The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-06-09
MISCELLANEOUS.
A HEROINE.
THE WIFE OF LAFAYETTE.

The faithful and devoted wife of General
La Fayeue was daughter OF the illustrious
house ofNoailles' She was married al The
early age OF seventeen, and scarcely had the
honeymoon glided happily away when her
youthful husband left her side 10 fight for
American independence. During his alb
seuce Madame La FayeIte ruled her house
hold and numerous estates with wisdom and
nrndence far beyond her years. AT length
The husband. whom she loved so dearly and
of whom she was so Justly fond, returned
covered with glory 10 lay his laurels at her
feet and then the storm cloud OF the French
Revolution broke over their heads. Her
husband was soon driven into exile, but il
was thought that Madame Lafayette, living
ouietlv and in great retirement OH her estate
IN Auvernna. ran no danger. But her love
ofliheriv. her high rank, her talents made
her ar object OF suspicion. She was arrested
on the 10Th OF August, and soon after sent 10
Paris. Her mother, grandmother and sister
in-law all persisted on the same scaffold-
Madame de La Fayelte was herself in daily
expectation of death. She made her WILL
and waited calmly and resolutely for the
summons 10 the guillotine. The revolution OF
the 9th Thermidor preceded by five days
that appointed for her execution. As soon as
she was liberated she sent her only son, then in
his childhood, 10 the care Of Gen. Washington,
after whom he had been named, and then
hastened with her two daughters 10 find her
unfortunate husband-then languishing in
an Austrian prison. She reached Vienna
ny means ofan American passport. obtained
an audience of the Emperor,and solicited Ell
Their the release of her husband or PERMITS j IN
10 share his captivity.
sAs 10 The release of General La Fayette'
replied the Emperor. it is a very complicated
piece of business; on that point my hands
are tied
Madame Lafayette ioyfully embraced the
ether alternative-ihat of sharing her hus-
band's gloomy prison. Sixteen monlhs'closc
Imprisonment in France, the loss OF all her
kindred, her continual anxiety respecting her
husband had combined to aliert her health
which declined So rapidly in her damp prison
Of Olmuis that serious approximations were
entertained for her life. Feeling The i'm
porlance of her life TO her family, al their
earnest solicitations she wrote 10 theEmperor
10 request his permission TO spend week in
Vienna for change of and for the purpose
of consulting a physician Her letter re-
NAMED two months unanswered, and then
came an Imperial mandate, furbiGding her
oyer to appear atVienna but offering her Tree
dom on condition that she never would seek
10 return 10 her husbands prison. Madame
lie La Favetle's noble and touching answer
10 this inhuman proposition, fortunately for
10 ;teriiy remains on record II was AS fol-
lows;
q owed TO my family and my friends to
make some efforts 10 the preservation OF my
life; hui they know me toU well 10 suppose,
for an instant. that | would accel t il al such Il
price | cannot forget thai when we were
on the poin, of Teri<hng, my husband, by his
physical and mental su.ierings in Ausiria,
and by the tyranny Off obcspirre inFrancc
| was not allowed 10 receive any cOmmunica-
lion from him, nor 10 inform him in return
that his wife and children were still in exis-
tence; and will never of my own free will
90 from him again. However unsui able this
residence may be 10 my daughter, and how
ever unfavorabe TO health, we will gladly
avail our selves ofhis imperialMalesty's good
ness in allo wing us 10 remain here. and VIII
never trouble him with any more petitions
From that time Madame de La tavctte
made no further efforts. but bore her sutler-
inss firmly and patiently until the victories
ol the French republic, and especially those
o. General Benapare changed the aspect Of
affairs. General La Fayette was restored
10 irredom, WIN HIS ueNoleu N!0 iC.uiheu
10 his native country, and fixed his residence
at La Grange-the maternal inheritance Of
his wie-an estate situated about twelve
leagues from Paris. Here Mrs. La Fayeie
spent the remainder OF her short life in the
bosom Of her family. and in the practice of
every christian virtue. Bnl the poisned ar
row Of grief and anxiety had drank her life
blood, and after many lingering months Of
suffering this humble christian, this affection
ate mother and heroic wife. closed her pure
and exemplary life on the 24th of December
1906. Prosperity has covered the name OF
General La Fayette with glory, but surely
the patient endurance the self sacrltcinS de,
votion orhis noble wife. deservean equal meeC
OF praise.