Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1839-05-16
MISCELLEAN y u s.
THE WIFE OF AFAYETTE.

IA THE WIFEOr LA
Extract from letter written by La Fayette,
- tho year 1903, after the death of his wife,
~ M Latour Mabourg, translated from one oil
,he last volumes ofthe Memoirs of LA Fayette
lately published in France.
"Duriug thrty-four years ofa union in which
her tenderness, her goodness her elevation, her
decacy, the generosity of her soul, charmed,
embelIished, did honor 10 my life, was so ac-
customed 10 all that sh9 was TO me, that | did
not distinguish her from my own existence
She was fourteen years old, and was sixteen,
when her heart anal gamated itself with all
which could interest me. tho'i loved her,
that could not do without her, but it was only
when had lost her that was able to discover
what remains to me, for the close Of life which
had been so diversified, and for which neverthe
less there remains no longer either happiness
oreyen content. Tho she was attached to me,
Imay say so, by the most passionate sentiment,
never perceived in her the slightest shade of
uuihoritveness (d'erigence) of discomfort, new
er any thing which did not leave me the entire
freedom in all my undertakings. And if 60
back to the days ofour youth, | find in her, traits
Of an unexempled delicacy and generosity
You saw her, always associated, heart and soul,
in all my sentiments, my political wishes, enjoy
ing every thing which might confer honor on
me, still more, as she would say, what made
me to be wholly known, and more than all glo-
rying in those occasions when she saw me sac
r6ce glory to a sentiment of goodness Her
aunt, Madame Jesse, said to me yesterday 81
never could have imagined that one could be
such fanatic for your opinions, and yet sofree
r LII L..
our doctrines never for moment abated her
indulgence, her compassion, her good will for
persons OF another party. She never was sour
ed by the violent hatred OF which was the OBJ
ject; the il-treatment and injurious conduct to-
wards me, were regarded by her as follies indit-
ierent to her, from the point from which she
looked al them, and where her good opinion
chose TO place Inc.
Hers was most entire devotion. may say
that during thirty-four years, never suffered
for moment the shadow of a restraint, that all
her habits were without affectation, subordinate
TO my convenience, that had the satisfaction to
see my most sceptical friends as constantly re-
ceived, as we'll beloved, as much esteemed, and
their virtues as completely acknowledged, as II
there had been no difference Of religious opin-
ion, that she never expressed any other sentl'
ment than that of hope, that in continuing to
reflect, with the uprightness OF heart which she
knew belonged to me, should finally be con
WINGED. 1t was with this feeling she left me
her last regards, begging me to read for the
love Of her, some books, which shall certain
ly examine again with new interest, and calling
her religion, 10 make me love il better, perfect
freedom. She often expressed to me the thought
that she should 90 to Heaven, and dare add
that this idea was not sufficient TO reconcile her
to quitting me. She often said to me, Life is
short, full of trouble, may we meet again IN
God. May we pass eternity together. She
wished me, she wished us all the peace OF the
Lord. Sometimes she was heard praying in
her bed One of her last nights there was
something celestial in the manner in which
she recited twice in succession, with firm
voice, passage of scripture applicable TO her
situation, the same passage which she reclted
to her daughter on perceving the spires OF u
mutt. Shall speak to you ofthe pleasure, ev-
or renewed, which an entire confidence in her
gave me, which was never exacted, which was
received al the end of three months as at the
first day, which was justified by discretion
proof against all things, by an admirable under.
standing OF all my feelings, my wants and the
wishes of my heart. All this was mingled
with sentiment so tender, and opinion so ex.
allied, worship, if / dared to speak, so sweet
and hattering, more especially gratifying, as
coming from the most perfectly natural and
sincere person who ever lived.