OF

GILBERT MOTIER DE LAFAYETTE,

A MARQUIS OF FRANCE; A GENERAL IN THE AMERICAN AND FRENCH
REVOLUTIONS; THE COMPATRIOT AND FRIEND OF WASHINGTON; THE
CHAMPION OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE, AND OF THE RIGHTS AND
LIBERTIES OF MANKIND.

FROM NUMEROUS AND AUTHENTIC SOURCES.

BY EBENR. MACK.

"The History of the World is the Biography of Great Men."

Carlyle

SECOND EDITION.

ITHACA, N. Y.

ANDRUS, WOODRUFF, & GAUNTLETT.

PUBLIC

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1841, by MACK, ANDRUS, & WOODRUFF, in the Clerk's Office of the Northern District of New York.

THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY

71685

ASTOR, LENOX AND
TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.

1897.

PREFACE.

In reading and reflecting upon the history of the past, and contemplating the lives of those illustrious men to whom this country is indebted for its freedom, it has occur. red to me, that the services and character of LAFAYETTE are not fully appreciated by the American people. But how should they be appreciated, unless they are known? The name of LAFAYETTE is familiar, and is cherished in popular tradition, as honorably connected with our revolutionary struggle. The materials for a more intimate knowledge of him are scattered through many voluminous collections of public documents, and works of History and Biography. He has been incidentally and favorably no ticed by several American, French, and English authors. Memoirs and sketches of his life have been compiled and published-most of them hastily devised and executed for some special occasion, and comprising only particular periods of his eventful career. But there seems at this time to be wanted a connected narrative of the events of LAFAYETTE'S whole life, from his birth to his death-embracing his public services, military and civil, in America and France; as the hero of three revolutions; the victim of despotism in the prison of Olmutz; the restorer of lib. erty in the "three glorious days of July;" his domestic history and habits; his public and private character-in such a plain, economical form, as will bring it within the means of all classes of readers to purchase, to peruse, and to comprehend. To supply this deficiency, is the object of the present volume. Although written in haste, amidst other cares and avocations, since the commencement of January last, the task has not been accomplished without considerable labor, investigation and reflection. In the progress of it, the following works have been consulted, viz: The Life and Writings of Washington, by Mr. Sparks; the Life of Governor Morris, by the same; Mar