nished by the history of your past life. It is our earnest and confident hope that your administration, by perfecting our valuable institutions, and by uniting public sentiment, and wisely directing it to proper national objects, may fulfil the present happy anticipations, and thus establish, on a firm basis, your own and your country's happiness, "honour and glory.

J. MASON,

in behalf of the inhabitants of the town of Portsmouth.

The President's Answer,

To the Committee from the town of Portsmouth. FELLOW CITIZENS-Accept my best thanks for your kind reception, which is characterized by so many interesting circumstances.

This general movement of my fellow citizens, and the expression of their regard, for the Chief Magistrate of the Nation, is not directed to me personally. My humble services, give me no such claim. I see in it the strongest evidence of their attachment to the free government under which we live, and of an enlightened, and expanded patriotism, from which, the happiest effects may be anticipated.

The regulation of commerce, has, as you justly remark, been confided by our excellent constitution to the general government. From the manner, in which that high trust has heretofore been discharged, the most salutary effects have been derived by every section of our happy union. Occasional depressions ought not to excite surprise. They are inseparably connected with human affairs. It is our happy lot, from the abundance of our resources, to experience no serious misfortune, from any that have yet occurred. The attention of the general government, in its several branches, will be constantly directed to this object, and, as we have every reason to presume, with the desired

success.

It has been my proudest ambition, from early youth,

to serve my country, in such offices, as my fellow citizens have thought fit to confide to me. It will be my most consoling reward, when I retire from public life, to find, that my conduct has been such as to merit and obtain their approbation.

JAMES MONROE.

"The Portsmouth Regiment passed him in review at the hotel and paid him the marching salute. After a number of the most respectable citizens had been introduced to him, he was escorted to his lodgings at Mr. Wentworth's in Jeffery street, by the Committee of Arrangements and Marshals.

- On Sunday morning the President attended divine. service at St. John's church, and in the afternoon at the Rev. Mr. Putnam's meeting house. He also paid a visit to our revolutionary patriot, Gov. LANGDON.

The President visited the Navy Yard, and Forts in the harbour. Salutes were fired at his arrival and departure.

In the evening he attended a Concert given by the Social Harmoniac Society, at Jefferson Hall, which was very elegantly decorated."

The town of Portsmouth, is situated about two miles above the mouth of the river Piscataqua. It is the only sea port town in the state, which has but about fifteen miles of sea board in its whole territory. But as a compensation for its contracted limits upon the ocean, it may lay claim to one of the finest harbours which that, and the majestic rivers which embosom themselves in it, has formed upon the continent of America. At this place was built the first Ship of the Line

in the American Navy, that graced the surface of its native element; and it bears" a name that strikes all human titles dead"---WASHINGTON.—Although Portsmouth is almost surrounded by flourishing commercial towns, it has, for nearly a century past, prosecuted commerce to advantage. Its repeated sufferings by conflagration, has essentially checked its growth. But the overwhelming visitations of adversity have not, as yet, arrested the progress of that prosperity which is always within the reach of industry. Although this town will not rank with the great towns of what is emphatically called "THE GREAT NATION;" yet, it is the capital of "A State that yields to none in the Union, in attachment to the General Government." Vessels of the greatest burthen can reach the wharves in this town. It contains a state house, five houses of public worship, and, in 1810, its population was 7000.

The President left Portsmouth upon the 15th July, and passed the Piscataqua, which landed him upon a section of Massachusetts, much larger, in point of territory, than Massachusetts Proper.

The District, once called the Province of Maine, is nearly two hundred miles square. It composes the northeast angle of the union. Upon the north, it has the British Province of Lower Canada-upon the east, the British Province of New-Brunswick-upon the south, the Atlantic. Being thus almost surrounded by a powerful enemy, it was, for a long time, during the last war, a portion of it, possessed by this enemy. Its citizens submitted to what was deemed imperious necessity. The physical power of its patriotic citizens was sufficient to extirpate, if not to annihilate the enemy,

that, for a time, took from them the right of self-government, and subjected them to the unacknowledged control of a foreign potentate. By the military power of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, it was thought inexpedient and unnecessary to attempt the expulsion of an enemy, whose head quarters, at Castine, benefitted individual interest, more than their expulsion would have advanced national character. Much human blood

was undoubtedly saved by permitting the enemy to remain, for a long time, in peaceable possession of a portion of the American Republic. Castine was built; individuals were enriched, and the national character was sufficiently supported at Plattsburgh, Bridgewater, Chippewa, New-Orleans, and Stonington.

The limits of this work precludes a particular description of the country. The ocean, in its expanded grandeur, is presented to the eye of the traveller. It expends the force of its surges upon the pebbled shore of the District of Maine. Her sons, feeling a rigid climate at home, have sought an home upon the deep," and have become the pride of the ocean.

The Address delivered upon the borders of Maine, does credit to the classical elegance, and genuine patriotism of the Committee.

"On his arrival at the shore, he was met by the Hon. John Holmes, and Hon. Albion K. Parris, members of Congress; W. P. Prebble, Esq. District Attorney; and several other gentlemen from various towns in the District, and was received with three cheers by a large concourse of citizens assembled on the banks of the river. The Hon. Mr. Holmes presented him with the following Address:

TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

SIR-AS citizens of Maine, we take the liberty to meet the Chief Magistrate of the nation, on his entering our District, and to pay him our respects. It being the first time a President of the United States has visited this section of the country, it is a source of peculiar satisfaction, to meet and greet one, whose private virtues and public administrations have been so much, and so justly admired by the people of Maine.

Permit us, Sir, for ourselves, and our friends, to congratulate you on your election as President, and bid you a cordial welcome to this part of the Union; to tender you our services to alleviate the fatigues of your journey, and our wishes and exertions, that all your labours for the public may be received with gratitude, and crowned with success.

Through the wisdom of yourself, and your co-patriots; the patriotism of the people, and the favour of Heaven, you have the singular felicity to receive the voluntary homage of the nation, and to witness its peace, prosperity, freedom and happiness.

This journey, like the journey of your life, is commenced and pursued for the public good. Like that, its fatigues have been endured with patience, its obstacles overcome with perseverance, its storms encountered with firmness, and its refreshing sunshines relished with equanimity and gratitude. In each, as you have advanced, you have acquired additional honour, reverence, and love. In your future progress in both, may your health be preserved, your country's prosperity and glory secured; and the affections, confidence, and union of the people increased and confirmed. And when these respective journies shall be ended, and you shall return home, may you at the close of the one, be received in health and happiness to the embraces of an affectionate family, and of the other, to the favour and fruition of Him, who will never fail to reward the great and the good.