INTERESTING PARTICULARS RELATIVE TO LAFAYETTE'S FIRST EMBARKATION FOR THIS COUNTRY. Mr. De Bois Martin, a native of Saintonge in France, was commissioned as an officer of infantry by Louis XV. In 1770 he joined his regiment as captain, then stationed at Port au Prince, in the Island of St. Domingo, and in 1770 returned to France on the business of his regiment. Having discharged his duty, and being then in Paris, he met with an elder brother who was intimate with the Marquis de Lafayette, and who advised him to accompany the latter to America. An agreement was soon after entered into with Mr. Silas Dean, then American agent at Paris, (but not recognised by the French government) that the Marquis de Lafayette should serve as Major General, and all the other officers who might accompany the Marquis one rank higher than the one they held in the French army. The French government had been for a long time promising a vessel to Mr. Dean to convey these officers, but always put him off under some pretence or other. At length the Marquis determined to fit out a vessel at his own expense, and embark for America. He employed Mr. Du Bois Martin for that purpose, who went to Bordeaux and purchased a ship called "LA BONNE MERE," of about 400 tons, and fitted her out for the intended voyage. The ship was was commanded by captain Le Boursier. The Marquis and twelve or fifteen officers, including Mr. De Bois Martin, embarked at Bordeaux in the month of April, 1777, and after having resisted the barges sent by the Governor of Bordeaux to stop them, they first went to Passage, in Spain, and subsequently arrived off the coast of South Carolina in the early part of June 1777. Here the ship was dismasted, and was forced to anchor; the Marquis, with some officers, including Baron de Kalb, went on shore, leaving the ship to her fate. She, however, afterwards arrived safe at Charleston. The 228 ( FURTHER PARTICULARS, &C. American government did not confirm the agreement made with Mr. Dean in Paris-the services of the most of the officers were not accepted, and they returned to France. Mr. De Bois Martin embarked at Newburyport. It is to be observed, that all the gentlemen who accompanied the Marquis were men of rank and fortune who did not come to America as adventurers, but solely to serve the cause of liberty. Among them were Viscount de Monroy, Baron de Kalb, Chevaliers De Franval, De Fayette, De Vrigini, and a cousin of the Marquis. The object of stopping at Passage, was to consult the Count of Broglie, who advised the Marquis to depart as soon as possible. The Marquis' father-in-law, the Duke of Noallies, one of the most powerful noblemen in France, and who had perhaps more influence at court than any other man, severely reprimanded the Count of Broglie for having favoured the Boy's escape."-To which it is said the Count replied “ I assure your Grace that I only wish I had one hundred such boys." *It may be proper here to observe, that the note, giving Dr. Thacher credit |