Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-08-25

here IS county IN Alabama called
Marcngo. The circumstances under which
the appellation was given to it are alluded
to in an address before the University Of
Alabama, by Mr.. A. 3. Meek. They are
connected with Observation-Disclosures not gene
rally known in this country. After the fall
of Napoleon, several of his distinguished
generals aud companions came to the Uni
ted States, and received from Congress,
on the 3rd of March, 1917, grant Of lands
in Alabama, the conditions Of the grants
being that the emigrants should cultivate
the vine upon one acre Of each quarter Sec
ton, and the olive upon another, and at the
end of IA years should pay the General
Government two dollars on the acre for a
fee-simple title to the land. Among the
grantees were Marshal Grouohy, Gen.
Lefebvre Desnoucttcs, Duke Of Dantzic,
and Marshal and Peer of France, Count
Claudsel, Gen. Count Real, two Generals
AlIemand, and Generals Vandammc, La
kanal, Penniers, and Gartner dc Suits. with
a number of other subordinate officers
They settled upon the Tombecbce river,
and called their colony after the noted bat
tleGeld Of Marengo--a name which the
country embracing the locality Of the set
tlemcnt still bears.
Fora timc,it appears the military ruralis,s
dwelt peacefully and happy in their new
homes, and with the characteristic pbiloso-
ply Of Frenchmen, adapted themselves to
the circumstances Of their condition. A
traveller in 1919, passing through the set
tlcment, was fcrried over the river by the
officer who commanded Napolcon's ad-
vance guard on his return from Elba.-
While the warike husbandmen turned the
sword into the ploughshare, and the spear
into pruning hook, the female portion Of
the colonis;s were employed in avocations
still more in contrast with their former
modes Of life. The address remarks:
"Hcrc, dwelling in cabins, and engaged
in humble attention to the spinning wheel
and the loom, or handling the wedding hoe
maidens, who had been born to proud IL
ties and high estates, and who had moved
as stars Of particular alteration amid the
fashion and refinement and imperial dis
play Of the Court OF Versailles. And yet,
TO their honor be it stated, notwithstanding
the rustic and ill-proportioned circumstan-
ces around them, they did not appear dis
pirited or miserable. Nothing Of angels
ruined was visible in their condition. They
were contented, smiling, happy"
One of the most amusing things among
the unusual compliances which those ccle-
brated warriors yielded to with native good
humour, was TO see them mustered and
drilled by militia officer on training days
ACCORDING to the statues of the common
wealth made and provided.
But these unquiet spirits, continues the
address. nursed 10 the storms Of battle and
the commissions Of States. could not long
brook the peaceful pursuit Of agriculture;
and one by one they left, some for the ar
mics Of the South American Republics,
some fortheir native country, until, in 1888,
hardly vestige of the colony remained.
a stranger would now look in vainamongsi
the rich lands and the broad cotton fields
Of Marengo for the simple patches upon
which the Duke Of Dantzic or Count
Claudsel attempted to cultivate the olive
and the vino.
Mr. Murdoch, fhc young American trsscaian, u
rlaying AZ Cincirnafi.