James Madison Papers

To James Madison from Baron de Montlezun-Labarthette, [ca. 16 September 1816]

From Baron de Montlezun-Labarthette

[ca. 16 September 1816]

Monsieur le Président,

Un ancien Officier de l’armée française, ayant eu l’avantage de servir sous l’immortel Washington, et le Général La fayette, au Siège d’Yorck-town, il y a présentement 35 années, a le bonheur d’être rendu près de Votre demeure, chargé d’une lettre du Marquis pour Votre Excellence.

Débarqué depuis peu de jours à Norfolk, je me suis empressé de venir Vous trouver, dans l’espoir que Votre Excellence ayant égard aux instances de l’Amitié et aux bonnes recommandations d’un homme qui jouit, à juste tître, d’une aussi grande vénération que Votre ancien ami, le Général la fayette, et aussi à mes faibles Services en faveur de l’indépendance Américaine, voudra bien prendre interêt à la situation difficile où je me trouve après de longues infortunes et, recemment encore, par un accident éprouvé à la mer.

Je suis porteur d’un Certificat du Marquis, lequel constate mes anciens services Militaires en Virginie, et ceux de mon père qui, en sa qualité de Lt.-Colonel du Régiment de touraine, commanda la tranchée de Gauche pendant tout le siège d’Yorck-town, et, entr’autres, lorsque le Vaisseau de guerre Anglais, le Caron fut brûlé par nos Batteries.

J’eus le malheur de perdre mon père par suite des blessures qu’il reçut durant la guerre de l’indépendance.

Privé de mon patrimoine dans la tourmente révolutionnaire, et desirant me fixer en Amérique, je viens Solliciter Votre puissant appui, Monsieur le Président, pour me faire obtenir une Concession de terres, s’il est vrai que j’y aye quelque droit et pour moi et pour mon père; soit qu’on m’alloue un Lot territorial, soit que l’indemnité ou Gratification me fût accordée en argent.

Je me flatte que je pourrai me rendre utile dans ce pays: Mon intention serait de faire exécuter un Projet que j’ai conçu, il y a plusieurs années. Il est certain qu’il procurerait d’étonnans avantages au Gouvernement et à la population entière des Etats-Unîs, en particulier, et, Généralement, à tous les peuples Civilisés, mais j’aurais besoin d’être aidé.

Il s’agirait d’établir une Poste-Volante, au moyen de la quelle les lettres—par écrit, parviendraient, en moins de 24 heures, de la Capitale aux principales frontières et aux ports-de-mer les plus importans; et vice Versâ, la Communication ayant lieu de jour et de nuit et en toute saison, sans obstacle quelconque!

Malheureusement mon Manuscrit est resté en Europe; mais le projet et les moyens me sont tellement présens que ce Manuscrit ne m’est nullement indispensable. Je ne l’ai confié qu’à un Ministre et à un très petit nombre d’individus très éclairés: tous furent frappés de la hardiesse de l’idée et de la grandeur du projet, et m’engagèrent à le Soumettre au Gouvernement.

Convaincu que la chose est facile á établir, je compte, à mon retour à Washington, prendre les mesures nécessaires pour m’assurer le fruit de ma découverte, en cas de Succès.

L’accident que j’ai éprouvé dernièrement, la perte d’une malle tombée à la mer, me réduit à la détresse.

C’est avec une peine infinie que j’ai pu me rendre à Orange-County.1

Oserais-je me flatter, Monsieur le Président, que Votre Excellence daignant avoir égard aux bonnes recommandations de l’homme du monde qui Lui est le plus sincèrement attaché, et en Considération de mes Services et de mes infortunes, voudra bien venir obligeamment à mon aide et m’admettre à l’honneur de Lui présenter mes très humbles hommages en même tems que la lettre de Son ancien et fidèle Ami. Je suis avec un très profond respect, Monsieur le Président, de Votre Excellence, le très humble, très Obéissant et dévoué Serviteur

le Bon. de Montlezun-Labarthette2

Chr. de l’ordre Royal et Mre. de Saint-Louis.

CONDENSED TRANSLATION

A former French army officer who served under the immortal Washington and General Lafayette at the siege of Yorktown thirty-five years ago is pleased to arrive near JM with a letter for him from the marquis. Having landed a few days ago at Norfolk, he hastens to find JM, relying on the customs of friendship, the good recommendations of General Lafayette, and his own poor services in favor of American independence, in the hope that JM will be pleased to take an interest in the difficult situation he finds himself after long misfortunes and, still more recently, an accident at sea. He brings a certificate from the marquis confirming his former military services in Virginia, and those of his father who, as a lieutenant colonel of the Touraine regiment, commanded the left flank during the siege of Yorktown and among other incidents when the English warship Charon was burned by American batteries. He has had the misfortune to lose his father as a result of wounds received during the War of Independence. Deprived of his inheritance by the French revolutionary tempest, and wishing to establish himself in America, he has come to solicit JM’s support in obtaining a grant of lands, if it is true that he has any right to it, either in his own right or his father’s, or whether an indemnity or gratuity might be granted to him in money. He flatters himself that he will be able to make himself useful in this country. His intention is to carry out a project which he conceived several years ago in the certainty that it will procure amazing advantages to the government and the whole population of the United States and generally to all civilized peoples. It would involve establishing a Flying Post, by which letters in written form would travel in less than twenty-four hours from the capital to the main borders and most important seaports, and vice versa, with communication taking place day and night and in any season, without any obstacle whatever! Unfortunately, he left his manuscript in Europe, but the project and means are so ever present in his mind that the manuscript is not indispensable. He has never shared it with anyone except a minister and a very small number of enlightened people. All were struck with the boldness of the idea and the grand scope of the project and have urged him to submit it to the government. Convinced that the matter is easy to establish, he counts on taking the necessary measures to secure his discovery in the event of its success after his return to Washington. The accident which he lately suffered, the loss of a trunk which fell into the sea, reduces him to distress. After taking infinite pains, he has been able to reach Orange County. Should he flatter himself that JM will be pleased to consider the recommendations of the man who is most sincerely attached to JM, that JM would come to his aid in consideration of his past services and misfortunes and allow him the privilege of presenting his humble respects at the same time with the letter from JM’s old and faithful friend.

RC (DLC). Undated; conjectural date assigned based on the fact that Montlezun stayed at Montpelier between 16 and 19 Sept. 1816, and again after 21 Sept. 1816 (L. G. Moffatt and J. M. Carrière, “A Frenchman Visits Norfolk, Fredericksburg and Orange County, 1816,” VMHB description begins Virginia Magazine of History and Biography. description ends 53 [1945]: 197, 214).

1Montlezun provided an extended account of his visit to Montpelier in his Voyage fait dans les années 1816 et 1817, (1:52–110), much of which was translated in Moffatt and Carrière’s “A Frenchman Visits Norfolk, Fredericksburg and Orange County,” 197–214. The following has been adapted and expanded from that translation: “About noon I arrived at President Madison’s. His home is not at all pretentious, nor in consonance with what the high position of the owner would lead one to expect. It can hardly be seen in the midst of the trees which surround it, but the interior is agreeably planned and decently furnished. The land around it is laid out in an English garden; the lawns stretch up to the house itself.

“Shortly after my arrival I had the honor of seeing Mr. Madison, to whom I presented some letters of introduction, thanks to which I was received with the most polished courtesy and invited to spend several days with him. Since the President does not speak French with ease, I had to express myself in his language. His son [stepson], who had just returned from Europe where he had been travelling, and not without profit, was with him; he speaks French very well and seems well educated. He is a young man of fine physique, with perfect manners; charm is stamped on his face. Mrs. Madison entered a little later; I had the honor of being presented to her. She is a handsome woman, although she has passed her prime. Her face possesses a certain air of nobleness; her bearing is gracious, and her manner of speech betokens gentleness. I had to converse in English with Mrs. Madison also.

“The President, although he is cold and reserved, is most polite and affable; he is still hale and hearty and enjoys perfect health. After a short conversation, I was shown to an apartment from which the view looks over a plain bounded by the Blue Mountains. These are secondary heights, at an elevation of 1500 feet above sea level […].

“The President’s estate is five thousand acres. His house, plain on the outside, has only one floor; it is made of brick, decorated with a gallery, and surmounted by a pediment supported by four columns forming a portico. Its contours are softened by pleasant lawns bordering on woods laid out in park-like vistas at unequal distances, which agreeably varies the perspective.

“Mr. Madison is sixty-three years old; years of thought and work have imparted an air of severity to his countenance, but when he can free himself for a moment from the cares which are attached to the painful honor of being the head of a republican government, his brow loses its wrinkles, his face brightens. It shines with all the fire of intelligence and with a restrained gaiety, and one is surprised to discover in the conversation of the great statesman and wise executive as much sprightliness as solidity.

“I had not yet seen the portrait of Louis XVIII in the president’s drawing room; I was delighted to see it this morning [17 September] in the dining room. It is the one engraved after the design of Isabey.

“In this same room there is a full-length portrait of Confucius, executed in China. The artist’s name is written at the base in Chinese characters; it is a drawing done in the common style of design in that country.

“The drawing room is adorned with a portrait of Washington, and his bust in marble, smaller than life. It also contains: the portrait of Jefferson; the bust of John Paul Jones; various portraits of president Madison and his wife; the miniature of Mr. Todd, aged twenty-three, stepson of Mr. Madison; busts of Homer and Socrates; various engravings and sketches of Niagara Falls; a pretty engraving of Raphael’s famous ‘la belle Jardinière’; an engraving of Prud’hon, in the antique style representing ‘L’Amour enchainé’; the death of Montgomery; the Battle of Bunker Hill, near Boston, in 1775; the bust of Barlow, ambassador to France during the usurpation. It is in marble, a little less hard than life; the bust of Mr. Evan [Erving], ambassador to Spain; the wax portrait of Mrs. Madison, mère, very life-like; the ivory portrait of the first wife of the usurper [i.e., Josephine de Beauharnais whom Napoleon divorced in 1809].

“The hall contains various pictures, such as a Descent from the Cross; Charles II of England; the charming group of Venus and Psyche, in the antique style, lightly veiled; a picture of shepherds and flocks, after the Dutch school; a bas-relief, in marble, depicting Mrs. Madison; a landscape by Téniers, and several others.

“The President’s house is pleasantly situated on a height, whence the view extends, towards the west, over a very fine country bounded by the chain of the Blue Mountains. Today’s superb weather allows one to enjoy all the richness of a vista, all the freshness and variety of a landscape which is quite new to one who has crossed the low country which stretches from the coast of Virginia up to a distance of three miles east of this residence […].

“At present, the grazing lands around the house are of small extent, but they are going to be considerably enlarged. A part of the forest is to be cut down, its edge thus to be pushed back more than a mile. This vast space around the house will then form a single green carpet.

“At two o’clock, several ladies and gentlemen arrived by carriage and on horseback. Mrs. Madison, mother of the President, came down to meet them. She is eighty-six years old and enjoys perfect health; her memory is good; she is still a very active woman and busies herself with the various activities of her sex, as in the days of her youth. Mrs. Madison was born in Virginia; she was delicate and a semi-invalid until her seventieth year. At that age, ordinarily the span of life, her health improved. She bore twelve children, of whom only two are still living. I chatted with her about the War for Independence and General Cornwallis. ‘He caused a great deal of fear,’ she told me […].

“After a good dinner, and when the ladies had retired, I spoke at length with the President, who is highly educated; and as we came to speak of the social state and savage life, he told something worthy of note; that one daily sees whites abandoning their settlements in the United States and willingly embracing the life of a savage, without there being a single example of any who had done this returning to the earlier customs of civilized life; whilst it is unheard of for a savage who lived for some time in an ordered society not to return to his people and resume his original way of life.

“On this subject, Mr. Madison told me that when he was with Lafayette at a council negotiating an Indian treaty [see PJM description begins William T. Hutchinson et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison (1st ser., vols. 1–10, Chicago, 1962–77; vols. 11–17, Charlottesville, Va., 1977–91). description ends 8:116–21], the marquis persuaded a savage to entrust him with his son to take to Europe. He did take the young man, aged about twelve or thirteen, there. In Paris he had him carefully raised. After several years, when his education was finished, the young Indian returned to America. Mr. Madison told me he saw him; he was a fine little fellow, stylishly dressed, graceful in manners, skilled in music, singing, and dancing, in short, an accomplished young man.

“He had hardly been three weeks in this country when he returned to his people, where he cast off his European clothing, armed himself in the Indian manner and reassumed the dress of a savage.

“This is not the only example. I related to the President that a child from New Holland, a native, was taken by the English to London, where he received a liberal education. Returned to his country, and even before the ship had disembarked, when he saw he was within reach of the coast, he stripped naked, jumped into the water, swam ashore, and fled into the depths of the forest.

“The president concluded, with some reason, from these facts and many similar ones, that mankind has a natural disposition to the savage state, which is manifested most commonly in the lower classes, among those without personal ties or property in a social state. It happens frequently, he said, that common laborers, who had settled on the frontiers, left their new dwellings after a short time and changed their lives to become shepherds caring for large flocks over vast areas, and after following this new occupation for a few months, cross into Indian country, mix with the savages, adapt to their habits, adopt their manners, dress in their style, follow their hunts, and identify totally with the people they have joined. Perhaps they derive some advantage from being different in race, language, and color. No doubt they are irresistibly seduced by the complete liberty, the loosening of ties, obligations, and duties, the absence or responsibilities and cares that characterize the savage state.

“Among Indians land is held in common; there is no property except family objects. On this point alone, there are differences: an Indian owns livestock, jewels, chattels, etc; what they are very partial to (if I may use this term) is to own black slaves; they obtain them from the states adjacent to their territory. I asked how they were treated. The president replied: ‘Very capriciously; they feed them well; but if they become even a little dissatisfied with them they administer whatever punishments are dictated by their strongly held feelings of revenge […].’

“Mr. Madison told me, at the table, a witticism of the celebrated Erskine. Dining with one of his friends who had some excellent Cape wine which he was miserly in dispensing, they served a small bottle which was quickly emptied. Mr. Erskine, suspecting that the ration would not be doubled, said jokingly to the host, ‘Well, sir, if we cannot double the Cape, we must get into port.’ Indeed, Sir, since we cannot double the Cape, we must return to port.

[18 September.] “Yesterday evening was passed in conversation and music. Mistress Dade and her sister Mistress Macon sang in turn and accompanied each other on the piano. We had tea, coffee etc., and the company retired early. This morning, these ladies and gentlemen left us after lunch […].

“I went today to one of the farms of the President to see a wheat thrashing machine; it is composed of two parts, one of which receives the sheaves fed into it by Negroes as fast as the stripping process allows, while the other, made up of large cog-wheels which turn the wooden cylinder which acts on the first machine, is driven by four horses. This machine turns out two hundred bushels a day.

“On the same farm, the merinos, the large-tailed rams of the Cape of Good Hope, and their cross-bred offspring with the old stock, make up numerous flocks, the wool of which is highly prized and brings a good price […].

“Every year when Congress meets, one may see the chiefs of various Indian nations arrive at Washington. They come by foot to the frontiers, where the government furnishes them with horses and vehicles to bring them to the capital. They receive clothes for their presentation to the President. The women come with them; they love to dress up. They paint themselves black and blue and are exceedingly fond of fabrics, jewels, ribbons, etc., with which to embellish themselves. Some of them are very pretty.

[19 September.] “From Mrs. Madison I learned of the details about the Indian chiefs who went to Washington in some number three years ago to conclude a treaty [see PJM-PS description begins Robert A. Rutland et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison: Presidential Series (10 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1984–). description ends 5:175–86]; she received from them presents of pelts, such as skins of fox, buffalo etc., and other objects.

“Their women were highly adorned in dress; these Indians love to dance in public, and often went to the president’s mansion to indulge in this pleasure. They have many crude instruments which they play while dancing. Some play Castilian-style castanets. The warriors carry tomahawks or war clubs.

“Their dance has various characteristics: sometimes it resembles military movements and evolutions, all accompanied by song.

“They are immensely proud, although while partaking of sumptuous meals with the president, they affected to be surprised by nothing; but their gluttony was remarkable. They greet with a slight nod of the head and touch of the hand.

“There are orators among them. When presented to the president, they made long speeches which interpreters translated.

“They have unusual names; one warrior was called Sans Oreille, to indicate that he was indifferent to prayers, to pleading etc., and that he followed his own purposes despite everything.

“The wife of the principal chief was small, sunburnt, but very pretty and gracious, with very vivacious eyes.

“Among the women was a widow courted by four chiefs but she was unwilling to heed any of them without the permission of her father. By this she meant the president of the United States.

“One day jealousy led to a terrible quarrel among the chiefs; it very nearly had fatal results.

“‘Nam fuit antè Helenum C[…] terterrima belli Causa! Horace.’ [Even before Helen of Troy c[…] were an abominable cause of war!] They went regularly to plays in Washington; and they took infinite pleasure in doing so.

“Their women were most interested in obtaining anything relating to their personal adornment, particularly gauze, tulle, artificial flowers, ribbons, jewels etc. They appeared to be quite familiar with the arts of coquetry […].

[23 September]. “Several ladies and young girls of the neighborhood who were visiting the president left this morning after lunch. Shortly afterwards it began to rain; Sunday passed with its usual drabness. After the very warm weather, we experienced some chill and humidity; a fire in the drawing room made us very comfortable. Reading, dining, conversation, and even chess (despite the customary sanctity of the day) chased the boredom away until we retired to deceptive dreams.

“In my daily conversations with Mr. Madison, I discovered in him further enlightenment and extensive knowledge: with much modesty. Mr. Madison has a quick and accurate mind, infinite wisdom, an excellent conversational tone, never self-assertive (he is not a young man), appearing to credit greater knowledge to those to whom he is talking than to himself.

“No-one is better informed about the policies of various powers and of events no matter how small or wherever they might be that have bearing on close relations with Europe.

“Work comes easily to him; he reads and writes for most of the day, and often for part of the night.

“When in company he perks up, his face beams, he enjoys a witticism, talks happily with a simplicity that does him credit, which is noteworthy in the high position in which his talents have placed him.

“No-one is more courteous or solicitous towards those to whom he has offered his hospitality.

“His wife, whom I have already mentioned, is sweetness, civility, and goodness incarnate. One could not be in more agreeable company displaying tactfulness and allowing their guests the ease and freedom that they would enjoy in their own homes.

“Mr. Todd, her son, is a man who was never young, mature already at twenty-two or twenty-three, his knowledge, his self-possession, his sound judgment surprising at an age when men usually have so little. He has travelled with profit in France, in England and in Russia. To these advantages he adds a fine appearance, distinguished manners, and infinite charm. It is easy to see that he has kept good company in our European capitals.

“I found a fine edition of Bernadine de Saint-Pierre, some of which I reread with pleasure, but I am hard put to say whether I was more disgusted or revolted in reading the dedicatory letter of Mme. Bernadine de Sainte-Pierre to the duchess d’Angoulème, where she styles her husband as the ‘interprète sublime de la providence!!’

‘Risum teneatis amici!’ [Can you help but laugh friends!]

“This morning I passed the time in reading a canto of Jérusalem délivrée, translation by Brun, Paris edition [see PJM-PS description begins Robert A. Rutland et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison: Presidential Series (10 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1984–). description ends 3:370] […].

[25 September.] “In this country there are many cases of longevity among the [slaves]. Recently I saw a Negro, ninety-five years of age, engaged in splitting wood; he belonged to President Madison. There are Negro women who have more than twenty children. It is here that the planters of the Carolinas and Georgia come to purchase slaves. Today they are very dear; the ordinary price of a full-grown man is from seven to eight hundred dollars. There are more than three hundred on Mr. Madison’s estate, and many more than that at Monticello with Mr. Jefferson. They are divided among numerous farms on these properties. Some of these farms are very pretty, built of wood, clean and commodious […].

“After dinner I took my leave of Mr. Madison, his wife and Mr. Todd, her son, and I took their four-horse carriage to Orange Court House […].”

2Barthélémy Sernin du Moulin, baron de Montlezun-Labarthette (1762–1839?), was a French army officer who fought in the American Revolution with Lafayette and went into exile in London during the French Revolution. In 1816 he spent five months in the United States, during which time he visited Jefferson, JM, and James Monroe in their Virginia homes (Looney et al., Papers of Thomas Jefferson: Retirement Series, 10:403 n.).

Index Entries