CHAPTER VIII.

Province of Maine-the President lands at Kitteryaddress-proceeds to Kennebunk, and is addressed there-Wells-Arundel-Biddeford-address of a Committee-the President repairs through Saco and Scarborough to Portland-reply to the invitation from the Citizens of Bath and other towns-visit to forts Preble and Scammel-address of the Clergy—the President re-enters New Hampshire.

THE town of Portsmouth, was the most distant, to the eastward, from the seat of government, which had ever been visited by the executive before, President Washington's tour not extending beyond that place. The increase of population in the province of Maine, however, and the consequent augmentation of its importance in the union, had occasioned, since that period, the construction of many objects, which Mr. Monroe deemed worthy of his inspection. Accordingly, on Tuesday, the 15th of July, he crossed the Piscataqua, from Portsmouth, and entered Maine, at the town of Kittery. The citizens were already paraded on the shore, and the honourable

Mr. Holmes, of Alfred, in their behalf, thus addressed him:

"Sir-As citizens of Maine, we take the liberty to meet the chief magistrate of the nation, on his entering our district, and to pay him our respects. It being the first time a President of the United States has visited this section of the country, it is a source of peculiar satisfaction to meet and greet one whose private virtues and public administration have been so much, and so justly admired by the people of Maine.

"Permit us, sir, for ourselves, and our friends, to congratulate you on your election as President, and bid you a cordial welcome to this part of the union; to tender you our services, to alleviate the fatigues of your journey; and our wishes and exertions that all your labours for the people may be received with gratitude, and crowned with success. Through the wisdom of yourself, and your compatriots, the patriotism of the people, and the favour of heaven, you have the singular felicity to receive the voluntary homage of the nation, and to witness its peace, prosperity, freedom, and happiness.

"This journey, like the journey of your life, is commenced and pursued for the public good. Like that, its fatigues have been endured with patience, its obstacles overcome with perseverance, its storms encountered with firmness, and its refreshing sunshines relished with equanimity and gratitude. In each, as you have advanced, you have acquired additional honour, reverence and love. In your future

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progress, in both, may your health be preserved, your country's prosperity and glory secured, and the affections, confidence, and union of the people increased and confirmed. And when these respective journies shall be ended, and you shall return home, may you at the close of the one be received in health and happiness to the embraces of an affectionate family; and, of the other, to the favour and fruition of HIM who will never fail to reward the great and good."

To this address the President made a suitable extemporaneous reply.

Escorted by a large detachment of cavalry, from general Leighton's brigade, he proceeded onward to the ancient town of York, situated on a river of that name, ten miles from the ocean. Here he was greeted with the customary salutes, and the venerable judge Sewall, of the United States district court, at the head of a committee, made him a congratulatory address. The President having replied to the judge, continued his route to the town of Kennebunk. Five miles in advance of this place, he was intercepted by another cavalry escort, and the militia officers of Maine, by whom he was conducted to apartments in the town, at which, after partaking of a refreshment, he was addressed by the chairman of the committee, as follows:

"Sir-The committee, designated by the inhabitants of Kennebunk and its vicinity, bid you welcome to Maine, and particularly that part of it in which they reside. The novel spectacle of seeing

among them the chief magistrate of the United States, excites sensations of no ordinary class; and equally evincive of their strong attachment to the government of their choice, and of their high respect for the man who has been called by the voluntary suffrages of the people, to preside over its destinies.

"In this visit, sir, our citizens discern your paternal solicitude to make yourself acquainted with the various sections of the country, and the people who inhabit them; and we are charged to assure you, that they have a deep interest in the progress and happy termination of your journey.

"We congratulate you, sir, upon the present peaceful state of our country, and that your administration of the government commences under circumstances, so pleasant to yourself, and auspicious to them and we assure you that our citizens have the fullest confidence, that the best interests of the people will be promoted; and their prayers to heaven are, that at some future period, when you shall retire from your present elevated situation, you may receive the acclamations of the whole people, made happy, under an administration marked for its wisdom, its mildness, and spirit of conciliation.

“G. G. WALLINGSFORD, "In behalf of the committee."

The President's Reply to the Address of the Citizens of Kennebunk.

"Sir-I ask you, and the gentlemen associated with you, to communicate to the citizens of Kennebunk and its vicinity, my thanks for the friendly reception they give me; and for those testimonies of respect which they are pleased to manifest for the chief magistrate of the United States. Be pleased to assure them, that on this, as well as on other similar occasions, I am unable to express my emotions. To behold a free, an enlightened, and a high minded people, paying a spontaneous tribute of respect and affection to a man who is elevated to the chief magistracy of a nation, is in itself an imposing spectacle. To that individual, such a scene, you may well believe, must possess a character of peculiar and appropriate interest. I have never before been so much affected. Such distinguished attentions, such unexpected effusions of regard, as I experience from my fellow citizens, do indeed sink deep into my heart. They have made me feel, if possible, a deeper sense of my obligations to devote all my faculties to their service.

"It was my wish, in the first instance, while on this tour, to have devoted my attention exclusively, to those public and national objects which I had in view. But finding that this arrangement did not comport with the feelings of my fellow citizens, I relinquished it. Indeed, when I found a disposition,