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. 327
fluency, and spirit. In his epistolary correspondence, he is
every where bold and patriotic; and his letters are marked by
the frankness and penetration of a noble and vigorous mind.
His elegant, and well-chosen collection of books, occupies the
highest apartment in one of the towers of the chateau. It is
a circular room, adorned with the busts of Washington, Franklin, and other distinguished American patriots. Here, seated
at his desk, he can see, on his left, his whole farm, and his
stables, and on his right, the park, and a very large and elegant
lawn, covered with luxuriant grass. Like the study of Montaigne, it hangs over the farm-yard of the philosophical agriculturist. "It frequently happens," said he to Lady Morgan,
"that my merinos, and my hay-carts, dispute my attention with
your Hume, or our own Voltaire."*
The unbent and noble figure of Lafayette is still as upright,
bold, and vigorous, as the mind that informs it. Grace, strength,
and dignity, distinguish the fine person of this extraordinary
man; who, though fifty years before the world, engaged in
scenes of strange and eventful conflict, does not yet appear to
have passed his climacteric. Bustling and active in business,
graceful and elegant in society, it is difficult to trace in one of
the most successful agriculturists, and one of the most perfect
fine gentlemen, a warrior, and a legislator.-But the patriot is
always discernible. His manners are plain and unostentatious;
his address kind and conciliating. During the American revolution, his sedateness and gravity, and the simplicity of his manners, could not fail to attract attention. Conversing about him
one day at the table of general Washington, Mrs. Washington
remnarked that all his dress was singularly plain,-that he neve.
wore ruffles-and that he had nothing like show about him, except in the caparison of his horse.-He is now nearly sixtyeight years of age; hisportly form, about five feet eleven inches
high; his eyes, and eye-brows, prominent; but his fine forehead, partially concealed by a wig. His graceful and dignified
manners soon put his company perfectly at their ease. Great
*Morgan's France, 323 -Fox's Life, 204.-Mem. Lafayette, 299.