As this castle had served as a prison for four years previously to La Fay. ette's confinement, there had been constructed for each cell two doors, one of iron and the other of wood, near two feet thick. Both were covered with bolts, and bars, and double padlocks. Every time the inspector of the prison entered, the whole guard stood to their arms. Four men were posted on each side of the door; the sergeant, with his sword drawn, remained without, while the officer of the guard entered the inner door, with his sword also drawn. The men crossed their bayonets, while the inspector examined every corner of their cells with the greatest minuteness. When the jailer entered with their wretched pittance, twice a day, it was scrupulously examined, particularly the bread, which was crumbled to pieces by the officer of the guard, to discover if there was any note or communication contained in it. A wretched bed of rotten straw filled with vermin, together with a broken chair and an old table, formed the whole furniture of each apart

ment.

The cells were eight or ten paces deep, and six or eight wide; and when it rained, the water ran through the loopholes, off the walls, in such quantities, that the prisoners would sometimes find themselves in the morning wet to the skin.

Such is the shocking account given by General Ducondray Holstein, and as he states, on the verbal authority of the prisoners themselves.

The sufferings of La Fayette in this dreary abode, brought him to the borders of the grave. "His frame was wasted by disease, of which, for a long period, not the slightest notice was taken; and, on one occasion, he was reduced so low, that his hair fell from him entirely, by the excess of his sufferings. At the same time his estates in France were confiscated, his wife cast into prison, and Fayetteism, as adherence to the constitution was called, was punished with death."

But a man so distinguished in the world, and so endeared to the friends of civil liberty, though shut up in a dungeon, and deprived of communication with human beings, was not forgotten. The American ministers to foreign courts, were instructed to intercede for his liberation. The envoy from the United States to the Court at St. James, exerted himself for the same purpose. The Count Lally Tolendal, who sat with La Fayette in the National Assembly, and who admired his principles and his virtues, also made unwearied exertions to effect his enlargement. Washington, when President of the United States, wrote to the Emperor of Austria a private letter, laying La Fayette's case before him, and requesting his permission that he might be liberated, and come to America. The following is a part of that letter:

"It will readily occur to your majesty, that occasions may sometimes exist, on which official considerations would constrain the chief of a nation to be silent and passive in relation even to objects which affect his sensibility, and claim his interposition as a man. Finding myself precisely in this situation at present, I have taken the liberty of writing this private letter to your majesty, being persuaded that my motives will also be my apology for it.

In common with the people of this country, I retain a strong and cordia. sense of the services rendered to them by the Marquis de La Fayette; and

my friendship for him has been constant and sincere. It is natural, therefore, that I should sympathize with him and his family in their misfortunes; and endeavor to mitigate the calamities they experience, among which his present confinement is not the least distressing.

I forbear to enlarge on this delicate subject. Permit me only to submit to your majesty's consideration, whether the long imprisonment, and the confiscation of his estate, and the indigence and dispersion of his family, and the painful anxieties incident to all these circumstances, do not form an assemblage of sufferings which recommend him to the mediation of humanity? Allow me, Sir, on this occasion, to be its organ; and to entreat that he may be permitted to come to this country, on such conditions as your majesty may think it expedient to prescribe.

As it is a maxim with me not to ask what, under similar circumstances, I would not grant, your majesty will do me the justice to believe, that this request appears to me to correspond with those great principles of magnanimity and wisdom, which form the basis of sound policy and durable glory."

To this humane and magnanimous request, his majesty the emperor either returned no answer at all, or such a one as made Washington understand that he declined setting the prisoner at liberty, or negotiating further on the subject.

In 1793, Count Lally Tolendal, then in London, engaged Dr. Bollman, a Hanoverian of great sagacity, courage, and perseverance, to attempt the liberation of La Fayette. Dr. Bollman had before been employed by Madame de Stael, to effect the escape of Count Norbonne from France, who, in the reign of terror, had been proscribed. This he had performed, having, with uncommon address, conveyed the count to England. But Dr. Bollman's first attempt was so unsuccessful, that after all his exertions, he did little more than to ascertain that the government of Prussia had delivered La Fayette over to that of Austria. But where he was or whether he was still alive, were circumstances which Dr. Bollman found it impossible to ascertain. He therefore returned again to London, and reported to the friends of the prisoner the little information he had obtained.

But the friends of La Fayette were not discouraged. In June, 1794, they again sent Dr. Bollman to Germany, to ascertain what had been his fate, and if he were still alive, to endeavor to procure his escape. With great difficulty he traced the French prisoners to the Prussian frontier, and then ascertained that an Austrian escort had received them, and taken the road to Olmutz. At Olmutz, Dr. Bollman ascertained that several state prisoners were kept in the citadel, with a degree of caution and mystery, which must have been not unlike that used by the half-fabulous personage in the Iron Mask.

The following interesting account of Dr. Bollman's second visit to the continent, and the attempt to deliver La Fayette, is extracted from the Edinburgh Annual Register," for 1809. "The narrative," says the editor, was drawn up by the writer from personal communications with Mr. Huger."

La Fayette had dragged on two miserable years in his solitary prison, when a stranger and a foreigner stepped forward from pure motives of com

passion, and an anxious wish to be of service to a man who had signalized himself in the cause of liberty. Bollman was a Hanoverian by birth, young, active, intrepid, and intelligent. He repaired alone and on foot to Olmutz, to gain such information as might enable him to judge of the best means to execute the purpose he had in view, to assist La Fayette in making his escape from the power of Austria. He soon found that, without an able coadjutor the difficulties which presented themselves were insurmountable. He was forced, therefore, for the present to abandon his design, until he should be so fortunate as to find a man equally zealous with himself, and with ability sufficient to execute the hazardous plan he had formed. Accident threw in his way the person in the world best suited to the enterprise by nature and education. At Vienna he entered into the society of young Americans, whom he thought most likely, from their veneration for the character of La Fayette, to dare such an undertaking. He soon singled out one, to whom, after proper precautions, he imparted his secret. Huger entered into and adopted his schemes with all the keenness of youth, and that enthusiastic enterprise peculiar to the inhabitants of the new world.

Francis Huger was the son of Colonel Huger, of Chraleston, South Carolina, who lost his life in the service of his country, against the British troops, on the walls of the town, when besieged by General Prevost. The year before his death, he had retired to a small island off the Charleston Bar, with his family, for the purpose of sea-bathing. There happened one evening a violent storm; the report of cannon was heard at a distance: concluding the firing came from British ships, then cruising in those seas, it was necessary to avoid giving suspicion that the island was inhabited. About midnight a knocking at the door of the cottage obliged Colonel Huger to open it. Two persons appeared, who, in a foreign accent, informed him that their ship had been driven on shore by the violence of the wind, and the crew had dispersed themselves over the island in search of assistance. They were hospitably received, and provided with such necessaries as they most stood in need of. When the strangers were made acquainted with the quality of their host, and his political principles, they made themselves. and the object of their voyage known to him. The one was the Marquis de La Fayette, then about eighteen, and the other an elderly gentleman, a Chevalier de St. Louis, who, like another Mentor, had followed the fortunes of the Young Telemachus. "They beheld," they said, "with indignation," the tyranny the inhabitants of North America labored under from the mother country; and, animated with the true spirit of liberty, they were resolved to espouse the cause of the congress, and either partake with them. the happiness of emancipation, or perish with them in the glorious effort." Colonel Huger quitted the island with his guests, and, repairing to headquarters, introduced them to General Washington, who gave each of them a command in the continental army. Francis Huger was only four years old when this happened, but the adventure remained deeply impressed on his memory; and though he had never seen La Fayette since, yet he felt the greatest attachment to his person, and the highest admiration of his actions; with ardor, therefore, he participated in Bollman's scheme for the release of his favorite hero.

Thus agreed, they began their operations. It was necessary to conduct

themselves with caution, for the Austrian police was vigilant, and particularly jealous of strangers. Huger pretended ill health, and Bollman gave himself out for a physician, who on that account traveled with him. They bought three of the best horses they could find, and with one servant set forward on a tour. After traveling many weeks, staying some time at different places, the better to conceal their purpose, and to confirm the idea that curiosity was the motive of their journey, they at length reached Olmutz. After viewing everything in the town, they walked into the castle to see the fortifications, made themselves acquainted with the jailer, and having desired permission to walk within the castle the next day, they returned to their lodging. They repeated their visits frequently, each time conversing familiarly with the jailer, and sometimes making him little presents. By degrees they gained his confidence, and one day, as if by accident, asked him what prisoners he had under his care. He mentioned the name of La Fayette; without discovering any surprise, they expressed a curiosity to know how he passed his time, aud what indulgencies he enjoyed; they were informed that he was strictly confined, but was permitted to take exercise without the walls with proper attendants, and, besides, was allowed the use of books and pen, ink, and paper. They said, that as they had some new publications with them, it might add to his amusement if they were to lend them to him, and desired to know if they might make the offer. The jailer said he thought there could be no objection, provided the books were delivered open to him (the jailer), so that he might see there was nothing improper in their contents. With this caution they complied, and the same evening sent a book and a note to the jailer, addressed to La Fayette, written in French; who, though he did not understand that language (as it afterward appeared), yet did not suspect any treachery where everything was conducted so openly. The n contained apologies for the

liberty they had taken; but as they wished in any way to contribute to his happiness, they hoped he would attentively read the book they had sent, and if any passages in it particularly engaged his notice, they begged he would let them know his opinion. He received the note, and finding it was not expressed in the usual mode of complimentary letters, conceived that more was meant than met the eye. He therefore carefully perused the book, and found in certain places words written with a pencil, which, being put together acquainted him with the names, qualities, and designs of the writers, and requiring his sentiments before they should proceed any further. He returned the book, and with it an open note, thanking them, and adding, that he highly approved of and was much charmed with its contents.

Having thus begun a correspondence, seldom a day passed but open-notes passed between them, some of which the jailer showed to persons who could read them; but, as nothing appeared that could create any suspicion, the correspondence was permitted.

Their plan being at length arranged, the particulars were written with lemon juice, and on the other side of the paper a letter of inquiry after La Fayette's health, concluding with these words: Quand vous aurez lu ce billet, mettez le au feu (instead of dans le feu). By holding the paper to the fire the letters appeared and he was made acquainted with every ar

rangement they had made. The day following was fixed upon to put the plan into execution. The city of Olmutz is situated about thirty miles from the frontiers of Silesia, in the midst of a plain, which, taking the town as its center, extends three miles each way. The plain is bounded by rising ground, covered with bushes and broken rocks; so that a man standing on the walls might distinctly see everything that passed on the plain. Sentinels were placed for the purpose of giving an alarm when any prisoner was attempting to escape, and all people were ordered to assist in retaking him; great rewards were likewise due to the person who arrested a prisoner. It seemed therefore scarcely possible to succeed in such an attempt. Aware of these difficulties, Bollman and Huger were not intimidated, but took their measures with the greater caution.

Under pretense that his health required air and exercise, La Fayette had obtained permission to ride out upon the plain every day in an open cabriolet, accompanied by an officer, and attended by an armed soldier, who mounted behind by way of guard. During these excursions he had gained the confidence of the officer so far, that when the carriage was at a distance from the walls they used to quit it, and walk together.

The plan determined upon was this: Bollman and Huger were to ride out of town on horseback, the latter leading a third horse; as neither of them knew La Fayette, a signal was agreed upon at their meeting. La Fayette was to endeavor to gain as great a distance as possible from the town, and, as usual, to quit the carriage with the officer, and draw him imperceptibly as far from it as he could, without exciting his suspicions. The two friends were then to approach, and, if necessary, to overpower the officer, mount La Fayette upon the horse Huger led, and ride away to Beautropp, fifteen miles distant, where a chaise and horses awaited to convey them to Trappaw, the nearest town within the Prussian dominions, about thirty miles from Olmutz, where they would be safe from pursuit. In the morning Huger sent his trusty servant to endeavor to learn the precise time that La Fayette left the castle. After a tedious delay, he returned, and told them that the carriage had just passed the gates.

With agitated hearts they set out; having gained the plain, they could perceive no carriage; they rode slowly on, till they had nearly reached the woody country, but still no carriage appeared. Alarmed lest some unforeseen accident should have led to a discovery, they hesitated; but, recollecting that their motions might be distinctly seen from the walls, they retraced their steps, and had arrived at a short distance from the town, when they beheld the long wished for cabriolet pass through the gates, with two persons in it, one in the Austrian uniform, and a musqueteer mounted behind. On passing, they gave the preconcerted signal, which was returned, and the carriage moved on. They continued their ride toward the town, then turned, and slowly followed the carriage. They loitered, in order to give La Fayette time to execute his part of the agreement. They observed the two gentlemen descend from the carriage, and walk from it arm-in-arm. They approached gradually, and perceiving that La Fayette and the officer appeared to be engaged in earnest conversation about the officer's sword, which La Fayette had at the time in his hand, they thought this the favorable moment, and put spurs to their horses. The noise of their approach