VIRGINIA. 



The one-hundredth anniversary of the battle 

 of Yorktown and the surrender of the British 

 forces under Lord Cornwallis, which virtually 

 ended the Revolutionary struggle, was cele- 

 brated under national and State auspices in 

 October. Under an act of June 7, 1880, a se- 

 lect joint committee of Congress was appointed 

 to take charge of the arrangements on behalf 

 of the national Government, and obtain suitable 

 designs for a monument to be erected at the 

 scene of the surrender at Yorktown. A com- 

 mission of artists, consisting of R. M. Hunt and 

 J. Q. A. Ward, of New York, and Henry Van 

 Brunt, of Boston, was selected to design the 

 monument, and their report was made and ac- 

 cepted in the early part of the year. The pro- 

 gramme of the celebration covered several 

 days. On the 13th of October the Moore 

 Housa, the scene of the capitulation, was for- 

 mally opened, the celebration was inaugurated 

 with an address of the president of the local 

 association, and there was a reunion of the de- 

 scendants of officers and soldiers of the Revo- 

 lution. On the 1-tth there were addresses by 

 Hon. Carl Schurz and Professor Elie Charlier, 

 of New York, in commemoration of the part 

 taken by German and French allies in the Rev- 

 olutionary struggle, followed by a grand ball 

 in the pavilion. On the loth there were a re- 

 gatta and pyrotechnia displays and illumina- 

 tions. The 16th, which was Sunday, was de- 

 voted to appropriate religious exercises. The 

 17th, the anniversary of the sending of a flag of 

 truce by Oornwallis, was oactipied with meet- 

 ings of various civic associations and with pub- 

 lic addresses. On the 18th there were an ad- 

 dress of welcome to visitors and participants 

 in the celebration by Governor Holliday ; an 

 opening address by Senator J. W. Johnston, 

 chairman of the Congressional Committee ; and 

 the laying of the corner-stone of the monu- 

 ment with imposing Masonic ceremonies. This 

 was followed on the 19th by the more distinct- 

 ively literary features of the occasion, in- 

 cluding a brief address by the President of the 

 United States ; an historical oration by Robert 

 C. Winthrop, of Massachusetts ; a poem by 

 James Barron Hope, of Richmond; an ode 

 written by Paul H. Hayne, of South Carolina ; 

 and appropriate musical exercises. On the 20th 

 there was a grand military review, participated 

 in by bodies of citizen soldiers from all parts 

 of the Union, and this was followed by a naval 

 review on the 2 1st. The week following was 

 largely occupied with special displays and en- 

 tertainments in the city of Richmond. 



In response to national invitation there were 

 present at the ceremonies of the 18th and 19th 

 delegations of foreign guests, including repre- 

 sentatives of the families of Marquis de la Fay- 

 ette, Count Rochambeau, and Baron Steuben. 

 Thesa were under the charge of Secretary 

 Blaine, and were assigned positions of special 

 honor at the celebration exercises of the 15th. 

 President Arthur's address on that occasion 

 was as follows: 



Upon this soil, one hundred years ago, our forefa- 

 thers brought to a successful issue their heroic Ptrug- 

 gle for independence. Here and then was established 

 and is, we trust, made secure upon this continent for 

 ages yet to come, that principle of government which 

 is the very fiber of our political system the sover- 

 eignty of the people. The resentments which at- 

 tended and for a time survived the clash of arms have 

 long since" ceased to animate our hearts. It is with 

 no feeling of exultation over a defeated foe that to- 

 day we summon up a remembrance of those events 

 which have made this holy ground whereon we tread. 

 Surely no such unworthy sentiment could find harbor 

 in our hearts, so profoundly thrilled with the expres- 

 sion of sorrow and sympathy which our national be- 

 reavement has evolved from the people of England 

 and their august sovereign. But it is altogether fit- 

 ting that we should gather here to refresh our souls 

 with the contemplation of unfaltering patriotism, the 

 sturdy zeal of sublime faith which achieved the re- 

 sults we now commemorate. For so, if we learn aright 

 the lesson of the hour, shall we be incited to transmit 

 to the generations which shall follow, the precious 

 legacy which our forefathers left to us the love of 

 liberty, protected by law. Of that historic scene which 

 we here celebrate, no feature is more prominent and 

 none more touching than the participation of our gal- 

 lant allies from across the seas. It was their pres- 

 ence which gave fresh and vigorous impulse to the 

 hopes of our countrymen when well-nigh disheartened 

 by a long series of disasters. It was their noble and 

 generous aid extended in the darkest period of the 

 struggle which sped the coming of our triumph and 

 made the capitulation at Yorktown possible a century 

 ago. To their descendants and representatives, who 

 are here present as honored guests of the nation, it is 

 my glad duty to offer a cordial welcome. You have 

 a right to share with us the associations which cluster 

 about the day, Vhen your fathers fought side by side 

 with our fathers in the cause which was here crowned 

 with success, and none of the memories awakened by 

 this anniversary are more grateful to us all than the 

 reflection that the national friendships here so closely 

 cemented have outlasted the mutations of a change- 

 ful century. God grant, my countrymen, that they 

 may ever remain unshaken, and that ever henceforth 

 with ourselves and with aill nations of the earth we 

 may be at peace ! 



M. Max Outrey, the French Minister, spoke 

 briefly in behalf of the French delegation, and 

 Marquis de Rochambeau and Baron Steuben 

 made brief addresses in their own languages. 

 The oration of Mr. Winthrop was largely taken 

 up with an historical review of the events and 

 characters in honor of which the celebration 

 was held. The President of the United States 

 issued the following order as a feature of the 

 day's proceedings: 



In recognition of the friendly relations so long and 

 so happily subsisting between "Great Britain and the 

 United States, in the trust and confidence of peace 

 and good-will between the two countries for all cen- 

 turies to come, and especially as a mark of the pro- 

 found respect entertained by the American people for 

 the illustrious sovereign and gracious lady who site 

 upon the British throne, it is hereby ordered that, at 

 the close of these ceremonies in commemoration of the 

 valor and success of our forefathers in their patriotic 

 Htniiorle for independence, the British flag shall bo 

 saluted by the forces of the Army and Navy of the 

 United States now at Yorktown. The Secretary ot 

 War and the Secretary of the Navy will give orucrs 

 accordingly. CHESTER A. ARTHUR. 



By thc~ President : 



JAMES G. BLAINE, Secretary of State. 



The monument, the corner-stono of which 

 waa laid on the 18th of October, and which is 



