Chapter 19

THE END.

1. Since our return to France, the general has received a similar boiler from Mr. Morris of Baltimore, which is now in use at La Grange.

2. This animal was a common seal,phoca vitulina, vulgarly calledsea-dog. Thesea-lionis another species of seal.—T.

3. See Art. 32 of the Constitution of North Carolina.[Whatever may be the condition of the statute on this subject in North Carolina, it can be little better than a dead letter or nullity, since it is so entirely inconsistent with the Constitution of the United States. We do not recollect to have read of any instance in which this offensive peculiarity has been productive of practical disadvantage. It is unquestionably a blemish that calls for removal.—T.]The 31st article excludes from the senate, the house of representatives, and the state councils, all members of the clerical profession, without distinction of faith or sect, so long as they continue in the exercise of their pastoral functions.

3. See Art. 32 of the Constitution of North Carolina.

[Whatever may be the condition of the statute on this subject in North Carolina, it can be little better than a dead letter or nullity, since it is so entirely inconsistent with the Constitution of the United States. We do not recollect to have read of any instance in which this offensive peculiarity has been productive of practical disadvantage. It is unquestionably a blemish that calls for removal.—T.]

The 31st article excludes from the senate, the house of representatives, and the state councils, all members of the clerical profession, without distinction of faith or sect, so long as they continue in the exercise of their pastoral functions.

4. This is a common but inaccurate saying; an oblique shot will certainly glance from the skin of the alligator, but one striking perpendicular to the surface will as certainly penetrate, if within a proper distance.—T.

5. This is another very common and ancient error, which has been repeated from the days of Herodotus, who said it of the Egyptian crocodile, to the present. The deceptive appearance is produced by the manner in which the lower jaw is articulated; the joint being situated very far back, when the mouth is opened, casual observers easily mistake the part actually moved. See the articleAlligator, in the lately published Encyclopædia Americana.—T.

6. See the fable of the ass disguised in the lion’s skin, as related by Æsop, Phædrus, or Lafontaine, in explanation of this allusion. T.

7. See the excellent work of Captain Hugh M‘Call, published in 1811, entitled “The History of Georgia.”

8. In speaking of the morals of New Orleans, it is but just to discriminate between itspermanentandfluctuatingpopulation. Being the only mart to a vast extent of country, and the most frequented port on the Gulf of Mexico, it always contains a large number of individuals of the rudest and most licentious class, who can scarcely be said to belong to any country, are certainly of no religion, and are of every shade of colour. It is therefore by no means surprising, that gamblers, brawlers, and stabbers, should be numerous where such a class abounds, more especially, as New Orleans tolerates, bylicense granted, numerous establishments openly devoted to gambling and all its consequences.—T.

9. Since the establishment of steam navigation, boatmen rarely return by land. They pay a trifle for adeck passage; find their own provisions, and aid the crew to bring wood, &c. on board, at the stopping places.—T.

10. These geese, together with the Mexican hoccos presented by Mr. Duplantier; wild turkeys presented by Mr. Thousand, of Baltimore; Devonshire cows, given by Mr. Patterson; American partridges, presented by Mr. Skinner, etc. at present ornament the farm of La Grange, where General Lafayette exerts himself to multiply their numbers.

11. See upon this subject Mr. Warden’s very curious work, entitled Remarks upon the Antiquities of North America.[No theory, formed from the examination of a few of these mounds, can, with any propriety, be resorted to for the purpose of explaining the intentions of the ancient tribes in their formation. That they were erected for various uses, is sufficiently evident from their difference of construction, some being evidently merely monumental, while others must have been designed for military, religious, or other services. No one has examined the square and circular erections at Circleville, in Ohio, (now rapidly disappearing before the industry of the brick-makers), or those found near Piqua, or elsewhere in that state, without feeling convinced that they were destined to different uses from the mounds which occur in their vicinity, and appear to have been erected by the same people. Dr. Clarke, and other travellers in the north of Asia, inform us, that mounds, in all respects similar to those of St. Louis, are very numerous in many places, and that they are unquestionably sepulchral is proved by the bones, urns, and ornaments found within them. These observations go far also to establish the belief of the common origin of the American aborigines and the nomadic tribes of the old continent. See Atwater’s very interesting Archæologia Americana.—T.]

11. See upon this subject Mr. Warden’s very curious work, entitled Remarks upon the Antiquities of North America.

[No theory, formed from the examination of a few of these mounds, can, with any propriety, be resorted to for the purpose of explaining the intentions of the ancient tribes in their formation. That they were erected for various uses, is sufficiently evident from their difference of construction, some being evidently merely monumental, while others must have been designed for military, religious, or other services. No one has examined the square and circular erections at Circleville, in Ohio, (now rapidly disappearing before the industry of the brick-makers), or those found near Piqua, or elsewhere in that state, without feeling convinced that they were destined to different uses from the mounds which occur in their vicinity, and appear to have been erected by the same people. Dr. Clarke, and other travellers in the north of Asia, inform us, that mounds, in all respects similar to those of St. Louis, are very numerous in many places, and that they are unquestionably sepulchral is proved by the bones, urns, and ornaments found within them. These observations go far also to establish the belief of the common origin of the American aborigines and the nomadic tribes of the old continent. See Atwater’s very interesting Archæologia Americana.—T.]

12. The grizzly bear is unquestionably a ferocious and sanguinary animal, and is so much dreaded by the Indians and traders, that it is not surprising they should give currency to endless fables and exaggerations concerning it. But we cannot avoid a feeling of surprise, mingled with some mortification, to find respectable and intelligent travellers repeating, as actually true, statements of the habits of our animals, which a very slight effort of reason would show to be utterly absurd. Here we haveA BEAR, the largest species known, coursing aftermeninpacks, andyelpinglike hounds! when we have not on record, evidence, perhaps, of more than thirty of these animals having been seen since the existence of the species was discovered; nor the slightest evidence that anybearever uttered any other sound than a low harsh growl!—T.

13. Since his return from America, General Lafayette has received a young grizzly bear from the Missouri, sent him by Governor Clark. He has presented it to the proprietors of the Jardin du Roi, who have placed it in the menagerie, where it may now be seen.

14. Another still more laborious mode of going up stream, was by extending a long line from the bow, by which the crew, walking along the margin of the river, dragged the boat along. This is what is calledcordelling, and when it is recollected how rugged and irregular the shores of the western rivers are, and the necessity of carrying the cord clear of trees, rocks, &c., a more painful and exhausting kind of labour can scarcely be imagined.—T.

15. Vevay wine is a perfect nondescript; in colour it slightly approaches thin claret; its taste is altogether peculiar; something like it might be made by sweetening vin de grave with brown sugar. Nothing but a strong effort of courtesy, however, can induce any one seriously to call itwine, unless the fact of its being made from grapes be sufficient to secure it this title. As to its being “the best of the wines made in the United States,” we apprehend the author’s experience was scarcely sufficient to make his opinion decisive. It is certainly far inferior to the best of our cider, in all the requisites of a pleasant beverage.—T.

16. The canal has been completed since this journal was written, and fully equals all anticipations.—T.

17. The territory of Vermont was at first part of the state of New Hampshire, from which it was separated in 1764, to be annexed to that of New York. It was not until 1791, that Vermont was admitted into the confederation as an independent state.

18. Professor List was condemned to ten years ofhard literary labour, for having consented to be the organ of his fellow citizens to the king of Wirtemberg.

19. Among these was General Lallemand, who is too well known for me to eulogise him, and my two friends, my companions in arms, the brothers Peregnet, who for a long time followed in Europe by honourable persecutions, finally obtained in New York a safe asylum, where American hospitality has enabled them to obtain the means of living independently. The military academy which they have established upon the most extensive and liberal scale, already enjoys popular favour.

20. The wish of the Whitehallers is accomplished. TheAmerican Staris now at La Grange, placed with its oars and rudder under an elegant building which the general has had built expressly to shelter it, worthy of the recollections it represents.

21. Courrier Français.

22. The day of our arrival at Staten Island, whilst the general was receiving the congratulations of the people, from the balcony of the vice president’s house, a rainbow, one of whose limbs enveloped and tinged fort Lafayette with a thousand colours, appeared; the multitude, struck with the beauty and opportuneness of this circumstance, exclaimed, “that heaven was in unison with America in celebrating the happy arrival of the friend of the country.”

23. This present, which was received by General Lafayette a short time after his arrival at Paris, is a silver urn, of an antique form and beautifully engraved. It rests on a base of the same metal, three of the faces of which are ornamented with exquisite sculptures, representing the capitol at Washington; the visit of Lafayette to the tomb of Washington, and the arrival of the Brandywine at Havre. On the fourth face is inscribed, in relief, the offering of the young midshipmen to their paternal friend. This magnificent work was executed at Paris, under the direction of Mr. Barnet, the American consul, who replied to the confidence of the young seamen, with that zeal which he always displays, in every thing relating to the glory of his country, or the interests of his fellow-citizens.

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTESSilently corrected typographical errors and variations in spelling.Archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings retained as printed.Footnotes have been re-indexed using numbers and collected together at the end of the last chapter.

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

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