SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF GENERAL LA FAYETTE.

WITH AN ACCOUNT OF HIS VISIT TO MAINE.

Read before the Maine Historical Society, November 16, 1881. GILBERT MOTIER DE LA FAYETTE was born in Auvergne, France, on the sixth of September 1757, and was sent at an early age to the College of Duplessis in Paris, where he received a classical education. At the age of sixteen he was offered an honorable position at the French court, which he declined. At seventeen he married a granddaughter of Duc de Noailles. His fortune was large and his rank was with the first in Europe. His connection brought him the support of the chief persons in France. His character was warm, open, sincere and virtuous. At the age of nineteen his thoughts and sympathy were turned to the struggle of the American colonies against the oppression of their mother country. Nothing could be less tempting to a man of mere personal feelings than an interference in behalf of the United States at this time; their army was in retreat, their credit in Europe was entirely gone, and their commissioners to whom La Fayette offered his services, were obliged to acknowledge that they could not even give him decent means for his passage Then said he "I shall purchase and fit out a ship for myself." He did so, and his vessel was sent to one of the nearest ports of Spain, that it might be out of the

reach of the French government. It was not until he was on his way to embark that his romantic project began to be known. The British minister became alarmed, and at his request an order was issued for his arrest, which overtook him at Bordeaux, where he was detained, but in the disguise of a courier he escaped and passed the frontiers three hours in advance of his pursuers. He arrived in Charleston, South Carolina, in April 1777. The sensation produced by his appearance in the United States was much greater than that excited in Europe at his departure. This event stands forth as one of the most prominent and important circumstances in the Revolutionary contest. At the pres ent time few can believe what an impulse it gave to the hopes of a people nearly disheartened by a long series of disasters. Immediately on his arrival the Marquis received. the offer of a command in the American army, which he declined. During the whole of his service he seemed desirous to render disinterested assistance to the cause in which he was embarked. He entered the army as a volunteer without pay. Soon after his arrival he purchased clothing for the troops under General Moultrie in that quarter, he also made an advance of sixty thousand francs to General Washington for the public service. His services were appreciated by Congress, and in July, 1777, he was appointed a major-general, but he did not immediately act in that capacity. At the battle of Brandywine in September, he distinguished himself by his activity and undaunted bravery, but in a subordinate rank. He received a wound in the leg in this engagement, but

remained on the field until the close of the battle, inspiring the men by his presence and courage. Before his wound, which was a severe one, was entirely healed, he again joined the army under Washington.

In November, at the head of some New Jersey militia, he attacked a body of Hessians and defeated them. Soon after, the young Frenchman took the command of a division in the Continental army and frequently was appointed chief officer in separate commands. General Washington became greatly attached to him; he loved him for his goodness and honored him for his bravery and military talents. In 1778, it was proposed to make an attack on Canada with the idea of annexing it to the States, and General La Fayette was appointed to take the command of the troops collecting at Albany for that purpose. This project originated in Congress, but was not approved by Geneneral Washington, and it was abandoned.

General La Fayette had a distinguished command at the battle of Monmouth, and received the unqualified approval of the commander-in-chief. The same year he made a visit to Boston, the object of which was unknown, but Congress passed a resolve thanking him for this and other services. In his reply he says, "The moment I heard of America I loved her, the moment I knew that she was fighting for liberty I burnt with the desire of bleeding for her." Early in the year 1779, after an absence from his family of more than two years, General La Fayette revisited France, with the consent of Congress and General Washington. In his reply to a letter of Congress he says, "I dare flatter

myself that I shall be considered a soldier on furlough, who most sincerely desires to join again his colors." He arrived at Versailles on the twelfth of February, and the same day had a long conference with the prime minister, though he was not permitted to see the king. As a punishment for having left France without permission, he was ordered to visit none but his own relatives, but as he was connected by birth or marriage with nearly the whole court, and as everybody thronged to his hotel, the order did not weigh heavily on him. Congress had directed that Doctor Franklin, the Amer ican minister at Versailles, "cause an elegant sword with proper devices to be made and presented to the Marquis La Fayette." On the receipt of the sword, the Marquis replied with a warm letter to Congress, in which he said, "It is my present desire soon to employ that sword in your service." La Fayette went home to France ostensibly to offer his services to his own. nation, as war had been declared between France and England, but he seems to have exerted himself, with effect, to induce the king and court of France to lend the United States more effectual aid. A large fleet was sent over which rendered the United States essential service, as they had no efficient navy to protect their coast. When La Fayette obtained permission to revisit his native country, he retained with his rank in the American army, an ardent zeal for the interest of the American cause, which was so well calculated to inspire a young and generous mind in favor of a people struggling for liberty and self government with the hereditary rival of his nation. He came again to the