yette that she made the journey with the greatest difficulty, and
a voyage to America at that time was out of the question. The family,
therefore, took refuge in an obscure town in Holland, since there was
no other European country where the monarchy would be safe if it
conferred the right of residence upon any man who bore the name of
Lafayette.

CHAPTER XVIII

A TRIUMPHAL TOUR

For some years events did not shape themselves so that Lafayette could
return to Paris. That he, in 1799, was considering the possibility of
a voyage to America is shown by a letter written in that year to his
"deliverer," Francis Kinloch Huger, which his descendant of the same
name has kindly allowed to be printed here. It was sent from Vianen in
Holland, and introduces his fellow-prisoner, M. Bureaux-de-Pusy, who
was seeking a home in the United States.

VIANEN, 17th April, 1799.
MY DEAR HUGER:

Here is one of my companions in captivity, Bureaux Pusy,
an Olmuetz prisoner, and at these sounds my heart vibrates
with the sentiments of love, gratitude, admiration, which
forever bind and devote me to you! How I envy the
happiness he is going to enjoy! How I long, my dear and
noble friend, to fold you in my arms! Pusy will relate to
you the circumstances which hitherto have kept me on this
side of the Atlantic--even now the illness of my wife,
and the necessity of her having been a few weeks in France
before I set out, prevent me from embarking with Pusy and
his amiable family. But in the course of the summer I
shall look over to you and with inexpressible delight I
shall be welcomed by my beloved deliverer. No answer from
you has yet come to me. We are expecting every day my
friend McHenry's nephew--perhaps I may be blessed with a
letter from you!

I need not recommend to you Bureaux Pusy. The conspicuous
and honorable part he has acted in the French Revolution,
his sufferings during our imprisonment--you but too well
know what it is--are sufficient introductions to your
great and good heart. He is one of the most accomplished
men that can do honour to the country where he is born,
and to the country where he wishes to become a citizen. He
is my excellent friend. Every service, every mark of
affection he can receive from you and your friends, I am
happily authorized to depend upon.