Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-07-17

opinlons-and they were alike equally o,,.
tngui>hed as warm friends of humanity md
beneyolence.
| Had general Washington been placed !,
the situation OF the marquis de la Fay.l,a
chief OF the National Guards of Paris, h
very probably wouId moi b We been allie "a
triumph over circumstances but VOID
have failed in the attempt to preserve bis
vows VI fidelity to lis king, al the San.
! time that he wished 10 establish the hLerr
OF the nation.
1t must, how ever, be acknowledged t6,t
M. de la Fayette is a lie ermIned Iepubi.
can; yet none OF the yaniiies of his class
ever entered his head ; power, the efac.
OF which IS so great in France, had not h.
least ascendency over him the desirr Of
| pleasing in the drawing room did not al al
modify The expression of his sentiments;
and he sacrificed his fortune 10 his OBJ.
mons with the most generous indifie renee
In the prison OF Oimuiz, as at the INC.
ment when his credit stood highest, be Te.
NAMED equally mistaken in his principles
he is man whose manner OF Sc. ing ard
acting has always been direct and con.ie,
TEN. Whoever a.tentI,ely observed him,
might prevou> y calculate with certainty
upon what he would do under all crcum.
stances. His political talents are similar
to those of the United States; and his face
is more English than French.
: The hatred of which NJ. de la Fayeae
is the object, has failed to sour bis charac.
ter and his mildness of disposition is IN.
disturbed: but it is equally true, that no.
thing has been able to change, or in tie
slightest degree vary his opinions aud bis
confidence that liberty will be Triumphant,
is rs grea, as that Of a pious man in the lite
TO cone. these sentiments, so different,
So contrary 10 the selfish calculations of the
major par, OF those men who have played
any part in France, may justly appear %
some persons worthy Of praise and CON.
misseraion: it is 20 silly, they sa opre.
| Ter ones country, ana not TO change ones
party, when his party is beaten jim short.
, to consider the human race, not ike a
pack of cards, that we are obliged to turn
to our advantage, but as the sacred object
OF N absolute Observation-Disclosures, if
we thus incur the the reproach Of Stiffness,
may our men of genius soon merit it.
Ii is very singular circumstance. that
such character as that OF NJ. La. Fayeue
should have manifested tsel 10 the person
OF one Of the first gentlemen IN France
but we can neither accuse nor Judge him
ilnparliaIly without knowing him, and see
ing his conduct in the light ] have here
painted it. 1t will then he easy TO com.
prehen the various Contrasts that arose
out oi his sIluation anu his manner OF act
lug. Supporting the more from duty than
incl II liun, he invoun ariy drew nearer
| those principles OF democracy which he
was ohIise'i TO oppose and 1t was possible
! to perceive him lean towards the friends Of
the repuItc, though his reason anu good
sense loibad Tim TO wish their system ad.
mitled in France.
Since the departure of NJ. la Fayette for
Ameri:a, which is now 40 years, it IS not
possible 10 mention one action or one word,
that has not kept steadily in the same line,
without his conduct ever having been in.
huenced by the least personal interest,"
Success would have relieved this manner
OF existence but it demands all the at.
tentlon Of the historian, notwithstanding
the circumstances, and even faults, which
serve the enemy as weapons.
Such is the portrait given by Madame
de Stael Of NJ. Ia Fsyette, one of the most
modest and unassumiug, as well as most
&c ebrated Of men. We hope, in another
number, to give an account of the same
person by Lady Morgan. 1t will be int.
resting to oppose the judgment Of these two
celebrated women to the absurd stories and
miserable calumnies OF the generals enc.
mics. 1t was not sufficient for them 10 at
tack his reputation, they must also find
fault with his constitution in physical
sense. 1t is well known that Gen. la Fay.
cite is abou, 81 years ole that ne enjoys
perfect state of health that his gaiey
and tranquility are unaIterable; that ali
his pleasures are conferred in domestic
life and that his only passion is 10 see,