Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-08-10

deavoring TO add.to the common stock OF plea
sure. conlinuedto sit at the piano, till she was
solicited to leave it, instead Of the ordinary re-
quest TO. remain longer. This mark OF polite
ness was so peculiar, that it appeared 10 me
WORTHY of record and imitation. Among the
musical pieces,;was one or two composed IN the
United States, during the Generals visit.
AT 9 O'Clock in the evening, we manifested an
intention to return to Rose that night, and SET
out for Paris next morning, DESTROYS that II the
hospitality of the family were not already ex-
hau,,ed by visit, which seemed too long tor
strangers who had no other claim than simply
that of being Americans, share OF 1t might be
reserved for others, upon the republican prlnci-
p!e of equality But at La Grange, feelings oil
generosity and kindness towards even the hum
bles, citizens of the United States know no
bounds Favor after favor descends spontane-
neously upon the visitant like The dew; and In
view of the paternal affection manifested on this
occasion, our country might address to its IL
lus,rious benefactor the forcible apostrophe-
"inasmuch as thou hast done it unto the least
ofthese my caildren, thou hast done 1t unto me-
Pretexts as plausible as genuine hospitality re-
quires, were urged with politeness tnat could
not be resisted, and the result was happy pro-
longation OF our visit.
After breakfast on the following morning the
| General conducted US TO his Library, which is
on the third floor, in one corner OF the Chateau
The windows, which in summer are shaded by
copse of trees lifting their aged branches
from below, look in two directions and com
mand view Of rural domain such as Gin
cfnnatus or Washington would have enjoyed,
and such as its own proprietor would not ex-
change for an empire. In the anti-chamber,
and the apartment itself are several llkenesses
of his friends, transatlantic as well as Europe
an; and in several neat cases, on which the Ut
most care has been bestowed, are deposited all
the little presents he has received from our
countrymen, from the sacred memorials OF his
beloved Washington, down to the humbest
pledges Of gratitude and esteem collected IN
his late tour The whole makes an extensive
museum, which is guarded with more vigilance
and is shwon by the family with more delight,
than would apparently be felt in exhibiting the
costliest collection of diamonds All the arti-
cles were taken out Of their places for our in
spection; and the history Of them detailed with
familiarity, which proved how much they are
valued. One of the most conspicuous OF these
memorials is a beautiful model OF the water
works at Philadelphia, which the General took
10 pieces, to point out the ingenuity OF Its con-
structop.
The library itself contains about Two thou
sand volumes of well selected books. A large
proportion Of these were presented by his.
friends. One compartment is filled entirely
with American works, containing majority
Of our best publications. Additions are daily
making to the collection, by the attentions OF
his correspondents. The Phi Beta Kappa
Grafton Of Mr. Everett, and the Address OF
Mr.. Webster before the Bunker Hill Associa-
ton are cherished among the choicest treasures.
1t was Curious incident, that should here
recognize the copy Of the Co!umbiad, which
had been brought to ME at New-York year
preyious. for examination as specimen OF
splendid binding, before it was presented to La
Fayetie.
Having passed an hour or two in the library,
and glanced at its interesting contents, we took
another long walk with the ladies over the farm,
pursuing different route from what had been
taken on the preceding day, and treadng many
bye-path in long circuit through the wood
lands. A keen December air impaired an ad.
di,onal tinge TO compilations naturally rosy;
and 10 the eye of poet, some Of our fair COM
panions, in their rambles through tangled cops
es and groves Of oak, might have seemed like
Dryads. In the course Of this promenade, one
of the daughters of General La Fayette gave
me crcumstantial account Of his imprison-
ment at Olmutz, and Of the sufferings both OF
himself and family. The story is long, and its
leading incidents would not be new to any OF
my readers. One little anecdote, however,
which gave relief to the tragic tale, so much
amused me that cannot forbear to repeat 1t.
In their fight through Germany, tile female
part Of the Generals family were obliged 10
assume the guise Of English travellers, in or
der to elude the vigilance Of their enemies
AS they had some knowledge Of the language,
to which was added similarity Of national
dress, they succeeded tolerably well among
strangers At length they were thrown in con-
tact with an English waiting maid, who had
emigraed to the continent some years before.
Serious fears of detection were here apprehend-
ed. But the poor girl entertaining no doubt,
that the ladies were really English, although
she found difficulty in understanding them; and
as they were supposed to have left her native
country at much later period than herself,
she came to the melancholy conclusion, that
by long residence abroad, she had lost her
mother tongue!
In the midst of walks, conversations, and en-
ioyments like these, the hour Of dinner again
came round By this time, our places at table
had been as perfectly learned, as if we had be-
come permanent inmates of the Chateau A.
mother evening of music and social pleasure