The critic., 1891-01-02

In describing his departure from Eng
land for America, lie tells the following
anccdote of Benedict Arnold:
fortunately the danger we We're run
ming was noticed on shore, and induced
some Falmouth lightermen to brave the
fury of the sea and come to our assistance.
With their help, we managed to reach the
harbor. While our ship-all the rigging
of which was much damaged-was being
repaired, a rather striking incident added
an impression of special kind to the
of this voyage. The innkeepcr, at whose
place had my meals, informed me that
one of his dodgers was an American gem
cral. Thereupon expressed the desire of
seeing that gentleman, and shortly after
was introduced.
"After the mutual exchange of greet
ings put to him several questions con-
cerning his country, but from the first it
seemed to me that my inquiries annoyed
him. Having several times vainly en-
deavored to renew the conversation which
he always allowed to drop, ventured to
request from him some letters of intro
duction to his friends in America. No,
he replied, and, after few moments of
silence noticing my surprise, he added,
4 am perhaps the only American who
cannot give You letters for his own coun-
try--all the relations had there are now
broken---l must never return TO the States.
He dared not tell me his name. It was
| General Arnold! | must confess that he
excited my pity, for which political puri-
| tans will perhaps blame me; but do not
reproach myself, for was q witness of
| his agony"
His unfavorable opinion of Lafayette is
| disclosed in the subjoined passage:
"M. de Lafayette belongs to a noble
r.. ..T lN,,tl
| ltlster; under Louis NV. the intelligence
| of a woman had brought the name into
| some renown.
HE was born to n large fortune and had
| married lady of the house of Noailles
| Had not an extraordinary occurrence
| drawn him out of the rank and file he
| would have been ignored all his life. NJ
| de Lafayette had not enough in himself
| to come to anything, for he is below the
| clever man. In his desire to distinguish
| himself, as well as in the means he uses,
| there is something that seems taught
| What he does looks as though it did not
| proceed from his own self; he gives one
| the idea of man following the advice OF
somebody els@ Unfortunately no one
1 will boast Of having offered him any at
| the most important moment of his life"
Other American impressions of VI. Tai
| leyrand are given herewith:
| "At FrenChman's Bay, ON the border ol
| the Eastern States, violent storm having
| compelled me to stop at Machias, ques
| toned the man at whose house was stay
| ing. That house was indeed the best in
| the district. and, as people say in the colm'
| Try, the landlord was most respectable
man. Having exhausted the chapter rela
tive to the value and price of land, asked
him whether he had ever been to Phila
delphia. lie replied that he had not yet
| done so. lie was man of about 40 years
of age. lscarcely dared to ask him whether
he knew General Washington. Il have
never seen him, he said. If you should
go to Philadelphia, Iwent ON, you woult
be pleased to see the great man" M
doubt shall, but he added, with beam
ing eyes, 4 should very much like to sex
Mr.. Bingham, the man who they say is st
rich
| "ThrOughout the States met with sim
liar love for money, and often as cOarselN
expressed. This country is too soon nc
plainted with luNuries, The latter are
indeed, shocking when men can hardly
provide themselves with the necessaries o
life. | recollect having seen in the draw
ing-room of Mrs, Robert Morris the ha
manufactured in the birthplace of tn,
master of the house, carefully laid on N
elegant Seyres china table, bought a
rnanon by some American. Hardl!
would a European peasant have conscnte'
to wear such hat"