St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1905-06-07
Saint John de Creveceur.
CBy S. o. Todd, ST. Johnsbury Centre, VII

We left St. John on the threshold Of
useful service as consul OF France at New
York. A summary OF the fortuitous
events which led to his appointment is
not without considerable interest. 1t
can readily be conceived that after an
absence of twenty-seven years his
| acuuaintances must have been limited in
number. And yet such was the force of
his personality and the knowledge he
had acquired of America, her climate,
her geography, and her resources,
that his list Of friends after his arrival
in France in 1881 augmented very rapid
ly.
The Marquis Turgot became especially
interested in st. John, and encouraged
him to bring out his little booklet con-
corning the potato already mentioned.
Turgot was himself naturalist, and
very much interested in agricultural
affairs. Toward the end of 1881, as we
have seen, st. John went up to Paris.
He was in some senses protege OF his
friend, Turgot, who took good care to
introduce the Norman.American to some
of the good people of that city. Twice
week, as he says, he was found at the
hospitable hearth OF Button, the famous
naturalist. We can readily understand
that newcomer from the wilds of
America, equipped with such fund of
information and anecdote as St. John
possessed, was the kind OF man Button
delighted to greet. st. John speaks
of this acquaintance with Button, and
its influence upon himself, with much
feeling.
The Countess d'Houdetot, however,
wife Of French general, a lady of con.
siderable literary talent, was destined
to influence his fortunes perhaps more
than any other person. She made OF him,
as he says, new man. Inspired by her
generous advice he made rapid progress
in acquainting himself with the finer
forms OF the French language, and the
usages of the Partisan world. Nine.
d'Houdetot introduced him to many of
the great families, where as it appears he
was always afterward welcome. 1t is
interesting in this connection that Mar
shall de Beauvau counseled with st. John
as to the best methods of establishing
rod protection for his country
seat. The latter's advice was endorsed
by Franklin himself, then at Paris, and
soon after it became quite fashionable
among the great to safeguard their
homes against lightning, by the use
of rods.
1t was, indeed, new world for St.
John. He visited the picture galleries
and libraries, always learning in school,
of which, Of course, at that time, there
was no counterpart in America. His in
stincts, always lively, served him well in
Paris. He appropriated what was
properly his own, that which his ardent
nature demanded. At this juncture the
appointed commissioners began their
work to establish peace between Eng
land and America. st. John was invit.
ed by the minister of the French marine,
Nd. de Castries, to make for the French
government a detailed statement of
what he knew about America, its climate,
geography, resources, industries, popula.
ton, and whatever else his keen observa.
ton had led him to study. He accepted
the commission, and with clerical aid
was soon hard at work at Versailles up.
on his task. This kept him busy for
seven weeks. His knowledge of America
was unrivalled. His report to the gov.
eminent was so thoroughly satisfactory
to the king and his ministers that bis
name was Immediately placed at the head
of list of those who desired consular
posts in the new world. He was also
given first choice, and he elected New
York. He learned that seventeen
other people had applied for this particu.
lar place. 1t is fair to assume that be
won the appointment on his merits, the
| government electing to reward him for
his work in this manner.
The singularly good fortune that at.
tended st. John from the moment OF his
landing on his native soil, to the
signing OF his commission as con-
sui of France at New York, has been
deemed worthy of comment at length
at this point of our narrative.
1t is true, public sentiment was center.
ed at that moment upon the new world
The two wars had accentuated need O
precise information about many things
: St. John, as we have seen, was able, al
an opportune moment, to give the infor
nation the government most desired
For this he received due credit and sub
stantial reward. 1t was the happies
moment of his life, for was he not th
legal representative of a great nation a
the most important port in America. H
always attached most Importance Il
this period ofhis life, which he afterward
remembered with most pleasure. 1t i
perhaps in some respects strange tina
this was his feeling. for it is now conced
ed that he is remembered for his literary
production, and not for his consula
duties. His functions as consul, how
ever, had value. He endeavered will
Others to establish line of fast sailin,
vessels between New York and France