olutions was communicated to Lafayette, in the Hall of Congress, with an appropriate address, by John Jay, Chairman of the Committee. The reply of Lafayette, fervid and eloquent, breathing a spirit of devotion to the best interests of America, concluded as follows: 66 May this immense temple of freedom ever stand as a lesson to oppressors, an example to the oppressed, a sanctuary for the rights of mankind! and may these happy United States attain that complete splendor and prosperity which will illustrate the blessings of their government, and for ages to come rejoice the departed souls of their founders! Never can Congress oblige me so much as when they put it in my power, in every part of the world, to the latest day of my life, to gratify the attachment which will ever rank me among the most zealous and respectful servants of the United States."

About the time that he thus took a solemn leave of Congress, Lafayette received the following affectionate and deeply impressive farewell letter from Gen. Washington:

"Mount Vernon, December 8, 1784. "MY DEAR MARQUIS-The peregrination of the day in which I parted from you ended at Marlborough. The next day, bad as it was, I got home before dinner.

"In the moment of our separation, upon the road as I travelled, and every hour since, I have felt all that love, respect and attachment for you, with which length of years, close connexion, and your merits have inspired me. I often asked myself, as our carriages separated, whether that was the last night I should ever have of you? And though I wished to say No, my fears answered Yes. I called to mind the days of my youth, and found they had long since fled to return no more; that I was now descending the hill I had been fiftytwo years climbing, and that, though I was blest with a good constitution, I was of a short-lived family, and might soon expect to be entombed in the mansion of my fathers. These thoughts darkened the shades, and gave a gloom to the picture, and consequently to my prospect of seeing you again. But I will not repine; I have had my day.

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It is unnecessary, I persuade myself, to repeat to you, my dear Marquis, the sincerity of my regards and friendship; nor have I words which could express my affection for you, were I to attempt it. My fervent prayers are offered for your safe and pleasant passage, happy meeting with Madame de Lafayette and family, and the completion of every wish of your heart; in all which Mrs. Washington joins me ; as she does in compliments to Captain Grandecheau, and the Chevalier, of whom little Washington often speaks. With every sentiment which is propitious and endearing, I am, &c."

With these honors and benedictions, and reciprocating

in his heart every act and expression of kindness which had been bestowed upon him, Lafayette for the third time took leave of America. He embarked at New York, amidst a primitive national salute of thirteen guns, on board the Nymphe frigate, Dec. 25th, and arrived safely in Paris, on the 25th of January, 1785.

CHAPTER XXI:

Lafayette's official connexion with America terminates-He enters upon another field of action-Continues to serve America - Visits the courts of Germany-Reception by the Emperor Joseph and Frederick the Great-His liberal principles confirmed-Plans for emancipating the blacks from slavery-Purchases an estate at Cayenne for that purpose-His views approved by Gen. Washington-Their nature and extent-For gradual, not sudden, emancipation-Favors the French Protestants-The bust of Lafayette, presented by the State of Virginia, through Mr. Jefferson, to the municipality of Paris-Is placed, with imposing ceremonies, in the Hotel de Ville.

HERE closed the official connexion of Lafayette with America. We are now to trace his progress upon another -a more broad, and not less interesting and important, field of action. But although laboring as a Frenchman, to establish free institutions, and the rational liberties of the people in France, Lafayette was not the less devoted to the interests of the young republic of the west, to the foundation of which he had so essentially contributed. After his return from the United States, he immediately exerted his influence to establish the commercial intercourse of the two countries upon reciprocal principles. He endeavored especially to secure for the Americans a favorable market in France for what were at that time important items of their commerce, namely, whale oil, the production of the eastern fisheries, and tobacco, the growth of the southern states. These services were acknowledged warmly and promptly, by Gen. Washington. In a letter to Lafayette, September 1, 1785, he said: "Your constant attention, and unwearied endeavors to serve the interests of the United States, cannot fail to keep alive in them a grateful sensibility, and the affectionate regard of all their citizens for you.'

During the year 1785, Lafayette visited the courts of Austria and Prussia, and other German states, with the principal object of inspecting the armies which were then assembling in that portion of Europe. His well-known republican principles did not prevent his being received, at all the courts which he visited, with the greatest cordiality and distinction, particularly by the Emperor Joseph II, of Austria, and Frederick the Great, of Prussia. He arrived at Potsdam, in September, just as the last grand review of this distinguished monarch had commenced. Here were assembled 50,000 men, from every part of the kingdom, who for three successive days, in presence of a brilliant assemblage of princes, noblemen, and distinguished military commanders, went through the evolutions of battles, sieges and storms, under the immediate command of the king himself. No sooner was the arrival of Lafayette made known to Frederick, than he despatched an aid-de-camp to invite him to his palace. He treated Lafayette with great distinction and kindness, both in public and private; complimented him upon his services in America, and expressed admiration of Gen. Washington. When about to part, Frederick took from a box his miniature, set with diamonds, and presenting it to Lafayette, expressed the hope, that although they might never meet again, that small memento might sometimes recall him to recollection.

These distinctions, paid to Lafayette by the first monarchs of Europe, were not more honorable to him than to them. They exhibited alike their discernment in recognising, and their liberality in respecting, the merits of their guest. Lafayette gave a description of this tour, in letters to Gen. Washington and to Mr. Jay. But, gratifying as were the incidents of his journey, and grateful as he felt for the hospitalities he received, the splendid honors and displays of royalty had no tendency to lessen the ardor of his liberal principles. He returned to France, fully confirmed in them, and with a determination to practise upon them, on all occasions, public and private.

While serving in America, Lafayette had conceived a plan for the gradual emancipation of the blacks from sla very. Many of the American patriots, among whom were Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Patrick Henry, Laurens, &c., coincided with the views of Lafayette, and believed

the object to be then practicable. Simultaneously with the account of the conclusion of peace, Lafayette had communicated to Gen. Washington a proposition for the accomplishment of this object. We have not been able to meet with it; but it is thus acknowledged by Gen. Washington, in his letter to Lafayette of 5th April, 1783: "The scheme, my dear marquis, which you propose as a precedent to encourage the emancipation of the blacks in this country from that state of bondage in which they are held, is a striking evidence of the benevolence of your heart. I shall be happy to join you in so laudable a work; but will defer going into a detail of the business, until I have the pleasure of seeing you."

Lafayette embraced the first opportunity of testing the practicability of his views upon the subject of negro emancipation; and, unlike most reformers, commenced his experiment at home, and at his own expense. With the concurrence of Marshal de Castries, the Minister of Marines, he purchased an estate in the French colony of Cayenne, with a large number of slaves, and commenced, under the superintendence of a competent instructer, a system of discipline and education, which was to be followed by their gradual emancipation. To this object Lafayette devoted a large sum of money, and with the co-operation of several eminent patriots and philosophers, persevered in his plan, until the French revolution involved every thing in chaos. In 1792, when Lafayette was proscribed by the Terrorists, the National Convention confiscated all his property, and ordered his negroes at Cayenne to be sold, in spite of the remonstrances of Madame Lafayette, who protested against the sale, on the ground that the negroes had been purchased by Lafayette with the sole object of setting them at liberty after their instruction. Lafayette himself felt much anxiety on this subject. In an interesting letter to the Princess d'Henen, from the prison of Magdeburg, he said: "I know not what disposition has been made of my plantation at Cayenne, but I hope that Madame Lafayette will take care that the negroes, who cultivate it, shall preserve their liberty."

It may be interesting to the reader to know, that this experiment of Lafayette had also the approbation of Gen. Washington. In a letter of May 10, 1786, he said: "The

benevolence of your heart, my dear marquis, is so conspicuous upon all occasions, that I never wonder at any fresh proofs of it; but your late purchase of an estate in the colony of Cayenne, with a view of emancipating the slaves on it, is a generous and noble proof of your humanity. Would to God a like spirit might diffuse itself generally into the minds of the people of this country. But I despair of seeing it. Some petitions were presented to the Assembly, at its last session, for the abolition of slavery, but they could scarcely obtain a reading. To set the slaves afloat at once would, I really believe, be productive of much inconvenience and mischief; but by degrees it certainly might, and assuredly ought to be effected; and that too by legislative authority.

Such, were, substantially, the views of Lafayette himself. He would not restore the negroes at once to liberty, any more than he would restore a blind man suddenly to the full blaze of the meridian sun. He was for emancipating the slaves by degrees, in proportion as their moral and intellectual education rendered them capable of appreciating and properly enjoying freedom. Believing the plan prac-. ticable, although surrounded with many difficulties, he considered it the duty of the friends of liberty every where, to persevere in endeavoring to effect its accomplishment. Circumstances may have changed. The difficulties attending such an experiment in this country may have increased. But although some may now dissent from the propriety or practicability of Lafayette's views, none will deny the purity of his principles or the philanthropy of his motives.

Lafayette, at the same time, took an active interest in favor of the French Protestants. He was ever the friend of religious toleration.

The same year (1786) Lafayette received a new token of gratitude from the people of Virginia, for the services he had rendered that state, no less honorable to them than complimentary to him. The legislature of Virginia directed two busts of Lafayette to be executed at their expense, by the celebrated sculptor Houdon, one of them to be placed in the Legislative Hall of that state, and the other to be presented in their name to the municipal authorities of Paris. The proffer was made to the municipality by Mr. Jefferson,