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. 33
to force Washington to retire in disgust from the army.
The leaders of this combination, however, little concerned
for the public good, but immoderately so for their own, aimed
only to advance tnemselves and their friends at the expense
of others.-But, supported by that elevated spirit, and by
that firmness which no reverses of fortune could abate, the
serenity which Washington enjoyed, was not even for a moment interrupted by these secret plotters; and he bore with
composure the determination of Congress, matured in concert with the new board of war, and without any reference
to his opinion, relative to the irruption into Canada which
they had planned. It cannot be decided whether this ungrateful proceeding arose from the desire of Congress to
show that they knew how to act by themselves, or whether
it was adopted because they had really withdrawn from the
commander-in-chief a portion of the confidence which they
had placed in him in times past.*- On the twenty-second
of January, 1778, it was " Resolved, That an irruption be
made into Canada, and that the board of war be authorized
to take every necessary measure for the execution of the
business, under such general officers as Congress shall appoint;" and on the following day, Major-General the Marquis de Lafayette, Major-General Conway, and Brigadier
Stark, were appointed to conduct it.-Great advantages
were anticipated from placing the marquis at the head of
this expedition, because his character as a Frenchman of illustrious rank, rendered him more peculiarly qualified for
the conquest of a province, recently attached to the French
empire. But it was also surmised, that the authors of this
scheme had it principally in view, by separating Lafayette
from Washington, to deprive the commander-in-chief of the
defence of so fond and faithful a friend.
Washington, without being at all consulted, received a
letter from the president of the board of war, dated the
twenty-fourth of January, enclosing one of the same date
* Botta's War of Independ, vol, ii. book 8.
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