Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-09-10

|
ing interesting fact respecting LA FArErrE -
In the course of familiar conversation with
one OF the most respectable citizens on Saturday,
and IN reply TO the question, What first inte-
rested the Marquis TO embark in the cause of the
liberty and independence of this country p, he
stated IN the most pleasant and interesting man
ncr, that while stationed in the Citadel of Metz,
only eighteen years of age, the Duke of Glou-
cester, then, on account of his marriage, wass
ex'led from the Court Of Great Britain cornrn,l-
| nicated in select company the information he
had received respecting the contest of the A.
Ineticans for their liberties and independence.
Tins account so very much interested him that
he left Metz for Paris, where he became &C
quancd with Silas Dean, Esq. the first agent
TO France from the American Congress: at this
time DIR. Franklin arrived at Paris, and after
obtaining the best information concerning the
state of this country, his ardent love of liberty
determined him TO embark his life and fortune
in the cause of American freedom
The following anecdotes and notices of Gen.
La Fayette we have collected from various pub
locations -.Neio York Observer.
His ioYe Of .4me,fca.--Very few Americans
have visited France far the last 40 wears ,v,Iout
calling upon him. He is always accessible In
them-bIs eye kindles whenever lie talks of
America - Why" SAID an American gentle
man, 'can you not come to live among us-to
iav your bones among people, who owe YOU so
much, and whose latest descendants will yane~s
rate your ashes.' La Fayette pointed to his
grandchildren around him-hc made no other
reply. They were the ties which bound him 10
France.
:. You are now in America said he to an in
teiigent Nrginian who was on visit at his
mouse. =" America" 6 Yes, this room is what
Call America" His guest looked around him.
and beleii scattered III every direction the to-
kens OF has country-maps of different states
the portraits ofour distinguished men of w ash
ington, Franklin, Henry, &c.-American books
the Electrical machine, with which the great
Franklin had made so many perinents-aI,d
winch ne had given as "a mark of respect to this
noble Frenchnan.
Has S'cord.-La Fayette preserves with the
utmost care the sword which was presented TO
hun by the American Congress. When the al
lIed troops were recently in the neighbourhood
OF Paris, fearful that il might be snaiched from
his possession, he deposited it in the safe keep
ing OF Mr.. Jackson, the American CHARGE des
affairs IN Paris. This sword bore upon it the
enhbiems of our nation. Upon the destruction
oil the Bastiie, the first key of this tremendous
edIhce was sent, at the instance of La Fayette.
as present to w ashngton. it now hangs in
the hall of Mount Vernon. The second key
was melted into this sword, thus uniting in the
same object the memorials of the struggles of
two great countries, the one then commencing
ITS revolution, the other having achieved it,
fI's personal aJ,I'earGnce.-I.a Fayette is now
about % years OF age; with fresh and vigorous
constitution for one of his years-thounh il
was severely tried in the dungeons of Olmutz.
He's full SIX feet high--has fine manly coun-
tenance, sandy complexion, and is lame in his
left leg He lost all his hair during his severe
confinement, and now wears scratch wig
li,s domestic ch0rdCter.--In his domestic cha.
racter and IN his style Of living the General re.
sembes one ofthe old patriarchs
His two daughters, and his two sons, and their
respective families, live with this usirious man
at his Castle of La Grange. gentleman who
spent week at his house, few wears since.
says, they have thirteen children-correspond
ing III number, to that Of the old United States.
and most OF them marked in their names with
something American. His two daughters are
named Virginia and Carolina. La Fayette is
Their head-thelr protector-the being of all o.
theirs on earth, cndcared to them by a thousand
ties. He has only been once married. Az the
age OF 10 he left the arms Of his wife, and the
sweets OF nome, 10 fight for people to whom he
was not known, and who had no claims upon
hlm but he felt for their wrongs, and he was de-
termined, in opposition to the wishes of his
friends, to battle for liberty in the new world
Notwithstanding the strongest affection bound
him to his wife. She shared his dungeon with
him; sacrificed her life, in fact for her Affection
ale husbands; and to this dav he makes It ss5
cred and invariable rule toabandon the pleasures
of society, on the anniversary week ofhis wife,s
dissolution. s'You must not co. this week. IN
La Grange, (said the American consul to hrs
friend) il is the week devoted to the memory Of
his lamented wife"
Whenever he walks into the fields he gene
rally takes one of his grand children with him.
He amuses himself with their prattiing, Joins IN
their little SPORTS and contributes to their hap
piness. Such is the man, whose name fills the
whole of Europe with his fame-the man who
has contributed to establish the Liberties of the
new world,