ing the right of France to self-government, and requiring guaranties for the civil and religious rights of the people from those who were about to propose a government for it, was signed by Lafayette on the 6th of July. Two days thereafter, the doors of the chamber were closed against the representatives. Lafayette invited the deputies to meet at his house; from whence two hundred of them proceeded to the residence of the president, where a spirited, but useless protest, was adopted and signed. On the 8th of July, Louis XVIII re-entered the French capital in triumph. the throne of the Bourbons was again restored by foreign bayonets. Lafayette retired once more to Lagrange, and resumed his favorite occupations and improvements.

Called again from his retirement by the people, and elected to the chamber of deputies, Lafayette, as a member of that body, during the year 1819 and the four succeeding years, boldly resisted the encroachments of the government upon the rights of the people, and sustained the free principles which he had throughout his life professed. In the discussions of the period he took a prominent part, and his speeches were distinguished by sound reasoning, and eloquent appeals in behalf of liberty and justice. In the commencement he opposed the restrictions upon the right of suffrage, and moved, "that the institution of the trial by jury should be restored, with all its protective forms, and that the recall of banished persons should be the termination of all measures of proscription." He contended that the institution of the national guards was the best safeguard for the liberties of the people and the security and independence of the nation; and in 1820, brought forward a proposition for their re-organization. "I feel implicit confidence (he said) in our young army; it will prove itself, when occasion requires, always brave, always patriotic, two essential conditions of honor for the warriors of a free country. To name our veterans, is to retrace their glory and our gratitude. But the country requires a third barrier of our independence and our territory, and an indispensable guaranty of liberty and order viz:-the national guard." The proposition, however, w'as unsuccessful.— Lafayette was also for increasing the French navy, and rendering it more efficient for national defence. On that occasion he complimented the navy of the United States,

"whose fleet, (he said,) since its creation, and during two severe wars against Great Britain, with equal, and often with inferior force, never once failed to gain the advantage." The ministers had brought forward measures hostile to personal liberty. In opposing them, Lafayette said :Thirty years ago, in the assembly of the notables, of 1787, I was the first to demand the abolition of letters-de-cachet: I now vote against their restoration." In opposition to the censorship of the press, he exclaimed :

"Let the charter be respected; for to violate it would be to dissolve it, to dissolve the mutual guarantees of the nation and the throne, to throw ourselves back to the primitive independence of our rights and duties."

In advocating the reform of the criminal code, Lafayette avowed himself, as he did on other occasions, in favor of abolishing capital punishment.

Lafayette continued to remonstrate against the high-handed measures of the government, and to warn the Bourbon dynasty of the inevitable consequences of their attempts to restore the old order of despotism. He openly accused them of violating their pledges to the French people.

"The charter, (he said) was presented as a guarantee for personal liberty, the liberty of the press, the liberty of religious worship, the equality of rights, the independence of the jury, the inviolability of all property, and as the pledge of a representative system which might render effectual this recent acknowledgement of our rights and the fruits of the revolution.

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Well, gentlemen, what has ensued? The liberty of the press, and personal liberty have once more been sacrificed; the organic laws of the munincipal system, of the administrative system, of the indepen. dence of juries, of the responsibilities of the agents of power, which we were informed were all ready last year; and the King's commissioners say they now are, are obstinately withheld. Government will neither form nor arm the national guard, which, therefore, has no re. source in this moment of danger, but to rise spontaneously.

"Now, gentlemen," continued he, "are we no longer permitted to think that a nation belongs to herself, and is not the property of any one; that in a free country every soldier is the soldier of his country; that we owe obedience only to legal orders, and not to oppres. sion; for despotism, whatever form it may assume, is the most inso. lent of revolutions, the most scandalous and lasting of public dis orders !"

In 1823, a crisis seemed to be at hand. Manuel, a deputy and friend of Lafayette, had been violently expelled from the chamber of deputies, for the freedom with which he had

declared his political opinions. Lafayette on this occasion retired with sixty of his colleagues, and signed a protest which declared, that the public taxes having become illegal by the violation of the liberty of the representatives, their payment was not obligatory.

The

At a previous session, in vindicating the beneficial results of the revolution, Lafayette had said: "The revolution was the emancipation and developement of the human faculties, and the restoration of nations. This is so true, that the friends of liberty have always been and still are hated by the adversaries of the revolution, in proportion to the efforts they have made to prevent it being sullied by crimes and successes, The truth of this latter declaration had formerly been, and was again to be, verified in his own case. independence of his course as a deputy, the boldness with which he had denounced usurpations and abuses, and appealed to the patriotism and energy of the people, brought upon him the displeasure of the government, and furnished pretexts for formal accusations. In 1823, a positive accusation of treasonable designs was brought by the procureur du roi, (Manguin) who pretended to have proof against Lafayette, and who, in the excess of his monarchical zeal, exclaimed: "Ah! were I but his judge!" The colleagues of Lafayette, who were implicated with him, having demanded justice against the calumny, Lafayette mounted the tribune, and without deigning to deny the fact, spoke as follows;

"In spite of my habitual indifference to party accusations and animosities, I still think myself bound to add a few words to what has fallen from my honorable friend. During the whole course of a life entirely devoted to the cause of liberty, I have constantly been an object of attack to the enemies of that cause, under whatever form, depotic, aristocratic, anarchic, they have endeavored to combat it. I do not complain, then, because I observe some affectation in the use of the word proved, which the procurer-general has employed against me.— But I join my honored friends in demanding a public inquiry, within the walls of the chamber, and in the face of the nation; there I and my adversaries to whatever rank they belong, may declare without reserve all that we have mutually had to reproach each other with, for the last thirty years."

Before this challenge the adversaries of Lafayette recoiled, and the accusation was pursued no further. Through intrigues and election frauds, however, the ministry succeeded the same year (1823) in defeating his election to the septennial chamber of deputies.

CHAPTER XXIX.

Lafayette determines to visit America-His departure and voyageArrives at New York-Is received with enthusiasm-Journey to and reception at Boston-Returns to New York-Brilliant fete at Castle Garden-Voyage up the Hudson-Return-Goes south-Reception at Philadelphia-Visit of Lafayette to the tomb of WashingtonCelebration at Yorktown-Honors and Hospitalities in VirginiaReturns to Washington-Reception by Congress Address of Mr. Clay-Lafayette's answer-- Munificent act of Congress-How re, ceived and accepted by Lafayette-Rapid tour through the Southern and Western States Sketch of the route and some of the incidents of his journey-Arrives in Boston Universal astonishment at the journey performed- The anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill— Lafayette assists in laying the corner stone of the monument--Returns to Washington-Farewell visit to the Ex-presidents in Virginia--Celebration of Lafayette's birthday-Close of his tour--Its incidents and character--Farewell address of President Adams-Lafayette's reply-Embarks on board the frigate Brandywine-Bids a final adieu to America.

LEFT once more to pursue his private inclinations, Lafayette determined to gratify the wish he had long entertained, of revisiting America-America, the scene of his youthful glory, and the long-cherished object of his affectionate remembrance. His intention soon became known in the United States, and created a deep sensation among the public authorities and all classes of the people. Mr. Monroe, then president, promptly wrote to Lafayette, offering to send a frigate to any part of France, to convey him to the United States, at such time as he should appoint. Congress, in February, passed a resolution repeating the offer of a frigate, and expressed to Lafayette the sincere attachment of the whole nation, with the ardent desire to see him among them. This resolution was communicated officially to Lafayette by President Monroe, under date of February 24th, 1824. The munincipal authorities of Boston, New York, and other cities of the Union, also wrote to Lafayette, tendering to him in advance the hospitality of their respective cities.

Lafayette declined, with respectful acknowledgments, the

offer of a frigate. Accompanied only by his son, and M. Levasseur, his secretary, he repaired to Havre, on the 12th July, having engaged a passage in an American merchant ship, the Cadmus. The citizens of Havre had prepared to manifest their respect for Lafayette on his arrival among them; but the interference of the police, the creatures of a government verging towards despotism or dissolution, prevented the public manifestations which had been arranged. When he embarked, however, the next day, July 13, a large concourse of people assembled to witness his departure, and in despite of the minions of power, gave a spontaneous manifestation of their feelings. Lafayette was received on board the Cadmus with three hearty cheers, which were re-echoed by the crews of the vessels in port, and the immense crowds which thronged the shore. The sails were soon after spread to a favorable breeze, and the vessel proceeded on its me. morable voyage.

On the first of August, while the vessel was becalmed, and Lafayette was seated upon deck with other passengers, enjoying the quiet scene of an unruffled ocean, a small boat approached, filled with persons in uniform. They proved to be British officers from a vessel on its way to Halifax, which was also becalmed within sight of the Cadmus, The officers came on board, and exhibited at first no little arrogance of manners. In reply to their questions as to the character and destination of his vessel, Capt. Allyn, of the Cadmus, named and pointed out to them General Lafayette. The manner of the officers immediately changed. They took off their hats, and received the proffered hand of the general with cordiality and respect. They partook of refreshments with him, conversed for half an hour, and took leave in the most respectful manner. It was a tribute paid to the valor and virtue of the man, and not to Lafayette, as one of the conquering heroes of the American revolution.

The Cadmus arrived within Sandy Hook on the morning of the 15th of August. The artillery of fort Lafayette announced to the city of New York the approach of the "Nation's Guest." It being Sunday, Lafayette accepted the invitation of Vice-President Tompkins, to land on Staten Island, and remain at his hospitable mansion until the next day.

The reception of Lafayette by the authorities and people