Nevertheless, the newspapers, the organs of public opinion, in applauding these acts of congress, attacked, with a severity which distressed General Lafayette, those few members of the senate and house of representatives, who had voted against the national donation. These attacks, in fact, were the more unjust; for, as I have already said, the majority of the opponents of the measure were personal friends of the general, and wholly devoted to his interests; but in voting, not against the proposition, but against its form, they remained faithful to a principle they had always adopted, of not disposing of the public funds for other purposes than those of the public service. Some of them deemed it proper to explain this to the general. “Not only,” said they, “do we partake of the gratitude and admiration of our fellow citizens towards you for the services you have rendered us, but we also think that the nation can never repay them, and yet twenty-six of us voted against the proposition in congress.” “Well,” replied the general, in taking them cordially by the hand, “I can assure you, that if I had had the honour of being your colleague, we should have been twenty-seven, not only because I partake of the sentiments which determined your votes, but also because I think that the American nation has done too much for me.” This reply soon appeared in all the journals, and, as may be supposed, only added to the popularity of him who made it.
I have already observed that during the deliberations of congress, General Lafayette had accepted the invitation of the legislature of Maryland, who also wished to bestow on him the honour of a public reception. We left Washington on the 16th of December, accompanied by Dr. Kent, Mr. Mitchell, members of the house of representatives from Maryland, and a detachment of volunteer cavalry. On our route, we visited the family and beautiful farm of Capt. Sprigg, ex-governor of Maryland, and arrived at Annapolis in the afternoon. The deputies of the city met the general at a great distance from it, notwithstanding the badness of the weather, and the troops had advanced as far as Miller’s Hill. Another corps of militia had marched from Nottingham, which is thirty miles from Annapolis. The storm had retarded its arrival, but had not damped the zeal of the citizens. At Carrol’s Lane, about two miles from the city, the general, notwithstanding the remonstrances that were made, descended from the carriage, and with his head uncovered, returned thanks to the troops for the affection they testified towards him. “They have exposed themselves to the severity of the weather on my account, and I cannot permit it to deter me from returning them my thanks,” observed he. At the limits of the district an interesting meeting took place between him and some soldiers of the revolutionary army, several of whom had assisted in carrying him from the field of battle at Brandywine, where he had been wounded. Twenty-four discharges of cannon, and the display of the national flag on the state house, announced his arrival in the city.
Conducted into the hall of the legislature, which was filled with persons of distinction and soldiers of the revolution, he was led to a seat, where he listened to a discourse from the mayor in the name of the city. In his reply, he alluded to the fact, that Annapolis had been the scene of events for ever memorable in the annals of the United States; it was within its walls that Washington had laid down a power conferred on him by the nation; and the inhabitants of that city had always been worthy, by their patriotism, of being the witnesses and participators of this noble act.
The next day, Friday, 17th December, the militia of the county, the volunteer battalion of Annapolis, and the United States artillery were reviewed by him, displaying great discipline and soldierly precision in their manœuvres.
The following Monday, he received from the legislature of the state, a repetition of the same honours bestowed on him a few days previous by the congress of the United States. The day terminated by a public dinner, at which all the senators and representatives were present, and by a ball given by the mayor of the city.
Annapolis is a city of about 2500 inhabitants, handsomely situated on the river Severn, which empties into the Chesapeake Bay. It is the seat of government of the state of Maryland, but will never become an important place, at least from its commerce, which is wholly absorbed by the port of Baltimore.
In returning to Washington, we went by Fredericktown, where the general was received with enthusiasm by the population, and by a great number of his former companions in arms, among whom he recognized Colonel M‘Pherson, with whom we lodged. At the public banquet given him by the town, the table was lighted by a candelabra supporting an immense quantity of candles, the base of which was an enormous fragment of a bomb shell used at the siege of Yorktown.
Fredericktown is, next to Baltimore, the largest city in Maryland. It is situated in the heart of a fertile country, on the west bank of a small stream called the Monocacy. Its population, which does not amount to more than 3000, are generally engaged in manufactures.
CHAPTER II.
Election of the President—Public character of the President—Public officers—Congress—Grand public dinner on the 1st of January.