American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-08-11


bed with chronic affection, which had entirely
disappeared and his health is perfect as his hap.
piness at the result Of his visit. | could not but
feel degree Of pride and pleasure, that our coun
try had 10 any degree been instrumental In contri
buting to the domestic felicity of such man and
such family, who merit all. and If possible, more
than all the gratitude and esteem they have receiy-
ed at OUT hands.
Before retiring to our chambers to dream only Of
La Grange, examined some of the principal
rooms of the Chateau, our hospable friends kindly
acting as exposilors. The furniture is perfectly
neat and even elegant, but bears no marks of ex-
trasagance or luxury-nothing which is incompati
BILE with refined taste, and republican simplicity
of n anners--nothing which does not coBduce more
to convenience and comfort than to show and which
could be compared in point of richness and splendor,
as the General himself remarked, With what he had
graiuitousy been made master OF in his tour through
The United States. The ornaments are nearly all
American. In the hall at the head of the stair way
and forming the entrance TO the drawing room, is
portal, OF General Washington with the colors of
the fiigate Brandywine, presented by Commodore
Morris on his arrival at Havre.) hung graceful
testoons around the almost idoliEed picture On the
right OF the father OF his country, is fine portrait
Of Franklin, copied by of the accomplished
grand daughters OF General Lafayette In con.
spicuous part of the hall, stands an admirable bust
of President Adams presented by Mrs Adams.
just before the General lett Washington To these
added portrait OF Commodore Morris, (taken
BY particular request) and several pictures connected
with the history OF our revolution The rotunda,
or drawing room, contains, besides other decora
tons, a psinting OF the siege oil Yorktown, and
portrait oil General Wadsworth, the revolutionary
friend OF Lafayette.
AT 10 O'Clock. which is uniformly The hour for
retiring at La Grange we took leave of the family
Tor the night and were shown into our bed.cham
bers, alter having been notified that the ringing oil
the Chateau bell would summon us 10 breakfast at
10 the next morning. Our apartments in the
same style OF neatness and comfort the sitting
rooms, with cheerful wood FIRE blazing upon the
hearth, aud carpets covering the polished oaken
ioor As is usual in French houses, furnished with
lever conveniences than this each chamber had
bureau. or writing desk, containing an ample sup
ply OF pen, ink and paper, together with the other
appendages for scrlbbng all under LOT k and key
he temptations of such comforts the whistng of
he wind round the Gothic urrets and antique win
do@s OF the Chateau, with the delights oil The fl
side reverie on the eveus Of the day, induced TO
P tact our waking dreams 10 late hour.
10 the morning gray headed servant, who is al
most as old as the master whom he loves, and from
whom he has imbibed his kindness of heart opened
ne door gently, and performed his Office of rekind
mug the hre, with such studied quiet as would
: aTcely disturb the SUMMERS OF sick bed We
So he'd The drawing ionm in season, TO see the
members Of The happy amlly appear one after
smother, and share the paternal kiss Breakfast
cas- sefsed W IN large hall on the ground floor. |
70 The usual French Style, with vine, and coffee
alter tne desert. The table was crowned with album
da' &c, without super fully and circle OF smiling |
aces would have rendered less sumpuous repast |
lfreea0ie Among the rare dishes, was kind of |
PIC sent as decacy to The General, from some Of
his itends al Srasbourg.
Aztec breakfast was over. we walked out in com
pany with Washington Lafayette and the whole |
group OF ladies, to examine the exterior of the Cha I
teau' aud the iarm, of which scarcely glance had
as ye, been obtained La Grange was formerly
fortified bafonial castle; and notwithstanding the
mouihcalon i has undergone, much Of its antique
and ieudai character still II was once sur.
rounued by deep double moat, sections OF which /
nhed with water, have been preserved and the resi-
1ue hled up either for the sake of nealth or conye
nlence. The edince consists Of a centre perhaps
nunoied ieet IN length with two wings Of about the |
same dimensions, and joining il at right angles |
rom traces still visible, gallery evidently extend
"a across at the oshet extremity Of the wings, en-
closing auadrangular courtyard, strongly defend
a. WIN only one entrance under lofty arch in the
nortnefn wall, guarded by portculis.
ne Cha'edu IS thie stories high, plainly con
'trucled OF hard and dark rolored stone rendered
d deeper line by its vener able age and long expo
sure 10 the Climate. Two Gothic towers Of a conf
cal shape rise from the nds of each OF the wings,
ana form almost the only ornament. The approach
IS Dy winding avenue on the northern side eadif
hrougn thick grove Of evetgreens and other trees,
and under the arch already mentioned. around which
nans iestoops of ivy, planted by the celebrated
.haties James Fox, in one oil his visits 10 La Grange
ne beautiful plant is as green as his memory, ard
na"ses nearly the whole facade Of the Chateau. Its
uHoean' ioilage, shading the gray walls, the thick
copse bordering the moat and the four ANTIQUE
urress hall concealed by the intervening branches
present view on this side, seldom cquaed in an
AIRY, tura quiet, and unosentatious retirement An