was exhibibited in this or any other place. The scholars belonging to the several schools, with their respective Instructors, each having an appropriate badge, were paraded on the westerly side; many of the youths of both sexes were clad in tasteful uniforms, having their heads encircled with wreaths, formed of roses red and white, which some took off and presented to the illustrious Chief as he passed, and others scattered them in the street, so that his way became literally strewed with flowers. With this part of the arrangements, the President was particularly interested and affected, manifesting to this portion of the rising generation, as he rode by, the most marked attention.

In Middle-street, the Procession passed under a superb arch formed of evergreens, and decorated with the flag of the United States and the colours of various nations. On one side was represented Agriculture, on the other, Commerce, by a merchant ship, which fired a salute as the President approached. When the President arrived at the head of High-street, he left the procession with the Committee of Arrangements, who were received by the battalion of Light Infantry, composed of the Portland Light Infantry company, the Rifle company, and the Mechanic Blues, with the customary salutes, and conducted him to the house prepared for his reception. The houses situated on the streets through which the procession passed, were filled with the FAIR, presenting at every door and window, innocence, beauty and elegance. The declining sun shed a bright lustre over the whole, and all the best feelings of the assembly were in unison with the harmony of nature, and the joy of the occasion.

The committee of arrangements having been introduced to the President, by their Chairman, in a short time he came out upon the steps of the portico, accompanied by the committee, when Mr. Adams addressed him as follows:

TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

The Committee of Arrangements wait on you, sir, in behalf of the citizens of Portland, on your arrival in this town, to tender you the homage due to the Chief Magistrate of a free Republic.

A visit, for the first time, to this place, of a personage of high distinction, who has so recently been elected, under such favourable auspices, to wield the destinies of a great people, will be expected to excite no ordinary sensations. We see in your elevation to the Chief Magistracy, a fellow citizen of great experience in the policy of nations, and one, whose life has been spent in the service of his native country. We have ever been amongst those who have deemed experience to be the only correct source of political wisdom, and have never ceased to place a higher value upon its precepts, than upon the theories of imagination.

Your Tour through the Union, evinces how highly you appreciate the knowledge derived from your own observation, above the uncertain intelligence, collected from other sources. And the early period of your Presidential term, at which this Tour is commenced, augurs auspiciously to the great interest of our common country. May all your efforts to promote the honour and advance the prosperity of the nation, be duly appreciated by an enlightened and grateful people.

Here, Sir, you behold a town, once a victim to the war of that revolution, in which you commenced your patriotic career. What you now see, is but the Phoenix from its ashes, reanimated and invigorated by the vivifying influence of the Federal Constitution. To the fostering care of the general Government, to its protection and encouragement of commercial interests,

are we indebted for the prosperity we have enjoyed, and on its future protection and encouragement must we rely, for the accomplishment of our best hopes.

Permit us, Sir, to bid you welcome; to present you with the respectful salutations of our fellow citizens. May your visit here, afford you some portion of that satisfaction it imparts to others. And be assured, that in all your exertions to promote the public welfare, you will be aided and supported by the patriotism of this section of the union.

Under your administration, may our civil, religious and literary institutions be protected and encouraged; commerce, agriculture and manufactures fostered and promoted, and that freedom and independence, which, in the field, you laboured to achieve, defended and preserved.

That your hands may be strengthened, and your heart encouraged, in the discharge of the high duties of your office; we would commend you to the favour of that Being who is the fountain of all power and wisdom, with our ardent aspirations to Him that your life may be long and happy; that the union of these States, our republican form of government, and the prosperity of our beloved country, may be perpetual.

For the Committee of Arrangements,

ISAAC ADAMS, Chairman.

"To which the President made an able, full and affectionate answer, stating the object of his Tour through the Union, which was intended to be principally devoted to subjects of a national and public nature, such as the situation of the public defence, both military and naval, and by personal observation to examine into the state of commerce, and other subjects of importance.

In pursuing these objects, he had every where met with the most respectful attentions and friendly reception. The manner of his being received in Portland, he spoke of as peculiarly so. He spoke of the great

importance of commerce, as it respected the country at large, and this section in particular, to encourage which, the institutions alluded to, and preserve and maintain the Union, Independence, Freedom and prosperity of the nation, would be his constant endeavour.

On Wednesday morning, many citizens of this and other towns, and the Committee from Topsham, Brunswick, Bath, and Wiscasset, waited on the President at his lodgings, and were received with great urbanity and attention.

At 4 o'clock, the President sat down to an elegant dinner, with a number of guests, among which, were the Committee of Arrangements, Gens. Dearborn, Swift, Miller, King, Wadsworth and Wingate; Com. Bainbridge, Col. House, and Maj. Crane; T. G. Thornton, Esq. Marshal of Maine, William P. Preble, Esq. United States District Attorney, Hon. Messrs. Prentiss Mellen, Ezekiel Whitman, Benjamin Orr, John Holmes, M. L. Hill, A. K. Paris, Abel Wood, Benjamin Vaughan, Esq. and others whose names are not recollected.

After the President retired from the table, Mr. Adams gave the following toast.

Our illustrious Visitor-JAMES MONROE, President of the United States.

At 6 o'clock, the President, attended by his suite, and a number of gentlemen, took a short ride into the country, and visited the village of Stroudwater; the bridge at this place had been most fancifully and elegantly decorated; over which nineteen arches had been erected, representing the different States; on one

arch a live eagle was perched. The municipal authority of Westbrook waited on the President with the salutations of their fellow citizens. The President left his carriage and proceeded across the bridge on foot; was highly delighted with the elegance in which it was ornamented, and expressed much satisfaction at the friendly manner of his reception.

On Thursday morning the President left town and took breakfast with Judge Thacher, in Biddeford. Here the venerable Deacon Samuel Chase, now in the 99th year of his age, waited on the President, and on being introduced, addressed him with the simplicity of a Christian, and the affection of a father. It was an interesting scene, especially when the good old man rose, and with all the dignity of an ancient patriarch, pronounced his blessing."

The interest of the President's visit at Portland, was very much increased by receiving there the deputations from the towns of Bath, Wiscasset, Brunswick, and Topsham, and their addresses. As they were all in the same spirit, but one is inserted; and the President's answer to the whole, is given, which shows his sentiments upon the subject of Commerce.

TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

SIR-We received last evening, with much regret, the information that the imperious calls of duty, will prevent you from extending your journey beyond this town. Our regret, indeed, is greatly diminished by the kindness with which you received our invitation, and by the politeness with which you assigned your reasons for declining it. Little of public importance would be