This is part of a series on Lafayette’s visit to Massachusetts August 23, 1824 to September 3 1824
On August 25, Lafayette left Boson with the governor, a company of dragoons under Captain Davis, the Committee of Arrangements, the Deputation from New York and other distinguished citizens in carriages to go to Cambridge. The streets were decorated in star spangled colors with civic arches. Cheering spectators lined the streets. In Cambridgeport under an arch with the motto “Welcome Hero, Patriot, Sage,” Judge Fay welcomed him.
At the Colonnade of Harvard’s University Hall, President John Thornton Kirkland (1770-1840) greeted Lafayette:
Portrait of John Thornton Kirkland by Gilbert Stuart circa 1816
“We bid you welcome, General Lafayette, to this most ancient of the seminaries of our land. The Overseers and Fellows of the University, the Professors and other officers, the candidates for the academic honors of this day, and the students, tender you with their respectful, their affectionate salutations. We greet you with peculiar pleasure, at this literary festival, gratified that you regard the occasion with interest, and espouse the attachment, which as members of a republic, we cannot fail to cherish to the cause of learning and education.
As a man, sustaining his part through various scenes, prosperous and adverse, of an eventful life, your character and course, marked by moral dignity, have challenged particular respect and sympathy. As the patron, the champion and benefactor of America, you have a relation to us, by which we call you our own, and join gratitude and affection to exalted esteem. The early and costly pledge you gave of devotion the principles and spirit or our institutions, your adoption of our perilous and uncertain contest for national existence, your friendship in the hour of our greatest need, have associated your name in the minds and hearts of Americans with the dearest and most affecting recollections. The fathers teach their children, and instructors their pupils, to hold you in love and honor; and the history of these States takes charge of your claims to the grateful remembrance of all future generations.
It is a pleasing reflection attending the progress of these communities, that it justifies our friends and supporters; and that the predilections and hopes in our favor, which you indulged in the ardor of youth, have been followed by good auspices till your advanced age. We are, indeed, happy in presenting you the fruit of your toils and dangers, in the kindly operation of the causes, which you did so much to call into action, and we rejoice in every demonstration we are able to give, that your care for us has not been in vain. Knowing how you feel yourself to have a property in our welfare, and sensible of the enjoyment accruing to your generous spirit from our prosperity, we find in these considerations new motives to maintain liberty with ardor; and in the exercise of our functions feel bound to endeavor to send out from our care, enlightened and virtuous men, employing their influence to secure to their country the advantages, and prevent and remedy the evils attending the wide diffusion among a people of political power.
Accept our wishes and prayers for your health and happiness. May the Invisible Hand which has been your safeguard thus far, continue its protecting care. May the Supreme Disposer, the Witness and Judge of character and conduct, having appointed you a long and tranquil evening of days, receive you the final and glorious reward of the faithful in a perfect state.”
Lafayette replied:
“It is with real pleasure, sir that I find myself again at this University which I visited for the first time more than forty years ago. The great improvements which have been made here during the interval, are striking evidence of the tendency of liberal political institutions to promote the progress of civilization and learning, I beg your you to accept my warmest thanks for your kind expressions of personal civility to myself, and my best wishes for the continued prosperity of the valuable establishment over which you preside.”
The exercises lasted till 5:00 PM and Lafayette dined in Commons Hall.
He returned to the Park street residence which was surrounded with citizens shouting their respects.
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For information on the bicentennial of Lafayette’s tour check out lafayette200.org.