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.

82 HISTORY OF THE
Passy, d.ugust 24, 1779.
SIR,
The Congress, sensible of your merit towards the United
States, but unable adequately to reward it, determined to
present you with a sword, as a small mark of their grateful
acknowledgment. They directed it to be ornamented with
suitable devices. Some of the principal actions of the war,
in which you distinguished yourself by your bravery and conduct, are, therefore, represented upon it. These, with a few
emblematic figures, all admirably well executed, make its principal value. By the help of the exquisite artists France affords, I find it easy to express every thing but the sense we
have of your worth and our obligations to you. For this,
figures, and even words, are found insufficient.-I, therefore,
only add, that, with the most perfect esteem and respect, I
have the honour to be,
Your obedient servant,
B. FRANKLIN.
This sword was presented to the Marquis, at Havre, by
the grandson of Doctor Franklin. On the four sides of the
coquille are engraved representations of the battle of AMonmouth, of the affair of Gloucester in New-Jersey, and of
the retreat from Barren Hill, and from Rhode-Island: on
one side of the handle, the Marquis is represented as wounding the British lion; and on the other as receiving a branch
of laurel from America, under the form of a female, whose
chains are broken. The pommel is, on one side, ornamented
with the arms of Lafayette, and on the other with an emblem
of America, represented by a crescent enlightening a halfcivilized and half-cultivated country. On this part of the'
sword is also'a figure of Fame bearing the arms of France,
nnd a representation of the vessel in which he first came