332 THE FRENCH BLOOD IN AMERICA 



gifts, to which a well conducted education had added its 

 most useful as well as its elegant improvements. Though 

 his fortune and family entitled him to pre-eminence, yet 

 he was the warm friend of republican equality. Gener- 

 ous and liberal, his heart expended with genuine philan- 

 thropy. Zealous for the rights of humanity, he con- 

 tended that personal liberty was the birthright of every 

 human being, however diversified by country, colour or 

 capacity. His insinuating address won the hearts of all 

 his acquaintances ; his sincerity and virtue secured their 

 lasting esteem. Acting from the most honourable prin- 

 ciples — uniting the bravery and other talents of a great 

 officer with the knowledge of a complete scholar, and the 

 engaging manners of a well-bred gentleman, he was the 

 idol of his country — the glory of the army — and an orna- 

 ment of human nature. His abilities shone in the legis- 

 lature and in the cabinet, as well as in the field, and were 

 equal to the highest stations. His admiring country, 

 sensible of his rising merit, stood prepared to confer 

 ou him her most distinguished honours. Cut down in 

 the midst of all these prospects, he has left mankind to 

 deplore the calamities of war, which in the twenty -seventh 

 year of his life deprived society of so valuable a 

 citizen." 



Allowing something in this tribute to state pride and 

 the pathos of the event, there is no doubt that this youug 

 man was one of the best examples of the educated Amer- 

 icans of his day — American by birth and principle and 

 affection — yet the son of a French refugee, an exile for 

 religion and conscience. There was no better stock than 

 this out of which to make the true Americanism. 



VI 



Another brave French officer who gave his life for his 

 country was Major Benjamin Huger, whose ancestors 

 came to South Carolina in 1696. Daniel Huger, born in 

 the province of Poitoux, France, fled toLaRochelle dur- 



