gratefully take advantage of the goodness his imperial majesty has
expressed towards us, by the _permission to share in the miseries of this
captivity_."

When the Emperor of Austria agreed to his liberation, he proposed certain
conditions, to which Lafayette refused his assent. One was that he should
immediately leave Europe and embark to America. "This", said the
noble-minded Marquis, "has often been my desire and intention: but as
my consent to this proposition, at the present moment, would be an
acknowledgment of his right to impose such a condition, I cannot comply
with the demand."--The other was, that as the principles which Lafayette
professed were supposed to be incompatible with the safety of the Austrian
government, the Emperor could not consent that he should again enter his
territory without a special permission. To this Lafayette replied, "that
there already existed antecedent obligations, of which he could not divest
himself; partly towards America, but chiefly towards France; and that he
could not engage to do any thing, which should interfere with the rights of
his country to his personal services. With these exceptions, he assured the
Emperor's ambassador, that it was his firm resolution not to set foot again
on any part of his Majesty's dominions."

When he was set free from the long and severe incarceration at Olmutz,
Lafayette proceeded to the neutral city of Hamburg, with his family; where
he received the kindest and most respectful attentions from some American
gentlemen, then in that place, and also from many of the distinguished
citizens, who cherished the highest regard for his character, and his
meritorious services in the cause of liberty. It was at this time, that his
son, George Washington Lafayette, joined the family, on his return from the
United States, where he had just then passed several years. After a short
residence in Hamburg, Lafayette accepted the invitation of an Hanoverian