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THE HOT-BED OF DEMOCRACY.

occasion did not escape those watchful, turbulent spirits which are ever to be found in all governments partaking of democracy. By the help of the single word "liberty," they conjured up the most horrid phantoms in the minds of the common people, an easy prey to such specious betrayers."

If, by the word "liberty," Dr. Franklin conjured up the most horrid phantoms in the New World, he used it as a spell whereby to call up the most delightful visions in the Old World. Already we have said that Dr. Franklin, when returning to his own country, in 1775, had turned his eyes across the Atlantic towards France. How young Democracy sprang from old Feudalism in France, must here be told by the Marquis de Lafayette, one of the future heroes of the American rebellion and of the French Revolution.

CHAPTER III.

M. le Marquis de Lafayette. (His own account of his early life and flight to America)-M. le Comte de Ségur. (His own account of himself when forced to remain at the court of Versailles)-Queen Marie Antoinette-The Princesse de Lamballe. (Her own account of how the friendship began between the Queen and herself)—The King's sister-Christopher Glück, the composer-Music, the Drama, and Court politics in France-Beaumarchais and the Barber of Seville-New Philosophy in Paris and at Versailles-The Emperor Joseph II. in France-The Emperor's arrival at Versailles, his conversation there— The Queen's rebuke to the Emperor-Public toilettesHorace Walpole-Picture of the toilette of a French belle of the 18th century-Turgot, Minister of Finance at Versailles-Turgot's early life-Lent in 1775—The people clamour for bread at Versailles-The King's placard-Resignation of Turgot and Malesherbes-Curious MS. (Bibliothèque Impériale) concerning Protestants-James Necker, the Protestant-James Necker's previous life-James Necker, Director-General of Finance at Versailles.

"IT would be too tiresome to enumerate all the details of my birth," says M. de Lafayette, “which followed close upon the death of my father, at Minden. . . . too tedious to dwell upon my childhood at Auvergne. . . . or on my translation to a college in Paris, at eleven years of age, when I soon lost my virtuous mother, and when the death of her father made me rich, poor though I was born. *

"Nor must I tell too much of some scholastic successes, animated by the love of glory, and troubled by that of liberty; nor of my enrolment in the corps of Black Musketeers, which took me from the school-room on review days; .. nor of my marriage, when I was six

...

teen years old; this event having been preceded by my sojourn at the academy of Versailles.

"You ask me the epoch of my first sighs for liberty and for glory....I can recall nothing in my life anterior to my enthusiasm for glorious anecdotes, nor to my projects of run

*The above abbreviated extracts are translated from Mémoires de ma Main. (MSS. de Général Lafayette, publiés par sa Famille. Bruxelles, 1837.) Lafayette's father was Colonel of the Grenadiers of France and Chevalier of St. Louis. He was killed at the battle of Minden when 24 years of age.

ning through the world in search of reputation. At eight years of age, my heart throbbed with the hope of encountering, in the course of our school walks, a certain hyena which did some harm, and made still more noise in our neighbourhood. . . . At college, my only dislike to study was its restraint. Republican narratives charmed me; and when my wife's relations contrived to procure a place at Court for me, I did not hesitate to displease them, that I might retain my independence.

"In such a disposition did I first hear speak of American troubles. These were not notorious in Europe until the year 1776. America's ever memorable 'Declaration of Independence' reached Europe at the end of that same year.

"England, being covered with laurels, and enriched by conquests, having domineered over all seas, and insulted all nations, turned her pride against her own colonies. For some time past North America had given umbrage to her; she

* Lafayette, the future republican hero, was, as before said, married to a daughter of the Noailles family, already described as the haughtiest, most exclusive family of the old French noblesse, and the most bigoted to old French customs and conventions.

desired to link on new vexations to former shackles, and to invade the most sacred privileges.

"Never had so fine a cause claimed the attention of mankind. It was the last combat for liberty, and liberty, if now overcome, had no hope, and no refuge in the future. Oppressors and oppressed, all were about to receive a lesson. Either this great work must complete itself, or would be buried beneath its ruins. . . . At the first news of this combat, my heart was enrolled in it, and I dreamed but of fighting under the banner of liberty.

"Silas Deane" (American envoy to crave the aid of France against England) "was in Paris. But Paris was afraid to see Silas Deane, and his voice was drowned in the vociferations of Lord Stormont" (English Ambassador at Versailles).

"I presented myself to Silas Deane; my face was only nineteen years old, and spoke like my tongue, more of my zeal, than of my experience. But I made Silas Deane feel the value of my proposed departure for America, and he signed arrangements for it. My project was well received, but money was wanted wherewith, secretly, to buy, and to arm a ship, in which I