Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-08-15

anSe' we examined some Of the principal
' VI 'he Chateas, our bospitable friends kindly
80 - eHposHors- The furniture is perfectly neat,
"Hu even elegant, but bears no mark of extrava-
eshce or iuxury-nothing which is incompa,ible
| W." renhed taste, and a republican simpcity of
Oh H'anners-nothins which does not conduce more
" .o"'sniehce and comfort than to show; and
"en couid oe compared in point of richness and
| spienuor, as the General himself remarked. with
what ne had gratui'ousy been made master of in
his tour through the United States The orna-
,hehts are nearly all American In the hall at the
neau OF the stairway, and forming the entrance to
| "e u'awing room, is a portrait of General Wash
| "So"' win the coiors OF the trigate Brandywine
IPsesented by Commodore Morris on his arrival at
i1a'fe' hung in graceful festoons around the al
iuohzed picture. On the RICH, "a the father
o. MS country,i is fine portrait of franklin. co.
pied by one of the accomplished grand da,,sb,ers of
"enefai Lafayette. In a conspicuous part of the
haii' stands an admirable bust of President Adams
presented by Mrs. Adams, Just bsfore the General
ieit Arlington. To these are added portrai, of
commodore Morris, (iaken by particular request,
nu several pictures connected with the history OF
W, ie'oiu''on- The roiunda drawing room,
contains BESIDES other decorations a painting of
the siege of Yorktown, and a portrait of General
" '"sworth, the revolutionary friend of LAFAYETTE
~ ~ o'clock, which is uniformly the hour for
fe'i"e al La Grange, we took leave of tile family
LOT the night, and were shown into our bed-chan-
si'er having been notified, that the ringing of
.he Cha'e4u bell would summon US TO breakfast at
io 'he next morning. Our apartments were in the
same style OF neatness and comfort as the sitting
rooms, with a cheerful wood fire blazing upon the
se'i'h' and carpets covering the polished oaken
moor. as is usual In French houses furnished
win fewer conveyances than this, each chamber
iad bureau, or writing desk, containing an am
pie supply OF pen, ink and paper, together with
the other appendages for scribbling. all under leck
he tam ,fati< g II.
whs'ling OF the wind round the Gothic turrets and
antique windows Of the Chateau, with The delights
OF the hre side revere the eve2ts of the day in
duced Us to Protract our waking dreams to late
hour.
In the morning grey headed servant, who is
almost as old as the master whom he loves, and
from whom he has imbibed his kindness Of heart
opened the door gently, and performed his office
OF rekInd ng the fire, with such studied quiet, az
would scarcely disturb the siumbers of sick bed.
/ we reached the drawing room in season. to see
the members OF the harpy family appear one after
another, and share the paternal kiss Breakfas,
was served up in large hall on the ground floor.
IN the usual French style, with Wine and coffee
after the desert. The table was crowned with
abundance, without superhuity; and circle of
smiling faces would have rendered less sunn,uous
repas' agreeable. Among the rarer di-hes, was a
KIND OF pie sent asa delicacy to the General from
some of his friends at Slrasbourg.
Alter breakfast was over, we walked out in COM
pany with Washington Lafayette and the whole
group OF ladies, TO examine the exterior of the
Chateau, and the farm, of which scarcely elance
had as yet been obtained. La Grange was former
~ fortified baron;al cas- le and no.wi hstandino
the modItca ions II has Undergone, much OF its
antique and ieudal chqrac er still remains II was
once surrounded by deep double rnoat. sections
OF which filled with water, have been preserved.
and the residue filled up either for the sake oil
health or convenience. The edifce consists of a
centre, perhaps a hundred feet in length with two
wings of about the same dimensions, and JOINING i,
at right angles From traces still visible gall ery
evidently extended across nj the other eyireu ity
OF the wings, enclosing quadrangular COURTYARD.
strongly defended with only one entrance under
a lofty arch in the northern wall, guarded by a
portcullis.
The Chateau is three stories high, plainly CON
structed OF hard and dark coloured stone rend,,
ed OF deeper line by its venerable age and long
exposure to the climate. Two Gothic towers of
co zeal sh'pe rise from the ends of each of the
wings and form almost the only ornament The
approach is by winding avenue on the northern
side, leading through thick grove of eyergreens
and other trees, and under the arch already men
TONED, around which hang festnons of WV planted
by the celebrated Charles James Fox in one of i,s
visits TO La Grange. The beautiful plant is "a
green as his Org, and miles nearly the
facade OF the Chateau. I luxuriant FOLIAGE. shad-
ing the grey walls, the thick cope bordering tie
moat, and the four antique turrets half concealed
by the intervening branches, prevent view ON this
side, seldom equaled in an airy rural, quiet. and
transformations retirement. An artist from our
country has taken several yeiy exact sketcbcs n,
La Grange, plates of which will hereafter be nul,-
lished. P'O
As the morning was bright and pleasant, though
the ground yet yerdsnt, was covered with boa y
hoar frost, we made a circuit of a mile or two
over the farm which is one Of the largest. as ,volI
as the most complete, in France 1t contains 6ve
hundred acres, lying in one body, in the form oI
I circle with the chateau in the centre. Great
pains nave been taken to round il off in this yvav
Dy exchanges OF contiguous territory 1t is diyi-
oeo according to the most approved models into
suitable proportions Of tillage pasture, end wood
land, with the minor compartments Of gardens and
orchards. The General has planted three thousand
apple trees, which yet suIA bat thrifty. OMEN
ing In Vistas all over his plantation He is much
engaged in the cultivation Of fruit Of the best
kinds
The soil OF this large tract, though not perhaps
remarkable Tor isnatura fertility, has been highly
improved by culture, and yields wheat with other
agricultural products in abundance. Il is finely
wooded aud watered. Half mile from the house
IN the direction Of Rose there il large and yipc
fountain, Graded in green vale and she. tered
rom The sun in summer by grove Of venerable
OAKS. It's lmfid waters at this season, repose an
bed OF aUtuma leaves, and arc as pure az thew are
| coplous From this rural aud sequesiered rei,o,,
distant view OF the chateau on one siie. and -
Two llte villages, with spre TO each. aod tho
4 smoke curling above them, on the other ustes
qu'et ana cheering picture Noifar rom the lono-
tain, Washington La Fayette (yybose ,s,Ds -
haps use somewhat too fmiliarlv fer Tho 49,
dis'inciion) is much engaged in cops,rr,c, ,., ~
ice house, upon the piau of eo,,s Of H.. ~