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.

MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE.- 223
passage which they had forgotten to shut, enabled the assassins to get in. A similar accident proved favourable to two
conspiracies in Russia, at times when vigilance was at its
height, and when outward circumstances were most tranquil.
It is, therefore, absurd to censure M. de Lafayette for an
event that was so unlikely to occur. No sooner was he apprized of it, than he rushed forward to the assistance of those
who were threatened with an ardour which was acknowledged
at the moment, before calumny had prepared her poison."I
" It has been asserted by M. Lafayette's enemies," says
Moore, " that he affected to retire to rest, knowing that the
palace was to be attacked, that he might not be thought to
have any part in the horrid attempt which took place during
his absence. But whatever blame he may be charged with
for not taking more effectual means for guarding the palace,
or for giving way to the desire of rest at such a period, the
excessive fatigue, both of mind and body, which he had undergone, precludes the suspicion of affectation; and his conduct. from the moment he was awaked, as well as his general
behaviour and character through life, must satisfy the candid
and impartial, that the accusation is unjust, and that he had
not the least notion when he retired, that the castle would
be attacked.-Notwithstanding some scenes of confusion
which no activity could prevent, the manner in which he
suppressed the great insurrection in the Champ-de-Mars, on
the seventeenth of July, and the state of tranquillity in which
Paris was kept during the whole time that M. Lafayette had
the command of the national guards, compared with the horrid scenes that were acted there after it was entrusted to
others, afford reason to believe, that it would have been fortunate for the royal family, and for France, that he had continued in that command; in which case, the insurrection of
the tenth of August would not have happened; or, if it had,
the issue would probably have been different, and the massacres in September would certainly have been prevented."t
* Consider. French Rev. vol. i. p. 340, I.-t Moore's View, vol. ii. p. 10,11