Those who feel that in this he has not judged right, and
who desire simply a relation of events with which General
La Fayette has been directly connected, can, by adverting
to the Contents, select those portions of the work which re-
late to his personal concerns.

The writer has also extracted from Allen and Lempriere,
and others, such biographical notices, as, according to his
views, were desirable, and inserted them as notes.

Whatever temptation a writer may feel to dilate on a sub-
ject so fruitful in sources of reflection as this, the author has
deemed it best in the present instance generally, to content
himself with a simple relation of facts. They speak a lan-
guage not to be misunderstood, and bear with them in the
mind of the reader, every necessary commentary. The pa-
negyrist of La Fayette, can do no better than tell what he
has done.

On the whole, therefore, it is hoped that the work may
satisfy the reasonable expectations of its patrons, and not
only repay them by the interest of its details, but contribute
something towards doing justice to one of the most interest-
ing characters of this or of any other age.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Early life of La Fayette...His marriage and fortune.

CHAPTER II.

Page 15

15

American Revolution... Causes which led to it...Stamp Act...

British troops arrive at Boston... Hutchinson's Letters...Tea

thrown overboard.

Commencement of the war... Battle of Lexington...Ticonderoga

taken...Congress meets...Battle of Bunker's Hill...Boston

evacuated..Expedition to Canada... Canada evacuated by the

Americans...Norfolk burnt... British fleet arrives at Charles-

ton, but is driven from the harbor... Plot to sieze Washington

...Declaration of Independence.. Battle of Long Island...The

enemy take possession of New York...Fort Washington taken

...Gen. Lee taken...Battle of Trenton... British fleet taken on

Lake Champlain...Battle of Danbury.

Arrival of La Fayette...He offers to serve as a Volunteer...Con-

gress commissions him...Battle of Brandywine...La Fayette

wounded...Enemy take possession of Philadelphia...Battle of

Germantown...La Fayette commands a select corps...Battle

of Red Bank...American army at Valley Forge... Battle of

Bennington...Burgoyne_taken...Starving condition of Wash-

ington's army... Proposed expedition to Canada...Alliance with

France, and its celebration at Valley Forge...Narrow escape

of La Fayette...Enemy leaves Philadelphia... Battle of Mon-

mouth...Count D'Estaing arrives; he refuses his assistance at

Rhode Island...Sullivan retires from Rhode Island...La Fay-

ette's bravery...Effects of Count D'Estaing's conduct...Sav-~

age conduct of Col. Baylor.....La Fayette goes to France...His

conduct there...Dr. Franklin presents him a sword...His re-

turn to America.

Siege of Savannah...Arrival of Rochambeau with the French
fleet..Arnold's treason. .La Fayette marches against him...
Defence of Virginia committed to La Fayette... His move-
ments defeat the intention of Lord Cornwallis...He follows
Cornwallis...Skirmish at Jamestown...Cornwallis retires...La
Fayette ordered to prevent Cornwallis' retreat... Count de
Grasse arrives... Plan to take Cornwallis...Siege of Yorktown,
and surrender of Cornwallis' army.

CHAPTER VI.

178

Departure of La Fayette for France...Order of Congress on the
subject of his departure...Assists Franklin in settling the treaty
of peace.

CHAPTER VII.

184

La Fayette visits America in 1784... His honourable reception...
Addresses to him, and his replies... Prepares to return...Order
of Congress that a member from each state should meet and
take leave of him... His departure... His bust placed in a gal-
lery at Paris.

The French revolution...Louis XVI. ascends the throne...Low
state of the finances... Effect of the capture of Burgoyne...
Neckar dismissed...Alarming condition of France...States
General convoked... Parliament dismissed and recalled. .Na-
tional Assembly... Divisions in the Assembly...La Fayette
proposes a bill of rights... Proceedings of the Assembly create
alarm...La Fayette appointed commander in chief of the Na-
tional guards... Mob go to Versailles... Adolphus' account of La
Fayette...Madame de Stael's account...King and Assembly
taken to Paris...La Fayette protects the Royal family...He
sends the Duke of Orleans to England...Murder of the baker
...Robespierre's speech... Decree depriving the clergy of their
estates...The Red Book... Preparation for the Confederation...
La Fayette commander of all the militia of France... He
swears to the constitution...Neckar retires...King's aunts leave
Paris... Attack on Vincennes. .King's coach stopped...La Fay-
ette resigns; and is reappointed...Royal family escape from
Paris; but are taken and brought back... Their inhuman
treatment...Riot at the Champ de Mars...Death of Marat... La
Fayette resigns, and retires to the country, but is recalled to
command an army... His letter to the Assembly...Goes to
Paris; is accused and a price set on his head...Attack on the
palace...The King escapes...La Fayette escapes from the ar-
my; is taken and confined in prison.....Washington writes to

the Emperor of Austria on his account...Bollman's attempt_to
release him... Debates in the British house of commons on La
Fayette's liberation... His liberation.

Progress of the French revolution... The reign of terror begins...
Riot at the Champ de Mars... Swiss officers and the Princess de
Lambelle murdered...King and Royal family imprisoned...
Manner in which they spent their time... Cruel abuse of the
Royal family... The King accused and brought before the As-
sembly...His trial, condemnation and execution... His body
destroyed with quicklime...The Queen imprisoned...Savage
treatment she received...Her trial and execution... Princess
Elizabeth executed, with twenty four other persons... Decree
of Fraternity... The allies declare war against France...Moun-
tain faction triumph over the Gironde... Death of Robespierre
...Buonaparte takes command of the army...Battle of Lodi...

Rome taken by Buonaparte...He sends an army into Switzer-

land...Sails for Egypt...Battle of the Nile... Buonaparte returns

to Paris, and is made chief consul... Battle of Marengo... War

with England... Coronation of Buonaparte... War with the al-

lies...Takes Vienna...Battle_of_Austerlitz...Napoleon takes

Dantzick... Makes peace with Russia... Sets Joseph on the

throne of Spain... Marries Maria Louisa... War with Russia...

Battle of Smolensko...Taking of Moscow...Retreat of the

French army...All Europe at War...Allies approach Paris...

The city is taken...Napoleon_retires...A general peace...Na-

poleon again appears...All Europe again at war... Battle of

Waterloo.

Conduct of La Fayette during the reign of Napoleon...Writes

bim a letter...Napoleon refuses to promote his son...La Fay-

ette's speech in the Assembly...He retires to La Grange...De-

scription of his residence and habits.

Arrival of La Fayette in 1824... His reception at New York...
Feeling of the Nation towards him...Act of Congress granting
him money...Debates on the subject.

1

List of Names of whom Biographical Sketches are given.