ARRIVAL OF LA FAYETTE.

195

possession of Colonel Robert Butler, the American commissioner.

In this year, James Monroe was inaugurated as President for a second term of four years. No events of public note occurred until the year 1824, when two treaties were concluded, one between the United States and Russia, the other between the United States and England. The first, among other things, determined the north-west boundary of the two countries at the line of fifty-four degrees and forty minutes of north latitude. The second treaty was for the suppression of the African slave trade, and it was signed at London by plenipotentiaries specially appointed for the purpose.

The year 1825 was further signalized by the visit of La Fayette to America. He arrived in New York harbour, on the 13th of August, and proceeded to Staten Island, the residence of Daniel D. Tompkins, Vice-President of the United States. A committee of the New York city corporation, and many distinguished citizens, proceeded thither, to welcome him to their capital. Steamboats with thousands of passengers, decorated with the flags of every nation, escorted him to the city, where the whole population was waiting to welcome him who had periled his life in the cause of their liberties. He was received by the civil officers to their city, and an address was delivered by the mayor.

During the few days that he remained in New York, deputations poured in from all the principal cities of the Middle and Northern States, inviting him to visit them. From New York he proceeded to Boston, and as far to the eastward as Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He went as far south as Savannah, south-west to New Orleans, west to St. Louis, Missouri, and back to Boston. This journey of five thousand miles was performed in the course of the year, and the same extraordinary marks of respect and attention were paid him throughout, as in the great cities. The whole nation joined in wishing health, happiness, honour and long life to America's favourite adopted son.

He reached Washington during the session of Congress,

196

RECEPTION OF LA FAYETTE.

and that body voted him the sum of two hundred thousand dollars, and a township of land, six miles square, to be located in any of the unappropriated lands where the President should direct. These resolutions were conveyed to the general by a joint committee from both Houses, accompanied by a highlycomplimentary address. In reply, La Fayette said that "the immense and unexpected gift, which, in addition to former and considerable bounties it had pleased Congress to confer upon him, called for the warmest acknowledgments of an old American soldier, an adopted son of the United States, two titles dearer to his heart than all the treasures of the world."

On a second visit to Boston, he witnessed the interesting ceremony of laying the corner-stone of the Bunker Hill Monument, and listened to an address from the lips of the eloquent Daniel Webster. Wherever he went, the people rose in a mass to welcome him to their homes; and when he wished to return to France, a new American frigate, the Brandywine, was fitted out for his accommodation. In this vessel he set sail, on the 7th of September, 1825, for his native country. The authorities of Washington, Georgetown, and Alexandria, the principal officers of the general government, civil, military, and naval, some members of Congress, and other citizens, assembled on that day at the President's house to take leave of the general. President Adams addressed him with dignity, but with evident emotion, and bade him adieu.

As the usual term of office for President was about to terminate, an active canvass was commenced for the election of the successor of Mr. Monroe. Four candidates were proposed, Messrs. Jackson, Adams, Clay, and Crawford; and consequently the election devolved upon the House of Representatives, who chose Mr. Adams.

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS'S ADMINISTRATION.

N his inaugural address the new President stated his intention of pursuing the course which had been marked out by his predecessor. He observed that "ten years of peace, at home and abroad, had assuaged the animosities of political contention, and blended into harmony the most discordant

elements of public opinion. There still remains," he continued, "one effort of magnanimity, one sacrifice of prejudice and passion, to be made by the individuals throughout the nation, who have heretofore followed the standard of political party. It is that of discarding every remnant of rancour against each other; of embracing as countrymen and friends; and of yielding to talents and virtue alone, that confidence which in times of contention for principle, was bestowed only upon those who bore the badge of party communion."

The principal events of the first two years of Adams's administration are the treaties concluded by the government with the Indians. The first was with the tribe of Creeks. By this treaty, the Creeks ceded all the lands lying within the boundaries of the State of Georgia, occupied by them, within certain described boundaries. The United States obligated