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.

MIARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE. 139
sing the horror I feel for the hellish tribunal; but it was superfluous; and I beg you will assure 3MTr. H's friends that I
am heartily sorry not to have it in my power to give them a
more agreeable account.""
On the twentieth of April, 1787, a fire was discovered in a
malt-house, in Beach-street, Boston, which consumed about
one hundred buildings, sixty of which were dwelling houses:
in fact, the greater part of the south end of the town was destroyed. As soon as the melancholy news reached Paris,
the benevolent Lafayette desired his friend and correspondent, the late Samuel Breck, esquire, of Boston, to draw upon him for three hundred pounds sterling, and to distribute
that sum among the indigent sufferers. This noble charity,
so characteristic of the munificence and goodness of that excellent man, was of the greatest benefit. It served to give
bread and shelter to many reduced and houseless families,
and, coming in aid of other donations, was one of the principal weans of restoring them to their lost comforts. Boston
did not then, as at the present day, abound in men of wealth,
The alms of its inhabitants were limited by their narrow
means; and that town, which now contains so many secure
and magnificent edifices, was then built of such combustible
materials, that almost every accidental fire ended in a destructive conflagration.' This donation deserves more particular notice, on account of the final adieu which Lafayette
had, in all probability, bade to America; as well as from the
circumstance, that all his affection for this country was accidentally awakened!, amid the great public concerns of
France, which then demanded and engrossed his attention by
the perusal of a newspaper containing an account of the destruction and distress occasioned by the fire.
The benevolent perseverance with which he pursued the
claim of the widow of a revolutionary officer, for the long
period'of eight years, is not only an evidence of his attachment to this country, and more especially to those who la* Port Folio, Vol. XIX, p. 504.
t Port Folio, Vol. XIX, p. 504.