The procession then marched to a vast amphitheatre constructed on the north-east side of the hill, in the centre of which rose a platform, from which the orator of the day could make his voice heard by the fifteen thousand auditors placed in the amphitheatre; all the officers and soldiers of the revolution, some of whom had arrived from distant places to assist at this solemnity, were seated in front of the platform; the survivors of Bunker’s hill forming a small group before them. At the head of these, in a chair, was the only surviving general of the revolution, General Lafayette; and immediately behind, two thousand ladies, in brilliant dresses, appeared to form a guard of honour to the venerable men, and to defend them against the tumultuous approaches of the crowd; behind the ladies, were more than ten thousand persons seated on the numerous benches placed in a semi-circular form on the side of the hill, the summit of which was crowded by more than thirty-thousand spectators, who, although beyond the reach of the orator’s voice, maintained the most perfect silence. After the agitation that inevitably accompanies the movement of so large a concourse had subsided, the melodious voices of a great number of musicians were heard; these, placed behind the speaker’s stand, chaunted a patriotic and religious ode, whose sweet and simple harmony prepared all minds for the deep impressions of eloquence. To this chaunt, succeeded a prayer by Dr. Dexter. When that venerable pastor, who had the honour of combating at Bunker’s hill, appeared before the assembly, with his white locks falling over his shoulders, when he lifted upwards his hands withered by time, and in a voice which was still strong, implored the benediction of the Eternal on the labours of the day, all the bystanders were penetrated with inexpressible emotions. At last, the orator of the day, Mr. Webster, presented himself; his lofty stature, his athletic form, noble expression of face, and the fire of his looks, were in perfect harmony with the grandeur of the scene around. Already celebrated for his eloquence, Mr. Webster was received by the assembly with strong marks of satisfaction; the flattering murmur with which he was saluted, rose from the base to the summit of the hill, and prevented him from commencing his discourse for some moments. During his speech, the orator was sometimes interrupted by bursts of applause from his auditory, who could not restrain the expression of their sympathetic feelings, when Mr. Webster addressed himself to the revolutionary veterans and General Lafayette, and they, uncovering their venerable heads, arose to receive the thanks he bestowed upon them in the name of the people. A hymn chaunted in chorus by the whole assembly succeeded the discourse, and terminated the second part of the ceremony.
At a signal gun, the procession was again formed, ascended the hill, and seated themselves at a banquet, spread on the summit; there, under an immense wooden building, four thousand persons were accommodated at table without confusion or discomfort; the tables were disposed with so much art, that the voice of the president and of those who gave the toasts or delivered addresses was easily heard, not only by the guests, but likewise by a great number of the spectators around; the names of Warren, of the orator of the day, and of the guest of the nation, were successively proclaimed during the repast. Before leaving the table, General Lafayette rose to return his thanks to the members of the association for erecting the monument on Bunker’s hill; and concluded by offering the following toast: “Bunker’s hill, and that holy resistance to oppression, which has already disenthralled the American hemisphere. The anniversary toast at the jubilee of the next half century will be, to Europe freed.”
This toast was enthusiastically received, and immediately afterwards the guests left the table in order to return to their homes.
The brilliance and heat of a clear summer’s day was succeeded by a delicious evening, cooled by a gentle sea breeze; to enjoy it the better, Mr. George Lafayette proposed to me to return to Boston on foot. I accepted his invitation, and we mingled with the crowds that were slowly descending the hill and discussing the ceremonies of the day; these discussions were always mingled with a mention of the guest of the nation, and a recital of the principal actions that had entitled him to the gratitude of the American people. Here, as in all other assemblies of the people, that I had an opportunity of observing, during our journey, I was struck with a remarkable peculiarity; the perfect knowledge of the events of the revolution that is disseminated through all classes of community, not even excepting the children; I have often heard boys of from eight to ten years of age, talking to each other of the events of the revolutionary war with astonishing precision; they related to each other what they had read or learnt, how, for example, Lafayette arrived in the United States, his receiving a wound at Brandywine, what he had done at Rhode Island and Monmouth; that, whilst he was commander in chief in Virginia, he had, after a campaign of five months, forced Cornwallis to take refuge in Yorktown, where the French fleet under Count de Grasse, and Washington at the head of Rochambeau’s division and that of Lincoln, had joined him and laid siege to that town, and forced the English and their Hanoverian auxiliaries to capitulate. I am aware that the arrival of Lafayette in the different towns, gave rise to a recollection of those facts; I also had constant proofs, that the other events of the revolution were equally familiar to all classes of society, from the veterans, with whom they were a never failing topic of conversation, to school children, who were proud of the deeds of their ancestors, and of the republican liberty, they had the happiness to enjoy. Another very remarkable trait in the American character, is, that the people are not only free and happy, but that they appreciate this happiness and liberty; and what English travellers have termed vanity, is only the firm conviction of the superiority of the institutions and civil dignity maintained by the Americans, as a man in perfect health returns thanks to heaven for the blessings he enjoys; this is so true, that American patriotism (we may say the same of French liberalism, but not of English patriotism) is entirely free from a jealousy of other nations, whose liberty and prosperity are cordially hailed by the people of the United States.
Yielding to the wishes of the inhabitants of Boston, General Lafayette remained several days in their city after the ceremonies at Bunker’s hill, and divided his time amidst the society of his private friends and the public, who, till the last moment, bestowed on him testimonies of their attachment. On the 20th he accepted a dinner given him by the Mechanics’ Society, where he met all the public functionaries, and the most distinguished personages of the state, who had accepted the invitation with equal warmth, so great is the deference paid by every one in the United States to the useful classes of society.
During his visit to Boston, General Lafayette received and accepted invitations from the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, where his presence was impatiently looked for by the people, and one from the city of New York, who ardently desired that he would celebrate the 4th of July, the anniversary of American independence, with them. To fulfil all these engagements in so short a time, appeared difficult, but still the general did not despair of accomplishing it, for he knew by experience how much both the magistrates and the people strove to render his journeys agreeable and rapid. On the 20th he went to take leave of his old friend, John Adams; and employed all the day of the 21st to receiving farewell visits in the city; on the 22d he set out, accompanied by the committee of arrangement and a corps of volunteer cavalry.
CHAPTER XIV.
Rapid and hasty visit to the states of New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont—Return to New York—Celebration of the Anniversary of American Independence—American vessels of war—Patriotism and disinterestedness of the Seamen of New York.
In commencing this journal, I had determined to record each day, all the events of this extraordinary journey, but their multiplicity, and above all, the rapidity of our movements, often obliged me to forego the rigorous fulfilment of this plan; and it was in traversing the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, more especially, that I felt the utter impossibility of noting all the interesting occurrences, all the honourable and interesting circumstances that characterised the visit of General Lafayette to that part of the Union. We travelled through these states at a speed of eleven miles per hour. We often passed through so many villages and towns on the same day, that my memory could not retain their names. I could not therefore find the necessary time to record all the historic or statistical details, which I had amply gleaned in a majority of the other states, and shall only be able, in this chapter, to retrace some of the entertainments given by the Green Mountain boys, and their neighbours, to the guest of the nation.
I have said that General Lafayette left Boston on the 22d May, early in the morning. A few hours after his departure, he arrived at Pembroke on the borders of New Hampshire, where he was received by a deputation from that state at the head of which was Mr. Webster, brother to the orator of Bunker’s hill, who complimented him in the name of his fellow citizens. From Pembroke to Concord, the capital of the state, his triumphal progress was attended by a large escort of citizens collected even from distant places. On arriving in that town, he was immediately conducted to the capitol, where the house of representatives and the senate, presided over by the governor of the state, were assembled to receive him. The address delivered by Governor Morrill, was remarkable for the vivid expression of the feelings of gratitude and attachment entertained towards him by the people of New Hampshire. He replied to this speech with great emotion.