Southern Christian Advocate

MISCELLANY.

TOUCHING INCIDENTS.

When Mr. Monroe was a minister from the United States, at Paris, and when Gen. Lafayette was confined in prison, at Olmutz, by the emperor of Austria, information was brought him that Madame Lafayette, the general's wife, was thrown into prison, and, no doubt in a few days, would follow the fate of her mother and grandmother at the guillotine. Mr. Monroe alone could save her: and as Paris was then in the hands of the mob, it could only be accomplished by exciting the sympathies of the people. The destruction of life had been such in the state of society where opulence was perceptible, that, to avoid certain death, all luxury and splendor were laid aside, and the wealthy, instead of riding in their equipages, either walked, or rode in the miserable vehicles of the city. It therefore created a great sensation when the splendid equipage of the American minister's carriage appeared at the gate of the prison, and his lady informed the keeper that she had come to see the wife of General Lafayette. Such a call at such a time was like electricity, like life from the dead. The news spread in all directions; and before Mrs. Monroe drove from the prison, thousands had collected round her carriage, and the feelings elicited by the meeting of two such females in such a situation, arrested the axe of the executioner, and eventually set the captive free. The feelings of Col. Monroe cannot be realized during the absence of his wife. He could not accompany her, as that would have counteracted the feeling he knew must be awakened to save the prisoner. When Mrs. Monroe met Madame Lafayette, she was in a state of perfect frenzy, supposing that she was to be led out to execution; and when she found herself embraced by the lady of the American minister, within the walls of that gloomy prison, where, but a few days previously, had been led forth to execution her mother and grandmother, it was a long time before she could realize her situation. Mrs. Monroe assured her she should be saved and that her husband had determined to risk all, if it should become necessary, to accomplish her deliverance.—Social Monitor.