“Paris, July 15, 1822. 

“My dear sir:—­I avail myself of a good opportunity to remind you of your old friend and fellow-soldier, in whose heart no time nor distance can abate the patriotic remembrance and personal affections of our revolutionary times.  We remain but too few survivors of that glorious epoch, in which the fate of two hemispheres has been decided.  It is an additional monitor to think more of the ties of brotherly friendship which united us.  May it be in my power, before I join our departed companions, to visit such of them as are still inhabitants of the United States, and to tell you personally, my dear Willet, how affectionately
                             “I am your sincere friend, la Fayette.”

Intelligence of this desire to visit America having reached Congress, resolutions were passed placing a Government ship at his disposal:—­

“Whereas that distinguished champion of freedom, and hero of our Revolution, the friend and associate of Washington, the Marquis de La Fayette, a volunteer General Officer in our Revolutionary War, has expressed an anxious desire to visit this country, the independence of which his valor, blood, and treasure, were so instrumental in achieving:  Therefore—­

“Be it Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be requested to communicate to the Marquis de La Fayette the expression of those sentiments of profound respect, gratitude, and affectionate attachment, which are cherished towards him by the Government and people of this country; and to assure him that the execution of his wish and intention to visit this country, will be hailed by the people and Government with patriotic pride and joy.

“And be it further Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to ascertain from the Marquis de La Fayette, the time when it will be most agreeable for him to perform his visit; and that he offer to the Marquis a conveyance to this country in one of our national ships.”

La Fayette modestly declined this offer of a public ship.  He sailed from Havre in the packet-ship Cadmus, accompanied by his son, George Washington La Fayette, and arrived in New York on the 15th of August, 1824.

His reception at New York was sublime and brilliant in the extreme.  The meeting between La Fayette, Col.  Willet, Gen. Van Cortland, Gen. Clarkson, and other revolutionary worthies, was highly affecting.  He knew them all.  After the ceremony of embracing and congratulations were over, La Fayette sat down by the side of Col.  Willet.  “Do you remember,” said the colonel, “at the battle of Monmouth, I was a volunteer aid to Gen. Scott?  I saw you in the heat of battle, you were but a boy, but you were a serious and sedate lad.”  “Aye, aye,” returned La Fayette, “I remember well.  And on the Mohawk I sent you fifty Indians, and you wrote me that they set up such a yell that they frightened the British horse, and they ran one way, and the Indians another.”  Thus these veteran soldiers “fought their battles o’er again.”