Newspaper Page Text
No 40 Vol. Vl.]
From the North American Review.
LAFAYETTE.
M
The family of Lafayette has long been
listioguished in the history of France. As
early as 1422, the Marshal de Lafayette de
feated and killed the Duke of Clarence at
Beaugq, and thus saved the country from
falling entirely into the power of Henry V.
Gen. Lafayette’s father fell in the battle of
Rossbach, in Nov. 1757, and therefore sur
vived the birth of his son only two months.
Gen. Lafayette himself was born in Au
vergne, in the sooth of France on ihe 6th
of September, 1757. When quite young
he was sent to the college of Louis le Grand
at Paris, where he received that classical
education of which, when recently at Cam
bridg*, he twice gave remarkable proof, in
uncommonly happy quotations from Cicero,
suited to circumstances that could not have
been foreseen. Somewhat later he was
placed at Court, first, we believe as a page
to the Queen, and afterwards as an officer
in one of the small bodies of guards of hon
our, where rank marks a very high distinc
tion. When only 17, he was married to
the daughter of the Duke d’Ayen, son of
the Duke d’Noailles. and thus his condition
in life seemed to be assured to him among
the most splendid and powerful of the em
pire.-f His fortune, which had been accu
mulating during a long minority, was vast,
his rank was that of the first in Europe ; his
connections brought him the support of the
chief persons in Fi ance, and bis individual
character, the warm, the open, and sincere
manners, which have distinguished him ev
er since, and gave him such singular con
trol over the minds of men, made him pow
erful in the confidence ofsociety wherever
he went. It seemed indeed, as if life had
nothing further to offer hiui than he could
surely obtain by walking in the path that
was so bright before him.
It was at this period, however, that his
thoughts and feelings were first turned to
wards these thirteen colonies, then in the
darkest aod most doubtful passage in their
struggle for independence. He Had made
himself acquainted with our agents at Pa
ris, and learnt from them (he state of our
affairs. Nothing could be less tempting to
him, whether he sought military reputation
or military instruction, for our army at that
moment retreating through New Jersey,
and leaving its traces in blood from the na
hed and torn feet of the soldiery, as it has
tened onward, was in a state too humbled
to offer either. Our credit, too, in Europe
was entirely gone, so that the commission
ers, as they were called, without having
any commission, to whom Lafayette still
persisted in offering his services, were oblig
ed at last to acknowledge, that they could
not even give him decent means for his con
veyance. u 7%e, (said he) f shall purchase
and fit out a vessel for myself ” He did so.
The vessel was prepared, we believe at
Bordeaux ; and sent round to 1 ’ one of the
nearest ports in Spain, in order to be be
yond the power of the French government.
After he was determined to come to this
country, and before he embarked, he made
a visit of a few weeks in England ; the only
time he was ever there, anJ was much
thought ofin English society. On bis re
turn to France he still kept his purpose in
rOation to America partly or entirely a se
c!f t, and it was not until he had already
left Paris in order to embark, that bis ro
mantick undertaking was generally known.
The effect produced in tbe capital and
at court was greater than we should now,
perhaps, imagine. Lord Stormont, the
English Ambassador, compelled tbe French
ministry to despatch an order for his arrest,
not only to Bordeaux, but to the French
naval commanders on tbe American station.
His family too, sent, or were understood to
send in pursuit of him ; and society at Paris
according to Madame du Defand’s account
of it, was in no common state ofexcitement
Tn the occasion. Something of the same
eort happened in London. 4 ‘ We talk chief
I'y,” says Gibbon, in a letter dated April 12,
1777) “ ofthe Marquis de Lafayette, who
Awas here a few weeks ago. He is about
20, with a hundred and thirty thousand li
vres a year, the nephew of Noailles, who
i ambassador here. He has bought the?
Duke ol'Kingston’s yacht, and is gone to
join the Americans. The court appear to
be angry with him.” He, however, escap
ed all pursuit, whether serious or pretend
ed, and arrived safely at Charleston, S. C.
on the 25th of April, 1777.
Immediately after his arrival, Lafayette
received the offer of a command in our ar
my, but declined it. Indeed, during tbe
whole of his services with us, he seemed
desirous to show by his conduct, that he
had come only to render disinterested as
sistance in our cause. He began, there
~fore by clothing and equipping a body of
men at Charleston, at his own expense, aod
then eotered as a volunteer without pay,
into our service. He lived in the family of
the commander in chief, and won his fnll
affection and confidence. He was appoint
ed a Major General in oor service by a vote
of Cougress, on the 31st of July, 1777, and
in September of the same year, was wound
ed at Brandywine. He was employed in
1778 both in Pennsylvania aod 11. island,
aqd after having received (he thanks ofthe
‘oiintry for his important services, embark
THE MISSIONARY.
edat Boston in Janaary 1779, for France,
thinking be could assist us more effectually
for a time in Europe than in America.
He arrived at Versailles, then the regu
lar residence ofthe French court, on the
12th of February, and the same day had a
long conference with one of the ministers.
He did not see the king, and in a letter writ
ten at Cobrtnest morning, we are told,that
he received an order to visit none bnt his
relations, as a form of censure for having
left France without permission. But this
was an order that fell lightly upon him, for
he was connected by birth or marriage with
almost every body at court, and every body
else thronged to see him at bis own hotel.
The treaty, which was concluded between
America and France at just about the same
period, and was publickly known a little la
ter, was. by Lafayette’s personal exertioDS,
made effective in our favour. As soon as
this was done, or as soon as he had ascer
tained that he should be speedily followed
by a French fleet for our assistance, he em
barked to return, and on the 11th of May
commuDicated the intelligence confidential
ly to the Commander-in-Chief at Head
Quarters, having been absent from the ar
my hardly five months.
Immediately on his return, he entered
into our service with Ihe same disinterested
zeal he had shown on his first arrival. He
received the separate command of a body
of infantry consisting of about two thousand
men, and clothed and equipped it partly at
his own expense, rendering it by unwearied
exertions, constant sacrifices, and wise dis
cipline, the best corps in the army. What
he did for os, while at the head of this di
vision, is known to all who have read the
history of their country. His forced march
to Virginia, in December, 1780, raising two
thousand guineas at Baltimore, on his own
credit, to supply the pressing wants of his
troops; his rescue of Richmond, which but
for his great exertions must have fallen in
to the enemy’s hands; his long trial of gen
eralship with Cornwallis, who foolishly
boasted in an intercepted letter, “that the
boy could not escape him;” and finally the
siege of Yorktown, the storming ofthe re
doubt, and the surrender 1 of the place in Oc
tober, 1781, are proofs of tatent as a milita
ry commander, and devotion to the welfare
ot these States, for which he never has been
repaid, and, in some respects, neyercan be.
He was, however, desirous to make yet
greater exertions in our favour, and an
nounced his project of revisiting France for
this purpose. Congress had already repeat
edly acknowledged his merits and services
in formal votes. They now acknowledged
them more formally than ever by a resolu
lion of November 23, in which, besides all
other expressions of approbation, they de
sire the foreign ministers of this govern
ment to confer with him in their negotia
lions concerning our affairs; a mark of res
pect anti deference, of which we know no
other example.
In France a brilliant reputation had pre
ceded him. The cause of America was al
ready popular there, and his exertions and
sacrifices in it, which from the first, had
seemed so chivalrous and romantick, now
came reflected back upon him in the strong
light of popular enthusiasm. It is uot re
markable, therefore, with such a state of
feeling', while he was still absent from the
country, that, on his return, he whs follow
ed by crowds in the publirkstreets wherev
er he went; and that, in a journey he made
to one of his estates in the south of France,
the towns through which he passed, re
ceived him with processions and civick hon
ours; and that in the city of Orleans he was
detained nearly a week by the festivities
they had prepared for him.
He did not, however, forget our interests
amidst the popular admiration with which
he was surrounded. On the contrary,
though the negotiations for a peace were
advancing, he was constantly urging upon
the French government the policy of send
ing more troops to this country, as the sur
est means of bringing that war to a speedy
and favourable termination. He at last
succeeded ; and Count d’Estaing was order
ed to hold himself in readiness to sail for
the United States, as soon as Lafayette
should join him. When, therefore, be ar
rived at Cadiz, he found 49 ships, and 20,-
000 men ready to follow him; and they
would have beeo on our coast early in the
spring, if peace had not rendered farther
exertions unnecessary. This great event
was first announced to Congress, by a let
from Lafayette, dated in the harbour of
Cadiz, February 5, 1783.
A* soon as tranquillity was restored, La
fayette began to receive pressing invitations
to visit the country, whose cause be had
so materially assisted. Washington, in par
ticular, was extremely urgent; and yield
ing oot only to these instances, bat. to an
attachment to the United States, of which
his whole life has given proof, he embark
ed again for our shores and landed at N.
Y. on the 4th of August, 1784. His visit,
however, was short. He went almost im
mediately to Mount Vernon, where he pas
sed a few days in the family of which he
was so long a cherished member, and then
visiting Annapolis, Baltimore, Philadelphia,
New York, Albany, and Boston, received
every where with nnmiagled enthusiasm
apd delight, he re-embarked for France.
.. ... Go y Into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.— Jtttu Christ. a*
Os all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports.— Washington.
MOUNT ZION, (HANCOCK COUNTY, GEORGIA,) MONDAY, APRIL 11, 1825.
But when he was thus about to leave tbe
United States for the third, and, as it then
seemed, the last time, Congress in Decern
her, 1784, appointed a solemn deputation,
consisting for its greater dignity, of ooe
member from each State, with instructions
to take leave of him on behalf of the whole
country, and to assure him, “ that these U.
States regard him with particular affection,
and will not cease to feel an interest in
whatever may regard his honour ii prospe-
that their best and kindest wishes will
always attend him.” It was at the same
time resolved, that a letter be written to
His Most Christian Majesty, expressive ot
the high sense, which the United States in
Congress assembled, entertain of the zeal,
talents, and meritorious services of the
Marquis de Lafayette, and recommending
him to the favour and patronage of his Ma
jeety. We are not aware, that a more
complete expression of dignified and re
spectful homage could have been offered
to him.
From the Family Visiter.
MR. OWEN’S NEW SYSTEM.
It is known to our readers that Mr. Rob
ert Owen of New Lanark in Scotland, ar
rived in (his country several months ago.
with a view of purchasing the property of
the Harmoniles on the Wahash in Indiana,
where he designed to introdace hisnewsys
tem of education into Ihe United States. A
short time previous to the close of the late
session of Congress, he delivered two Lee
lures in the Hall of Representatives before
the President, the Heads of the several
Departments, the Judges of the Supreme
Court, and Ihe Members of both Houses of
Congress, in which he explained the prin
ciples of his system, and specified some of
the revolutions which it is destined to pro
duce in the world. In his opinion, all man
kind, with the exception of himself, are,
and ever have been, in an errour respect
ing human nature. By much reading, re
flection, and intercourse with intelligent
person*, be has discovered that man is not
naturally corrupt—that he is not a moral
being, a proper subject of rewards and pun
ishments—that he is altogether tbe creature
of circumstance—and that nothing is neces
sary but to give a proper direction to cir
cumstances in order to vender him wise, vir
tuous, and happy, This opinion is con
firmed by the experiment which has, for
several years, been going on at New-Lan
ark; by the Infant schools in London and
vicinity, which, he says, originated in that
establishment; and by all the institutions
in Europe for improving the condition of
the poor and'labouring classess. Finding
the slate of society, and the established gov
ernments in that quarter of the world, too
unyielding to dissolve at once before his
benevolent schemes, he was desirous of
making the experiment under a govern
ment subject to the control of publick opiu
ion, and which will be more readily trans
formed into anew empire of peace, intel
ligence, virtue and felicity. In the course
of his lectures in Washington, he exhibited
to his audience a model of tbe arrange
ments that would be required for a commu
nity of five thousand persons. Besides tbe
private dwellings, and buildiogs for every
kind of mechanical operation, it contained
Lecture rooms, laboratories, chapels, ball
aud concert rooms, schools, an Academy,
aod Uaiversity, where is to be taught that
combination of circumstances on which the
whole perfection aDd happiness of man de
pends. In such an establishment, labour
will be rendered more efficient; the com
forts of life will be enjoyed in such profu
sion that every temptation to fraud and in
justice will be removed—happiness and vir
tue will prevail—others, beholding its es
sects, will desert the old system for the
new—the example will be followed by mul
titudes—and thus the whole world will
be speedily transformed into a paradise.
Such we believe to be a true representa
tion of bis theory. It excludes the Bible,
of coarse, as useless and false. The crit
icks may, perhaps, charge it with inconsis
tency too, in predicating virtue, vice, intel
ligence, happiness, &c. of beiogs that are
not moral agents, nor tbe proper subjects
of praise or censure.
That a considerable degree of success
has attended Mr. Owen’s experiment at
New-Lanark, is placed beyond all doubt by
testimony of intelligent travellers. When
Professor Griscom visited it, four or five
years ago, the village, which had grown
entirely out of a manufactory of cotton, pre
sented a neat and interesting appearance.
The people, aboot 2500 in number, ap
peared cheerful and contented. About
IGOO were employed in tbe mills, the oth
ers being mothers occupied in domestick
concerns, or children too youog for labour.
The manufactories closed at an early hour;
after which the youth aqd as many ofthe
adults as chose it, repaiihd to the schools,
where each was at liberty to read, write,
sing, pipe, or dance, as lie happened to be
in a grave or merry roosd. The labour
ers were paid for their wtjrk, and their chil
dren were educated gratii The whole es
tablishment belonged to a few proprietors,
who joined in the enterprise from a wish to
give a fair trial to Mr. Owen’s-system, and
it yielded them an interest of twelve and a
half per cent, on tbe original stock.
Mr. Owen is a disbeliever in divine rev
elation. He even attributes most of the
etils with which the world has been afflict
ed, to the doctrine of future accountability.
He believes, however, that Ihe Christian
Scriptures contain more truths than any oth
er system of religion. His wife is said to
be a pious woman, and educates her chil
dren in her own belief. To this he does
not object. He likewise permitted tbe la
bourers to eojoy their own religion, consid
ering it an evil which could not be at once
eradicated. They were Presbyterians,
Metbodjsts, Independents, and of the Gae
lick church. Religious principle, it is well
known, is active and powerful among the
peasantry in Scotland; and to this very cir
cumstance did Mr. Owen owe much of bis
success at New-Lanark.
It is not wonderful, that a person who
does not receive the Bible as a divine reve
lalioo, and has no hope beyond the grave,
should be dissatisfied with the present state
of things, and invent theories for the moral
renovation of the world. Heathen philos
ophers, and modern infidels have done the
same. The principal novelty attached to
Mr. Owen’s scheme, is the persevering ef
fort to carry it into effect. The theory
takes it origin, and very naturally too, in
the compound of truth and errour, which,
in this case, is adopted as the fundamental
principle in what Mr. 0. calls the science of
circumstance. It is true that man, ig his
whole course from the cradle to the grave,
is governed, to a certain extent, by circum
stances over which he has no control;
therefore, Mr. O. has divested him of all
agency in Ihe formation of his character,
and of all power over his destiny. Imper
section is stamped on all the institutions of
man ; therefore, Mr. 0. attributes to these
institutions all the ignorance, injustice, and
misery in (he world. Education is capable
of doing much in the intellectual and moral
improvement of mankind; hence Mr. O.
concludes that education is sufficient to ren
ovate the world, to restore man to that
slate of holiness and happiness in which he
was originally placed by his Creator.
That he should have (he utmost confidence
in the success of bis scheme, is perfectly
consistent with the nature of man. Any
theory, however extravagant, will obtain
the belief of him, who not only contem
plates it with a partial eye, but makes the
demonstration of its truth the principal bu
siness of his life. The partial success
which has attended his experiment, where
religion had her proper influence, is also
calculated to favour the deception. We
have not heard ofthe number of converts,
which the lectures of Mr. O. made io Wash
ington, but understand that he has purchas
ed the Harmony settlement, aod intends to
commence preparatory operations in the
course of next month.
NATIONAL TRACT SOCIETY.
A correspondence has been carried on
for some time past between the American
Tract Society in Massachusetts and the
N. Y. Tract Society, having for its object
a union of the two in one National Institu
tion. A meeting took place in the city of
New York, oo the 11th inst. when a Con
stitution which had previously received the
sanction of both Societies, was adopted on
the spot toward the erection of a building
for the operations of the new Society. The
following is au extract from an article
which appeared in the N. Y. Observer a
few days previous to (be meeting.
[Family Visitor.
It is now less than twenty-six years since
the Religious Tract Society of London
made the first systemßtick effort to circu
late Tracts calculated to “ direct the sinner
to his Saviour. 1 ’ But the success of that
Society has been glorious. It has publish
ed in all more than sixty millions of Tracts ,
and the more it has published, the greater
has been the demaud. With an annual in
come of $40,000, it has been circulating for
several years five millions annually, and
the last year it swelled its issues to ten mil
lions, an amount which, if the Tracts aver
age 12 duodecimo pages, will keep twenty
printing presses in perpetual employ ; being
three times the number of presses now brought
into service by the American Bible Society.
We believe Ibe amount of the operations
of Tract Societies is estimated by roaoy to
be far less than the reality. We are as
sured that the American Tract Society,
at Boston, and the New York Religious
Tract Society now employ one half as
many printing presses as the American Bi
ble Society. And we can have little doubt
(hat by uniting the efforts of the two Socie
ties, aod combining those of other Tract
Societies, in the country, and of the vari
ous denominations of Christians, the pre
sent amount of the operations of these two
Societies will be doubled. And we under
stand that for an equal number of presses,
as many labourers and as much room will
be needed, in all the various departments
of the operations of Ibe National Tract
Society, as of (he American Bible Society.
We hope that if the National Tract Socie
ly is to be located in this city, it will be fur
nished with a house containing all necesse-
[Price S3 50 per anti.
ry accommodations, without being subject
ed to the payment of rent; and, as we
have already said, we believe that when it
shall appear that such an establishment is
needed, there will be no want of liberality
in the citizens of New York to bear the
expense of erecting it.
From the New York Observer.
REVIVALS OF RELIGION IN FRANCE,
In the Evangelical Magazine for Janua
ry, we find an interesting journal of a pious
student from the Missionary Seminary at
Basle, in Switzerland, who, at the request
of their pastors, spent several weeks last
September, in visitiog some Protestant
churches in France, within a day’s ride
from Paris. During this visit he was sor
ronoded from morning to night by persons
who desired to consult him, and converse
with him an their religious interests. “ i
saw” says he, “in these country places, a
number of individuals and families who
three years ago were sunk in the grossest
ignorance, and who would now be eminent
as Chilians, even among their fellow
Christians of other countries. The Lord
has begun a good work in these parts, and
we may hope that by the influence of his
Spirit, it will be continued and extended.”
In a letter transmitting this journal to the
editors of the Evangelical Magazine, Mr.
Wilks, of Paris, adds, “ 1 have myself lately
made a journey through the south of France,
and have had the inexpressible pleasure to
witness there also the commencement and
progress of the same good work.” The
following are extracts from the Journal.
Sunday, Sept. 12. 1 was so much indis
posed as to be able only to preach once.
At the close of the eervice I was delighted
to observe these simple Christians embrace
each other before the temple with an air
of peace and joy, such as is only to be seen
among the childreo of God. On leaving
ihe place of worship 1 W3B surrounded by a
number of persons, some with Bibles in
(heir hands asking the meaning of particu
lar passages of Scripture, others expressing
the pleasure with which (hey bad beard thu
word of life, and others seeking advice in
cases of Christian experience. It was al
ready night, yet nnDe seemed inclined to
disperse, at length some ooe expressing a
fear that I should be fatigued by 100 much
speaking, they retired in a quiet and seri
ous manner. But I h-ad no sooner entered
the house where 1 lodged than the room
was tilled, and we bad another religious
exercise.
Monday, Sept. 13. I preached twice,
and the auditory displayed the same atten
tion and the same friendship. In the eve
ning I went to sup with a friend, and a doz
en persons from a distance: up sooner
were we at table than the room was filled,
and we continued to converse on the king
dom of God within our own hearts and in
the world till midnight; when we recom
mended ourselves to each other, to our God
and Saviour, and departed.
Tuesday, Sept. 14. I preached again,
and after the service several friends from
(he distant villages came to take leave of
me, and to beseech me to go and preach
the word of God in their respective places,
as there were many who had been prevent
ed coming, from (he bad slate of the weath
er, who were not less anxious to bear the
Gospel tidings. The greater number of
them were youog men, and had been Ro
man Catbolicks.
Wednesday, Sept. 15. After having
prayed with several friends, I set off for
by a pious young roan. On onr way we
entered into many houses to speak of the
one thing needful; every where the peas
ants listened to us with great attention, and
pressed us to return, but I could only com
mend them to the grace of God. It was
eight o’clock at night when we arrived at
—v—, and the first question put to me was,
would I preach that evening? Having re
plied I was ready if such was the wish of
the people, in less than an hour the little
temple was quite filled.
Thursday, Sept. 16. I preached again
this morning; and, after the service, set off
for , two leagues distant, accompanied
by some friends. In a village through
which we passed, I was conducted to the
house of a female, 85 years old, who had
been brought to the knowledge of the Sa
viour in her latter days. On entering, 1
asked her how she felt herself. “Very
happy,” she replied; “we cannot be oth
erwise while we live in communion with
the Saviour.” “Yon love, then,” said I,
“ that Christians come and visit you while
on your bed?” “Oh !” said she, “I am a*
happy as a queen when I see them, for I
find by their visits that my faith is establish
ed.” Before I left her, I prayed with her
in the presence of several persons, and the
good old woman assured me she shoold nev
er forget my visit. When I arrived at ,
I was conducted to a gardeo where were
several Catbolick females, who wished to
hear the word of God explained. They
appeared very ignorant, bat very anxious
for instruction.
Saturday, Sept. 18. I paid several vis
its, and left for , two leagues distant.
I reached it at noon—the temple was al
ready filled. I had scarcely a moment for