innocent recreations so salutary to the youthful temper and constitution:
and the older, as occupied in useful and literary pursuits, or devoted to
the more enlivening pleasures of conversation.

"The venerable head of this happy family, at the age of sixty seven, is in
the full possession of every talent and faculty. His memory has all the
tenacity of youthful recollection. On his person, time has yet made little
visible impression. Not a wrinkle furrows the ample brow; and his unbent
and noble figure is still as upright, bold and vigorous, as the mind which
informs it. Grace, strength and dignity still distinguish the fine person
of this extraordinary man; who, though more than forty years before the
world, engaged in scenes of strange and eventful conflict, does not yet
appear to have reached his grand climactic. Active on his farm, graceful
and elegant in his _salon_, it is difficult to trace, in one of the most
successful agriculturists, and one of the most perfect fine gentlemen of
France, a warrior and a legislator. But the patriot is always discernible.
His conversation is enriched with anecdotes of all that is celebrated in
character or event, for the last fifty years. His elegant and well chosen
collection of books, occupies the highest apartments in one of the towers
of the chateau; and, like the study of Montaigne, hangs over the farm yard
of the philosophical agriculturist. It frequently happens, said M.
Lafayette, to one of his visitors as they were looking from a window on
some flocks, which were moving beneath, that my merinos and my hay carts
dispute my attention to Hume or Voltaire."

Of the benevolent affections of Lafayette, his whole life affords abundant
proofs. He was possessed of the most patriotic and generous feeling.
Numerous instances are also related of his kindness to individuals, and of
his private benefactions. The children of his tenants, and neighbours were
objects of his generosity and complacency. And those who are unjustly