staff and the aids. The vessel, the Emeraude, lay at Annapolis, whence she set sail with her precious freight the 8th January. On their arrival in France, all of the general officers obtained high promotion and favor from the Court of Versailles. Rochambeau received the Cross of St. Louis, and was made Marshal of France. The Baron de Vioménil was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General. M. M. de Lafayette, de Choisy, de Béville, the Count de Custine, the Duke de Lauzun, M. M. de Rostaing and d'Autichamp to that of Maréchal-de-Camp. The sequel is a chequered story. In the terrible political earthquake that shook the continent, and of which the American revolution was but the premonitory upheaval, all lost their fortunes, many their lives. D'Estaing, after serving the republic with distinction, fell on the scaffold; the Duke de Lauzun met a similar fate; so did the Baron de Custine; the chivalrous de Fersen, worthy peer of Sidney or Bayard, after risking his life a thousand times in the service of the King and Queen, whose trusted friend and agent he was during their imprisonment, was torn to pieces by a Stockholm mob. The Vicomte de Rochambeau fell at the battle of Leipsic. The Marquis de Vioménil, badly injured in the defence of the persons of the royal family, died of his wounds. His brother, the Count, gave his sword to the royal cause; at the Restoration he was made Marshal of France and Marquis. Rochambeau himself was confined by Robespierre and released at his death. The Count de Damas, who was with the King in his flight to Varennes, narrowly escaped execution. Duportail was condemned, but fled to America, and died at sea on his return in 1794. One of the brothers Berthier became the celebrated Marshal of Napoleon; he was murdered at Bamberg. Dumas was President of the Assembly, General of Division and high in confidence with the Constitutional Monarchy of 1830. The figures of these men are familiar, preserved in the life-like portraits of the great historical picture of the surrender of Cornwallis. Trumbull visited Paris for the express purpose of obtaining correct likenesses. Rochambeau, in other pictures, has the air of a gentilhomme campagnard, not unusual to the French noble of the last century. The services and character of Rochambeau have not had their due honor in the annals of our revolution. The United States owe to him an immeasurable debt of gratitude. He alone, as de Fersen frankly admits in his correspondence, could have brought the allied operations to a successful termination, and kept an unbroken harmony between the troops and population of races so opposite and hitherto so antagonistic. Left for nearly a year without assistance or one word of counsel by the French Ministry, which was itself passing through vital changes; subjected in a foreign land to reproaches and importunities, to which he would not or could not reply; distrusted even by his own officers, with whom his credit was impaired by the negligence of his Government, his serenity was unbroken, and he maintained his authority without stooping to an explanation even to the highest of his general officers. Sufficient to himself in his large equipoise, he kept his own counsel even from his own military family, and held the honor of his country high, unimpeached and unimpeachable by friend or foe. In his character there was a reserved power, the unerring accompaniment of greatness. He had every quality of a commander, a leader of men; prudence in counsel, activity in preparation, precision and certainty in execution. Though not averse to argument, his judgment was thoroughly independent. He was moderate and courteous, as he was wise. To all these qualities, he added that of a bonhomie, which endeared him to his officers, and made him the idol of his troops. The gratitude of the United States for France, was early crystallized in an attachment for Lafayette, whose youthful and generous ardor touched the heart of the people; but not even his influence and service were more important to the cause of independence than the effective cooperation of Rochambeau in the very crisis of the nation's destiny. His fame grows as his character is studied, and his achievements are examined. The sober judgment of history will record that his services to America were of inestimable value. Closing this sketeh of the sojourn of the French in Rhode Island, the delightful spot which, even in the last century, before the finger of art had touched with its grace the work of nature, was already known as the "Garden of America," the sentiment which prompted the opening paragraph springs up with fresh vigor; a sentiment of affectionate attachment for France. Rapid communication has rendered her beautiful land familiar to thousands of our people. The distant dream of the last century has become an easy reality in this. The monthly packet communication, which Louis the Sixteenth established at the instance of Lafayette, has grown to a large and regular steam service. Thanks to these facilities of travel, America sees France no longer through the dim jealousy of English glasses, but with her own clear eyes. The matchless cultivation of the soil of France, the patient industry of her agriculture, the marvels of her intelligent manufacture, the triumphs of her taste and ornamental skill have long since placed her in the front rank of western nations. But not until now has she shown herself to be first also in the higher plane of political economy and political government. In less than a decade, by a financial miracle, she has repaired the damage of destructive war, and resumed her position at the very pinnacle of European credit. This, an easy tale, runs trippingly in narration. How describe her present triumph! how measure the majestic grandeur of her rise from anarchy to freedom! how mark the logical sequence of her political evolutions, the serenity of her leaders, the moderation of her people, the progress of liberal opinion, the final complete establishment of popular government! The dream of the patriots of 1789 who, on the Champ de Mars, pledged themselves and their generations, on the Altar of Liberty, to the cause of freedom, has, after nearly a century of struggle and blood, been fully realized. The Republic lives. The alliance of the last century is revived. The weak confederation of American States has grown into a colossal nation, the ancient monarchy of St. Louis is transformed into a popular government. Common institutions bring with them common sympathies, common aspirations. The two republics now march together, allied nations, under the colors of liberty in the ways of peace. So may they march forever! JOHN AUSTIN STEVENS |