The North Star, printed at Danville, Vermont, says, regarding La Fayette’s last act in America:—
“We are informed that General La Fayette has addressed a letter to General Fletcher, from on board the Brandywine, on the subject of the imprisonment of General William Barton, and inclosed a draft, with a request that the sum for which General Barton was confined should be paid. That request has been complied with, and General Barton was informed that he was no longer a prisoner. With what emotions of surprise and gratitude this intelligence was received by the valiant captor of Prescott can be better imagined than described. The scene was rendered more interesting by the peculiarly delicate manner in which the business was conducted and the fact announced by General Fletcher. All participated in the satisfaction which was expressed, that General Barton was at liberty to return to his family, after a separation of more than thirteen years.”
Mr. Kerate, a French author of a work entitled “Divine Worship,” taking our reception of La Fayette as his standard, addresses the French youth, and thus urges their ambition to fly to the succor of the Greeks:—
“A man is at this moment traversing the continent of North America. The whole population crowds around him; from the sources of the rivers, from the recesses of the forests, they flock to see him; the maidens of the banks of the Ohio crown him with flowers; the youths desire to behold him, to touch his garments; the old men to press his hand before they lose him. These marks of respect will be transmitted from generation to generation; they will become family documents. At his approach the magistrates make room to receive him among them; his presence diffuses joy in the cities; he brings glory to the tombs of the brave; it might be thought that they had waited for him to begin their immortality; he himself is loaded with benedictions and honors. What, then, has he done? Is he a prince or a potentate? No! With the means at the command of a private man he assisted an oppressed nation. Young Frenchmen! this is the picture you should have before your eyes; it is worthy of you.”
A letter from Paris, dated Sept. 7th, and published in one of the London papers, says:—
“Our ministers are under a good deal of embarrassment in regard to the manner of receiving La Fayette, who, according to the accounts brought by the Edward Bonaffe, must soon arrive. The moment our ministers heard that the general was coming in the frigate Brandywine, they despatched orders to the authorities at Havre, to prevent any kind of meeting and every mark of honor which might be attempted to be bestowed upon him. On the other hand, the most respectable of the merchants and other inhabitants have resolved to express their esteem for his character by every means in their power. The military commandant is a violent royalist, but the mayor is a good-natured, moderate man, who wishes to avoid every sort of tyrannical measures. The American frigate is another subject of embarrassment. It is usual, when a frigate enters the port, for her to salute the batteries with fifteen guns, but this salute must be returned by an equal number. Now, our government are afraid that, if they reply to the American salute, the people will think they are expending powder in honor of La Fayette; but if they do not agree to return, they will be obliged to let the frigate enter without saluting, for they well know that the American captain will not burn a match without an assurance of reciprocity.”
The editor of the Niles Register adds:—
“The writer of the letter justly estimates the fact. Morris and his crew would rather fight the largest and the best-fitted frigate that ever belonged to France, than fire a salute but with the belief that it would be returned, gun for gun. The stripes and stars may be hauled down by a conqueror, but shall not be disgraced.”
The Niles Register for November says:—
“La Fayette was received at Havre with the greatest enthusiasm. It does not appear that the government had taken any measures to prevent a favorable greeting of him. The Brandywine saluted the forts, which returned an equal number of guns. On the day of his disembarkation, the general proceeded to his country-seat, accompanied for two leagues by a numerous cavalcade, consisting of young men of the principal families of Havre and its neighborhood.”