Newspaper Page Text
SOUTHERN
RECORDER.
*V0L. JI-
am
MILLEDGEVILLE, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1821.
No. 40.
PUBLISHED WEEKLY,
On Hancock Street, opposite. the Auction Starr,
B¥ S. GRANT LAM) if 11. M. ORME,
AT TUUF.F. HOLLARS, IN ADVANCE, OR FOUR
DOLLARS AT THE EXPIRATION OF THf
TEAR.
tnr Advertisements *cqAspie«ousiy inifrtcd
»t tbo customary rirtrk. • Mdcis on business, In
nil cases, mint he post paid.
GOVERNOR’S MENAGE.
Executive Department, Geo. )
Milledgtville, Gth Nov. 1821. J
Fsllow-t'iliseni of the Subtle
and House of liipreicnlnlirti;
You have again convened as the reprC'
tentative* of the people, clothed with
the authority of legislating for the gene-
fal good. Regarding the period as aus
picious, I indulge the hope that it will
be zealously improved in giving strength
nnd durability to those institutions which
it is the pride and the duty of every pa
triot and philanthropist to cherish. You
have intrusted to you the destinies of a
rich and rising state ; rich in her genius
nnd resources, and rising in her conse
quence and importance as a member of
the Union.
The constitution, in distributing its
requirements, has made it the duty of
the Executive to “ give to the General
Assembly from time to tio>e, information
of the state of the republic, nnd recom
mend to their consideration such mea
sures as he may deem necessary and ex
pedient.” In obedience to this com
mand, I proceed to lay before you such
subjects as present themselves to my
l%ind, as being proper for legislative
consideration. In a state like ours, un
dergoing continual changes on account
of the extension of its limits, much local
Jegislation is made necessary, which
might otherwise be avoided. The lead
ing points to which your attention
<o be more particularly turned *af thi
time, appear to me, to be Pifblic Educd
tion and Internal Improvement. To de
fine the objects, and to traCe’tfie effects
of these, would be an unqfffcessary labor,
because they are already obvious to e-
very attentive and observing mind.
that the first should not be overlooked
or forgotten, those who have gone be
fore us, have directed in the 13th sec
tion ofihe 4th article of the constitution,
that “ the arts and sciences shall be pro
moted in one or more seminaries of learn
ing and the legislature shall as soon as
conveniently may be, gitfc such further
donations and privileges to those already
established as may be necessary to se
cure the objects of their institution”—
Here an obligation is imposed, the wis
dom of which becomes the more mani
fest, when we consider the characters
of those who founded our republic, and
the concurring opinions of distinguished
statesmen of the present day. But a still
higher sanction is derived from the fa
ther of our republic, who has said, ‘‘that
in proportion as the structure of go
vernment gives weight to public opinion,
it is essential that public opinion should
be enlightened.” Under the influence
of principles like these, the endowment
of a University and of County Acade
mics, has at different periods, been at
tempted by the legislature. It is a fact
however, much to be lamented, that our
literary Institutions have not as yet an
swered tfie expectations of their benevo
lent founders. The reason perhaps may
be found in a want of age and experience,
&. in a disproportion between the means
furnished and the ends intended. Ve
have now, 1 consider, passed beyond the
embarrassments of lite first, and our in
creasing resources are sufficient to ob
viate the last. The legislature of 1817,
noting under this belief, appropriated the
sum of 250 thousand dollars (or the fu
ture establishment and support of Free
Schools throughout the state. This fund
has been increased by the addition of
lands designated in an act of 1818. Th
system of free schools seems to have
been ingrafted on the original scheme as
suggested in the constitution. While 1
con-iderit more benevolent in design, I
fear it will be more difficult to be earned
into effect. With a view to a further
ance of the plan, a committee was ap
pointed at the last annual session, to pre
pare, arrange, nnd digest a system for
free schools, and to report the same to
the House of Representatives on or be
fore the 10th day of the present month
7,ooking to this committee for an exami
nation of the subject in detail, I indulge
the hope that such result will be fur
nished as will operate to the general dif
fusion of knowledge amongst the desti
tute part of our population. The re
sources of the state when reduced to our
control will be sufficient to support the
most liberal encouragement ot the U-
niversitv, Countv Academies, Private
Schools*, and Internal Improvement.—
For the advancement of these objects,
resources were created and to these they
ought to be applied.
You will discover from a report ot the
Surveyor General herewith transmitted,
that fifty I 0 ** subject to be drawn for in
the last lottery, remain undisposed ot.—
These together with districts 12, and
13 in Appling county, and the very valu
able fractions and reserves furnished t>v
Ifco lands lately acquired, form a lund
with which the Legislature may conduct
an extensive enterprise of any descrip
tion for the respectability of the State am.
the good of the community.
In connexion with this subject, nmi
in compliance with the requests of tin
Legislatures of the States of Maryland
and New-Hampshire, 1 lay before you
resolutions of those Legislatures relating
to appropriations made by Copgress for
the purpose of education. These pro
ceedings are so sound in principle and so
ably supported, that I consider them en
titled to particular consideration.
Resolutions have been passed hereto
fore .in 1817 and 1810 directing an in
vestment of the Free School fund, nnd
the fund for internal improvement in safe
and profitable stock. These resolutions
have not been carried fully into effect.
The omission has arisen in part from the
difficulty of finding a sufficient amount
market which could be considered
both “ safe and profitable.” Although
the resolution did not .so direct, yet I
considered it good policy to make the in*
veslment in stock of the banks of our
own State. In looking to the condition
of those institutions, a great difference
is found to exist in the price of their
stock ; some at so great an advance be
yond par value, and others so much be
low it, as to render it equally imprudent
to purchase either. If individuals re
markable for the prudent management
of their funds, have well founded rea
sons to curtail their stock property,
those reasons become s}rong*‘r when ap
plied to this important appropriation.—
Rqt the present and future generations
being deeply interested in the product
of the Free School fund, it becomes mat
ter of concern that it should be so manag
ed, as to be safe and productive. How
Ibis is.tq^e effected will be for the Le-
"’slature to determine. By an exami-
a'tion of the charters of the different
banks, it will be easily ascertained which
iffords the most security, and experience
will settle the question as to profit. 1
would suggest it as matter of proper in
vestigation, whether the capital stock of
such ha'nk, could not be so enlarged as
to admit the investment of such funds ns
the state might wish id disjiose of in that
way.
The Internal Improvement of the
State, I consider as an object which well
deserves and will no doubt meet your
serious consideration. The state has
certainly acquired that strength and ma
turity which enables her to take efficient
measures upon a subject so immediately
connected with her future growth and
prosperity. The Extent of our territo
ry, the amount and value of its produc
tions, its capacity to afford a market fur
other States, render it a mutter of the
first consequence, that (lie facilities of
intercourse and transportation should be
as extensive as possible. The improve
ment of our highways through the agency
of road laws, lias had a fair experiment.
This lias been a fruitful subject of legis
lation, and but little benefit has resulted
to the community. In fact, the differ
ence between the effect produced by the
present road laws, and no laws at all,
would not, 1 consider, be very striking.
Whether the defect bo in the law or in
the want of its execution, the conse
quence to the community is ‘the same.—
Other states have made advances in this
department, highly to their credit, but
more conspicuously to their conveni
ence. Difficulties seemingly insurmount
able have been overcome, and points ori
ginally remote have been brought in near
connection. These great and desirable
objects lui7e been effected by the mentis
of Turnpikes and Navigation, In the
first, Georgia lias made no experiment,
and in (he latter her experiments have
in a great degree been unsuccessful.—
These lessons however in the school of
experience, will he profitable, and we
shall be able to proceed more advanta
geously for the future, by avoiding the
errors ofllie past. There are great nnd
leading market roads in the State, which
might he subjected to the Turnpike sys
tem, much to the convenience of the
community, and perhaps to the individu
al profit of those who might feel dispos
ed to embark in such an enterprise. I
am of opinion that such a work would
succeed best by the incorporation of
companies, and by uniting the funds and
exertions of individuals with those ofthe
State. In any plan of internal improve
ment, much aid was anticipated by th
more important, that they should tie such
.* to form a sale reliance. A wasteful
se of the public treasure has already
iccurred by large expenditures on use-
ess or impraticnhle works, founded on
loose and erroneous calculations. The
improvements which are progressing up-
n'the Savanuah, Tugalo, and Oconee
i ivers, will be more fully explained to
you by the documents herewith trans
mitted, containing a correspondence with
Mis Excellency the.Governor of South
Carolina, and the reports of different
boards of commissioners. The policy
of that state seems to bn liberal and en
ergetic, and 1 should hope that none o-
ther will be adopted by Georgia,
Proceedings are still pending in the
district court of the United States, in re
lation to certain Africans introduced into
the stale in violation of law. For a
time these proceedings were delayed by
claims interposed by illium Bowen and
Miguel De Castro. Upon the dismissal
of these claims, it was hoped that no fur
ther obstacle to a speedy decision would
have presented itself. But while mi al
legation was in progress, at the .instance
ofthe state, for the purpose ofa condem
nation ofthe property, a new and unex
pected claim has made its appearance in
the name of John Madrazo, seeking a re
covery of the negroes on hand, and tin-
proceeds pf those that have been sold.
For want of such condemnation, the re
solution ofthe last Lfgi-lt’.ire, directing
a disposition ofthe Africans lias not been
complied with. This last claim having
been represented to me by the counsel
employed, as being prosecuted by coun
sel, able and numerous, to wit: jVIessr*.
Harris, Charlton, Bulloch, Wayne and
Wilde, 1 have engaged the services of
assistant counsel, Messrs Davies and
Law, and directed an early determina
tion of the case, From a late interview
with Judge Davies, I have reason to ex
pect a decision on the second Tuesday of
the present month. But from thp inven
tion of those claiming to he interested it
may be protracted still longer.
I communicate to you the proceedings
of the Legislature of the state of Ohio
upon the subject of a contest be^veen
the Bank of the U. Stales and certain of
ficers of that state.
The fund arising from the sale of frac
tions, in the ycat's 180G and 1807, has
been so delayed in ils collection, as that
considerable loss is expected. For fur
ther information, I refer you to a cor
respondence with the Solicitor-General
of this circuit, nnd with John W. Bur
ney, Esquire, a copy of winch is commu
nicated.
Soon after the adjournment of the
extra session ofthe Legislature in May
lust, ns directed bv .resolution, I wrote
to the Secretary of War, w ith n view to
obtain nn enlargement ofthe instructions
issued to James j\ l’reston, Esquire, the
commissioner appointed by the Presi
dent to settle the «laims of our citizens
against the Creek Nation, under the late
Treaty made at III.- Indian Springs. I
transmit you a copy ofthe letter and toe
reply. The commissioner proceeding
under the enlarged instructions, has been
for some time at Athens, and ns I am in
formed, has acted on a large amount of
citizens claims. Claimants are still pre
senting themselves, an ! I consider it pro
per that the commission should continue
open in this state nr elsewhere, to meet
the exigencies of those who have not
come in, either from want "I nif -rmation,
or, from the difficulty of procuring tesli-
monv. It is matter of congratulation thin
demands* so just and so old, are about to
be ascertained and satisfied.
The G/ivernor* of Alabama and Ten
nessee have been written to upon the
subject of a further acquisition of terri
tory. The subject i* deeply interesting
to the state, and to the individuals who
compose it. Until we stand upon the
whole ofthe territory whicli we own and
carry our settlements to nur ultimate
limits, any general and permanent sys
tem of pub|ic .improvement will be at
tended with difficulties and measurably
retarded.—Copies of the letters above
alluded to ere laid before you.
A statement of warrants drawn on the
Treasurer, during the political year
eighteen hundred nnd twenty-one, and a
list of Executive appointments accompa
ny this message.
Two statements, one by the President
ofthe State Bank, and the other by t!i<
President of the Darien Bank, as requir-
be serviceable to his country, and to g ve
efficient oppositon to some great and
leading measures, by the success of
w hich, it is believ ed, the southern inter
ests would have been materially affected.
The appointment of a successor will de
volve on you, and it is desirable, that it
should be made us early as convenient.
A question of some magnitude lias late
ly been submitted by the Legislature to
the decision ofthe people. A statement
ofthe result you will find annexed, by
which it appears that a large majority
are opposed to n convention,
The constitution under which we live
has been in operation near twenty four
years. It was formed it is true, when
the state of otr country was compara
tively rude nnd uncultivated, yet parta
king of the republicanism for which our
fathers fought, it has led us to an eleva
tion from which we have a full view of
our growing prosperity. In these times
of public excitement, I am ofopiuion that
the people have derided rightly in not
committing their safety fo the storm.—
It cannot be supposed this public ex
citement has escaped my attention, and no
man more than myself regrets its extent,
and the painful feuds whieli it has pro
duced. This regret would be greatly
heightened, if. upon a dispassionate re
view ofthe whole ground, I could be-,
live that the cause of such dissentiofi,
could iie properly attributed to myself.
The impartial observer must have dis
covered the true source,and having done
«n, must be prepared to acquit me of all
accountability. It is n > matter of sur
prize that parties should exist, for tliov
are always to ho found where Ike people
are frep ; and no evil is to be appre
hended until tliev degenerate into faction.
When this occurs, the public good gives
way to the unworthy feelings of disap
pointed ambition. Amid the struggles
which have taken place for some time
past, we have heard an honest difference
of opinion temperately expressed, we
hjjve seen the warmer conflicts of pkrtv,
and we have seen too, some ofthe works
of faction. 'The traces of the latter arc
to be found in some of the attempts
which have been made to disparage mv
administration. Oftbischaracter, I view
111 o«o proceedings* which, in the pretends
eil form of legislative privilege, and in
language heated and imiecorous, express
a censure of one of my official acts, as
being “ a departure from the essential
limits of the constitution.” This act
may have contained too much of energy.
Si produced loo much good to accord with
the views and wishes of some,.yet I feel
that it is consistent “ with the unaitcra
file principles intended for.nil times,”
and shall have no fears in submitting it
to Hie decision of the wise and unpreju
diced. I was a Georgian before the con
stitution was formed, and have reason to
remember some ofthe events which gave
it birth. 1 have witnessed its growth ;
and in its maturity was called to admin
ister it. I have done eo, with a consci
entious regard to its principles mid the
sanctity of its character, and with a zeal
ous endeavor to advance the interest of
the community. That I may have erred,
T shall not deny, & from error thorn are
none except. My constitutional term of
service is about to ex [lire ; I return my
gr-itetul acknowledgments for the dig
nified trust so honorably conferred, and
hoping that under the influence of har
mony and good feeling, you mqy legislate
to the advancement of public education,
internal improvement, good order and
virtue.
1 a.n your fellow-citizen,
JOHN CLARK.
Legislature from the appointment of °d by resolution, arc in the Executive
an Engineer. No appointment, how
ever. has yet been made. I lav before
von the correspondence which has born
had upon the subject, by which yon will
be the better enabled to determine wheth
er the office should have been conferred,
or for the present withheld. For the
past year no satisfactory survey could
have been made, of any of our rivers on
account ofthe continual rains by which
they have been flooded. The law cre
ating this office provides a competent sa
lary, to attract the attention cf one of
competent genius nnd practical informa
tion, and none other ought to be select
ed. Upon his draughts, reports and es
Office, subject to your examination.
The printing of the Digest compiled
bv L. Q. C. Lamar, Esquire, under the
authority of the state, has been contrac
ted Jo.be performed by T. S. Hannon.—
Bv the contract, (he delivery of the re
quisite number of copies, wn» to take
place by the first day of March next, yet
1 have assurances that tfie books will be
ready for distribution in the course of
your present session.
By the copy of a letter herewith com
municated, yon will lie informed, that the
Hon. Freeman Walker, has resigned his
seat in the Senate ofthe United States.
This resignation is to be regretted, that
iimates. it is probable much legislation j gentleman having been enabled by his
would be founded. It is therefore the [ talents, and disposed from principle, to
SfiKTlY CAKOI.I.NA SCKKFnV. _
THK VALE OF JOCASSA AND TJIE
WHITE W \TF.It.
We have been lavureil by Professor Pi.ack-
mjRN with a perusal nf his Southern Hom
ines, containing his notes nude during a
tour through the state in till. 1 !, from whieli
we extract an animated and poetic des
cription of the Yule of Jocasaa and the
While Water, situated in Greenville dis
trict. It cannot fail to prove interesting
to the lover of rich imagery nnd beautiful
description. We shall make some fur
ther extracts from the MS in our future
numbers.—Telescope.
“ F rom our camp near the Cliatuga,
one of the head waters of the Savanuah,
in lat. 35 deg. N. I made tin excursion
to vi-it the vale of'Jocassa. It was only
four miles distant, but a mountain inter
vened which compelled my banter guide
to make a circuit often or a dozen miles,
crossing deep and narrow glens, ami
winding along the to^s o'f ridges, the as
cents and descents of which were so ab
rupt, as fiequently to oblige us to dis
mount ; at length, after a very tire
some rout, we reached the vale.
“ This tiny Arcadia is about four miles
in length, aud from a quarter to n half a
mile wide. The land is rich and well
timbered ; the beech and American pop
lar, in particular, large and beautiful.
If is watered by the Jocassa, which re
ceives the White Water near the north*
ern extreme of the vale. The White
Water precipitates itself over a succes
sion of falls extending a few miles, roar
ing through the infracted rocks, dashed
from steep to steep, and foaming till it at
length reaches a more quiet though still
stony bed, and rolls its pure trauslucent
stream along the vale. ■
*‘ This vale contains seven families,
who have settled here within the Iasi
two years ; they are properly speaking,
without any legal jurisdiction, as they
live within the Indian territory. They
dwell in small leg cabins meanly built, us
they are all new settlers. Some of the
comforts, and indeed, nearly,all the lux
uries of life are in a measure excluded.
They live ou bread, milk and tlesh, wild
or tame, but most generally the spoil of
the chase. They have neither lawyer
nor physician, for they need ho law, nnd
the medicinal plants of their mountain*,
are amply sufficient for their scanty list
of diseases. One supreme blessing too
is theirs—they have not a slave amongst
them. They are clothed in the work of
their own hands, for they ply the busy
wheel and shuttle, and the deer supplies
the inocasius, the leggins, and not uufre-
quentlv the vest of'tlie hunter,
“ A little learning too is theirs, though
not to them “ a dangerous thing ;” near
to the village school, and in a grove of
lofty overshadowing trees, we found the
boys tit play, in the noonday recess.—
The less confident retired, tint peeped
at the. strangers from their sylvan retreat.
Happy people, secluded from the ills of
polished and luxurious life ! '
“ The villi* y is encompassed by hills
and mountains, so rough and precipitous
that it is inaccessible, except by two oi
three steep winding paths, and the en
circling lulls so high that the clouds sit
upon their summits* and seem to spread
their w ings, to slihde the favored and se
questered spot.
“The view of Jocassa, as I looked
down into it on my approach, reminded
me of the rural prison of Russulas. prince
of Abyssinia ; but this was no prison—as
finer imago - presented itself I thought ifl
Milton’s paradise, guarded by high um
brageous walls, and watered by delicious
streams, the sweet abode of innocence
nnd peace.
“ The stream called the Devil'i Fork,
enters the valley near the south end, and
mingles with the Jocassa. It is so named
fmm the deep glens nnd dark entangled
shades through which it flows; fit haunts,
in rustic estimation, for demons and ge
nii. Nor is this little spot without some
claim to the historian’s notice ; for here
stood once an Indian village, but the
white destroyer came, and the Indian fell
by bis rWord. Even now the hunter
points where the red warrior bled, nnd
-‘hows his grave. At the south end the
valley narrows to a defile ; the Indians
hud fortified tfie puss with aldiutlas, but
left the river open ; our troops advanc
ed in silence under cover of the night,
killed the watchman whom they found a-
sleep, pushed up the stream and des
troyed the town.
“ Having had n glimpse of the White
Water Pall from about six miles dietant*
I concluded that a close view of it must
be highly interesting. A few gentlemen
of our company and myself formed a par
ty to visit, at the same time, the valley
and the fall. Wo set out from Major
M’Kenhe’s, the last bouse in South Car
olina, and pursued our rout along the
margin of the Teiaway, in a path acces
sible only to horsemen or foot passen
gers. On nur right the -Texnwny rolled
its pellucid current over a pebbly bed,
in pleasing murmurs ; and on our left
rose almost perpendicularly the rocks
and hills, covered with evergreens : the
Rhododendron, the Kalinin, &t the Mag
nolia, wildly and beautifully luxuriant.—
In the valley we procured guides to
lead us to the foot ofthe falls.
“ The White Water derives its name
from its numerous cataracts ; that one
by which it flings itself into the vale, is
trnnscendantly beautiful. At one place
railed the Fitch, the water rolls over an
even ledge of rucks, forming an uncom
monly elegant cascade, about twenty feet
perpendicular, and creating a wind that
keeps the foliage below in constant mo
tion. 'The brilliant whiteness of tlie wa
ter through ils whole descent, contrasted
with the hues of the surrounding scene-
rv,- has an uncommon effect, and justi
fies the appellation by which the river
is distinguished.
“ In describing such a scene of beau
ty, one feels at a loss for adequate words
nnd images. Some compared it to cot
ton thrown from a machine, some to a
river of milk ; but it would be in my
opinion, no easy task to convey a correct
idea of it in language or in painting. 1
found the whole scene suited to produce
agreeable emotions, and I became a po
et.
“ Ah who can forbear that sweet valley to
praise,
Thro’ which the Jocassa meandering strays;
Embosom'd in mountains—delightful retreat,
Where llenllli nnd Contentment have chosen
their sent ;
Where law is unknown, as In primitive times,
Ere wealth was ador'd, fertile parent of crimes;
Where freedom, like air, is iu nature’s free
plain,
The choicest of blessings bestow’d upon man.
And thou lovely White Water, wlmt pencil
can shew,
The beauties display'd by tby bosom of snow!
Niagara may boast of the grand end sublime,
But thou dost the pleasing and awful combine;
Language fails to express, nor can fancy con
ceive
So charming a tight as the, wild dashing wave*
Jocassa sweet strrain, may thy banks cvai tsi
From the evils of vice and luxury free.
The valley is about twenty miles wont
of Tuble Rock, and- though not worth a
long voyage, is certainly worth n trf|g
from Charleston. Should the rhyirtot
be objected to, let it he understood that
in the college of Eutopiu, .during iny ap
prenticeship, my masters taught me rfo*
thing but am*ilgaitis, gaase«, fulmiiiations,
detonations, nod » heap About how I Was
to distinguish a quqyn Anne farthing from
a medal of Olho, mighty useful matters
to be sure in our swamps, but very poor
,-ibulum for a mind susceptible of the
beauties of Akenside and Campbell.
“ I would not hnve it (bought that 1
am toy romantic. It is a long lime since
v e had shepherds and shepherdesses.
Snivelling .Philips’ pastorals are nut of
fashion, but we have pastoral life upon a
bolder aud more manly scale. I do uot
think that any of our seaboard folks have
a right notion of a hunter by trade, It
would scare them a little to see a jellozn
slip the hide from a bear and then slip
himself into it, the whole ready in-ide
suit iu one piece, to fit body, legs and
urins, without the. aid of Mr. Shears cud
thimble. Robinson Crusoe was a mere
clown compared-with this sort of dandy.
LATESV OF lTfAYETTE.
The following is on ejrtr.rt from a letter dated
Far is, .Ipril tUttn, 1821.
My dear Friend :—IVe have jilst re
turned from a visit w hich has given us
mnrh pleasure. This you will readily
believe when I tell you it was (o tbo
Marquis de La Fayette—a name which
will ever be deep to Americans, associa
ted as it is with'that oftlu* Fattier of our
Country. We were received by him
with the kindness.and courtly affability
for which be is so much distinguished.-^
Although tie is non* approaching three
score and ten, yet his gait nnd motions
have the sprightliness, and agility qf a
man of thirty, with the exception, how
ever, ofa Might laovenes* in one hip. oc
casioned by a fall, lie is quite tall, be
ing full six feet, if not more—firmly, ra
ther than elegantly built—large hut not
corpulent. His upright figure, broad
shoulders and prompt manner, show that
there is still something of the soldier left.
He has fine hazle eyes, to appearance
entirely unimpaired by age, alternately
flashing with (he fire of intelligence, or
softening into the mild expression nf
kindness—projecting eye-brows, n high
long nose bordering upon ucquiline and
yet rather fleshy—very fine teeth, and
a healthy countenance.
His dress was entirely unornamented,
and without any badge of nobility, con
sisting of a short grey surtout with co
vered buttons, a white vest, blue panta
loons, his linen being without ruffs, und
his cravat carelessly Tied in a single knot.
His residence is very respectably, yet
plainly and characteristically furnished ;
hud the room Where we were, wa« de
corated in a manucr a little calculated to
flatter our vanity. On one side of tho
door hung the Declaration of the Righte
of French citizens,.as established iu ’89,
exhibited on a single sheet, and set in a
plain frame ; on the other side of tha
door, was the Constitution ofthe United
States, similarly executed and framed ;
and Mthi nttle distance from this, was a
fine print of Caunra’s statue of Wash
ington, vvhich I had recently seen at
Rome. In reply to an enquiry respect
ing the strength of the likeness, the
Marquis,said in English which he speaks
quite welr^ thdthe thought it very good,
abating for the‘'artist’s desire to make
as perfectit piece of sculpture as possi
ble. He showed us, however, a bas re
lief in goldTipon the lid of a snuff box,
which he said he considered the best
likeness he had ever seen ofthe “Ge
neral,” as he familiarly called him.—
Tliey both bear a strong resemblance to
those wo commonly see in our country,
and that on the box was very like the
one in the print ofthe “Washington Fa
mily,” with which you are familiar.
The Marquis manifested cunsiderahle
interest in the affairs of Naples and Pied
mont, and made several inquiries con
cerning them, observing however, that
their behaviour had shewn thenrunfit for
a better government. To a friend,
wliile conversing upoo the conduct of A-
merica to her revolutionary soldiers, he
remarked that hf had no reason to com
plain of ingratitude, and that the estate
he now enjoyed was the fruit of her flS-
nerosity. During the era of vicissitude#
and troubles in France, his own posses
sions and those of his lady were con
fiscated, and he was left almost entirely
without resources. Through the in
strumentality of Mr. Jefferson, than onr
envoy at the French Court, valuable and
saleable lands were allotted to him by
government for his services. With the
avails of these, he purchased back a part
of his wife’s patrimonial estate, the Cha
teau of La Grange Bless need, upon wi ‘
he lives in retiretnenf and <
ring the recess of the C
puties.'*
Of this hoda he is at;
ber, and, associated 1
stant, he has aj.