Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1845-10-02
A HEROINE.
THE WIFE OF LAFAYETTE.

THE WIFE OF LAFAYETTE.
The faithful and devoted wife of General
Lafayette was daughter of the illustrious
house of Noailes. She was married at the
early age Of seventeen, and scarcely had the
honeymoon glided happily away, when her
youthful husband left her side to fight for
American independence. During his alb
sence, Madame Lafayette ruled her house
hold and numerous estates with wisdom and
prudence far beyond her years. At length
The husband whom she loved so dearly, and
OF whom she was so justly fond, returned,
covered with g lory, TO lay his laures at her
feet. Some few happy days were spent to-
gether, and then the storm cloud of the
French revolution broke over their heads.
Her husband was soon driven into exile, but
it was thought that Madame Lafayette, Iiv-
ing quietly and in great retirement on her
estate in Auvergne, ran no danger. But her
love of liberty, her high rank, her talents.
made her an object Of suspicion. She was
arrested on the 10Th of August, and soon
after sent to Paris. Her mother, grand-mo-
Their, and sister-inlaw, all persisted on the
same scaffold. Madame de Lafayette herself
was in daily expectation of death. She
made her will, and waited calmly and reso-
lutely for the supmons TO the guilIotine.-
The revolution of the 9th Thermidor pre-
coded, by five days, that appointed for her
execution. As snon as she was liberated.
she sent her only son, then in his childhood,
to the care OF Gen. Washington, after whom
he had been named; and then FASTENED
with her two daughters to find her unfortu-
nate husband-then anguIshing in an Aus
trian prison. She reached Vienna by means
of an American passport, Obtained an audi
ence of the Emperor, and solicited either the
release of her husband or permission to
share his captivity.
Gas to the release of General Lafayette,
replied the Emperor, cit is very complica
ted piece of bushes: on that point my hands
are tied"
Madame Lafayette joyfully embraced the
other alternative-that of sharing her hus-
bands gloomy prison. Sixteen months
close imprisonment in France, the loss of
all her kindred, and her continual anxiety
respecting her husband, had combined to
affect her health, which declined so rapidly
in her damp prison of Olmutz, that serious
apprehenslons were entertained for her life
Feeling the importance of her life to her
family, and at their earnest solicitation, she
wrote to the Emperor for his permission tot
spend week in Vienna for change of air,
and for the purpose of consulting physi-
clan. Her letter remained two months I'M
answered, and then came in an imperial man
date, torblddng her ever to appear in Vienna,
but offering her freedom, on condition that
she would never seek to return to her hus-
bands prison. Madame de La(avette's no.
bic and touching answer 10 this nhuman
proposition, fortunately for posterity, re-
mains on record. 1t was as follows
81 owed it to my family and friends, to
make some efforts for the preservation of
my life; but they know me too we'll to sup
pose, for an instant, that | would accept it
at such price. ! cannot forget that when
we were on the point of perishing, my hus-
band, by his physical and mental sufferings
in Austria, and ], by the tyranny of Robes
pierre, in France, was not allowed to receive
any communication from him, nor TO inform
him in return that his wife and children
were still in existence; and will never, Of
my own free will, expose myself to the ago
ny Of separation from him again. How
ever unsuitable this residence may be to nv
daughter, and however unfavorabIe to my
health, we will gladly avail ourselves ofhis
Imperial Majesty's goodness in allowing us
to remain here, and will never trouble him
with any more petitions"
From that time Madame de Lafayette made
no further efforts, but bore her sufferings
firmly and patiently until the victories of
the French Republic, and especially those
of General Bonaparle, changed the aspect of
affairs. General Lafayette was restored to
freedom, and with his devoted wife return
ed to his native country, and fixed his resi-
dence at La Grange-the maternal inheri-
lance of his wife-an estate situated about
twelve leagues from Paris. Here Madame
de Lafayette spent the remainder of her short
life in the bosom Of her family, and in the
practice Of every Christian virtue. But the
poisoned arrow of grief and anxiety hadI
drank her life blood, and after many Iinger-
ing months of suffering, this humble chris
tan, this affectionate motherand heroic wife.
closed her pure and exemplary life on the