CHAPTER XII. Interesting Ceremony at Washington—Letter to Liberator Bolivar—Bolivar’s Reply—Comments of the _Niles Register_ upon the Departure of the Nation’s Guest—Description of the Farewell Ceremonies—Parting Address of President Adams—General La Fayette’s Impressive Reply—Parting Scenes—The General escorted to the Potomac—Military Review—La Fayette embarks on a Steamer—Parting Salute—The Fleet pauses at Mount Vernon—La Fayette’s Last View of Washington’s Tomb—La Fayette transferred to the _Brandywine_—Farewell in the Captain’s Cabin—Comments of the Press upon La Fayette’s Memorable Visit—A Belfast Journal—The Vermont _North Star_—A French Author’s Address to the Youth of France—A Letter from Paris—La Fayette’s Reception at Havre—Gift presented to the General by the Midshipmen of the _Brandywine_—La Fayette’s Words of Thanks—Reception of General La Fayette at La Grange—The Edinburgh _Observer_ Comments upon the Visit of La Fayette to America. “’Tis liberty alone that gives the flower Of fleeting life its lustre and perfume; And we are weeds without it.”—COWPER. “AN interesting ceremony took place at Washington a day or two before the departure of the Nation’s Guest. This was the presentation to the representative of the Columbian Republic certain presents to be forwarded by him to Bolivar, the Liberator. The presents consisted of a medal of gold presented to Lady Washington by the city of Williamsburg, in honor of her illustrious husband, and also a portrait of General Washington, inclosing in the back of the picture a lock of the patriarch’s hair. These gifts were presented by George Washington P. Custis, by the honored hands of the last of the generals of the army of North American independence—General La Fayette. The following is a translation of the letter written by General La Fayette to the president, Liberator Bolivar, which, together with a letter from George Washington Custis, accompanied the gifts.”