The native American., 1839-01-05
MEMOIRS OF LAFAYETTE.
From the NeD York American.

wi "A
From the NeD York american.
We give to-day continuation of the able re-
view of the Memoirs Of Lafayette, from the pen
of our Parlsan correspondent:
EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENTS OF THE N. Y. AMERICAN
i More than one half of the fourth volume-lhe
first Of the second seres-is occupied with Sc
lection of cursory notes by Lafayette on various
works relating to the French Revolution, such as
those of Neckac, DE Bouille, Madame Roland,
De Moleville, Thiers, &c. He confirms or con-
troverts passages of each according to his intimate
personal knowledge and better opportunities of
Judgment. He eXerts in the critique that wonder
lul memory which was as ready as it was reen-
tive, touching every indivldpn, and occurrence
ever subject to Ills observation. His several cri
liques disspate important errors, and throw new
| lights upon events and characters. | must b.
content TO pass over all this, however interesting
except few lines here and there.
| He mentions that Genet was sent to the United
States by the Girondisls, expressly charged with
the task Of disorganzing our country and exaspe-
rating its parties. He quotes, as an antthesis to
Genet's spirit and conduct the answer Of La LIZ
Serne i'll l77S, when urged to endeavor to create
then in America the distinction of French and
English party. 81 might not scruple to employ
in Germany the ordinary expedients Of diplo-
macy; but | should feel culpable in using them
among these honest Americans, and people
quite new" In another place, he says of Tom
Paine, 'Nothing better proves how little freedom
| there was in the French elections after the 10Th
of August, than the nomination of this writer by
| the department. of the Pas de Calais, with which
he had no connexion whatever. Moreover, lie
| was entirely Ignorant of the French language, sn
|. that, in the debates Of the Convention, he could
|. not understand what said, nor even read his
2 motions to the Assembly. But the Girondisls
e exalted Thomas Paine as one of the Legislators
+ of America, though they knew that he had new
Z er been, there, member of any deliberative bo-
dy. In the Convention he voted against the death
of the King, and asked for his deportation to
+ America" Lafayette everywhere treats that
death as an assassination. He reprobaes strongly
the publications of Paine against Washington;
acknowledging at the same time the efficiency of
his pamphlets, and the soundness of his Rights
of Man. He exposes some of the many gross
mistakes and misrepresentation of Theirs, in his
History Of the French Revolution, which is the
narrative Of partisan. | found, after had been
for some time in situation to observe closely, and
learn the real opinion of competent Judges, that
originally overrated several of the most conspicu-
Gus among the French politicians and authors;
possess the true qualifications of historian or
catalogue ofhis merits includes po-
litcal recti,ude. In the composition of the HIS
tory of Florence, upon which he is employed, he
will command, probably, new materials OF consi-
derabe interest, all possible aids are lent to his
researches; but there can be really superior per-
formance without prohity of spirit, activity of mo-
raj sense, philosophical range and depth ofthought,
powers of just reasoning, and mastery of style.
'Fhe remainder of the fourth volume consists of
Lafayettes Prison Correspondence, (from 1892
to 1877 his "reminiscences on his liberation
(s'Sos.o<,.;re 0eyussI do prtoorr,'' and HE
correspondence during the years 1897 and 1898.
The story of his treatment by the Governments
of Prussia and Austria is too well known to need
repetition here. The airoci,y of that treatment,
could be equaed only by the cheerful forlilude
and innexible virtue of their illuslrious victim.
The details hich he gives, in his letters of the
fender mercies which he experienced, are calcu-
lated to revive that de,estalion of Prussian and
Austrian power which recent representations and
events have served 10 mitigate on both sides of the
Atlantic The whole press of Europe rings with
the amnesty just granted at Milan. by the Empe-
ror Ferdinand. The Opposition journals of Pa
ris make the most of it for the honor and glorIh-
cation Of the Austrian Government, III order 10
create contrast as injurious as possible 10 the
credit Of Louis Phppe's amnesty. Those
Lombardo-V Venitan subjects OF Ferdinand whol
are the objects of this vaunted act OF Imperial grace
and goodness, have already explated their poliu-
cal sins by the severest suherngs in dungeons
and distant exile. The banished may return only
on the terms which the Government shall please
| to prescrbe--a Government altogether absolute
and arbitrary, against whose resenments, suspi-
cons, or caprice they would have, when again
within its iron grasp, no dei'nce whatever. /
trust that our excellent friend Maroncel will moi,
yield, without full reflection and inquiry, tn the
temptation which must, indeed, be very strong
for such an Italian TO return 10 such native land
as Italy.
| See how Lafayette describes his prison-house
| at Madgbourg, March 18Th, 1889 "Figure to
| yourself cave made under the ramparts of The