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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