Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-06-23
MISCELLANY.
LAFAYETTE's FIRST VISIT TO AMERICA.
Extract ola letter to the Editor Of the Boston
Daiiy advertiser, dated
PARIS, JAN. 80.

PARIS, JAN. 80.
The following notice Of the distin-
euished individual who is now receiv-
ing from grateful people the reward
of his early devotion to the cause OF A
merican Liberty, may perhaps be &C
ceptable to the readers Of your paper
tits translated from "the Memoirs Of
the Count de Segur, written by himself,
work which has lately appeared in
this city. The author, who is still liv-
ing at Paris, was one of the officers who
went to America in 1882, with the re-
enforcement under the command Of NJ.
de la Touche. He has since filled ma
nv civil and diplomatic stations, and is
the autnor of several ingenious works
in history and politics. After describ-
ing the sensations produced in France
| by the arrival of the Commissioners
from Congress, M. de Segur proceeds:
"Silas Dean and Arthur Lee frank
" confessed that the aid of number
of we'll informed accomplished officers,
would be agreeable as well as useful to
them. They even told us that they
| were authorized to promise those of us
| who would embrace their cause, pro-
motion in proportion to their services.
"The American troops already num-
bered in their ranks several European
volunteers, whom the love ofglory and
of independence had led thither. The
most distinguished were two Poles,
whose names will be handed down to
posterity-thc brave Pulaski, and the
| iIIustrious Kosciusko, who has since
broken for a moment the chains OF his
country, and did not yield until, by his
repeated battles, and brilliant triumphs.
he had shaken the colossal power
which attacked it. To them may be
added Major Fleury, who, by his ia
Tents and successful courage, has done
honor to our country.
"The three first Frenchmen, dis.
tinguished by their rank at Court, who
offered their services 10 the Americans,
were the Marquis de LAFAYETTE, the
Viscount de Noailles, and myself. We
had long been united by friendship and
similarity Of tastes to which were soon
after added ties of blood. Lafayette
and Viscount de Noailles had married
daughters of the Duke de Noailles
then styled Duke D'Ayen; their mo-
Their the Duchess D'Ayen, was daugh'
ter by first marriage, Of D'Augesseau
He had by second marriage, twenty
years after, several children, one Of
whom was NJ. D'Augesseau, now a
Peerof France, daughter married to
| NJ. de Saron, president OF the Parlia'
ment of Paris; and another daughter
whom l married in the spring OF l777;
so that by this alliance / became uncle
to my two friends. We all promised to
keep secret our arrangements with the
American Commissioners, in order to
gain time to sound the disposition OF
the Court, and to get together the
means necessary for the execution OF
our project. The conformity which
existed between US in feelings, opln-
ions, & wishes, unhappily did not ex-
tend to our fortunes.-The Viscount
de Noailles and myself were depen-
dent on our parents, from whom we re-
ceived annual allowances. Lafayette,
on the contrary, although our junior
both in age and rank, found himself,
by a singular chance, at the age OF
nineteen, master of his property and
person, and independent possessor OF
one hundred thousand livres a year.
owe were too ardent to be long dis
Greet. We con6ded our plans to some
young men, whom we hoped dt to induce Cnn :,
to join our enterprise. The Court
got intelligence oft, and the Ministry,
alarmed, lest the departure OF voiun-