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THE WIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 503 arms their first child, the baby Henriette, who died while her father was still tossed upon the ocean. It was many months after his landing in America before he heard of his child's death, and lie kept writing letter after letter in which he begged his wife to kiss for him the infant whose lips were cold in the grave. His letters to her during his long absences in America were full of affection and ten- derness. He calls her his life, his love, and his dearest love. In the first letter written at sea, he tries once more to reconcile her to his departure. " If," said he, " you could know all that I have suffered, while thus flying from all I love best in the world ! Must I join to this affliction the grief of hearing that you do not pardon me ? " He endeavored to convince her that he was not in the least danger of so much as a graze from a British bullet. " Ask the opinion," said he, " of all general officers — and these are very numerous, because having once obtained that height, they are no longer exposed to any hazards." Then he turned to speak of herself and of their child. " Henrietta," said he, " is so delightful that she has made me in love with little girls." And then he prattled on with a happy blending of good feeling and good humor, until the darkness of the even- ing obliged him to lay aside the pen, as he had prudently forbidden the lighting of candles on board his ship. It was easy to write these long letters in the cabin of his vessel, but it was by no means easy to send them back across the ocean, traversed by English cruisers. When Madame de Lafayette received this letter their Henriette had been dead for nearly a year. He ran his career in America. He was domesticated with Gen. Washington. He was wounded at the battle of Brandywine. He passed the memorable winter at Valley Forge.