Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-05-24

talents in a chief of savages. They
proposed peace; my uncle was sent to
negotiate; and he completed the aston
ishment of the Spaniards, by speaking
to them in Latin. They put some
questions to this singular savage and
touched with his narrative, and char
med with the genius he displayed, they
offered to attach him to the Spanish
service, to which he consented, on con-
dition Of their making peace with the
savages. When the peace was conclu-
ded, he made his escape, and passed
into the service of Spain, where he con-
Quoted himselfso admirably, that he
made rich marriage, and in ten or
twelve years was appointed Governor
of Louisiana. He bought some fine
plantations, purchased a splendid Ii
brary, and lived there perfectly happy.
Afterwards he made voyage to France
when he found that his cruel mother
no longer existed. was then at the
Palais Royal, where he came almost
every day to dine with me: he had a
grave and melancholy air; his talents
were great, and his conversation of the
highest interest. Besides the extraor-
binary things he had witnessed, he had
read extensively and his memory was
astonishing. The serpents painted by
the savages upon his legs might be
seen through hissilk stockings, SO deep
" were they engraved. He showed
me his breasts, which were covered in
the same manner with large painted
flowers, of which the colors were very
vivid. / felt great admiration and ten
derness for this singular and excellent
person. He answered all my questions
briefly, but with exceeding mildness.
I have never known any one who said
So much in so few words. He had
preserved teader remembrance ofthe
savages and even oftheir way Of life.
He told me one thing which surprised
me he said that the generality Of trav-
ellers, who have spoken Of the sayages
in detail, have lin spite of a little exag-
geration) estimated their character toll
erably we'll and though perfectly igno-
rant of their language, they have made
them speak pretty nearly as they actu-
ally do. "The reason is plain" added
my uncle; "ifwe Judged the Europeans
from their professions and their out
ward show, we should be much mista-
ken but there is no deception in judi
ing Of savages their gestures, features,
and actions, express what they are and
what they feel" Yet in spite Of my
uncle's remark, as metaphysical ideas
are not represented in this manner, a
great many of the speeches which trav-
Oilers attribute to savages must neces-
sarily be ridiculous. My uncle gave
me short notice of the savages, which
he wrote at my request, and inserted
it six or seven years after in my aanals
of Hrtue, acknowledging the author
from whom received it. This part OF
the work on its appearance was much
spoken Of; and the only fault found
| with it was that it was not longer.
did not change a single word in it.
His manner Of writing is very remar-
kable for man who had been exiled
from infancy, and who had passed ff-
teen years among the savages. My
mother made always third party in
these conversations, and as she led
them, was generally Obliged to be no
more than listener, / had thus an
admirable opportunity for informing
myself with certainty Of many curious
things of which the knowledge would
have been most useful in the prosecu-
ton of my favorite study-the human
heart but regret thatI profted but
specifically by the occasion. Never
theless as l am about to publish in a
few months collection OF novels,
shall write one called the European sav-
age, in which shall insert all my un-
Gle told me, and the rest shall endeav-
or to supply from my own magma
tion."
I'm the Latin, French and Spanish authors
| have never had time to write this nov
ell, which might have been made very strl-
king.
Parents often mistake with regard to
the powers of children: sometimes
they expect them to do what no child
ght to be expected to do, and some
times they consider them quite incapa-
BILE of performing tasks to which they
are fully competent. The disposition
xyb;ch tbe,; hove to consider their own
offspring as prodigies is often source
of great misfortune to the poor chill
dren; and the parent, in the bitterness
of disappointment, frequently places
his child as far below the Just estimate
Of his talent as he had fondly raised
him above it. Goodwin well remarks,
that the intense interest which APPARENT
feels in the improvement OF his OH
snr;no frequently renders him totally