The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-11-16
VISIT TO A LADY OF THE ANCIENT
REGIME.
BLOOMFIELD, Somerset CO., Me-, ,
Sept. Is, 1S41.

| II is an agreeable recreation of mind, occa-
sionaly to hold converse with those who long
| since have left this theatre of action, through
the medium of their descendants. ! enjoyed a
few days since an opportunity of this kind. A
daughter of the revolutionary General Knox,
lives only ten miles from hence, with her son,
| Lieut.. T.. of the navy. She is ENJOYING green
old age, with her faculties quite unimpared.-
She is full of historical "reminiscences, and of
personal anecdote-and in listening to her con-
versation, you can, without much mental effort,
imagine that you are moving among, and listen
| ing to, that gallant, high bred, and patriotic
brotherhood, which rendered the close Of the
last century forever illustrious. The lady TO
whom | refer is true descendant of courtly
ancestors. To a clear and cultivated intellect,
she unites genteel courtesy and commanding
dignity, which impress you with immediate res
pect, and convince you that you are in the pre-
sence Of one whose thoughts and sympathies
are all with the past. In her lofty (almost man
ly) brow, you can detect nice resemblance OF
Stewards ortrait of her father, in Faneuil Hail.
Her youth was spent in various paces-partly
in Philadelphia while her father was Secretary
Of War afterwards at West Point, Boston, and
later at Thomaston, Maine, where Gen. Knox
erected a superb mansion, after the close of the
war. She was in part educated by some Of those
distinguished French emigrants, who always
found an asylum at her fathers house. One of
them, the Duke de Liancourt was two years a
member Of the Generals family, during which
time he was in a state Of utter dependence--the
General even furnishing the clothes which he
wore. The Duke was, at this time, young
man of fine personal appearance, and of very
fair abilities. He would, sometimes, get fit of
the blues, pace TO and fro the room and tap his
head with his fist, exclaiming--" All! Mon Dieu =!
ave tree dukedoms TO my head, and not one
coat to my back He was, in fact, the Duke
de Liancourt, de la Rochefoucauld, and OF some
thing else, not now remembered
He made tour through considerable por-
ton of the United States-of which he publish
ed, after his return TO Paris, volumnous and
rather diffuse account. He visited the Falls Of
Niagara in 1895. His description of what he
STYLES "this terrific sport of nature,n is found
embodied in guide books which they furnish
you at the Falls. Taeyrand was always lis
tenng ut rather disposed to be silent and re-
firing. He had meagre person enough, and a
! face of the most unmeaning character-that is to
say it was very flat and was lighted up not BY
single ray Of expression. His features, in
short seemed to be covered up under layer of
fat: the skin being Of whitsh sickly blue
His proverbia astuteness and duplIcty did not
forsake him even in the social circle. He pre-
tended not TO know word of English, and
would often say-"D al en- deur maitres, mdis
je nj peur rien apprendre de rotre iangue."
Mons. Baumet, his private secretary, who had
become attached to female relative OF his ia
mily, would always tell them not to believe him,
that he knew every word they said. The only
| English words my informant ever heard him
speak were uttered on the occasion of the arri-
val Of Mons. de Viaine She said to HIM one
day-"Mons. Talleyrand, do you not think
Mons. de Vilaine charming character 2" "He
is very tall, was the reply The question was
repeated, with the same answer. His policy
seemed to be to acquire all that he could, but to
give nothing in return. His constant study
was to throw the people off their guard. The
present King of France was also a visiter at
General Knox's house in Boston. This was
soon after he was engaged to Miss Willing, OF
Philadelphia. His younger brothers, the Duke
de Montpensier and the Count de Boujoas,
were with him. Madame dc Genlis was charg-
ed with the education of these young men,
They were in the habit of amusing her in good
set terms. They said she was "one very bad
woman" Some other interesting details have,
i which postpone Savannah Republican.