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GILBERT MOTTIER LAFAYETTE.

MAJOR-GENERAL OF THE AMERICAN ARMY.

MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE was born on the 6th of September, 1757, at the chateau de Chavagnac, in the department of Haute Loire, and was the inheritor of a princely fortune, and descended from distinguished ancestors. At seven years of age, he entered the college of Louis le Grande, at Paris, and commenced his literary education. Here the lovely but illfated Antoinette, the late queen of France, took him under her immediate patronage, and at a very early age, he rose to the rank of a commissioned officer in the king's guards. 1774, he married the Countess de Noilles. nineteen years of age, he sailed for America, and landed on the shores of South Carolina, This illustrious friend had become an advocate of the colonies, and felt all that ardor in the cause of liberty which did not desert him in maturer years. Lafayette had watched attentively the momentous controversy between Great Britain and her oppressed subjects, and resolved to make any sacrifice in their cause.

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He made known his intention to Dr. Franklin, then our commissioner in France, who laid before him the disastrous state of the country. "The more hopeless your cause," said he, “the more occasion is there for my assistance, the more honor shall I acquire by bestowing it." He immediately equipped a vessel for this enterprise at his own expense, and severing the ties which would have detained him in his native country, he sailed for the United States. Arrived at Philadelphia, he presented himself before Congress. "I am come," said he, “to request two favors of this assemblage of patriots. One is that I may serve in your army; the other, that I receive no pay." He was immediately received into the family of Washington, and congress, in July following, tendered him a commission of major-general. Soon after, learning the embarrassments of the army, he gave Washington 60,000 francs, (about 11,000 dollars,) to procure supplies; by which generous act, Washington was so affected, that he embraced Lafayette with tears of joy and affection. At the battle of Brandywine, the marquis exhibited full evidence of his bravery and military character, and in this bloody contest was wounded. After his recovery, he

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