The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1824-08-19

to escape unpunished. When the Constitu-
tion was adopted, he resigned his command,
on which occasion gold medal and a bust OF
Washington were presented to him by the
city of Paris. He was offered in addition, Il
tnli remuneration for his losses by the re-
volution, and he magnanimously declined.
Tn 1892 he was given the command OF the
army of the centre near Artlennes--On Sec
ing, however, the wanton and unnecessary
indignites offered the King, he caused re-
lnonstrances to be forwarded from the differ
ent corps of the army. These producing no
effect, lie went in person to Paris to make his
complaints. The military once more opened
their arms to orcccivc him, and asked to be led
against the Jocobin Club, the authors of all
the injuries f which he complained. This
oTcr from generous desire to prevent the
cfIuson of blood, he refused, while he pro-
'oscd to the King, at the same time to throw
himself upon the army for protection but
the imbecilty and distrust of Louis prevented
Him acccdng to the offer. On the memorable
f0th of August, and Oh the flight of the royal
family to the National Assembly for safety,
La Faycttc was deprived of his command, af-
ter yainly endcavoring to prevent the out
,ages Of the mob. The Swiss Guards were
all massacrcd, aftera gallant resistance : and
the nODlc ntdltttl ray CtlC WdS tOlIi pciltu
to fy before the madness and fury Of his
countrymcn. A price was set upon his head,
and the golden medal before him broken in
pieces by tho common llangman. In travel
ling into Germany, the petty Duke of SAKE
Teschcn arrested the illustious fugitive, and
the gallows was actually in preparation for his
execution. The King of Prussia then intelfrrcd
and changcdlthc sentence of death, to that ofcose
confinement in the dungeon of Vessel and Mag
dcburg. After years suffering in the latter, the
Emperor OF Austria next claimed him. To him
he was transferred and immediately thrown in
Chains into the filthy dungeon of 0lmutz. His
wife and two lovely daughters, (Nirginia and
Carolina,) named after our own beloved land, few
to him on hearing of his situation, and particpa-
ted in his captivity. His estate was all consca-
led. His suHcrings and those Of his family, ava
kencd the sympathies of every American in lis
behalf
Gen. Washington took the deepest inter
est iii his fate andused all the exertions in his
power to procure his liberation. Washing
ton, moreover, made a generous remittance
from his privasc purse, to supply his person
al wants Compassion for his situation, drew
petitions for his release from all quarters.
But the Emperor regarding him as one ofthe
principal agents in the insulting degradation
and subsequent death of the King and Queen
Of France, was incXorablG. Having dragged
tut two years i'll this horrible prison, IA daring
design was formed by DR.. Bolman, a Hano-
verean, to lbcrate him but after Surveying
the premises, he found that the object was
impractcable unless he had All associate to
help him. While 1T Vienna accident threw
IN his way Francis X. Huger, a yol.ng Amer
ican well qualified by education and habit |
for the undertaking.
1t 50 happened that this young gentleman
was the son of Col. Hugcr, into whose house
La Faycttc first entered, on coming on shore
IN violent storm, near Charleston, and by
whom the gallant Marquis was first introduce
ed to Washington. rhey concerted their
measures purchased three of the best horses
that could be found; liuger fcisncd illness
and travelled for his health ; and Bollman
was the physician. They arrived at Olmutz,
and after some time gained the confidence
OF the jaior, and frequently visited the pri-
SOL, where they found means of opening
correspondence with the noble captive, which
was continued for some time, and conducted
so openly, that the jailor had no suspicion OF
the trcachefy. Notes, however, written ap
parcntly only to inquire as to the state of his
health were sometimes written on the other
side with II preparation which could be rem
NN'NN Nl'i'IiI W ilNul stllIl liiio HiSdllS
tho plot was contrivcd every arrangement
made, and the following day fixed upon to-
put the plan in execution. We have not
room to go into the details of the plot, nor
to give the particulars which attended its al,-
spirious commencement, but disastrous ter
mnation. Suffice it to say, that one Of the
best contrivcd plans, after a train Of roman
tic though most untoward accidents which
no prudence could forsec or guard against,
entirely failed. Fayettc escaped ten miles,
where he was suspected, mis-drected aS to
the road he was to take, and finally taken
and sent back to prison, where llugcr had
been committed before him. Bollman was
more successful but finding that his plan
had failed and that his friend, had also been
imprisoned, he returned to Olmutz and de-
hvcrcd himtclf up. Hugcr and Bolman
were imprisoned on charge Of conspiracy
against the Austrian Government ; the
Court believed that altlc garrison Of Olmutz
mad been engaged in the conspiracy that
many people had been arrested upon suspi
cion; for it coud not be believed that two
such Young men as he and Boliman could
have formed and executed so daring a plan
without the aid of others but they we're
nnally tried for planning and ASSISTING in the
escape. They were to have been imprison
ca ior lite,-Thc upright Judge, howcvcrwas
bribed down to fourteen years, then to seven
years, then to one year, to a month, and
hnally to week. Mr.. de la Faycttc, the
unfortunate cause oftheir distresses, remain