The duties of private secretary, which I performed for General Lafayette, were prolonged for three years after our return. During all this time, I thought that the intimacy of my relations with him, rendered it a point of delicacy, that I should not cause to emanate from his cabinet a narrative, of which he was the principal object. Swayed by this sentiment, I resisted the solicitations of my friends, and resolved to await the period, when having become entirely independent, and entering into a career of industry, I could publish my journal without exposing any one to participate with me in responsibility for the opinions or facts produced. This time has now arrived, and there is no longer any inconvenience in my publishing details, not altogether unknown, but which cannot be found any where so complete as in this journal, which moreover, has a character of incontestible authenticity, for in addition to the testimony of several millions of witnesses, that might be adduced if necessary, I can also say, all I relate I have seen.

I need not say, that in offering to my friends and the public, the details of a triumph, which honours the nation that decreed it, as much as the man who was its object, the recital of which, I hope, will one day prove the greatest encouragement that can be offered to the sincere friends of a wise liberty, I am less concerned to adorn my narration, than to preserve that character of verity, which will be its greatest, perhaps even its only merit.

Involved during fourteen months in the torrent of popular festivities, which uninterruptedly followed the steps of Lafayette throughout the twenty-four states of the Union, it was only during the brief hours of the night, and as I may say, in presence of the events of the day, that my journal was written. It necessarily must partake of that extreme agitation; however I have not thought of making any other change in it, than that of dividing it into a certain number of chapters, each of which contains a series of facts more particularly attached to some epoch or locality. This division appears to me more suitable, because it allows of the suppression of all the dates, that would embarrass the narrative, and a multitude of details which could only interest a small number of individuals.

TRANSLATOR’S NOTE.

The MSS. translation of the first volume, was revised by an intimate friend and correspondent of the author, P. S. Duponceau, Esq. whose name is justly associated with deep learning, great intellectual acumen, and urbanity of manners; he also furnished the occasional notes marked with the letter D.

CONTENTS.

Chapter I.
Invitation of the Congress of the United States to General Lafayette: departure from Havre: voyage: arrival at Staten Island: reception at New York: review of the troops: entertainment given to Lafayette: statistics of New York: its constitution, &c.[9]
Chapter II.
Departure from New York: journey from New York to Boston: entry at Boston: visit to the University of Cambridge: visit to Charlestown and Bunker’s hill.[27]
Chapter III.
First settlements in Massachusetts: sketch of revolutionary events in this province: its actual condition.[44]
Chapter IV.
Camp of Savin Hill. Visit to John Adams: review of the regulations of the Massachusetts militia.[61]
Chapter V.
Journey from Boston to Portsmouth: sojourn at Portsmouth: history, constitution and statistics of New Hampshire: journey from Portsmouth to New York: description of Long Island.[69]
Chapter VI.
Entertainment given by the Society of Cincinnati: origin and statutes of the society: visit to the public establishments: dinner given by the French of New York: ball at Castle Garden.[86]
Chapter VII.
Voyage upon the Hudson: treason of Arnold: military school at West Point: Newburgh: Poughkeepsie: Clermont: Catskills Hudson: Albany: Troy: return to New York.[99]
Chapter VIII.
Streets of New York: drunkenness: prostitution: lotteries: hospitality: bankruptcy: women and young girls: luxury: hotels: police: anecdote: number of passengers arriving at New York, from 1818 till 1819.[122]
Chapter IX.
Departure from New York: journey from New York to Trenton; battles of Trenton and Princeton: visit to Joseph Bonaparte: state of New Jersey.[133]
Chapter X.
Entry of Philadelphia: history and constitution of the state of Pennsylvania: commerce, agriculture, &c.: city of Philadelphia: public buildings, public institutions, prisons, &c.[141]
Chapter XI.
Voyage from Philadelphia to Baltimore: American aristocracy: fort M’Henry: entry of Baltimore: description of Baltimore: defence of the city in 1814.[159]
Chapter XII.
Farewell to Lafayette by the inhabitants of Baltimore: journey from Baltimore to Washington: entry of that city: visit to the President: description of Washington: jesuits.[171]
Chapter XIII.
Departure for Yorktown: Washington’s tomb: celebration of the anniversary of the surrender of Yorktown: details of its seige in 1781.[180]
Chapter XIV.
Journey from Yorktown to Richmond by Williamsburg and Norfolk.—History of Virginia. Some considerations on negro slavery.[194]
Chapter XV.
Masonic entertainment: journey to Petersburgh: visit to Mr. Jefferson: his mansion: plantation: slaves: Montpelier: Mr. Madison: religious liberty: return to Washington by Orange Court-house and Fredericksburg.[210]

LAFAYETTE IN AMERICA.

CHAPTER I.

Invitation of the Congress of the United States to general Lafayette: departure from Havre: voyage: arrival at Staten Island: reception at New York: review of the troops: entertainments given to Lafayette: statistics of New York: its constitution, &c.