.
At ten o’clock, two thousand free masons, sixteen companies of volunteer infantry and a corps of cavalry, the different corporation and the civil and military authorities, assembled at the capitol, where the procession was formed under the command of General Lyman, whilst the grand master, and deputies of the masonic order, went for General Lafayette to Mr. Lloyd’s, where he had retired on leaving the temple.
At half after ten, the procession took up the line of march. It was composed of about seven thousand persons. Two hundred officers and soldiers of the revolution marched at the head; forty veterans, the honourable remains of the heroes of Bunker’s hill, followed in eight open carriages; they were decorated with a large riband on which was this inscription: June 17th, 1775. Some wore the cartouch boxes they had emptied on that remarkable day, and one who had been a drummer, still carried the instrument whose sound had so often rallied the American battalions, broken by the English columns; behind them marched a long array of numerous subscribers to the monument, formed in ranks of six, and followed by two thousand masons, covered with rich ornaments and symbols of the order; afterwards came General Lafayette in a superb calash drawn by six white horses. Following him were a long file of carriages, in which were his son, his secretary, the governor of Massachusetts and staff, and a great number of persons of distinction, both natives and foreigners. This column advanced to the sound of music and bells, in the midst of two hundred thousand citizens, collected from all the states in the Union, whilst discharges of artillery and general acclamations saluted it at short intervals. It arrived at Bunker’s hill at half after twelve; and in a short time every one was arranged in regular order on the hill on which the monument was to be elevated, as a mark of national gratitude to the first heroes of the revolution.
The modest pyramid formerly raised over the remains of Warren and his companions, and which we had seen on our first visit to Bunker’s hill, had disappeared. From its principal piece of timber, a cane had been formed, on the gold head of which was an inscription, alluding to its origin, and mentioning that it was presented by the masons of Charlestown to General Lafayette, who accepted it as one of the most precious relics of the American revolution; and a large excavation indicated the spot on which the new monument was to be placed.
A short time after we had taken our places around this excavation, and silence was established throughout the innumerable crowd, who waited in religious meditation for the commencement of the ceremony, the grand master of the grand lodge of Massachusetts, accompanied by the principal dignitaries of the order, brother Lafayette, Mr. Webster and the principal architect, proceeded to lay the first stone, with the forms prescribed by masonic regulations; in an iron box were placed medals, pieces of money, a plate of silver on which was engraved an account of the foundation of the monument; over this box was laid a stone on which the grand master poured corn, wine and oil, whilst the Rev. Mr. Allen, the chaplain of the day, pronounced the benediction. The masonic order to finish the monument, was then given, and a discharge of artillery proclaimed that the first part of the ceremony was accomplished.