The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1860-06-13

had scarcely passed the frontier, when
their further progress was arrested by
a body ofthe Limburg volunteers and
the national cockade, which, unthink-
ingly, they had retained, bctraying
them to the leader, they were, by his
command, arrested and conveyed to
the prison Of Luxembourg, from thence
removed to Wesel, thento Magdeburg,
and lastly to Olmutz
On the plea of Lafayette having
been seized on neutral ground, and
that, having ceased to be a soldier, he
could not properly be considered a
prisoner of war, strenuous effortsfrom
all quarters were made to obtain his
release but the Emperor Of Germany,
who regarded him as a principal insti-
gator of the Revelation, as well as one
of the chief instruments of the insult
ing degradation and subsequent death
of the royal family Of France, was not
to be moved. The vengeance of Ro-
bespierre for the loss of his victim was,
meanwhile, wreaked with savage in
veteracy against the unfortunate wife
Of Lafayette for no sooner was the
escape of her husband known, than
that unhappy lady was arrested and
thrown into prison. She escaped
death by something like a miracle !;
different members of her family perish
ed on the scaffold; and she herself,
for the space Of fifteen months, endured
all the horrors of q loathsome confne-
ment- On the death Of the tyrant she
was released from prison, and so soon
as her health was sufficiently reinstated
to allow of her undertaking so long a
journey, without servants, or the means
of procuring the most necessary COM
forts, she, accompanied by her chill
dren, set ont for Vienna, and, throw
ing herself at the feet of the Emperor,
implored his influence for the liberation
of her husband.
What Francis III. had denied to
the various authorities interested in
the fate of Lafayette, he yielded to
pity and, raising the suppliant, he
granted her request, allowed of her re-
pairing Immediately to Olmutz, and
held ont the prospect of the speedy
deliyerance Of the prisoner. Whether
the Emperor afterwards regretted the
clemency he had shown, or that other
powers were interested in prolonging
the captivity of Lafayette, does not
appear but so far from obtaining his
hoped-for release, Madame de Lafay-
EFT found herself and her daughters
immured in the same dungeons that
contained her husband. I have, how
eeer, anticipated this event, for it was
not until within two years Of the re-
lease Of Lafayette, that his wife and
family were thus unexpectedly made
the partners Of his Imprisonment.
Two years OF solitary confinement
had, from the period of his capture
been dragged on by Lafayette, when
the romantic scheme Of procuring his
liberation was formed by one, an attel
stranger to the prisoner, and a foreign,
er. From motives of pure compassion
and an earnest desire to free from SC
calling thraldom the great promoter
of liberty, M. Balman, Hanoyeriar
by birth-yonng, active, intrepid, anC
intelligent-repaired, alone and OF
foot, to Olmntz, there to gain such in.
formation as might enable himto judge
of the best means Of executing the
purpose he had in view, and releasing
Lafayette from the power of Austria.
He soon found that, without an able
coadjutor, the difficulties that present
ed themselves were insurmonntable
and repaired, therefore, to Vienna,
where he devoted himself exclusively
to the society of young Americans
for among them, from their veneratior
Of the character Of Lafayette, be hoped
to find one who, with enthusiasm like
his own, would dare the great under
taking.
What followed is interesting as /:
proof that the spirit of nationality may
engender a principle of gratitude. =
Lafayette, as is well known, had in hi
early youth proceeded to America, ant
served in her armies. Shipwrecked a
his first arrival, he had been kindly re
ceived into the house of a gentleman
named Huger, residing in Charleston
And by him was the youthful votar,
of liberty introduced to the American
army. BY chance, son Of this gen
tleman was now in Vienna, and to hin
did M. Balman apply. Although
mere child when the shipyrecked part,
visited his fathers house, the young
American retained vivid recollection
Of, and the highest admiration for, NJ
de Lafayette and he entered, there
fore, with all the jealous ardor 0
youth, and the enthusiasm Of a gener
GUS nature, into Balman's scheme 70
the release of his favorite hero.
| From the vigilance of the Austrian
police, and their jealous watchfulnes