A complete history of the Marquis de Lafayette, major-general in the American army in the war of the revolution. Embracing an account of his tour through the United States, to the time of his departure, September, 1825. By an officer in the late army.

GENERAL LAFAYETTE. 393
ness await you." He received these with complacency, took
each young lady by the hand, and made an affectionate reply.
He then proceeded to Portsmouth, where he arrived about
noon. He was conducted into this town by an escort on horseback, and a procession of carriages, composed of the civil, judicial, and legislative authorities; officers of the United States,
and of New-Hampshire, &c. &c. The margin of the avenue
leading to the centre of the town, was lined with children, with
the inhabitants of both sexes in the rear; who greeted him with
their cordial welcomes and repeated acclamations. Salutes
were fired, and the streets through which the procession
passed, were crowned with arches, decorated with wreaths
of ever-green and garlands of flowers. The procession moved
through several streets to Franklin Hall: and here when
General Lafayette alighted, the chairman of the Selectmen
addressed him thus:
" Sir-The Selectmen of Portsmouth, in behalf of their
fellow citizens, most respectfully and heartily bid you welcome.
" Enjoying, as we do, the happiness of a free government,
we cannot but feel grateful to all, by whose exertions it was
obtained. Those intrepid men among ourselves, who in the
hour of danger stood forth in defence of their country's rights,
have a lasting claim upon our regard. But in contending for
the liberty of their country, they were striving to secure their
own happiness, and the prosperity of their children. They
found a motive for exertion in their own interest; which, while
it derogates nothing from the value of their services, places in
light, the pure zeal and contempt of private advantage, which
led you to our aid, from the shores of a foreign land. Their
love of liberty was necessarily the sentiment of patriotism;
yours was an ardent desire for the general welfare of mankind.
" After an absence of forty years from our country, most of
which have been passed in scenes of unexampled excitement
and perplexity, it gives us peculiar pleasure to find you still the
firm and consistent friend of liberal principles. We have
watched the progress of your eventful life with unaffected sympathy; whether at the head of the National Guards, in the
dungeons of Magdeburg and Olmutz, in the Chamber of Deputies, we have found nothing to lessen our esteem for the
early friend ofd merica.
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