Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-09-01

escort OF the day, and the reception oil the Ma.
TONS il!ustrious Friend and Guest in the Shire
Of the County. And all Officers in the Brig
adc, not on duty with their respective Compa-
mics, arc requested TO appear mounted, in the
Uniform prescribed in General Orders, on the
Common, by the South Westinghouse in
Worcester, at the aforementioned our-as no
delay can possibly take place.
NATHAN HEARD, Jr. Brig. Gen.
From DR.. BANcRoFT's Life of Washington.
A sincere friendship had been formed
between him and the Marquis La Fay
cite. This friendship was not disturb
ed by those vicissitudes in France, which
occasioned the exile ord foreign i'm
prisonment of that nobleman. These
rather increased the sensibIlity, and
strengthened the attachmt nj of the Pres
idcnt towards the unfortunate Marquis.
But OH account of the state ofparties in
France and America, interpretations in
his favor were privately made. The
American Ministers at Foreign Courts
were diTectelSin an official manner TO
exert themselves to obtain his liberation
or to render his confinement less OPP
pressive. A confidential agent was sent
TO Berlin to solicit his liberty but be-
fore he reached his place of destination,
the King of Prussia had surrendered the
Marquis to the Emperor of Germany.
Mr.. Pinckney then al the Court of Lon
don, was directed to intimate the wishes
Of the President 10 the Austrian Minister
at that Court, and 10 solicit the influence
Of the British Cabinet in favor of the H.
lustrious prisoner. Disappointed in the
expected mediation Of Great Britain, the
President addressed the following letter
Immediately to the Emperor of Ger
many.
:" will readily occur to your Majes-
ty that occasions may sometimes exist on
which official considerations would con-
strain the Chief of nation TO be silent
and passive in relation even to objects
which affect his sensibilly, and claim his
interposition as a man. Finding myself
precisely in this situation at present, |
take the liberty of writing this private
letter to your Majesty, being persuaded
that my motives will also be my apollo
gy for it.
Sin common with the people Of this
country, retain strong and cordial
sense Of the services rendered 10 them
by the Marquis La Fayeue; and my
friendship for him has been constant and
sincere. It's naturab therefore, that
should sympathize with him and his
family IN their mis- fortunes, and endeay-
our TO mitigate the calamities they ex-
perience, among which his present con-
tinement is not the least distressing.
!" | forbear TO enlarge on this delicate
subject. Permit me only 10 submit to
your Majesty's consideration, whether
his long imprisonment, and the coniisca-
ton ofhis estate, and the indulgence and
dispersion of his family, and the painful
anzieties incident TO all those circumstan-
ces, do not form ar assemblage of suffer
ines, which recommend him TO the me-
diation Of humanity? Allow me; Sir, on
this occasion, 10 be its organ and to en-
treat that he may be permitted to come
TO this country on such conditions, and
under such restrictions as your Majesty
may think it expedient.to prescribe.
CAS- it is maxim with me not to ask
what under similar circumstances |
would not grant, your Majesty will do
me the justice to believe, that this re-
quest appears to me TO correspond with
those great principles of maguanimity
and wisdom, which form the basis OF
sound policy and durable glory"
This letter was sent to Mr.. Pinckney,
and was by him transmitted through the
Austrian Minister to the Emperor.
From this period the Marquis was treat
ed with more mildness, and was soon af-
ter discharged from his confinement ;
but what influence the Presidents letter
had on these measures, is not known.
In 1875, George Washington Motier
La Fayette, the son of the Marquis La
Fayctte, made his escape from france,
and arrived with his tutor at Boston.
He Immediately by letter communicated
his situation TO Gen. WASHINGTON and
solicited his advice and patronage. The
mother Of young Fayeue was then in
France, and The President was surround
ed by Frenchmen, the agents or friends
ofthe administration, which had denoUiic-
edthe Marquis. These men we're ready
no denounce every act of favour done
tq,a man who WIS prescribed by the
French Government. From regard 10
the safety Of that lady, and from prudcn-
tial considerations i'll respect 10 his own
official character, he thought it unadvis-
able to invite him Immediately TO the
seat of Government, and publickly to
espOuse his interest. But he wrote
confldentially TO friend in the neigh
borhood Of Boston, requesting him 10
visit tho ,,o,,r1c ocoofio,oo1 a. .o,.,,.,:.,