VASE PRESENTED BY MIDSHIPMEN OF THE “BRANDYWINE” 437 CANE PRESENTED BY COMMODORE TAYLOR 438 CLOCK BELONGING TO LA FAYETTE 438 SEALS BELONGING TO LA FAYETTE 439 ROMAN STANDARD PRESENTED BY CITY OF LYONS 439 MEDAL PRESENTED BY ELECTORS OF MEAUX 440 RING GIVEN BY GRANDSON OF WASHINGTON 440 WASHINGTON’S DECORATION OF THE CINCINNATI 441 PIN PRESENTED BY FRANKLIN’S GRANDDAUGHTER 442 RING CONTAINING HAIR AND PORTRAIT OF JEREMY BENTHAM 442 CRYSTAL BOX CONTAINING MEMENTOS OF RIÉGO 442 ROUND WOODEN BOX 443 SWORD PRESENTED BY NINTH REGIMENT ARTILLERY 444 SWORD PRESENTED BY CONGRESS 443 VASE PRESENTED BY THE NATIONAL GUARD 449 LA FAYETTE’S DEATH CHAMBER 470 LA FAYETTE’S TOMB 472 THE LIFE OF LA FAYETTE. CHAPTER I. Liberty’s Knight—_L’Homme des Deux Mondes_—Ancestry of La Fayette—His Birth and Early Years—Youthful Enthusiasm—College Life—Introduction to the French Court—Vast Inheritance—A Page to the Queen—Member of the _Mousquetaires du Roi_—Promoted a Commissioned Officer—Personal Appearance—Early Marriage—His Wife’s Family—Stationed at Metz—News of the American Revolution—Influence on La Fayette—His Resolve—Opposition—Visit to London—Return to Paris—Secret Preparations—Sovereign Displeasure—Hasty Flight—Aboard the _Victory_—Letters to his Wife. “The love of liberty with life is given, And life itself the inferior gift of Heaven.”—DRYDEN. “For Freedom’s battle once begun, Bequeath’d by bleeding sire to son, Though baffled oft, is ever won.”—BYRON. LA FAYETTE was not only the Knight of Liberty in two worlds and in two centuries, but was also the champion of law and order. Other men have fought for freedom; but few men in history have so truly and broadly comprehended the indissoluble tie which must ever bind liberty to law, if the shackles of oppression be unloosed, and the equal rights of men become the watchwords of national peace and prosperity.