priate speech. At its conclusion Lafayette responded as follows:

"SIR,-While I am so affectionately received by the citizens of New York and their worthy Representatives, I feel myself overwhelmed with inexpressible emotions. The sight of the American shore, after so long an absence; the recollection of the many respected friends and dear companions no more to be found on this land; the pleasure to recognize those who survive, this immense concourse of a free Republican population who so kindly welcome me; the admirable appearance of the troops, the presence of a corps of the national navy, have excited sentiments to which no human language can be adequate. You have been pleased, sir, to allude to the happiest times, to the unalloyed enjoyments of my public life; it is the pride of my life to have been one of the earliest adopted sons of America. I am proud, also, to add that, upward of forty years ago, I have been particularly honored with the freedom of this city. I beg you, Mr. Mayor. I beg you, gentlemen, to accept yourselves, and to transmit to the citizens of New York, the homage of my everlasting gratitude, devotion, and respect."

At the conclusion of this address, which was received with most enthusiastic demonstrations, the marquis, attended by the Mayor and Common Council, retired from the Council chamber to a platform in front of the City Hall, where they received a marching salute from the troops. The Common Council then accompanied their guest to the City Hotel (where rooms had been fitted up for his reception), and partook of a sumptuous dinner. What must have been the feelings which warmed the bosoms of his entertainers when they reflected to whom these honors were given! that it was to a man, who, in his youth, devoted his life and fortune to the cause of their country; who willingly shed his blood in the acquirement of its independence, and, through all the desponding scenes of the Revolution, never forsook the side of his and their country's Father, the beloved WASHINGTON !

In the evening, the front of the City Hotel, the City Hall, and other buildings were handsomely illuminated; the theaters and public gardens displayed transparencies and fireworks; rockets blazed from the different house

tops; and an immense balloon was sent up from Castle Garden, representing the famous horse Eclipse mounted by an ancient knight in armor. General hilarity reigned

supreme.

On the afternoon of Wednesday, the 18th, General Lafayette, with his son, visited the Navy Yard (dining with the commandant and a few invited guests), and, in the evening of the same day, the rooms of the New York

Historical Society. A large number of distinguished citi zens had collected at the latter place to meet him; and, on his entrance into the room, he was conducted by Doctor Hosack and General Philip Van Cortlandt to the chair that had once been the seat of the unfortunate Louis XVI.* Over the chair, and decorated with Revolutionary emblems, was hung the portrait of Lafayette, painted for General Stevens in 1784. Thus was an

* Presented to the New York Historical Society by Gouverneur Morris.

opportunity afforded the audience of gazing at once upon the young and chivalrous warrior of the Revolution, and upon the same man, who, by forty years' hard service since, had ripened into a good old age, full of wisdom and honors, and without, by a single act, having tarnished the bright escutcheon of his fame.

As soon as Lafayette had taken his seat, Doctor Hosack, in a graceful address, tendered him his election as an honorary member of the society. To which the General responded in the following words:

'SIR,-With the most lively gratitude, I receive the honor which the Historical Society of New York have conferred in electing me one of its members. "Permit me, also, thankfully to acknowledge the flattering manner in which you are pleased to announce this mark of their benevolence.

"The United States, sir, are the first nation in the records of history who have founded their Constitution upon an honest investigation, and clear definition of their national and social rights.

"Nor can we doubt, that, notwithstanding the combinations made elsewhere by despotism and aristocracy against those sacred rights of mankind, immense majorities in other countries shall not in vain observe the happiness and prosperity of a free, virtuous, and enlightened people."

The next day was spent in visiting the Academy of Arts, and in receiving the calls of the members of the bar, the French residents of the city, and all citizens who desired to pay their respects.

At an early hour on the following day the city again presented a scene of bustle and activity, preparatory to the departure of General Lafayette and suite for Boston. At seven o'clock, the horse artillery, commanded by Colonel Arcularius, paraded in Broadway in front of Washington Hall, and, at eight o'clock, took up their line of march to Harlem, in order to supersede the escort which was to accompany the marquis to that village. This escort consisted of a squadron of cavalry, the Corporation in carriages, and a number of citizens mounted. The General breakfasted with the Mayor, Philip Hone, at

half-past seven, and repaired immediately after to the City Hotel, whence the entire cavalcade under the command of General Prosper M. Wetmore, as Brigade-Major, moved up Broadway to Bond Street, and thence up Third Avenue. The streets were thronged with people, and the General rode uncovered, and repeatedly returned their expressions of kindness and attachment by bowing. "Thus, for the present," said the Commercial Advertiser, "have closed the attentions of our citizens to this excellent man. The arrangements of our civil and military officers were judicious and well executed; and we are told that the General has not only been highly gratified, but happily disappointed, in the reception with which he has met. The General's journey will be rapid, as he intends being at Harvard commencement on Tuesday next. His stay at the eastward must also be short, as he has engaged to be in Baltimore on the 15th proximo."*

* At this time there was a great rivalry between Philadelphia and New York, as to which city should receive the marquis most splendidly. A correspondent, writing from Philadelphia to the Commercial Advertiser at this time, says: The great object here seems to be, to rival the reception given to the General in New York; and, so far as it respects the military parade, the display of paintings, banners, arches, &c., they will succeed; for the very good reason that we had but twenty-four hours to make our preparations, and they have had more than thirty-four days. But nothing that can be got up here can equal, or come anywhere near, the naval fête in the harbor of New York. "There are many splendid triumphal and civic arches erected here, and the streets through which the General is to pass are lined with spectators. The windows of the houses are filled, and there are thousands of spectators in the boxes, or temporary stages, which have been erected for the purposes of public accommodation and private gain. These seats are let at from twenty-five to fifty cents each, and not for three or four dollars, as has been reported in New York. And they are not well filled, notwithstanding the trifling expense. There are many societies out to-day, handsomely dressed; and the procession will be much larger than has ever been witnessed in America.

"It is supposed that the General will arrive at the Hall of the Declaration of Independence at about four o'clock. Here he will be received by the Corporation, and presented to the principal citizens, who have the good fortune to be guests. After which he will return to his lodgings at the Mansion House. To-morrow, the General dines with the Corporation. On Saturday, he attends a Masonic festival. On Monday evening, he attends a Grand Civic Ball, and departs for the South on Tuesday."

"Such," writes Colonel Stone, in closing an account of the ovation, "is a faint outline of the proceedings of the last few days, which shine proudly in the annals of our country, proceedings which were more brilliant than any that had ever been witnessed in America, and which will rarely, if ever, be equaled. They were proud days for the cause of enlightened and liberal principles. No fulsome adulation was here extorted by the power or splendor of royalty, but every feeling and every movement were the spontaneous bursts of admiration and gratitude for the character and services of a great benefactor of the whole civilized world, come among us in a private capacity, and in the unaffected attire of Republican simplicity."

1825.

It was most fitting that the city which had so nobly supported the project of the Erie Canal from the beginning should take the chief part in the ceremonies attending its realization. Probably no project of internal improvement ever met with such bitter and malignant opposition as that of the Erie Canal; and, great as was the assistance given to the canal project by the Act of the New York Legislature of April, 1811, the obstacles in the way of its successful completion were by no means removed. The same incredulity as to the practicability of the canal, and the same apprehensions as to the capacity of the State, continued to raise a fierce opposition in the Legislature against any appropriation for carrying out the work which it had itself authorized. Many attempts were accordingly made to arrest, or at least curtail and arrest, the project; and often during the progress of the undertaking it seemed as if it would be utterly abandoned. Party spirit at that time ran high, and the greatest effort on the part of its supporters was required to persuade the people of the State to give it their support at the polls. In accomplishing this result, the Com