to dissuade Lafayette from the enterprise, but in vain. Finding his
determination unalterable, he made him acquainted with the Baron De
Kalb, who the count knew was about to embark for America--an officer of
experience and merit who, as is well known, fell at the battle of
Camden.

The Baron de Kalb introduced Lafayette to Silas Deane, then agent of
the United States in France, who explained to him the state of affairs
in America, and encouraged him in his project. Deane was but
imperfectly acquainted with the French language, and of manners
somewhat repulsive. A less enthusiastic temper than that of Lafayette
might, perhaps, have been chilled by the reception that he met with
from Deane. He had, as yet, not been acknowledged in any public
capacity, and was beset by the spies of the British ambassador. For
these reasons it was judged expedient that the visit of Lafayette
should not be repeated, and their further negotiations were conducted
through the intervention of Mr. Carmichael, an American gentleman at
that time in Paris. The arrangement was at length concluded, in virtue
of which Deane took upon himself, without authority, but by a happy
exercise of discretion, to engage Lafayette to enter the American
service with the rank of major-general. A vessel was about to be
dispatched with arms and other supplies for the American army, and in
this vessel it was settled that he should take passage.

At this juncture the news reached France of the evacuation of New York,
the loss of Fort Washington, the calamitous retreat through New Jersey,
and other disasters of the campaign of 1776. The friends of America in
France were in despair. The tidings, bad in themselves, were greatly
exaggerated in the British gazettes. The plan of sending an armed
vessel with munitions was abandoned. The cause, always doubtful, was