The daily gazette., 1875-04-23
Especial Correspondence Of The Press.l
PARYs. April g. 1875

Especial Correspondence Of The Press.l
PARIS, April 8. 1851
Oscar de Lafayette. grandson Of the
illustrious Marquis de Lafayette, and
Deputy in the National Assembly from
the Seine-et- Marne, and president of the
National Committee to secure an appro-
pfiation for the Centennial, lives in plain
apartments, No. 20 Rue de Bac, and yes-
terday Mr.. Gratiot Washburn. Of the
American legation; Mr.. Clement NJ. Bid
die, member of the Centennial Finance
Committee; Mr.. A. Canbert, a Paris law
yer OF eminence, and myself, paid him a
visit and received genial welcome. The
room in which he received us was adorn-
ed with engravings of his ancestors and
living relations. . A fine likeness of
Washington, otter Stuart, hung on the
left of the mantle, with standing figure
of Lafayette, so SO well known in Amer
lea, on the right, near an excellent print
OF the heroic Madame Lafayette, hardly
less celebrated than her illustrious hus-
band. There were others, among them
George Washington Lafayette, in his
beautiful uniform as captain OF the
French cavalry--the father of our host.
Mr.. Oscar de Lafayette is about 65, and
resembles your townsman, Mr.. James J;
DdTClty. Al0 upSdh6 AAhSAoh AoPkaiy ohad
reasonably well, and is full of proper
representation of France at the Centen-
nial. had sent him a copy Of the last
pamphlet of the Philadelphia Commits
sion, with the plates of the five great
buildings and the details OF their prog
ress, and he was much gratified. Mr.
Biddle said that his presence in America
next year would be hailed by q grateful
people with universal enthusiasm. ut
is impossible; it is impossible !" was his
reply. Il am too old for the journey;
but could not love America more than
do. These are my idols as he turned
to the historic pictures in his room. He
made many suggestions, and is evil
| is profound rspublican-thatI was glad
| to know-and by no means anxious to be
considered Of consequence as one Of no.
BILE family. He was, however, proud Of
his relationship to the great Frenchman
who came forward to help the infant
Colonies in the darkest hour Of the
American Revolution. That is his title
| to renown, and it Is that which makes
| him eager to have France in the most
prominent place in the Centennial
But no object would be more acceptable
there than himself. He has distinct
recollection of his grandfather, the great
Marquis, and converses with French fer.
vor OF the wonderful growth OF the
Past when saw this active representa-
tive of the man who came at the right
moment o save our infant Colonies, anC
could well anticipate his welcome il
PHILADELPHIA il he could be induced t,
visit US next year. -
Intelligence from all the French de
partments indicates increasing desire t,
visit Philadelphia in 1876. We are tn
second best customer of this great ma
ton. point well made by Consul Gen
eral Torbert at the Hoffman dinner il
Paris last january. The silk men O
Lyons, the wine-growers OF bordeaux
the sardine- packers OF Marseilles, tn,
iron, steel, glass, cotton, wood, and WOO
manufacturers, the jewellers and weav
ers, the paper and book makers, and tn,
indescribable variety of inventors ant
producers of af all sorts of material TO
! show and substance, in this vast hive o
industry and genius, are impatient II
move, Much uneasiness resulted from
the announcement that the 25th of April
1875. was the limit fixed by the commits
= sion beyond which no articles could b
entered for reception in 1876. The pub
lication of the last order of Mr.. Goshorr
giving exhibitors ample time and notice
removed the doubt and added fuel t
the general zeal. Mr.. Lafayette and hi
colleagues on the National Committe
are collecting the data necessary to sat
isfy the interests of commerce and man
ufacturers, and are preparing themselve
for the debate in the National Assembly
!, which reassembles on the 1lth OF May
E Mr.. Laboulaye will be the orator, and
: is hoped that the governments will re
spond liberally. There is no politics i
! regard to the Centennial in France
, although there is much about almos
: everything else. 1t is true the Republ
Q cans in the Assembly have taken the in
Q tiative, but there is an outspoken sent
4 ment in the other parties: The Orlean
: Princes, the Count de Paris and the Duk
: de Chartres, are as deeply interested a
Q the Empress Eugene and the Prime
Imperial at Chiselhurst, and, the seyers
members of Marshal MacMahon's Cab
net respect the popular feeling as dali
. :so;N,, 7. W.T.