We drove through this country some three or four leagues, until we at length came to an estate of better arrangements than common.  On our left was a wood, and on our right a broad reach of meadow.  Passing the wood, we saw a wide, park-like lawn, that was beautifully shaded by copses, and in which there were touches of landscape-gardening, in a taste altogether better than was usual in France.  Passing this, another wood met us, and turning it, we entered a private road—­you will remember the country has neither fence nor hedge, nor yet scarcely a wall—­which wound round its margin, describing an irregular semicircle.  Then it ran in a straight line for a short distance, among a grove of young evergreens, towards two dark picturesque towers covered with ivy, crossed a permanent bridge that spanned a ditch, and dashing through a gateway, in which the grooves of the portcullis are yet visible, we alighted in the court of La Grange!

It was just nine, and the family was about assembling in the drawing-room.  The “le General sera charme de vous voir, monsieur,” of the faithful Bastien, told us we should find his master at home; and on the great stairs, most of the ladies met us.  In short, the patriarch was under his own roof, surrounded by that family which has so long been the admiration of thousands—­or, precisely as one would most wish to find him.

It is not necessary to speak of our reception, where all our country are welcome.  We were soon in the drawing-room, which I found covered with American newspapers, and in a few minutes I was made acquainted with all that was passing on the other side of the Atlantic.  Mr. Rives had sailed for home; and as M. Perier was dead, General Lafayette had not explained in the Chamber the error into which that minister had permitted himself to fall, agreeably to a tardy authority to that effect received from Mr. Rives.  The ministry was on the point of dissolution in France; and it was said the doctrinaires were to come in—­and the nullification strife ran high at home.  On the latter subject, Lafayette spoke with a reserve that was unusual on subjects connected with America, though he strongly deprecated the existence of the controversy.

There is great weakness in an American’s betraying undue susceptibility on the score of every little unpleasant occurrence that arises at home.  No one of the smallest intelligence can believe that we are to be exempt from human faults, and we all ought to know that they will frequently lead to violence and wrongs.  Still there is so much jealousy here on this subject, the votaries of monarchies regard all our acts with so much malevolence, and have so strong a desire to exaggerate our faults, that it is not an easy matter at all times to suppress these feelings.  I have often told our opponents that they pay us the highest possible compliment, in their constant effort to compare the results of the system with what is purely right in the abstract, instead