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Memoirs of General Lafayette : with an Account of His Visit to America and His Reception By the People of the United State by marquis de Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier Lafayette
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oppressed or defrauded, were sure to find in him, an able advocate. The
widow of an American officer, of French parentage, who was left destitute
at the death of her gallant husband, had a claim for patrimonial estates in
France. The legal evidence to substantiate her claim was exceedingly
difficult to be procured. The case was made known to Lafayette, and he
never ceased his exertions until he recovered the greater part of the
estate.

Soon after the arrival of young Lafayette in Boston, 1795, he wrote to
General Washington, then President of the United States, informing him of
his situation, and requesting advice and counsel from the friend of his
father. As the chief magistrate of the nation, it would not have been
prudent in Washington, publicly to interfere in his behalf--Lafayette, at
this period, was almost equally obnoxious to the rulers of France, as any
one of the royal family. He had, indeed, been most _unjustly_ denounced and
proscribed by the dominant party; but they pretended he was attached to a
monarchy; and a public official act of patronage in the President, towards
young Lafayette, would have furnished a pretext for complaint against the
government. Washington had already given proof, that he did not approve of
the conduct of the French Directory, nor of the proceedings of their
minister in America. But though a prudent policy forbid all official
attention and aid to the son of Lafayette the generous & noble feelings of
Washington induced him to give assurances of personal regard, and of a
readiness to afford all proper assistance towards the education and support
of this youthful subject of political persecution. He wrote to his friend,
Hon. George Cabot, stating the reasons for declining to act officially or
publicly in the case; but requesting Mr. C. to assure young Lafayette that
he might consider him as a father, a friend and protector. Washington
expressed a desire in this letter, that he should become a member of the
university in Cambridge, if qualified for admission, where he would be
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