Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1885-03-06
LECTURES TO MECHANICS.

| Professor A. M. Wheeler On ssLafay-
| ette''-An Interesting and Instructive
| Lecture.
The seventh of the series of lectures to me-
chanics was given at North Sheffield hall last
evening by Professor A. M. Wheeler, who
spoke of the life and character of Lafayette.
The lecturer began by saying that Congress
having just appropriated $4,000 for the
erection of a monument to Lafayette some
| remarks concerning his life and character
seemed not out of season. The American
career of Lafayette, continued the speaker,
was but a prelude to the many struggles of
his eventful life. His name has ever been a
| popular one with Americans, but we are
forced to confess in studying his biography
that there were many times in his life when
| he had an opportunity to show his great
powers, but was found wanting in the high
| est qualities of a soldier and statesman He
| was born on September 6, 1857, of distin-
| guished family and the heir to great name
and fortune. He was well educated grew
up without much direction and in his eigh-
teenth year entered the army lieutenant
By his marriage, which occurred when he
was but sixteen, he received large accessions
the American colonies with their mother
country, he offered them his sword and for
time. He was the first to show Frenchmen
the way to America. He first saw that in the
new world there was being worked out the
principle of liberty and selfgovernment so
dear to the hearts of Frenchmen.
In spite of every obstacle, although in
formed that the cause of the colonists was at
a low ebb, he fitted out a vessel at his own
expense and in the spring of 1777 set sail
for America in company with twenty fellow
officers, arriving here in the following sum-
mer. At first he was received coldly; there
had been plenty of high-priced soldiers and
foreign adventures here before him. I'm
disTnayed he sent letter to Congress stating
that he desired to serve without pay and as
a volunteer. Congress at once accepted the
Offer passed vote making him a ma or-
general but did not allot him any command.
Soon after at Philadelphia he met Washing
ton. On both sides it was case of love at
first sight and from that time there sprang
up friendship between them which ended
only with Washingtons death The young
Frenchman, then scarcely twenty years old,
at once became a great favorite with the
troops and received his first baptism of blood
at the battle of BranAywine on September
II, 1777. The result of this battle was disas-
trous to the colonies and Lafayette, while act
ing as Washingtons aide de-camp, received
slight flesh wound.
During the following winter, through the
influence of Lafayette and the untiring eff
forts of Baron Won Steuben, the continental
army was thoroughly organized and drilled.
The victories of the campaign of the follow
irg year were the result of this attention to
discipline Up to this time the French gov
eminent had not openly aided the colonies,
but now she became encouraged to form an
alliance with America, which finally resulted
in our victory over the British
Lafayette returned to France, but came
here again in 1880, determined to seek glory
at any price and bringing with him the news
that 20, 900 French troops were soon to fol-
low him. The arrival of this large body of
men was partly owing to Lafayette, but
mostly to the fact that France, having I'M
dertaken to aid in the war, was
cessful one. After peace with Great Britain
was declared, Lafayette returned to France
and spent several years in travelling through
Europe. During the French revolution he
was twice made commander of the National
Guard of Paris, was a member of the As
sembly and House of Deputies In 1892.
having aroused the enmity of the Jacobines,
he saw his danger and attempted to escape
to England. He was captured by the Aus
trian authorities and for five years Ian.
gulshed In prison. He driven out of
France for having too strong liking for mon
archy and dragged from one prison to an
other for several years, all on account of the
aid he had given to the revolutiouists
On his release from prison he returned to
France and retired to private life. After
the battle of Waterloo he was elected mem
Der Of the provisional government and also
member of the Chamber of Deputies under
the second restoration. In 1924 he again re-
turned to this country and was received with
the most unbounded enthusiasm. Congress
voted him two hundred thousand dollars and |
a township of land. In 1880 he was again
placed in charge of the National |
Guard, which position he held when |
Louis PHILIPPE began citizen-king He died |
in 1882. A lover of free government. he had
been more than once during a political life
of sixty years obstacle to constitutional
government. He never seemed to truly I'M
derstand the temper of his countrymen. The
material aid which he rendered the cause of
the colonies will, notwithstanding his many
make him dear to the hearts
Of Americans.
The next lecture of the course will be de-
ivered next Tuesday evening by Professor
William G. Robinson, of the Law school, on
The Patent Law of the United States''