John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

7. VI:30. The Night was fine, and we rose this Morning in sight of North Point. We had barely time to Breakfast; when four Steam-Boats, crowded with Passengers came down from the City to meet and escort the General— There was great shouting and cheering at the Meeting, and we proceeded up the river with the four Boats, two in front and two in rear of ours, and at equal distances— We landed in barges at Fort M’Henry— The barge in which the General went, and in which I accompanied him was rowed by six Captains of Merchant vessels— At the Fort the General was received by Coll. Hindman the Commandant in handsome military style. Coll. Jones, General Macomb and Major Vandeventer were present— The Tent used by General Washington during the revolutionary War, borrowed from Mr Custis of Arlington was spread there, and beneath it the General was met by Governor Stevens of Maryland who addressed him in a respectable Speech, which he answered with his customary felicity— Mr Charles Carroll of Carrollton, one of the three surviving signers of the Declaration of Independence, Coll. John E. Howard one of the highly distinguished Officers of the Revolutionary War, and several other veterans of the same class were there; all deeply affected by the Scene, which was purely pathetic. After partaking of a Collation in the Tent, the Procession for the General’s entry into the City was formed; but instead of joining it, I accepted a seat offered me by Mr William Patterson in his private Carriage, and he took me immediately to Barney’s Tavern. there I found that a chamber had been reserved for Mr Southard, the Secretary of the Navy and me— But that he had gone on this morning to Washington in Company with Mrs Adams; who was compelled to proceed 270not having been able to find a room to lodge in at Baltimore. Mr Barney the keeper of the Fountain Inn is a member of the Common Council, and went with me to the Council Chamber at the Exchange. There I met Mr Swan of Alexandria, Coll. Grahame of Frederick: Mr M’Culloch the Collector of Baltimore and many others; and witnessed the reception of Genl. La Fayette by the Corporation of the City— The Mayor about to go out of Office Edward Johnson made him an Address which he briefly answered.