Lafayette

at Insp

sent at a dinner given in his honor at the house of the governor of the garrison, the Count de Broglie. This count was a person of great sympathy and discernment. He had been observing the tall, red-haired boy of quiet, assured manner and few words, who

government-about their prejudice in the little matter of a tax on tea, and about the strong measures to be taken by the English ministry to crush

ong and eager conversations that followed the news brought by the guest of the evening, Lafayette eagerly listened, and afterwards requested the duke to explain the situation more fully. His curiosity was deeply excited, his heart was at once enlisted. The idea of a people fighting against oppression stirred his i

nty-two; Lafayette was eighteen. But the youngest differed from the others in one respect; he had already come into his fortune, and controlled an income of about two thousand livres, an amount that in purchasing power represented a fortune such as few young men in any country or at a

ded to cross the sea and take up the fragile cause of a few colonists revolting against a great monarchy. It was not

to marry off his remaining daughters! It made no difference to this lordly family that the tidings of the American revolt were echoing through Europe and awakening emotions that those monarchies had never experienced before; nor did they notice that the young no

t so far as to issue a Declaration of Independence of the British government and to set up for them

oject. He knew also that he must depend solely upon himself. Then there came into his mind the motto that he had since boyhood seen upon the shield of one of his famous ancestors in the castle at Chavi

t hazards; he said that there was no advantage to be had in going to the aid of those insignificant rebels-that there was no glory to be gained. Lafayette listened respectfully and said th

our father's death at the battle of Minden; and I will not be a

t the boy's determination was fixed, he entered into his plans with almost paternal tenderness. Though he would give him no aid, he introduced him to

, who had served in the Seven Years' War and who had been employed by the French government ten years before to go s

s to whom all who felt an interest in American liberty had reco

e later in life, "I dwelt more (for I was scarcely nineteen y

his family and connections notice would surely be taken of his action. This might influence other young men and might win favor for the col

on the condition that he should go as a general officer, I have believed that I could not serve my country and my superiors better than by granting to him, in the name of the very honorable Congress, the rank of Major-General, which I beg the States to confirm and ratify and to send forward his commission to enable him to take and hold rank counting from to-day, with the general officers of the same grade. His

ment the undaunted boy

e said States with all possible zeal, with no allowance nor private salary, reserving to myself only the right t

e Marquis de

ll the grand ladies of the court, while his ability to "bottle lightning" was a favorite topic for discussion. The queen favored Franklin and the American cause; the king also; but neither dared to say so openly lest the spies

army was being re?nforced by regiments of Hessians. This news destroyed what credit the colonies had in France. No one now had

to dissuade him from his project to go to America. To this end they sent him word to come for a

is happened when Lafayette went to see these envoys. He received the news with a brow of unruffled calm. He thanked Mr. Deane for his kindness in trying to save him from disaster. Then he added: "Until now, Sir, you have only seen my ardor in

young nobleman with approbation; the plan was pressed forward, preparations were made to find a vessel, t

d be better not to interfere with the arrangement already made, it was thought; though Lafayette was impatient to carry

dance at the house of Lord Germain, minister of the English colonies, and at that of Lord Rawdon, who had but just come from New York, and though he made the acquaintance of the Clinton whom he was soon to meet on opposing sides of the battle line at Monmouth, he chivalrously denied himself the pleasure and profit of inspecting the fortifications and seaports where ships were being fitted out to fight the American rebels. More than that; he openly

battles, and Lafayette was to send letters in Fitzpatrick's care to his wife in France-letters in which he took pains to inclose no matters relating to the war, since that would have been unsportsmanlike; still later, owing to a tragic concur

hed Bordeaux where the boat was waiting. Here swift messengers overtook him to say that his plans were known at Versailles. Lafayette set sail, but he went only as far as Los Pasajos, a small port on the north coast of Spain. Here letters of importance awaited the

pedition where he knew he would be monotonously employed, with no prospect of exercising his energies in any congenial project. He was not without many proofs as

had torn himself away from his home and bride in Chaviniac, following the lure of arms, and had, but a few weeks before his own son's birth, rushed off to the battlefield where he ran the risk of returning no more. Why sho

g him. The masquerade was successful until he reached St. Jean de Luz where a hairbreadth escape was in store for him. Here certain officers were watching for Lafayette. The clever daughter of an innkeeper recognized him as the young nobleman who had passed some days before on the way to Bordeaux. A sign from Lafayette was enough to keep her from making known he

Victoire-name of good omen!-lying at anchor. There was the happy meeting of friends who were to share his

tions and great wealth had started for America in order to serve in the American army. He affirmed that those who censured his act as imprudent still applauded his sp

to the young Marquis de Lafayette. The first letter traveled fast; the second missive was subjected to inten