4375. LAFAYETTE (Marquis de), Revisiting America.—[continued].
You will have seen by
our papers the delirium into which our citizens
are thrown by a visit from General Lafayette.
He is making a triumphant progress through the
States, from town to town, with acclamations
of welcome, such as no crowned head ever
received. It will have a good effect in favor
of the General with the people in Europe, but
probably a different one with their sovereigns.
Its effect here, too, will be salutary as to ourselves,
by rallying us together and strengthening
the habit of considering our country as one
and indivisible, and I hope we shall close it with
something more solid for him than dinners and
balls. The eclat of this visit has almost merged
the presidential question, on which nothing
scarcely is said in our papers.—
To Richard Rush. Washington ed. vii, 380.
Ford ed., x, 322.
(M.
Oct. 1824)
