This is part of a series on Lafayette’s visit to New England – June 13 to June 29 1825.
Lafayette reached Burlington’s Gould Hotel where there was a reception. He was greeted by 100 Revolutionary War veterans. One of them, Sergeant Day, showed Lafayette the sword that Lafayette had given him. He also met a Mr. Gray who as a young servant had been responsible for powdering Lafayette’s hair in Washington’s camp.
There was a banquet with 200 others at the hotel.
After dinner, Lafayette went up the hill to the University of Vermont where he laid the cornerstone of a new building, which is today known as the Old Mill.
There was a reception at the home of Governor Cornelius Van Ness.
Here are the speeches that day.
Hon. William A. Griswold spoke
“General,-Amongst the numerous manifestations of heartfelt gratitude and joyous acclamations, which greeted you on your arrival, and followed you during a prosperous and extensive tour through our beloved country, allow me, as the deputed organ of the citizens of Burlington, to tender you their hospitalities and bid you a cordial and affectionate welcome.
We come not the offer the incense of adulation, but to render homage justly due; not to recount the many distinguished acts of your life, so full of glory to yourself and of such lasting benefit to the cause of rational liberty throughout the world, nor merely to reiterate the sentiments, which have been so feelingly and eloquently expressed by all classes of our citizens in every section of the country, but to assure you that our hearts beat in unison with theirs, and that we rejoice in the opportunity now afforded, to evince our admiration of your character and veneration of your virtues.
The circumstances attending your visit to this land of liberty, present a spectacle unparalleled in the history of the world. While the sons of those, who were formerly your companions in arms, are testifying their joy and gratitude, their wives and daughters and not less grateful for the delightful privilege they enjoy, of telling their children of your illustrious deeds, and of instructing them to imitate your brilliant examples. I has also rekindled a spirit of increased devotion to the principles of free government, and one which, we trust, will not be extinguished until “history is dumb, and memory becomes extinct.”
Few, very few of the revolutionary heroes, then the hardy sons of our Green Mountains, were eye witnesses to your valor and constancy displayed throughout our revolutionary contest; and fewer still have survived the lapse of half a century, to unite with us in rendering honor to an early patriot and our distinguished friend. Yet a small and highly favored remnant have been kindly preserved, and tottering with age and infirmity, are now embodied before you with hearts bounding with joy and exultation at your presence. And it is a proud consolation to them and us to know, that they still hold a transcendant place in your affections.
During the gloomy period of 1781, the citizens of this State were violently assailed by two powerful neighboring states, claiming jurisdiction over her territory, and while contributing liberally to the common cause, her bold and inflexible patriots were nobly struggling for self existence and state independence. The waters of yonder beautiful Lake were covered with and hostile fleet and powerful army, and all her strong holds in the undisturbed possession of the enemy. This was a time for coward hearts to despond. But the statesmen of that day were strangers to fear, and Washington, the sainted Washington, your illustrious compeer, was our mediator and our friend. An intrepid self created board of war, consisting of eight persons only, wielded the destinies of a scattered population of about thirty thousand souls. Although the ambiguity of their conduct for a short time created some distrust abroad, yet their stern integrity inspired confidence at home, while their masterly and resolute policy rendered the enemy inactive, retarded their operations, and protected an extensive and defenceless frontier from pillage and devastation. At this critical moment, when the destinies of this State, (then an almost outlawed territory,) were approaching a crisis; the cheering news of the surrender of Cornwallis was proclaimed. The independence of our country was sealed, and with it, the people of Vermont delivered from peculiar and trying embarrassments. Then the name of Lafayette resounded through the air, hung with rapture upon every tongue, and still remains enshrined in every American heart.
Now, under the auspices of an enlightened and well regulated government, purchased and cemented by the best blood of our fathers, we are reaping the full rewards of all their toils and suffering. Our hearts then shall ascend with grateful supplication to the Most High, that He would graciously vouchsafe to perpetuate the privileges and blessings we enjoy to the latest posterity, and unitedly resolve to cherish with fond recollections the pleasing interview of this day, and on its annual return, renew our oaths of fidelity to our wise constitution, and devote a sacred hour to implore the blessings of heaven upon the benefactor of our country, and the benefactor of mankind.”
Lafayette replied:
While the warm greetings of the citizens of Burlington, and the multitude of friends, who came to join them on this happy spot, excite the most grateful feelings of my heart, I particularly thank you, sir, for your kind remarks, on the enjoyment of my passage through every part of the great confederacy, and namely through the state of Vermont. Among the revolutionary soldiers, whom it is my delight to meet, I have the gratification, in the sons of the Green Mountains, to find many who have been my intimate companions, and while in the throngs of friends of both sexes, and of every age, who so kindly welcome me, I often recognized the features, I can ever recognize the feelings of my American contemporaries. There shall never be need, my dear sir, to rekindle in American hearts the sacred flame of republican patriotism; to keep it up forever, it suffices to see and feel the blessings of liberty, equality, and self-government; the more so, when those dignified and prosperous blessings are compared with the situation of another hemisphere; yet nothing can be more gratifying than the observation that my visit through the United States, so delightful to me, has been attended with some public utility, and I am happy to acknowledge it has afforded an opportunity once more to assert the devotion of the American people to the principles for which we have fought, for the institutions which they enjoy, at the same time it once more recalls to the attention of others the practical results of those principles, of those institutions.
I am happy to think, that while the successful termination of our Virginia campaign has helped to settle difficulties of general concern, it has peculiarly contributed to satisfy the anxious feelings of the State, in which from an early period I have myself felt deeply interested.
To your kind references to very remote times, permit me, sir, to add a mention of the later period of the late war, in which the citizens of Vermont also took a spirited part. One of the theatres of the honourable achievements of the war, both on water and on land, we may almost greet from this place, on the opposite shore.
To you sir, to the citizens of Burlington, to all the friends who now surround you, I offer my most affectionate, respectful acknowledgments.
Lafayette met with veterans of the Revolution including Sergeant Day, who was bearing a sword Lafayette had presented to him. They were assembled in Gould’s long room. David Russell Esq. addressed Lafayette.
General Lafayette, Sir – A few of the surviving officers and soldiers of the American Revolution here present themselves to bid you a cordial reception, among those who have so long anxiously awaited your coming; some of whom were with your on the tented field and on the ramparts, that witnessed your undaunted bravery in defence of a country then almost in despair. But we had a WASHINGTON, “whose head was a Senate and whose arm was a Host,” to direct and lead us; who, with his Cabinet Council of brave officers, (foreign and American, most of whom now sleep with their fathers,) inspired their humble followers in arms with that courage, with that zeal in the cause of liberty, and that love of country, which could not fail of leading to the important result, Freedom and Independence.
We rejoice to meet you here, sir, although it be but for a moment, to pass in review, and then be separated forever. Here we reciprocate the feelings which can never be obliterated, in the breasts of those who have been associated in arms, in a just cause, although half a century has nearly elapsed since those associations were first formed.
You here behold, sir, a frontier, then a savage wilderness, now witnessing by its improvements the blessed effects, the glorious result of those patriotic exertions, in which you performed so distinguished a part.
We reluctantly bid you adieu, sir, and pray our Almighty Father that you may return in health and safety to your country and family; that the remainder of your days may be peaceful and happy; and that thereafter you may join your great Prototype in Heaven and, with him and other departed Saints and Heroes, forever rejoice together in the Paradise of God.”
Lafayette replied:
“To the Revolutionary Soldiers: – I am delighted, my dear comrades, whenever I find myself among my revolutionary brothers in arms; for we were all brothers fighting in the same cause of independence and freedom; we all enjoy together the happy results of our toils; yet it is to me a particular gratification to recognize among you many of the intimate companions who served with me in the army, and several of my beloved Light Infantry soldiers. If I have obtained, in our military events, some fortunate days, it is to your gallantry in action, your perseverance under every hardship, to your personal affection, that I am indebted for them. That name, so dear to my heart, of the soldier’s friend, which you gave me in my youth, I am happy again to find on your lips in old age. Receive, dear comrades, my most affectionate thanks, love and good wishes.”
After dinner, the General laid the corner stone of the south college of the University of Vermont.
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For information on the bicentennial of Lafayette’s tour check out Lafayette200.org