Concord Register

General La Fayette.

Governor Van Ness, of Vermont, in his late speech to the Legislature of that State, thus alludes to the arrival of our Nation's Guest.—

The recent arrival of General La Fayette in the United States, is an event that deserves our notice. This respected and venerable patriot, at an early age, left his country, and his family, and, for purposes the most noble and benevolent, sought his way to these then troubled shores.—He found the people in a state of bondage, and placing himself by the side of their first chief, assisted to lead them through the wilderness, to the enjoyment of freedom and independence. He returned to his own country, and after an absence of forty years, has come once more to visit that which he gloriously served in his youth. He finds, indeed, that of his old associates, comparatively few, like himself, have survived the wreck of time, and remain to greet his arrival, and to talk over the perils and the glories of their former days. Yet he finds the children of those who have descended to the tomb; and the hearts of these swell with affection and with reverence for the friend and companion of their departed fathers. But above all, he finds himself owned by the whole nation, as one of her earliest and most distinguished benefactors, and is cheered by an universal burst of gratitude and of love, from one extreme of the Union to the other.

An invitation to the General to visit this State, previous to his return to France, while it is but a faint tribute of respect due to him, would doubtless be agreeable to the people in general, and could not fail to be peculiarly gratifying to those veterans among us, who participated with him, though in humbler stations, in many of the scenes which have associated his name with the history of our independence. And from the fact that he would meet with some of those venerable patriots, we may be permitted to indulge the anticipation, that his visit would not be wholly destitute of interest to himself.

General La Fayette visited Alexandria on the 16th inst. On the next day, Sunday, he paid his solemn visit to the tomb of Washington—and on Monday the 18th he landed at Yorktown. Every thing possible was done to honor him.

On the arrival of the Steam-boat at Mount Vernon— the General was rowed ashore in a barge, manned by masters of vessels. At the tomb, Mr. Custis, of Arlington, presented the General with a ring containing some of the hair of the Father of his Country, and delivered a feeling address; at which the General was much affected.—During this time, minute guns were fired from Fort Washington. A sash and medal, formerly the property of General Washington, were also presented.

After spending an hour at Mount Vernon, the General was rowed back in the barge he went ashore in, and addressing the Captains who had volunteered for this duty, politely thanked them for their services.

On the 19th (Tuesday) there was a grand review. On the plains of York a splendid arch was erected—and two handsome obelisks, marked the two celebrated points of attack during the siege. The number of persons assembled at York was estimated at about six thousand.

At the La Fayette dinner at Baltimore there were 24 dishes of Blancmange, representing fruits, grain, fish, &c. all correctly colored. Colored Blancmange, is a little Hibernian.

Remarkable Fact.—On the passage of General La Fayette to York, an Eagle, the bird of Jove, flew from the Bluff, about two miles below this town, and hovered over the steam-boat Petersburg, which the General was on board of. It followed him to Mount Vernon—and, we are told, continued flying over the tomb of Washington, to which the General was devoting his soul with the holy feelings of grief. It seemed to have an inspiration in its actions. It would not quit the scene. It displayed those feelings which would seem to indicate that it was a special messenger, sent to welcome our illustrious guest on his visit to the sacred repose of the first of men—his friend and the friend of mankind.—After the General had fulfilled his pious devotions, this bird, representing the gratitude of the nation, and emblematically the spirit of WASHINGTON, took its final departure from that spot which contains the relics of La Fayette's dear companion. There is no doubt whatever of the fact which we communicate above. We could give the testimony of hundreds of the most respectable names of its correctness. Besides it would be too palpable a story to invent almost in the very face of La Fayette himself.—Alexandria Herald.