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.

MAILQUIS DE LAFAYETTE. 185
perhaps the blood, of the people; and that the computation
of unfortunate individuals, which has been made for the-purpose of realizing sums so heedlessly squandered, affords a
frightful subject of consideration for the justice and goodness
which, we feel convinced, are the natural sentiments of his
majesty."'
During the second session of the notables, who met on the
sixth of November, 1787, he proposed, and ably advocated,
the convocation of the states-general. " Quoi!' said the timid courtier, the count D'Artois, " vousfaites la motion des
etats-generaux?"- " Et meme mieux que cela!" (What!-you
make the motion of the states-general!-And better even
than that,) replied Lafayette.-At the earnest entreaty of the
new minister of finances, (M. Necker,) the king reluctantly
consented to the convocation of the states-general, whose
powers and popularity would overshadow his authority, and
whose jurisdiction would confine within narrow limits, the
ample prerogative he had inherited from his predecessors.
The meeting of that celebrated assembly was at length fixed
for the first of May, 1789. The whole nation appeared to be
electrified by the event: popular meetings were held, and
addresses presented; and the principles of liberty victoriously diffused themselves through every part of the kingdom. The attention of all Europe was fixed on this great
meeting, and the fifth of May, 1789, on which it actually
occurred, after a lapse of one hundred and seventy-five years,
will be long memorable in the annals of France: and it was,
indeed, a day of festivity to the whole nation.
Lafayette was chosen deputy to the states-general, without
opposition, by the nobility of Auvergne, and he took his
seat in that bod -supported by public opinion. The statesgeneral were composed of three different bodies;-the nobility, the clergy, and the tiers-etats, or commons. During
the contests which occurred with res ect to the mode of vo* Port Folio, vol. xix. 505.-Annual Reg. xxxi. p. 4, 6 —Mem. His
toriq. p. 133-151.
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