Gilbert Mottier, Marquis de LaFayette [pp. 433-437]

7'4HE L,4DIES' ]eEPOSIY'OR Y.
But why this hatred and persecution
toward a comparatively private citizen
of France? The question has been asked
repeatedly by the wondering peruser of
history, but no satisfactory answer has
ever been given. Upon no grounds recognized by civilized nations can the conduct of Germany be defended, or the
hatred of Austria and Prussia be justified.
It is prolbablle that their hatred was the
offspring of fear. They had seen what
his youthful enthusiasm and brave spirit
had led him to do and endure in the land
across the sea, and they probably said
among themselves: "That spirit will
progress and show to the world still
greater deeds; it must be tamed, lest it
rise and put us to shame."
Upon entering the dungeons of 01mutz, Lafayette was informed that he
would be cut off firom all communication
with the world; that he would be spoken
of in the dispatches only by the number
of his register; that his name would not
be uttered, even by his jailor; that no
intercourse would be allowed between
him and his family or friends; and to
prevent the self-destruction that his tortture of mind and body might suggest,
hle was allowed no knife or fork, or the
sembllance of any thing that could put
an end to his stricken life.
Thus condemned to a living tomb, no
friendly accent falling on his ear, no
ministration of love, and no tidings from
home or friends, it is not surprisiing that
his strength ftiled, and that his mind at
times bordered upon idiocy. His physician declared repeatedly that he wotuld
die unless hle was permittted to breatlhe
the pure air. The court of Vienna became alarmed at the universal attention
his imprisonment was exciting, and, at
last, under gtuaid of an armed escort, lhe
was permitted to exercise abroad.
About this time a Hanoverian phlysician, who had emigrated and become a
naturalized citizen of the United States,
returned to Germany for the purpose of
discoveiing Lafayette's place of confinement. Aided by an Austrian count, he
obtained communication with Lafayette
through the medium of his profession.
In Vienna he was joined by young Colonel Huger, at whose fafller's house, it
will be remlembered, Lafayette met with
such hospitality as he landed upon the
shores of South Carolina, upon his first
voyage to the New World. They deternined upon the release of the captive,
but were discovered and taken almnost in
the attempt. The physician, Dr. Eric
Bollman, and Colonel Huger were both
chained by the neck to the floor of separate cells, and the unhappy prisoner remnanded to his dungeon. His friends
remained in prison six months, when, by
the influence of the powerful and generous Count Metrowsky, they were released
and suffered to escape the Austrian dominions.
The last information Lafayette received
from his wife she was a prisoner under
the Reign of Terror. What angtuish
must have harrowed his soul as he contemplated her possible, nay, probable
fate; for Robespierre and his minllions
were hurrying the nobility to the guillotine as fast as the mockery of trials and
convictions would permit. Unknown to
him, perhaps the mother, the grandmother, and the sister of Madame de
Lafayette suffered death upon the scaffold the same day. She herself was destined to a similar fate, but the fall of
Robespierre saved her. Through the
exertions of two prominent Americans,
then in Paris, a member of the Committee of Safety allowed her son to depart
for America, and thus escape the conscription she so much dreaded. He was
received into the family of Washington,
after whom he was named.
Relieved of this source of anxiety
Madame de Lafayette, with her daughters, set out for Germiany, with an American passport, tinder the family name,Mottier. She obtained an audience with
Francis II, the young Emperor, then
but twenty-five years of age. With her
children shfe appeared in the imperial
presence. She appealed to the sover eign to have the estates of her husband,
confiscated under the emigrant law, re
436
[ Nov.,