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.

820 HISTORY OF THE
good citizen, a good patriot, and a good man.-As simple in
their dress, as in their manner of living, it would be in vain to
seek for splendid dresses, jewels, or any of the trappings of
worldly vanity, at La Grange. "The jewels of the Lafayette family are those of the mother of the Gracchi."
The benevolence, humanity, and generosity of Lafayette,
might be illustrated by a multitude of examples, a selection
from which will prove, that whether amid the turmoils of war,
the perplexities of politics, or the pleasures of retirement, he
never forgot the duties of a man, or ceased to feel the impulse
of a noble heart. We have already recorded his benefaction to
the sufferers from fire in Boston, in 1787; his supplies of clothing and absolute necessaries, to the American soldiers, at different periods; his humanity to the sick and the wounded; his
kindness to indigent or distressed Americans, in France, &c.
&c. A few anecdotes of the same nature, will serve to exalt
his character.-Towards the close of the year 1777, or beginning of 1778, Lafayette arrived at the camp near Albany, at
the very moment when one Butler, a captain in the British
army, was about to be executed, by the command of Arnold.
He instantly arrested the punishment, in order to examine into
the case. The man was undoubtedly guilty, but the young
general took advantage of some informality in the proceedings,
and the deliverance of Butler was the first act of his command. — At a time when his liberality had so reduced his
funds, that he was obliged to write to France to procure supplies, he, one day, while inspecting the camp, perceived a man
miserably dressed, seated at the foot of a tree, his face covered
with his hands, and elbows resting on his knees, so profoundly
immersed in melancholy, that he did not perceive the approach
of the general: Lafayette stopped some minutes to observe
him, and hearing him sigh, inquired the cause of his grief, with
a tone of voice and sweetness p6culiar to himself. The man
informed him that he had recently joined the army, and had
left a young wife, and two little children, who depended en