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14 THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN'S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA intrepid soldier, loyal patriot and faithful child of the Catholic Church—is known as one of the most im posing and artistic in design which exist in the United States. Jean-Baptiste Henri Charles Hector, Count D’Estaing. This distinguished French officer, who played the principal part in the battle of Savannah—he being in chief command was born in Auvergne, France, in 1729. He distinguished himself in many brilliant exploits in the wars with the English in the East Indies, and after being captured and imprisoned on two occasions, at length returned to France. In 1763, he was ap pointed Lieutenant General in the French Navy, and in 1778 he was sent to the United States to co-operate with the colonists in their War of Independence. He made a successful attack on the British West Indies, wresting from the English the islands of St. Vincent and Grenada, and seriously damaged the Eng lish fleet. Fresh from this victory, he sailed with his fleet to the coast of Georgia and joined forces with General Lincoln in the effort to capture Savannah. Count D’Estaing has been blamed for needless delay in his attack upon the city, thus giving the British sufficient time to fortify their works and repel the attack of October 9, 1 779. However, we must not forget that we can not know all the particulars which guided his judgment, and after the lapse of well-nigh a century and a half it is not for us in the present day to judge. He hazarded his life in our service, was wounded twice in the engagement, and only abandoned the siege and the attempt to take the city when he felt convinced that another attempt would prove equally fruitless. General Lincoln, in his letter to Congress after the battle, says of Count D’Estaing: “He un doubtedly has the interests of America at heart. This he has evidenced# by coming over to our assistance, by his constant attention during the siege, his under taking to reduce the enemy by assault when he de spaired of effecting it otherwise, and by bravely put ting himself at the head of his troops and leading them to the attack. In our service he has freely bled. I feel much for him, for while he is suffering the distress of painful wounds on a boisterous ocean, he has to combat chagrin. I hope he will be consoled by the assurance that although he has not succeeded according to his wishes and those of America, we regard with high approbation his intention to serve us, and that his want of success will not lessen our ideas of his merit. It is said that he was very hard and severe with his men, but no more so with others than he was with himself. In appreciation of his services, the General Assem bly of Georgia offered to him 20,000 acres of land, with full rights of American citizenship. He returned to France and fell into disfavor there at first, but was afterwards elected to the Assembly of Notables and appointed Commandant of the Na tional Guard and chosen Admiral in 1 792. When the French Revolution broke out Count D’Estaing, with hundreds of other loyal Catholics, fa vored the first reforms advocated; but when the Revo lutionists began to drift to extremes and turned their attacks against both Church and King, he remon strated. He was a constant protector of the King, Louis XVI., and a firm friend of the unfortunate Queen, Marie Antoinette; he carried on a constant correspondence with her during her imprisonment, and also defended her in her trial in 1 793. All these things coming to the knowledge of the infuriated Revolutionists, D Estaing was himself im prisoned and condemned to death. He was executed April 28, 1794. Such, in brief, is the story of the part that Cath olics took in the history of Savannah during the Revo lutionary War. As in other epochs of American history, they did their part when called upon and if not always successful, they at least showed their loyalty and patriotism, and bravery in every crisis where the cause of America has been involved. If it be objected that “these were all foreigners,’’ let us remember that the heroes of the Revolution Pulaski, D’Estaing, Kosciuszco, Rochambeau (all Catholics), Lafayette, DeKalb together with Wash ington, Warren, Wayne, Marion, Jasper and Greene— gave their all in befriending America and they gave it generously and willingly, to make our victory secure it matters not whether they were of native birth, or sympathizers from other lands. At least, we do not find in our ranks any like the bitter anti-Catholic who also played his part in the War of the Revolution Benedict Arnold. (Note: It should be remembered, also, that the original charter of Georgia proscribed Catholics, and this proscription was in force until the first constitu tion was adopted in 1777. Ed. Bulletin.) THE MASSACRE OF ST. BARTHOL OMEW. (Continued from Page Seven) power that we have helped to give them a false sense of right. What had Catholics to do with the massacre of St. Bartholomew? Of course, Catherine was a Catholic, but what of that? Do we try to keep Protes tants wearing sackcloth and ashes for Cromwell, Clines, Dyer? If we have too much sense to blame that on their religion we ought to have enough gump tion to show them what sense is, when they try to put St. Bartholomew on our religion. But didn't the Pope approve the massacre, and sing a Te Deum and have a medal struck, or something of the sort because the Protestants had been wiped out? He did not. But first, if he did, we would not have to be apolo gizing even then. The Popes have done other things we do not approve. They are only human. And they are not the Church. Cannot people remember that Judas was one of the Apostles, chosen by our Blessed Lord Himself? Let them get our Lord to apologize for Judas and we will begin to apologize for the Popes who have done some outrageous thing. Till then, we may very frankly condemn them for their wickedness, and pass on. But in the case of St. Bartholomew, the Pope was deceived into believing that a secret plot against the entire royal family of France had been frustrated, and for that he rejoiced. When he learned the truth he condemned the thing, and asked for the emissary who had brought him the misleading news to be sent out of Rome at once. Indeed, France had some difficulty i n preventing a complete severance of diplomatic relations. You can read the whole story in Parson's "Lies and Errors of History,” published by the Ave Maria Publishing Com- pany, Notre Dame, Indiana.