18 
VOYAGE OF THE POTOMAC. 
[July, 
hallows his memory now as in the foremost rank of its benefactors 
— was holding its jubilee ! Thus, by a coincidence for which it 
would be difficult to find a parallel in history, three patriots of 
the revolution, who had successively graced the presidential 
chair, were called away to a more permanent state of existence oij 
the glorious anniversary of the independence which they had so 
zealously laboured to achieve. The death of James Monroe on 
the 4tli of July, 1831, completed the threefold miracle that was 
doubtless intended to convince the most skeptical of the divine 
superintendence of that providence which raised up these three 
statesmen ^nd patriots for the purpose of achieving the work of 
independence. " Did this event stand single in our annals," says 
an orator of much deserved celebrity, "were it unconnected in 
our memories with the deaths, on a former anniversary of the 
same glorious day, of two of his illustrious predecessors, — even 
then a similar removal of the deceased would have been deemed 
admonitory, and would have commanded a solemn and appropriate 
notice. But following, as it does, that signal union in their flight 
from this world of the immortal spirits of Adams and Jefferson, 
the departiure of Monroe must impress us with an awful sense of 
a divine interposition, and awaken a lively gratitude for the favour 
and protection of an overruling providence." 
On the 15th of July the Potomac, in conformity to orders, 
sailed from Hampton-Roads for the port of New-York, for the 
purpose of completing her outfits of all kinds, and also to receive 
her commander on board ; who, having received his orders from 
the department, was nearly ready to take the immediate com- 
mand. Nothing material occurred during the passage of the 
frigate to New-York. On Wednesday, the 20th of July, she 
was announced by telegraph as being anchored outside the bar, 
waiting for a fair wind to enter the harbour. On the following 
day she proceeded up the bay in gallant style, and came to 
anchor off the Battery, in the Hudson river. 
Although it was for some time intended that the Potomac 
should proceed from New- York to England, in order to convey 
our newly-appointed minister, the Honourable Martin Van Buren, 
to the court of St. James as before stated, this arrangement, it 
will be seen, was ultimately abandoned, and Mr. Van Buren pro- 
ceeded to England in the regular packet-ship President, which 
