St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1905-06-07
teemed the other, and this acquaintance

led to an interesting sequel.
On the 31st of May, 1875, st. John
wrote to Allen letter. from which we
make some extracts. These excerpts re-
veal the interest St. John had in Vermont,
as well as in other parts OF the land. He
assures General Allen that he is swayed
"by sincere and honest desire of being
somewhat useful to state for the indus
try and the energy of which l have a
great respect" He also says II am an
American by law of this state New
York; passed in the year 1868. l have
lived in it ever since was married. =
have drained 300 acres of bog meadow,
built house, cleared many acres of land,
and planted a great orchard" He fur
Their says, ~ offer to have the seal of
your state elegantly engraved on silver
by the Kings best engravers, and to
change somewhat the devices thereof.
Don't you want privy seal? l offer
with equal pleasure to get another en-
graved for the college the state of Yer.
mont intends erecting, and l will take
upon myself the imagining the device
thereof. will do my best endeavors to
procure from the King some marks of his
bounty and some useful presents for the
above college,"
He then suggests some names OF French
origin for some OF the counties and dis
tricts soon to be laid out in Vermont.
"If the General don't think me too pre-
sumptuous, in answer to what he so
kindly said yesterday, l would observe
that the name St. John being already
given to many places in this country, it
might be continued by the appellation of
St. Johnsbury, but the most hattering
honor the citizens of Vermontcould confer
on me would be to be naturalized a citi.
zen OF that state along with my three
= y II shall write the gene.
raj from Paris by every packet and in.
form him of whateverI do, which may be
useful to your state and college," Any
anecdotes, "whether of war or peace,
natural occurrences, or extraordinary
OF natural history",
that Allen may send him as be
has suggested, will be published in
French newspapers if Allen will consent.
On the 18th Of July, 1885, St. John
writes another letter to Allen, this time
rom L'Orient France. II have thought
Of many things since / took my leave of
you, which l beg to mention, as they may
be useful to the state of Vermont" If
Allen will send him a sketch map of the
state he will have it engraved in Paris,
land send you back 300 or 400
copies, which you'd dispose of at your
will and pleasure. l would have the
arms elegantly engraved on the top, if
this idea was agreeable to your people,.
II will have this done without
COST" Whatever curious or interesting
may come to your knowledge, 1 beg
you'd collect for me. will make good
use of it. l would most earnestly
thank you for the seed of any grass, bush,
plant or tree, which you may think valu-
able, prove useful and curious"
He refers again to the naturalization
of himself and his children Sin order that
they may inherit my fathers succession,
which will be pretty considerable. They
have had lately the honor of being
made by diplomas, ireemen of the cities Of
Hartford and New Haven. y = ALL
these things arenecessarv for the compile.
ton of what am soliciting for them in
France" He has ian honest intention
OF establishing his children in the
full possession of the rights of French.
men born. In order to obtain so desir-
able an end Unjust prove here lin France
the public notoriety of their being my
children, not by certificates Of marriage,
etc.. but by public acts oftbeir being So"
General Allen replied to these letters
n%n ha 81
1856. assuring st. John that SIN the
month of January last the Governor and
a great part of the members of the Coun-
Gil of this state met at Bennington, prin-
cipally to read and consult the PROPOSE
ton in your letters to me respecting a
state seal, college, list OF names OF
French patriots to the American indie
tendency, and your desire to be natural
ized, with your sons, all OF of which par
ticulars were well pleasing to the Council;
they testified their unanimous approba-
ton of all and singular of your PROPOSE
lions and will use their influence with
mine at the General Assembly OF the
state in October next, to carry into
effect your whole desire, which presume
will meet with general appreciation and
applause. There is no gentleman
on earth l would be more happy to
oblige than Mr.. st. John"
The records of the journal OF the Yer.
mont Assembly show that on March 10,
1887, the Governor and Council APPROX
ed of"An Act to naturalize the honorable
st. John de Creveceur and his children,
America Frances, William Alexander,
and Philip Lewis" These, thereby are
declared to be citizens of this common.
wealth and entitled to all the rights,
privileges, immunities and advantages
which the native citizens do or shall en-
joy"
On March 10, 1887. by act of the same
council Ethan Allen is requested to write
to st. John answering his letters and
Ito inform him that this council enter.
tain high sense of his generosity in the
offers made in his letters OF furnishing q
state seal, ETC., and to assure him of the
readiness of this state to serve him and
his friends, and to perpetuate the name:
OF the noble patriots of France to the
latest posterity, agreeably to his request
On the 4th of April, 1887, Ethar
Allen writes to st. John, as we learr