Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-08-25
From the London Court Journal
A SOIREE AT LA FAYETTE'S.

To value French society as it deserves,
YOU must 90 to their soirrcs, where their
natural grace and vivacity are seen to
the best advantage, and where (oh! en-
w privilegcsD you may Just do as you
please During the last season IL kak-
is, the meetings at General Iaiaycttc's
were (takcn all togethcr) the most inter-
esting ofthc whole set. AT Cuvicr's YOU
met all the literary and high-born talent
of Francc-at Gcrrard's the wits and art
lists congrcgated-but, at La Faycttc's
were to be seen n sprinkling ofall these,
with others whose names are already his
torical property, and whose appearance
frequently harmoniZcd with their fame.
1t was very many years since had seen
the General, and prepared for his so'ree
with mingled feelings of curiosity and in
tcrcst. ought to have been at his apart
ments by half past eight; however, tho
.Noirc Dame had tolicd nine, the room
was not very crowded, and | had once
more the satisfaction of Joining hands
with one of the most extraordinary men
of this, or perhaps any age. Setting
aside La Fayette's enthusiastic politics
and cannot, confess, think highly
Of the political intellect of any man who
adopt and cherish, as his children, those
who sought to overthrow kingly govern
mcnt in any known or unknown region
of the world, without giving himself the
trouble of inquiring, uhy they wished
for the change ;-setting then aside his
politics, it is quite impossible to look up
on and not love that gallant old Gcncr-
al. In him exists the last remnant of a
fine and spirited feeling, that was once
shared by, and embodied in, all the no
bles of Francc-his very breath is that of
chivalry, and when he dies, the last of
the oldcn knights will be carried to the
grave.
The indecision, which, was going
to say, his enemies lay to his charge
Though trust and believe that La Fay
cite has no personal nes)-the very in
decision of his character, is proof otthe
goodness Of his heart; for he cannot car
ry any plan into execution where the
shedding of blood is necessary. Had he
possessed a stcrner heart, he would have
been a greater man lie has often
struck me as a perfect illustration of the
text, with the pure all things arc pure
having no idea of evil in any one, the
impositionsir frequently practlscd upon HIM,
are often subject for mirth i'll his numcr-
Gus and amiable family. ltwas La Fay
cttc's misfortune to be born some ccntu-
RES too late; to have been Justly valued ,
he should have come into the world in
the DAYS ofthc crusadcs, when Glove s.
glory" was the soldiers motto, and the
General would then have shonc star of
the first magnitude, and have been the
favoritc hero of ballad minstrelsy to the
present day.
The ahcctionate greeting of the old
man brought tears to my eyes; and 1t was
some moments before could return his
sautation. was gricvcd also to see
what only might be called the mreck OF
all that was generous and good to use a
sailors phrase, though the tmbers still
held together, the figure head of the no.
bic vessel was sadly deiaccd. No pic
ture-no bust-that | have met with,
bears correct resemblance to La Fay
cite; they all want the incflablc sweet
ness that characterizcs the lower part OF
his conference.-the smile is the most
benevolent that can be imagined, and
when it passes, you wonder what it was
that, but the instant before, shed such u
radiance over coarse and wrlnklcd feat
urcs, that have the appearance OF being
hewn out with hatchct, rather than
sculptured out with amore delicate instru-
mcnt; his nose is short and thick; his
eyes somewhat projecting, and his head
only remarkable from being covered with
close black wig; his figure was once
fine and soldiery; now it is narrowed,
and the erect head stoops forward, as il
the neck needed strength for its support
The only things unchanged about my
friend were his cordiality and kindness
yet was, confess, somewhat abashed
at being introduced by the worthy man
to a tribe of pretty granddaughters, a:
his old acquaintance. | thought il
would have been better had he called me
the son of his old acquaintance, though
perhaps even if my looks bore out the in.
PRODUCTION, ! might not have been so wei
received, for French society scrutinizc!
severely the conduct oiunmarried ladies'
they are hardly permitted to convers,
with young gentleman. His grandson
who is lately married, and is good hu
mored, though somewhat silly looking
youth, stationed me near the door of the
nte-chamber, that might see those whC
entered and departed, and at the same
moment ! recognized an old friend tc
whom all the lions-litcrary, political, s
/ warlke--wcre well known: this was {