Star.
London, England, 1818-10-08 00:00:00

pirrscusicit, AUGUST it.

Faexert COLONY IN.ThAAL—L.LeChartilis !
how romantic, how innocctt, how onsophisticted,
are these modern French. Le Champs d'Asile I the
fields of refuge, worda.worjty of Chatecasthriand.ia
his happiest omic:ins, Oren Aiala,tiractas, and the
hermit, in the bosom of an American forest, breathe
around the primitive characteristics of sublimity and
love. Such is the name given by a certain French con
lony to a military establishment in the provincb of
Texas, which will probably fall within our bounda-
ries. The members of this colony made a great nbisd
about fifteen months ago ; they had, in fancy, fortried
A perfect Eutopia, and built their capital, avhich,
under the intlaencc of that kind of wild Republi-
canism which has more than once disfigured France,
they called Demopolis. Their plan was most fasci-
nating, their constitution most liberal, and their co-
lony was to surpass every thing that has !•een thought
of since the days of Plato, the systems of SirYlunnas
Moore, and the Rev. Fenelon, and the eccentric Lee
inclusive. The vine, the fig-tree, and the olive, wet e
to bloom beside the 'orange, and the laughing scenes
of the vintage were to be translated from the fields
of Languedoc to the plains of Alabama. These de-
lusive dreams have vanished, and our Arcadian co.
lony has suddenly been metamorphosed into a band
of land-jobbers. We regret that Congress had not
made the grant a conditional one. For our part, v..e
have never entertained much confidence in these as-
sociations, where general officers and men of science
are the pioneers. Government ought to encourage
the emigration of this last class as much as possible,
but we doubt whether giving them wild lands be the
proper plan. We should Lawler offering this kind of
property to the labouring classes of Irish and Cer •
mans who may emigrate to our shores. This popu-
lation would suit our frontiers much better than the
cohorts and military establishments of Messrs. L'Al•
lemand and Co. This colony, since their arrival in
Texas, have published a kind of constitution or ex-
pose of their system of Government. Among other
things they promise to respect religion. As to this
article we are a little sceptical.
We had the honour of an acquaintance with many
of these gentlemen, on their way to Orleans ; and,
although their science, fondness for literature, and
polished manners, left a pleasing impression on catr
minds, and excited, at timer, all our sympathies, yet
we consider it impossible, that the same persons who
actually made a jest of the whole Christian system
in Pittsburg, can treat it with seriousness in the
Champs d:Asile. We shall never forget these gay,
singing gentry; as they danced through our country
they were all animation ; but when they talk of
respecting religion, the thing becomes ludicrous.--
Their favourite work, which some of them carried
with them as Alexander did Homer, was Do Partly s
pm of " The War of the Gods." This production,
with due deference to Lady Morgan, is the mcer
abaminable and horrible burlesque on the Christian
doctrine that has been attempted, and could only
have been published in the year eight of the French
Republic, one and indivisible, the date of all the
title-pages we have seen. However, WC wish this mi-
litary colony success; but, instead of cohorts and
i arms, we recommend to them a little common sense
as the best ingredient we know of in every institution.
We also hope they will not bother their neighbours
1 with their ventese or their o: any other new-
fangled doctrine, all of wlrch we hold in aversion.