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.

GENERAL LAFAYETTE. 441 l
But was't our country's rights alone
Impell'd Fayette to Freedom's van?
No!'twas the love of human kindIt was the sacred cause of manIt was benevolence sublime,
Like that which sways the Eternal mind!
And, benefactor of the world,
He shed his blood for all mankind!
Then deep and dear thy welcome be;
Nor think thy daughters far from thee!
Daughters of human kind, we bend,
And claim to call thee Father, Friend!
These lines were afterwards, by particular request, sung with
great sweetness and pathos, by Miss Eliza Smith, of Worcester, Massachusetts, in the choruses of which the young ladies
generally joined, and the whole was executed with much effect.
The General was much affected, and at the close of the singing, with eyes suffused in tears, he said-" I cannot express
what I feel on this occasion; but will you, madam, present me
with three copies of those lines, to be given by me, as from
you, to my three daughters." —It is wholly unnecessary to/add
that the request was complied with. The General then retired,
and was conducted by the Committee of Arrangements back;
through the arbour, along the sides of which the pupils had
formed themselves in close order, to the number of about 200.
It was a most interesting spectacle, thrilling the soul with delightful anticipations. Female education was far too long
neglected, even after the sombre clouds of the ignorance and
prejudice of the -dark ages had been dissipated. "6 The human
mind," says Cicero, "without instruction, is like a field without
culture." The visit of the General to Troy, short as it was,
afforded him great satisfaction. He talked much about it, and
frequently spoke of his visit to the Seminary, as one of the
most interesting and delightful moments of his life.
By this time the day was so far advanced that the visit to
Lansingburgh, Waterford, and the Falls, was necessarily relinquished, though with great reluctance, particularly on the part
of General Lafayette, as he wished both to gratify the wishes
of those villages, and to enjoy a farther opportunity of examining that great work, from a short section of which he had that
morning derived so much pleasure. It was, however, necessary to embark and return to Albany, which was accordingly
done-the whole party partaking of an excellent dinner on
board of tne ooat.
56