Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-08-31
N6IS e,aNMN1 ]i1,ROWsa
Fron "a .Amerienn Earmer.
Constantine.


.qmcriorn Farmer
~ LAFAYETrE ON HIS FARM.-Everv thing con-
nected with the patriarch OK La Grange is interesting
TO the American people, for whose independence he
came when STRIPPING, 20 fight by the side of Wash
ington; whose confidence he always enioved and
whose virtues he has cons antly cmulaed Hence
we are induced 70 offer the following from "a
mllar letter written by an American lady in France
20 her husband in America giving some account of his
farm, but without any idea of its being published
Such details sometimes serve as well "a more public
acts an duties illustrate the individual man. and 10
OF readers they may prove more interc
than political speculations:
La Grange, .Ifay 90, 1880
The weather has been so wet since have been here
that yesterday the first dry day could got out The
dear old General took entirely through his frm-yard
you can have no idea OF the perfect in which
his cattle taken ot-he comfortable houses and
bedS the cleanliness and regularity of feeding are
tonshu@. He has here flock of 1890 of the finest Me-
rno sheep all of which saw turned out attended bv
TWO shepherds and Tour dogs The cows much
larger than generally, and more like i-
man beings taan brutes. They turned out i'm the
morning and brought in in the heat OF the av fed suffer
cd TO rest certain time, and again turned until sun
set when they put up tor the night. In of the
stables there are twenty-five COWS, and two bulls The
veal they have here is tn witeSt, latest ard incest
ever saw The calves are attended by womeu and fat
tened by peculiar process-hcy give them eggs tour
day TO each calf, which put down their tlroats
whole; this, with their allowance OF milk, told fat
tens them in a very short time. Each is confined
with halter of sufficient length to let them lie at their
case; their hides nicer and cleaner than many of
genemen's carriage horses In another stable were
thirteen cows, amongst which were those Of the Devon
breed given him by Mr.. Patterson of Baltimore, also
nine half grown calves all he told me were of The
same stock The horses in the generals stables
tended TO with equal There in the stables
fifteen horses besides his carriage horses and three
donkeysOne large for the other two for the
Young ladies and children ride assure YOU they go
quite pleasantly yesterday rode one all round the
park, and to the lake. The piggery is the com
petc you can imagine, containing great number of
hogs OF all sizes ages and breeds but the YOU gave
the general is the largest seen. aud much more
esteemed than any of the others The general relates
with much apparent pleasure, that English farmer of
great wealth and knowledge, seeing this hog, said,
well, sir you may boast OF having the finest boar that
from England, would scarcely believe
him, when with pride he told him, il came from the
United States and not from England. The farm-yard
is very large square, with buildings extend ng quite
round it. The house for The sheep occupies an entire
side of the square, the buildings all Of sone and
built TO endure forever. To- general has variety
of birds poultry, and American deer; all provided with
the incest possible accommodations. We're YOU here |
am sure you might d signate many things that would
be valuable for farmers to know They make
cheese here we'll as the finest butter ever tasted
The dairy admirably arraHged indeed, the whole is
pattern arn the general appears to take great pleasure
in il; he walks nearly over every morning he can
Since his fall on the ice he caunot ride horsebac
which Is great pity as he was very fond of that
else, and in the habit OF riding entirely over his
farm when the weather admitted You can have no
idea of the benevoeuce of this good old man There
at least twenty poor families who are daily supplied
from La Grange with every thing that can make them
comfortable; besides know not how many others that
provided for
am quite surprised at the freedom with which all
in France speak of the king, ministers, and of
public affairs. | had supposed that in a monarchy
people were afraid to open their months This conn
king II
do moi imagine hat am going 10 turn politician Won
know hate politics; but thought you would like to
hear little OF the current news
For description OF the Lafayette family refer
N. r.
more admire and love them. u
Just before dinner ON the day wrote YOU last We
heard of iete at OF the villages few miles Off
you already know that each village in France has its
annual fetc, oicner; whilst at dinner the gener
ais travelling carriage was pre- ared i-r and the four
young ladies', the four boys, myself for the vii
lagc whore arrived just before sunset found all the
peasants assembled and as happy as possible All were
dancing old and and young some. sure Old enough
to be great grandmohers They had chosen an odd
place for their amusement, along side the church and
buryng ground; it was nevertheless pleasant spscta-
Gle TO see so many human beings enjoying day of in
nocent amusement apparently 80 happy.
Yesterday the first Of June, the ladies' were going 10
pay visit in the neghbourhood and the dear general
proposed that the carriage should be got ready mmod
aely, * that he would take me himself 10 hcw me some
improvements his farm before the time for paying the
visit. His grand-dauEhtcrs and accompanied him.
ond had a most agreeable ride he showed me
dow in beautiful order that had been but unpfod c-
tive swamp. The water he had collected into two We.
ry large ponds or small lakes, supplied by copous
let. In each Of these ponds lac has left three or four
small islands, with beautiful clumpa OF trees on their
margin picturesque and ceabc walks lie then
took me to show me his ice-hOusc, which j. made after
the cheap and plain American plan he says that u This
country they make their ice-houscs very cvpcnsvey
and that they do not keep the ice nearly so well q.
Thursday-This morning we have been to visit poor
Somervilles tomb is very neat and appropriate
will describe it particularly when mcel-we also vi
sitcd the two orphan poor SCHOOL, which support.
cd on the estate by the Lafayette family; one Tor boys
and the other Tor girls The childcn and teachers all
appeared delighted Of seeing Mr. g. W LAFAYETTE. as
as we were seated ono Of nc lille Girls STOOD mn
end repeated some very affecting French lines hankin,
him Tor his beneyoence in rcscung them from and
wretchedness; he kissed the little girl on both checks
when bali a dozen little ones, 10 icalous, came up
and held their little faces for the same honour Won
cannot easily believe how much the whole 9mily il be
loved, and how much they do for the poor thoir sua
lion in this respect 10 enviaJle.