The Life of La Fayette, the Knight of Liberty in Two Worlds and Two CenturiesFarmer, Lydia Hoyt
History
The Life of La Fayette, the Knight of Liberty in Two Worlds and Two Centuries
Farmer, Lydia Hoyt
Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834
“General La Fayette has paid a visit this summer to his birthplace in
Auvergne, and has been received on his passage in a manner worthy of
his noble virtues, public as well as private. From his arrival at
Chavaniac until his entry at Lyons, in every town and village through
which he passed, he has witnessed the spontaneous homage of the
patriotism of their inhabitants. The population of villages far
distant from the road he travelled precipitated themselves before him
on his passage, and the inhabitants of the cities through which he
passed presented themselves _en masse_ to welcome him within their
walls. In spite of the orders sent by the ministry at Paris to the
departmental authorities, to endeavor to suppress as much as was in
their power the preparations made to receive the general, his
triumphal march since he left La Grange, from the borders of the river
Manche, to the foot of the Alps, has no other example in history,
excepting his visit to the United States. Escorted from city to city
by large cavalcades of horsemen, through arches of triumph prepared
for the occasion on the high roads, saluted continually with
enthusiasm by assembled multitudes, the thoughts of the veteran
defender of liberty were often diverted to his brilliant reception in
a distant hemisphere, whose liberties are as dear to him as those of
his native country.”
The _Précurseur_ and _Journal of Commerce_ of Lyons says:—
“The general arrived from Vienne on Friday, the 4th of September,
escorted by one hundred and fifty horsemen. His arrival had been
impatiently expected by the inhabitants of Lyons, and on reaching St.
Synphoria, the deputation named to receive him were found waiting with
a large cavalcade of horsemen and carriages, and a numerous assemblage
of people who accompanied him to Lyons. At St. Synphoria the general
descended from his carriage and was addressed by M. Prunelle,
president of the deputation, who welcomed him on the part of the
inhabitants of Lyons to this city; to which the general replied, in
retracing the kindness with which he had been received at his last
visit to that city before the Revolution in 1789, and expressing his
gratitude for the flattering manner in which he was again received. He
then ascended into an open barouche drawn by four horses, and
conducted by two postilions, which were placed at his disposition by
the deputation, and the procession proceeded to Lyons in the following
order:—
“1st. A detachment of 400 horsemen, composed of young men from Vienne
and Lyons.
“2d. The carriage with the deputation from the latter city.
“3d. The barouche containing the general, Mr. George La Fayette, and
the president, M. Prunelle, surrounded by a cohort of citizens on
foot.
“4th. The private carriages of the general, containing the Misses La
Fayette, Mr. Adolphe Perrier, Mr. Bradford, United States consul, and
the Count de Lasteyrie.
“5th. The carriages of the committee of arrangements.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account