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. 227
Thus, with his own hand did the gallant general rescue
fifteen of the king's guard, whom the populace had marked
for destruction. And no factcan be more clearly established
that it was to Lafayette that all the royal family of France
owed their existence for one hour after the attack on the
castle. For some time after that event, before their passions
had gained the mastery over recent recollections, all parties,
without exception, agreed, that, at that dreadful period, the
king, his family, and the whole court, owed their safety to
the devoted zeal with which Lafayette fulfilled his numerous
duties. The evidence of this fact is overwhelming; it cannot be overthrown; it proceeded from the lips of the queen
herself, who at least could not be suspected of partiality in
favour of the services rendered by Lafayette, on that day:
she never afterwards refused to acknowledge the obligations
which gratitude exacted; and she never contradicted, nor
denied the truth of, her triumphant expression, " N'ous lui
devons la vie ce jour-la." (On that day we owed our lives
to him.-)
The king's mind was greatly affected with the death of
the guards who had fallen in his defence; and, notwithstanding all the assurances of Lafayette, while he walked through
his palace accompanied and protected by the general, he was
making continual inquiries respecting them. The king, accompanied by the queen, with the dauphin and princess
royal at her side, having shown himself in a balcony, loud
cries of Le roi a Paris!-le roi a Paris! (the king to Paris!)
mingled with menaces, arose. His majesty retired, and after
having conferred with Lafayette, re-appeared, and signified
his intention of going immediately to the capital. In fact,
he had no choice left: it would not, perhaps, have been in
the power of M. de Lafayette himself, to have saved the
* Toulong. Hist. tome i. Pieces Justif. 1l21-2.-Parliament Chron.
vol. ix. 645. The " queen," said general Fitzpatrick, "had publicly
declared that it was to him she owed her life; of this there are in London, at this hour, persons ready to bear testimony they heard that unfortunate princess say so."-Ibid. vol. xvi, 415.-Moore's View. ii. p. 12, 13.