The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-12

to the aristocratic class Of any country in Bu-
rope.
We do not need to follow his career In Amer
lea. The story Is known to every reading person
IN this country. aud will be known to tue end OF
time. Our concern now Is with the news of him
as IL reached his home. The first Intelligence of
his arrival came on the lst of August uT77).
month after his wife's confinement. Then they
began to hear OF his reception by Washington
and the Congress-, the military rank conferred
upon him, and the eallartry which he was exit
biting in the field. "A little sfterward," says
his wife, 1--WE learned that NJ. de Lafayette had
been wounded at the battle Of the Brandywine.
| need not say what trial this was for my
mother. She contrlved to keep away from me
the false report OF his death that was circulated
at this time; and to keen me out OF the way Of
such rumors she carried me first into the coun-
try, to her fathers In Burgundy. and then sent
my sister and myself to the Countess de la
Marck, at Raismes."
During the winter of 1873, thew received fire.
quent news Of Lafayette; and when the alliance
between France and the United states had
taken place, an event which gave this family
great cause for rejoicing, his position was en-
tirely changed. lie was no longer a sort OF fugi-
tive, or rash and foolish adventuIer but he
was very conspicuous oficer In tho service Of
a power which his own King had determined to
aid. On the 18th OF February, ITO he came
homo unexoeciedly. Nine. dc Lafayette
says that her mother prepared her for this
happy moment and announced 1t to her. On
the Ath OF December In that year, their son,
George Washington Lafayette, was boro. Not
long afterward, the Marquis again sailed for
this country. and then came tho perlls and the
Rlorcs Of the virginia campaign. Nine. de
Lafayette says that at this time her was at
the point Of death from teething; and that as
soon IA this anxiety was over. cruel alarms for
her husband folio wed. During the campaign In
Virginia. when l. favette I'd no means Of writ
ing home, the English eazettes, on which alone
they depended for inform alton. represented his
situation "a almost desperate. HIS wife did
what she could to keep the worst OF these &C.
counts from ner mother but she could not con-
ceal all that she had to bear. " 1t was" she
says, on her return from a little journey that
she made to her fathers Ia Burgundy, with
three OF my sisters, that we received news OF
the capture of York YORKTOWN, OF Lord Corn
wallis and his army, brought about nv that cam
paign OF Virginia. thu conduct OF which was
astonishing. and the result Of which is one OF
those prodixies for which we ought to give
thanks to Him who alone gives talent aud sue
cess" Everybody repeated that this
brilliant result was due TO W. de LAFAYETTE, who
had prepared everything, In the midst OF Oh
stacles that seemed insurmo untable; ana what
was for us still more precious, We knew that In
spite OF the examples that had been set MIN, he
refused to terminate everything himself. and
allowed Washington aud Rochanoeal to ar
rive. because then success would be more GER
tain and would cost fewer lives"
On the s1st OF January. l7S2 Lafayette returned
20 Paris, wnerc his wife then was. IL wa again
unexpected At the moment OF hi4 arrival she
was az f5te at the ruileries, given on the birth
Of an heir o. the throne. This ne vs. that the con-
queror ~ CORVALLIS had arrived pen atrated the
palace. Enthusits Am seized upon every one. The
Queen, a. sigma mark Of tbs royal favor, took
Nine. de lafayette home to the Hotel de
Noailles in one Of her own clrriages and wit
messed the joYfGl meeting Of the husband and
wife.
In september, Ire. Nine. de Lafayette's fourth
child, Marie-Antoinette yirginis de Lafayette
was born. rhs name by which she wa bap-
tized happily symbolizei the union OF France
and America. she was called for tue Queen OF
Franc" ana Tor the - ,te In which her father htd
won hi, chief laurel, As tnevictor OF Corvallis
she marfied the Narlui. de L,steyrie N lsOi.
and died M islp. \ Granddaughter of this lady
O. known ani admired IN the Washington CIR
Giles OF our own day.
Not long after the birth OF this child MN g. de
Lafayette left her paternai mansion, tbs Hotel
de Nolilles, where she hai hitherto lived. and
went to reside in a house which her husband
had bought In the Rue dc B'urnon. since ctlled
the Rue de Lille. In August u that year she.
with her children, made her 1r.t Journey 70
Chavaniac, IN Htute-L Loire. the birthplace Of
LAFAYETTE. OF this period of happiness. Nine de
Llfayette writes: NJ. d 'Aguess-au, NV mothers
father. had been for her. during two years. "a con-
tinual objectof anxiety aud tne tenicrest cares:
sfier gradual decline he died this year. at the
age OF -. After my mother had paid a jlst
tribute 81 regret to the memor. Of her father.
and fulfilled with her accustomed dencacy all
that her heart and her duty pr scrioel to her,
Obtained the happiness OF bringing her to me At
Ch,vsniac There, to the sensible impression of
peace and JOY which be utitIl countr pro-
duced upon her. she added the m iterntl sails
faction which she found IN being with IA. IN the
place vnere VI. de LAFAYETTE was born, near his
aunt, who had real attraction for her, and sur
rounded by my children. whom she seemed. in
this place, TO love and caress with more than
usual tenderness"
After the close Of tho American war. one Of
the nrst things that engaged Lafsyette's atten-
ton WAS the abolition OF negro slavery. He
bought an estate NJ Cayenne, for the purpose %
trying an experiment Of gradual emancipation.
The chief details of this enterprise he co nmit-
ted to his WIFE especially the religious and
moral education OF the negroes attach to the
property. Nine de- Lafayette, in concert with
her husband. selected a superintendent who
was qualified to carry out her ideas, and opened
CORRESPONDENCE with tue priests OF a seminary
OF the Holy Ghost. who had house at Cayenne.
Hut all her benevolent pl ms and her husbands
were frustrated by the progress Of the revnlu-
ton. and there remained to them only the con-
ISOLATION OF learning that their negroes hal not
committed the atrocities that had been perpe-
trated on other estates upon the same island.
Lafayette next subject Of interest. Ia which
his wife sympathized, was the obtaining VIII It
was called "r6tat civil TOR the Prote ,tants-a
cause that seems to have corresponds /, matItE
mUt1ndis, with what was called Cathon' emin-
cipauon in England. II Is sirNinI proof Of the
elevation and bre 9TH 81 her character tnat tni,
woman, who was "A most zcalpus Catholic. and
one VINO never neglected a far opportunity 70
make pr0selyte to her own cnurcn, was an r.
dent advocate for federation, and considered re-
liglols persecution as not only impolltic, bat as
contrary TO the spirit Of the Gospel Sne reg nd
ed 10 rs u great crime to restrict the reilsl1us
liberty which God has allowed to all men. AMI