“La Fayette arose—the wonders which he had performed for a man of his age, in successfully accomplishing labors enough to have tested his meridian vigor, whose animation rather resembles the spring than the winter of life, now seemed unequal to the task he was about to perform,—to take a last look at the grave of Washington! He advanced to the effort: a silence the most impressive reigned around, till the strains of sweet and plaintive music completed the grandeur and sacred solemnity of the scene. All hearts beat in unison with the throbbings of the veteran’s bosom, as he looked, and that for the last time, on the sepulchre which contains the ashes of the first of men. He spoke not, but appeared absorbed in the mighty recollections which the place and the occasion inspired.
“After this noble scene, the fleet resumed its course, and, after a voyage of safety and expedition, anchored near the Brandywine the ensuing morning. The general was received in the commodore’s barge, and repaired, through very inclement weather, to the gallant bark which is to bear him to his other home. He was placed on the deck of the ship by an ornamented chair, rigged for the special purpose, and under a salute from the main battery—the music of the band, and the greetings of the commodore, his officers, and many guests, who were assembled for this interesting event; but above all, by the warm embrace of the Revolutionary worthies, who had repaired to the ship to take another farewell of their beloved associate of the heroic time. After a sumptuous collation served in the captain’s cabin, and a number of feeling and appropriate toasts, among which was the following by La Fayette:—
“‘The national flag of the United States; ever the pledge of glory; on this day the rendezvous of friendship’; and by Mr. Custis, of Arlington:—
“‘The Brandywine, which bears to his native land the last of the generals of the army of American independence, and the great apostle of the rights of mankind.—May the winds of Heaven not visit her course too roughly, but with kindest breath swell the bosom of her sails, and the guardian genius that protects the just and good, be an ever-watchful Palinurus to guide her helm.’ After which Colonel Bentalou, of Baltimore, offered the following toast:—
“‘The memory of General Washington—the military father and beloved friend of our nation’s guest.’
“This toast was drunk standing, and the final moment of separation having arrived, the last adieus were spoken.
“The barges of the ship bore the sorrowing guests to their respective vessels, while the thunders of the superb Brandywine told to the echoes around the adieu to La Fayette.”
The day had been boisterous and rainy, but just as the affecting scene had closed, the sun burst forth in all his glory, as a propitious omen.
The editor of the Irishman, a journal conducted at Belfast, in the issue of September, 1825, in commenting upon the proceedings at Washington on the occasion of the farewell to La Fayette, says:—
“We this day give our readers one of the most interesting scenes which can be laid before the human mind,—the departure and farewell address of the greatest republic the world ever saw, to that veteran hero, whose sword was one of the first in the field to assert her freedom. The address of Mr. Adams is a chaste and beautiful composition,—a triumphant recapitulation of the glories of liberty,—and the reply of the old soldier is characterized by all the fire of youth and wisdom of age. The Irishman feels no small pleasure in being the first journal to give these immortal productions to the people of Ireland.”