litary honours, by the Marine Corps, by the Georgetown Riflemen, a company of artillery and two companies of infantry from Alexandria; and on his return. was saluted in like manner.

It is impossible to compute with any thing like accuracy the number of carriages, horses, and persons present. Such a concourse was never before seen in Washington; the number of persons present being estimated from five to eight thousand. The mildness and

radiance of the day cast a brilliant hue on the complexion of the whole ceremony; and it is satisfactory to say, that we heard of no accident during the day, notwithstanding the magnitude of the assemblage.

The President and his Lady, after his return, received at their dwelling the visits of their friends, of the Heads of Departments, most of the Senators and Representatives, of all the Foreign Ministers at the seat of government, of strangers and citizens, who also generally paid the tribute of their unabated respect to Mr. and Mrs. Madison.

The evening concluded with a splendid Ball at Davis' Hotel; at which were present the President and Ex-President and their Ladies, the Heads of Departments, Foreign Ministers, and an immense throng of strangers and citizens.

Thus has commenced the administration of James Monroe. In the utmost warmth of our good wishes, we cannot wish him a more honourable, a more grateful termination of his official life, than that which has crowned the administration of James Madison.

The principles developed in his Inaugural Speech, are such as, adhered to, will triumphantly bear him through. They are those of the honest Republican,

and at the same time the practical statesman. They afford us the highest presage of an upright and unsophisticated administration of the public affairs, on the solid principles of the constitution, as regulated by reason, and tempered by the wisdom of experience."

I cannot dismiss this subject without adding the following article from a Dublin paper. It evinces the acknowledged eloquence of Irishmen, and shows that while they are groaning in the agony of bondage themselves, they can justly appreciate the unparalleled blessings enjoyed by Americans.

"The American papers furnish us with the inaugural speech of the next President, Mr. Monroe. This is a document of very considerable interest. It is impossible to read it without admiring the wisdom and talents of the speaker. The President boasts, that the United States is the happiest nation that now exists, or ever did exist in the world. We believe it; and if it be the fact, what a high place among the benefactors of mankind, will the future historian bestow upon the illustrious predecessors of James Monroe, the Washingtons, the Jeffersons, and the Madisons.

"Fortunate America! Proceed in your glorious ca

reer.

From your progress the nations of the earth will derive the most instructive lesson that has ever yet been held out to them. Guided by counsels of wisdom, firmness, and moderation, America will be in reality" the great nation;" whose existence will not depend on the event of a single campaign in the war ; the bulk of whose people will not in peace be composed of a wretched, half fed, uneducated, depraved and degraded populace.

"Who does not see in the distance, the fast approaching mightiness of this youthful empire, but now emerging from infancy; the creation of our own day, the growth of a few years!"

The following extempore address was made to a small party, upon March 4th, 1817.

Fellow Citizens-This day completes twenty eight , years since our republican government has been in operation. Eight of those years the political Saviour of his country, the father of republicans, George Washington, wielded the sceptre of political power. "Modern Degeneracy," could not reach this immaculate republican. For four years we were under the administration of John Adams, a statesman in theory, and now a practical republican. After him, arose the splendid sun of republicanism-Thomas Jefferson-his friends. were the friends of benevolence; in him, they recognized the man who was willing to devote his great mind, to the service of his great country. His successor, James Madison, united in himself the cool, reflecting philosopher, with the honest and patriotic statesman. This day places JAMES MONROE in the chair of State-he fills the highest station allotted to man-how contemptible appear the thrones of legitimate sovereigns, filled by kings who encumber them by the accident of birth, when compared with the Presidential chair of nineteen republican states, occupied by a patriot placed thereon, by the intelligent voice of ten millions of freemen. On this occasion let me propose a toast: JAMES MONROE-As he is this day placed upon the highest station on earth, may his administration evince to the world that he is able to fill it.

TOUR, &c.

TO behold the Supreme Magistrate of a great and growing people, leaving the seat of government, where he might have enjoyed repose, the society and intercourse of the highest officers of his Cabinet, and the most eminent statesmen of his country; where he might have been favoured with the presence of foreign ministers, representing the leading nations of the world; to see him leaving these enjoyments, to endure the fatigues, and, at times, the privations of exploring the country over which he is called to preside, is a scene which is seldom witnessed, and cannot be viewed but with the liveliest interest. Most of the potentates who encumber thrones by the accident of princely birth, or the aid of abused power, moulder away life in gorgeous palaces, and enervate their minds by unceasing voluptuousness. They live in ignorance of their subjects, of their wants, and of their injuries; and are so doubtful of their fidelity, that fear conceals them from their view. Scarcely dare they travel the capitals where they reside, without an army in miniature to protect them from assaults from their own subjects. Not so with the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMEWhen the dictates of duty, or the calls of inclination induces him to explore any portion of the immense country over which he is appointed to preside,

RICA.

so far from apprehending danger from his fellow-citizens, he is sure to be welcomed by them with the joyous acclamations of attachment. A splendid equipage and a numerous retinue will attract the observation of the world. Like the passing meteor, it will excite the admiration of some, the wonder of others, and the attention of all. The traveller is forgotten in the imposing splendour that surrounds him.

When JAMES MONROE projected a TOUR through the Northern and Eastern States, he did not wish to make it an excursion of splendid pleasure and evanescent amusement, but of business and observation; and chose rather to see than to be seen. He had been elected and inaugurated as President of the United States. He must have been deeply impressed with the "magnitude of the undertaking." He must have known that it was an arduous task to fill the chair that had been previously occupied by WASHINGTON, ADAMS, JEFFERSON, and MADISON. He knew he had a duty of no trifling nature to perform; that he was called to preside over an intelligent people, enjoying the only well constituted Republic upon earth; that this people were ever jealous of their political rights, and not always grateful to their best benefactors. He knew, full well, that he was in a station different from that of a despotic prince whose will is law; and that he was accountable for every act of his Presidential power to the people who authorised him to exercise it.

The man who seeks his own tranquillity and emolument, in preference to the happiness and wealth of his country, would certainly have avoided a station where the utmost rectitude is rewarded but by "faint