The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1824-08-19
From the NeU York Commerciol .Adrsr,;,s,
GENERAL LA FAYETTE

|
parations making in various places to recr..
the veteran champion of freedom in man
ner suitable to his rank and services and crn
dtable to the character and feelings of ,b,
country, have contributed to render him tLe
most conspicuous and Interesting object nor
before the public. One consequence, amo,a
others, is, that May pens have been employ'
cd in panegyrcs upon his character and yir.
tues, and in collecting and rccording'the lead.
ing incidents of his eventfu life. Not hayin,
room for the several accounts which hovo
swollen into many columns, it is our prcscn,
design 10 collect from the materials thus fur.
nishcd TO our hands, (chiclly in the ALBANY
Daily Advcrtiscr,) as many Of these circum.
stances, as VIC can find room for this evening
Republics, though often, are not always M.
grateful and we feel proud assurance, that
| from the moment the ilustrious yisitcr stcns
upon our shores, he will meet with a rcccf,.
tion which will not only be highly acceptable
but inspire his bosom ifpossible, with a stll
higher regard for our country, ourpcoplc, and
our wise and liberal institutions.
La Faycttc was born at Auvcrgnc. IN
France, in the year 1757--conscquently. he is
now 67 years old. The inhabitants Of tInt
province, from carly times, have been dis
tinguished for their boldncss and love of in.
dependence and the family Of La Fayct.c
were equally distinguished for their fearless
spirit, and chivalrous contempt of danger
With these feelings, though but youth his
attention was carly directed to this country.
while engaged in our revolutionary struggle
with the giant power of Great Britain. He
resolved to visit us and drew his virgin sword
in onrcausc; and at the age Of 10, he embark
| cd in a ship furnished at his own expense
| n,,I 1,,,l ar 'l,n~ vi, ;,,
| f777. He was not a desperate ADVENTURE,
whose embarrassed affairs at home deprived
I him Of the means of enjoying life, and there
fore, was willing to risk all under selfish
hope Of bcttcring his own private condition
| He was born to princcly fortune. He was
surrounded by relatives and friends, and had
been blessed even thus early in life with con.
| iuGal love. He bid adcu to his native land
4 to olclatives and friends, and to tho tenderand
interesting partner of his BOSOM TO all the
pleasure and amuscmcnts which were pre-
sented to HIM in the gay regions and vino
covered hills of France" to Join in the glol-
Gus contest for liberty in the colonies CT A.
mcrica He Immediately entered the army
and served as volunteer, until the 3lSt July
following, when he Was commissioned b.
| Congress a MAJOR General, " in consequence
Of his zeal, and his illustrious family conncX-
in'ls." lie distinguished himself on various
occasions, and particularly at the battle Of
| Brandy wine, where he was engaged in the
hottest Of the combat, and when wounded.
refuse to quit the field. On the 2jth Of
November following, he attacked and re-
pulsed a body Of lIcssians with an inferior
force, for which he was entrusted with sui
table command. In 1879 he returned to
/ France, on visit; and soon after reaching
rams, sword was presented him by the A
mc'fcan Minister, in the name of Congress.
i Nhle there, lie used all his influence with
! the Government i'll the cause so near his
heart, and succeeded in gaining their coun-
tcnancc and assistance. He returned again,
and landed at Boston, with large reinforce
mcnts, in 1880. In '7Sl he was ordered to the
south with separate and independent com
mand, for the purpose of driving Arnold ou
OF Niagina; but failed in his object, fer want
OF the cooperation of the French fleet. lie
was OF great service, however, in checking
the mdrauting expedition of Gen. Philips;
and was soon afterwards opposed to Corn
walls---t'ic ablcst general sent by the mother
country to subluc U.s. On first hearing that
La Fayettc was tp be opposed to him, the
British Commander said oxultinglv, "thc boy
shall not escape me but he found himsclfso
often baiilcd by his Young enemy, that il be-
came necessary for the greatest vigilance TO
prevent his own army from being surprised.
iils mah@nvrcs were mastery. The army
was III want, and he supplied those wants from
ms private pursc-paying 10000 dollars at
one time ter clothing. At the scige of York
town he acted q brave and conspicuous part
III short he continued actively engaged in Our
service till the close If the WARSAW our in
dependence sealed, and our country free and
happy, with brighter prospect OF future
gteatnes, spread before us than ever had
blessed the struggle ofany nation on earth. In
S4 he embarked again for his native country,
loaded with honor, and the gratitude Of the
.hmcricAn people. lie was received in France
in the most enthusiastic manner and when
the French revolution broke out he took sides
again in the cause of frcedom and was elected
to the States GenerGi, by his native province
In 1889 he came forward in that body VITA
his celebrated declaration of the Rights ot
Man, and for his irmncss in opposition to the
court, was elected President otthc Assembly,
and Commandant of the National Guard. liz
did not, however, enter into all the sangul-
nary measures OF the revoutionists, and al.
his efforts were to preserve order in she
capital. When ordered by the commune oE
Paris to proceed to Versailles with his army
and take possession of the out posts, he re-
strained the violence of his soldiers--assurcG
the King and Queen of their safety, AM
saved the lives OF fifteen Of the household
troops who has been selected as the victims o.
the iufli rintrG oSgoiln;,tr JIn nIuo ofr; n1 thr