“Adieu, my dear general. I love you, and embrace you, with all my heart.
“La Fayette.”
The following letter was written by La Fayette to a friend in New York:—
“We might have declared a pure republic; but not without a great division of opinion, nor without danger both internal and external. And therefore the republicans generously preferred uniting themselves to the moderate monarchists (perhaps the majority of the nation), on condition that it should be a republican monarchy. The Duke of Orleans was chosen by the Chamber of Deputies in the name of the people, who seem well satisfied; and having recognized the principle that he derives his title from the will of the people, Louis Philippe reascends a popular throne.
“I did not say, as some newspapers related it, ‘that this was the best of republics.’ I declared, on the contrary, my doctrines, which are of the American school; but I perceive that, under all the circumstances, this is the best thing to be done; and from what I have since seen of the new king and his family, I am confirmed in the opinion that we have done right.
“We have now entered a progressive career of legislation, which will lead to a very liberal state of things.
“Thus the cause of the people—the liberty of Europe—has made in three days an immense stride, and this new revolution has sustained a character for disinterestedness, grandeur of soul, and generosity, which places what are called the lowest orders of the people in the first rank of French society. France is now her own sovereign, and every day confirms her title.
“La Fayette.”
The following are extracts of a letter of the Parisian correspondent of the London Morning Chronicle. Its date is the 8th of August.
“I think we shall have peace! But believe me, that question depends on the voice of one man—and that man is General La Fayette. If, on Friday night, when twelve thousand of the bravest and most intelligent of the youths of Paris marched down to the Chamber of Deputies to demand that there should be no hereditary peerage, and, in fact, no Chamber of Peers; if, I say, at that moment General La Fayette had said to those brave young men, ‘Yes, my friends, we will have a republic,’ before twenty-four hours France would have been declared a republic by the people. I do not say by the peers—by the deputies—by the bankers—by the rich merchants, or men of property; but I do say, by the people. And even yesterday if, in the Chamber of Deputies, when La Fayette rose to address the house, when there was the silence of death, and when each one dared not to breathe till they heard some words from the republican hero—if then La Fayette had said, ‘Gentlemen, I protest against your proceedings. France shall have a charter—but shall not have a king,’ France would have had no king, and France would have maintained her position though millions should have been slain. It is to General La Fayette that the Duke of Orleans owes the crown, which to-morrow will be placed upon his head. The Royalists and Ultra-royalists were prepared, to a man, to support the Republican party.”