The New Hampshire Gazette

With what feelings, says the National Gazette, must the government of Austria view the present situation of Lafayette, whom it so long held as a malefactor in a dungeon! It is related of Franklin, that when he signed at Paris the treaty of alliance between the United States and France, he put on the same coat which he wore when he was grossly insulted by Wedderburne and the Lords of the Privy Council, in London. If Lafayette has retained the suit in which he escaped from Olmutz, he might resume it by the side of Paul when the Austrian Ambassador has his first audience of the citizen king.—N. York Gaz.

Gen. Lafayette [we shall never tire of perusing the records of his deeds and of his glory, and we feel assured our readers have the same feeling with ourselves] appears to be the theme, not only of the Parisian journals, but most of the prints in Great Britain. The following is related in a published Paris letter dated in Paris, August 18;—

"Gen. Lafayette is named Commandant General of all the National Guards of the Kingdom. This was due to his age—to his attachment to liberty—to him as the founder of the Revolution!—and above all, as the man most qualified, by his well-deserved and universal popularity in France, to command respect and attention. The National Guards are longer forming some of their battalions than was expected, but Sunday next is definitively fixed for the Grand Review at the Champ de Mars. The King and Royal Family will be present, and I shall not fail to witness this great national festival—this triumph of the people and of the principles of 1789."

The subject of the abolition of the punishment of death was considered in the French Chamber of Deputies on the 17th August. Gen. Lafayette made the following speech on the occasion,—characterised with his usual humanity and philanthropy :—

"I conceive that the abolition of the penalty of death is a new principle, or rather a sentiment that ought to be at once examined: It is no new idea that is now laid before you—the abolition of this penalty has been called for at every period; it was demanded by some highly respectable Members of the Constituent Assembly, by Adrien Duport; it was demanded by the father of our honorable Friends the Author of the Commentary on Montesquieu. How deeply have we all to regret that it had not been abolished ages back! It is in the present day loudly called for in the United States of America. From this, Gentlemen, you will perceive that many have formed a decided opinion upon the subject. For my own part, I shall demand the abolition of the penalty of death, until I am convinced that human judgment is infallible. What frightful use of this penalty was made during our former revolutions! The reflection fills my soul with horror. No man I believe, ever made use of it during these disastrous times, without afterwards wishing it were possible he could redeem with his own blood the condemnations in which he had joined. But our present revolution has a character of generosity as well as of patriotism, and it would adorn its commencement were we to consummate this great act of humanity. I therefore, vote for its being taken into consideration,"

The question does not appear to have been fairly acted upon.

In connection with this subject a Paris letter-writer observes:

I must direct your attention above all to the proposition of abolishing the punishment of death:—Lafayette gave a distinguishing proof of the real nature of his spirit, by seconding, in a time of revolution, the abolishment of this penalty. He is no dealer in men's lives—no barterer after blood. He saved Louis XVI. from the fury of a mob—Charles X. from destruction—the State from anarchy, and now he would even protect from an ignominious death the authors of those fatal Ordinances which have produced the shedding of so much blood, and left so many to mourn over the loss of husband—father—friend.—France is about erecting to Lafayette a splendid monument—but posterity will do more than this—our grand children will call him the Saviour of the Liberties of France.