The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-03-04

aura I'd u AlDeEb al DllOUSG uG Odl-
latin was Dorm at Geneva, in Switzer-
land, In 1J61. In the letters of Vol
taire, who lived two or three miles
from Geneva, there are many allu-
sions to the family of Gallatin, which
was one Of the most ancient and re-
spectacle of Switzerland; and, | pre-
sumo, Albert Gallatin must have
often seen Voltaire IN his boyhood,
and perhaps conversed with him.
Among the connections of the family
was the celebrated Madame de Stael.
Graduating from the University of
Geneva In 1879, he refused the bril-
liant offer of Lieutenant Colonelcy
in a German regiment, for the ex
press purpose of coming over to
America, as Lafayette had done a
year or two before, and joining the
patriot army under General Wash
ingtOn.
1t was in the Spring of 1880, that
the vessel In which he sailed to
America was obliged to put into a
harbor on the coast Of Massachusetts,,
and the young enthusiast came on
shore. On landing he went to the
nearest tavern, and there, to his equal
establishment and delight, he met
with some Swiss lately from Geneva,
who were acquainted with his family.
They were on their way to a settle
ment In Maine, where they intended
to reside. Overj0yed at this coinci-
dence, he Joined the party and went
with them to Machias, when he at
once enlisted In a company Of volun-
teers about to march to the defense of
a threatened point, and he was soon
appointed to command a post of some
importance, garrisoned by body of
of a wealthy family, he had brought
with him little money, something
less than a thousand dollars; and his
troops being in need of the most in
dispensaOle supplies, he advanced the
greater part of his money for their
relief, receiving IN return an order on
the treasury of the United States. At
the end of the campaign, being in
Boston, and having spent all the rest
of his cash, he presented his order
for payment, and was informed that
the treasury was empty. He was
obliged to sell his order for one-third
of itssvalue; so, for his six hundred
dollars he received two hundred.
The war ended, he looked about
him for employment, and found it at
Harvard College, where he taught
French during the year 1888. On
coming of age he received from Swift
zerlaRd his share of his fathers es-
tate, with which he went to Virginia
and bought a tract of land an the
western part of the State. 1t was
there that he had his celebrated inter-
view with General Washington, which
he often related, and which was pub
lished some years ago In a literary
journal. 1t occurred in log house,
fourteen feet square, consisting of one
room, which was furnished with a
bed, pine table, and bench or two.
General Washington, who owned
large tracts of land in that region,
had invited some of the settlers and
hunters acquainted with the country,
to meet him at this log hut, for the
purpose of talking over and settling
upon the best pass for road through
the Allegheny Mountains. Attracted
by curiosity to see so celebrated a per-
son, Gallstin was present.
When General Washington came
in Mr.. Gallatin used to say he took
his seat at the pine table, and all the
hunters of the country stood up
around it, except a few who found
seats upon the bed. The General
questioned them, and noted down
their replies upon paper. He was
very particular in his inquiries, and
continued his questioning for some
time after the young Swiss thought
he had discovered, not only the best
pass, but the only one available for
the purpose. Being little impatient
at the apparent indecision of the Gen
eral, he suddenly interrupted him,
without rejecting upon the impro-
priety of his conduct, and said:
" Oh, it is plain enough; such a
place (mentiOning the one in his
mind) is the most practicable"
The people present stared at the
young man with much surprise, mar
yelling at his boldness in giving his
opinion before the General had asked
it. Washington paused, laid down
his pen, lifted his eyes from the pa
per, and looked sternly at the young
foreigner, evidently offended, but ut
tered not a word. He resumed his
and continued to question
the hunters for some time longer,
when he suddenly stopped, and throw
ing down his pen said to the stranger:
You are right, sir"
In commenting upon this scene, Mr..
Gallatin used to say:
" 1t was so on all occasions with
General Washington. He was slow
in forming an opinion, and never de-
cided until he knew he was right"
The warlike Indians of Western
Virginia prevented his settling the