people struggling for liberty and self government, with the hereditary
rival of his nation.

"He was received at the Court of Versailles with every mark of favour and
distinction; and all the influence he had acquired was employed in
impressing on the cabinet the importance and policy of granting sucors to
the United States.

"Having succeeded in this favourite object, in which he was aided by
the representations of the former and present minister of France at
Philadelphia; and finding no probability of active employment on the
continent of Europe, he obtained permission to return to America, with
the grateful intelligence of the service he had rendered while in France,
to the country in whose cause his service had been first drawn. He arrived
at Boston in the month of April 1780, and hastened to Head Quarters. He
then proceeded to Congress with the information that the King of France
had consented to employ a large land and naval armament in the United
States, for the ensuing campaign. He was received by WASHINGTON with joy
and affection; and by Congress with those marks of distinction and regard
to which his _constant_ and _indefatigable_ zeal in support of the
American cause, as well as his signal service, gave him such just
pretnesions. The intelligence which he brought gave new impulse both to
Congress and to the State Legislatures. The lethargic slumbers into which
they seemed to be sinking yielded to resolutions of the most vigorous
character."--_Marshall_.

The letters below, with the resolve of Congress, will show the sense
WASHINGTON had of the services of his "_adopted son_," the Marquis
Lafayette, and the personal attachment which he cherished for him, as well
as the high estimation; in which the disinterested zeal of that devoted