CHAPTER XXXVIII.

On the morning of September 23d the Methodist Conference, which had been in session for several days, called in a body on General and Mrs. Grant. Bishop Haven made an address of welcome, and a formal presentation to the General and Mrs. Grant followed. An hour was taken up before the presentation was concluded. The preparations made around the new city hall for the formal presentation of General and Mrs. Grant to the citizens of San Francisco were of an elaborate character. The Mayor's office, which was used as a reception room, was handsomely draped with flags. At half-past twelve o'clock a crowd began to assemble in front of the McAllister street entrance, and shortly after the passage, steps and every point of advantage were thronged with people. At the Market street side of the building there was also a large crowd awaiting the arrival of the veterans to fire salutes from the sand lots. As the hour for the reception approached, the crowd grew denser, filling up the corridors and entrances of the building. A squad of thirty policemen was detailed to keep the passages open. At a quarter to one the veterans - Federal and Confederate arrived upon the "sand lots," taking up a position near Market street. The first gun was fired at ten minutes to one, the other thirty-seven guns succeeding each other at intervals of one minute. The people massed along the line of Market street. After the salute the veterans fell into line, entered the corridor, and marching down its length countermarched

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and took up a position awaiting the arrival of the General.
A few minutes later the ex-President and party arrived at
the McAllister street entrance and were greeted with
cheers. The windows of the houses opposite and the
housetops were crowded with people who waved handker-
chiefs and sent up cheer after cheer as the party alighted.
As the General proceeded along the pavement, escorted by
the Mayor, the enthusias n broke out afresh along the
corridor. Running from the lower entrance to the Mayor's
office were ranged the veterans, posted in two lines. Their
commander, Colonel Lyons, stepped forward as General
Grant and the Mayor reached the corridor, and said:
"Now, boys, three cheers for your old commander!" The
veterans responded with enthusiastic hurrahs.
The party
then proceeded to the Mayor's office, where a committee of
ladies were waiting to receive Mrs. Grant and assist her.
Mrs. Grant did not arrive until some time after the General,
who took up his position in the centre of the room.
southeast corner of the room was assigned to the ladies.

The

Directions were then issued to admit the multitude. After a few of the invited guests had been presented to the General the crowd filed in, shook hands with the city's guests, and passed out at the Market street entrance after presentation to Mrs. Grant. All the afternoon a constant stream of visitors poured through the apartments, and all were greeted with a hearty shake of the hand, the General not adopting the suggestion of the Mayor that hand shaking might be dispensed with on account of the great rush, and expressing his opinion that he could "fight it out on that line all summer."

Previous to the salute on the "sand lots," the General reviewed the veterans at their rendezvous in Mechanics' Pavilion.

On the morning of the 24th General Grant visited the Produce Exchange, and witnessed a grand display of

cereals of the Pacific coast, which no city in the world could probably excel. He was much gratified at the exhibition, and expressed in a few words his congratulations. After that, accompanied by General McDowell, a government tug conveyed him to all the forts in the bay, where he was received with military honors. Upon landing at Black Point, General McDowell's headquarters, the party was greeted by a salute, and the troops were drawn up in line to receive General Grant. At General McDowell's residence a collation was prepared, and a formal reception tendered to the distinguished guest. Among the prominent citizens present were Governor Irwin and Governorelect Perkins, ex-Governor Stanford, ex-Governor Low, Senator Booth, Senator Sharon, ex-Senator Stewart, Justice S. J. Field, Judge Ogden Hoffman, D. O. Mills, and other distinguished citizens, generally accompanied by their ladies.

Before the reception began, the General was visited by the chief representatives of the Chinese community, headed by their Consul and the Chinese Vice-Consul, who read the following congratulatory welcome:

"General-We feel deeply gratified that we were permitted to meet you face to face, and express to you how sincerely we appreciate the fact that you have visited our country, and consulted with its rulers, and become familiar with the important features of both government and people. It gives unbounded pleasure to learn that you received a warm welcome, commensurate with the high esteem your noble deeds fully entitled you to at the hands of the Chinese authorities and people. Let us hope that your visit will have a tendency to bring the people of the oldest and youngest nations in still closer friendly and commercial relations. The Chinese of California join with your countrymen in the acclaim,' Welcome home,' and add the sentiments that you may live long, and, like the great