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of his wishes to fly to the arms of those whom he holds most dear."

Lafayette was thus once more surrounded by his amiable family. His friends and companions in exile, Latour Maubourg and Bureau de Puzy, and their families, were settled in the same quiet country. He enjoyed, with them, in retirement, that peace of mind which is the reward of conscious rectitude. Writing at this time to Masclet, upon the subject of the recent events in France, he repeats the principle which had ever actuated him, and "in which (he said) I have been confirmed by experience, that liberty can and ought to be assisted only by means worthy of her." Anastasie, the eldest daughter of Lafayette, was here united to Charles de Latour Maubourg, brother to the companion and fellow-prisoner of Lafayette. Two English ladies, admirers of the character of Lafayette, had bequeathed to him a legacy of four thousand pounds sterling, which was to revert, in case of the general's death, to his widow and children. This legacy was transmitted to him, at his residence in Holstein, and came providentially to replenish his exhausted finances.

In this retreat, enjoying the hospitality and friendship of the most distinguished, as well as the most humble, families, and devoting his time to literature and to obtaining knowledge and experience in the several branches of agriculture, Lafayette passed nearly two years. In the mean time he contemplated a visit to the United States, and informed General Washington of his intention. But owing to the difficulties that existed between the French directory and the American government, and the high state of party feeling in the United States, Gen. Washington in reply, advised him to postpone his visit, until the differences between the two countries were adjusted, and harmony between the nations was restored. From Holstein Lafayette proceeded to Holland, on the special invitation of the Batavian republic, where, in gratitude for his former services rendered to that state, and to the proscribed Dutch in 1787, he was received with the kindest attentions. Here he learned the memorable events of the 18th and 19th Brumaire (9th and 10th of November, 1779)—the overthrow of the directoral government, and the establishment of the consulate, with the victorious Napoleon at its head-the end of anarchy,

the beginning of despotism. Lafayette saw in this change the promise of personal safety. Anxious, therefore, to be restored to the bosom of his country, he ventured, although his name had not yet been erased from the proscribed list, to return with his family to France, and to repair at once to Paris. The First Consul held in high respect the virtues of Lafayette, and was anxious to attach the hero of two worlds to his views and interests. On presenting himself before the Council of Ancients, to accept, on the 18th of Brumaire, the military command, Bonaparte had pledged himself to sustain the republic. "We will (he exclaimed) have the republic. We will have it founded on genuine liberty, on the representative system. We will have it, I swear, in my own name and in the name of my companions in arms." "We all swear it," repeated the generals and officers of his staff, by whom he was accompanied to the bar. Lafayette hoped that these declarations were sincere. He was grateful for the part which Bonaparte had taken in procuring his liberation. But his intercourse with the conqueror of Italy did not inspire confidence. Their views were mutually different. Bonaparte was the friend of liberty, for himself. He was the foe to oppression while he himself was among the oppressed. He was opposed to all despotic power which he could not control or exercise. Lafayette loved liberty, not only for himself, but for all mankind. ted oppression, whoever might be its victims. He condemned despotism, wherever found, and scorned to exercise himself the unjust power which he resisted or condemned in others. The principle of the one was selfishness, governed by ambition that of the other, patriotism, exalted by philanthropy.

He ha

M. Bignon, in his history of the period, remarks, that "the intercourse between the First Consul and Lafayette was for some time maintained on an amicable footing. They oftener than once had conversations of three or four hours duration. To General Bonaparte, M. de Lafayette was already a character of past history. In the comrade of Washington, in the old commander of the national guard of 1789, he honored virtues which did not belong to his practice. He had already, as he did again at a subsequent period, manifested a wish to attach Lafayette to his gov ernment; but the latter was not inclined to comply with

that wish. While the First Consul grew in greatness, and unfortunately in power, General Lafayette continued in retirement, the worshipper of liberty.

Lafayette had been restored to his privileges as a citizen, and to his rank as a general in the French armies. When (in May, 1802) Napoleon, in his progress towards the splendor and power of despotism, had caused the Legion of Honor to be instituted, and soon after had constituted a Senate, with extensive privileges and rich endowments, he caused several offers to be made to Lafayette of a seat in that favored body. They were declined. Bonaparte at length made the offer in person. Lafayette still declined, in a manner which appeared satisfactory to the First Consul. He soon after retired from the army. In his letter to the minister, he said: "Connected from their commencement with those institutions which have triumphed in Europe, united by the ties of affection to the generals of the republic, I have ever been their comrade, but I pretend not, after so many victims, to be their rival. I beg, then, if you think I ought to be put on the retired list, to have the goodness to request it of the First Consul." And yet, at that time, Lafayette was in poverty. His income, which once amounted to 200,000 francs per year, then scarcely amounted to 10,000. The offices proffered by Napoleon would have restored him to wealth, title, and what the world calls honors. He preferred independence of principle and consistency of character.

Within the same year, Lafayette was to exhibit new proof of his firmness and integrity. Through the subserviency of the legislative branches, the question of appointing Bonaparte First Consul for life, was submitted to and sanctioned by the French people. Called upon to vote on this question, Lafayette did so in these terms: "I cannot vote for such a magistracy, until public liberty has been suffi. ciently guarantied. Then will I give my vote to Napoleon Bonaparte." He addressed also to the First Consul, the following memorable letter:

"General-when a man, penetrated with the gratitude which he owes you, and too much alive to glory not to admire yours, has placed restrictions on his suffrage, those restrictions will be so much the less suspected when it is known, that none more than himself, would delight to see you chief magistrate for life of a free republic. The

18th brumaire saved France, and I felt that I was recalled by the lib. cral professions to which you have attached your honor. We afterwards beheld in the consular power, that restorative dictatorship, which, under the auspices of your genius, has achieved such great things, less great, however, than will be the restoration of liberty. It is impossible that you, general, the first in that order of men, (whom, to quote and compare it, would require me to retrace every age of history,) can wish such a revolution, so many victories, so much blood and miseries, should produce to the world and to ourselves no other result than an arbitrary system. The French people have too well known their rights to have entirely forgotten them. But perhaps they are better enabled to recover them now with advantage than in the heat of effervescence; and you, by the power of your character and the public confidence, by the superiority of you talents, your situation, and your fortune, may, by re-establishing liberty, subdue our dangers and calm our inquietudes. I have no other than patriotic and personal motives in wishing for you as the climax of our glory, a permanent magistrative post; but it is in unity with my principles, my engagements, the actions of my whole life, to ascertain before I vote, that liberty is established on bases worthy of the nation and of you. I hope you will now acknowledge, general, as you have already had occasion to do, that to firmness in my political opinions are joined my sincere wishes for your welfare and profound sentiments of my obli gations to you."

No answer to this letter was received. From this time, all intercourse between Lafayette and the First Consul ceased. They saw each other no more, until after the reverses of Napoleon, 1814-15.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Lafayette in the retirement of Lagrange-Suggested mission to America-Is offered by President Jefferson the office of Governor of Louisiana-Letter declining the appointment-Mr. Jefferson's opin ion of Lafayette-Letter approving his conduct in the French Rev. olution-Lagrange not exempt from misfortune and sorrow-Acci. dent to Lafayette-Petty resentments of Napoleon-Death of Madame Lafayette-Her character-Lafayette's sorrow, and affectionate remembrance of her-Napoleon's exile to and return from ElbaEndeavors to conciliate the old friends of liberty-Lafayette declines his advances-Refuses the Peerage-Remonstrates against the revival of despotism-Is elected a deputy-Battle of WaterlooLast effort of Napoleon-Bold and patriotic declarations of Lafayette-Frustrates the despotic designs of Napoleon-Reply to Lucien Bonaparte--Advises the abdication of the Emperor-Is a commis. sioner to treat with the allies-Endeavors to secure the liberty of Napoleon, and his safe conduct to America-Retires to Lagrange -Elected again to the Chamber of Deputies-Advocates liberal principles and measures-Resists the despotic encroachments under the restoration-Warns and reproaches the Bourbon dynasty-Is accused of treasonable designs-Challenges his adversaries to the proof-Is defeated in his election by the Ministry.

WHILE Napoleon pursued his brilliant career of victory and power-assuming to himself the kingly crown and the imperial diadem-destroying old dynasties and establishing new-making and unmaking kings-conquering nation upon nation, and setting the world in a blaze-Lafayette, the true friend of his country, and reserved for its exigencies, led a quiet and honorable life in the retirements of Lagrange. This had been the paternal estate of Madame Lafayette's mother, who had perished, with her eldest daughter, on the revolutionary scaffold. Lafayette anxiously desired the possession of this estate, as a part of his wife's share, in the division of the property. "I am constantly looking (said he, in a letter to Masclet, Dec. 1801) at the fields of Lagrange, till I know that they are my property, and that I shall be at liberty to cultivate them. The allotment of our shares will be finished, I hope, in three or four decades. Adrienne's share will be less considerable than I had ima

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