Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-04-04

his bulk so great, that unless run In in dec ,te
way. he breaks through his own mouth and
swims of. Here Is the way Strong got OFF:
Merrick.-Are you casing now? A. am now
Merrick.-Is there any difference between
your statements when made under oath and
when not under oath? A. l Judge my oath Is
a. good as yours anywhere, and can prove it.
MeIrick.-Ws will not discuss that question
now.
A. am ready to do it any time, here or any
We presume anywhere else means down in
Prince Georges, where the apple praties gar
tlchokes) grow.
More Of Major L'Enfsnt.
In Friedrich Kspp's Life of Steuben are
several mentions of Major L'Enfant, the engi-
neer OF Washington city;
he sailed from Msrseilles, September %, I7I7
on the twenty-iOur gun ship, L'Heureux-the
name OF which had been altered for this voyage
10 lie Flanand-as a staff officer OF Genera
Steub1n, commonly called Baron Steubsn.
This vessel was sent ont by CsrOn de Beaumar
chais, the secret agent OF the United States al
Pans, and on it were great quantities of mill
taIy stores, three other staff officers, and NJ de
Francy, Beaumarcbais nephew and business
agent. Steuben had just been engaged by the
Minister of War, Count lie ST. GERMAN, to be-
come Inspector General of the American army
We may suppose, therefore, that l. Enfant, be-
ing first named, was selected by Beaumarchais
or Saint German for his organizing ability.
Alter sixty-sx days passage the Flamand ar
rived at Portsmouth, n. H., December 1, l777
On her voyage she had her forecastle three
times afre and mutiny occurred amongst the
crew.
Steuben arrived at York, Pa, February s,
lT1S, where Congress was assembled, and
amongst the requests he preferred was one for q
commission as captain of engineers for Mr.. De
L'EDfaIt. 1t was probably at Valley Forge
that L'Enfant first beheld the American army.
He is mentioned as the second of the 81 con-
spicuous assistants and friends of Steuben. He
was at the siege of Savannah. His talents
social, artistic and military, appear to have
been SO generally commended that at the close
of the revolution be was sent to France by Gen.
eral Washington to have the badges of the
Order Of the Cincinnati executed for distrbu-
ton, be having designed the same and pre-
scTibed the manner Of wearing them. Kapp
believes that Stsuben, L'Enfant, and the for
eign officers devised the whole idea of the Gin
ciDnati.
This decoration was bald eagle of gold,
displayed, suspended by deep blue rib
band. edged with white, descriptive OF the
uLiOn OF France and America; the eagle grasp
ing in its talons golden olive branches, the
les YES in green enamel, which are continued
around the figure so as to form a wreath above
its head, TO which the clasp is attached. ON
the breast OF the eagle Cincinnatus is repre-
sented as receiving a sword from three Roman
Senators with various appropriate figures in the
background around the whole Is the legend,
OHhtd seiiqat serdTe Tempubticdm. On the re-
verse is seen France GROWING Cincinnatus with
wreath, and the motto: "Esto perpetua."
bnd from the life of Joshua Barney that
L'Enfant went out on this mission in Barney's
ship-Ot-war in good company.
L'Enfant proceeded to Paris, and gave let
tiers from Washington TO ROchambeau, DIES
taing, De erase and La Fayette. He reported
that the French officers were enthusiastic about
the new Order, and cited the Chevalier Du Bou-
Chef, and the French army intendant, Tarle
L'Enfant wrote to Steuben: "His majesty de-
sirous OF giving to the Americans a proof of
the friendship which he wishes to maintain with
them in his council, has permitted his officers to
wear this badge with the other orders OF his
kingdom. / have written to General Washing
TOP, and enclose a copy of my letter TO him. 1
should like to get IL translated and published in
the newspapers; think it would produce a
good effect"
The Cincinnati did not grow on our soil, how
ever. But the design of the order would be a
good relief to be Inscribed on the engineers
monument when one shall be set up for him.