Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-10-11
WASHINGTON TO FRENCH EYES.
Secret Sketch Sent by the Chevalfer
de In Luzerne to the French King.

Secret Sketch Sent by the Chevalier
de In Luzerne to the French King.
A paper by Edmund Lowell Dana on
the Chevalier de la Luzerne, for whom
Luzerne county, Pa, was named, was
published recently by the Wyoming
Historical society. 1t contains an esti-
mate of the character Of Washington
which Luzerne intended as confiden-
tial communication to his king.
Mr.. Dana's son, while in Paris some
years ago, ran across the document In
the state archives and by the courtesy
Of the French government copied It,
and sent it to his father, who made 1t
public for the first time.
Luzerne was the second French min
lister sent to this country and was much
esteemed by Washington. The follow
ing letter gave presumably the Cheva-
lier's real impressions Of Washington
based on a short-ranged study Of the
subject.
PHILADELPHIA, rs August, 1888.
"This is perhaps, Sire, the proper oc-
casion to give you a sketch of the char
acter of General Washington, such as
the frequent occasions that have had
to treat with him permit me to under
stand it.
"This man, whom his country and
perhaps posterity, will elevate to the
rank Of the greatest Of heroes. does
not appear to me to merit neither so
much glory nor so little praise. He re-
ceived from nature bodily vigor which
temperance and exercise have aug
mented, and the fatigues of war and
office work have not been able to d.
minish.
"He was from birth impetuous and
violent, and the murder Of M. de Ju-
knoxville, committed by his orders near
ly thirty years ago, proves how little
command he had over himself at that
time. Reflection and age have moder-
ated his passions, and If his primitive
character still gets the better of him
sometimes, the public Is ignorant or
his storms, and only those who live
near him witness them.
Seven years of command have not
confirmed the belief that he possesses
great genius for war; but he Is good
Judge of talents, and he willingly lis
tens to the counsels of men whose ex-
perience is known to him. He Is, nev-
ertheless, jealous of the glory Of execu-
tion, and his most intimate confldants
have ceased to be such as soon as he
was led to believe that the public at
tributed to them whatever was good In
his own conduct.
HE Is naturally undecided, and he
has been known in critical moments
unable to take a resolution and to have
allowed himself to be agitated by the
contradictory advice of those surround
ing him. He loves glory, and, still
more, transient applause and popular
favor.
"Sometimes to secure the latter he
has sacrificed truth, and 1t was thus
that he endeavored to throw back upon
the French army the blame of the de-
lay in the operations which were To
bring succor to Virginia.
But these spots were effaced ny
great qualities. If he has not rapid In
sight and promptitude, he has at least
a healthy judgment, and he foresees
with sufficient sagacity, and when ne
has time for reflection and examination
II is rare that he is mistaken.
His bravery Is worthy Of remark, be-
cause it is calm and such as should be-
long to a general, although at the be-