A complete history of the Marquis de Lafayette, major-general in the American army in the war of the revolution. Embracing an account of his tour through the United States, to the time of his departure, September, 1825. By an officer in the late army.

136 HISTORY OF THE
sessor, in the very outset of life, in the spring-tide of worldly
joy, to sacrifice all the common charms of existence, to the
higher claims of a laudable ambition. Many of those who
flocked to our shores were tempted by the hope of gain: but
the principles which guided Lafayette from all the comforts
of life to the wilderness of the western world, were as pure as,the cause, in support of which, his sword now leaped from its
scabbard. Congress was elated, enco.raged and flattered by an
auxiliary of such high rank, of so nuch spirit, and such great
promise, and were not deceived in the expectations which
they formed of the future services of this "noble phaenomenoa."-The perseverance of the marquis through so many
discouraging vicissitudes, and his noble generosity in seasons
of peculiar distress, show him in a great and elevated point
of view, having few parallels in history. Had he arrived on
our shores, a poor and needy adventurer, a ready hireling in
any cause where pay and plunder might have been expected,-had he merely, with a fleeting enthusiasm, hastily engaged in the American cause as a quixotic crusader, for some
nomentary feat of chivalry,-he would have ranked with the
ordinary clasw of adventurers, found in all ages and countries
in time of war. As such, he would have shrunk from the
appalling scenes exhibited by a starving, naked, and retreating army; —he would have fled from the delays and vexations
attending the tardiness of the different states in supplying
their quota of men and money; or probably, joined in the
mner.ies and desertions so frequent during the revolutionary
war. But he was governed by motives too exalted and powful to be depressed even by disastrous campaigns, unremit-:
ted vigilance, and arduous service, from year to year, in
watchirng and opposing a well disciplined and powerful enemy." His love of liberty burned too fiercely to be extin.
gu'ihod or diminished, either by perils or privations.
a Oa seeing the marquis," says Chastelleux, " one is at a
X Short Biography, Lafayette, p. 8.