IJ'- Laiayetle attheBattle of the Brandywius binding up the wound inhislsg'. BOSTON ^^i^CBOSBY; Nichols &Cq \\\ o.v^>&few 117 Washington Stree t )»..-',-%^.,\V '^tf I. I V h] OF I, A 1'' A T ]'; T T E . WIII'I'TMN I'^OU (!IIIM>IMON, r,V 10. (1 K(j I f. >f' Wil h Six I litis I nil ions. ;*^< "4' W () S 'IM) N : CROSP.Y, NI(:iIOI;S, AND (lOMPANV, 117 WASIMNdlON SlI.KKT. 1 8 (; 0. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1859, by CROSBY, NICHOLS, AND COMPANY, in the Clerk's Office of tbo District Court of the District of Massachusetts. ITnlvcrsity Press, Cambridge t Electrotyped and Printed by Welcli, Eigelow, & Co. The Life of Lafayette seems properly to fol- low that of Washington for several reasons. They were closely connected in the dark days of our Revolutionary war ; and in the stormier scenes of the French Revolution, the young republican constantly took Washington for his model. Nor was it only in public services that their lives were united, but the friendship which bound them to each other was pure and lasting. As tlie friend of Washington, Lafayette claims our respect ; as the disinterested bene- factor of our country, we owe him more grat- itude than is often expressed, — more, perhaps, than is often felt. This memoir is an attempt to interest Amer- ican children in the character and history of one who stood so near our Commander-in-chief in many difficulties, and whose after life was so varied and remarkable. CONTENTS. CHAP. Page I, Escape fkom France 1 II. A First Battle ...... 13 III. A New Command . . . . . . . 29 IV. The Two Alliances 47 V. Active Operations 57 VI. Success the Eeward of Patience . . 69 VII. France as it was 77 VIII. Changes 87 IX. Liberty in October 101 X. Doubts Ill XI. A Lamentable Flight 123 XII. Trouble at Home and Abroad . . . 134 XIII. Exile .147 XIV. The Family at Olmutz 159 XV. France much changed 170 XVL A New King of France .... 179 XVII. Visit to the United States .... 186 XVIII. A Happy Home 198 XIX. The Old Soldier 210 LAFAYETTE. CHAPTER I. ESCAPE FROM FRANCP]. Lafayette was born on the 7th of September, 1757, at the castle of Chavaniac, in the province of Auvergne, which lies between the centre and the south of France. His family had long been dis- tinguished for courage and high spirit, and he inher- ited tlie rank of Marquis. His names were Marie- Paul-Joseph-Rocli-Ives-Gilbert de Motier; but he seems never to have been called by or to have signed any of them. Little is known of his cliildhood. Pie never saw his father, who was killed at the battle of Minden, and his excellent mother died when he was eleven years old. He was at first educated in the country among his relations, then sent at the age of eleven 2 LAFAYETTE. [l774. to a college in Paris, and afterwards to the Academy of Versailles ; but his studies must have come to an end early in life, as he was married at sixteen to his cousin, Mademoiselle Fran^oise Adrienne de Noailles. Probably, if his parents had been living, they would not have allowed so youthful a marriage ; but, in spite of its imprudence, all ended happily for both parties. Madame de Lafayette was descended, like her husband, from a noble family, and had many charming and admirable qualities. They loved each other devotedly, and shared both pleasures and cares. From the time when he was a mere cliild, Lafay- ette recollected loving everything that was free. He liked high-spirited animals, and hoped to meet a hyena which had done some mischief in the neigh- borhood of his home ; at school he was very unwil- ling to be forced to do anything, — he would work industriously, but could not bear the idea of any constraint. Ho liked to read and think of free nations, and managed to avoid a i^lace at court which his wife's family were vei^ anxious to secure for him. On his first appearance in the distinguished society which he went into on account of his own and his wife's connections, he did not make a particularly favorable impression. He was observing and rather AGE 19.] LAFAYETTE. 3 silent; he did not enjoy tlie conversation he heard, and was thought very cold. He never could adopt what were called "the graces o^ the court," — a kind of manner which was never seen in this country, and probably never will be. He went into the army, as almost all young men of rank did at that time in France. Lafayette was blit nineteen years old ^vhen he first heard of the Revolutionary war in America. He was stationed at Metz on military duty, when the Duke of Gloucester, brother of the King of Eng- land, happened to come there. At a dinner given in honor of him, the conversation turned upon the rebellion of the colonies, and the king's determi- nation to crush it. The idea of a nation fighting for freedom at once interested him ; they were doing what he had read of and dreamed of. He asked questions, and from the Duke's own account was disposed to believe that the Americans were in the right. Before he left the table, he thought how much he should like to go over to the United States, and give whatever help he could in so noble a cause. For several days this idea was constantly in his mind.; he could not forget what he had heard, and dwelt upon it until he positively longed to be on his way. 4 LAFAYETTi:. [l77(». lie went to IViriH, and spoke oi" his wishes to a lew persons; two of liis young iriends Hhared hia enlhiisiasni, jind would gladly have joined liiin, but were loihidden by Ihcir families. Jjaiiiyette had a lortune of his own, but he knew Ihat all his own and his wife's relations wouhl oppose him. lie also fores;iw (hat Ihe government might put some difli- eullies in iiis wny, and h<^ took'for a molto, at this time, (he Lnliu words, " ciu- iion ? " (why not?) On(! old i'riend of (he family i-efused even to givo him any advice, mid said lo him, " I have seen your uncle d'lv. in the wars of Ilaly, 1 witnessed your father's dealli at the batlle of Minden, anive;ed, — he was hopeful, laidiful, and true ; and Gen- eral AVashington, himself iii)riglit and true, valued that (juality more than any other in a friend. Lafay- ette had also inilnenee with the foreign ofliccrs, both ironi Franee and oilier eountrics, and thus felt that he was useful at A'alley Forge, Avhere there was much discontent among all ranks of the army. lie soon had an oi)por(unity of proving publicly his devotion to the Commander-in-chief. In addition lo the distresses of llu> army, AVashington had llie privale ti'ial of having his reputation attacked in a mean, imderhand a\ ay. Sevenxl discontented ollicers and members of Congress joined together in what was called Conway's Cabal. A^\^ do not know now all that they wanted to do, but they were certainly bent on ruining (\Mieral Washington's reputation as a soldier, antl were constantly comparing the failures of his last campaign with successes in other parts of the country. 80 brilliant and popular a young olficer as Lafay- ette would have been a great gain to their party ; but ho despised their arts, which he saw might imppso AGE 20.] LAFAYETTE. 25 upon the ignorant. People who are not accustomed to war do not know that it is impossible to fight without men and money, and the Commander-in- chief was obliged to keep his wants secret, lest the enemy should find out his weakness, and how very easily they might attack him. There were many Tories * always ready to carry reports to the British camp, and General Washington bore any amount of blame rather than risk a loss to the army. His friends were not idle, — they put him on his guard, and both in and out of Congress took pains to make his conduct and character known. Still he had no means of finding out how many officers were engaged in the Cabal, and, as suspicion was most painful to his generous temper, Lafayette's frank, openly expressed affection and sympathy were a special comfort to him this dreary winter. One thing which particularly troubled the Marquis was that General Conway, who gave his name to the Cabal, though an Irishman, had served in the French army, and professed great devotion to him. lie was afraid that other French officers would be led away by Conway's example and talking, and that his own * People -who took sides with England. 26 LAFAYETTE. ^ [l778. name might be used quite too freely. In a letter to the Commander-in-chief he says: "I don't need to tell you that I am very sorry for all that has hap- pened for some time past. It is a necessary depend- ence * of my most tender and respectful friendship for you, which affection is as true and candid as the other sentiments of my heart, and much stronger than so new an acquaintance seems to admit; but another reason to be concerned in the present cir- cumstances is my ardent and perhaps enthusiastic desire for the happiness and liberty of this country. I see plainly that America can defend, herself if proper measures are taken, and now I begin to fear lest she should be lost by herself and her OAvn sons. " When I was in Europe, I thought that here almost every man was a lover of liberty, and would rather die free than live a slave. You can conceive my astonishment when I saw that Toryism was as openly professed as Wliiggism itself; however, at that time I believed that all good Americans were united togeth- er, — that the confidence m you was unbounded. Then I entertained the certitude that America would be independent in case she should not lose you. Take * Consequence. — Lafayette always wrote in English to Gen- eral Washington, and sometimes made little mistakes. AGE 20.] LAFAYETTE. 27 away for an instant that modest diffidence of your- self, (which, pardon my freedom, my dear General, is sometimes too great, and I wish you could know as well as myself what difference there is between you and any other man,) you would see very plainly that if you were lost for America, there is nobody who could keep the army and the Revolution for six months." In General Washington's answer to the affection- ate letter of which this is a part, he thanked Lafay- ette for his friendship, explained what he supposed to be the reasons of Conway's disHke to him, and expressed his own indifference to slander, ending, as usual, hopefully : " I have no doubt that everything happens for the best, that we shall triumph over all our misfortunes, and in the end be happy ; when, my dear Marquis, if you will give me your company in Virginia, we will laugh at our past difficulties, and the folly of others." Thus, through various troubles, the attachment of these two friends of different nations, different edu- cation, different characters, and different ages, became strong and lasting. In the course of the winter, however, they were separated. The Cabal, very anxious to engage 3 28 LAFAYETTE. [l778. Lafayette in their interest, offered him a separate command at Albany, quite independent of the Com- mander-in-chief. A few soldiers in that neighbor- hood were called the Northern army, and an expedi- tion into Canada was proposed. No doubt such a command would have been very tempting to the vanity and ambition of many young officers ; but La- fayette's first request was that he might correspond with General Washington. He went to York to arrange plans for the expedition with Congress, to find out exactly how many men he might depend upon, and how he was to treat the Canadians. The Cabal soon saw that they could get no hold upon him. At a dinner at General Gates's house, after the officers had given several toasts, he remarked that there was one which had been forgotten, — he would give them, " The health of the Commander-in- chief!" Of course they could not refuse to drink it, but it -svas coldly received, and Lafayette could not have found a way to show his intentions more clearly. CHAPTER III. A NEW COMMAND. Lafayette set out on his horseback journey from York, Pennsylvania, to Albany, without any very bright hopes of success in his new position. The roads were blocked up with snow and ice, but he found some pleasure in the opportunity of seeing the country people in their homes ; he liked their simple, independe'nt way of living. He wrote to General Washington, on the way: "I go on very slowly; sometimes drenched by rain, sometimes covered by snow, and not entertaining many handsome thoughts about the projected incursion into Canada Lake Champlain is too cold for producing the least bit of laurel, and if I am not starved I shall be as proud as if I had gained three battles Could I believe for one single instant that this pom- pous command of a Northern army will let your 30 LAFAYETTE. [l778. Excellency forget a little us absent friends, then I would send the project to the place it comes from. But I dare hope you will remember me sometimes." He was greatly disappointed to find that no prepa- rations had been begun at Albany ; he immediately gave orders for enhsting men, though checked by want of money. He wrote, " Dear General : Why am I so far from you, and what business had the Board of War to hurry me through the ice and snow without knowing what I should do, neither what they were doing themselves?" The plan had been to cross the lake upon the ice, and some Canadians showed an interest in the Marquis ; but the British general was much stronger than Congress had sup- posed, and repeated delays in the supplies which had been promised convinced Lafayette that the scheme was useless. He might possibly have dashed into the enemy's country with a handful of half-clothed troops, and have accomplished some one brilliant little action ; but it would have done no good, and he had the good sense not to risk men's lives for the sake of his own distinction. Still to do nothing at all was a trial, and he began soon to be distressed about his reputation. He wrote to his best friend : " I confess, my dear General, that AGE 20.] LAFAYETTE. 31 I find myself of very quick feelings whenever my reputation and glory are concerned in anything. It is very hard indeed that such a part of my happiness, without which I cannot live, should depend upon schemes which I never knew of but when it is too late to put them into execution. I assure you, my most dear and respected friend, that I am more unhappy than I ever was. "My desire of doing something was such that I have thought of doing it by surprise with a detach- ment ; but it seems to me rash, and quite impossible. I should be very happy if you were here to give me some advice ; but I have nobody to consult with." In March the ice began to melt, and Lafayette with regret gave up his last hope of action, and obeyed the counsels of prudence. General Wash- ington's answer to his letter did not arrive until after his decision, but was full of sympathy and consola- tion, and Congress thanked him for his wisdom and forbearance. He endeavored to make better arrangements for the troops in the neighborhood of Albany, and to protect the country people from the attacks of the Indians. He was present at a meeting of chiefs of the Oneidas, Tuscaroras, and other tribes, with Gen- 32 LAFAYETTE. [l778. eral Schuyler and Mr. Duane, who were charged with the management of Indian affairs. He made speeches, and, Uke many other Frenchmen, had much more influence over the Indians than the Enghsh. They gave him the name of Kayewla, and kept him in remembrance for many years. On his part, he was quite pleased with the politics of the old sachems.* Early in the spring Lafayette rejoined Wash- ington at Valley Forge, and found the army in a better state than when he left it. The Cabal had lost its power, and General Washington was more beloved than ever. The 2d of May, 1778, was celebrated joyfully by the army, because they had received the news that France had joined with them in the war against England. It was agreed that neither nation should make peace separately, and the Americans had hopes of great assistance from so powerful an ally.f This event gave much pleasure to the Marquis ; he had been wishing for it a long time, and though he was in disgrace with the French government on account of the manner in which he quitted the country, he * Chiefs of tribes. t A person or nation who is bound by promise to help another. AGE 20.] LAFAYETTE. 33 had many friends and relations at court, and his letters may have influenced people in power. He, unlike many discontented foreigners, always sent home favorable accounts of the United States. In this country, also, he tried to make the people feel kindly towards France ; but there were some obsta- cles in his way. For hundreds of years the English and French had been enemies, often fighting, always laughing at and despising each other ; and the Amer- icans, being descended from the English, had inher- ited many of their prejudices. Lafayette* was very much liked here, on account of his pleasant manners, his enthusiasm for liberty, and his romantic story; and his wish was to turn his own popularity into an affection for liis beloved country. At the same time with these good tidings from France, came the news that Great Britain would send commissioners to make one more effort for peace. But still the King refused to acknowledge that the States were independent, and Congress would hsten to nothing short of that. The campaign of 1778 opened rather late. Sir William Howe was in no haste to leave Philadelphia. On the 18th of May, General Washington sent Lafayette with 2,000 chosen men across the Schuyl- 34 LAFAYETTE. [l778. kill River, to get information of the enemy's move- ments and plans. The Marquis proceeded to Barren Hill, about eleven miles from both armies. He stationed his troops there, and on the morning of the 20th was told that some red dragoons* whom he was expecting had arrived at Whitemarsh, on the left of his force. On examining carefully into the truth of this story, he found that a column of red- coated British soldiers was advancing upon him. He had just altered the position of his troops, that he might receive the enemy better, when he was told that they were also on a road behind him. This information was brought to him in presence of the men, and, unpleasant as it was, he forced himself to smile. No general should ever look discouraged. He immediately decided to march rapidly, but without hurrying, to Matson's Ford ; the enemy was nearer to it than he. General Grant, commanding a detachment of 7,000 men, had possession of heights above the road ; but he was deceived by Lafayette's coolness and skilful arrangement of his men, and fancied that he saw but a part of his force. While he was examining, the whole body passed by him. * Soldiers who are usually on horseback, heavier armed than cavalry. AGE 20.] LAFAYETTE. 35 General Grey's column of 2,000, now in the rear, was imposed upon in the same way, and Lafayette succeeded in arranging his men on the ojDposite bank of the Schuylkill before any attack had been made. A third division of the British army came up, and the generals were astonished to find that they had only each other to fight with. They decided not to cross the river, but returned to Philadelphia, much disappointed that the Marquis de Lafayette was not their prisoner. Sir William Howe had been so sure of taking him, that he had invited some ladies to meet him at supper. Lafayette likewise marched back to Valley Forge, where he was received with great joy. The alarm had reached the camp, and General Washington had feared not only a repulse, but the loss of the best men in his army. The Marquis's conduct on this day added much to his reputation as a military man, for it was thought remarkable that so young a general had proved more than a match for two old ones. In June Lafayette received the sad news of the death of his oldest child, a little girl. For a time, all his thoughts turned to France, and he would have been glad to go home to console his wife ; but a soldier cannot leave his post in the middle of a campaign. 36 LAFAYETTE. [l778. On the 17th of June the British army left Phil- adelphia, and began to march through New Jersey. There was a great division of opinion among the American officers as to the propriety of attacking them, or letting them go undisturbed. General Lee, a distinguished officer, (English by birth, but who had served in many countries,) spoke warmly in favor of letting them go. He said the time was unfavor- able for an attack, and that the Americans should rather help than hinder the departure of the enemy. Lafayette took the opposite side of the question, and thought it would be disgraceful to allow the enemy to pass quietly through the State. Though Lee's opinion had great weight, on account of his age and experience, some of the officers agreed with Lafayette, and the Commander-in-chief decided that an attack should be made on the rear of the British force. A division of the army was to be sent forward for this purpose. The command of it belonged by rank to General Lee ; but, as he had never liked the plan. General Washington, with his consent, gave it to Lafayette. Lee then changed his mind and wished to take it himself, but was persuaded to yield ; find- ing, however, it was to be a large detachment, he AGE 20.] LAFAYETTE. 37 again requested the Commander-in-chief to allow him to lead it. So many changes were very trying to Lafayette's temper, — he was a young general, and eager for the glory which Lee had won years before ; the command of a division, any opportunity for distinction, was very rare during this tedious war, and much sought for, — but he was thoroughly obliging. General Lee said to him, " It is my fortune and honor that I place in your hands ; you are too generous to cause the loss of both ; " and Lafayette, after he had actually left the camp, wrote, in a note to General Washington, " Sir, I want to repeat .to you in writing what I have told to you ; which is, that if you believe it, or if it is believed necessary or use- ful to the good of the service and the honor of Gen- eral Lee, to send him down with a couple of thousand men, or any greater force, I will cheerfully obey and serve him, not only out of duty, but out of what I owe to that gentleman's character." This was the more generous on his part, because he and Lee had constant little disagreements. General Lee had very strong English prejudices, and the Marquis was an ardent Frenchman. Finally the Commander-in- chief increased the number of troops, thus making it more proper to give the command to the person 38 LAFAYETTE. [l778. next to himself in rank, and at the same time requested General Lee not to alter any arrangements which Lafayette had already made. On the 28th of June the battle of Monmouth was fought. The Americans attacked the British army as it was leaving the town, but General Lee's con- duct was very strange ; lie ordered his men to retreat early in the day, and at the very moment when the Commander-in-chief was bringing up the main body of the army. The meeting of course produced great confusion, and General Washington was exceedingly displeased. With great quickness and with the best judgment, he rearranged the troops, and the Amer- icans gained a decided advantage. Lafayette says of him : " General Washington was never greater in battle than in this action. His graceful bearing on horseback, his calm and dignified deportment, which still retained some trace of the displeasure he had experienced in the morning, were all calculated to excite the highest degree of enthusiasm." The Marquis himself Avas in constant motion from four o'clock in the mornino; until nio;ht, when the battle ended. He was first ordered to cross an exposed plain to attack the enemy's left, and then to fall back ; he had only to obey General Lee's orders, though he AGE 20.] LAFAYETTE. 39 could not understand them. Afterwards, while Gen- eral Washmgton was forming his new lines, he undertook to keep back the advancing enemy. " The heat was so intense that soldiers fell dead without having received a single wound." At night Washington and Lafayette lay down upon the same cloak, talking of General Lee's behavior, and expecting to renew the fight in the morning. But when daylight came they found that the British had moved on, and General Washington thought his men too much exhausted to pursue them in such sultry weather. The next important event was the arrival of a French fleet off New York harbor. Lafayette was disappointed in his first hopes that the ships would attack the city by sea, while Washington did the same by land. No pilot could be found to take the large vessels into the harbor. A plan was then formed for an attack on Rhode Island by the fleet combined with land forces. Gen- eral Sullivan was already at Providence, and La- fayette and General Greene were despatched from head-quarters. But this expedition was likewise unfortunate. The land forces were not ready when the fleet ap- 40 LAFAYETTE. [l778. peared off Newport, and while the French admiral* was waiting for them, Lord Howe, who had watched his movements, came to meet him. The two fleets immediately put out to sea, with the intention of fighting; but a violent storm scattered them, and when the French admiral returned to Newport he declared that he must go immediately to Boston to refit his ships. This was a terrible blow to the Americans who, in the mean time, had drawn near Newport, and were hoping to make the combined attack. Lafayette and General Greene were sent on board Count d'Estaing's ship to urge him to remain, but they could not prevail upon him to do so. Lafayette's regret, deep as it was, was soon min- gled with indignation. All the American officers, except General Greene, spoke of the admiral's con- duct with great bitterness, and General Sullivan even went so far as to say publicly "our allies have deserted us." It was perfectly natural that they should feel vexed and disappointed, but very unwise to express their feelings so strongly ; for when people of different nations are trying to act together, * Count d'Estaing. AGE 20.] LAFAYETTE. 41 they must pass lightly over causes of disagreement, and do their best to keep the peace while they make war. Such language touched Lafayette in a most sen- sitive place ; his country's honor was dear to him. He wrote to General Wasliington : " My reason for not writing the same day the French fleet went to Boston was that I did not choose to trouble your friendship with the sentiments of an injured, afflicted heart, and injured by that very people I came from so-far to love and support. Don't be surprised, my dear General ; the generosity of your honorable mind would be offended at the shocking sight I have under my eyes." And further on, after a long account of the troubles, he says : " Remember, my dear General, that I don't speak to the Commander-in- chief, but to my friend; that I am far from com- plaining of anybody. I have no complaints to make to you against any one, but I lament with you that I have had an occasion of seeing so ungenerous sen- timents in American hearts I earnestly beg you will recommend to the several chief persons of Boston to do everything they can to put the French fleet in a situation for sailing soon. Give me leave to add that I wish many people, by the declaration 42 LAFAYETTE. [l778. of your sentiments in that affair, could learn how to regulate theirs, and blush at the sight of your gener- osity. " Farewell, my dear General. Whenever I quit you, I meet with some disappointment and misfortune. I did not need it, to desire seeing you as much as possible." The Commander-in-chief did, in fact, act as peace- maker, and wrote most pressing letters to the officers, trying to infuse into their minds a little of his own patience and consideration. In spite of his indig- nation, Lafayette did the same, and made the best use of his influence in Boston. He was constantly sent with messages from the army to the fleet, and even followed the Admiral to Boston to arrange plans. While he was absent. General Sullivan removed the troops from the neighborhood of Newport to the northern end of Rhode Island, and Lafayette hurried back, expecting an engagement. He travelled on horseback eighty miles in eight hours, but arrived only in time to meet the main body crossing the ferry between Rhode Island and the main land. A thousand men, the rear-guard,* had been left on * Those who come last in marching. AGE 20.] LAFAYETTE. 43 the island, and were almost surrounded by the enemy. Lafayette took the command of them, and succeeded in withdrawing them without the loss of a single life. When Congress returned thanks for his conduct during this retreat, they also expressed their grat- itude to him for undertaking the journey to Boston *^ at a period when he might rationally have expected an engagement." No battle took place in the State of Rhode Island, and the British were left at Newport exactly as they had been before the expedition was proposed. Lafayette went again to Boston for a little while, hoping to be of use to his countrymen there, and afterwards rejoined the main body of the army. At this time, Lord Carlisle, one of the British commissioners sent to Congress, made use, in a pubHc letter, of some expression insulting to France. Lafayette, therefore, challenged him to fight a duel, which was rather a boyish act, as Lord Carlisle was not a man to fight, nor in a proper position to accept a challenge. He refused it; but even people who disapproved of Lafayette's conduct saw clearly that his high spirit and love of his country were the motives of it. Fighting a duel was not in those days, and especially among the French, the disgrace- 4 44 LAFAYETTE. [l778. ful act that it is now considered in most civilized countries. The campaign of 1778 drt?w to a close in the United States, and, as France -was at war, Lafayette thought it his duty to return to his native country, and asked permission of Congress to do so. This was immediately granted, with the warmest thanks for his services. A sword was ordered to be pre- sented to him, and a ship of war, the Alliance, chosen to convey him home. He was to embark at Boston, and set out on horseback from Philadelphia. His journey was often interrupted by entertainments at various places, and was at last brought to an end by a severe fever. He had had a great deal of labor and exposure, besides excitement of mind, at Rhode Island ; and, although he struggled hard to keep up during this journey, his strength was no longer sufficient to resist the violence of the disease. Fortunately he was able to reach Fishkill, on the Hudson, eight miles from the headquarters of the army. Dr. Cochran, the chief surgeon, was devoted to him, and General Washington came every day to inquire about him. He became so ill that his death was constantly expected for several days, and every one in the AGE 21.] LAFAYETTE. 45 army, from tlie Commander-in-cliief to the private soldiers, expressed the sincerest grief. Tlie idea of this young foreigner dying in a strange land just when he was expecting to go home, touched every one's feelings. His mind was perfectly clear; he made some necessary arrangements in case of his death, and then only regretted that he could not see again those whom he loved best. But the fever did not prove fatal ; he recovered, and at the end of three months was thinking again of his voyage. He took a most affectionate leave of General Washington, to whom he had become more and more attached, ever since he arrived in America. He respected and admired Washington as much as he loved him ; — when absent, he constantly turned to him for sympathy and advice ; when they could be together, he was always happy. What a fortunate man to have such a friend ! He proceeded to Boston in January, 1779. The citizens, who had always been very friendly to him, now paid him the kindest attentions, and he was sup- plied with excellent Madeira wine, which he found very useful in restoring his strength. He was de- layed a few days, because the crew of the Alliance was not complete, and it was finally filled up with some 46 LAFAYETTF. [l779. British deserters and prisoners. The Mai'quis wrote letters to Canada, sent presents to the Indians, and repeated his farewells to his friends. A long letter to General Washington ends thus : " Farewell, my most beloved General. It is not without emotion I bid you this last adieu before so long a separation. Don't forget an absent friend, and believe me, for ever and ever, with the highest respect and tenderest affection, Lafayette." As he did not sail immediately, he opened his letter to say good by once more. CHAPTER lY. THE TWO ALLIANCES. The Alliance sailed on the lltli of January, 1779, and her passage was stormy ; but Lafayette had to meet a greater danger within the ship than that from winds and waves without. Eight days before they reached the coast of France, the Enghshmen on board formed a design of getting possession of the ship and guns, fjnd then killing the officers, passen- gers, and any of the crew who should resist. They would then have taken the ship into some British harbor, and would have received as much money as she WBS worth. Fortunately, the mutineers,* mistaking an Ameri- can for an Irishman, told him of their plot, and offered him the command of the vessel. He gave * Men determined not to obey their officers. 48 LAFAYETTE. [l779. warning to the captain and to Lafayette just one hour before the ship was to be seized. They rushed on deck, sword in hand, and, with the assistance of the passengers and French and American sailors, secured thirty-one of the British. The rest of the crew were not strong enough to carry on the mutiny, and the ship went safely on her Avay. As soon as he landed in France, Lafayette has- tened to Paris, and was delighted to meet his own family and friends once more. He had much to tell of a world unknown to Parisians, but which he was determined to make them care for. His mind was constantly full of schemes for carrying on the war, ■ — for annoying England and helping America. He was still out of favor with government for the way in which he had left the kingdom ; but all France was proud of his bravery, and delighted with his romantic enthusiasm. We can hardly imagine how much a young nobleman who had had such uncom- mon adventures would be talked about. He was, as a matter of form, desired not to appear in public places, and to visit only his relations ; but, as he and his wife had an enormous number of them, such an order did not oblige him to lead a very quiet life. The court ladies were eager to see hirg, and the AGE 21.] LAFAYETTE. 49 ministers had many questions to ask him. He soon received the honorable appointment of colonel of a regiment of the King's dragoons, and began to correspond with the minister of war about his various jDlans for the benefit of his adopted country. He had left the United States fired with the idea of a grand expedition against Canada; but the French government was as slow to engage in so ex- pensive a plan as Congress had been, and he was obliged to be content with a more moderate scheme. He next proposed that a small fleet should apj)ear off some of the large and rich English towns, such as Liverpool ; the inhabitants, for fear of injury to their houses and shops, would probably pay large sums of money, and the amount so collected should be devoted to the American cause. But this project also was not acceptable to the ministers, and while they were taking counsel with Spain about a grand invasion of England, Lafayette asked and obtained for the United States the assist- ance of land troops, which had not been sent up to this time, and which Congress had not desired him to ask for. He was perfectly sure, however, that they were necessary, and that the ministers would be 50 LAFAYETTE. [ 1779 more ready to send a good fleet if they were inter- ested in the officers of the army. In August, 1779, the grandson of Dr. Franklin who .was the envoy of the United States in Paris, presented to him the sword ordered by Congress, which had been made in France. It was engraved with figures representing his exploits at Gloucester, Barren Hill, Monmouth, and Rhode Island. Dr. Franklin said, in the letter Avhicli accompanied it, " By the help of the exquisite artists of France, I find it easy to express everything but the sense we have of your worth and our obligations to you ; for this, figures and even words are insufficient." Lafayette's heart was certainly half in America, durino; the whole summer. He wrote to General "Washington : " I cannot express to you how uneasy I feel on account of your* health, and the dangers you are, perhaps at this moment, exposing yourself to. These you may possibly laugh at and call wo- manlike considerations ; but so, my dear friend, I feel, and I never could conceal the sentiments of my heart. I know, my dear General, you wish to hear something about my private affairs. My family, my friends, and my countrymen made me such a recep- tion, and showed me every day such an affection as AGE 21.] LAFAYETTE. 51 I should not have dared to hope What I wish, my dear General, what would make me the happiest of men, is to join American colors, or to put under your orders a division of four or five thousand countrymen of mine " All Europe wants to see you so much, my dear Sir, that you cannot refuse them that pleasure. I have boldly affirmed that you will pay me a visit after the peace is settled; so that, if you deny me, you will hurt your friend's reputation throughout the world I most earnestly entreat you, my dear General, to let me hear from you. Write me how you do, how things are going on. The minut- est detail will be interesting. Don't forget me, my dear General ; be ever as affiictionate to me as you have been; these sentiments I deserve from the ardent ones which fill my heart." In a letter written on the 7tli of October, 1779, he laments that he has not once heard from General Washington, and says : '^ Let me beseech you, my dear General, by that mutual tender and experienced friendship in which I have put an immense portion of my happiness, to be very exact in inquiring for occasions, and never to miss those which may convey to me letters that I shall be so much pleased to re- 52 LAFAYETTE. [l779. ceive Be certain, my dear General, that in any situation, in any case, let me act as a French or as an American otHcer, my first wish, my first pleas- ure, will be to serve again with you. However happy I am in France, however M-ell treated by my country and king, I have taken such a habit of being with you, — I am tied to you, to America, to my fel- low-soldiers by such an affection, — that the moment when I shall sail for your country will be one of the most wished-for and the happiest of my life." During the autumn and winter he persevered in his efforts to obtain money and land forces for the American army, and he was at last successful ; the money was placed at General Washington's disposal, the troops were to be commanded by Count Rocham^ beau, and Lafayette was to resume his station in the service of the United States. He sailed from France the second time in March, 1780. No despatches from government delayed his departure, and on the 27th of April he wrote from Boston harbor to announce his arrival to the Com- mander-in-chief. The people of Boston received the Marquis with the greatest joy. He was taken in triumph to Governor Hancock's house, but he was too impatient to see General "Washington to allow AGE 22.] LAFAYETTE. 53 himself to be long detained by any festivities. This welcome, however, was for himself; nothing was known as yet of the good news he brought. ,He hastened on to head-quarters. " After the first pleasure of their meeting was over," he learned from General "Washington the bad state of the American army. Money and provisions were scarce, and it was very difficult to collect men; the country was exhausted and indiffisrent. Then Lafayette revealed his good tidings ; he had gone beyond the orders of Congress, but the wants of the United States were exactly those which he had supposed, and Wash- ington felt the strongest hope that the timely arrival of the French fleet would rouse the Americans to fresh exertions. Secret preparations were made for the fleet at Newport, Rhode Island. It was expected in July, and Lafayette took up his station in the front of the Commander-in-chief's division of the army, which was established on tKe banks of the Hudson River. He had brought from France swords, banners, and some ornaments for the officers and soldiers of his corps,* — he M^as so much attached to them, that it was like * A body of troops used to acting together. 54 LAFAYETTE. [l779. giving presents to his friends. Clothes, much needed by many others beside his men, had been promised in France, but never came. The French fleet arrived at the appointed time, and the first plan proposed was that of a joint attack on New York ; but all hopes of an action were soon overthrown by the blockade of the French fleet in Newport harbor. The English squadron was decid- edly larger, and the French admiral could not move. Count E-ochambeau would very gladly have joined General Washington in an attack by land ; but there seemed not the smallest prospect of success, unless the ships could assist them. This state of things was exceedingly trying to Lafayette, who was Wash- ington's messenger and secretary in all his communi- cations with the Count, and was positively longing to see something accomplished. During his first visit to Rhode Island, however, he had the pleasure of finding the allied armies on very friendly terms. He wrote to General Washington that, on the arrival of some American militia-men, " every French soldier and officer took an American with him, and divided his bed and his supper with him in a most friendly manner The French discipline is such that chickens and pigs walk between AGE 22.] LAFAYETTE. 55 the tents without bemg disturbed, and that there is in the camp a corn-field of which not one leaf has been touched. The Tories don't know what to say to it." To understand what high praise this is, you must remember that soldiers are generally very careless in their habits, and are ajot to compel farmers to give them whatever they can see in the way of food. To prevent their doing mischief requires great care on the part of the officers, as well as obe- dience and good-temper from the men. While waiting for further aid from France, Count Rochambeau was very desirous of seeing General Washington, who found it difficult to leave head- quarters. On the 18th of September, however, he set out for Hartford, Connecticut, where he had a most agreeable meeting with the Count. He re- turned to West Point on the 25 th, a few hours after the escape of General Arnold, who had betrayed the place to the enemy. The arrest of the unfortunate Major Andre, the British officer who made the agreement with Arnold, prevented Sir Henry Clin- ton from gaining any advantage by this piece of treachery ; but the first discovery of it was appaUing to the Commander-in-chief, and to all those about him. Lafayette was walking up to Arnold's house with General Washington and General Knox, when 56 LAFAYETTE. [l780. Colonel Hamilton came out and said a few words to the Commander-in-chief in a low voice, bnt this probably excited no surprise in the minds of his companions. In a short time, however, Washington rejoined them, and put into their hands the papers which proved Arnold's guilt. They were shocked, for, though General Arnold's character was not en- tirely without reproach, he had been one of the bravest and most distinguished officers of the Amer- ican army. But no time could be lost in feeling, — it was necessary to act ; and since it was too late to capture Arnold, all eftbrts were turned to the secur- ity of West Point. Lafayette shared his General's anxiety, and did not fail to observe and admire his kind and delicate attention to Mrs. Arnold, who was left alone in a most unhappy condition. He was one of the fourteen .generals who tried Major Andre, and decided that he must suffer death by hanging, — the usual fate of a spy; yet his feelings were very much touched by Andre's situa- tion, and the cheerful fortitude with which he bore his sentence. General Washington would have been glad to have exchanged Andre for Arnold ; but Sir Henry Clinton would not consent to such an arrange- ment, though he made great efforts to save Andre's life. CHAPTER y. ACTIVE OPERATIONS. In October of this year Lafayette wrote a long letter to the Commander-in-chief, urging an immedi- ate attack on the city of New York. He was very tired of reconnoitring parties, and plans which came to nothing ; and he felt that some action was needed, both for the honor of America and the credit of the French army. General Washington in his heart desired activity quite as much as his young friend ; but he did not think the tim^ favorable enough for so large a scheme, and he could only recommend to Lafayette the patience which he so constantly prac- tised himself. In November the Marquis de Chastellux, a French traveller who visited the Commander-in-chief at head-quarters, thus describes Lafayette's appearance : " We availed ourselves of the cessation of the raui 58 LAFAYETTE. [l781. to accompany his Excellency to the camp of the Marquis. We found all his troops ranged in line of battle on the heights to the left, and himself at their head, expressing both by his deportment and physi- ognomy that he preferred seeing me there to receiv- ing me on his estate in Auvergne. The confidence and attachment of his troops are most precious in his eyes, for he looks upon that species of wealth as one of which he cannot be deprived. But what I think still more flattering to a young man of his age is the influence which he has acquired in political as well as military circles. I have no fear of being contradicted when I assert that simple letters from him have often had more influence in some of the States of the Union than the strongest invitations on the part of Congress." In February, 1781, Lafayette was despatched from head-quarters to Eprtsmouth, Virginia, to oppose with but a small force the traitor Arnold. The French fleet which was to assist him was defeated at sea on its way, and Lafayette, having blockaded Portsmouth, was retreating northwards, when at Head of Elk he met despatches from General Wash- ington. These informed him that reinforcements were to go from the British head-quarters to Arnold, AGE 23.] LAFAYETTE. 59 and tliat he must aid the Virgmians. Now, like all American generals, Lafayette found himself beset by difficulties. His men were from the New Eng- land States, and were unwilling to be exposed to the southern climate; they began to desert. Lafayette told them, in a general order,* that he was setting out on a difficult, dangerous enterprise, and that whoever wished to quit him might obtain leave to do so by coming to head-quarters. From that day there were no more desertions ; the men felt it an honor to follow their leader, and one sergeant, who was lame and could not walk, hired a cart rather than be left behind. They were without proper clothes for a southern campaign, and Lafayette borrowed money to buy linen for them, which the ladies of Baltimore made into shirts. He had not men enough for fighting battles. His objects in this campaign were to deceive and annoy the enemy, to protect the military stores which supplied the army of General Greene in Carolina, and to prevent the British from gaining any advantage from their superior troops and equipments. He immediately distinguished himself by a rapid march * Directions and advice from a general, v/hich are read aloud to the troops. 5 60 LAFAYETTE. [l781. to Richmond, the capital of Virginia, which greatly astonished the British General Phillips. This officer died soon after, and Lafayette refused to receive a letter from Arnold, who succeeded him in the com- mand. This spirited determination pleased General Washington and Congress. Perhaps it seems strange that the commanders of hostile armies should have any occasion to write to each other ; but there are always questions of busi- ness coming up ; sometimes relating to the treatment and exchange of prisoners ; sometimes to the protec- tion of the country people near the camp, who are always in danger of being robbed ; and in various ways generals can show civility and respect for each other. By refusing to hold any communication with General Arnold, Lafayette plainly showed that he did not think him a j)i'oper person for an American officer to speak to. Virginia became at this time the principal scene of war. General Greene was active in the Carolinas, but was ill-supplied, had been defeated, and could only hope to delay Lord Cornwallis's arrival in Virginia. His lordship was fighting his way up from Charleston, South Carolina, to join General PhilHjjs. Between the Commander-in-chief, Greene, and AGE 23.] LAFAYETTE. 61 Lafayette, there was the most perfect agreement both in wishes and actions. General Washington watched both divisions, and assisted both as far as he could ; but he could not leave his station near New York, which was still to be attacked whenever the long-expected French fleet should arrive. General Greene was hke Washington, — patient, prudent, and hopeful ; but Lafayette needed a double share of discretion when in May he found himself opposed to Lord Cornwallis, the best British general in America. From the Marquis's youth and inexperience, Cornwallis promised himself an easy victory, and was confident enough to say, in one of his letters, "The boy cannot escape me." He had one great advantage in mounting his dragoons on the fine Virginia horses which he found in abundance in the stables of the planters. Lafayette says, in one of his letters : " There is no fighting here unless you have a naval superiority, or an army mounted on race- horses ; " and, again, he speaks of the " immense and excellent body of horse, whom the militia fear as if they were so many wild beasts." He was, however, joined by many of the young men of the State, whose intelligence and high spirit were of great use to him. After having gained possession of Richmond, he 62 LAFAYETTE. *[l781. was not strong enough to remain there, and slowly- retreated before Lord Cornwallis, hojDing to be joined by some Pennsylvania troops. He never allowed the two armies to meet in such a way that there could be an engagement ; and yet he moved as slowly as possible, leaving each place just as the British advance guard entered it. He could not contmue long on this plan ; for the Pennsylvanians did not come at the time they were expected, and there were some stores at Albemarle Old Court House, which it was necessary to guard. It was supposed that he must pass in front of the whole English army, and so expose himself to certain defeat ; but he dis- covered an old road, which had been long unused, had it mended by night, and led his men success- fully to the spot. Lord Cornwallis was surprised to hear of him established in so strong a position. He now turned towards Richmond and Williamsburg, and Lafayette, being joined by the Pennsylvania troops, under General Wayne, and by another re- inforcement, under Bai'on Steuben, ventured to follow him. There were constant skirmishes, but nothing that could be called a regular attack until the 6th of July, when the British army was crossing James River, AGE 23.] LAFAYETTE. 63 on the march from Williamsburg to Portsmouth. Lafayette, believing that the larger part of the army had crossed, ordered an attack upon what he sup- posed to be a rear-guard. Lord Cornwallis, intending to deceive him, had sent forward, with great parade, only a small detachment, and received the Americans with the main body of his army. General Wayne, nick-named Mad Anthony, was in command, and when he found out his danger continued to advance, thinking it safer than to retreat. Lafayette, with fresh troops, was ready to follow, if he were needed ; but, as he listened to the heavy firing, it struck him that there must be more than a rear-guard engaged, — he galloped to a place where he could see the ac- tion, and immediately sent assistance to Wayne, with orders to fall back. This was successfully done, and, as it was growing dark. Lord Cornwallis did not pur- sue him. The violent beginning and sudden end of the attack made him suspect a snare. This was a severe conflict. " Our field officers," says General Wayne, "were generally dismounted by having their horses killed or wounded under them. I will not condole with the Marquis for the loss of two of his, as he was frequently requested to keep at a greater distance. His natural bravery rendered him deaf to admonition." 64 LAB^AYETTE. [l781. A few days later, the British proceeded to Ports- mouth, which they considered a very advantageous place, on account of the communication with New York. Lafayette had been hoping that they would £fo to the sea-coast, as he thousrht it would then be much easier for him to watch them on land, and believed that a French fleet would surely come, in the course of the season, to blockade them by sea. He wrote to General Washington, saying that he was glad of this arrangement ; and about the same time the enemy got possession of a letter to him from the Commander-in-chief in which he spoke of his plans for an attack upon New York, and gave the Marquis permission to return to head-quarters and take pai*t in it. This letter made the British feel very easy in Virginia, and consider New York alone as the place to be protected. The active campaign of the last four months was now exchanged for a steady watching of the enemy at Portsmouth, and constant communication with head-quarters. On the 20tli of July, Lafayette wTote: " I am entirely a stranger to everything that passes out of Virginia, and Virginian operations being for the present in a state of languor, I have more time to think of my solitude ; in a word, my dear General, AGE 23.] LAFAYETTE. 65 I am homesick, and if I cannot go to head-quarters, wish at least to hear from thence. I am anxious to know your opinion of the Virginian campaign. So long as my lord wished for an action, not one gun has been fired ; the moment he declined it, we have been skirmishing ; but I took care never to commit the army." And to Colonel Hamilton he wrote, "Independence has rendered me the more cautious, as I know my own warmth." At the end of July he saw the greatest part of Cornwallis's army at Portsmouth embark on board vessels which did not immediately sail. He supposed they must be going to New York, but in less than three weeks found out they were removed to York- town and Gloucester Point, where they began to fort- ify. Li the mean time he had heard from General Washington that the French fleet would arrive in Chesapeake Bay, instead of New York Harbor. The attack on New York was given up, and Vir- ginia was to be the scene of action. Lafayette no longer regretted that he had been sent away from head-quarters. He followed Lord Cornwallis and took measures to shut him in completely, while the British General felt so secure within his fortifi- cations, and with only Lafayette for an opponent, 66 LAFAYETTE. [l781. that he offered to send some of his men to New York. Lafayette wrote to his wife, when matters were thus far advanced : " It was not prudent in the General to confide to me such a command. If I had been unfortunate, the pubhc would have called that partiality an error of judgment." But he had already proved that the Commander-in-chief had judged wisely of the capacity of his young general. About this time Lafayette wanted a spy to send into the British camp, and a New Jersey soldier named Morgan was pointed out to him as a fit person to be employed. It is not an easy thing to find a spy : a man must be trustworthy and faithful to his own officer, and yet willing to deceive the enemy; he must be observing, and yet must not appear to be getting information. Morgan was unwilling to put himself in such a position, but at last consented, on condition that, if he should be killed, the General would have a full account of the case printed in the New Jersey newspapers, so that no reproach might fall upon his honor. He went to the British camp and faithfully obeyed orders. After several weeks had passed, thinking he could no longer be useful, he came back, and brought with AGE 23.] LAFAYETTE. 67 him five deserters and a prisoner. The next day the General, to reward him, offered to make him a sergeant. Morgan thanked him, but dechned, say- ing that he thought himself a good soldier, but was not certain of being a good sergeant. He likewise refused other offers. " What can I, then, do for you ? " inquired Lafayette. " I have only one favor to ask," replied Morgan. " During my absence my gun has been taken from me ; I value it very much, and I should like to have it back again." Orders were given that the gun should be found, and it was his only reward for this difficult, dangerous service. On the 1st of September the French fleet, under Count de Grasse, arrived. The Marquis de Saint Simon immediately landed with three thousand sol- diers. Lafayette added his force to theirs, and took up a strong position at Williamsburg. Lord Corn- wallis marched out, intending to make an attack ; but finding them so strong, contented himself with im- proving his fortifications at Yorktown. In an en- gagement at sea between the French fleet and the British under Admiral Graves, Count de Grasse was victorious, and Lord Cornwallis's confidence began to waver a little as he saw himself blockaded on both sides. 68 LAFAYETTE. [l7Sl. Lafayette was now exposed to a great temptation, or wliat might have boon a groat temptation to a more sellish man. The French admiral and tlie Marqnis de Saint Simon strongly nrged him to make an assanlt npon YorktoAvn. They said that he had had the danger, fatigue, and anxiety of the campaign, and that it was but tair that he should have the honor of receiving Lord Cornwallis's sur- render. But Lafayette would not listen to any such proposals. He told them that General Washington and Count Rochambean were already on their way, and that the combined forces would make so large an army that Loixl CornwalHs would surely yield to a regular siege, and iu that way many lives would be spared Avhich must bo lost in a violent attack made by his present force. CHAPTER VI. SUCCESS THE REWARD OF PATIEXCE. The Commander-in-chief and Rochambeau arrived on the 14th of September, and Lafayette saw one of his cherished wishes fulfilled when General Wash- ington was at the head of the united army of French and Americans. Even after their arrival, however, the whole scheme was put in peril for a day by the French admiral's declaring that it was not prudent for him to remain at Yorktown, and that he must put out to sea to meet and fight with some new British men-of-war which had just arrived at New York. Lafayette, at General Washington's request, went on board the admiral's ship, and with considerable difliculty persuaded him to wait until the siege of Yorktown should be ended. Then the works went on; the Americans gradually surrounded the town with earth-works, redoubts, and trenches, and all the 70 LAFAYETTE. [l781. regular means of besieging a city, while Lord Corn- wallis continued to strengthen his fortifications. On the 11th of October the siege was begun by- General Washington's firing the first gun. For several days a steady firing was kept up on both sides; cannon-balls were constantly crossing each other in the air, and at night red-hot shot glared out of the darkness. One English ship and some smaller vessels were set on fire by them, and as the flames ran up to the top of the masts, the sight was at once splendid and horrible. The noise of the large guns, and of the shells bursting and tearing up the ground all about them, was perpetual, and added not a little to the dreadful effect of the scene. On the 14th it was decided to take by storm two redoubts, the only defences outside the city which the enemy still held. One was to be attacked by the French under the Baron de Viomenil, the other by the Americans under Lafayette. The Baron had said once, in conversation, that in an attack of this sort he thought the French superior to the Ameri- cans. • Lafayette answered, "We are but young soldiers, and we have but one sort of tactic on such occasions, which is to discharge our muskets and push on straight with our bayonets." In making his AGE 24.] LAFAYETTE. 71 attack, Lafayette carried out this plan exactly ; lie thought that only such an impetuous assault would enable his inexperienced troops to overcome the well-trained British soldiers waiting within their fortifications. In a very few minutes he took the redoubt, and, as he still heard firing from the other, he sent his aide to the Baron, to inquire if he should give him any assistance, and to say that he had won his prize. Viomenil answered, "Tell the Marquis that I am not yet master of my redoubt, but that I shall be in less than five minutes." And in less than that time he entered it with his men, in perfect order. He had followed strict military rule, and had had the way cleared for him before his onset ; but while he was waiting his troops were exposed to a terrible fire from the enemy. Colonel Barber, the aide -who carried Lafayette's message, had received a wound, but would not allow it to be dressed until he had executed his commission. Perhaps he had a little pride in showing the French officers how indiffer- ent to pain an American could be. After the taking of these redoubts, Lord Corn- wallis's position became still more hopeless ; the cannon continued to destroy his works, he could do but little to injure the French and Americans, and 72 LAFAYETTE. [l781. bad weather prevented an escape in boats to Glouces- ter, which he had planned. On the 17th he requested an interview with an American ofRcer, that the terms of surrender might be agreed upon, and on the 19th his army laid down their arms. The French and American troops were drawn up in long lines, and were quiet and orderly as the conquered army passed between them; but their secret triumph and rejoicing must have been great as they saw how full the ranks were, and felt how important a victory they had won. Every one was eager to see Lord Cornwallis, but this distinguished general did not make his appearance; General O'Hara took his place. Count Rochambeau, General Washington, and Lafayette sent their aides to offer their compliments to Lord Cornwallis ; Mdio sent a message to tell the Marquis that, after having made this long campaign against him, he wished to give him a private account of the reasons which had led him to surrender. The next day Lafayette went to see him. " I know," said the English general, " your humanity to prisoners, and I recommend my poor army to you." Lafayette replied, " You know, my lord, the Ameri- cans have always been humane towards imprisoned AGE 24.] LAFAYETTE. 73 armies. He would not accept even a compliment which seemed to separate him from his adopted countrymen. The other generals also visited Lord Comwallis, and every civility which could make his mortifying position more endurable was shown to him. The Americans knew that they had gained a great advantage in taking this army ; but they were very desirous of closmg the campaign by the recapture of Charleston, South Carolina, which had been in the possession of the enemy since May, 1780. Gen- eral Greene had had a very hard summer, opposed to Lord Rawdon from the time that Cornwallis had come into Virginia. It seemed easy now to give him assistance, when the fleet was ready, and the land forces so far on their way to the south. Lafay- ette would again have commanded the expedition, and would have been glad to undertake it with a small army which, might easily have been transported in a few vessels ; but the French admiral declared that it was his duty to return immediately to the West Indies. It is said that when Lord Cornwallis saw Lafayette returning from his last visit to the admiral's ship, he said to some officers who were with him, " I lay a wager he has been making arrange- 74 LAFAYETTE. [l781. ments to ruin us at Charleston." This remark shows that he understood Lafayette's disposition and talents. There is every reason to suppose that such a scheme would have succeeded. As it was not undertaken, the campaign came to an end, and the army went into winter-quarters. During all the time that the French and American armies were together, the most perfect friendliness prevailed between them. The French officers ad- mired Washington Avith the ardor that belongs to their nation, and only laughed at the hardships they had to bear. And doubtless their example influenced the common soldiers. On their part, all Americans felt themselves under great obligations to those who had come so far to fight for them. Lafayette men- tions, as a proof of good feeling, that when the French troops under the Marquis de Saint Simon joined his, he ordered them to be supplied with flour enough to last three days before the Americans received any. The latter were obliged to live chiefly on Lidian meal, but were quite satisfied. He also gave horses to the French hussars, while the Amer- ican officers had none, yet he never heard a com- plaint. Perhaps nothing shows more clearly that he felt as an American than his thus treating his own AGE 24.] LAFAYETTE. 75 countrymen as guests. He had taken the precaution before they left France to have it settled that they were always to be considered as auxiliaries,* and that French officers were always to be under the orders of Americans of equal rank. In November of this year, Lafayette again asked leave to return to France, and, with the most cordial thanks from Congress, and the respect and gratitude of every patriot, he once more set sail from Boston. He carried with him the consciousness that his services to this country had been great and highly valued here. His friendship for General Washing- ton was one of the delights of his life, and he felt sure that the United States would always hold a place in his affections second only to France. No mutiny this time disturbed his voyage. He found all things prosperous in his family, and he had gained a military reputation which made him still more admired than before. He was commissioned by Congress to make arrangements for them in Europe, and the next year was chiefly occupied with preparations for a com- bined expedition from France and Spain, which now * Those who give assistance, but never take the lead. 6 76 Lafayette/ [1782. joined in the war against England. The fleet of sixty vessels was to be commanded by Count d'Es- taing; the army of twenty -four thousand men, by Lafayette. The plan was to sail from Cadiz for the island of Jamaica, then to proceed to New York, and after taking that city to go on to Canada. There were so many delays in getting together this grand army, and arranging all the points of the agreement between the nations, that Lafayette was still at Madrid when he heard the news of the Peace of Paris, which put an end to our Revolutionary war. It was signed in January, 1783, and he was the first to inform Congress of this joyful event. CHAPTER VII. FEANCE AS IT WAS. In the next year, 1784, Lafayette allowed himself the pleasure of a visit to the United States. He arrived at New York in August, went to the south as far as Yorktown and Richmond, and jDaid to Gen- eral Washington at Mount Vernon that visit so often anticipated in their letters written by camp-fires and amid the hardships of war. He was present at the making of a treaty with the Indians of the Six Nations, some of whose chiefs called him by his old name of Kayewla, which they gave him in 1778. He also went through the Eastern States, and was everywhere, as Washington wrote to Madame de La- fayette, " crowned with wreaths of love and respect." He was particularly interested in seeing the old soldiers of the army, and often touched by finding tine children of those who had fallen making part of 78 LAFAYETTE. [l784. the processions in his honor. Every one was eager to see him, either from gratitude or curiosity, and his recc[)tion was cordial and affectionate. At th(i end of November he was again at Mount Vernon, and after their parting General Washington wrote this not(>, so expressive of his affection: "At the moment of our separation, upt)n the road as I travelled and every hour since, I have felt all that love, respect, and attachment for yon, with which length of years, close connection, and your merits have inspired me. I often asketl myself, as our carriages separated, whether that was the last sight I should ever have of you. And tliough I wished to answer no, my fears answered yes." Lafayette would not admit this idea; though he saAV that his beloved friend was never likely to cross the water, he promised himself the happiness of several visits at Mount Vernon. lie could not fore- see the political storms that were to sweep over his life, and he cared little for those he must meet on the Atlantic Ocean. After a great public entertainment at Boston, he embarked on board a French frigate, and had a prosperous voyage, bearing home with him many bright recollections of warm friends and happy hoiirs AGE 27.] LAFAYETTE. 79 in the United States, and strong hopes for their future prosperity. He did not find France in an equally promising condition. The following year, 1785, Lafayette undertook a shorter journey into Austria and Russia. Though republicans were not much admired in those coun- tries, Lafayette's distinguished family connections, and his reputation as a young general, gained for him a polite reception. In Prussia, he went to all the military reviews in company with the king, Frederic the Great, at that time the most distin- guished soldier in all Europe. After his return to France, he gave much time and attention to a scheme in which his benevolence interested him. He bought a plantation at Cayenne, in French Guiana, and sent out an excellent superin- tendent, to teach the slaves and to prepare them gradually for freedom. He had been particularly pleased with a school for free-negro children, which he had seen at New York, and wished at least to try the experiment of training the blacks. Difference of color could not check his enthusiastic love of liberty. He honestly desired that all men, not merely himself and his countrymen, should be free ; 80 LAFAYETTE. [l785. • but he had the common sense to see that some races of men require preparation even for freedom, and that a slave, who has all his life been fed and clothed by a master, does not know how to provide for him- self in his old age. We now come to a great change in Lafayette's life. We have seen him fighting for freedom, and interested in military affairs ; — the love of liberty, from this time forth, led him to a different work, — to an endeavor to reform the government of his country. Other men's minds were full of the same idea, and there was a general feeling in Paris, and throughout France, that the hour was come for a great change. It is difficult to explain to those who have lived only in the United States how bad the French gov- ernment was, and had been for several hundred years. But one great evil, which caused many others, was, that the kings and the nobles had long believed that government was made for their pleas- ure and glory, not for the happiness and welfare of the common people. They did not know that a few hundred noblemen were but of small imjDortance, compared with the hundreds of thousands who toiled for their daily bread in France ; on the contrary. AGE 29.] LAFAYETTE. 81 • they tliouglit that the poor were created to work for them.' The consequence was, that acts of cruelty to the low-born were looked upon with per- fect indifference by the great lords. You must not suppose that there were not kind-hearted people among them ; then, as now, there lived in the world those who delighted to make all about them happy, including the peasants ; but, as a general rule, their lives were full of other occupations. Many of them were soldiers, and when they were not actually en- gaged in war made plans for new campaigns, or else amused themselves with hunting or other sports, never giving any time to thinking how the poor people around them lived. The king and the royal family, including even his distant cousins, must have palaces to live in; ser- vants, horses and carriages, and money to spend, provided for them out of the public wealth ; all the priests were to be maintained ; and in times alike of war and of peace, tliere was a great army to be fed and clothed. Thus several thousands of idle people were supported by the industrious ; and all these Avays of pouring out money consumed it much faster than the sale of the farmer's corn, or the weaver's cloth, or the vine-grower's wine, supplied it. 82 LAFAYETTE. [l787. But there was no less expense at the court because the nation was growing poorer. The ministers had not the courage to tell a King of France that he could not have anything he desired ; and so he and all those who lived at court went on spending money for trifles, while the peasant and the shop-keeper were pressed harder and harder with taxes to pay upon everything they ate or drank, or bought or sold. A tax upon salt, which is so constantly in use, caused great distress. Any person could be licensed to sell salt, if he would pay a large sum to the gov- ernment. Of course, then, the seller asked the high- est possible price for it, because he wanted to secure his own j)rolit in addition to what he had to pay over to the government. Tluis hard men were more likely to undertake the business than any others, because asking such high prices made them very much disliked. France was divided into districts, in some of which the people were compelled to buy a certain quantity of salt every year; in others, they did as they chose. This made one hardship the more ; for a poor man who lived in one district might be ruined by being forced to buy a great quantity, while Jiis near neighbor was perhaps free from any restraint in tlie matter. AGE 29.] LAFAYETTE. 83 And this is only a sample of the way taxes were paid for everything. This salt-tax — the gabelhy as it was called — was much talked about, and was very irritating to the poor people ; but the real suffering was owing to the great number of taxes. An English traveller, passing through France at this time, says of what he saw in one day's journey, "Tlie fields are scenes of pitiable management, as the houses are of misery;" and again, "All the country girls and women are without shoes or stock- ings, and the ploughmen at their work have neither sabots * nor feet to their stockings." And, two years later, the same traveller, in walking up a hill, chanced to overtake a poor woman, who seemed unhappy, and complained of the times. When he asked questions, she told him that she was married and had seven children ; that her husband had but a small bit of ground, a little horse, and a cow, yet they had to pay 42 pounds of wheat and three chickens to one great lord, and 1G8 pounds of oats, one chicken, and one franc to another, besides several very heavy taxes. She said she hoped something would be done for poor people, for the * Wooden shoes. 84 LAFAYETTE. [l787. taxes were crushing them. She was twenty-six years old, but her figure was so bent, and her face so wrinkled, that she might have been taken for sixty. And she was only a specimen of the women that were to be seen almost everywhere in France. It was not uncommon for the poor people to gather nettles to make souj:) of. When a nobleman heard of some unfortunate wretch dying of hunger, no doubt he might feel sorry for a few minutes ; but he was not apt to think what could be the reason, or if he himself could do anything to remedy it. And here was a point in which Lafayette was quite different from other peo- ple of his own rank and age. He did think about the condition of working-people, and longed to make them happier and better ; he believed freedom would do that. Such a state of things could not last forever; when people are perfectly miserable, they grow restless and fierce. This was the case in France. A great many people in a middle condition of life, neither very rich nor very poor, were fired with ideas of liberty and equality ; they began to ask why dukes and counts were better than themselves, and why some lives were passed in ease and luxury, and AGE 29.] LAFAYETTE. 85 others in toil and want and pain. There can be no doubt, too, that the accounts of the United States brought home by the soldiers and officers who had served there helped to keep up the excitement. It had been proved there that contentment and prosperity could be found without a king, without a court, without an order of priests, and, above all, without so many taxes. At this time (1787) Louis the Sixteenth, who was the king of France, was a just and humane man, who would have been very glad to do whatever he could to make his subjects happier ; but he did not know how or where to begin. One thing was certain, — that the government needed money; and in order to raise it, the king's ministers advised him to call a meeting of the No- tables of France. These were the princes, brothers or cousins of the king ; some dukes and counts, marshals of France, and other military officers ; several bishops and magistrates. They met in February, 1787, and began to consider what could be done about the national debt and taxes. A hun- dred and sixty years had passed since they were last called together, and all the old rules of business were forjrotten. 86 LAFAYETTE. [l787. Lafayette took his place among the nobles, and spent much tmie upon a plan for reducing the debt and expenses. He also brought forward several proposals for limiting the king's power. One of these was, that he should no longer have the right to send a person who had displeased him to prison without any accusation, and without any trial or chance to defend himself Such a pi;isoner had no hope of release except from the king's mercy, and might die in his cell, forgotten. Another proposal was to grant greater liberty to Protestants, who were in many ways kept in a position very inferior to that of the Catholics. Findinoj that the Notables were not doinsj much work, Lafayette suggested that the king should be asked to summon a National Assembly. " What ! " said the Count d'Artois, the king's brother, " do you make a motion for the States-General ? " '' Yes, and even more than that," was his answer. " CHAPTER VIII. CHANGES. The States-General were composed of representa- tives from the nobles, the clergy, and the third estate, or common people of France. They had not met for a hundred and seventy-five years, and had in former times been most submissive to the kings ; but there was little hoj)e of making any change without them, and they only had the right to alter the gov- ernment. They met on the 4th of May, 1789, in a hall at Versailles which the king had prepared for them, and where he came with the queen to receive them. It is difficult to imagine now the excitement which there was then in Paris and throughout all the large towns of France. The kingdom was poorer than it had been the year before, — everything was dear, complaints were loud. Men left their offices and 88 LAFAYETTE. [l7S9. their workshops to make speeches and to become national deputies ; * the newspapers were full of articles on liberty and the rights of man ; new pamphlets were printed every day, and eagerly read by a few of those who were suffering under real wrongs, and by all the foolish people who fancied they should be the happier for being as idle as the counts and marquises they pretended to despise. Every one, except the court and those who were satisfied with the kingdom as it was, looked forward with hope to the meeting of the States-General, not knowing what would befall them, but trusting to secure freedom and many other good things. Politics were the one thing everybody cared for, not only in Paris, but in all the towns of France. A stranger in the city writes : " I went to the Palais Royal f to see what new things were j^ublished. Every hour produces something new. Thirteen pamphlets came out to-day, sixteen yesterday, and ninety-two last week Nineteen twentieths of these produc- tions are in favor of liberty, and commonly violent against the clergy and nobility." The coffee-houses were always open, and orators declaimed in the most * Members of the States-General, or National Assembly, t An old palace, now used in part for shops. AGE 31.] LAFAYETTE. 89 vehement manner to an excited crowd, who loudly applauded anything particularly fierce and harsh. The king and his ministers were troubled and did not know what to do. They felt that something would have to be yielded to this extraordinary passion for liberty which had got possession of some of the nobles and common people, — they did not at all understand the power of the mob, and they were obliged to admit that their schemes had not made the debt any less. The king's natural desire to secure himself led him to collect a great many soldiers in and about Paris, and so many more mouths to be filled in- creased the scarcity of flour. He thought the troops would be faithful to him, but experience proved that the new ideas of liberty and equality had made their way into the army. After much trouble in getting ready to work, the twelve hundred National Deputies (three hun- dred nobles, three hundred of the clergy, and six hundred of the common people) began their task ; which was, to give France a new government. They first destroyed many of the bad laws which had come down from old times; they took away power from the king and nobles, and forbade many of the privi- leges of the rich and great which had caused suffer- 90 LAFAYETTE. [l7S9. ing among tlie poor. But this was not all. A kingdom cannot exist without laws; and while the Assembly was talking* and listening to speeches, jieople who had been kept down by fear of the laws might do a vast deal of mischief. The Deputies had no hesitation in saying that certain punishments should never be repeated in France ; but then there was a long pause before they could make up their minds what should take their place. They found buiMing up a slower work than pulling down. It was easier to make speeches, and set the nation in order by adding up figures and writing papers, than to supply food for a hungry mob, or teach the peasants not to revenge themselves on their former masters. The French are so easily stirred up that merely reading the reports of what was done each day in the Assembly added to the excitement of distant towns and villages, and it must be remembered that while their minds were thus filled with hopes and expectations, their real wants of food and clothes and comforts had not been relieved. Nor were they * A Swiss, Avlio Avent often to the Assembly, says that each man was vain enough to fancy himself equal to the whole labor of remodelling the government. AGE 31.] LAFAYETTE. 91 likely to be during tliis summer (1789), for mer- chants and farmers no longer gave their whole attention to business, and the nobles began to quit France, taking with them the money they had been accustomed to spend every year. The natural consequences of such a condition were mobs and tumults in the cities, the burning of chateaus * and sometimes killing the lords, in the country. Lafayette took part in the labors of the Assembly with great spirit. He welcomed everything which was at all like the laws and customs of the United States, and his letters to General Washington were full of hope. He excused the outbreaks, alarming as they were, on account of the long suffering of the people. But a more serious one took place in Paris when the citizens heard that Monsieur Necker, a popular minister, had been dismissed, and that the troops were drawing nearer to Paris, and even entering the city. The excitement was intense for several days in July, and at last, after some regiments had arrived and others were reported, it broke out into a uni- * The country-houses of the nobles, which had generally been castles. 7 92 LAFAYETTE. [l789. versal demand for arms. The mob entered shops or pubhc offices where they thought any guns could be found, and all smiths and armorers worked day and night. The great bells sounded the alarm ; the soldiers, with strange stupidity or indifference, did nothing at all; and on the 14th of July an armed crowd of volunteers, who believed that they could no longer submit to authority, but that this day they must " do or die," accompanied by all the rabble of Paris, attacked an ancient prison called the Bastile. After a short resistance, the few soldiers who defended it were compelled to yield, and the com- mandant was killed in the street. The people seemed almost ready to tear down with their hands the solid stone walls. Furious as they were, how- ever, there was some cause for their rage ; for terrible deeds had been done in that prison. Men had been shut up there for half a lifetime, without even know- ing whether their fathers and mothers, wives and children, were still living, — there the innocent, upon whom no sentence had ever been pronounced, had despaired of seeing again the light of day. What sufferings and what deaths those walls had concealed could never be known ; but thinking of them might •yvell have maddened a calmer people than the AGE 31.] LAFAYETTE. 93 Parisians ! The few prisoners found there were paraded through the streets on men's shoulders, and a sort of wild rejoicing took possession of Paris. In other countries, all who loved liberty could not help being glad that such a dungeon was destroyed, and the key of the great gate was sent by Lafayette to General Washington. While all this tumult was stirring Paris, the Assembly at Yersailles were bent on making the king withdraw his troops. They sent to him three times during the day, and continued sitting nearly all night. The next day he suddenly agreed to their request ; all was rejoicing at Versailles, and Lafay- ette with several other deputies was sent to Paris with the good news. The city, calmed from the frenzy of the day before, received them joyfully, and Lafayette was appointed, by acclamation, commander of the National Guard.* From this time forward, we find him hard at work in Paris, and seldom able to take liis place in the Assembly. He immediately published an order for pulling down the Bastile, and began to arrange and divide * He si;ggested this name for the vokmteers of Paris, — citi- zens who were armed and drilled, and performed some of the duties of police. 94 LAFAYETTE. [l789. the National Guard. He was exceedingly desirous that they should be citizens as well as soldiers, obeying the laws and magistrates as well as their officers. Several regiments of the army insisted on joining it ; but Lafayette would never allow it to be merely a military establishment. He set them the example of respect for law, by insisting upon a regu- lar vote for his own office, several days after his public appointment. " Lafayette enjoyed at once that entire confidence and public esteem which are due to great qualities. The faculty of raising the spirits, or rather of infusing fresh courage into the heart, was natural to him. His appearance was youthful, which is always pleasing to the multitude. His manners were simple, popular, and engaging." It was not strange that obedience was rare in these days, for no one had any authority. The king's power was growing less and less ; he was obliged to let his soldiers join the National Guard, because they had already left their quarters, and were wandering about the streets of Paris ; the judges and other magistrates appointed by him were disliked and suspected; the assembly at Versailles had hardly begun to " make the Constitution ; " * and there was * A favorite French expression at that time ; but a constitution AGE 31.] LAFAYETTE. ^5 no strong hand to govern. The people, crushed by long oppression, and now aroused to vengeance rather than improvement, were totally unfit to goy- ern themselves. The National Guard were needed in Paris to clear the streets, to prevent thieves from stealing by day as well as by night, to save unpopular persons from being hung upon lamp-posts, and to make the city safe for peaceable people. All sorts of vile wretches, who at common times keep out of sight in the side- streets and dingy shops of great cities, now came boldly forth, and in the name of liberty sought for chances to commit crimes. The crowds of idle peo- ple constantly drawn together by street-orators were easily roused, even to the point of putting to death ; and there seems no reason to doubt that men were actually hired by some of the nobles to join these crowds and stir them up to every kind of mischief and cruelty. The design was to bring the revo- lution into disgrace, and make it appear that liberty led to violence. This was precisely what Lafayette was resolved to prevent. Liberty and order were connected in his is not a, machine, to be made, — it must grow in part, at least, from the habits of a nation. 96 LAFAYETTE. [l789. mind ; freedom did not mean that the wicked only were free to do all the evil they might feel disposed to, but that the good and the industrious were to have liberty to keep all they could earn, and to live as they desired. It is hard to imagine the restlessness and excita- bility of the j)eople of Paris which Lafayette was constantly made to feel. About this time there was for several weeks a great scarcity of flour, and the magistrates did not know how to get enough into the city to feed the inhabitants, and the great number of strangers who flocked thither. The bakers were in a good deal of danger, for sometimes the mob would fancy that they concealed great quantities of flour in their shops. Several notes were shown to Lafay- ette forbidding the millers to grind for the capital, and to his surprise he found his o^vn name at the bottom. It was of course a forgery. But Avhat could the poor people think, when they saw such an order ? One day, a little while after Lafayette had taken command of the National Guard, a great pub- lic meeting of tailors was called. He went to it, and made a speech which probably prevented mis- chief. It was afterwards found that this meeting wa§ called merely to delay the finishing of the uni- AGE 31.] LAFAYETTE. 97 form of the Guard. They would be more easily- distinguished in a crowd by wearing a uniform, and so have more power to stop outbreaks ; and there were people enough in Paris ready to do anyttiing that would keep up disturbances. Lafayette led a most active life. He was con- stantly on horseback, riding about the city, consulting with the magistrates, addressing the people. One day it was an oration to the officers of the National Guard, — the next, an appeal to a dirty, disorderly mob to be patient, to wait for the constitution they were making at Versailles. He had great power over them ; often when they were hungry and savage, ready to throw stones, or even to hang a man at a lamp-post, a few kind words from him, or sometimes a little jest, would make them good-natured. The trouble was, that they collected in such huge groups that his voice could not be heard by the distant ones. For instance, within a week of his appointment, two men were hung in the street, in spite of his most vigorous efforts. He was so much disturbed by this violence that he resigned his office, but the entreaties of the most respectable citizens of Paris prevailed upon him to take it again. In this manner the summer was passed in Paj:is. 98 LAFAYETTE. [l789. By great and steady exertion, Lafayette and the mayor succeeded in getting quietly through the weeks of greatest scarcity. The price of bread was very high and the loaves were very poor ; but, in spite of hunger and impatience, the mob did not again take up arms. They could not at all understand why the pulling down of the Bastile, and the appointment of the National Guard instead of soldiers, had not imme- diately given bread to the poor, and ease and comfort to every man. They wondered why the king's consenting to their demands, and being called the Restorer of French liberty, did not at once remedy all the mischief of bad government for hundreds of years. But, although puzzled, the Parisians waited for the constitution which was making at Versailles with more patience tluui the country-people did. Gaunt, thin, fierce-looking men attacked and burnt the country-houses of the great lords, whose families did not always escape with their lives. The peas- ants had suffered terribly, and it was not strange if they were at first more furious than the citizens of Paris, for they knew less of what was going on at Versailles, and had less to divert their minds. The land lay neglected and full of nettles and briers, for the peasants were so weak, so hungry, and so ill-paid, AGE 81.] LAFAYETTE. 99 that they had no heart to work. They said that all their earnings went to buy salt, to support the priests and to pay taxes. And so, when the time came, they took revenge on all who had oppressed them, or who belonged to the higher classes. Often the innocent wife or child or sister of a great lord suffered with him, for not only his own hard acts, but for those of his grandfather or great-grandfather. Brigands was the common name for the most atrocious of these people; and at any time a panic could be caused in any city, even Paris itself, by a report that the brigands were coming. The news of all these dis- tresses came to Paris, and added to the anxiety of the patriots. The quietness of the city was no doubt partly due to the National Guard, who became used to acting together, and interested in keeping order. They wore a cockade of red and blue, the colors * of the city of Paris, to which Lafayette had added white, the king's color, to signify that the Guard was faithful * In former times a kniglit was recognized by some ornament on his armor, or the colors of the scarf or feathers he wore ; and so each great family and each city had colors of its own, which were shown on banners, on the coverings of horses, on the orna- ments of buildings, &c. 100 LAFAYETTE. [l789. to the throne. " Gentlemen,^ said he to his friends at the Hotel de Ville,* " I bring you a cockade which will go round the world ! " f He was often pressed and urged to take command of the National Guard of other cities, which was formed on the same plan as that of Paris ; but he always refused, thinking that it was not sufficiently republican for one man to have so great power, and also because the task of keeping the Parisian mob quiet was sufficient to employ all his energy and zeal. He had refused the large salary which was ojQfered him, but he declared that he did not consider the refusal a matter to be proud of, and that he should have accepted the money if his own fortune had not been sufficient for his expenses. These must now have been great, for many Frenchmen wished to visit him, and strangers had great curiosity to see him, so that his table was often a long one. * The towni-liouse, or city hall. t It has been -worn m several countries, but not always by people Avhom Lafayette would have approved of. CHAPTER IX. LIBERTY IN OCTOBER. Early in October, 1789, another outbreak oc- curred. There was at this time a regiment called the Body-Guard on service about the king's palace, and the Versailles National Guard were sometimes ad- mitted within court limits. In addition, the king sent for a regiment called the Flanders. On its arrival, the Body-Guard gave a grand dinner of welcome. After dinner, the king, queen, and dauphin * visited the hall, and looked graciously upon their defenders. The poor queen, whose court was very dull, whose high spirit was every day wounded by the king's inferior position, whose hopes even for her little son were beginning to be dimmed, was delighted to hear once more a hearty cheer, " Vive le Koi ! " f Her * The eldest son of the king of France, t Long live the King ! 102 LAFAYETTE. [l7S9. beauty, the sight of the court ladies attending her, the music they heard, and the wine they had drunk, all excited the Guards ; prudence was forgotten ; the National Assembly near them and the mobs of Paris were alike out of sight and out of mind ; the tricolor cockade was torn from their coats and trampled on the floor, amid shouts and cheers for the royal family. This would have passed off at common times as merely the enthusiasm of a military dinner ; but now there were spies in the court, and watchful eyes upon everything that was displeasing to the patriots or the mob. This feast was reported at Paris, and the people immediately said, " How is this ? We are starving and standing in long trains before the bakers' shops, while at Versailles the idle soldiers can give dinner-parties!" The account was exag- gerated, and one Monday morning, the 5th of Octo- ber, the insurrection of women began. Early in the day vast numbers of them streamed all over the Hotel de Ville, up-stairs and down-stairs, to find the Mayor. They were poor women, seamstresses, wash- erwomen, fish-women, coarse and rude, market- women, accustomed to talk loudly in their stalls. Some of them were bold, noisy, and furious ; others, AGE 32.] LAFAYETTE. 10^ more respectable and modest, apologized for the behavior of their companions ; but they all said the same thing. " Bread ! bread ! " was the universal cry, — " for ourselves and for our children ! " Some of them had seized rusty pikes and old guns, but their real power lay in their numbers ; they had been of course joined by a great many men, and they blocked up the streets and squares all about the Hotel de Ville. Lafayette, who arrived there early, was obliged to sit still on his white charger. Many and many a time he addressed them, but they would not disperse, and cries of " Let us go to Versailles " were mingled with the shout for bread. They must have been pretty good-natured, for he managed to keep the greater part of them standing there for eight hours. But at last he could no longer resist them, and sent to inquire at the Hotel de Ville if the magistrates would permit him to go. They were thankful to get rid of the mob upon almost any terms, and gave the permission. But this was a real proof of courage, that he dared to keep an angry crowd waiting while he showed this desire to obey the magistrates. He provided as quickly as possible for the protec- tion of the city, and set forth at the head of a strange 10-i LAFAYETTE. [l789. procession of National Guards, accompanied by women, and unhappily by the worst and lowest vil- lains of Paris, the brigands. Messengers 'had been already sent in haste to give warning at Versailles, and thousands of women, accompanied by armed men and a few cannon, had set out at an earlier hour. They found Versailles in a state of agitation almost equal to that of Paris. Crowds had pressed about the building occupied by the Assembly from early morning ; the members had been disturbed ; the courtiers knew not what to do, as it was very doubtful if the soldiers could be trusted; the king, who was out hunting, had been hastily summoned home, but had given no orders after he came. The troops of women had crowded into the As- sembly's hall and eaten sausages there, all the while noisily applauding their favorite deputies, or bidding the unpopular ones hold their tongues. The presi- dent had tried in vain to restore order. Other women flattered the soldiers, and used every kind of persuasion to make them, as they said, friends of the people. Finally they sent in a committee of twelve to speak with the king, who was very gentle and courteous to them, so that they went out again quite AGE 32.] LAFAYETTE. 105 content and pleased, but their companions scolded them for bringing no bread. All was confusion. There were no places for this vast multitude to sleep in, when night came on. It was almost impossible for them to get enough food, for they were very hungry after their long march — they were wet and cold and forlorn, — not in a state of body very favorable to good temper or good behavior. Lafayette arrived a little before midnight, and went first to see the President of the Assembly, whom he found very anxious ; then he proceeded to the palace, in company with two commissioners from Paris, who made their requests to the king. He agreed to all they asked, and one point was, that he should come and 'live in Paris. The cour- tiers and attendants were alarmed and restless ; the king seemed uncertain ; the queen alone kept a firm countenance, however terrified she may have been in her heart. Lafayette provided as well as he could for the defence of the palace during the night, but he was not allowed to place the National Guard in any but the outer posts. Leaving all quiet there, he went to find accommodations for the Guard for the rest of the night, and consulted with his officers in a room which he intended to use as head-quarters. 106 LAFAYETTE. . [l789. After so long a clay of activity and anxiety, he was just throwing himself clown to get a little sleep, when an alarm came from the palace, that the brig- ands had broken into the queen's apartments and were massacring the Body-Guard! He rushed to the palace, and found that the mob had indeed burst in, but that only two of the Body-Guard had been killed. The queen was saved by their devotion ; — while fighting desperately they had cried out, Save the queen ! and an oflicer flew to the door of her room and alarmed her ladies. Hastily wrapping something around her, they all took refuge in the king's apart- ments. Lafayette by great exertions succeeded in clearing the palace, and saving the Body-Guard and other troops from the fury of the mob ; but it was necessary for them to put on the tricolor cockade, which they had thrown down a few days before. A scene took place which shows the nature of the French and of soldiers generally. The National Guard had come to Versailles indignant at the Body- Guard and their dinners ; but when this alarm was given, the first company that reached the spot was one of grenadiers who had fought in former years in company with the Body-Guards. All quarrels were forgotten; they remembered only that they were brothers-in-arms, and saved them. Lafayette and Mane Antoinette on the Balcony at Versailles. AGE 32.] LAFAYETTE. 107 Lafayette now placed the National Guard every- where, Avith solemn charges to protect the royal family. He then proceeded to the balcony and ha- rangued the multitude who filled the court below; he did not hesitate to rebuke them for their violence, and assured them of the king's intention to come to Paris. The king himself appeared and confirmed it, and then Lafayette said to the queen, " Madame, what is your own intention ? " "I know the fate which awaits me," she answered ; " but it is my duty to die at the king's feet and in my children's arms." " Come with me, Madame," said he. " What ! alone on the balcony ! Have not you seen the signs they have made ? " " Yes, Madame, but come." She stepped forward with her children, but a voice cried ^*No children!" and she gently pushed them back and advanced alone before the angry mob. She was terribly unpopular. They hated her because she was an Austrian, and because they thought she ad- vised the king against all the plans for their good. False stories too had been cruelly told about her, years before, so that she had long been an unhappy lady ; and now you can imagine her heart was almost breaking with fear and with humiliation at being in the power of the crowd whom she had been taught 8 108 LAFAYETTE. [l789. to despise. They could not help admirmg her as she stood before them, so beautiful, so brave, and so dignified. Lafayette could not make himself heard above the tumult, so he knelt down and kissed the queen's hand. When they saw that, they cried out " Vive le General ! Vive la Reine ! " * Then the king said to Lafayette, "And now what can you do for my Guards ? " " Bring one here," was Lafayette's answer, and, giving him his own tricolor cockade, he embraced him before all the people, who then shouted for the Body-Guard. By these acts Lafayette endeavored to teach them that their own liberty need not interfere wdth respect for the queen, and that they might be merciful to an enemy wdiom they had conquered. They knew well enough that he was their friend, and he w^anted them to see that he meant to be the queen's at the same time. The morning was spent in hasty preparation for the departure for Paris. Kings and queens do not generally move from palace to palace in such haste, and the ladies in waiting were too frightened to pack trunks. The mob emptied the magazines of Ver- sailles, and fancied that they should supply Paris * Long live the General ! Long live the Queen ! AGE 32.] LAFAYETTE. X09 with the cart-loads of grain which formed a part of the strange procession that set out at one o'clock. The National Guard walked before and behind the royal carriage ; the National Assembly followed in a long line of coaches, and the mob filled up all spaces. Women seemed to be everywhere, and, though Lafayette rode by the side of the king's coach, he could not always prevent the queen's hear- ing some of the rude speeches of these dirty, coarse women. They were no longer furious ; the city of Paris had sent out after them cart-loads of loaves, and they connected in some unreasonable way the king's living in Paris with a supply of provisions. One of them called out, " Courage, friends ! — we are bringing you the baker, the baker's wife, and the baker's boy !" This is not the language. queens are used to hear, but it was much better than tlireats or insult. Moving slowly, this train arrived at Paris in the evening; and the royal family were first taken to the Hotel de Ville, where the king got out of his carriage and showed himself to the people, wearing the tricolor cockade. He desired the mayor to say that he came to live among his people of Paris with pleasure and confidence. The mayor, in repeating, forgot the word I in i.AFAYiii'rnii. I7HI). vni^fhffUit'V : llin qiKM'ii rrmiiKl.Ml liitn of* il, nnd lie. hulling n^nin l<> llio crowd, hi\u\, '' ( idillnnni. m li(Mii'iii^; il IVom IIh> ((ihmmi'm lipM. you nro iiioir loiln- niil(^ lliiui if I IiidI iioI niM iliiv Mild iit*dil. All (lio i-o\ id rninilv. (Iio Kiiin.'M jiiimIm /n\d Misirr MM \vrll Ml liiiiiMcdr. rv|»rrMsrd niiicli fnnlilndr (t» I ,m liivollo Tor IiIm pim'vIj'ps durinj^ IIuk Irviii}?; (inu«. M\rn llu^ t|intn. who di diKrd liiin, ncivMowlrdiM'd (lull llO lllld ,':|1\(mI (JKMr liv(>M. li WMM HO CMMV infilloi" ill lltPMo {\i\yf^ lo M(M\ o llio (|iMM>M : lor llio twcM'Mion lo liiM- \\m oxh'nordlnnrv, «md wmm noi ni nil ('ohDihmI lo llio j>ro|do ol" I 'iiris. OTIAPTEB X. Douirrs. The I'oyal family walace, but could get little information from the attendants there, and then proceeded to the Hotel de Ville. On his way he met crowds of people, who were furious against him for having allowed the king to escape. He was perfectly calm, and, seeing his tranquillity, they were a little quieted; and he talked with them until the Assembly, hearing of his danger, sent for him. The deputies asked him to provide an escort, that they miglit all return together ; and he answered " that he would provide one out of respect for those who had been sent to him, but for 9 124 LAKAYKTTE. [l791. liimRclfho slioiild ^o '.\\y.iviy liaving never been safer, for llio streets were full of |)(i()[)le." Arrived at the Assembly,* lie said bill (rw words lo (lid members; lie foiiiid (licm <|iiil<^ ready to give the necessary oivIcim; Ids aide-de-camp was at once sent off in jmrsnil of (he. king. Tlier(^ was much excitement in the streets of Paris throughout (he day. At (lie clubs the speeclies were furious, and Lafayette was (horoughly abused. The next day the Nalional (Juard asked leave to repeat their oalh of Hdehty before the Assembly, and Lai'ayelte |)i*c\sented Ihem as tried and faithful sol- diers and citizens. It was soon known that Ihe king had been stopped at Varennes. On the 25th of June the royal family re-entered Paris, more like captives than rulers. Their ilight bad been completely mismanaged. Th(>y had gone in one great party, — (he king and (pu'cn, (he (wo children, iho. Vrincess Elizabeth, (the king's sister,) and (he children's governess. They * Tlio kill!:!; luul \vl\ a proclamation, wliicli was l)iouf;ht to the Assonil)ly l>y a. M. do la rorto. llo was asUod how it caiiio to his liands, and answered, " Willi a note." " Wliero is tliis note? " fiald a member. "No, no," was called out from nil sides. "It is u coii(i(l(Miliiil nolo; we liavo no right to 8eo it.'* AGE 33.] LAFAYETTE. 125 ought to have separated and gone in the quietest way ; instead of that, they Jiad a showy carriage that moved slowly and attracted attention, and the king had walked up liills to enjoy the sunshitio! 'I'lny were not punctual at the place where they expected to meet soldiers, and the gentlemen who conducted the business, though devoted royalists, do not seem to have made good couriers. Common travellers went faster every day. Something of the queen's suffering when they were stopped mny ])(-, known from the fact that her beautiful hair turned white in one night. Lafayette exerted himself to keep the streets quiet as the king passed through them, and was successful. There were many discontented looks, but no outcries. While he went to meet the carriage at the gate of the city, a considerable crowd collected about the pal- ace, and attempted to seize two of the Body-Guard, who had ridden outside the coach of the royal party, disguised as couriers. The queen, seeing him, cried out, eagerly, " Monsieur de Lafayette, save the Body- Guards ! " He secured a safe entrance for them all. It was his next duty, and a very painful one, to in- form their Majesties of the Assembly's decree that there should be a separate special guard for each, of 12(1 i.Ai'Avi.irii;, [niM. iIkmu iiikI lor lli<> Diiupliiii. mihI IIimI nil pormMlH coil- (MmimmI mi iIio lliojil nlitiiilil |m> niiMii<ly oKiuitiiKMl. AIno, (linl (lio MctM nl lln' AHMnnlily unuM lircniiu^ tii\vi4 wiilioiil llio Uin|>'M (MMiHtMil lo llinti Immii^ mhIumI. The Killer lirMKl till iIiIm vory (Milinly, nii*l Mini niild lo Lnrii^vollo: '' I (<'ll yon iVniiKlv (linl iinlil |Im> ImmI low tlnyM I lliMitf;lil. I \\i\h in n \vliii'l|)«»il ul iikmi oT your o|tliiioii, willi nlioni you Murrouu(lr«l uw, Iml (IimI il \\i\H iiol iIk^ opinion ol' I'^nnxM*. I luivo h<>oii ('Iciirl^V on IIiIm journ(\y tliiii I \vmh iniMliiKon, nn, »M»n\«MHMlion willi i-Mluy- I'HO \\t\H IkMUmI lo MMV liuil mIiO WMM MMliMTHMl Willi liini. Ilo MMMurnl lliiMU lii« would Iry lo innkr llirni ronlcnl ; bnl \\\H ol))(M« IxMMtnin liu' nioi'tMipproMMivr to liiin llian it litnl hlij;rl\o (' lo uilcrprol llio AuMCinltlN 'm dornMvs in {\u\ mildoMl niiinniM', Itioiioli Iii> Kixmv iIi.mI .-'oino oT llto nuMultiM-M wiM'o not MMlisllcd Willi III I rondiu'l. ATliM- lliiM MlliMiipl III rMciipo. lInMo W(M0 HHi',(\ U) jiiil, I lie, lldic, Djuipliin on llic. fJiron*-, jhkI Iimv. u n-gJUHty,* ImiI, IIk; malic-r wn,H (innlly K<',l(lriil iIm;«o cvontH and diHouMwionH ooiild nol, (jmbh l>y willionl, ox(!ilinf^ Home. Iinnnll, in ■'.m«'Ii ;i city m Parin. Tlio Mill of didy wu,H <;<:\<'hv'.\,\<:(\ (■licfrrMlly ; \tul on III*', I7lli fi, dangoroiiH crowd collooUid around ilio nil.'ir of llic. (!li!)»ri|) dc MnrH. '' '"'.y |>n;tCTidod lli!i(, (licy only wi Jh('Ai(',('i'ii]\y to Hign a petition n,nd IImti »liH|>(',rKO/ ; l>n(, (licy linr';«'fc,d fri;niy liourM, nnlil i(. I»<-.c,n.nio uacdHHavy f'oi- (Ik-, rrin.yor nny llic nowd. Tiin HtllllllKT WniMlllirll OC('ll|)ird willlllto l'l'\iMio|l ) ol'llir roiii'.lillllioii, lUid Lnlnyrllr loolv iiii iiclivr |inrl ill llir In I dritilirt of llic NlllioiiMJ AMi'.rtiildy. 'V\u\ roll ililiil loll Willi M(Tr|>|rd l»v Mm Kin,"; in S(^j)- It'iiilxr, iiiid ill llir r.'iiin- iiioiilli llir AiiwiiiMy liroko lip, ll liiid doiir II. ;.'rnil work lor P'rniicr. \{ Imd dmlroyrd iiiimy old nlnimiH, ^ivcii ^I'nilrr iVrrdoin lo llin rolllliioii |iro|dr lliiill lllld Itrrll ilrrjiliird ol Itrlorr, IKM'ltrrd l'r|i"ioiiM lilirily, iiiid loi iiird II. IK'W Mynlriii ol' I'OV ri'iiiiiriil. Soiiir |tr|-;:oii:i doiiltird il it iilld Irll llll^ kin;', t iilViririil jiowrr lo |m' Mnylliinp, niorr llijiii ll iiiiinn iind M. I'liow . I>ii( Lidiiyi^llo'M rliirl' Irnr >vnM iW»ni lln^ viokvilCO «>l rriliiiii jmblir iiirii, wJio HOl'lunl ♦ UlU'l'knuloi mo inmloliy plllii)'. volilclori, |iiivliifr rt|i>|iOfi, ploiM^rt (if loiu'iirj^ iiii\ thill}!, Iliocmwil run liiy liiiinlfi ii|hiii. When urll lllinlo It' In r(',HHionM, or (lutir cn'ccl, on olJirr jM;o)»h'. Snch men li;i,d ihown, Jti llio diH(;ilHHioMH r<;lal/in^ lo m, icpnhhc, nllcr indiirenincc- (<> Ihr, (:on- dilion ;uid wfllare of (h<; Kin;';. I*'roni IhiK iitnc/ lorlh IjiiiiiyvMa <'.»id(';i,vor(d lo conihino wilh liiit lov<' lor (he, ))(;oj>lc> HiiuM-rc, y (lie, AHH(;rably, Jin, he jell, ihaL a very Hoienin an«l inle,re,i(|,iri;^ j>e/iod of iiin own lif'o and liiH (toiiniry'H ]iiHU)vy waM punL TIIh Jonrncy IVoni l':\.i]:', lo hi:', home, ul, ('liaVJUiiae, in Anv«'-re;ne, wa.H one, conlintH'd hiinn|»h. 'Ihc cily of Parly voMmI iiim .'i, nied.d ;i,niiH«'{(ii('ii<'(r of Mm vmljtiiM dlHiigroomentH itlrcuily iiiciilioiiiMl, iIh; IIu'cu ^cnui'alM, l^niiiyiMlo, JjiU'kiH-r, !iii I'lihu' I^^l;j,iiiiii, nixl lliai the mini: (< r ol war hIioiiM iirv<'r <'luill^,«^ llir |H»;;ili(»M;i ^A' llic llll ^M ur.iiil til' lilt) I't'ciiuU ti'uupa lit Auiurluu lii 17til. AGE 34.] LAFAYETTE. 135 Charlemont, a distance of fifty-six: leagues* In fiv, e.'dh-d llie e.ip of lilterly, or ehiinied liis roiiMciil. to <'<'rlnin puliiii' nie.'isnreM. '' 'riiis is nol. Ilie lime nor llie ninimer l(» :isk me," r.'iid llie l^in<>, lirndy. LouIh llie Sixleeiilii did not Ln(»w how lo be |io|mlur, could nol win Ihe n:ilion |)\' |»rilli:inl nelM <>ilher in |)olili(!8 or w:ir; Iml he h:id <'onrit;.';e, mid eonid eixhire. ( )n litis (hiy u ,'eeled lliis onlhreak,and was (|nil<> |>re|iared lo lose Ills life in il. l*\>r Me\eral liiiii llint the king, attended by him, might go to the Assembly and announce his intention of passing a few days at Compiegne ; and that, once arrived there and surrounded by certain faithful soldiers whom Lafayette would answer for, he should send out a proclamation forbidding the emigrants to advance into France, declaring himself decidedly for the constitution, and ready to lead the army against AGE 34.] LAFAYETTE. 143 Austrians and Prussians. Such a declaration would have Htrengthened the Constitutionals, would have given the king a party he could depend upon, and would have silenced the Jacobins, who always de- clared that the royal family urged the coming of a foreign army. But Louis the Sixteenth and his advisers could not consent to any measure so contrary to their old habits and inclinations. Lafayette was thanked and refused.* Fresh dilficulties were created between the Gen- erals Luckner and Lafayette during a visit of the former to Paris. It was said in the Assembly that Lafayette had proposed to him to march upon Paris. Their letters were read, and fully proved that the only proposals which had passed between them were for attacks on the enemy. But the matter went so far that Lafayette's enemies ventured to propose an accusation.. This, however, was voted down. The lOtli of August, 1792, was memorable for a still more alarming attack on the Tuileries. Twenty thousand armed men, followed by the mob and brig- * Tho queen Is reported to have said, alluding to the Ctli of October, 1780, "It would be too much to owe our Uvea to him twice! " 144 LAFAYETTE. [l792. ands, approached the palace, which was too large to be defended except by regular soldiers, well com- manded. The king had about nine hundred Swiss, a few of the National Guard, and some brave gentle- men, Avho, knowing his danger, had come rather to die with him than to save him. The artillery-men refused to obey orders. Defence was so hopeless that the royal family were persuaded to go over to the Assembly. This step probably saved their own lives, but the faithful Swiss whom they left behind were terribly massacred. Either the king forgot to give the order he intended forbidding them to fire, or it was not delivered by the person to whom he gave it. It is not known on which side the firing began, but they could of course do nothing against such numbers. The king and queen were distressed when they heard the noise of arms, and a brave gentleman oflfered to carry another order back to the palace. He did so, and a few were saved. The Swiss officers and all the attendants of the royal family had terrible risks to run, and it seems almost a miracle that any of them could escape with their lives. Though the king and queen were not killed on this horrible day, they were ever after prisoners, AGE 34.] LAFAYETTE. 145 and were both executed by order of the National Convention, which took the place of the Assembly. Lafayette first heard the account of this terrible 10 th of August from one of the National Guard escaped from the massacre, and from an officer who had been at the Tuileries. Finding that all was violence and tyranny at Paris, that the king was a prisoner, and the Assembly no longer really free, Lafayette declared that he put his army and him- self under the orders of the magistrates of Ardennes, the department in which he then was, as they were the only authorities chosen by the people who were left for him to obey. He told the army what he had done, and was rejoiced ' to find that both officers and soldiers remained truly patriotic. Some of the neighboring departments joined Ardennes in its res- olutions, and Lafayette did not despair of others taking the same stand. In the mean time he refused obedience to the orders which were sent to him from Paris. Immediately after the 10th of August, the enemy, under the command of the Duke of Brunswick, entered France, bat not in the neighborhood of La- fayette. He had to guard the frontier, but was not concerned in any engagement. . 146 LAFAYETTE. [1792. The Assembly continued to pass decrees entirely contrary to Lafayette's principles of liberty, and sent numerous commissioners to his camp to try to shake the fidelity of his soldiers. No towns, no magistrates showed themselves on his side; he found that by persisting in his resistance he should expose his troops to two dangers, — one from the enemy, the other from their own countiymen. On the 19th of August, he sorrowfully decided that he was no longer of use, was exposing himself and his friends to dan- ger, and must for the present seek shelter in some neutral country.* * A couuti'y taking jio part iu a war. CHAPTER XIII. EXILE. It was not easy to find a neutral country which he could reach, and he decided to pass through Hol- land on the way to England. If he could hope to return to France soon, he would remain in England, where he desired his family to join him ; but if his own country were not free, he resolved to make his home in the United States. After having written this to his wife, he added, " I make no apology to you or my children for having ruined my family; no one among you would wish to owe fortune to con- duct contrary to my conscience." After taking every possible precaution for the safety of his army, Lafayette set out on the 19th of August, as if he were merely reconnoitring, with his usual escort and some officers who had served with him in the National Guard of Paris. Two of his 14:8 LAFAYETTE. [l792. friends, Messieurs Latour-Maubourg and Bureaux de Pusy, also accompanied liim, and a third, M. Alexandre Lametli, met them on the road. He had intended to go to Lafayette's camp, but, hearing of his journey, determined to accompany him. When they reached Bouillon, on the borders of France, Lafay- ette sent back his escort, and all the officers dismissed their orderlies,* because they would not deprive their country of even one defender. The little party of twenty-three exiles — for such they really were — had only reached Rochefort, seven leagues from Bouillon, when they were stopped by finding Austrian soldiers there. They had of course kept clear of the enemy's camp, but this was a sort of outpost which they had not been quite sure of. They applied to the commandant for permission to proceed the next day, representing that they no longer held rank in the French army, and therefore were not to be treated as military officers, but as private gentlemen. The commandant agreed very readily, but insisted that they should provide themselves with a passport f * A military officer of low rank, who waits upon a superior, t A permission from government to go from one country to unotlicr. In time of war it is often given by a general. AGE 35.] LAFAYETTE. 149 from General Moitelle, commanding at Namiir. This general, when he saw the letter announcing Lafay- ette's arrival, instead of saying anything about pass- ports, fell into transports of joy, and cried out, " La- fayette ! Lafayette ! Run instantly to tell the Duke of Bourbon ! Lafayette ! Take post to carry this news to his Royal Highness at Brussels ! " Instead of passports, an order was despatched for forwarding the prisoners immediately to Namur. They hoped they should not be long detained, but were soon re- moved to Nivelle, where a division was made. Those who had not served in the National Guard were released; the other officers were sent to Antwerp, where they had to spend two months ; the four Dep- uties, to the National Assembly, Lafayette, * Latour- Maubourg, Bureaux de Pusy, and Lameth, were sent to Luxembourg, where they were separated, and after a week's delay, escorted to "Wezel by a Prus- sian guard. There they spent three months in prison, parted from each other, deprived of all news and of tlie means of writing. They were never * While they were at Nivelle, an order came to take away from Lafayette the treasure which he was supposed to have brought from camp ! He observed, coldly, that " doubtless the princes would agree that in his place they would have done that." 150 LAFAYETTE. [l792. nll()\V(Ml l<> */o oil! ; (lie l«i oiir;j; asked |>cnnissioii lo M<'<^ liitii, wlicii he should Ix' iirjir dtalli, lie was (ohi, "• Thai »'ould iiol be." Lalaycllo rccoN ci-cd, and (Jur Kiuii; of Tiiissia havo his condition, lo ^'wo sonu> advicis or infornialiou a;^ainsl. I*' ranee. " 'Plu^ kinj; ol* PniHHia is cxccedinj^Iy iMi|»erlineul," said Ijuliiyette, when this jtaper was read lo hiui. S|)endin<^ days in I his uller solilude and idleness, how \aried and how anxious Laliivelle's (honj^hlM nuist ha\() been ! l\eeolleelions of home, of tlut llniled Slales and (he I'ret^ ha|>|)> liiejie led Iherc, nuisl ha\(' blended wilh Ihe ideas ol" I7S'.), his bri;^ht ho|>es ironi lla^ «loin<;M ol" llu^ National Ass(Mnbly,— IIku Ihe Mconos in J'aris an«l al N'ersailios, (ho wonien in insinriM'Tmn, Ihe f eonvincin;^ Ihe kin;.<, lh(> de\()lion ol" (hi> Nalional (Juard, llu* oulbreaks ho ha«l suppressed, Ihe «;ralilu(h^ ol" llu> eili/,(M>s, |ho obstinacy of Ihe conrliers, — all IIm^ evenis of his life U)r tlu^ last four }ears must havt> made plclnrcs in his mind, us ho Avidkcd to and IVo in hia solitary cell. AOE 85.] LAFAYETTE. 1.51 And rnnny n sound niiisl- Imvo ro-ochoed on his ear, from {\u\ slioiils of llic. mob (o (Im; specchcrt of Dopii- tics, or the (jucen's linn, clear tones. But (lie ov(;i-- powering feeling wjim juixidy: (Irsl, Cor llie rale, ol" his family and friendn, — liow Car liis unpopulurily might Jiave affected lluun ; next (or (Ik; kiuj^-, a prisoner as he kiw^w ; aud llicii Ini- liis ludiappy country, with enemies coming upon iier iioni vvilliout, and the »7acobins riding witliin. The nrin of those hnv days after the lOlh of August had shown him that a, terrible tim,d; but he addressed them to a Crlcnd in liondon, hooiu''- that his family might hav(! made (heir cscajx; (o England. He givllo dro\r oiil. ill <'oiii|iiiiiv willi llie jiiiliT. Ilr ••o| lid of llio NdldiiM'M ol' lii I riroi'l liy |'i\iii;', lliciii ii roiiiiniMMioii Mild Homo moiioy, i«o lliiil llioy wrnl |, 'I'lim ll(^ Irl'l Iho nirriiiKis mid wliilo wiillviii(> willi llio jiiiirr m .Krd him lo inl. him cMimiiio liin rwilin', mid iillom|)lrd lo itci/o it. Wllllo (hey weir ul i iip;f.dili},'. Io'tIIh r, ImiIIiiuiii mid llllti;<^r, who lind WMlihcd lor (lii.i niomnil, n\\\\i> A(nc :j7.J LXVAYV/vrK. ir,7 rtiimiiif'; up, jukI mIi(»\v<'(| n pli'lol. Tlic j.'iiN'i* !<•(, jrf) li'iM hold, lull, iiiimc(|i!i,(c|y r;iii oil" (of li<'l|». L.'ilii.y- rlJr.'H <|('li V'Tcr,! tiioiiiili'd liirii on (oic o( llic I, wo liorHcH lliry IiimI |»roii;'lil, Inii In- would no! riiil h.-iljiyrllc, nol, kii(Mviii;';'(liii,l, IImmt vviiii niidi ;i, lowii, iindri'Mlood liitii lo H.'iy iricrcly ''(id, oil"!" lie iiiiiiMcd liiii w.'iy, iMid, l»('iii['; iiii<;i.;'y ua lo (lie Ihlc (»(" liin IVieiidM, (iiriMrd ]ui,r. liolhnnn in TrnHKia., aC(er he IumI ero::,<l(';is:iii(. siir|)i"is«' to liiiii lo liiid lli;i(, oil llic, 2I1I1 ol I ><'<'('inl)(T ;i l;i,w was j)jiH.scd forhiddiii;^ llic :i|)|)()inliiiciil, ol" .'iiiy such oflicfW' as ('otiininii(la,nl-;4<'jiens<'S, nohility, cliictions, and al)oveo|)l(; lo syni)»allii/«! wilh :iiid lielj) all who wen^ slrn<^glin;^ lo he free. It se«!m
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