, 1879-01-05

which especially interests Americans resident
in the colony,-the coming Of Gen. Grant. Tie
General was expected last year when on his way
to Italy, and his failure to come led to the i'm
preston that he had left the Pyrenees out Of his
tour. The other evening, quite unheralded he
dropped in on us, taking quarters at the Hotel
de France. Mrs. Grant accompanied him.
The Generals first duty on arriving was to
stroll over the townand study out its attributes.
Most Of his time here has been spent in saunter-
ing about on foot, sometimes alone, sometimes
with Mrs. Grant, looking at the odd types and
strange Pyrenean costumes that strike one at
Paula blending Of French, Basque. and Span
ish. 1t was suggested that be might make q
pilgrimage to Lourdes,-only forty minutes by
raj, land see the place where the Virgin came
down to the maiden, and where ptous believers
in that appearance have bulded church, and
where thousands OF pilgrims come yearly.
But the General found Pau too pleas
ant to leave, and preferred to take all That is
told Of Lourdes as question Of evidence, with
out personal investigation. A cart Of his time
he gave to riding about the country. Pau was
In grief pecauze the weather which welcomed
the General Was unusually severe There were
frost and SNOW, aud what you rarely see in this
region, at least, i sharp wind. A fox hunt OF
special attractiveness had been arranged, but
the frost was In the ground, and the best that
could be done for the General was an Imitation
affair, where he witnessed the meet and the
finish.
The most conspicuous social event during the
season at Pau was the dinner given to General
William P. Douglas, OF New York. Mr.. Doug
| las has been spending few days here, taking
part in hunting, lawu-.cnnis, and the other
amusements Of the town. The dinner Of MIR.
Douglas was especially pleasant to Gen. Grant,
as it enabled him to meet many old American
rsa'' meet many syDt English cousins. Tie dinner.
was given at the Hotel dc France, and
all the o 81 ta me5f
| worthy alike of hosts and guests. The large
dining room was turned into tlower-earden,
and the room in which Mr. Douglas received bis
guests were Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, Mrs. Grant,
Count Georges de Roquette Buisson, the Pre-
feet; Gen. kampt, commanding the troops Of
the department: Mr. and Mrs James Nelson
Potter, of New York; Mr.. and Mrs. g: Peabody
OF New York; Or. and Mrs L. Parks,
Sir: Thomas Burgess, Maj: Charles
Hutton, Mr.. Townsend, Capt: kirwan, Miss
Krws9 Af M nsns Mfs DToqsoe oS1soc GaP s
AlIeyne, MIR. Alexander. Col. anu Mrs. Burton,
Mr.. and Mrs. Nugent Humble, the Hon. Mrs.
Greville Nucent, Col Luscombe, OF the British
Army, and his wife; Capt. Anpesley, OF thc
t BsasS Ay DyT Col h o t. # Rd5s tsS Esessta ef Ssa
York; Mr.. Ridley, Col: FIoyd7Jones, united
States Army; Air. Leslie, OF Scotland; Mr..
Bugnell, DR.. 'Basnell, Miss Florence Leslie,
Mrs John Post, Of New York, and others. -
band Of the Eighteenth Infantry, which was in
attendance, played '' Hail Columbia and the
guests marched in and took their places. The
band was placed at the disposal OF Mr. Douglas
BY Gen. Kampf, the commander Of the forces.
ft.. %o1o IN rho PoriS authNri-
ties for permission to do so, which was promptly
granted. The band was in excellent practice,
and its performance during the dinner was an
agreeable feature. MIR. Douglas had little
toire; but this was solved By Hail Columbia"
which should be half French, considering it goes
back to davs when French and Americans we're
under the same flag.
At the conclusion OF the dinner Mr.. Doug!as
| arose and said that he had no desire to int}ict
auy toasts or speeches upon the company which
had done him the honor to be present. There
was one toast, however, which he wonld not
deny them the pleasure Of drinking This toast
was in honor Of the iliustrions guest OF the
evening, Gen. Grant, the ex-Presidcnt Of the
| United States. Gen. Grant Was not merely the
cx-lresdcnt of his country. That in itself
would be an rssosnze honor which r. a had "0qe be
higher distinctions most cnviablc that
| the citizen Of any nation could win,-that Of
| having been the savior Of his country. III that
sense, as soldier and President. the speaker, as
an American, was proud to meet Gen. Grant IN q
| foreign land. and proud of this opportunity Of
paving his respects and Of tcsttfnrg that graft
| -tude to him which every American should feel.
| There WIS one epithcs applied to Gen. Grant
| during the War which always seemed to the
speaker to be especially felicitous. That epithet
! be would now recall in asking his friends to
| drink to the health and prosperity OF "urcon-
| ditionai Surrender Grant. o.,
The company rose and received this toast with
| great cheering, the band playing 'Hail Colu1n-
| bia'' The General said in response that tt was
grateful to him to meet SO many American faces.
| to be omong friends. and to be the recipient o.
| so distinguished compliment as had been paid
| him by his countryman, Mr. Douglas. It was
| we'll known that he had no gitt TOT speaking;
| sometimes been won, by persistence anu en-
erey, He, however, would not venture the cx-
pertinent. but would Justify as far as he cou1d
tho cpithct of mir Douglas and make an a1leon,
the cheers aud laughter OF tho table.
Mai Hutton, speaking in French, then PRO-
| posed q toast to France, coupling with It the
| name Of the Marshal. This vas drank with all
| the Donors, and the Prcfect, Count de Roquette
| Buisson, responded, saying that he was glad to
| welcome in Pau so great man as ten. 6rans,
and also glad to be among these whom Air.
| Douglas had assembled to do the General honor.
He spoke OF the ancient friendship between
Frame md America which Frenchmen on every
OCCASION were anxious to RECOGNIZE and cele-
brnte. In response to q compliment to the
}adtcs. the Count said lie was extremely sorry
| thnt circumstances prevented the presence Of
| the Countess. Mr.. Douglas then alluded to the
| fact that many English friends in Pau had hon.
| ored him with their presence, aud he knc's
nothing would so much crafty not only them,
hut all present, as an opportunity OF drinking
the health Of the Queen Of England: This scn-
timent was drank with cheers The gentlemen
theu ioined the ladies, and the dinner was over,
one Of the most pleasant the General ha en-
loved in Europe. It. Was extremely well ar
ranged and served
Among other courtesies to Gen. Grant, will
notice before closing this letter a dinner given
to him BY DR.. l.. Parks, Of Boston, one OF the
leading members OF the American colony at
Pau, Dr.. Parks entertained his guests at his
house on the Place Duplas, and the evening
was exceedingly enjoyable to the General and
Mrs. Grant.
Gen. Grants Contemplated Asiatfc Cruise.
Washington Dispatch to ST. Louts GIohe- Democrat
The official report of the trial-trip OF the
Urtted States steamer Richmond (recently un-
dergoing repairs at Boston) to New York has
been received at the Navy Department 1t is
expected that she WIFI now depart On hcf Asiatic
voyage next week, aud Grant has been notified
Of her prospective date OF sailing in order to as
certain bis wishes in regard to the point Of em-