Angelica Desilles, a young lady of great gentleness and beauty, was condemned by mistake for her sister-in-law, for

MARQUIS DE LA ROUËRIE 33

whom, in consequence of similarity of name, she was taken. She refused to let the error be divulged to the Tribunal and died with serenity--a touching instance of heroic affection, which must for ever furnish a shining page for the dark annals of revolution. In person, the marquis de la Rouërie was above the middle size, of athletic form and dark complexion. A celebrated writer of his own country who knew him well, says of him that "his appearance and manners were elegant, his air was manly, his face intelligent and pleasing"; and adds that "he resembled the portraits of the young noblemen of the League." Educated from early life for the army, he was master of all those accomplishments in which it became a soldier to excel, and these he turned to good account in the formation of his American legion. He was a practised marksman with the rifle and pistol; used the sword with equal skill whether on foot or in the saddle, and in dexterous and elegant horseman-ship has seldom been surpassed. On his first arrival in America he laid aristocracy aside as a garment unsuited to the climate, and conforming at once to republican manners, so effectually concealed the advantages of his birth, that some of his intimates never knew of his title until near the conclusion of the revolutionary contest. Hence he was always known here only as Colonel or General Armand. After mastering the English language, he associated much among the country people with whom, in consequence of his affability and sprightliness, he became uncommonly popular. The urbanity of his manners induced many youths from the upper towns of Westchester to join his legion, and among the pilgrims of life yet left in that county, when this paper was written, one or two old associates still lingered who lamented the untimely death of the generous Frenchman and who never speak of him but in the voice of praise and affection.