The Boys Life of Lafayette 7

The Boys Life of Lafayette 7

A SEA-TURN

 

 

Lafayette, meanwhile, was traveling southward with De Kalb. The

government does not appear to have interested itself in De Kalb, who

had a two years' furlough, obtained probably through the influence of

the Comte de Broglie. At the end of three days they reached Bordeaux.

Here they learned about the commotion Lafayette's departure had caused

and that the king's order for his arrest was on the way. That it did

not travel as speedily as the rumor seems to prove that Lafayette's

friends were using all possible official delay to give him ample

warning. He made good use of the time and succeeded in getting _La

Victoire_ out of Bordeaux to the Spanish harbor of Los Pasajes in the

Bay of Biscay, just across the French frontier.

 

It was in leaving Bordeaux that Lafayette found a use for his many

names. Each passenger leaving a French port was required to carry

with him a paper stating his name, the place of his birth, his age,

and general appearance. The one made out by a port official not

over-particular in spelling described him as "Sr. Gilbert du Mottie,

Chevalier de Chaviallac--age twenty years, tall, and blond." This was

[Pg 49]all true except that his age was made a little stronger and the

color of his hair a little weaker than facts warranted. His age was

nineteen years and six months and his hair was almost red. He was the

Chevalier de Chavaniac, though it is doubtful if one acquaintance in a

hundred had ever heard the title.

 

When he stepped ashore at Los Pasajes he was confronted by two officers

who had followed from Bordeaux by land with the _lettre de cachet_.

Letters from his family and from government officials also awaited him:

"terrible letters," he called them. Those from his family upbraided

him bitterly; the Ministry accused him of being false to his oath

of allegiance. The _lettre de cachet_ peremptorily ordered him to

Marseilles to await further instructions. He knew that this meant to

await the arrival of his father-in-law, who was about to make a long

journey into Italy and would insist upon Lafayette accompanying him,

that he might keep an eye upon his movements.

 

He was now in Spain, quite beyond the reach of French law, but he could

not bring himself to actual disobedience while there was the remotest

chance of having these commands modified; so he went back with the

messengers to Bordeaux, and from there sent letters by courier to

Paris, asking permission to return and present his case in person.

De Kalb remained with the ship at Los Pasajes, impatient and not a

little vexed. He foresaw a long delay, if indeed the expedition ever

started. _La Victoire_ could not sail without its owner, or at least

[Pg 50]without the owner's consent. De Kalb thought Lafayette had acted

very foolishly; he should either have given up entirely or gone ahead

regardless of the summons, Also he felt that the young man had not been

quite frank; that in talking with him he had underestimated the family

opposition. "Had he told me in Paris all that he has admitted since,"

De Kalb wrote to his wife, "I would have remonstrated most earnestly

against the whole scheme. As it is, the affair will cost him some

money." Then, having freed his mind of his accumulated impatience, he

added, "But if it be said that he has done a foolish thing, it may be

answered that he acted from the most honorable motives and that he can

hold up his head before all high-minded men."

 

In Bordeaux Lafayette had presented himself before the commandant and

made declaration that he alone would be answerable for the consequences

of his acts; then he had set himself, with all the patience he could

muster, to wait the return of his messenger. To his formal request he

received no reply. From private letters he learned that he had only

the Duc d'Ayen to thank for the _lettre de cachet_. Officials had been

heard to say that they would have taken no notice of his departure had

it not been for the duke's complaint. This convinced him that there was

nothing to be gained by waiting; so he wrote to M. de Maurepas that

he interpreted his silence to be consent, "and with this pleasantry,"

as he says in the _Memoirs_, disappeared from Bordeaux. He informed

the commandant that he was going to Marseilles in obedience to orders,

[Pg 51]and sent the same message to De Kalb, adding the significant

hint, however, that he had not given up hope, and the request that De

Kalb look after his interests. He, indeed, set out by post-chaise on

the road to Marseilles in company with the Vicomte de Mauroy, a young

officer who like himself held one of Silas Deane's commissions. They

left that road, however, at the first convenient opportunity and turned

their horses directly toward Spain. They also made slight changes in

their traveling arrangements, after which De Mauroy sat in the chaise

alone, while Lafayette, dressed like a postilion, rode one of the

horses. The commandant, having his own suspicions, sent some officers

riding after them.

 

At a little town near the frontier, called Saint-Jean-de-Luz, it was

necessary to change horses. The masquerading post-boy threw himself

down to rest in the stable while the gentleman in the chaise attended

to the essential business. It was here that an inquisitive daughter

of the innkeeper, who evidently knew a good deal about postilions,

recognized in the youth stretched upon the straw the young gentleman

she had seen riding in state in the other direction only a few days

before. Her eyes and mouth opened in wonder, but a sign from Lafayette

checked the exclamation upon her lips, and when the officers rode up a

very demure but very positive young woman set them on the wrong trail.

 

On the 17th of April Lafayette rejoined De Kalb at Los Pasajes, and on

Sunday, April 20, 1777, _La Victoire_ set sail for America. In addition

[Pg 52]to the captain and crew, De Kalb, the owner of the vessel, and

De Mauroy, she had on board about a dozen officers of various grades,

all of whom were anxious to serve in the Continental Army. The French

government took no further measures to interfere. Grave matters of

state nearer home claimed its attention; and, since signs of coming

war with England grew plainer every day, it may have been well content

to see this band of officers already enlisted against her. M. de

Vergennes, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, was quoted as saying that

the young man had run away again, and he would take good care this time

not to mention the matter to the king.

 

After six months of effort Lafayette was at last under way. The ship's

papers had been made out for the West Indies; but inconvenient orders

might be awaiting him there, so he ordered the captain to sail directly

for the mainland. The captain demurred, explaining that an English

cruiser could take them prisoners and confiscate their cargo if their

course and their papers did not agree. As owner of the vessel Lafayette

repeated his orders; he even threatened to depose the captain and put

the second officer in command. But the captain's unwillingness appeared

so extraordinary that he was moved to investigate farther, and found

that the thrifty man had smuggled merchandise aboard to the value of

$8,000 which he hoped to sell at a profit. Lafayette felt that it was

not a time to be over-particular. He promised to make good whatever

loss the captain might sustain, whereupon nervousness about English

cruisers left him and he steered as directed.

 

[Pg 53]It proved a long voyage. _La Victoire_ was at sea fifty-five

dreary days, and Lafayette speedily fell a victim to the rollers

of the Atlantic; but he wrote to his wife he "had the consolation

vouchsafed to the wicked of suffering in company with many others."

When he recovered he began to study English, in which he made

considerable progress. He also studied military science as something

about which it might be convenient for a major-general to know; and he

wrote interminable pages to Adrienne, full of love, of ennui, and of

whimsical arguments to prove that he had done the wisest thing, not

only for his career, but for his health and safety, in offering his

sword to the Continental Army.

 

"I have been ever since my last letter to you in the most dismal of

countries," he wrote after he had been out a month. "The sea is so

wearisome, and I believe we have the same doleful influence upon each

other, it and I." "One day follows another, and, what is worse, they

are all alike. Nothing but sky and nothing but water; and to-morrow it

will be just the same." "I ought to have landed before this, but the

winds have cruelly opposed me. I shall not see Charleston for eight or

ten days longer. Once I am there, I have every hope of getting news

from France. I shall learn then so many interesting details, not only

of what I am going to find before me, but above all of what I left

behind me with such regret. Provided I find that you are well, and

that you still love me, and that a certain number of our friends are

in the same condition, I shall accept philosophically whatever else

[Pg 54]may be." "How did you take my second departure? Did you love me

the less? Have you forgiven me? Have you thought that in any event we

should have been separated, I in Italy dragging along a life with no

chance to distinguish myself and surrounded by people most hostile to

my projects and my views?" "Consider the difference.... As the defender

of that liberty which I adore, free myself beyond all others, coming

as a friend to offer my services to this most interesting republic, I

bring ... no selfish interests to serve. If I am striving for my own

glory I am at the same time laboring for its welfare. I trust that for

my sake you will become a good American; it is a sentiment made for

virtuous hearts." "Do not allow yourself to feel anxiety because I am

running great danger in the occupation that is before me. The post of

major-general has always been a warrant of long life--so different

from the service I should have had in France as colonel, for instance.

With my present rank I shall only have to attend councils of war. Ask

any of the French generals, of which there are so many because, having

attained that rank, they run no further risk.... In order to show that

I am not trying to deceive you I will admit that we are in danger at

this moment, because we are likely at any time to be attacked by an

English vessel, and we are not strong enough to defend ourselves. But

as soon as I land I shall be in perfect safety. You see that I tell you

everything in order that you may feel at ease and not allow yourself

to be anxious without cause.... But now let us talk of more important

[Pg 55]things," and he goes on to write about their baby daughter,

Henrietta, and about the new baby, the announcement of whose birth he

expected to receive very soon after landing. "Do not lose a moment in

sending me the joyful news," he commands. "Mr. Deane and my friend

Carmichael will aid you in this, and I am sure they would neglect no

opportunity to make me happy as quickly as possible.... Adieu. Night

coming on obliges me to stop, for I have lately forbidden the use of

lights aboard the ship. See how careful I am!" He could afford to

dwell on perils of the voyage, since these would be safely over before

the missive could start on its way back to France. The danger was by

no means imaginary. One of the letters written at the time Lafayette's

departure was the talk of Paris, by a man who knew whereof he spoke,

had said, "His age may justify his escapade, but I am truly sorry,

not only for the interest you and the Duc d'Ayen have in the matter,

but because I am afraid he may fall in with s