If we dwell on the few times that Lafayette did not choose wisely, the times when the warm impulses of his heart would have carried farther had his head taken a more masterful part in directing his acts, we are tempted to echo the criticism made upon the unfortunate Louis XVI, "What a pity his talents did not equal his virtues!" But when we think of the generous, optimistic spirit of Lafayette, and how that spirit remained unchanged through good fortune and ill from boyhood to old age; of his fearless devotion to right as he saw the right; of his [Pg 299]charm, and of the great debt our country owes him, his mistakes fade away altogether and we see only a very gallant, inspiring figure uniting the Old World with the New. There can be no better eulogy for this brave gentleman, beloved of Washington, than the few words he wrote in all simplicity after he had been called upon to make his great decision between Louis Philippe and himself: "I did as my conscience dictated. If I was mistaken, the mistake was made in good faith." [Pg 300] [Pg 301]INDEX A Adams, Charles Francis, 271, 272. Adams, John, 87, 270, 271. Adams, John Quincy, 260, 270, 271-274, 283. Adams, Mrs. John Quincy, 274. Aiguillon, Duc d', 198. André, Major John, 140-143, 265. Arbuthnot, Adm. Marriot, 133. Arnold, Gen. Benedict, 84, 139-143, 146, 147, 149, 151-154, 266. Arnold, Mrs. Benedict, 140-143. Ayen, Marshal de Noailles, Duc d', 15-17, 29, 44-46, 49, 50, 55, 91, 124. Ayen, Duchesse d', 15-18, 21, 29, 45, 46, 80, 237, 239, 243, 244, 254. B Bailly, Jean Sylvain, 193, 196, 207, 211, 216, 279. Bedaulx, Captain de, 55. Béranger, Pierre Jean de, 276, 277. Big Warrior, 265. Bollman, Dr. Justis Eric, 229-235. Bonaparte, Joseph, 265. Bonaparte, Lucien, 255, 281. Bonaparte, Napoleon, 108, 246, 251, 252, 255, 256, 258, 259, 265, 280-282, 293, 294, 296. Bourbon, Duc de, 222. Braddock, Gen. Edward, 70. Broglie, Comte de, 32, 35, 41, 48, 68. Brown, Gen. Jacob, 266. Buckle, Henry Thomas, 22. Buisson, Chevalier du, 62, 64, 65, 68. Burgoyne, Gen. John, 74, 77, 83, 84, 91, 101, 108. Byron, Adm. John, 114. C