neral officer, I have believed
that I could not serve my country and my superiors better than by
granting to him, in the name of the very honorable Congress, the rank
of Major-General, which I beg the States to confirm and ratify and to
send forward his commission to enable him to take and hold rank
counting from to-day, with the general officers of the same grade. His
high birth, his connections, the great dignities held by his family at
this court, his disinterestedness, and, above all, his zeal for the
freedom of our colonies, have alone been able to induce me to make
this promise of the said rank of Major-General, in the name of the
United States. In witness of which I have signed these presents, done
at Paris, this seventh of October, seventeen hundred and seventy-six."

To this startling document the undaunted boy affixed the following:

"To the above conditions I agree, and promise to start when and how
Mr. Deane shall judge it proper, to serve the said States with all
possible zeal, with no allowance nor private salary, reserving to
myself only the right to return to Europe whenever my family or my
king shall recall me; done at Paris this seventh day of October, 1776.

(signed) "THE MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE."

About this time Dr. Benjamin Franklin was added to the group of
American envoys. He was an instant success in the Parisian world. With
his baggy coat, his coonskin cap, and his one-eyed spectacles,
Franklin was the admired of all the grand ladies of the court, while
his ability to "bottle lightning" was a favorite topic for discussion.
The queen favored Franklin and the American cause; the king also; but
neither dared to say so openly lest the spies of England, France's
hereditary enemy, should find it out. Lafayette was obliged to
preserve the utmost secrecy in making his arrangements and to secure
the interviews in such a way that no one would suspect what he was
planning.

Unfortunately, bad news began to come from America. The disasters of
Long Island and White Plains had befallen, and the English army was
being reenforced by regiments of Hessians. This news destroyed what
credit the colonies had in France. No one now had any hope for their
endeavors, and no one could be found who would consider fitting out a
vessel for Lafayette and his friends.

The American envoys thought it no more than right to tell this to the
eager Lafayette and to try to dissuade him from his project to go to
America. To thi