More striking than all was the observation of a Frenchman who
never visited America, except in thought, but saw distinctly its
future. When no one yet believed it, that great economist and
statesman, Turgot, said: "America one day will be free."

Years went on. The dark shadows and splendid rays of light with
which French history is interwoven shone and vanished in their
grand and awful alternance. One day the French flag was lowered
in Louisiana; that was at the close of the Seven Years War.
Another day the same flag was seen on the mast of a small vessel
leaving the harbor at Bordeaux and sailing for America. The ship
happened to bear the auspicious name of _La Victoire_, and it
bore Lafayette. Then it was the alliance of 1778, and the coming
on the same year of the first envoy accredited by any nation to
this country, my predecessor, Gerard de Rayneval, a staunch
friend of America; then the peace of 1783, when, with the assent
of the whole world, to the joy of every French heart, 13 stars
shone on the American flag.

France recovered, then, neither Louisiana nor Canada, nor
anything. But she never intended it. She won a friend, and such
a friend is better than any province.

She was very happy, having exactly fulfilled without change,
bargain, or extenuation the task she had mapped out for herself
in 1778, when she declared in the alliance treaty that the
"direct and essential object of the same was efficaciously to
maintain the freedom, sovereignty, and absolute and illimited
independence of the United States." The joy was such in Paris at
the news of American independence that performances in the
theaters were interrupted; the great event was announced, and
audiences rose to their feet to cheer the new-born Republic.
Festivities were given and colored prints were scattered all
over France for the benefit of those who could not be present.
Such souvenirs were proudly kept in families. One such came to
the remote house of my own parents in the mountains, and it was
carefully preserved and I possess it at this day.

France followed her destinies; in 1800 Louisiana was French
again; three years later on the spontaneous proposal of the
French Republic, not New Orleans alone, not a mere strip of
land, but the whole country became forever American.

The treaty sign