tranquil mansion.

"The chateau and estate of La Grange, which Madame, who was an heiress, had
brought with her, was all that remained of his fortune. He had lost every
thing besides in the madness of revolutionary confiscation; and had not yet
been able to procure restitution or compensation. To add to the interest of
the scene, General Fitzpatrick who had known Lafayette in America, and had
vainly attempted, in the British house of Commons, to rouse the ministry to
a sense of humanity and justice for him, joined the party at La Grange, at
this time. That accomplished man was an addition to our society, and was
received most affectionately by the family of Lafayette. I have often
contemplated with great pleasure, Mr. Fox, General Fitzpatrick and M. de
Lafayette walking in the long shady grove near the chateau, speaking of
past times, the war in America, and the revolution in France. The rare
sight of three such characters was grateful to any one who felt friendly to
the cause of civil liberty, and valued men for their services to humanity,
rather than for successful ambition.

"Lafayette spoke a good deal of America; and we learnt from him something
of his various and useful services for that country, at the court of Louis,
as well as of his personal efforts, during the struggle for independence.
His political career in France had not the same happy result, as in
America; but it should be considered, that his situation in the former was
arduous beyond measure. A friend to limited monarchy, and to the legitimate
rights of the people, at a time when the support of one was deemed
hostility to the other, he found it impossible, consistent with his
principles, to follow the mania of the nation. A king of integrity and
firmness, with Lafayette as his counselor, might have been safe, even in
the tumultuous times preceding the seizure of civil power by sanguinary
demagogues. But Louis, it is feared, wanted both these qualities; certainly