When General La Fayette was about to leave the frigate Brandywine, on her arrival at Havre, a farewell address was presented to him by the midshipmen attached to the ship. To this flattering attention General La Fayette thus verbally replied:—
“My dear young Friends: I am unable to express my feelings towards you. Before I had the pleasure of your acquaintance I considered it an honor to belong to the United States navy: since then my knowledge of you as individuals has added to my admiration of the chivalry of your profession, and rendered sanguine my expectations of its future achievements. Your country has reason to be proud of you; I part from you with regret: but should your duties or inclinations bring you again to France, remember that La Grange is the home of every American. Farewell!”
The Paris Constitutionnel of the 20th December, 1825, contained a circumstantial account of the reception of La Fayette at La Grange, after his return from his visit to America. The neighboring villages united in a public festival in his honor, notwithstanding strong efforts on the part of the municipal authorities to prevent rejoicing of any kind.
The following is a translation of one of the addresses delivered to the general by deputations, together with one of his answers.
Address: “At length we again behold you, grown younger from the atmosphere of liberty which you have been breathing, and the spectacle of the happiness of a powerful and grateful people, which you have contemplated with delight. Like the Americans, we could wish to describe to you our love, pleasure, and admiration; but these sentiments, agitating too strongly our hearts, deprive us of the power of so doing.”
To which the general replied:—
“The affecting welcome which awaited me here, and the fresh testimonials of attachment which you lavish upon me to-day, fill up the measure of my joy in finding myself in the bosom of my family and in the midst of you, my dear friends and neighbors. During my journeys over the free and prosperous territories of the United States it was sweet to me to think that the voices of that excellent and admirable people would resound even as far as your abodes, and that you would enjoy them for me.
“The enemies of the people’s cause have cast it as a reproach upon me that, in expressing my sentiments at the American meetings, I thought also of you. They were right to believe this; and, in fact, at the sight of the wonders of the public prosperity and private happiness which, in that immense country, are the fruits of liberty, equality, legal and national order, it would have been difficult for me to forget the wish I had ever cherished, that my French countrymen should exercise the same rights and obtain the same felicity.
“You see me now restored to my retreat of La Grange, which is dear to me on so many accounts; and to those agricultural employments of which you know me to be so fond, and which, for a long series of years, I shared with you, my neighbors, and the greater part of the friends who surround me. Your regard, fully reciprocated on my part, causes them to be more and more prized. Accept, I pray you, my thanks for the fine festival that you have prepared for me, and that fills my heart with delight and gratitude.”
More than six thousand persons were present at this joyous commemoration of the return of him whom they called the American Nation’s Guest. The dancing was continued throughout the night, and the air was filled with cries of “Long live La Fayette!” “Long live the friend of the people!” On the following day the general received a number of distinguished visitors from Paris.