The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-03-31

had his life led him in that direction.
All through his war-like sojourn in this
country he was making notes upon
which to base future literary productions.
The fact that few histories Of Wash: r,g-
ton give the details of his life while he
had his headquarters in the Dey Man
sion makes that part Of the memoirs of
the Marquis de ChastelIux pertaining to
his three days visit there extremely in
teresting and valuable.
It is apparent, from what the Marquis
de Chastellux has to say. that the re-
sponsibilities resting on Washington as
Commander-in-Chief of the American
forces, and the likelihood that he would
have been hanged to the next tree in case
he had been caught, did not interfere TO
any extent with the appetite of the faith
er Of his country. If he had been gifted
with normal appetite previous to the
DlSdhiAS Jul VI Tut wall uAS DSlhS III
command Of the American forces or his
sojourn among the beautiful hills of
Preakness apparently had. the effect OF
increasing his desire for food. The Gen
eral was very fond Of hickory nuts, and
fortunately for this inclination of his. he
was encamped here just at time when
the nuts were ripe; that they are plenti-
full in the region where he found himself
with his army any school boy in Paterson
can attest. The subjeined extract from
the travels of the Marquis is remarkable
in a number of ways. and his description
of hickory nuts-something not to be
found anywhere excepting in this coun-
try and consequently strange to the
Frenchman-is rather amusing.
The Marquis de Chastellux was a.
French nobleman with the rank of
Major General He was a member Of
the French Academy and consequently
considered as one Of the learned men of
France. The Marquis took a notion in
1850 to come to this country and take
look to see what he could find. He was
a friend Of General Rochambeau, aud
consequently found no difficulty in OBJ
tanning admission to the ranks of the
American army and seeing all that was
going on there. In his travels, of which
he wrote after his return to France, he
first tells of his coming to this country
and then of his expedition to Paramus.
From this place he made tour through
the adjoining country and on November
%, 1850, he visited the. Falls of the Pas
sale. He was then on his way to join
Washington and visit Rochambeau and
Lafayette, and his guide informed him
that it would be detour of only a hun
dred yards or so to visit the Passaic
Falls. He tells of this visit and gives
description of the cataract. which did
credit to his literary requirements. al
though necessarily a great deal of the
force of his language is lost in the trans
lation.
From the present site of Paterson the
Marquis proceeded towards Preakness.
His mission apparently was first to visit
General Lafayette, with whom he was
acquainted. Lafayette, having heard of
his coming presumed that the Marquis
would at once repair to the headquarters
at Preakness and consequently Went
thither himself. The Marquis accord ng-
" missed the French General when he
stopped at the place near Paterson, now
known as the Goffle, and accordingly
proceeded with his guide to Preakness,
where he met both Lafayette and Wash
ington. All three then repaired back to
Lafayette's headquarters where there
was review, despite the wet weather.
What took place after that is best told
in the words Of the Marquis. which are
as follows
s'The rain spared us no more at the
camp of the marquis than at that of the
main army; so thar our review being
finished. saw with pleasure General
Washington set off in a gallop to regain
his quarters. We reached them as soon
as the badness of the Toads would permit
us. At our return We found good din
ner ready, and about twenty guests,
among whom were Generals Howe and
Sinclair.
THE repast was in the English fash
ion. consisting Of eight or ten large dishes
of butchers meat, and poultry with vege-
tables Of several sorts, followed by. a sec
ond course Of pastry, comprised under
two denominations of pies and pud-
ding. After this the cloth was taken off.
.and apples and a great quantity Of nuts
were served which General Washington
usually continues eating for two hours,