"At 10 o'clock, which is uniformly the hour for retiring at Lagrange, we took leave of the circle for the night, and were shown into our bedchambers, after having been notified that the ringing of the chateau bell would summon us to breakfast at 10 the next morning. Our apartments were in the same style of neatness and comfort as the sitting-rooms, with a cheerful wood fire blazing upon the hearth, and carpets covering the polished oaken floor. As is usual in French houses, furnished with fewer conveniences than this, each chamber had a bureau, or scrutoire, containing an ample supply of pen, ink, and paper, together with other appendages for writing, all under lock and key. The temptations of such comforts, the whistling of the wind round the Gothic turrets and antique windows of the chateau. with the delights of a fireside reverie on the events of the day, induced us to protract our waking dreams to a late hour. "In the morning a gray-headed servant, who is almost as old as the master whom he loves, and from whom he had imbibed his kindness of heart, opened the door gently, and performed his office of rekindling the fire with such studied quiet as would scarcely disturb the slumbers of a sick bed. We reached the drawing-room in season to see the members of the happy family appear, one after another, and share the paternal kiss. Breakfast was served up in a large hall on the ground floor, in the usual French style, with wine and coffee, after the dessert. The table was crowned with abundance, without superfluity; and a circle of smiling faces that would have rendered a less sumptuous repast agreeable. Among the rarer dishes, was a kind of pie extremely rich and delicate, sent as a rarity to the general from some of his friends at Strasbourg. "After breakfast was over we walked out in company with Washington Lafayette and the whole group of ladies, to examine the exterior of the chateau, and the farm, of which hardly a glance had as yet been obtained. Lagrange was formerly a fortified baronicle castle; and notwithstanding the modifications it has undergone, much of its antique and feudal character still remains. It was once surrounded by a deep double moat, sections of which, filled with water, have been preserved, and the residue filled up, either for the sake of health or convenience. The edifice consists of a centre, perhaps a hundred feet in length, with two wings of about the same dimensions, and joining it at right angles. From traces still visible, a gallery evidently ex. tenden across at the other extremity of the wings, enclosing a quadrangular court-yard, strongly defended, with only one entrance under a lofty arch in the northern wall, guarded by a portcullis. "The chateau is three stories high, plainly constructed of a hard and dark colored stone, rendered of a deeper hue by its venerable age and long exposure to the climate. Two Gothic towers of a conical shape rise from the ends of each of the wings, and form almost the only ornament. The approach is by a winding avenue on the northern side, leading through a thick grove of evergreens and other trees, and under the arch already mentioned, around which hang fes. toons of ivy, planted by the celebrated Charles James Fox, in one of his visits to Lagrange. This beautiful plant is as green as his mem. ory, and mantles nearly the whole façade of the chateau. Its luxu riant foliage, shading the gray walls, the thick copse bordering the moat, and the four antique turrets, half concealed by the intervening branches, present a view on this side, seldom equalled in air of rural, quit, and onostentatious retirement. An artist from our country had taken several very exact sketches of Lagrange, [two of which are annexed.] "As the morning was bright and pleasant, though the ground yet verdant, was covered with a heavy hoar frost, we made a circuit of a mile or two over the farm, which is one of the largest as well as the most complete in France. It contains five hundred acres, [800 acres, 500 cultivated and 300 in woods and meadows,] lying in one body, in a circular form, with the chateau in the centre. Great pains have been taken to round it off in this way, by exchanges of contiguous territory. It is divided according to the most approved models, into suitable proportions of tillage, pasture, and woodland, with the minor compartments of gardens and orchards. The general has planted three thousand apple trees, which are yet small, but thrifty, opening in vistas all over his plantation. He is much engaged in the cultiva tion of fruit of the best kinds." “The soil of this large tract, though perhaps not remarkable for its natural fertility, has been highly improved by culture, and yields wheat, with other agricultural products in abundance. It is finely wooded and watered. Half a mile from the house, in the direction of Rose, there is a large and living fountain, eradled in a green vale, and sheltered from the sun in summer by a grove of venerable oaks. Its limpid waters at this season, repose on a bed of autumnal leaves, and are as pure as they are copious. From this rural and secluded retreat, a distant view of the chateau on one side, and of two little villages, with a spire to cach, and the smoke curling above them, on the other, makes a quiet and charming picture. Not far from the fountain, Washington Lafayette, (whose name perhaps I use some. what too familiarly for the sake of distinction,) is much engaged in constructing an ice-house, upon the plan of some of those he saw in our country. In short, nearly all the improvements of Lagrange, now in progress, are according to American models. "On our return from this delightful promenade, and after resting for a few minutes, we were merely consigned from the hands of one part of the family, to receive the assiduous attentions of another. The general himself accompanied us to the farm-yard, which in point of practical utility, is more interesting, especially to the eye of an American, than all the parks and pleasure-grounds we have scen in Europe. A range of buildings extends quite round an open acra, containing perhaps an acre. The first of these is the granary, which was once a chapel, and the turret of which is yet left standing. Men were at work in winnowing wheat of an excellent quality. The second department is appropriated to all kinds of poultry, among which were wild geese from the banks of the Mississippi. A flock of about a thousand merinos, prettily feeding at their long ranges of cribs, occupied another portion of the buildings. It was odd enough to see the little lambs bearing on their backs the same name which had graced our triumphal arches; and to witness the hero himself en. gaged in the construction of stalls and folds on a new plan recommended in some of the agricultural journals of the United States. Among the twenty two cows, are eight from Switzerland, sent to the general by his friends in that country; and four of the Holkham breed, presented by Mr. Patterson, of Baltimore." The assortment of horses is as extensive as the other kind of domestic animals. In making the circuit, we next came to the farm-house kitchen and dairy, the walls of which are ornamented with a map of the whole plantation, designating the ground appropriated to each department. Then followed the pens containing several rare species of animals, among which are wild turkeys and patridges from the United States, (intended if possible to be domesticated;) ducks which came as a present from the Garden of Plants, at Paris; and a pair of beautiful Mexican pheasants. For the latter, and for the American patridge,. a new house is going up, to be artificially warmed by a stove. To these animals may be added a dog from Washington, and a racoon from our forests, who are inmates of the chateau, instead of the farm, yard. The latter is so tame as to play about the parlor and climb up into the general's lap. "At 5 o'clock the bell called us to dinner, which was bountiful, and served up without any peculiar parade. Among the peculiar dishes were lentiles, much resembling boiled peas; and a rich kind of pastry, such as we had not found in the infinite assortment of a Paris table. A dessert of apples, pears, and dry fruits, with three or four varieties of wine, including champaigne, crowned the festivities of the board. "On retiring to the drawing-room, a large folio volume, bound with red morocco, and richly gilt, was found lying upon the table. It was presented to the general just before he sailed from Washington; and contains a transcript of all the addresses to him by the authorities of New York. The specimens of ornamental penmanship are certainly elegant, and have excited general admiration at the chateau. By its side was a volumninous portfolio, containing portraits and autographs of public personages in France since the commencement of the revolution, both brought out for our amusement. "After tea the ladies favored us with a great variety of songs and music upon the piano, which they play with much taste and skill. Qne of the number, finding that her voice and execution could con. tribute to the enjoyments of the social circle, and forgetting herself, in endeavoring to add to the common stock of pleasure, continued to sit at the piano, till she was solicited to leave it, instead of the ordina ry request to remain longer. This mark of politeness was so peculiar, that it appeared to me worthy of record and imitation. Among the musical pieces was one or two composed in the United States, during the general's visit. "At 9 o'clock in the evening we manifested an intention to return to Rose that night, and set out for Paris next morning, desirous that if the hospitality of the family was not already exhausted by a visit, which seemed too long for strangers who had no other claim than simply that of being Americans, a share of it might be reserved for others, upon the republican principle of equality. But at Lagrange, feelings of generosity and kindness towards even the humblest citizens of the United States know no bounds. Favor after favor de. scends spontaneously upon the visitant like the dew; and in view of |