VISIT TO RUTGERS YOUNG LADIES' INSTITUTE.

311 in it, received no visits, and avoided those manifestations of attachment which the people seemed universally to be animated with toward him. In the forenoon, however, he visited the Rutgers Young Ladies' institute, where a great number of ladies were assembled to receive him. He was addressed in behalf of the young ladies by the principal, who also read an address to him composed by members of the institution. From this address, we give one or two paragraphs, together with Mr. Clay's reply:

"We hail you as the advocate of peace-the richest boon that can be conferred upon a nation. And while we admire the patriotism that would not spare a well-beloved son in the hour of trial, but endured with calm resignation that the fond object of a father's deep affection should be sacrificed upon the altar of his country's good; still more would we honor that moral courage that manfully maintains the right in the face of the greatest opposition, and boldly condemns the spirit of war and aggression. To such a spirit, cherished and regarded by the nation's rulers, must we be indebted for the blessings of peace in our own highly-favored land; for the extended commerce, and polished society of large and opulent cities, or the grateful retirement, and refining pleasures of the country; but most of all, for the knowledge and understanding of those arts and sciences which more adorn our country than stately edifices, or well-tilled grounds, and our institutions of learning that shall rightly train the youthful mind, and fit the women of America for an elevated station in this great republic. And to you, and men of your principles, we look for the diffusion of like mercies in a neighboring nation, whose smiling valleys and fruitful fields have been laid waste by the cruel spirit of rapine and bloodshed.

"And now, dear sir, in conclusion, we would tender our heartfelt acknowledgments for the great pleasure and honor which your visit has afforded us. The events of this day can never be forgotten by us; the remembrance of Henry Clay will ever be indelibly engraved upon our hearts. "God bless you, and preserve you, and may your path continue to be like that of the revered one whom the nation now mourns-shining more and more unto the perfect day."

Mr. Clay then replied briefly as follows:

"I thank you, sir, and the young ladies whom you represent, for this cordial welcome and distinguished reception. Among the agreeable incidents which attended my brief visit to this city, there is no one to which I shall iool with more satisfaction and delight than upon my having had occasion to meet in this place the future mothers and present daughters of my country. I did not come here for the purpose of making a speech, but I will, however, say that I trust that the noble objects which the founder of this institution had in view in its establishment, may be fully attained. I trust that the opportunities which the young ladies possess of improving their minds, cultivating their taste, expanding their understandings, by the advantages here offered, may not be lost, but that they may fulfil their high destinies,. and render themselves a blessing to their parents, an ornament to their country, and acceptable to that God to whose providence I shall always pray for their prosperity fame and happiness."

Mr. Clay having concluded, withdrew, receiving at every step on the passage out of the room, the smiles of that beautiful crowd of girls, and shaking the hands and replying to the salutations and good wishes of those who happened to be near enough to speak to him.

On Thursday morning, March 9th, Mr. Clay, in company of the common council, drove out to the Institution for the Blind On arriving, he was received by the principal, who briefly addressed him, and drew forth from Mr. Clay one of the most felicitous and beautiful speeches that it was ever the fortune of those present to listen to. It was full of pathos and the eloquence of This was followed by poetical addresses to Mr. Clay from two young ladies, pupils of the institute, with which he was highly gratified.

elevated sentiment.

The party then proceeded to the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, where addresses were also delivered. The distinguished visiter was greatly interested in the modes and results of the in struction administered at those admirable institutions.

It was intended to visit the High Bridge, but owing to the severity of the rain, the party returned to the city. At six o'clock, Mr. Clay dined with the common council at the New York hotel, and in the evening, appeared at the ball at the Broadway theatre. This was a most brilliant festival. Even the violent rain, which prevailed the whole evening, seemed to have made little diminution in the crowds who were present. We refer especially to the ladies, who were drawn there in large numbers by the desire of seeing the honored statesman of Ashland, who had consented to attend, principally with the desire of gratifying his fair countrywomen.

The theatre was splendidly illuminated, and the stage hung with gorgeous drapery, representing the American colors. Mr. Clay entered about nine o'clock, in company with Ex-President Van Buren, and escorted by the common council. He was received with three cheers, and immediately the company formed into double lines, extending the whole length of the stage, down which the distinguished guests walked, greeted most enthusiastically at every point, and finally took their station at the farther end, where the ladies crowded at once to take them by the hand.

LEVEE AT THE CITY-HALL.

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Mr. Clay seemed in excellent spirits; his fine eye sparkled with kindly feeling, and the dense throng which gathered around, displayed the most marked reverence and attachment toward him.

The next morning, Friday, having been appointed for the citi zens of New York to pay their personal respects to Mr. Clay, he reached the city-hall with his honor the mayor and the members of the committee of reception, at about eleven o'clock. A great number of gentlemen were there collected, waiting for his arrival ; they received him with the usual manifestations. As soon as the doors of the governor's room were thrown open, the crowd began to pour through them and a steady stream of persons, eager to exchange salutations with the illustrious visiter, occupied all the avenues to the place. It was impossible to obtain admission, except by taking a place in the mass and moving with it gradually up the stairs toward the door; and the number of persons was so great, that it must have required nearly an hour for a single individual to reach the governor's room.

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In order that the thousands who had collected outside, finding it utterly impossible to effect an entrance, might not be disappointed in their wish to see him, Mr. Clay appeared on the balcony at the close of his levée. After the enthusiastic cheering with which he was received had subsided, Mr. Clay said he had come here with the expectation of shaking all his friends by the hand; he had been undergoing that operation for the last three hours—indeed, ever since he had been in the city. Instead of working twelve hours, even if he had worked twenty-four hours a day, it would not have sufficed; and as he had given all that were in the inside of the building his hand, he now gave all on the outside his heart!

On Saturday morning, Mr. Clay received the ladies of New York at the same place, and many thousands were present. Mr. Clay arrived at the appointed hour, and was received with all the honors by the mass of gentlemen and ladies assembled at the cityhall. The business of reception commenced immediately, Mr. Clay shaking hands and exchanging a pleasant word with all, receiving warmer tributes from some, and now and then carrying his politeness so far as to yield a lock of hair to the longing scissors of some patriotic matron. The ceremony was continued till

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after the appointed hour, when Mr. Clay was compelled to retire, although many ladies had not yet enjoyed the pleasure of an interview.

On Saturday afternoon, Mr. Clay visited the High Bridge, in company with several members of the common council, and was highly gratified with that magnificent work. He returned to the city, and was entertained at dinner by J. Phillips Phœnix, Esq., after which he attended the performance of the oratorio of the Creation," by the Sacred Music society. He was there much more an object of attention to the audience than the music, and in the course of the evening, briefly and felicitously replied to an address from the ladies of the society.

On Sunday morning, Mr. Clay attended St. Bartholomew's church, with his honor the mayor, where an unusually large congregation was assembled. On the way thither, he was met by a large number of Irishmen, who thus sought the opportunity of quietly expressing to him the warm feelings which his efforts in behalf of Ireland have roused in the breasts of all her sons.

On Monday morning (says the Tribune) a large assemblage was collected at the New Jersey railroad-office, foot of Liberty street, to witness the departure of Mr. Clay. A little past nine o'clock, he arrived in a carriage with his honor the mayor and the committee of reception, and was received with loud cheers by the multitude, who not only occupied the street, but the roofs of the buildings about the railroad-office, all eager to obtain a view of him. Just before the ferry-boat arrived at the wharf, Mr. Clay came forward, and bowed his farewell to the people, who returned it with cheers, after which he took his seat again in the carriage, and was driven on board the boat. As the boat put off, the assemblage again cheered loudly, and so the visit of the veteran and adored statesman to the commercial metropolis was ended.

The committee accompanied Mr. Clay to Newark, where they resigned him to the authorities of that place. He was welcomed there with the utmost enthusiasm, and after spending a short time, went on to Philadelphia, where he remained a day privately, and then returned home by way of Baltimore. The Tribune, in speaking of his visit to New York, says: "Mr. Clay has been with us

HIS PRIVATE AND PERSONAL HISTORY.

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five days, and through the whole time has received such tokens of deep respect and enthusiastic attachment, as no man but himself could have elicited. We now see how firmly he stands in the affections, not of a few persons, or of any particular class, but of the whole people. If there were any doubt before, the fact is now undeniable, that no man lives who is so truly beloved revered, and trusted, by the people of this city, as Henry Clay.'

XXIX.

MR, CLAY AS A LAWYER AND AS A MAN.

Of such paramount interest have been the details of Mr. Clay's public career, that we have but little room to bestow upon his private and professional history, honorable as it has been to him. We have alluded to his early successes at the bar, but space fails us in the attempt to supply even an imperfect sketch of his numerous triumphant efforts in the sphere of his professionefforts which have not failed in brilliancy and success with the arrival of his threescore and tenth year.

Owing to the more popular character of his political labors, he has not enjoyed, out of the boundary of the supreme court, half the reputation which was his due as a jurist of extensive attainments and profound ability. But the writer has been assured by the late Mr. Justice Story, that Mr. Clay was regarded by ChiefJustice Marshall as second in these respects to no lawyer in the country. His arguments always evinced great reflection, and oftentimes extensive legal erudition; and his appeals were of that generous and elevated character, which rejects every aid of a narrow or pettifogging cast. We must content ourselves with a mere reference to this department of Mr. Clay's history; referring the reader, for information in regard to it, to the reports and records of the United States courts and the courts of Kentucky.

Mr. Clay is now (1848) in his seventy-first year, and, notwithstanding his varied and arduous labors, tasking his mental and physical powers to an extraordinary degree, and the several pe